- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Albert M. Nixon
- Creator:
- Bruckner, William Joseph, 1944-
Nixon, Albert M., 1942- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
- Date of Original:
- 2018-11-05
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Aerial operations, American
Phantom II (Jet fighter plane)
B-52 bomber
Operation Linebacker II, 1972
Distinguished Flying Cross (Medal)
Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina
United States. Air Force. Tactical Air Command
United States. Air Force. Strategic Air Command
United States. Air Force. Bomb Squadron, 28th
United States. Air Force. Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th - People:
- Massari, Richard D., 1942-1970
Gomez, Robert Arthur, 1944-1970
Bergeron, Woodrow Joseph, 1943- - Location:
- Guam, 13.47861, 144.81834
Laos, Ho Chi Minh Trail, 17.48333, 106.6
Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani, 15.1879684, 105.3269544
United States, Arizona, Pima County, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 32.17079565, -110.869902396303
United States, Georgia, Houston County, Warner Robins, 32.61574, -83.62664
United States, Texas, Val Verde County, Laughlin Air Force Base, 29.35455, -100.78411
Vietnam, Hanoi, 21.0294498, 105.8544441 - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In this interview, Al Nixon recalls his service in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He describes his connection to the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, where his grandfather built the home adjacent to the Atlanta History Center's Swan House. He recalls wanting nothing to do with the military initially but secured a football scholarship to The Citadel anyway. An early physical resulted in his 4-F classification due to high blood pressure, but a later physical determined he did not have the condition and he was told he would be drafted immediately. He volunteered to fly for the Air Force and was accepted into the service. He describes several harrowing incidents during his flight training including a forced landing due to engine failure and a mid-air collision. He received orders to fly the F-4 Phantom and served 200 combat missions in Vietnam flying that aircraft, based in Thailand. He describes some of their missions, including dropping sensors along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He recalls participating in the massive rescue efforts to recover downed flier 1Lt. "Woodie" Bergeron in 1969 and remembers the deaths of close friends killed in action. He reflects on how they dealt with stress and the loss of friends and how difficult it is now to remember those events. He was assigned to fly B-52s on his second tour in Vietnam and describes incidents both harrowing and humorous while flying that aircraft. His squadron participated in the "Linebacker II" bombings of Hanoi in 1972 and he recalls incidents that occurred during those missions, including the hazards of mid-air refueling at night. He recalls coming home from each of his two tours in Vietnam. He was assigned as an instructor pilot for the last few weeks of his time in the service and he describes "buzzing" his parents' home in Thomaston, Georgia, while on a training flight in a B-52. He describes his post-military careers and family and reflects on his service.
anti-aircraft artillery (AAA); Wolf FACs; nuclear weapons; "Eleven-Day War"; radar operator; "jinking"; Course Deviation Indicator (CDI); surface-to-air missile (SAM); Paris Peace Talks; instructor pilot; Angel Flight (Air Charity Network)
Al Nixon served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/856
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 1:09:33
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights:
-
