US Air Force Captain, Edgar Robbert Melton, Vietnam Veteran. Native of Dallas, Texas.
US Air Force Captain Edgar Robert Melton was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, CPT Melton served our country until April 10th, 1975 in Saigon, South Vietnam. All records say April 10th as the date of death, marker denotes a different date. He was 31 years old and was married. Edgar died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered. Edgar was born on February 26th, 1944 in Dallas, Texas. CPT Melton is on panel 01W, line 123 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Robert was my friend from childhood. Dreams of a Pilot-to-Be. Robert wanted to be a pilot from the time he was in fourth grade. As a fifth grader,he had Rheumatic Fever and when I took him his work each day, he would talk about his worry that this would keep him from being a pilot. He actually got his pilot's license before he became an adult. I know he would gladly give his life again for his country if he could. I would love to reminence with his brother Dale. I know his parents are glad to see Robert in Heaven. I value our friendship so very much. Nina Kay Davis Swaney, 322 Mantlebrook Drive, Desoto TX 75115, [email protected].
This American Hero, served with Honor and died with Courage! 'The initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Airport at 16:03. Twelve minutes after takeoff, after climbing through FL230, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut's Runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly to 4,000 feet per minute. Seeing they couldn't make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. At 50 feet, the throttles where retarded to idle and the C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding about 1,000 feet, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts. The cargo compartment was completely destroyed, killing 141 of the 149 orphans and attendants. Only three of 152 in the troop compartment perished. Five of the flight crew, three of the medical team, and three others lost their lives, but 175 of the 328 aboard survived.' Source: Air Force Magazine, Aug. 1991.
He served with the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron "Mulies", 60th Military Airlift Wing, during "Operation Babylift".
He was awarded The Airman's Medal Posthumously, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Air Force Achievement Medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.
US Air Force Captain Edgar Robert Melton was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, CPT Melton served our country until April 10th, 1975 in Saigon, South Vietnam. All records say April 10th as the date of death, marker denotes a different date. He was 31 years old and was married. Edgar died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered. Edgar was born on February 26th, 1944 in Dallas, Texas. CPT Melton is on panel 01W, line 123 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Robert was my friend from childhood. Dreams of a Pilot-to-Be. Robert wanted to be a pilot from the time he was in fourth grade. As a fifth grader,he had Rheumatic Fever and when I took him his work each day, he would talk about his worry that this would keep him from being a pilot. He actually got his pilot's license before he became an adult. I know he would gladly give his life again for his country if he could. I would love to reminence with his brother Dale. I know his parents are glad to see Robert in Heaven. I value our friendship so very much. Nina Kay Davis Swaney, 322 Mantlebrook Drive, Desoto TX 75115, [email protected].
This American Hero, served with Honor and died with Courage! 'The initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Airport at 16:03. Twelve minutes after takeoff, after climbing through FL230, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut's Runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly to 4,000 feet per minute. Seeing they couldn't make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. At 50 feet, the throttles where retarded to idle and the C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding about 1,000 feet, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts. The cargo compartment was completely destroyed, killing 141 of the 149 orphans and attendants. Only three of 152 in the troop compartment perished. Five of the flight crew, three of the medical team, and three others lost their lives, but 175 of the 328 aboard survived.' Source: Air Force Magazine, Aug. 1991.
He served with the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron "Mulies", 60th Military Airlift Wing, during "Operation Babylift".
He was awarded The Airman's Medal Posthumously, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Air Force Achievement Medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.
US Air Force Captain, Edgar Robbert Melton, Vietnam Veteran. Native of Dallas, Texas.
US Air Force Captain Edgar Robert Melton was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, CPT Melton served our country until April 10th, 1975 in Saigon, South Vietnam. All records say April 10th as the date of death, marker denotes a different date. He was 31 years old and was married. Edgar died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered. Edgar was born on February 26th, 1944 in Dallas, Texas. CPT Melton is on panel 01W, line 123 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Robert was my friend from childhood. Dreams of a Pilot-to-Be. Robert wanted to be a pilot from the time he was in fourth grade. As a fifth grader,he had Rheumatic Fever and when I took him his work each day, he would talk about his worry that this would keep him from being a pilot. He actually got his pilot's license before he became an adult. I know he would gladly give his life again for his country if he could. I would love to reminence with his brother Dale. I know his parents are glad to see Robert in Heaven. I value our friendship so very much. Nina Kay Davis Swaney, 322 Mantlebrook Drive, Desoto TX 75115, [email protected].
This American Hero, served with Honor and died with Courage! 'The initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Airport at 16:03. Twelve minutes after takeoff, after climbing through FL230, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut's Runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly to 4,000 feet per minute. Seeing they couldn't make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. At 50 feet, the throttles where retarded to idle and the C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding about 1,000 feet, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts. The cargo compartment was completely destroyed, killing 141 of the 149 orphans and attendants. Only three of 152 in the troop compartment perished. Five of the flight crew, three of the medical team, and three others lost their lives, but 175 of the 328 aboard survived.' Source: Air Force Magazine, Aug. 1991.
He served with the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron "Mulies", 60th Military Airlift Wing, during "Operation Babylift".
He was awarded The Airman's Medal Posthumously, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Air Force Achievement Medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.
US Air Force Captain Edgar Robert Melton was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, CPT Melton served our country until April 10th, 1975 in Saigon, South Vietnam. All records say April 10th as the date of death, marker denotes a different date. He was 31 years old and was married. Edgar died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered. Edgar was born on February 26th, 1944 in Dallas, Texas. CPT Melton is on panel 01W, line 123 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Robert was my friend from childhood. Dreams of a Pilot-to-Be. Robert wanted to be a pilot from the time he was in fourth grade. As a fifth grader,he had Rheumatic Fever and when I took him his work each day, he would talk about his worry that this would keep him from being a pilot. He actually got his pilot's license before he became an adult. I know he would gladly give his life again for his country if he could. I would love to reminence with his brother Dale. I know his parents are glad to see Robert in Heaven. I value our friendship so very much. Nina Kay Davis Swaney, 322 Mantlebrook Drive, Desoto TX 75115, [email protected].
This American Hero, served with Honor and died with Courage! 'The initial mission of Operation Babylift to bring Vietnamese orphans to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. The C-5 departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhut Airport at 16:03. Twelve minutes after takeoff, after climbing through FL230, there was what seemed to be an explosion as the lower rear fuselage was torn apart. The locks of the rear loading ramp had failed, causing the door to open and separate. A rapid decompression occurred. Control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Two of the four hydraulic systems were out. The crew wrestled at the controls, managing to keep control of the plane with changes in power settings by using the one working aileron and wing spoilers.The crew descended to an altitude of 4,000 feet on a heading of 310 degrees in preparation for landing on Tan Son Nhut's Runway 25L. About halfway through a turn to final approach, the rate of descent increased rapidly to 4,000 feet per minute. Seeing they couldn't make the runway, full power was applied to bring the nose up. At 50 feet, the throttles where retarded to idle and the C-5 touched down in a rice paddy. Skidding about 1,000 feet, the aircraft again became airborne for a half mile before hitting a dike and breaking into four parts. The cargo compartment was completely destroyed, killing 141 of the 149 orphans and attendants. Only three of 152 in the troop compartment perished. Five of the flight crew, three of the medical team, and three others lost their lives, but 175 of the 328 aboard survived.' Source: Air Force Magazine, Aug. 1991.
He served with the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron "Mulies", 60th Military Airlift Wing, during "Operation Babylift".
He was awarded The Airman's Medal Posthumously, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Air Force Achievement Medal and The Air Force Commendation Medal.
