Marine Air Traffic Control Association

FYI

We are over 500 MATCA members - officer and enlisted (General to PFC) controllers and techs, retirees and one-tour Marines, active duty and FAA.

Our ranks consist of Marines that served with Marine Air Traffic Control type units. From MATCUs to MATCS to MACS, we the "Fewer and Prouder" maintain a BROTHERHOOD that is second to none.

http://www.matca.org/

Radio and radar guidance

Bob,

I don't recall having to use any GCA services in '67 and '68, but certainly appreciated TACAN and TPQ.

I marked my maps with the radial and distance (DME?) for often visited zones so I could find them IFR (from Dong Ha TACAN, for example). Got to the distance on the radial and I knew that I could spiral down and be in the close ballpark.

With Joe Hanner of this group, we found our way to a zone in Laos using the Ch. 69 TACAN. Then found our way home. Useful indeed.

Was on the ground in the Z during a TPQ by A-6s; it was awesome. They came in on the deck and dropped close under WOXOF conditions.

I'm glad you guys had the gear in the rear (and maybe not so far in the rear).

Thanks for your help; we needed everything we could get.

Stand tall.

Ed

ATC

Without going to my logbook for details and fearful specific memories, I can say unequivically that I always considered Marine ATC/DASC (and TACAN navaids) an essential part of my (our) survival. The easiest example of an ongoing ****-sandwich which was made palatable by your services is the Super-gaggle operation during the Tet Offensive in 1968 in the Northern and Western-most reaches of I-Corps. You (your calm and professional voices on UHF) made it possible and survivable......also, your TACAN signals were sometimes criticized, but always counted upon, and 99% accurate; saved my behind often, especially during severe IFR. When completely discombolulated and disoriented, after one of the aforementioned sandwiches, one could always just head to an open area on a clear TACAN radial and let down to VFR with pretty good assurance that there were not rocks in those clouds....the TACAN fix was also the easiest and quickest reference when getting our fast moving brothers to "come quick" to help us and our ground Marines in trouble.

Thanks a huge bunch for all the long hours and gallons of sweat; I know you always worried about us....and we DO appreciate it.

S/F,

Moon

I flew with HMM-361 out of Danang in '65 and HMM-163 out of Hue-Phu Bai in '66. In both areas, your TACANs helped save numerous Marines.

I drew concentric circles denoting 3 mile intervals, along with prime radials (every 10 degrees), on the topographical charts we used for navigation. On those super dark nights, or even monsoon days, I could navigate using the TACAN, to get me close enough to a medevac pick-up point to see the grunts flashlight on the ground.

In '66 at Phu-Bai, I made contact with the guys who controlled fixed-wing attack aircraft, even to the point of bomb release, (I don't remember the unit). I reasoned, if they could be that accurate, they could control me on low viz medevac. Worked great, except range was limited, as I remember.

Tactical Support (DASC/TPQ-10)

I want to thank those that have already responded for the information they are providing. It's just what I wanted. I do want to make it clear up front that the MATCUs had little to do with the tacical control of aircraft. I am very unsure of the exact linkage, but I think a Marine Air Support Squadron was responsible for the DASCs and TPQ-10 ops. I don't want us to be given credit for their accomplishments. They did a fine job and it should be recognized as a separate mission than that assigned to the MATCUs.

Again, Thank you

Bob Marshall

If I remember right the MASS squadrons ran the DASC, and the MACS squadrons ran tactical radar intercepts, and were assigned the the Marine Air Control Group. I think the LAMM Bn were also part of the Air Control Group. The MATCU units came under the Marine Air Groups, and set up the local GCA, and control tower. When I was at Marble Mountain there was a unit there that could give you an ASR approach into Marble in bad weather. I heard that MATCU-62 had a GCA at Khe Sanh in 1968.

Aeronautical Chart Information Request

I appreciate all the responses that I have received, both on the Notam Board and direct. Can I ask you to look in that old dusty NAV bag in the closet or attic and try to find an old aeronautical chart of the era in Northern I Corps? I would like a list of the locations of Marine TACANs, their assigned channel, and the three letter ID. I was at Dong Ha and the TACAN ID was DMZ, but I don't remember what the assigned channel was. If anyone has the equivalent of a VFR sectional chart or approach plates would you contact me so that I could possibly get copies?

Thanks

Bob Marshall

FYI

109
V-22
Dong Ha
SVN
Apr 67

http://members.tripod.com/chancefac/TACANs.htm

Phu Bai
Channel 69

Hue/Phu Bai Tower 241.0