Pages

74

Media Type

Oral History

Author(s)

Richard B. Verrone, PhD

Physical Location

Stacks

Language(s)

English

Format

MP3

Time - Hr:Min:Sec

4:11:38

Digitized in HD?

No

General Note

(USAF) - Ralph Erchinger, who was born in Hammond, IN, in 1930 and grew up in Calumet, IN, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 until 1982 and retired a Colonel. COL Erchinger was trained in and flew multiple aircraft throughout his career including the T-34, T-28, SA-16 (later the HU-16), C-47, CV-2 (Caribou), and C-130. In 1956 and 1957, at Vance AB in Enid, OK, he was part of the last class to train in the B-25. COL Erchinger first served in Southeast Asia between 1957 and 1960 as part of the 31st Air Rescue Squadron based out of Clark AB in the Philippines and then again in 1966 and 1967 as part of the 61st Aviation Company, 536th Tactical Airlift Squadron, in Vung Tau, South Vietnam. There he was a Caribou Pilot, Flight Commander, and served as Chief of Training. COL Erchinger retired from the Air Force on April 23, 1982.