|
A
FAMILY BLOW UP
by W.
DeHaven Porter
JANUARY 2001
The Heckendorf family is explosive. Literally!
Dad Robert loves to strafe and bomb. Mom Carleen lays and ties
explosive detonation cord with the best of 'em and brings people
to tears merely by speaking into her microphone. Son Trevor
chuckles with anticipation as he contemplates shooting his AK-47
assault rifle at a circling L-19 Bird Dog. Son Fielding and
Daughter-in-law Holly knead and hand pack lumps of plastic explosive
as though they were hamburger patties. And brother-in-law Tom
Carney delights in spending hours in the sun preparing buckets
of high-octane aviation fuel for enormous eye-searing three-second
blasts. Moreover, the family surrounds itself with free spirits
who enjoy jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, crashing
others, blowing things up and raising hell in general. Wherever
they go, they leave behind scorched earth.
To unfortunates who have never seen
a 69th Battalion Special Operations Group airshow, this family
might sound like demented competition for the Munsters.
But really folks, it all falls under
the heading of good clean family fun. If explosive/pyro shows
could be classified as an art form, the Heckendorf family would
be known as the da Vincis of destruction, the Picassos of powder,
or the Bachs of blasting. Alliteration aside, this closely-knit
family puts on an airshow act like none other in the world.
The 69th downed pilot act has become
an airshow classic, now in its fifth year and booked to its
maximum capability every airshow season. Airshow organizers'
demand for the 69th, with its latest addition of a firepower
demo by an A-37 Dragonfly and an OV1 Mohawk, has exceeded the
organization's logistical abilities and forced team leader Robert
Heckendorf to turn down numerous airshow requests which are
either too late or too far from the 69th's Denver base. The
team, which brings up to seven aircraft and 20 to 30 participants
to every show, completed 19 shows in 2000.
The now famous downed pilot act begins
with an injured F-4 pilot prone on his collapsed chute at show
center, with AK-47 armed Viet Cong closing in. He's rescued
by a Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) team which includes Special
Forces jumping from an UV18A Twin Otter into a live fire fight,
a target marking and crash scene by a O-1 Bird Dog, strafing,
bombing and napalm wall-of-fire by Heckendorf in his spectacular
Douglas A-1 Skyraider, and a BDA, or Bomb Damage Assessment,
flown by a Cessna O-2. Spectacular accompanying pyrotechnics
bring the cheering airshow crowd to its feet in a fever pitch
of excitement.
The 18-minute act and all its authentic
chatter is heard on live mike by spectators. But perhaps the
most emotionally charged portion of the show is Carleen Heckendorf's
announcing, including her dedication of the show to all American
servicemen who did not return from Vietnam, with special words
for the aircrews who gave their lives flying CSAR missions while
trying to protect and rescue their brothers-downed airmen. The
effect of this tribute and the realistic explosive show on veterans
of Vietnam is electrifying and immediate. Many are observed
weeping as they relive their own combat experiences and recall
their lost comrades. Each 69th show is dedicated to fallen American
warriors and sends the message that we must never forget those
who gave their all, even in an unpopular and controversial war.
The 69th's extended family includes
its expert infield blasters, pilots, mechanics and other support
personnel contributing their particular talents and skills to
bring together a unique show who's emotional effects and touching
tributes linger in hearts long after the ramp is emptied and
the 69th's aircraft are winging their way back to Denver's Centennial
Airport.
For information on the
69th Battalion Special Operations Group
contact Team Leader Robert Heckendorf,
P.O Box 24286, Denver CO 80224, phone 303.782-3681, fax 303.782-3694,
e-mail [email protected]
|
