The James H. Platt Vietnam War Collection relates to the 1967-1968 military service of Platt, a U.S. Air Force First Lieutenant and Rescue Crew Commander stationed at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand. The bulk of the collection is twenty (20) slides, taken by Platt. The slides do not have identifying information but generally depict military aircraft and surrounding locations.
Some images depict military aircraft such as Sikorsky (S-61R) HH-3E Jolly Green Giants, and three images feature a Lockheed C-130A Hercules accident at an airfield. One image shows helicopters, likely HH-3Es, parked at night. One image features an unidentified soldier in fatigues, and one features audio equipment. Four (4) slides are aerial shots of landscapes, and four (4) slides show civilian buildings and street scenes, possibly in Thailand or Laos.
At the end of the collection is a photocopied document of the citation that accompanied the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Platt.
Some images depict military aircraft such as Sikorsky (S-61R) HH-3E Jolly Green Giants, and three images feature a Lockheed C-130A Hercules accident at an airfield. One image shows helicopters, likely HH-3Es, parked at night. One image features an unidentified soldier in fatigues, and one features audio equipment. Four (4) slides are aerial shots of landscapes, and four (4) slides show civilian buildings and street scenes, possibly in Thailand or Laos.
At the end of the collection is a photocopied document of the citation that accompanied the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Platt.
Dates
- 1967-1968
Creator
- Platt, James H., 1942- (Photographer, Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 file folder)
Abstract
James H. Platt served in Vietnam from 1967-1968 as a United States Air Force Rescue Commander. The collection contains twenty (20) slides and one (1) photocopied document related to his service.
Biographical Note: James H. Platt
James H. Platt served in Vietnam from 1967-1968 with the U.S. Air Force. First Lieutenant Platt was stationed at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base (NKP), Thailand and was Rescue Crew Commander. The crew would rescue downed pilots in Laos and Thailand.
No further biographical information is known.
Source
Biography derived from collection materials.
No further biographical information is known.
Source
Biography derived from collection materials.
Historical Note: Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, lasted from approximately 1955 until 1975 and was fought with the goal of reunification. The North Vietnamese were aided financially and militarily by China and the Soviet Union, while South Vietnam was backed by the United States.
Regular U.S. deployments began after the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. However, U.S. involvement peaked in 1968 following the Tet Offensive, which was an attempt by North Vietnam forces to execute surprise attacks on military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive triggered the decline of support from the U.S. public, eventually dovetailing into the anti-Vietnam War movement. In May 1968, peace talks began between the United States and North Vietnam in Paris, France.
Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground forces began in 1973 as part of "Vietnamization," a policy of President Richard Nixon's that sought to end American involvement by providing equipment and training to the South Vietnamese with the goal of transferring fighting solely to their forces. Additionally, President Nixon suspended military offensives against North Vietnam, and on January 15, 1973, direct U.S. involvement ended.
Despite all parties signing the Paris Peace Accords, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam, but South Vietnam was not able to sustain its defense against North Vietnam. The Vietnam War ended in April 1975 when the North Vietnamese Army captured Saigon, the capital city of South Vietnam. The countries reunified the following year.
Source and Further Reading:
Stanley Karnow, Vietnam: a history, New York: Viking Press, 1983.
Regular U.S. deployments began after the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. However, U.S. involvement peaked in 1968 following the Tet Offensive, which was an attempt by North Vietnam forces to execute surprise attacks on military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive triggered the decline of support from the U.S. public, eventually dovetailing into the anti-Vietnam War movement. In May 1968, peace talks began between the United States and North Vietnam in Paris, France.
Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground forces began in 1973 as part of "Vietnamization," a policy of President Richard Nixon's that sought to end American involvement by providing equipment and training to the South Vietnamese with the goal of transferring fighting solely to their forces. Additionally, President Nixon suspended military offensives against North Vietnam, and on January 15, 1973, direct U.S. involvement ended.
Despite all parties signing the Paris Peace Accords, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam, but South Vietnam was not able to sustain its defense against North Vietnam. The Vietnam War ended in April 1975 when the North Vietnamese Army captured Saigon, the capital city of South Vietnam. The countries reunified the following year.
Source and Further Reading:
Stanley Karnow, Vietnam: a history, New York: Viking Press, 1983.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Existence and Location of Copies
Materials from this collection have been digitized and are available at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections.
- Air pilots, Military
- Aircraft accidents
- Airplanes, Military
- Helicopters
- Laos
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules Family
- Lockheed KC-130 Hercules Family
- Nakhon Phanom (Thailand : Province)
- Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base
- Sikorsky (S-61R) HH-3E Jolly Green Giant
- Thailand
- United States. Air Force
- Vietnam
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- aerial photographs
- awards
- de Havilland (Canada) DHC-4 Caribou Family
- photocopies
- slides (photographs)
Creator
- Platt, James H., 1942- (Photographer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the James H. Platt Vietnam War Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 3
- Author
- J. Parent
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Edition statement
- 1st Edition
Revision Statements
- November 2018: Finding aid migrated to ArchivesSpace.
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org