Birth: Jun. 18, 1925, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Death: Oct. 11, 1969, Pleiku, Gia Lai, Vietnam
Burial: Fort Sheridan Cemetery, Highwood, Lake County, Illinois, USA
Plot: Section 9 Plot 205
STAFF SERGEANT ELLSWORTH S. BRADFORD
11 October 1969, SSgt Bradford, an aerial photographer was aboard an AC-119 aircraft which took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, on a combat gunship mission. He was killed when immediately after lift off, the port engine caught fire and the aircraft went into a sharp descending left turn, hitting the ground and bursting into flames.
http://www.ac-119gunships.com/history/17thsoschrono.htm
http://www.600photo.gapmedia.com/Memory/memory.html
Notes:
The crew of “C” Flight, 17th Special Operations Squadron, 14th Special Operations Wing flew out of Tan Son Nhut AB in 1969, flying the AC-119.
According to the onsite history, “the first AC-119G Aircraft Loss was the crash of ‘Shadow 76’ at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Five of eight crewmembers killed. A USAF photographer from the 600th Photo Squadron was also onboard and was killed.” It crashed on take off. Details of the crash state that the port engine caught fire and the aircraft went into a sharp descending left turn, hitting the ground and bursting into flame.?
Those killed on this aircraft were:
Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Knapic, 17th SOS
Captain John H. Hathaway, 17th SOS
Major Moses L. Alves, 17th SOS
Major Jerome J. Rice, 17th SOS
Staff Sergeant Abraham L. Moore, 17th SOS
SSgt. Ellsworth Smith Bradford, 600th Photo. Squadron
SSgt. Bradford died in the line of duty on 10-11-1969 while serving as a Still Photographic Specialist with the 600th Photo Squadron, 7th Air Force. SSgt. Bradford started his tour of Vietnam on 9-30-1969.
He is the son of Mrs. Flora Berry of 7301 South Rhodes Street, Chicago, Illinois, and the husband of Mrs. Pearl S. Bradford of 19 Council Street, Sumter, South Carolina, and the father of two daughters, Miss Regina L & Miss Toskiso L. and two sons, Mr. William R. & Mr. Ronnie E. Bradford.
SSgt. Bradford reenlisted at Clark Field in the Philippines on June 14, 1968.
Awards: Vietnam Service Medal with One Service Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal.
SGT. William J. McCall, “Bill”
Basic Training, Lackland AFB, Texas, August/September, 1968
95% Still Photographer; 5% Lab Technician
1968; Ellsworth AFB, SD.
TDY, Guam, 1969, 6 months
Back to Ellsworth
Bien Hoa, 1970-1971
Phu Cat, 1971
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 1972
Discharge April 1972; Early Out for college
Graduation from Daytona State College, A.S. Photography
Professional Photographer for 25 years
Civilian, Photographer, Fort Bragg, NC
Retired, VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC
I served with Sgt Bradford at Ton Son Nhut RVN in the 600th Photo Sq. I was on duty and spoke with him a few minutes before he boarded his aircraft that night. He was a real gentleman and a fine man. I was the one who broke the news to his bunk mate that night. I have visited his name at the Wall in Washington.
Tim,
I’m a volunteer with a group looking for photos of those who perished in Vietnam. When found, the photo is put with the profile at vvmf.org. Do you have a photo of SSgt. Bradford? If so, please send it to me at the email address wcm4now@hotmail.com. Thanks in advance for your help.
Tim,
Jack Cheasty here. I Just caught your posting about Bradford this morning. If you remember, I overlapped with your tour, leaving the end of August ’69. Would love to catch up with you and see how the last 50+ years unfolded for you …
I served with SSgt Bradford at Elgin AFB Florida, before we were shipped to Nam. He was a friend and a great guy. I will never forget him.
Hello Robert. My name is Jake Stefaniak and I am a student researcher at Lake Central High School in St. John, IN. We are researching Vietnam War veterans. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honors each veteran with a profile on their website. I was wondering if you possibly have any pictures of SSgt Bradford. Thanks, Jake Stefaniak