1 Comments Posted by Bubbles

Thanks for posting this. I worked with Compass Link in early 1971 while at 7th AF HQ, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN and this is the first time I have ever seen a picture of the "other end". I worked 12 hours night shifts there and would receive the target strike orders from the White House (via the Pentagon) and carry those outside and across the street to the Command Post, known as Blue Chip, to be turned into "frag orders". When you hear about micromanaging the Vietnam War from Washington, this is part of what is being referred to. The White House deciding on individual targets and many times doing it very badly indeed. This "frag" in frag order refers not to bombs but to (fragmentary) orders for what missions/aircraft were to hit what targets. I would then carry confirmation back and resend via Compass Link.

Now imagine that is being done by a 19 year old, three striper airman in the middle of the night with no officer in sight; they must have trusted me! Sleep well America. It was the height of tech at the time and, yes, nixie lights were the epitome of futuristic cool. BTW, each base had a PMEL (Precision Measurement Equipment or Electronics Lab I think) where the equipment was calibrated and those little stickers were affixed.