4 NOV 07

All,
 Well it took me a while but I finally found part of my "stuff" from Sinop. I was part of the military police platoon in 1977 and 1978.  Sinop was a very memorable time but I wanted to send these photo scans for everyone.  I have some more photos but I'll be ..... if I can find them. 
As I mentioned earlier I was the "Acting Jack" Platoon Sergeant on my way out and Dennis Kasabian was on the way in when Esek 11 went down.  Mike Galbreath was also a sergeant.  He and I had came together from Ft. Carson about Feb of 77.  I was the second group on the mountain right after the doctor and one other officer who got to the site early the next morning. 
The large photo clip



was on the front page of the turkish paper out of Ankara that showed the downed plane. I am
in the inset photo.  It is hard to see but that is me standing and talking on the radio.  I had only been there a few hours (I had blue jeans on over my uniform to stay warm in the thigh deep snow).   


PHOTO OF MP ON RADIO, NOC, TURK SOLDIER AND REPORTER.  Our reporter Adem Bilir, with American personnel. Americans first they did not authorize us to take any pictures. On radio seeking guidance.

HEADLINE:  THERE ARE ONLY SOME BONES AND ASHES LEFT FROM THE 5 AMERICANS WHO BOARDED THE PLAIN THAT CRASHED IN KULLUK MOUNTAIN
U-21 type mail cargo plain left Istanbul on Friday and was scheduled to arrive onto Sinop American Radar Base at 2:30 pm, has crashed, due to the weather conditions at Kulluk Mountain located 10 km away from the city of Efelek, with 5 Americans on board.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
The officials reported that above crash was only seen by some residents of Efelek's Sorgun Village. According to the information from officials, the American mail cargo plain, has crashed at about 1150 meters high Kulluk Mountain area due to heavy fog and pilot error and was crashed in to the trees on the mountain.
 
THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND A DAY LATER.
As soon as officials were notified of the crash, search and rescue efforts were put in place but land searches was delayed due to nightfall. The first land-search and rescue team that was assigned to reach to wreckage was forced to turn back due to extreme snow.
The following day, air-search and rescue efforts were in place by the American Air forces along with the choppers from the Sinop American Radar Base, and they were able to locate the wreckage around noon on Saturday. The locals were able to get to the wreckage area on foot, just about the same time with the officials.
 
THE SECOND DAY
The second day of the crash Turkish and American soldiers were sent to the wreckage area. The choppers that were assigned to take soldiers between the wreckage and the Sinop Radar Base had made several trips during the day but were not able to complete the last scheduled trip to pick up the soldiers from the wreckage due to extreme fog. Due to this delay, soldiers had spent 24 hours at the wreckage area and were able to be picked up by the choppers on Sunday morning, after the weather conditions became better.
 
REPORTERS' BATTLE WITH SNOW TOOK 16 LONG HOURS
After the wreckage has been located, a group of reporters left the city of Efelek to get to the location by foot, due to the officials not allowing any civilians taken to the seen with the choppers. Ali Ulger, Mayor of Efelek has advised the reports not to go due to extreme weather conditions. But against all odds, reports had left the city of Efelek at around 9 pm Sunday night.
Towards the end of the 10 kilometers distance to the wreckage, group of reporters had to face almost 1-meter deep snow. One of the reporters had fainted 4 times while trying to reach to the wreckage. Due to his illness the other reporters was forced to think about turning back but after a brief voting session, had decided to continue with the impossible mission.
When they arrived to the wreckage at 7 am the next morning, the American Soldiers told them that they had to leave the area and were not allowed to take any pictures.
Even though the group of reporters were the first ones to arrive to wreckage on foot, when the rescue teams equipped with bulldozers arrived the wreckage area, reporters were heading back to the city of Efelek on foot. To a trip that will take them another 6 hours of fighting with cold and snow, on foot.
 
EVERYTHING KEPT SECRET
American personnel at Sinop Radar Base, is refusing to give any information to Turkish Officials regarding the accident. Mayor of Sinop, Abidin Coskun has claimed that he couldn't find out about the identity of 5 Americans who were boarded the plain. He said; "We don't understand the reasons this whole thing has been kept as a big secret. We insisted on, at least to get the names of the Americans who lost their lives but wasn't given an answer by their officials".
The officials at Sinop Radar Base haven't given any information related to the cause of this accident.
Mayor of Sinop, Abidin Coskun informed the reporters that American Officials requested German Officials to perform the investigation of the crash. Mayor of Efelek, Ali Ulger added that, Turkish Officials would not be participating on the investigation due to all casualties being American. He also informed the reports that all the investigation would be completed by American Officials.

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The afternoon of the first day after the post doctor and engineer officers (both captains) flew out left three of us there; A warrant officer from the Hippodrome crew (can not remember his name)and one Turkish soldier to spend the night along with myself. Six of our soldiers who perished in the crash were still in body bags beside the plane when the turkish reporters showed up late the first day having "hiked" their way up the mountain. We were trying to build a camp in the snow and cold when these klinks came hiking up the hill in their little procession late in the evening.  They were jabbering with the turkish soldier who was also our interpreter when one of them decided to try to start taking photos of the soldiers by opening the bags up.  Myself and the warrant stepped between them and things got warm pretty fast to the point where I had my hand on the pistol and the warrant was trying to get some guidance from the hill on the sorry radio.  Basically we wanted to know if we had permission to pull the pistol and shoot them (primarily the little trouble making bugger).  That wasn't really said but we were on the fringe with a lot of loud talking and hopping around.  Somewhere during the middle of this sureal argument on the top of mountain the warrant officer and turk soldier got in this big discussion with the reporter- instigator and while they were talking I continued to try to communicate with the hill and get some guidance on could I shoot the SOB.  (that is when another reporter took the photo of me in the inset).  To make a long story short the turk soldier finally said something and patted his old rifle and they decided to calm down.  The warrant and I thought we were going to be in the middle of an international incident cause it got ugly for a few minutes but thankfully he backed off. They took some more photos and finally left.  We spent the night under a tarp tent in sleeping bags and some type of diesel heater which came in real handy.  The next day they brought a small dozer from Det 4 along with several personnel and pushed their way up  the mountain.  They had supplies, a tent and some help.  Sometime during the second day the turk helicopter helped us evacaute the dead.  By then an accident investigator from Ft. Rucker via Germany had arrived.  We spent the next couple of days with him picking up and pulling the engines down the hill.  They left the fuselage but took the engines and some other minor stuff like the props.  If I remember right we spent three and half full days up there.  I am in my 33rd year in the military and I have to say EVERY time I smell aviation fuel I think of Esek011 and those three days on that mountain in northern Turkey.

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When Mike Galbreath and I arrived the Platoon Sergeant (E7) was a short timer.  I can't remember his last name but his first I think was Barry. There was another E-5 their who was also short.  The Photo entitled MPPlatoon77 has all of us including 16 newly arrived privates that had gotten to sinop there just ahead of mike and myself. 

(I have enclosed a word document with the photo outline and each of those in the photo numbered.  I would appreciate an e-mail if you can help me remember all those folks and If I can ever get it complete I will repost it with names).  

1-SFc. Barry _______, 2-Sgt. Mike Windham, 5-Sgt. Mike Galbreath, 12- Wayne Murphy,
16- Charlie Williams, 20-Platoon leader 1st Lt. _________

Every last one of them came from the same MP class from Ft. Mclellan.  They were a wild group and we had a great time.  Because the two "real" NCO's were leaving they made Mike and Mike Acting Sergeants.  Since I was the Senior E-4, I was the Platoon Sergeant and Galbreath the Ops sergeant.  I can't remember the First Lieutenants name but he wasn't much older than all of the rest of us (he is in the far right photo and I am second from left standing). 

The other photo entitled SinopPromotion77 was when all 16 of these privates were promoted to PFC in the post theater.  It was unique to say the least.  As I mentioned, we were all pretty wild and being on the "hill" left a lot of free time to get into trouble.  Between running, lifting weights playing all kind of sports and "drinkin" at the club we did manage to stay out of too much trouble.

I have also enclosed a scan of two patches, the MP patch and the Esek Airlines Patch I had that are still new.

It is funny how time and things have a way of working out.  I never started out to be a "lifer".  After I left Sinop I was stationed at Bliss for six months then got out and started to college in Mississippi.  Three months later I joined the Mississippi Army National Guard, Six months later I started Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1980.  I was a "weekend warrior" for six years while I went to college and worked and thru a series of events ended up going to work for the National Guard full time and converting to Engineer Branch where I have been ever working ever since and pushing 33 years in the military. 
I am the Director of Engineering for the Mississippi Army National Guard and that is where I am today, how much longer, who knows.  As I have seen many of you write, Sinop and Turkey was really a memorable place.  It was kinda like being put back in time for a period.  Just hard to explain the fascination but the web site does a great job.  Keep up the good work.

Michael Windham Colonel,
Engineer Mississippi Army National Guard,
Jackson, Mississippi
mike.windham@us.army.mil
thewindhams21@att.net

Copyright © Michael Windham, 2008. All Rights Reserved.