OMNR

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Dryden-18 finally winds down

OMNR

By the time mid-August of 1974 rolled around, the bulk of the helicopter flying operations on Dryden-18 were winding down. Retrieval operations were in full swing, and those of us remaining were anxious to see the end of the operation and depart.

Thumbnail image for Where’s an oven when you need one?

Where’s an oven when you need one?

Hughes

On Dryden-18 it was unusual for some of us to eat in the base camp kitchen on a regular basis. Thus began the search for an edible substitute to actual food, which culminated in the Swanson TV Dinner and the clamshell oven.

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Tower talk

OMNR

A temporary control tower was located at the Dryden Airport in 1974, which was much appreciated by the influx of air tankers, bird dog aircraft, helicopters and commercial flights.

Thumbnail image for A case of cola oversupply

A case of cola oversupply

OMNR

A lone semi pulled off the brand-new road and into the Dryden-18 base camp at Pine Beach on Eagle Lake. People rushed out to open the trailer doors and unload the latest orders. To their great surprise, the trailer wasn’t filled with groceries and line camp supplies.

Thumbnail image for Filling the orders

Filling the orders

OMNR

One of the many problems on a large campaign fire is supply and the associated supply management. Most of the time, the supply chain works as it should. However, when things go wrong in the supply chain, they sometimes go wrong in a big way.

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