Norbert Albert Podhajsky

Norbert Albert “Britt” Podhajsky was killed three days before returning home from Vietnam. Before enlisting in the military he received a BA in Political Science and got married. He joined the Air Force in 1966 out of Des Moines. Podhajsky completed trainings at Lackland Air Force Base and at Reese Air Force Base, both in Texas. In April 1969 he was stationed out of Dover, DE and was on a monthly rotation between Southeast Asia and Europe. While at Dover he piloted C-133 cargo aircraft. He then trained to fly C-123 transport planes in Columbus, OH. CPT Podhajsky was deployed to Danang, South Vietnam on February 7, 1970. During his time in Vietnam he piloted C-123K transport planes on several missions. On November 28, 1970 in a letter home Podhajsky described “a tragic loss” as a fellow aircraft crashed into a mountain in bad weather. The Captain was 3 days from returning home when he wrote his final letter. He wrote, “All I can say at this point is that I’m thankful and grateful that I got through this year without incident . . . I’m ready to leave . . . I might very well beat this letter home.” The following day CAPT Podhajsky was killed while aboard a flight home. The plane crashed into the side of the mountain in bad weather killing thirty Americans. He was 27 years old at the time of his death and he left behind a young wife. His body was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Vining, IA.