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ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
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#1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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Vintage GMT
![]() I will try photos next week the watch is in shop getting custom bracelet repaired we wore out original one years ago. ![]() |
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#2 |
TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron
Join Date: May 2007
Real Name: Larry
Location: Mojave Desert
Watch: GMT's
Posts: 43,341
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The only thing you can't post is a url. Anybody can upload images using the paperclip attachment and meeting size requirements.
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(Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member |
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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MY CAREER WORKING AS A ROLEX GMT
WATCH FLYING THE LINE In the realm of legendary luxury watches I am no hanger queen watch that has been in a box stored in a safe. I am a 1969 iconic vintage gold Rolex GMT Master ref 16758 watch that has been out flying the line. I have been out doing what I was made for keeping GMT time for aviators. I was bought at the United States Naval purchasing department, Hong Kong B.C.C on 29th of October 1969. My new owner was a flight mechanic for Air America in Saigon RVN on Bell 204 helicopters. He was then transferred to Udorn Thailand as a flight mechanic on CH -47 and Bell 204/205 helicopter fighting the CIA secret war in Laos. 1978 Our next flying job was on CH-47 helicopters as Flight Engineer/Crew Chief for the Libyan Air Force. 1984 my owner was a flight mechanic at Kalitta/American International Airways on B-727s, DC-8s and 747 aircraft flying trips all over the world. I was there keeping time for him. 1996 we where flying at Kitty Hawk Air Cargo on 727 in the USA and places like Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. 2001 worked for Sports Jet flying sports teams all over the world on B-737 and B-757. I was there doing my job on 9-11 2001 going to England, Sweden, Canada then Denver and other towns in the USA. 2007 Since then we have just done ground maintenance job on C-130 aircraft. 2024 And I am working just as good as the day I was bought |
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#4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Real Name: Dr Mark R Nail
Location: New Albany
Watch: Tudor Sub 75090
Posts: 8,137
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Wow. What a life!!!!
Welcome aboard.
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------------------------------- Member of the Nylon Nation |
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#5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Uk
Watch: RolexGMT/Tudor7928
Posts: 3,567
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Sounds like a life really well lived
Great timeline and watch |
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#6 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Paris
Posts: 3,569
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Amazing! Any other pictures from during service?
Happily retired now, you not the watch!? ![]() |
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#7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
|
Live of my vintage GMT
![]() Over the years it has also had the stem change 2 time. top photo Air America Bell 204 and 205 helicopter on the ramp at 20A Long Chen Laos. Next one Air America Ch-47C on ramp Udorn Thailand. Bottom Colonel Gaddafi Libyan Air force CH-47C More Photos later Last edited by repaircraftsvc; 19 May 2024 at 09:25 PM.. Reason: ADD photos |
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#8 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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Life of my vintage GMT
Life with leather band
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#9 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 46,337
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Very cool.
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#10 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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Quote:
Photo of me working note my walker |
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#11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 5
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Wow what a story! Amazing watch,pilot,mechanic and man!! All the best! Cheers
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#12 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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Life of my vintage gmt
Here is one flight my GMT and I did every weekend back in the mid 1990s on a B 747 as a Flight Mechanic.
Saturday 0700 left Honolulu,PangoPango American Samoa,Melbourne Australia,Hong Kong,Khabaroevsk Russia,Anchorage,LAX,and back in Honolulu Tuesday 0500. My GMT Rolex did the time keeping. |
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#13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Tennessee, USA
Posts: 15
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Wow! Great life and stories. Thanks so much for sharing.
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#14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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GMT at work for Operation Smile & 9/11
Here is Swift Air B-757 that I was Flight Mechanic on when we took Operation Smile to Da Nang Vietnam and Phnom Penh Cambodia. Photo is in Cambodia
This is same airplane I was on after 9/11 Once again the good old Rolex GMT did it job with the time keeping. |
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#15 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: london
Posts: 6,063
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Coolest man and watch to join for a longtime. Welcome.
__________________
@imrootbeer7 |
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#16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Uk
Watch: RolexGMT/Tudor7928
Posts: 3,567
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Some great photos
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#17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: U.K.
Posts: 99
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Ha excellent. I love this thread.
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#18 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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Bezel
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#19 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Real Name: Ken
Location: New Mexico
Watch: GMT & DJ
Posts: 414
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Leave it just like it is. Wonderful watch and history!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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#20 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Global in 1C
Watch: 1675
Posts: 454
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Thanks for your service and thanks for posting great pics.
__________________
1675, 14060M, 16600, 16610, 16610LV, 16622, 16700LN, 116520 |
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#21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,168
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Thanks for this, best watch and story maybe ever! You rock OP!
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#22 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 2,106
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#23 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: U.K.
Posts: 99
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#24 |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Real Name: Brian
Location: Nashville
Watch: 16750
Posts: 6,337
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Awesome stuff, thanks for sharing. Great watch as well. I always admired the gold with the brown nipple dial and brown bezel. Just a cool watch.
Former C-130 power line mechanic here myself. Primarily in Asia, as well.
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16750 | 6516(wife’s) | 126334 | 16570 | SBGA413 | SRPE33 | 126610LV |
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#25 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Northeast
Posts: 446
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Great post, thank you for sharing!
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#26 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
|
Adventure
If I am getting
![]() The historical significance of the Rolex GMT-Master cannot be overstated. It was not only a pioneering tool for aviation but also a symbol of adventure. It graced the wrist of countless adventurers as they embarked on their journeys around the world Air America "first in last out"was adventure,intrigue,danger,it was owned buy the US Government and operated as a CIA "air proprietary" often in dangerous combat and combat support roles behind a shroud of strict secrecy.The end came when Air America personnel risked their lives to evacuate the last Americans from Vietnam. Like me many Air America people owned Rolex watches and over the years have passed them down in the family or soled them in their old age or like me still have them. |
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#27 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
|
Up date
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#28 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2023
Real Name: Dom
Location: United Kingdom
Watch: SD16600 & 9411
Posts: 416
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Fantastic thread!
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Rolex 16610, 16600, Tudor 9411/0 (black and blue), black 79090, black 76100.... and a 90520 |
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#29 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southeast
Watch: Divers, GMT
Posts: 2,147
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Fantastic!
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#30 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Real Name: James
Location: AZ USA
Watch: Rolex GMT 16758
Posts: 57
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GMT Papers
Here are papers for my GMT
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