Major Moses L. Alves was the navigator / SOS operator on Shadow 76 , a AC-119G gunship. During take-off from Tan Son Nhut AB on 11 October 1969, the left engine caught fire, aircraft went into a steep descending left turn, hitting the ground and bursting into flames. Five of the eight man crew were killed and a photographer assigned to the 600th Photo Sq.

Those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice

Lt. Col. Bernard Knapic

Capt. John H. Hathaway

Major Moses L. Alves

Major Jerome J. Rice

SSgt. Abraham L. Moore

* SSgt. Ellsworth Bradford

* Assign to 600th Photo Sq

SHADOW-76 was the first aircraft lost for the 17th SOS. A Memorial Plaque was dedicated at Hulbert Field Air Commando Park in Florida in memory of these brave men on 10-5-2003.

Comments/Citation

Mo immigrated from Portugal with his parents and siblings, two sisters and an older brother, Gabe, who was ten years Mo's senior, Mo was only three years old, and a rash had developed on his forehead; which might well have created a problem at then Ellis Island. His parents owned land in Portugal, groves producing grapes and olives; his father had come to the United States three years earlier, fluent in English, he got a job at Proctor and Gamble, and three years later, brought the whole family over here, having purchased with cash a three story home. Mo's mother would become a seamstress. The sisters helped her with home chores on Saturday, Mo went shopping with is father to carry the groceries. The older son Gabe? He became a Prisoner of War in WW II; five years.

Somehow, although in public schools, Mo decided he wanted to be an engineer! His father typically had planned well ahead; each of the daughters got a home for a wedding present; funds were also set aside for Mo's college. Mo wanted to go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate NY .. one of the most elite in the country .. and this was beyond his father's projection but off he went, they loaned him the difference and he repaid every dime before he bought a car after graduating with his BS in Aeronautical Engineering, having been president of his fraternity,commissioned 2d Lt from AFROTC.

Mo would compete Navigator/Bombardier Training at Mather AFB, "curve wrecker," and then McConnell at Wichita, and be assigned to Strategic Air Command, where he distinguished himself on the crew at Navigator/Bombardier, and they got a spot promotion accordingly, Mo to Captain within four years, and a Regular Commission, and assignment to The Air Force Institute of Technology, MS in Aerospace/Mechanical, thesis, "A Study of Manned Re-Entry from Hyperbolic Velocity." He was requested for assignment to Minuteman, Re-Entry Systems, by General Schultz, he became Program Director and was promoted to Major overnight.

He was the nicest person .. everyone loved him .. everyone cheered for him .. and he never changed .. he was always my "2d Lt." SAC was to have counted as "combat duty," five years, but Vietnam rang the bell, and he had to take a tour with other rated officers, and he said: "I am not a peacetime officer." He was to be reassigned to Minuteman then at Norton AFB, Space and Systems Missiles Division, now in Los Angeles, Los Angeles AFB, CA.