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37th TAS Langley AFB


tinwhistle
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Every once in awhile this squadron, the 37th TAS, at Langley is mentioned and always presented in a good light. In Jan. of 1967 I rotated back to Langley for the last 7 months of my enlistment (I hated it there), and for some reason I assumed that it was the 37th that I was assigned to. However after recieving a packet of personel files I requested from the USAF I see I was assigned to the 38th TCS, Langley. Could some one shed a little light on this matter? Was there two different C-130 squadrons at Langley in that time frame? If there was two, or more C-130 squadrons at Langley in 1967 was there a huge difference in the leadership, moral, etc.? Without going into a lot of details, that was a thorough miserable 7 months, and I've never been able to make the connection between my experience and the good things I've heard from others, about Langley, on this forum. Thanks for any insite...

Chris

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When I got there in 69 there were 2 squadrons 36,37. 38 i thought came later.

36 seemed to have some problems, Col Mulvey was commander, things got better over there with Birdie Brevig as the new commander. 37 was a pretty good squadron in all departments. 38 had Browning Wharton as its first commander and seemed OK.

I can't comment on what it was like in 67, but it was a good place to be by 1969.

Bob

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When I got to KLFI in 1970, there was just the 36th and 37th, as Bob says. Brevig did make things better there at the 36th, and then, I can't remember exactly, but i want to say around the end of '71 the 38th came in, and I think they transferred a number of people from the the other two squadrons to the 38th. at least I know that they did that with some loadmasters. I think,at least for me, the 36th sorta went sour when Brevig left, and more importantly, for us loadies, CMSGT Regi went to TAC, I think it was. Best damn man I ever worked for, his replacement, welll....

Giz

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Chris, the 316th was a new wing that was started at Langley after the 463rd went to PACAF in late 1965. They brought in initial cadre from other TAC bases, particularly Pope. They had three squadrons, the 36th, 37th and 38th. But didn't TAC still have OMS squadrons like we had at Pope? I know MAC still had them.

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Chris, the 316th was a new wing that was started at Langley after the 463rd went to PACAF in late 1965. They brought in initial cadre from other TAC bases, particularly Pope. They had three squadrons, the 36th, 37th and 38th. But didn't TAC still have OMS squadrons like we had at Pope? I know MAC still had them.

According to what I can find on the Net, the 38th transferred to Forbes in July, 1969 then "came back." http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14311

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If I remember rightly when the 38 was actavated at Langley they had no planes so the flew the 36th and 37th planes during the summer of 1971. The 37th Loadmasters only flew about once a week . It was a great summer for us not much to do. But late 71 things picked up as the 38th got there planes and things got moving again we went from fathom to feast as if I remember rightly I was TDY 267 days out of 365. The 37th air crews had good morel for the 4 years I was there you doint always see whats going on around you but again those were drinking years so my memoreys arent always correct

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This sounds about right,Mitch, the 36th was on rote to Moldyhole from from early part of july to late August, somethin' like that, and that was when the 38th became a flyin' squadron of itself, w and I think they had the tail lettesr LO, but I can't be certain..............

Giz

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Sam,

I can't recall if Pope was OMS in 1964-1965 or not. I do recall that I was assistant crew chief assigned to 877 when I went TDY to Mactan. Then later (at Tachi) I think that we were operating as OMS. CCK was set up as OMS and of course anything in country was OMS. However, the last few weeks at CCK we started on what must have been some sort of hybred maint. program, as guys such as me, Plantz and Ohmart started flying with asigned aircraft on a daily basis. Thats why I was so bent while at Langley. The USAF in it's infinate wisdom took all of us off the flight line and put us in the phase docks. All that experience, all those hours, and most of us had more than a year "in grade" when brand new E-4s were assigned thier own aircraft. Upon reflection, the piss poor morale may have been confined to the phase dock!!!!

Chris

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Chris,

I spent two tours at Langley in the 316th OMS, 36th TAS and the 37th. My recollection of that time is mostly favorable.

I arrived Langley from Rhein Main in mid June 66. There were no acft. assigned at that point. Maintenance was organized iaw AFM 66-1, i.e., OMS FMS AMS. Don't remember when, but some time later the AF reshuffled maintenance iaw AFM 66-31. The end result being maintenance including specialists were incorporated in the TASs. As I recall this was done to better deal with deployments. I sure liked it better. You got to know the people who flew your aircraft and all the troops working on it. And overall the sqd. became more efficient, generating more sorties.

I was in the 36th from I believe early 67 to early 68 best I recall. Of the 16 crew chiefs there was 14 SSgts, most of whom were 7 level. One A1c and one TSgt. A really great bunch of guys. If you needed help there was always someone there to pitch in. My recollection of the 36th was that in my thirty year career it stands out as one of the best units ever. Ferreir was the commander, again one of the best. Had one of the best flight chiefs one could have. His name was Lod Seal. He invited me to his home to teach me how to write APRs. Did one rotation to Mildenhall.

At some point was promoted to Tech and transfered to the 37th. Don't remember why, perhaps because the 37th was short of TSgts. Crewed for a short time and then became a flight chief. The 37th was also a very good outfit. Good aircrews that didn't panic when there was a drop of oil on the oil cooler flap. Did one rotation to Mildenhall with the 37th. In Dec. 68 went PCS to Phu Cat.

Dec. 69 returned to the 37th, same work center. Was surprised how much a very good unit could go down the tube in such a short time. The primary reason was a large shortage of maintenance manpower coupled with a heavy flying schedule. As soon as a mech would get a five level, MPC would ship him off to SEA. Shortly after arriving made MSgt. Assigned as the nite shift supervisor. The daily flying schedule was fly 12 turn 5. More often than not when we went home there would be maybe seven or eight ready to go, another one or two maybe and the rest not way. Sometime we would work from 1700 until the day shift reported the next morning. Needless to say this situation was a major thorn in my side. After unsuccessfully pleading my case with the big guys I begain shutting down at midnite. Job Control would plead and my answer was always no can do. Surprisingly I was never called on the carpet. Week end duty came every other week. And it was usually a ball buster. On a Sunday morning about 0200 after being on duty about 18 hours we ruined an engine by running it sans power section oil pressure. Instead of the pump drive spline being in the gearbox it was in the MD3 FOD can. On Monday morning the Col. asked me how long we had been on duty. I told him and with that he dismissed us. Not another word was uttered. I was so disgusted by all this bs I tried to get out of maintenance.

In Feb. 71 went PCS to CCK.

Looking back some 40 plus years I would say for the most part the 36 and 37 were good units. After all I snagged two promotions from these units

Ask Giz about the commander who though it would save much money by removing all the single troops from seperate rations. I remember this but was not affected. How a senior officer sqd. commander could think something like this would be good for the unit is byond me. Was strange going in the mess hall only to see large numbers of NCOs partaking.

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  • 9 months later...

Paul Katsuki sent this.

HAMPTON - Beverly Joyce "Bev" Brevig left this life, peacefully in her sleep, on March 27, 2013. She had been suffering with COPD for many years, but pneumonia ultimately took her from us way too soon. Bev was born in Valley City, ND, on July 9, 1931. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Mabel Lee; her sister, Patricia Rassett; her brother, Myron "Mike" Lee; and her husband, Col. Berdell "Birdie" Paul Brevig (USAF). She is survived by her son, Chris Brevig; three daughters, Leah Muzia, Lorraine and Betty Brevig; son-in law, Raymond David Muzia; daughter-in-law, Rosemary Brevig; and her beloved grandchildren, Heather Muzia, Maggie, Laura and Paul Brevig and Michelle Muzia; brother, Hanford Lloyd "Jim" Lee and his wife, Nancy; and many other extended family members. Bev graduated in 1953 from the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) in only 3-1/2 years, so that she could marry Birdie and start her life as a pilot's wife. Their life in the USAF took them to many different states, countries and 3 continents, where they raised 4 kids and made many friends all over the world. Bev was active with the Officer's Club, singing with the Skylarks, Bridge, bowling and entertaining. She was widowed in September of 1977, but stayed active with the Officer's Wives' Club until COPD slowed her down. Bev's smile, laugh and her quick wit will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Beverly was laid to rest at Parklawn-Wood Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hampton, VA, on April 1, 2013. Her interment was attended by immediate family. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in her name to the American Heart Association , The American Lung Association , the ASCPA or the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.

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Sad to hear this. I don't think I ever met her, but, in my book, Col Brevig was tops. I know he, for some reason, treated me very well, and was about as pleased as i was when I made E-5 . For a while I had some email contacts with his daughter Betty, who had found he had been discussed on the old C-130 site............

Giz

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I was assigned to the 37th FMS in early 1971. At that time, there were 3 maintenance squadrons; 36th, 37th, 38th. At some point, the three squadrons were consolidated into the 316th FMS. I do (think) I remember there was an OMS squadron. I remember being taken off separate rats and being forced by the 1st Sgt to maintain a room in the barracks. I lived off base with a couple other guys and, except for making up the bed, never lived in the barracks. The guy that shared my barracks room had the place to himself. I distinctly recall the 1st Sgt didn't like me at all. Course, the feeling was mutual. We were always on standby and always had bags packed. I went on at least one "bag drag" ending up on the Azores. Made 2 ROTES to Moldy Hole and one to RAF Linham (Sp), participating in an exchange program with the British RAF maintenance guys. That was a great trip. We were treated like royalty by the Brits. Several had invited me to parties, home dinners, etc.

We were kept busy, often working more than one shift on that blazing tarmac at Langley. Individuals (me much more than once) got tapped to drive dispatch for an additional 12 hours after our regular shift was over. There was one particular evening at about 1800 that I called job control on the radio to request a break for dinner. They refused. I wasn't being tasked for anything, just sitting in the damn bread truck getting madder by the minute, hungry as hell after being on duty for 11 hours already and not getting off till 0600. Made second request "Job control, Dispatch 1. Request dinner break". "Negative Dispatch 1". Immediately.. "Job Control, Dispatch 1. F..K YOU!" Well that got some immediate negative attention. But after a somewhat mild ass chewing by some Msgt in Job Control, I got my lunch break and suffered no further fallout.

The people I worked with at the shop were fantastic. I wouldn't give a crap about the 1st Shirt or administration.

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  • 4 years later...

Was lucky enough to be at Langley from August 70 til early out in May, 72. Crewed 7792 for the 37th...great group of maintenance guys and supervisors, Panetta and Utterback...TDY to Mildenhall, Rhein Main in 70,71...rotated to South America in late 71, early 72...would love to hear from others here at the same time...anyone know George Lanyon or where he might be living? Thanks...

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  • 4 years later...

Got to Langley in May 69, freshly retrained Loadmaster. In the 4th Aerial Port squadron. Flying with both the 36th and 37th. The 36th ramp was on the west ramp by the large hanger. The 37th was east ramp by the old original hangers. Also there was a C-123 squadron there for a while (mosquito control spraying). Went on rotation with the 36th in Nov 69 to Feb 70 at Rhine Main. In March 70 transferred to the 36th. Then upgraded to instructor. Rotation again in Aug to Oct 70. PCSed at the end of the year to McChord AFB and C-141's. 

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