F106A

The pre-2007 patch. The first one I wore when I joined the 40th And the Baby Blue patches from earlier days! Well, earlier than me! Mark

Some 40th AS patches... Our "Beer Light" Heritage "Friday" patch - based on WWII design Our current patch A short-lived patch from '07-'08

61-0955 (3634) Photo in the gallery here too.

I've been out of the Army for to long. (Okay, that may be a good thing.) I believe what is confusing about the precedence is what GROUP of badges the CIB falls under. It is in Group 1. That means, the CIB is worn above all other badges -- badges, not medals! For a quick explanation, see this page... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badges_of_the_United_States_Army HTH, Mark

Guys, I know things are tough all over, but it doesn't get tougher than this. I just ran across this link from the Coast Guard Foundation. I'm just a line flyer in the USAF and don't work for the USCG, but if you find it in your heart to support the families of our fallen Herk brethren, I know they would appreciate it. No one asked me to do this, but, you know... This is the direct link. If it doesn't work for you just go to the link below my name. https://secure.www.memberconnections.com/olc/pub/CSG/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=6290 Mark http://coastguardfoundation.org/

I flew on 72-1299 over in the desert last summer! I'd have to dig out my old logs, but I'm pretty sure that was the last E-model I've flown on as an FE. In fact, this photo was taken while our crew was at an undisclosed location supporting "Senator" Obama during his visit to "the desert." We didn't carry him, just some Secret Service guys (that our female nav instantly fell in love with!!), but it was a fun mission. This was in July 2008. This is me waiting for Obama's flight to arrive. My loadmaster took this photo, and that's the rest of my crew sitting on the ramp. Yes, I'm hiding a cigarette in my right hand! Mark

We current FEs still carry a tool bag on every flight. It even has a roll of safety wire in it! One never knows! Mark

My current Chief told me once he wore it for a short time in the early 90's before they got rid of it. He's an FE like me. As I read the history of the Combat Crew badge, it was worn while eligible members were waiting to get their Combat Readiness Medal. That just sounds strange. Kind of like a learner's permit! Anyway, here is a link to a paper wrote back in 2006 before the USAF Combat Action Medal came out. It explains the Combat Readiness Medal. As a C-130 crewmember we get ours two years after we get our mission ready status. As far as I know, most aircrew members get it. This is a pretty good read and covers all of the services. http://www.au.af.mil/au/cepme/heritage/Documents/pdf/HISTORY%20OF%20COMBAT%20SERVICE%20INSIGNIAS.pdf Mark

"...and the knee bone's connected to the shin bone!" Geez! How do you guys keep track of all these moves?! I have trouble remembering what tail I flew two days ago! :confused: Mark

This is the USAF version of the CIB. Apple and oranges however! This is a medal! The Combat Action Medal. The USAF will never create or issue a "badge" like the Army has. Read the "Wear criteria" paragraph near the end of the below link. We stand a higher chance of getting the original Flight Engineer wings back before the AF gives a badge for combat. http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11444 Mark

Navs and FEs are going away - true - but pilots better not forget to renew their commercial driver's license either! Y'all hear the one about the new planes that only have a dog and a pilot? The pilot is just there to feed the dog. The dog is there to bite the pilot if he tries to touch the controls!! Mark

Just saw this link over at a modeling web site I visit. Neat pics and info on "Heavy Chain" stuff that I've never heard of before... http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=195144 Mark

My pubs and cheat sheats are sitting behind my desk right now, and I'm at home, but for all the long range trips I've done a fuel log for the average cruise fuel rate has been between 1,250 to 1,350 pph per engine. That's for -15s. So, call it it 1,300 x 4 = 5,200. For general planning, we just use 5k per hour. I've never done a good study, but I do save copies of all of my fuel logs. Gonna have to crunch some numbers if I can find the time between writing or reviewing EPRs! Mark

We have a photo of the wreckage on our Heritage Wall in the 40th to this day. Just to remind everyone, and pay our respects. I see that photo several times a day. Mark

It makes me miss the Guard whenever I go on a trip and see any of those H2s and above. I was getting a tour of a WV Herk at Lawson a couple months ago and the crew chief was actually embarrassed his grip tape on the ramp was torn in a couple places. (I was very impressed with how nice the whole plane looked!) Shoot, we're lucky if any of our tape has ANY stick to it! Ahhhh...the life of an active duty H and H1 guy.... I'm happy if I show up to preflight for a SKE mission and I don't have to ask the chief to install the PPI! Even happier if the darn thing has a presentation! (H2 and H3 envy over!) Mark

Actually, we FEs have to dip the tanks if one of the gauges is broken. I don't even use the scales on the stick. The chiefs have to max the mains before we fly to stay in primary fuel management, so you dip the one with the good gauge, walk over to the symetrical and dip it. If the wet spot matches, you're good. And actually, if the tanks are maxed, when you open the top of wing cap it's pretty obvious. As far as the markings, I've always been told that the markings are just for JP-4. Like I wrote above, I never use them though. Mark

A fella over at another web site I visit knows I'm a Herk guy and sent this photo he took of 61-0955 (3634) that he took on May, 1962 at Scott AFB, IL. Thought you'ld all enjoy! (I e-mailed it to Bob) Mark

I too read that Gen. LeMay was against putting "E"s in the cockpit but the FAA required an FE in aircraft of similair size so Boeing built the 707 with provisions for an FE. Remember too that the AWACS was built off the 707 model (not the 717 which is the Boeing model number for the 135) and the JSTARS is also 707 based and has FEs. I never knew EC-135s had them though. Good info. Mark (Former KC-135E/R/T Crew Chief, Now a Herk FE)

LOVE IT!!! I should use that for a GT session to check if anyone falls asleep! Mark

Last I heard the 153rd AW in Wyoming sent one of their planes down to Edwards to test the new 8-blade props for the LC-130s with the 109th guys from NY. (I guess this is that plane.) What ever happened with that program? Are the LC-130s going to get the new mod? Mark

People have a hard time believing me but I actually got sick and tired of going TDY to Hawaii in my pre-C-130 days. I was a flying crew chief on KC-135s before I became an FE and we used to do training flights to Hickam all the time. I would literally get back from one trip, walk into the office from the flight line and see my name on the scheduler's "big board" for another trip back to Hawaii! It took awhile but I finally realized I needed to be the bigger person and eventually looked forward to taking new kids to Hawaii and giving them a tour! That and we would have an unspoken contest between the chiefs and the aircrew on who would get the coolest rental car! We always won! Mark

SERE = Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival,_Evasion,_Resistance_and_Escape Mark

I don't remember that tag - maybe before by time - but I do have the, "I Went through SERE in February" Certificate! Brrrrr is right! Mark

I believe it was started in 1968. To read how it works here is a good explanation. It's called the WAPS or Weighted Airman Promotion System. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighted_Airmen_Promotion_System Or here... http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/afpromotions/a/afpromotion.htm And for a good (albeit long) paper on the history of the USAF promotion system here is that link... http://www.icodap.org/papers/Optech/OT-2004-04-1-History_of_WAPS.pdf Mark

Although I still wear my jump wings that I earned during my Army days (I got mine in 1985 specifically!), and just finishing a week at Lawson dropping the current crop of new paratroopers, the thought of jumping out after one of them "for old-times sake" never crossed my mind! Of course there are the legal ramifications as well!! I'd like to stay in as an FE and retire eventually! Mark