larry myers

Is this aircraft the same 121 that is part of the USAF Museum's Presidential Fleet?

Details?

I remember the mess hall well.  Every Sunday morning breakfast consisted of steak and eggs.   Never saw more hangovers in one place.  I can confirm GVS's statement, the mess hall served very good food.  Didn't eat there much though as I was TDY most of the time.

The biergarten I remember most was a place on the road to Zeppeinhiem at the railroad crossing.  If memory serves, we called it Freddy's as an older man whose name was Freddy was always there working.  He liked Americans, and if not busy, he would set with us and tell stories about the war and ask questions about America.  

Your correct Don,  As long as I can remember Mildenhall has always been primarily an airlift/tanker outfit.

At the time the 48th TFW at Lakenheath would have been equipped with F-100Ds. Remember standing on the hardstand at Mildenhall watching those 100s come barreling out of low overcast on final to Lakenheath and thinking those pilots are crazy.  If memory serves about the only nav aid on the 100 was ADF.  

I knew Paul Meyer well as he and I were in the same sqd. at one point.  He was a hard worker and a good flight line troop.  On the other hand, his personal life was a basket case, in part, because he was a very hard drinker.

OK, Tiny. Tell them how to fix it.

Sonny,  I hate to admit it but you've described me perfectly.  

Don,  I think you've hit the nail on the head.  I agree, no way would a non-essential person be allowed to fly on an aircraft entering hostile territory.  Further, as you said, the fact the aircraft took off, flew the sortie and landed back at home base lends further credence to your statement.  Guessing there was something peculiar going on in the outfit that caused senior leadership to decide a flt. eng. was necessary.

My first five years were in a B-47E wing.  The last three years were as a crew chief.  Strange thing I don't remember ever washing my aircraft.  And don't remember where the wash rack was.  In my defense, I don't remember what I had for lunch.  However, my next three assignments I vividly remember washing mine and other acft. … repeatedly.  By the time I got to CCK thankfully had been promoted out of the wash rack crew.  The 374th was doing it the smart way...by contractor.   

The one thing I remember well that you didn't mention was KP.  The worst ass chewing I ever got was by the mess sergeant.  Seems I left the potatoes in the peeler too long and they came out the size of golf balls.  

Wow.  The Navy already has a T flyable.

How long has the T fleet been grounded?

An A/3c fe?  Hard pressed to understand what fe inflight duties there were on a twin engine light bomber.  And what the qualifications were that allowed a rookie one striper just out of tech school to qualify.  Guessing the position more resembling a flying crch. 

When I was an A/3c about all I was allowed to do was empty the relief can and wipe down the engine exhaust paths.  After advancement to A/2c was then permitted to clean the windscreen and wipe down the struts.  

I think tiny's curiosity was aroused as you used a word much different than what we use to describe a system malfunction.  Depending what air force is in play there are many different words used to describe components not operating as they are meant to.  "Snag" is just another one of those words.  A great thing about English is its flexibility.  

Lost a couple of friends on that fiasco.

One of my favorites;  "F-111 pilots go deeper and stay longer."  Frequently seen at RAF Lakenheath in the 80s.

I was shocked and very saddened to learn of Bob's passing.  

316th reunions will never be the same.  

We didn't know each other at the time but we were in the 37th together.

And if one wanted to know the whereabouts or history of a specific Herk, Bob was your go-to guy.  He was absolutely tenacious in accounting for every tail number.  

He will be sorely missed by everyone who hangs out on this forum.  

Another good guy...gone.  RIP.

PFD Spare...  Abbreviation for the word Preferred.  It appears there two other battery part numbers plus the preferred spare.  Hopefully the preferred spare is superior to original part numbers.  The preferred number is the one you want to requisition. 

Pretty much in the same boat as everyone above.

Went to B-47E tech. school at Amarillo AFB and then five years in the B-47 wing at Mtn. Home.  

Reassigned to a classified C-30A II sqd. at Rhein-Main AB.  At the time had never seen a Herc., and didn't even know such an acft. existed.  

On first sight I exclaimed, what the heck is that doodad on the front of the engines.  No swept wings...very disappointed. 

From that day in June 1962 until mid 1978 I was attached to the C-130 in one way or another. 

Doing my best to keep you on your toes.  

Believe the airborn Herc in the background is a 193 SOW Commando Solo bird.  

From what I can see of the Herc parked in the foreground it appears to be a standard bird belonging to the PA. ANG.

It might be advantageous to contact the Air Force Security Assistance Center at Wright Patterson AFB.  I haven't been in

Assuming your damaged leading edge in not repairable by the IAF.

I'm surprised AFSOC hasn't gone off and done their own version of AMP.  Who knows, they may have but just haven't told anyone.

During the time there were 32 active duty squadrons that Bob posted above, TAC was sending about 85 aircraft a year to PDM.  The PDM cycle was 36 months and flow time was 90 days not including over and above work such as  sloping longeron replacement . 

I read some time back that today, 85% of tactical airlift is possessed by the Reserve Forces.

No to the best of my recollection.

There were, however, a couple of exceptional happenings.

TAC quickly transferred a squadron of C-130Es and F-4Es to the Israel AF.

Daily there several El Al B747s on the Langley ramp loading munitions from Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. 

On ‎1‎/‎30‎/‎2017 at 8:17 AM, moosemodeler said:

Bob,

A few other questions ...

I am sure this is, but is always nice to get confirmation from someone who was there.     Correct 36th TAS for 72/73 as well ?

Also other then the Vietnam/Cambodia airlift, did the deployed crews also fly the wings other missions ? The Klong Hopper, SEA Shuttle ( I think that is what it was call ) in the region. ( Okinawa, Guam, Korea, Taiwan ect ) ..

Robert

 

Wore this one also at Langley for a couple of years (66 on).

moose,   That's the one.  Wore it myself for a couple of years.  To the best of my knowledge its still in use. 

On ‎11‎/‎16‎/‎2016 at 8:16 AM, Sonny said:

I may be wrong but I thought there were some MX troops that were PCS to Nam.

No idea how widespread this was but in 1969 there were two 431x1F positions in the Transient Alert/Crash Recovery at Phu Cat AB which was a four sqd. F-100 fighter wing. 

Was a very interesting year.  Lost count of the number of F-100s we dragged out of the mud. 

Looks as thought the AF has given the go-ahead for enlisted drone operators.  Read they are getting ready to induct twenty enlisted pukes ranging in rank from SSgt to SMgt into training.  I sure hope the program is successful.