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Tom C

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About Tom C

  • Birthday 11/04/1949

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  • First Name
    Thomas
  • Last Name
    Como
  • core_pfield_13
    RC model aircraft

core_pfieldgroups_3

  • core_pfield_11
    I was a crew chief in the Air Force and then crossed trained to computer repairman in the minute man missile system.
    Joined the Air Force in 1967 and went in the delayed enlistment program. Entered basic training at Amarillo AFB Texas, the sent to Sheppard AFB for tech school. Got out of tech school in March of 1968.First base of choice was Lockbourne AFB since I live in Toledo. Who knew I would get it. I remember most people telling me when we filled out the dream sheet that there are no 130s in Ohio.
    Did 2 TDYs to Europe, First to Mildenhall England in 1968 and then to Rhein Mien in 1969. During the 1968 TDY, we flew to Bodo Norway, Wheelus Africa, several places in Germany, Turkey, Greece to name a few. Had to come back on a differnt C130 than the one I was assigned to. 55-0015 had a cracked wing and they had to patch it to fly it back to LAFB.

    My next assignment took me to Anderson AFB, 54 WRS, 1969 to 1971, assigned to the typhoon chasers but spent better than 6 months at Udorn Thailand doing other efforts to support the war.

    Returned to Richards-Gebaur AFB, 1863rd Comm Sq.1971 to 1972. Nothing exciting other than the picture posted on this site shows me sitting on top of 57-0524 during a static display open house.

    Next assignment was CCK AB, 1972 to 1973, on a C130E, still spent a lot of time in Thailand and did the klong shuttle one time, I didn't realize there were so many bases in Thailand. Also hit a few spots in Viet Nam.
    During the POW exchange, I did get to go to Hanoi to drop off the North Vietmanese delegation. Also toward the end I did get in to Phonom Phenn to drop of a 105 and grenades.
    On my return to the states, I was forced to crosstrain to computer maintenance and finished my time (9 years active duty) at Ellsworth AFB in the Minute Man Missile feild.

    Planes I crewed were:
    55-0015 - Lockbourne AFB
    56-0522 - Anderson AFB
    57-0524 - Richards-Gebaur AFB
    63-7864 - CCK AB Taiwan
  • core_pfield_12
    Holland Ohio
  • Occupation
    32 years at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, now retired. Also completed 11 years in the ANG 180th

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  1. Short answer is yes. I was stationed at Lockbourne from ‘68 to ‘69 and as our “A” models were sent back for refurb and updates, they came back fitted with “CPI” mod. (Crash Position Indicator) if you look at the pictures in the “picture gallery” under my name, Tom C, you’ll see pictures to confirm this. I hope this is what your looking for. tom
  2. When this event happened, my squadron 39th TAS out of Lockbourne was TDY to Rhein Main. That particular day our C-130A (55-0015) was on our way to Bitburg Germany to pick up a mini-gun to take to Wheelus for sighting. When we landed in Bitburg, our navigator informed us that he heard chatter from the Paris tower asking an aircraft to identify itself. Our navigator also told us he had heard that a C-130 had been stolen from Mildenhall. As we were waiting for the loadmaster to load our aircraft, I saw two F-4s take off. I’m not making any conclusions about what I saw that day. But found it interesting. Tom, 3rd wiper (assistant) crew chief.
  3. This may be slightly off topic and I apologize in advance. I was a crew chief on 56-0522 at Anderson AFB Guam when one of the Blind Bat “A” models came through and broke down for a #1 engine change. Since our engine shop didn’t have a spare engine ready, they “K” balled the engine from my plane. (sorry my engine was white on the bottom with green and tan sides LOL) And guess who they made to stay on the line until it was done? Since I was engine run qualified I had to complete the ops check. Sure was neat to set seat at night with all the instrument lights lite and looking out to my left thru (what I assumed was a heads up display) glass. This took place sometime mid summer of 1970. Our three aircraft “A” models were involved in “Operation Popeye” Two were always in country, Udorn, while one was back for repairs and maintenance. Tom C
  4. During my time on Guam (Sep 1969 - Mar 1971) I was assigned to the 54 WRS and the buzzard emblem was on our barracks near the "greasy spoon" If you check out my photos in the gallery under my name Tom C, you'll see the emblem on our barracks. Tom Como
  5. Jim & J, If you look at the gallery of pictures under my name "Tom C" you'll see I posted some pictures of some of the Silver Birds in a revetment next to where my plane was parked at Udorm. The picture was taken sometime in 1970. I was with the 54th Weather Recon Squadron out of Guam for operation Popeye.
  6. Dutch, This is from a paper called "Det One Report" yearbook supplement 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. Did July 4, 1972 Tom C. Tsgt USAF (ret) The aircraft was "865" (63-7865) I crewed 63-7864 while at CCK. I was also an assistant crew chief on 55-0015 while at Lockbourne, crew chief on 56-0522 while on Guam, crew chief on 57-0524 at Richards-Gebaur and the at CCK 72 - 73
  7. MsgtRock, check your email. Tom C
  8. Tom C

    Udorn 56-0522.jpg

    I arrived on Guam in September of 1969 and was assigned to 56-0522. The crew chief at that time was Michael Capstick. He rotated back to the states around Jan 1970 and due to my rank (Ssgt) I took over as primary crew chief around that time. I crewed her until she rotated to Chicago ANG in Feb 1971
  9. Tom C

    20160215120610_08.jpg

    I was the crew chief on that flight. I only flew one typhoon mission. I didn't keep any of my flying records so I had no idea of the date of that flight. Thanks for filling in the blanks on the date and the mission. Since I was converting my slides to digital, I just assumed that it was either a flight back to Udorn or back to Guam. I should have realized that by the lack of people on board that it was the typhoon mission. Glad you saw your picture!
  10. Hi all, I'm new to the group, and was amazed to see some of the tail numbers of planes I crewed. I was assigned to Lockbourne (39th) right out of Tech School '68 - '69 (Sheppard) and was 3rd wiper (asst crewchief on 55-0015) Richard Short was crewchief and a guy named Padilla was second in line. Went to Guam from '69 to '71 and crewed 56-0522 for the typhoon chasers but actually spent enough time at Udorn Thailand for a short tour. Also saw mentioned 57-0524 RC130A photo bird. I was Crewchief on that on at Dickie Guber (Richards Gebaur AFB Mo '71 to '72) It was used by 1863rd for communication squadron for critiquing towers for proper lingo.
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