BOMB/NAV

Guestbook & War Stories

Feel free to type anything you want. War stories, where you were stationed at, who you are looking for etc.... Have fun.

Calling ... Mark (Haze) Hazel I'm a B/N guy ... D Models and in you post, you mentioned a very good friend of mine, Bill Badstibner, from Mckeesport, PA. Do you happen to have any email or address information?
Larry Bell <lawrencetbell@yahoo.com>
Springboro, oh USA -

GREAT SITE!! I was a BNS toad for many years. At Lowry 1960-1961. 5th A&E,Travis AFB CA 1961-1964. 7 Level School at Lowry 1964-1965. Back to Travis 1965-1967. Ellsworth 1967-1968 with a paid vacation to Guam Jan-Jun 1968. Then back to Lowry as, at that time, BNS instructor on FB-111. Then off to RAF Upper Heyford UK, F-111E Automatic Test Station Operator 1970-1974. Then back to my first and only love Bomb Nav at Castle AFB 1974-1976. Then to Luke as a WCS/INS FTD instructor on F-15's 1976-1978. 1978-1980 FTD F-16 WCS/INS instructor at Hill AFB UT. Retired in 1980. Went to work at Hill AFB in Civil Service (Feathermerchant). In 1984 transfered to Langley AFB to HQ TAC (later to be ACC) as the Functional Program Manager for the Automated Maintenance Data Collection System known as the Core Automated Maintenance System (CAMS). In 1999 I retired again for the final time and now just taking care of Honey Do's, Daddy Do's and Grandpa Do's. I would love to hear from fellow BNS troops. Reconized some of the names i.e. Dave Ross Travis 1961-67 and Earl Polly, Ellsworth 67-68. Keep up the good work on this site. Ben McCormick (Mac)
Ben McCormick <mccormic@visi.net>
Newport News, VA USA -

just got back from biloxi where we rode out tropical storm bill appropriately named for eirish i would guess, from his younger days. i don't know if his anatomical reference is appropriate to these people or not. i would have referred to them as penically challenged if i had to do it. jon is probably rather busy these days as i understand the new b-52 avionics update is in full test. digital avionics is a frustrating thing because the logic is always set to fault down after detecting an "error" a number of times. those of us who played analog (which is real time) had a troubleshooting advantage. in the digital realm we had error traps( which we didn't learn about in school ) you could read them by addressing the system and providing the octal readout to the test station guys. so much for the "advantages" of bite (built in test equipment) the b-1a had this giant digital madrec which was supposed to be the ultimate troubleshooter. in reality when the engines were firewalled on take off roll the limits of this thing were exceeded and a lot of the a/c signals would go out of their limits and would fault down (as far as this thing was concerned) and not report a subsequent "real" problem. i spent a month at rockwell in los angeles, "discussing " these problems with 1lt and 2 lt engineers who were so far out of the spectrum it would scare you. we had a 1 hour remove and replace requirement on all items and the flir/ir pod was not falling into the category. the chief engineer at rockwell got up during a meeting and proceeded to say nothing for 15 minutes regarding the problem. with all my suave and finessee that i could muster, i invited him to go up to the desert and watch the removal with me. he declined and cited prior commitments. sure hope jon isn't going thru any of that kind of stuff. but i bet there is some of it going around. i just realized it took me 27 years to vent my frustration over test programs. thanx for listening keep the faith alfie
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

ever notice how the "dinky peckered" casino suckers never give their real email? must be like the arabs,hiding behind the women and kids skirts.
eirish <eirish1@attbi,com>
SAC, USA -

My initiation into bombnav started obviously enough at lowery AFB tech school. The most memorable characters were Mark Wich, Mike Nowak (Hi Mike) , Tom Whitney, and my BNS instructor Dennis Hopper. Hop as I remember his nickname, was a Great guy from the Louisiana Bayou, a fantastic instructor and had a ton of stories. Finally comes my day to go to my PCS Station and I land at Ontario airport just outside of Riverside Ca with butterflies in my stomach and one stripe on my arm. My paperwork said I’d meet a Sgt Jack Short at the airport as my reporting NCO. When I call, a very Terse Sgt Short tells me to take the bus to the main gate. So eventually, there I’m standing at the base main gate and Jack shows up in a small car, takes one look at me and says “Get your S***t in the car and shut the **** up. Gulp, this is not a good start I’m thinking to myself. The conversation on the way to VAQ was not what I’d call casual. He drops me off at VAQ, and Blammo, he’s Gone! I’m thinking this is not going to be a happy place. The next day a completely contrite Jack shows up and tells me the rest for the story. It seems that the night of my arrival was the first day back from his Honeymoon. (I.E. his first day home with his wife.) And her Dog (a Dachshund as I recall) was a little jealous of him. To Show his jealousy, when jack got into bed that night, the dog jumps up next to his pillow, Hikes up a leg and Pee’s right in his face. (Ahhh, Canine amore` )Then the phone rings with yours truly on the other line, waiting for a ride to the base. So ok jack, you had a good reason to be in a bad mood. Next was my meeting with the Amazing Joe Brown……
Mark T Hazel <mhazel@rochester.rr.com>
rochester, NY USA -

I forgot to mention Jack Short, Joel Carrol and Tom Whitney. Sorry guys!
Mark T Hazel <mhazel@rochester.rr.com>
rochester, ny USA -

Hey BNS Troops, Mark (Haze) Hazel here! I was stationed at March AFB from 77-80 with some of the most outstanding people I've ever met, and made friends that have lasted a lifetime. Cmsgt Joe Brown, Sherman Thomas, Bobbie Jones, Jim Welton, John (the hebe) Hebert, Don Nuss, Bill Badstibner, Bill (purpie) Brown, Chuck Wiser (chuckie baby), Lance Ingman, Doug Belt, Ray Harris, Johnnie Olson, Doug Belt, Chuck Wiser, Steve Riddle, Steve Eastwood, Mike Franco, Tim Papajohn, Mark Wich, Karen Opanesets, Doug Hamez, Jim Maddux, Joel, and Of course James Mcneese who remains a close friend. Hold on to your C-Gyros...Some great stories are-a comming!!
Mark T Hazel <mhazel@rochester.rr.com>
Rochester, NY USA -

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money betting <colvoc_5053-jump@mail.nu>
USA -

RE: Goat at Loring, make that "the APs got involved".
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, pa USA -

When I was at Loring in 1954 the wing commander, BG Bertram Harrison, instituted a monthly rating system for the maintenance squadrons. The top rated squadron got an award and the lowest rated squadron got a goat, literally. They had a big ram with long hair and a beautiful set of curved horns. The squadron that got the goat for a month would then detail their worst screw-up to take care of the goat. One month the squadron in the barracks next to ours got the goat, and soon afteward the goat was found lying on the grass, dead. The base veterinarian was called to do an autopsy and determined that the goat had drowned. Then the SPs got involved and found that the kid detailed to the goat got all pissed off and drowned the goat in the mop basin in the utility room. The kid disappeared and I don't know what happened to him, but I don't imagine it was anything good.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner!@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, pa USA -

In the sunmmer of 1971 while stationed at Loring, a group of us were sunbathing outside our barracks. The SP Sqdn occupied a wing of the same building. A couple of them set up a small ramp beside the building and were jumping a dirt bike off of it. It was cool. Then one of them , bolstered by liquid courage, made an extremly fast run at the ramp , he sailed into the air and ran smack head on into the barracks. That was even cooler!!!
George Mogle <gmogle@earthlink.net>
Chambersburg , Pa USA -

You old guys ever run in to a tech rep named Larry Roach from Glasgow AFB. I think I got the Larry right, don't know for sure if Roach was his last name. Larry was the guy that taught us new 3 levels all about the MA6A/7A system aat Glasgow in the early 60's Just wondering what happened to him. take care
Trinidad Herrera <therrera@rmisp.com>
Lander, Wy USA -

This is a great site for the old soldiers to communicate with each others and share memories, I personally look at it almost every day to keep up with the current chatter it's because of this I resent these pill pushers from trying to muscle in. I get more than enough of these annoying spam "E" mails on my site with out having to see them here, to add insult to injury their web site even contains the tail no. of an old "D" model. I hope that I'm not the only one that feels this way.
Charlie White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

i caught it too bill just wanted to see if larson was big enuf to admit a typo faux up.
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

I'm a retired Bomb/Nav'er. Began with a year in the American Toy Company (ATC) at Lowry learning the "K" system (ASQ-38) April-Dec 1965. The first PCS assignment was at Walker AFB (1966-67), then on to Blytheville AFB (later Eaker) (1967-69); Ramey AFB (1969-71); Ellsworth AFB (1971-72). Then a long stay at Griffiss AFB (1973-81) and finally Castle AFB (1982-85). I ran across this site through a "Google" search... it was a bit like 'old home week'! I saw several names from my past travels around SAC. Long live the SAC-trained warriors!
Herb "Skip" Maunder <herbmm@frontiernet.net>
Rochester, NY USA -

Alf...Make that word TWISTING, as in "blessed are they who run around in circles, for they shall be called BIG WHEELS"
Bill <eirish1@attbi.com>
SAC, USA -

define twiating!!!!!!!!!!
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

The rubber band driven B/N system was designated the AN/I4Q-2. Maintenance was a snap. Much of it consisted of twiating which both Bob and Alfie had a mind for. Of course that was much before my time.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park , CA USA -

It is good to hear from so many Bomb Nav'ers. I went to Tech School at Lower from Jan 72-August 73. I went from there to Barksdale and remained there from 73-79 when I was selected to go to Edwards to support the ALCM test program. Left there at the end of 81 and joined the reserves working A-10's. Didn't like them, didn't have a TA to align. Went to work for a private company in 84-91. I am currently back at Barksdale working with the first B-52 unit. I was deployed on Sept. 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. We still know how to put "Bombs on Target". I hope to retire in 2010 with almost 30 years on the best aircraft in the Air Force. Hope to hear from all you Bomb Nav'ers, still can't get used to Com/Nav Mission Systems. J.D.
J.D. Ransom <jd4b52@earthlink.net>
Haughton, La USA -

this is the truth in the 301st. a&e we operated out of a wooden shack next to one of the smaller hangers on the north end of the ramp. in those days communication with job control was thru a dispatch section. it was manned on a rotation basis so everyone got the shaft so to speak. but when it was time to speak to job control it was with a battery operated field telephone. you had to crank it to make it ring. when it would go out we would cann parts from the pay phones located outside the fence. those were the days. regards alfie
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

We used a lot of rubber bands!
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, pa USA -

Bob...Was the BN system you and Alf worked on the "wind up" version or did the SAC bases already have electricity?
eirish <eirish1@attbi.com>
Impudent one, USA -

c'mon bob you can be humble.................... my class number was 07-03-6 (mar 7, 1956) your still in first place. regards alfie
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

RE:Who started in B/N first? I started school in October, 1950, and my first assignment was to Rapid City in June, 1951. I guess that just makes me older, not better.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, pa USA -

MADREC, how could I forget this wonderful piece of equipment! As a brand new 3-level in December 1969 at Loring AFB, I was given the 'newbie' job of retrieving a madrec unit a bird that had landed in the wee hours of the morning after 2nd shift had called it a day (no 3rd shift). So here it is, 1st job of the day at 0700 hrs. Well it's tough to pick up the bolts with atric mittens on, so they were removed to do so. Unfortunately I didn't put them back on before picking up the madrec unit to carry it to the maintenace truck. Damn that thing is cold! The next morning, the tips of all of my fingers were black! Luckily the frostbite was only skin deep and caused only minor damage but it was the first AND last time I made that mistake. Oh, by the way, MADREC = MAlfunction Detection RECorder to the best of my memory.
Bruce Dearth <bedearth@westsidefoodbank.org>
Phoenix, AZ USA -

Gene Kopp...where are you????trying to locate Eugene "Gene" Kopp, last seen leaving Grand Forks in 73, heading SOUTH for warmer climates. Contact Alfie, me or Hembree.
eirish <eirish1@attbi.com>
SAC, USA -

And now, for all you really sharp "weenies" comes the supreme test. The guy with the best score gets to spend a weekend with Alfie, or tech rep of choice. Fully paid thru YOUR retirement check or IBM............ At what angle did the coordinate converter outer gimbal "raise up" to allow the inner gimbal to pass? What was the function of the "dither" motor? If the video was above the HRL, delta H=s? The reticle break in the xhairs of the periscope was how large? What type of crystals were used in the RT-324? What was the freq of the RT-400(APN89A) How many elevation points were on the "last resort"? What did the acronymn MADREC stand for? Who started in BN first..Alfie, Ron or Bob? Did Ron really fly with Wilbur? And for you really "OLD" folks like Terrell, Don and "Oink" Ryberg.. How were the weapons loaded into the 36?
Eirish <Eirish1@attbi.com>
SAC, USA -

If anyone would have known what the BBs were for, it would be Bob Warren. Curious about the photos in the "People" image section. A lot of mid-seventies 320th BW folks there. I'm betting the source for most of those 320th photos is Paul Porter. How about it Paul - you out there?
Terry McKinney <tmac3931@hotmail.com>
Tobaccoville, NC USA -

congratulations goes to bob warren for getting the correct answer. we have some fine parting gifts for bob. funny how you remember things. i was looking at the pictures on the web site and saw the cups. i didn't find out about their use until i went 111. one of our singer kearfott reps was ex raytheon. it seems that during their endurance testing the ends of the antenna would shatter off at about 1000 hrs. of sector scanning. goes to show you how much r & d was done in the old days. as opposed to the converter multiplexer that kearfott made for the -111. ah well. keep the faith alfie it had a mtbf of around 10 minutes.
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

Great Design and useful information. I will be back soon!
cheap flights airline tickets <johngeorge77@netscape.net>
USA, none USA -

In January of 1960, SSGT Jon G. Jones and I (A/2c)at the time, went tdy from Walker AFB,N.Mex to Raytheon"s Wayland Laboratories "to attendd factory instructions and repair and adjustments of Radar Equipment." In reality it was just a boondoggle 5that allowed us to stay in a neat bed and breakfast, get picked up each morning and chuaffered to the Labs, then toured around the plant like celebraties-of course wearing suits and ties. In any case,responding to the query about the purpose of the little round cups, or cans on the ends of the antenna reflector, we were told they served as inertia dampeners to prevent stress and cracking of the reflector during sector scan. Someone even related the story of the engineer who sat on the front steps of the Lab for days dropping BBs in a can dreaming up this fix. Seems they tried different BB material and finally settled on stainless steel because some of the other materials tried,turned to powder or welded themselves together during sector scan mode. I love this site and appreciate hearing the war stories and seeing all the names of people I was stationed with or had at least heard about through my AF career. 6/17/03 Bob Warren
Bob Warren <mocuswa@aol.com>
Selah, Wa USA -

Was tipped off to this site by a fellow bombnaver. It was a real walk down memory lane. Good to see the names of so many old friends.
Fred Watkins <fred_watkins@prodigy.net>
Fort Worth, TX USA -

I forgot to thank the web masters for putting this site together; I wonder if you realize how many souls you may touch by providing this forum. June 16, 2003
Bruce Dearth <bedearth@westsidefoodbank.org>
Phoenix, AZ USA -

It's been thirty years since I left Bomb/Nav, what a flood of memories this web site brings back. I've already found a slew of names & email addresses of troops that I worked with. For me the scenario goes like this: Lowrey AFB, Jan-Sep 1969. Loring AFB, Sep 1969-Dec 1971. Carswell AFB, Jan-Feb 1972. Utapao RTNAF Thailand, Feb 1972-Feb 1973. I would be interested in communicating with those who served at Utapao during the LineBacker II campaign in Dec 1972. I apologize to those whose names I have forgot but the memories of that campaign are still with me. Mike Brubaker, if you read this, send me a message.
Bruce Dearth <bedearth@westsidefoodbank.org>
Phoenix, AZ USA -

OLD SAC STORY. In the middle sixties when the Alaska earthquake occured, SAC Hdqtrs. veiwed this as an opportunity to demonstrate their recon ability. They immediately dispatched an A/C from Offutt to take photographs of it.They made arrangements to quckly fly them down to show and impress LBJ at his ranch in Texas. When the Recon A/C returned, the pictures were quickly developed and it was decided that the crew that took the pictures would be best able to explain them to LBJ and answer any questions. The now weary crew arrived at the LBJ ranch just after nightfall.Approaching in the darkness, a couple of the crew managed to step in some cow dung.LBJ was expected shortly and Ladybiird Johnson graciously served them a drink or two, while they waited. When the President arrived and inquired what they were there for, apparently the fatique and the drink effected their speech as they attempted to explain. The President was not amused. He picked up the phone, dialed SAC Hdqtrs. and yelled, "what in the Hell is going on here? Get these drunken bums out of here". This story was told to me by a junior officer assigned there at the time.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

do any of you oldsters remember why the q-38/48 antenna had those little cups with the bb's in them? ibm story which i've told to zellner i believe. ibm had a facility in huntsville alabama. while they were developing the aou, some of our people would periodically trip down there and they would come to omaha with the same frequency. during one of my trips we were traveling by t-39 and had to stop and pick up one of the xo guys at the redstone army post, which was the gov't trans pick-up point for huntsville. upon landing we noticed a large group of people who had come out to see the "jet" land. the guy driving the re-fueling truck had a stub of a lit cigar in his mouth and looked like he hadn't performed any personal hygene in some time. fueling the a/c was always dicey as you had to have two people hold the wing vent valves open to prevent air locks in the fuel system. some one had to monitor the c/l and make sure the fuel fed evenly to maintain cg. when all this was over our attendant puffed his cigar, thanked us and wished us a good day. all the on lookers waved and after a sweaty battery start (all battery starts were sweaty) we taxied out to runway plumb 40 and took off. ibm subsequently closed the huntsville facility and moved back to oswego. thank you jesus!!!!!!!!!! keep the faith al hall
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

For the benefit of any Carswell B-36 B/Ners and any Q-38ers, who might remember Frank Janecek and Andy Komanoski, I thought I'd close out the book on them. Both graduated from Endicott NY High School at the same time (playing on the same baseeball team), joined the AF together, went to B/N school together and were assigned to Carswell AFB together and spent their entire enlistment there.After discharge, both were hired by IBM for development work on the MA-2 (ASB-4) prototype. Both were assigned to Lake Charles AFB for flight test work.Aparently they played as hard as they worked as they were told by IBM mangement that they would never, ever be assigned to the same location again. Frank returned to Carswell as the lead IBM Rep and Andy was assigned to Walker where I came to know him well. Andy progressed to mamager of roughly the 2nd AF area and then served as IBM Rep at 15th AF Hdqtrs.He died there of an inoperable brain tumor. Frank moved to Lead IBM Rep at Loring where I replaced him about 1961. Frank and I worked together again out here in CA on a Satellite Surveilance program and both of us retired in ths late 1980s. We shared many chuckles over the old B/N days.Frank passed away a couple of years ago.Both Andy and Frank brought a no-nonsense, experienced background to the Q-38 program that was invaluable.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, Ca USA -

About 1965 at Ramey AFB, I met a couple of enterprising B/N Sgts.(Sgt Bobbie Dycus ?). Their hobby was coin collecting and Puerto Rico was the mother lode of old coins. All their off duty time was spent visiting banks all over the island. They would get rolls of coins, sort through them and then swap them in for different rolls. They'd stop at all the little rum shacks and inquire about old coins. They were wildly successful and would catch hops back to the mainland to sell them.Probably retired on the French Riviera now.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park , CA USA -

Early at Walker, John Barinato said To mw (neophyta tech rep)"Come on Ron, we're going to a ameeting".As we went into the conference room, Col. Best ? the Wing Commander and his entire staff was present. Col. Best opened the meeting by saying, "As this meeting was at your request Mr Barinato, would you care to make some opening remarks ?" John said, "yes I would" and then said " as far as I'm concerned, the handling of supply on this base borders on criminal negligiance".The room went very quiet (especially me). Then Col Best asked if he had some evidence of this. John lifted up his briefcase and said "yes I do". We were really being impacted by unit shortages - particularly radar. At that time the AF had just implemented a computer controlled supply system. At the base besides the Q-38 B-52 Wing, we had a K system B-47 Wing (509th) plus remnents of the B-36s being replaced. Supply was really screwed up.As IBM Owego was the only repair depot and supplier of units, we received a DD 250 on all units shipped to Walker and knew what they had there.We embarrassed Supply so many times by locating units they claimed they didn't have that they banned us from entrance anymore.The problem was given to one of Col Best staff to take care of.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

RE:Tech Rep Follies: Anyone who knew Bob Duffy would wonder what he wanted with a tape of the Bible in the first place.
Robert Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

All I said in my weekly report was, "Darrell Nye left for Puerto Rico this week by way of a blonde in Chicago, a brunette in Detroit and whatever he can find in New York City." And it was true. He had been writing both the girl in Chicago and the one in Detroit and had made arrangements to stop and see them on the way through. I made up the part about NYC. And yes, I did get my hand slapped, but it didn't hurt very much. When I was at Seymour Johnson I went out to meet a B-52 for debriefing around midnight on a night when it was raining cats and dogs. I drove out on the flight line and parked near the edge of the ramp to wait when I heard a voice yell, "get out of the car and stand between the headlights with both hands on the hood!" It was an AP on plane guard who was evidently pissed off at having to stand out in the rain while I was warm and dry in my car. He made me put my pass on the ground in front of the car and then lie spread eagled on the ground while he checked it. He made me lie there until I was good and wet and then let me go. I decided I didn't really need to go to the debriefing and went home and took a shower.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

TECH REP FOLLIES: John Barinato, the first Lead IBM tech rep at Walker AFB, told me that he never worried about security violations.While flight testind a prototype ASB-4 System (MA-2) on a B-47 out of Lake Charles AFB, they lost the canopy and an entire set of classified tech orders that he was signed for, were dispersed over the swamps of southern Louisianna. He fiqured they already had enough on him to put him away for life. Andy Kominoski (ex AF B-36 at Carswell) also at Walker had his badge fall off as he flushed the toilet and watched it disappear. Wing policy required the you write a statement explaining how you lost your badge and why it wouldn't happen again. In true western fashion, Andy told them that that he wasn't going to write no g-- d--- report. Consider the fate of Jim Northrup (later the UTE expert) ex Coast Guard and coffee addict, who took off on an early morning mission with no breakfast. As soon as airborne , he asked where the coffee was and was informed that since none of the crew drank coffee, none was aboard. Probably the longest 12 hours of Jim's life. At Wright Pat, Wes Lay, an IBM tech rep and a legend in his own mind, had match books printed up proclaiming his name, title with gold wings against an IBM blue background. The first time his manager, Andy Kominoski saw one, he about vomited. Then at Walker AFB we have the case of Bernie Schriebner with an outstanding background in IBM commercial computers. Bernie was a true soft spoken Kentucky gentleman who was incapable of telling a lie. Obviously not the tech rep type and so returned to the plant. At Loring one dark night, Roger Perrin (kicked out of Navy fight training because he was secretly married) got his head torn open by a lowered ciircuit breaker panel as he crawled up into an airplane.The base hospital patched him up for a nominal fee.When I found out all the paperwork required to be filled out by IBM, I made a deal with Roger that I would pay half the cost and we'd forget the whole thing. Could there be any truth to some rumors that Bob Zellner got his wrist slapped by IBM management for including comments on sexual exploints of fellow tech reps in his weekly reports? Nah, couldn't be true. Al Loring Pete Sudyk, GPL doppler expert (also WW2 submariner) had taped recordings of the Bible, which he loaned to IBMer Bob Duffy. Bob transferred to Beale AFB and didn't return the tapes, which really pissed off Pete. (I know this story stretches credulity, but it's true).A couple of months later, Bob called Pete for help on doppler problems. As soon as Pete recognized Bob's voice, he shouted out F--- You Bob Duffy and slammed down the phone. One dark night, as I drove done the parking ramp at Walker, to help on a pre flight, as we were requred to do at the time, I was pulled over by a Security Truck. After verifying my ID and flightline car pass and and correctly reciting the password of the day, he asked me "Why are you in civilian clothes?" I replied, "Because I'm a civilian." That apparently satisfied him.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Nebury Park, CA USA -

During the early 80's the 92nd Bomb Wing was deployed out to the old airstrip at Moses Lake, WA, while the Fairchild runway was being resurfaced. We stayed in the old moth balled base housing, that was still on site since the base was closed. There was still about 4 inches of Mt. St. Helens ash still on the ground with a patchwork of emerging grass. When I arrived there was a note on the makeshift table,(2 garbage cans with a piece of plywood), that was set up in the kitchen area . It still remains one of the most accurate quotes I have ever read. It described the accomodations. It read ""ADJECTIVES ELUDE THE STATE OF THIS STRUCTURE."
Chip Billingsly <PowerDawg242@wmconnect.com>
FAFB, WA USA -

I have seen several articles in the guestbook relating to "Chrome Dome" and reminded me of the first scheduled mission. This was in October 1958 @ Loring and the A/C were loaded with nukes. There were generals & colonels everywhere, engines were running and crews were awaiting taxi instructions. Suddenly all engines were shut down and the crews left the aircraft and launch was cancelled. Nobody had obtained permission from Canada to fly over their airspace with nuclear weapons. The weapons were downloaded and the following day the flights were cleared for go without weapons. The aircrews were to be evaluated on ability to withstand 24+ hours flight time. The next day the relief aircraft was launched and debriefing was preceeded by healthy shots of "Old Methusaleh". The fatigue and the "shots" made for some interesting write-ups. The next day the debriefing preceeded the "shots". I dont know when "Chrome Dome" flights with real "guns" started as I left in March '59 for Spain. I don't know how many of the old Loring troop remember this, but C. Hinson & T. Hickox were that at the time. Also, on that day, a U-2 landed & was immediately put into nose dock and wall to wall security was placed around the dock. The U-2 took aff the next day just before sunset. Nobody knew what it was. In 1961, the world knew about U-2's.
Bill Woodard <twobws@verizon.net>
Sun City, CA USA -

Back in 1959 I was the IBM Tech Rep at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC where the B-52s were equipped with the Q-38 system. One of the weak points on the Raytheon radar (I can't remember the number designator) was the antenna tilt motors. They failed with some regularity with the result that the antenna would point straight down and be useless. One day a joint Boeing/AF investigating team showed up on the base, shut down all activity and started interviewing just about everybody involved in operations or maintenance trying to get some ideas for fixes for many of the aircraft and/or system problems. A Major was interviewing the BN troops in the shop and asked if we had had any problems with the tilt motors, and if so, what were we doing about it? TSgt "Hank" Snow told him that we had it licked, we just put a big rubber band on the antenna and when the motors failed, the rubber band would hold the antenna in position so it was still usable. About three weeks later, I got a nasty letter from IBM telling me the rubber band fix was definitely not reccommended, and why hadn't I let them know what we were doing down there in North Carolina. When I told the guys in the shop, they couldn't believe that anyone had taken Snow seriously. We got a big laugh out of it, but the higher ups at IBM, Boeing and the AF didn't think it was at all funny.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Mid Shift entries to the log. (Lack of sleep, circadean rhythm out of wack, or true genius/madness, seemed to play a part in many entries left for the oncoming shift. Here is an excerpt from one such night. "Life and Times of Emily Bimbab" """In a quiet town not far from where you and I live, there was a dame who gave birth to a little dame and named her Emily Bimbab. Emily's life was not unlike your life or my life, because Emily's life cosisted of the things that your life and my life consisted of, around the times that these things happened in your life and my life. Turbulent times, turbulent yet changing times. A time when you didn't have time to worry about the changingtimes in your life and my life and in Emily's life. A time when people couldn't tell time, so time had no meaning, meaning Emily had no time for life. So Emily grew, grew and grew and grew some more. Her growing was not unlike your growing or my growing. She grew from within, she grew from without, she grew from without and within without time. Imagine your life and my life without time. No time for the timeless meaning of time in a time where time had no meaning. I don't care how many times I hear this timeless tale I can't imagine a life without time, without meaning, without the timeless meaning your life and my life without time, without meaning, without the timeless meaning your life and my life consisted of in a town only a short time away from where you and I live. Emily Bimbab is presently destitute and living in an abandoned trailer park just this side of Omaha. She's lost her last eleven jobs due to consistent tardiness. It seems Emily can't keep track of time. """"
Chip Billingsly <PowerDawg242@wmconnect.com>
FAFB, WA USA -

HEY B/N HERO'S LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS. GIVE A YELL WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.
Jim Blevin <mblevin@arkansas.net>
USA -

Anyone who has ever replaced an RT Unit on the APS-64 system on B-47's can appreciate this. While I was at Moron AB, Spain, I had to replace the RT Unit on an alert aircraft. I was holding the RT Unit up & in place with my head and left hand and trying to start the mounting screws with my right hand. A maintenance officer was tugging at my pant leg without saying anything. My concentration was on my task and not his presence. A 2nd tug was felt which I ignored. With the third tug, I kicked in the direction I thought the individual was. I stated that the next time I would toss him the RT unit and he could hold it . When I had completed the installation, the CC told me I had just missed the guy and he left immediately. I never heard about the incident, but told the AMS officer of the incident upon arrival back at AMS.
Bill Woodard <twobws@verizon.net>
Sun City, CA USA -

How I emember the 300VDC and the PSM6 (I hated the PSM6!). On one of those long past 12 hour shifts, I had the PSM6 leads connected to a 300VDC supply, and I reached down and grabbed both of the PSM6 brass lead connectore to tighten them. It really woke me up!. Bill Wynn, Turner AFB, GA. 1963-1966. wlwynn@attbi.com
Bill Wynn <wlwynn@attbi.com>
Orange Park, FL USA -

It's no fun to be "chinned" by the theta motor on a B-36 either. There was a display panel directly over the stab unit so you hit your head when you jerked and bounced right back down on the motor. I've seen a guy bounce three or four times before he got out.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

In the mid 50's at Loring, a dedicated B/N troop was troubleshooting a problem and had his big green manual schematic sheets unfolded on several schematics. With a PSM-6 he was checking +300VDC in the CAU and found the +300VDC terminal, attached the meter lead to the terminal and was diligently searching the schematic for the - terminal. Totally engrossed in his troubleshhoting, he inadvertently touched the negative meter lead to his lip. Those who have "chinned" the theta motor on the B-52D stab unit can appreciate the total impact. The poor guy was still "spitting' 2 hours later.
Bill Woodard <twobws@mchsi.com>
Sun City, CA USA -

Sgt Howard Kitchens was in charge of swing shift. Howard was a hell of a man and he thought of all of the airmen as his own kids. And I was the problem child. I used to take a shower before going to bed so that I could jump up and bruch my teeth and shave quickly in the evening before going to work. That used to bug Howard and he could always tell that I hadn't washed my face. I just couldn't understand how he could tell, but he could. From clear across the room he'd say, "Kunich, go wash your face." I thought and thought and thought about it but I couldn't come up with the method he was using to do it. so I tried the scientific approach. Figuring I'd test the limits of his perception I'd wash half of my face and only hold that half towards him. "Kunich, go wash your face." Then I tried just splashing water on my whole face and leaving it wet so I glistened. "Kunich, go wash your face." Then I tried washing just my nose and combing my hair (yes I actually had some at one time) over most of my face. "Kunich, go wash your face." Finally I gave up and would wash my face with a scrub brush before I came into work and damned if he didn't stop it. Personally I think that he was psychic. But I sure do miss him and hope that where ever he is, he's telling some kid, "Hey, go wash your face." Cause whenever I'm about to put one over on someone I remember "Kunich, go wash your face" and I try to be as good as Sgt Howard Kitchens was.
Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo.com>
San Leandro, CA USA -

ED Jones comment about no CNDs,reminded me of the time changes we had to do on some units.Some crew chiefs wouldn't let you mess with the system,if it was good,solution was swap the nomenclature plates,.worked great and no one knew the difference,except cc and 2 BN troops.
L.J. McGaha <ljmcgaha@hotmail.com>
Bossier City, La USA -

I just uploaded a picture of my Q-24 BN class to the images section. We graduated on May 15, 1951 at Keesler AFB, Miss. The guys in the picture are: Fred Wynant, Lou DiNunzio, Vern Johnson, Don Ogden, George Tims, Paul Waters, Henry Paul, Bob Norelli, Hal Eaton, Bob Ritchey, ? Halloway, Chet Benfinger, Jack Welch and Bob Zellner. I can't believe how thin we all were back then.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

I was with the 11th BW at Altus AFB, OK when they won the Fairchild Trophy in, I think, 1961. It was the first time a Q-38 equipped wing won the competition and there was much partying going on when the troops got back. Don Shoemaker was spot promoted to MSgt. and had a party at his house, but kept getting calls from the local police to come down and get some of his BN boys out of jail, so the party sort of fizzled. General Three Finger Black Jack Ryan gave the welcoming home speech at the flight line ceremony and what he basically said was, "OK, you did something good, now get off you asses and do something better!"
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Bill Woodard, thanks for remembering me as young. SJ produced many memories. I have a phot of Spider and me out here somewhere. I have more private stories of the goings on at SJ than I do public ones. Most should probably be kept private after all these years. I still have the ring from BombComp. Still looks new. That was the first year the FB-111's beat us out. I got my revenge in 80 when we took the Fairchild back with the standard Q-38 system with AOU only. It felt good...really good. Sent one of my better troops to the party to see what it was almost like in the good old days. Now Bomb Coomp in BAFB is another source of interesting stories. Bomb/Nav'rs never die...they just go to that big TA alignment in the sky..........
Jim Skinner <skinner@nc.rr.com>
Clayton, NC USA -

RE: Compass Swings, Eirish, Wilbur & Orville's flight was VFR,any heading O.K.. Our 781 was signed by C Lindbergh, Paris, France as "compass readings were excellent".
Bill Woodard <twobws@mchsi.com>
Sun City, CA USA -

Gosh, you compass swinging guys must really be OLD. Doubt if I ever used the rose more than 10-15 times..... As for us young troops, we switched to the MC-1 in 62...north line only and then when I got to the BUFFS, we swung to locked star on the astro-pecker. Could I assume that when you used the "rose" Orville or Wilbur signed the 781 or was Larson qualified by then?....................................Keep the stories coming..... Love to read them.............. AS for the CNDs in the 781, just because there's ten squawks, 4 bad bombs and TA inop(tilt) doesn't mean there isn't something wrong. Ops check sat iaw TO 1B52G-2-26 was good enough for me. Ever notice the disparity in squawks between R-E and S crews???? It's O.K., my wife didn't know shit about BN either..........Keep the Faith
Eirish <eirish1@attbi,com>
USA -

Re: compass swings, after leaving the B-47's and the 9th BW at Mtn Home, Idaho hired in at Boeing Wichita running preflights and working flight squaks on the B-52 "G" ASB-9 Bomb/Nav, Doppler, Astro Tracker celestial Nav system, got to stand on the brakes each time the tractor stopped on the compass swing one night on 2nd shift. Was the only othr time I went round in circles besides the time I struggled with the astro tracker preflight untill the senior test engineer came out to the A/C and suggested that I take the cover off the dome. Otherwise, all you 9th Bomb Wing vets the reunion will be on Sept 11-14 in Coeur d'Alane Idaho. Reunion Coordinator is Bibiana Nertney, 7726 W. Mooserun Ct.,Boise Idaho 83704. (208)322-5145. Ran Gemmell, Ron Turner, my MSN address is Kaput along with your e mail address, so hope you see this. In addition, the all-SAC reunion at the old Castle AFB will be Oct 7-12. HDQ is Doubletree Modesto with bus service provided to the base for tours of the B-47, B-52, B-36, B-58 opened up to us. Info for "Gathering of Eagles" at B-47.com, B-52 Stratoforteress Association.com, or at Jocobsensb-36hanger.bigstep.com; hope to see you there!
Tony Ascanio <tobaras@juno.com>
Bothell, Wa USA -

Robert Zellner, Re: Compass swings. The compass rose you spoke of was still in use until the new Rose was built on the opposite end of the runway. I had the privilege of being involved in a few swings on the old one, but the new one was back in the woods. Blueberry bushes and small trout streams were easily available from the rose. Did anyone else from Bomb Nav ever go out on a compass swing with their fishing rod? The old Rose was rendered useless when they built the big hangar in close proximity to that end of the runway. A jet engine test stand was built just off the 270 deg side of the new rose and caused some interference but coped with it. The jet engine guys didn't fish either. Those were good old days.
Bill Woodard <twobws@mchsi.com>
Sun City, CA USA -

Bill Woodward, Re:compass swinging at Limestone. I was sent to Limestone in Feb. of 1953 and was discharged Aug. 14, 1954, just a short time before you arrived. In the early spring of 1953 we realized that all the aircraft would need a compass swing soon, and we were faced with the choice of sending them back to Carswell where they had a real compass rose with a turntable and everything, or figuring out how to do it ourselves. A bright young officer with an engineering degree figured out where true north was and laid out a compass rose on the ramp and had them paint lines every 15 degrees. We made a couple of wooden plugs to fit in the hubs between the wheel on the main landing gear and hung plumb bobs from them. We then pulled the aircraft around the rose, stopping every fifteen degrees and measuring the distance from the plumb bobs to the lines. The officer had worked out a formula to determine the exact heading of the aircraft by adding or subtracting the measurements. Then we would adjust the flux valves for the K-system and the N-1 compass and make all the adjustments on the back of the N-1 indicator. It sounds kind of crude, but it worked pretty good. I had the dubious honor of heading up the crew that made the first compass swing at Limestone AFB. Speaking of the N-1, I knew a guy who was a tech rep for Kollsman on the N-1 of all 8th AF. He traveled to each of the bases for a couple of weeks at a time and taught classes to the BN troops. He was single at the time, and I thought he had the cushiest job in the AF. His name was Al Custode in case any of you remember him.
Robert Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Don't ever think that being on flying status as a B/N wouldn't work on you. About six months after my wife and I married, I was going to PMEL school in Denver. One night I had a dream, "in color!" I dreamed I was flying a 10 hour training mission. All was well until, the yellow eject light came on. I raced down to the Nav. positions and the Port relay rack was smoking. All the circuit breakers were already popped. I was rushing cooling down cannon plug connectors and cutting safety wires and disconnecting units when the eject light went red and both Navigators ejected. I could feel the aircraft shudder as other crewmembers ejected and I could hear the flaps, landing gear and everything else deploying. I grabbed my chute and fumbled into it and dove through the hole where the R/Nav had ejected. I waited until I could see the whole B52 above me, before I pulled the rip cord. Going down, I could see a farmer plowing a field far below me, the soil turning dark behind the tractor. I tried to avoid the fresh turned soil but couldn't. I hit , one leg buried up and I heard and felt it snap. I dumped the chute and harness and was trying to straighten my leg out when the farmer drove up on the tractor and asked me what had happened? I replied that, "Sir I have just jumped from a B52, I am injured and someone needs to notify air rescue." He then took the steering wheel off and started beating me over the head with it! --REMEMBER THIS IS A NIGHTMARE-- Waht really had happened, according to my new wife, was I started thrashing and hollering in my sleep. She shook me to waken me. I immediately grabbed my pillow, stood up in the bed, walked to the foot, jumped almost to the ceiling, and landed on my butt on a concrete floor with just a thin rug on it. She jumped to the end of the bed, asked me what had happened and I said, "Sir I have just jumped from a B52, I am injured and someone needs to notify air rescue." She took her pillow and started hitting me over the head with it and woke me up. I had sweated out the bed, my pajamas and my hair was dripping in my face. I had to go take a shower while she remaid the bed. The next morning, she said "Boy! I thought you had gone whacky there for awhile, I am sure glad your off flying status!"
Jack Jeffers <airdawg@pchnet.com>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

Completed BNS K-Series school & reported to Limestone AFB on 8/20/54. Feb 1955 worked with US Coast & Geodetic surveyor to layout the new Compass Rose. Snow up to the waist & could only tap stakes into snow. Surveyor came back in summer to finalize the survey. After that, I volunteered for the field shop in Computers. Went to Radar & I.C.E.school @ Lowry in July '56 and back to Loring in Jan 57. Stayed in field shop in Radar until Sep 57 and back to flight line. Worked with C.Hinson,G.Spilman, T.Hickox, and many other fine BN types. Left Loring in Mar 59 amd went to Moron AB, Spain in support of B-47 Reflex operations. 3 BN types to maintain 24/7 support on base and housing was 34 miles away in Seville. B47 alert force doubled in'61 and had TDY's from Lincoln AFB & Hunter AFB. Finally in Tall Cotton! Mar 62 went to Hunter AFB GA to wait for phase out of B-47 and in 1963 went to Carswell AFB for B-58's. Worked in field shop Inertial Section & left in Jun 64 for Little Rock AFB, AR. Worked with Base surveyor to establish True North reference (+/-3mins)for test table. Only reference point was end of runway. 5 hours later we were in AMS hallway for the final shot which took about 15 minutes. No more surveying for me!! Stayed @ LRAFB until Jun 68 and was sent to Grissom AFB & stayed there until B-58 phaseout in Mar 70. Had to remain @ Grissom until all test sets were shipped out and did not get to Westover until May 70 & missed out on ARC-Lite to Guam. Finished FTD school & went to job control as expediter until U-Tapao in May 72 and then to Seymour Johnson AFB in May 73. After my arrival, it seems as though everyone retired & I assumed duties as BN supervisor. There were no finer BN personnel than the ones I worked with in the 68TH AMS. Jim Skinner, Spider Lassiter, Tony Messier, Bob Howery, Bernie Becker & numerous young troops that were all shining examples. Jim Skinner & Tony Messier "waxed" everything that showed up @ BOMB COMP '74 and only lost out because of target identification by RN on the first RBS.(99,999ft). The 68th also had the best operational record in SAC for 1974. Not bad for first year out of SE ASIA and also FLIR/CCTV modification. I retired in July 75 with the RIF after Vietnam. Had I not been on a TAC base, I would have had to wait until ???? as Bomb Nav was @ critical manning levels because of retirement rather than GUAM for 6 months every 6 months. I spent 24 years in Billings, MT in Sales & Service. I had customers in Minot ND & Rapid City SD & that was the closest I came to Bomber types. Retired to Southern California in Oct '99 and loving it. I have difficulty remembering if there were any "bad times" as the "good times" were so numerous they overshadow all others. This is an excellent site and is an example of the camaraderie that has prevailed within Bomb Nav since Bomb Nav began. Jon, thanks to you and Cindy for your dedication and hard work to maintain this site. I'll be in touch again. I accept E-Mails from all.
Bill Woodard <twobws@mchsi.com>
Sun City, CA USA -

Jon, and Cindy...Thank You. This place allows us all to be young again. The memories live on, as do the contributions to peace we all made. GW...You had better contact me you little shit. I miss you man. Jim
Jim Pachall Sr <debra.pachall2@verizon.net>
California City, CA USA -

My new address is trike700@sport.rr.com Write to me if you want to b.s. about old times
Gerald W. Harris <trike700@sport.rr.com>
shreveport , la. USA -

ORI memories fromthe early "60s. Gooney bird declares in-flight problems and requests emergency landing instructions. Out steps Gen. Selmon Wells and the SAC IG team. All in-flight a/c were ordered back. Target coordinates were given in latitude and longitude so target prediction people had to select offset aimpoints from topographical maps (no radar pictures). Most experienced crews ( who could probably improve the aiming information and pass it to the following crews) flew last. Alert a/c flew with no maintenance allowed on them. The mission was timed so that in-flight refueling was done, in radio silence, heading west into the setting sun. The bomb runs were done after many hours of flight allowing ample time for radar or other problems to develop. There wasn't much that you could do to beat the system. If you had placed some troublesome a/c over on alert to get them off your back for awhile, you really sweated it out.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

i was told i could not use CND to sign off acft records, i had to change some thing and break a perftly good acft, i said no and ended up in job control, it does not rain or snow in job.
ed jones <amxjones@earthlink.net>
warrensburg, mo USA -

Did you ever complete a 349 with the comment "Short Between the Headset"?
Jack Jeffers <airdawg@pchnet.com>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

Some chrome-Dome stories. Did ja watch the Wings history Channel episode where the chrome-Dome (CD) routes were shown. Lot of flying back in them days. Seems to me that we (Glasgow AFB; 4141 strat wing then 91st Bomb wing) flew CD missions all the time I was stationed there. We had a break of about two weeks, but the wing that replaced us failed an ORI or a Bar None so we went back on CD. We didn't have many problems we couldn't fix on the ground. We did have some querky RNs though. Little Joe "B" always carried as small tool kit. Most of his write-ups were usually the result of his "tweaking" the system. His most common one was "the crosshairs are jitterey". This was on the old MA6A/7A system that had that humongus bomb sight. I think it had 4X magnification. Real usefull at 50,000 feet on a cloudy nite. Anyway, the RNs used the optics to make sure the wheels were up. During launch, when Little Joe "B" was on the crew we would get a call, the cross hairs are jittery. Old John Clovis taught me a trick. We would open the SAU or CAU rack and one guy would pretend that he was ajusting the sensitivity pot while the other guy would play with the tracking handle. Worked for us. Then old Stormy "W" an old WWII 8th AF B-17 RN would send out a call that the radar was blooming, usually too much gain. This guy couldn't adjust the scope, I think he was going blind. We would climb on board, one time through the wheel well as the AC was just starting to roll, one guy at the SN135 or the SN158 would pretend to do something while the other adjusted the scope. As for parachutes, our AC all-ways carried at least 4 extra chutes on the cot in the upper deck. they made nice pillows when we worked all nite on a problem. And jumping out thru the nav egress. I always wondered about that. Here we are at 50,000 feet flying at about 600 knots, outside temperature is minus 60 below and all we are wearing is those thin insulated flight coveralls. Now if we have to go out, the wind chill must be about minus 100 below, do we have a snow balls chance in hell of surviving? And someone once told me, probabley John Clovis, the protocall for abandonding the AC was to lower the landing gear to slow the AC. take care trinidad
Trinidad Herrera <therrera@rmisp.com>
Lander , Wyoming USA -

for Jim Pachall met John Cormier while having an inertial nav system installed in a "g" at barksdale in '76. he was ncoic of b/n 10 years later i ran into him in lake charles la when i went to work for boeing doing the kc-135 pdm. he was a govt. inspector working for what was known as dcas. john was a shining light in a sea of idiocy. they had inspectors who were formerly inspecting clothing, power systems in the tva, etc. nothing aircraft related. their leader was a social promotion. one of the lady inspectors ran away with a production guy. needless to say it was really an event to remember in dealing with them. i left about a year before they shut down the program and went back to the oilfield which had rejuvinated by then. as bill eirish can tell you i will look around my data base of phone numbers for john in the next few weeks. will let you know keep the faith alfie
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

Guess I’ll post another 32191 story. I was head of the TA alignment team, and as several others have mentioned, our first one took several days. But we learned some tricks as we went along as others have mentioned, specially having a TA computer and R/T unit married in the shop before beginning the alignment and finally got it down to around 4 hours. As I mentioned before, we had a 32191 Super-Chief as NCOIC. I was working on B52Es with the AN/ASB4-4A-MA16 B/N system. And, we were having trouble, if we made 4 or five missions before the TA system shot craps, we thought we were doing good! We were even doing TA alignments before any bird went to the Hurry Area for ground alert. Finally one day, SMS Fremlin called me on the carpet. He read me the riot act about us rushing through the alignments and not doing a good job. He said “I am tired of all these Broken Fail-Safes, if there is something wrong with the design of the unit, I want to know what it is. I also want a new one put on every aircraft before they go on alert! I have checked and there are none in the forward supply point! I want one on today! And, I want it checked out in the shop before it goes in the forward supply point, if you have to work all night to do it!! By next Monday, I want to have at least three, shop tested Fail-Safes in the forward supply point, and I want one carried on every pre-launch!” He wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise, sidewise or up and down. When he finished, He told me “He was not interested in anything I had to say, to shut-up! and get to work!” Soooo! I built a bogus what-cha-ma-call-it out of electronic junk. Researched the model nos. and gave it a bogus model number and FSN. Named it a B52E TA Fail-Safe and took it to the forward supply point in the Avionics bldg. and told the supply clerk to be sure and tell Sgt Fremlin the Gremlin that it was there in the morning. The next morning, about an hour before breakfast, I was called and told to report to the A&E Commander’s office post-haste. When I got there, I could here Fremlin shouting inside the office. When he came out, he wouldn’t even speak to me he was so mad. The commander called me in and told me that Court-Martial charges were being prepared against me, to return to the barracks, and consider myself under “House Arrest”. About two hours later, I was told to report to the DCM’s office. When I got there, I had to wait about an hour before they told me to go in. Col. Furrie was as red as a beet. The ADCM told me to close the door and take a seat. When I sat down, Col Furrie just sat there looking at me. I looked at his desk, and there sat my “Fail-Safe”. I looked at the ADCM and he had his hand over his face, and tears were running out of his eyes. About then, Col. Furrie started pounding on the desk, and I jumped straight up in the air. Suddenly, they both started laughing so loud you must have been able to hears them all the way across base. Col Furrie got his handkerchief out and started wiping his face. When he regained control, he said “You know you’re not very popular in the B/N shop right now. By all means, you should receive a Court-Martial but I have convinced Sgt. Fremlin that this would make him look more of a fool that he already is and there is no way that Headquarters would fail to hear about it.” “For right now, you are being transferred to Job Control as the A&E expeditor. Go move your stuff to the Headquarters Squadron, and for God’s sake don’t pull anything like this over there. The Headquarters Squadron, First Sgt. Is Jake Melish, and he has no sense of humor at all! Now get out of here and try to keep your nose clean for awhile”
Jack Jeffers <airdawg01>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

Bomb Nav ALL the way. Touched my first Buff in 1968, last in 1986. Retired in 1991 after 4 years on the B-2. To some of the names I see here I know well: G.W Harris, Ray Turner, Tom Colen, Larry Anderson and there are more, but I'm in a hurry at the moment....I miss you all. To the rest of you that I don't know, or simply can't remember at the moment, a huge Bomb Nav hello to you too. I love the old Q-38, but my true claim to fame is the New OAS, and now that is being replaced by the Mid-Life Improvement Project. So, life goes on, and so does Peace of Sorts, Primarily due to this weapon system, and all of us who have kept her running all these years. To all of You...Thank You! Jim Pachall Sr. I definately wish to hear from any of you who care to e-mail. Anyone out there know where John Cormier, and Pappy Allgood got off to? And if they still walk this earth?
Jim Pachall <debra.pachall2@verizon.net>
California City, CA USA -

1973 buffs going home from guam (rash) got up in buff on 5 min line, no radar , no modulater, told rn would have park acft, rn said you tell pilot, got on headset to pilot, pilot said if i did not want yo go home early to "GET OFF HIS AIRPLANE", i thought aboutit.
ed jones <amxjones@earthlink.net>
warrensburg, mo USA -

In 1973 While TDY on "Bullet Shot" there was a poor eledtrician working in the wheel well, on a "Red Ball" on a "G" model, when the aircraft took off so they had to abort the combat mission and stay local, shooting approaches, which was something you didn't see often. I'll bet that was fun for the electrician.
Charlie White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

don't understand the lack of chutes. at bergstrom there was always a chute on the can downstairs and one upstairs somewhere in the area of the ip seat. they stayed with the aircraft. different strokes i guess. ..............keep the faith ..................alfie
alfie hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

Nice site keep it up. But make una comot una hand hereooooo.
Mgbabda Nwangwa <mgbada@yahoo.com>
Lome, Aneho Togo -

This also happen at Larson AFB, Washington back in 1960 a a Bomb/Nav troop named Jim Harbin was working on a malfuction before take off and the crew taxi out to the runway and took off with poor old Jim Harbin... No chute no flight helmet and no lunch... The flight crew was one of the best they had with the 327th Bomb Sq. The crew didn't want a late take off or abort the mission charge againt them... So off they went with poor Jim..... Well you can guess what happened, there were some butts rip outs... After that on the launch truck there was an extra chute and flying helmet, so this would never happen again... Then the only ones who rode in the launch truck were the guys on flight status for that current month... This web site has brough my Bomb/Nav days back from the past. I loved my part on what I did in Bomb/Nav. Worked with some great guys in my four years in Bomb/NAv...... Worked on B52D models, my AFSC was 32150E. System was MA-6A, was also on flight status, Came out as an A1C (E4)... Don't know what that rank would be in today Air Force... I would like to give credit to JON VANOVER and CINDY JEFFERS for getting this web site on line...... I am now a old man, but this website makes me feel young again, thank you.. By the way when did the women come into the Bomb/Nav Field.. (this is only a question, by no means am I putting them down) D.R. Adams (DOC)
D.R. ADAMS (DOC) <ADAMS_B52D@HOTMAIL.COM>
ROSEVILLE , CA USA -

Great memories! I was Bomb/Nav from 1954 until retirement in 1975 @ Seymour Johnson. First duty station was Limestone(Loring) AFB, Maine. B-36, B52D, B47, B58 and back to B52D. I have seen a lot of familiar names and hope to get in touch with in the future.
Bill Woodard <twobws@mchsi.com>
Sun City, Ca USA -

Jack Jeffers,an important point you didn't mention was that you didn't have a chute. Your normal egress is to go headfirst through the hole after the Nav. ejects. I witnessed a somewhat similar situation at Loring where a tech was fixing a system and when t/o time came, they shoved a parachute up, closed the hatch and away they went.But at least it was only a normal mission,
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, ca USA -

Bill Eirish contacted me about the Chromedome memory, here is the rest of the story. The rest of the story was; When they popped the hatch, it was so cold when that hot OK air came flowing in, the aircraft fogged up. It must have been at least 105 deg. F. on the flight line. They told me I wasn't even supposed to have been on the flight, because I wasn't on the flight manifest, and for me not to go to debriefing. The debriefing truck picked the crew up and left me standing in front of the aircraft. I didn't get more than 3 or 4 hours sleep on that whole 24 hour mission, and I had been up about 8 hours when the plane took off. For me, It was the last straw. I grabbed my ditty bag of tools and the 2 bad mag/amps and started walking in to the shop. It was at least 3/4 of a mile cross-country from the aircraft. The further I walked, the madder I got! About half way there, a station wagon pulled alongside and honked. I just waved them off without even looking to see who it was. They pulled ahead, across my path, and rolled the window down. Lord have Mercy! It was the DCM! He was all by himself. He waved me over and told me to get in. I got in and apologized for not recognizing him at first. He handed me a little bottle and told me to have a drink. It was 20 year old cognac! He told me that nothing could be done officially to recognize my effort, but that it would not go un-noticed. That was Col. Frank Furrie. A big (6"4") red headed Irishman who was one of the best men I ever served under. Don Shumaker had shipped out and his replacement, a SMSgt Fremlin, was one of those new E-8 generic electronic maintenance managers (32191), who hadn't even been in Bomb/Nav before. I got off flying status, because he expected us to work our regular shifts and fly too. You'd catch a 4 1/2 hour training mission, with preflight and debriefing that added up to 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 hours. Then you had to go to the shop and work to the end of the shift at 4 P.M. If you had caught a 10 hour night training mission and got back about 6 AM, you had to work the rest of the day, 8 hours.
Jack Jeffers <airdawg@pchnet.com>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

Here is a quick story from the memoirs that I am writing. I was riding B/N launch for a Chrome-Dome preflight. It was August, SW Oklahoma, and hotter than the hinges of Hell. We even had an A/C ground air conditioning unit hooked to the hitch of the Launch Metro, blowing cool air into the backend. The A/C was just about to taxi, when they hollered “B/N, on the double!” I ran into the A/C, slapped the B/Nav. On the shoulder and asked what the problem was. He pointed at the 10” indicator. It had a bright spot and no sweep. I grabbed an interphone extension and hooked up my headset and crawled into the wine-cellar because I could smell something burning, and it was the mag/amp on the 10” indicator. It was so hot the black paint was turning gray and curling up. I told the A/C commander to call and have a mag/amp rushed to the A/C. Then I had the Nav. Shut the system down and had them run a small CO2 fire extinguisher up from the alert truck. I squirted the mag/amp to cool it down, and had started disconnecting it, when I got a call from the A/C Commander, that they were having trouble getting a mag/amp quick enough, but for me to hurry. I got the unit disconnected and about that time the A/C Commander called for me to hold on they were going to taxi. While they were taxiing the commander came on line again and wanted to know if there was anything I could do to prevent a late take-off. I told him I could remove the mag/amp from the 5” indicator and install it on the 10” because the 5” wasn’t mission-essential. He told me to proceed. Just as I got the unit off the 5”, some one threw a box into the wine-cellar. It was the mag/amp unit from supply. As I started hooking up the unit from the 5” onto the 10”, I felt the A/C began to taxi again, The B/Nav. came on the radio and told me to “Hang on, they were taking off.” When we got airborne, the A/C came on and told me to tell him as soon as I got the unit checked out. It only took another 4 or 5 minutes. I told the Nav. to power up, before I could crawl out of the wine-cellar, he reported to the A/C that we were “Go!” and we were! I spent over 24 hour’s sitting on the honey-bucket, in short sleeved fatigues, wearing somebody’s spare flight suit with newspaper stuffed around my torso and legs trying to keep my teeth from chattering. I ended up eating leftovers from the crew’s flight lunches. P. S. The spare unit was no good. John R. Jeffers
John R. Jeffers (Jeff) <airdawg@pchnet.com>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

I arrived at Lowry AFB in May, 1962, Signed into PATS. then into the 3443 School Sqdn and started Bomb/Nav school Our class graduated in Feb. 1962. Classmembers that I can remember; Joe Kaplako, Jon O. Cutchin, Robert L. Bell, Kenneth J. Rebar, and Richard Price. Jon, Joe and I were assigned to the 11th A&E, 11th BW, Altus AFB, OK. When I got there, MSGT D.S. Schumacker was the NCOIC, CMS C.B. Norton was the section chief. I worked for TSGT H.L. Scott. Other B/Nav'ers; SSgt Carl Lease, SSGT D.W. McCreadie, Airmen Eric Geis, K.P. Farris, H.S. Crow, J.D. KIrby, J.S. Farris, J.J. Holman, R.C. Boulware, J.A. Robinson, and others whose first name or initials I can't remember; Mason, Czya, Tri, Bateman, Wierzbici, Nadboralski, Wohoski, Pedersen. I was at Altus from Mar, 1963 to June 1967. I have many memories if working on the AN/ASB4-4A-MA16 B/N system, ACR and MADREC on the B-52E's at Altus. I'll post some war stories later. I would like any of the guys to contact me. John R. Jeffers airdawg@pchnet.com
John R. Jeffers (Jeff) <airdawg@pchnet.com>
Huntingdon, TN USA -

hey
amanda ridder <amanda_ridder2001@yahoo.com>
rockford, oh USA -

In 1963, on a temporary visit to Barksdale, I attended a wing maintenance meeting where they announced a major change in SAC maintainance philosophy. Generally no more maintenance preflights prior to the crew's and no inspections based on hours but only on write-ups.I recall this vividly as the CMS making the presentation called it the "no-leakee no-peakee" policy. Basicly, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I guess all the pre-preflighting and over inspection was causing more problems then it was preventing.I recalled the early days at Walker AFB, when a Tech Rep was required to accompany the B/N troops on all the maintenance preflights.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newury Park, CA USA -

THE NIGHT of the RT UNITS. In 1961 at Loring AFB, asI came to work one morning, M/Sgt "Sparky" Spangler, shop chief, approached me as I came into the Bomb/Nav shop and told me there wa a big commotion out on the flight line about RT Units. We hopped into a van and drove out. Sure enough, there were four RT Units stacked up in front of a B-52 and a peeved T/Sgt LeRoy Chase further out front, smoking his customary corncob pipe.We asked him what the problem was and he stated that all four RT Units had been checked out from Service Stock and all were bad.Anyone else we would have questioned more but LeRoy was one of the finest technicians that I had ran across.A man of few words, you would normally see him smoking his pipe and studying his Tech Order (pocket sized one given out by IBM remember them?) prior to going out on a work order. Usually he had the write-up solved before he hit the a/c. As it turned out, of course he was right. One shop shift had repaired the units without aligning them and the next shift, assuming they were completed, had yellow tagged them and put them in Service stock.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

February 20, 1963-February 20, 2003 A Tribute to 1st Lt. Thomas Joseph Hallgarth- Bomber Navigator By: Tammy Josephine Maher I started wondering how 40 years can come and go so quickly when it occurred to me that I have almost outlived my father by 20 years. He would have been 63 years old two days ago with his last sun setting at the age of 23. His B-47 and crew perished 40 years ago today. He would have made a career in the Air Force. His career spanned a mere few years. His mission now complete, mine is to find out more about him, his crew and if possible to find their children. I am almost 40 years old, married fifteen years and have three children of my own. I thought about the questions that have haunted me since I was 7 when my parents told me that I had another Dad, one that was in heaven. Most of the questions still linger and time seems to be running out to get the answers. My 9 year old son fell in love with the Air Force after I took him to an aviation museum in Sacramento at McClellan Air Force Base March 1, 2003. Like a ghost town, we explored the outdoor tarmac with great enthusiasm. As he ran from plane to plane, he could hardly contain himself. Is it genetic? Was my Dad that excited when he went to flight school? Oh the stories those planes could tell if only they could speak. We thought we heard their whispers as we visited them. My boy played with the radar equipment on one large Œbabe¹ like he lived there and knew Œher¹ My son really liked the nose-art. He¹s a boy, what can I say? My son is an old soul who possesses his grandfather¹s eyes. I bought him a flight jacket and a pencil sketch of a B-47. I tried to answer all his questions about his grandfather. My Dad trained at Mather AFB in Sacramento, not too far from McClellan, completed Navigator school in Texas and died serving at the base in Lincoln, Nebraska. He rests in Golden Gate National Cemetery. He expected to retire with the military. He probably would have served in Vietnam. Then waxing nostalgic, I pulled out an old suitcase my Mom gave me about six years ago that contains all that I know about 1st Lt. Thomas Hallgarth, and I showed the Lieutenant¹s grandkids the stuff that he left behind. There are the USAF wings, hats, pins, and buttons. There is the Air Force Officer¹s Guide, as fresh as the day he got it I suppose-I doubt he had time to read it. Just off the Cuban Missile Alert of October 1962, he was still new to Lincoln Air Force Base and his crew, February of Œ63 when he died. He was posthumously ranked from 2nd to 1st Lt. so the certificate says and there are the lettersŠ.the many notes of condolences from President Kennedy to the Mayor of Comfrey, Minnesota, all mailed on official looking stationary to my Mom, who refused to open her door when the car pulled up to their house on the base that day, Feb 20, 1963 when they came to tell her that he wasn¹t coming home from the simulated low level training flight of that morning. There are the pictures too. The ones of a newly married couple-just starting out-and the pictures the Air Force took of my Mom receiving a Commendation medal 8 months pregnant with me and all alone. There are the little trinkets mostly of a life short lived, of a savings passport book, a wallet, a keychain, a Catholic Missal. His Air Force pictures in his uniform, serious, smiling, and one with a parachute. I inherited his eyes, his nose and his sense of humor. While filing through his personal effects, most specifically his pictures, I experience the feeling of looking in a mirror and seeing someone you think you¹ve known all your life but haven¹t met yet. Who am I? Who was he? Whatever happened to the families of Capt. Donald Livingston, Lt. Col. Lamar Ledbetter and Lt. Michael Rebmann, the crew that didn¹t return. My Dad was born and baptized in New Jersey in 1940. He was a good student, especially in math & science, which makes for a good navigator. He was a boy scout who loved big band and rock and roll music and he played the drums. He hung around the Jersey shore and went to the same High School as Jack Nicholson, the actor. My Dad loved playing in his garage band, The Rockets, and could do a pretty awesome drum solo, according to school chums I was able to find. I can only imagine what a clown he was or so people have told me. In many ways, we are so much alike. His best friend from High School, Bill Stanford, found me eight years ago, and his stories from the High School years are priceless. Bill said the "Rockets" were asked to audition for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour but weren¹t selected to appear on the showŠthey were beaten out by a musical spoon act. I never would have known that story had he not told me. We are great friends now and having Bill in my life has been such a blessing. Each little story is but a small window into the life that was my father. One of the things most treasured in my Dad¹s suitcase is the letter from the Mayor of Comfrey, MN dated March 5, 1963 To the Family of Lt. Hallgarth, The past Saturday afternoon, March 2, our community held a memorial service at the site of the B-47 crash, the place which has truly affected your lives. I am trying to express our sympathy to you and yours. Words have a futility at such a time as this but it may be said that never has a community been more united in wishing to convey its¹ most sincere expression of sympathy to the wives and families of these men who gave their lives in the service of our country. We, the people of the village of Comfrey, and also the nearby farming area, feel that these men so guided their plane until the last possible moment to avoid crashing into the village, because of this effort, their bravery saved many lives. I¹m certain it could be sincerely stated "Greater Love Hath no Man than he who gave his life for his country or his fellow man." Prayers for you and yours have been heard in churches of all denominations in our community. You, the families of these heroic airmen, have our deepest sympathy may their devotion to duty help you in these trying times and may God give you strength to carry on for them. Arthur J. Lilla Mayor Comfrey In the course of trying to find more information about those years and about my Dad, an unusual thing occurred that involved a close friend of mine, whom I have known for the last five years here in California. She and I were talking about the B-47 accident a month or so ago and she read the Lincoln Star newspaper article about the crash. She called her Mom who was raised in Minnesota and found out that it was her two uncles who recovered the pilot¹s bodies from the wreckage that day. Another bond across time and space between us. A truly small world. In some way, it was a consolation for me that I was able to find out about this. My story is not unique. It is a common thread running through the tapestry that is our military family in the United States of America. A story of sons and daughters, wives and mothers, husbands and fathers, who in serving their country, died for Her, perhaps never knowing their own children and leaving many grieving loved ones behind to start over. It is the Supreme Sacrifice. They are the sacred ones whose names are carved in stone in the rows of concrete which grace our National Cemeteries and move us to tears. What gets me are the ages of some of them, like my Dad & his crew members, at the twilight of life at age twenty-three. His crew members being 23, 31, and Col. Ledbetter 41 at the time of their deaths. Did they think of us as they realized their fate? -I think so. Even in the course of duty their thoughts were on others, those they loved and those they did not know but were willing to protect. How we live this gift of life is what really counts. Life had to go on and it did for my Mom, who remarried, giving me my lifelong Dad- my buddy, a new name, and a family with two sisters born in the late 60¹s. I¹m the odd one though, somewhat taller than them, and just different, not better. It¹s the parts of me that I can¹t find in them that must be him, the man I never knew. But I get glimpses now and again in the eyes and faces of my children, his grandchildren, his legacy which has gone far beyond February 20, 1963. As I come into this anniversary year since that day 40 years ago, some questions remain unanswered. How did Lt. Col. Ledbetter¹s children fare? Is it true that Capt. Livingston¹s wife had a baby girl after the accident just like my Mom did with me? What happened to Lt. Rebmann¹s family? I am bonded to these people by a single day and I can¹t find any of them. Which is why I decided to write this in honor of my Dad. First to say thank you to all the heroes of the 343rd for serving our country. The 98th Wing was the strong-arm of the cold war era. I feel part of your family. Your service means more than words can express. You are America. Secondly, if you are reading this and can give me any more stories to share with my children or store in my heart, I would be grateful to hear from you. I will always be a daughter of the 98th Bombardiers and hopefully a Pyramidier by proxy. God Bless the USA. Tammy Maher 3627 Waldwick Circle El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 USA 530-676-2467 jdtam5@sbcglobal.net
JD & Tammy Maher <jdtam5@sbcglobal.net>
USA -

Unfortunately did not get into Bomb Nav until Nov 82. Attend BNAV class at Lowry and assigned to 319th AMS Grand Forks AFB, ND. Worked with some of the finest BNAV techs. Switched to B-1B IATE when Grand Forks converted to the B-1B. I'm very proud of the people I worked with in both career fields and extremely proud to be part of both aircraft. Retired in 1994 when B-1B left Grand Forks. DOD smartly decided to shut us down instead of the other three wings. Smart because we could fly ours out. If they closed one of the other three they would have to haul them out on a rail car or by truck. Anyway, great job on this site. One note of bad news for anyone who knew or worked with Donald K. Nelson. Don died in September 1999. He was a great friend and fishing partner. He is missed by me and my family. Holidays aren't the same without him and fishing will never be the same. Don had a lot of great stories about BNAV and would talk for hours on the subject. Don was a loner who was hard to know but would do anything for anyone. Don was stationed at K.I. Sawyer, Mather, Fairchild, March, and Grand Forks.
Terry Decker <tdeckerb1b@aol.com>
Grand Forks, ND USA -

Any of you old gray haired F--ts out there that were at Little Rock AFB in the 70th or 384th A& E Squadrons from 55 to 61 still able to sit up and take nourishment? If so let me hear form you. In the Subject put LRAFB so that I will read it before deleteing it. I spent about six weeks in the RB wing before transfering to the 384th Bomb Wing. I arrived at Little Rock AFB before they had enough barracks so they let me go home to Hot Springs for thirty days without charging me leave. The only thing that I ever got out of the AF that I didn't earn. :)
Daniel W. (Dan) Hawthorn <dwhawthorn@aol.com>
Lowell, AR USA -

Just got to Glasgow in Sept 1961 as a bran spanking new three level. A1C (have no idea what that is in todays' airforce) Mussleman was my trainer. Back in them days we were issued a full complent of tools which included a 3 foot long stake-on tool. One of our jobs was to carry our trainers tools. Most guys carried their stuff in the little canvas bag that was part of the tool issue. But not Mussleman. He (read that as me) would take his compete tool box out on the job. Even when we went to to debriefing. Man that thing wieghed a ton. Sure glad when I was assigned to Willi Nash. He carried all the tools he needed in his pocket. Once a year we had a tool box check. Any tools that had been lost or stolden were replaced. After my first check I elected not to do any more, after all I could keep track of my tools. Once I got my 5 level, I adopted the Willi Nash method of carring tools. Seem to work pretty good. As I neared the end of my enlistment, the airforce gave an early out to folks who had enlisted from Dec 7, 1960 to Febuary 7 1961. I got out twenty days early but my good buddy Grey had enlisted on Feb 8th. there was one angry GI. Any way to make a short story long, on my next to my last day, I went out to help on a problem. Took my canvas bag filled with most of my tools. Left it on the Nav's table. Must have been a TA problem cause we spent most of our time in the cockpit. When we came down to the Bomb/Nav section, my tools were gone. Called the MPs. Made out report. Went to supply to turn in what was left of my tools. Well, it seems that the report would take about two weeks to go through the channels. So, it cost me $34.14 to get out of the service. Some where there is a moral, I think. take care trinidad
Trinidad Herrera <therrera@rmisp.com>
Lander, Wyoming USA -

I served in bomb nav at Walker AFB from 1960 thru 1963. We are looking for some of the old troops that have not been in touch for many, many years. Anyone who served there in the early 60's, please contact me or 'Mac" McDonald. He can be reached in Maryland at (410) 592-5360. We have held 4 great reunions in the 90's and all enjoyed the experience. If any of those old B/N guys happen to check this site, PLEASE get in touch. We have found quite a few lately and we want to hear from some more. Thanks E.J. Ericksen
Erick J. Ericksen <ejericksen@usadatanet.net>
Norwood, NY USA -

My best bud from our old BNS days told me about the site. Have lots of stories and pics from Fairchild, in the early 80's. P.S. Was the TA EVER supposed to work correctly?
Steve Neylon 92MAAMB 1981-84 <ApacheFog@aol.com>
Parma, OH USA -

I LIKE TO GO TO THE MOVIES THEY MAKE ME LAUGH
Jim Lamont <james.lamont@whiteman.af.mil>
Whiteman AFB, MO USA -

Thank you for producing such a down to earth site. As a writer I can tell you are a skilled communicator. Thanks again.
Communication Skills
Davenport, New York US -

Hey! Nice site. If you are ever in Las Vegas let's play golf. lonniejames@hotmail.com.
Las Vegas Golf
Las Vegas, Nevada US -

Standard practice until the mid 70s at Mather AFB was for all maintenance new arrivals to the 320th AMS to be issued a full set of tools. All shops had a large rack where all the boxes were supposed to be locked up when they were not in use. Security in terms of keeping your tools locked up was a topic visited frequently in the all the shops. Msgt. Bob Warren was the Bomb/Nav In-Shop Supervisor when I arrived at Mather in 1973. Sgt. Andy Stahl was one of the flight line troops there for a while. Andy had the twin bad habits of leaving his tool bag sitting unsecured in the area as well as leaving his box unlocked in the rack and then leaving work. Bob chewed Andy out over this several times, and then started calling Andy at home and demanding that he come back to the shop and properly secure his tools. But Andy still kept forgetting to lock up. Bob came out of his on-base house one morning, headed for work, and discovered his kids' cat lying dead in the middle of the road. Bob just scooped it up and put it in the floorboard of his Triumph; he didn't have time to do anything else. The cat sat in his car all day, and this happened to be one of the days where Andy left his tools unsecured again. Bob called Andy and told him to get into the shop and secure his tools right ASAP. Then he headed out to his car. He jumped into the car, saw the dead cat, and grabbed it and went back into the shop. He grabbed Andy's unlocked toolbox off the rack, took it to one of the workbenches and opened it up. He turned it upside down and emptied all Andy's tools onto the workbench. Then he grabbed a couple of tubes of EPOXY and emptied them into the bottom of Andy's toolbox. Then he tossed the dead cat into the bottom of the toolbox and carried it back to the rack.
Terry McKinney <tmac3931@hotmail.com>
Tobaccoville, NC USA -

I have a brother-in-law stationed in Germany, so far he has not been sent to Iraq. My family and I would like to say thank you to the men and women who are fighting for our freedom and wish them a safe return home to their families.I feel that if the United states has to show that we are not going to stand for any thing against the United States. May God Bless you and your families in this time of war! Be safe and take care of business.Also thank you to the people who have fought in the past for our freedom and rights.
Patricia Poynter <patriciapoynter@msn.com>
Eubank, Ky USA -

I have a brother-in-law stationed in Germany, so far he has not been sent to Iraq. My family and I would like to say thank you to the men and women who are fighting for our freedom and wish them a safe return home to their families.I feel that if the United states has to show that we are not going to stand for any thing against the United States. May God Bless you and your families in this time of war! Be safe and take care of business.
Patricia Poynter <patriciapoynter@msn.com>
Eubank, Ky USA -

Andersen AFB legend: There were either 6 or 7 Andersen G-models shot down during Linebacker II in December '72. Of course, maintenance records went down with the aircraft. Legend has is that an equal number of MADRECs were pitched off the end of Patty's Point into the deep blue ocean below. The ghost of Charlie 70: An A/C parked on C-70 launched on a mission. The plane drilled into the ocean off Patty's Point. Two days later, another Buff was parked on the same site. About midnight, the crew chief was sacked out in the gunner' seat. No one else was on the bird. He reported feeling a touch on his shoulder, and looked up and around to see someone or something dressed in wet flight gear, complete with helmet. He said that seaweed was hanging off what ever it was. The crew chief jumped from the gunner's seat through the open hatch below without touching anything during his egress. Guam Mods? TA was NOT a priority on Guam, so many of the TA computers were SNAFU - warning lights illuminated, etc. We didn't have time to fix them. We disabled one of the switches and removed the lamps from the warning indicators. The plane was then prohibited from flying low-level. Andersen birds flew with a host of signed-off Red Xs. The last bombing mission was flown on Aug 14 or 15, '73. Overnight, SAC started reinstituting all the things that were overlooked when the focus was to keep the bombs falling. We started doing TA alignments and all the other stuff that was overlooked. Spit and polish reared its head too. I was working a plane one morning and got pulled off to go stand a squadron open ranks inspection. I looked at my boots - they hadn't been touched since I got there. Fortunately, we had a couple of cans of black spray paint on the bus. In Tin City, all the freeform cubicles were broken up, and the bunks and lockers were rearranged according to the book. The barracks cleanup also began. The floor of the barracks I lived in was brown when I arrived there. I got off work one day, and came back to the barracks to discover that someone had been tasked with GIing the floor. I was amazed to see that there was an aqua colored tile under all the brown! The best chow hall on Andersen was the one on the North Ramp. I always tried to eat breakfast there when I could. There was a Guam native girl who worked there, clearing the tables. She was a HUGE girl - her nickname was C-5. I remember one morning where I took my tray to a table, then went to get juice. I returned with my juice in time to see C-5 carrying my tray away, munching my bacon as she walked away. The Yom Kippur War started in October. The decision was made to return all the G-models to their peacetime base assignments; and all their oops went with them. It took either 2 or 3 days from the time I learned of the decision to get them home. The only G-model left on Andersen was the hangar queen, 222. It left, but had to turn back. Andersen was a spooky looking place with all the G-models gone. It was like a ghost town - or ghost base. But then, there's a lot of those these days.
Terry McKinney <tmac3931@hotmail.com>
Tobaccoville, NC USA -

Ain't those maintenance folks on the 52s doing a great job!! .....thanks for all your efforts....us retired folks owe you a drink, anytime. Well done!!
Eirish <eirish1@attbi.com>
SAC, USA -

Great site! I spent a single enlistment term B/N from 6/72 until 5/76. I've spent the last 4 days trying to remember names of the B/N troops I worked ( WHo said hindsight is 20/20?). I know I didn't get them all - especially the folks I woked with on Andersen in '73 - but here goes: Terry McKinney 6/72- 5/76 Lowry AFB 8/72-3/73 My BN class: SSgt. Bradshaw - Sets instructor A1c Alan Trammel- CO, to Titless WAF (procurement) A1C Tom LaPointe - Wright-Patt A1c Christiansen - Griffis? A1c Thompson - Wurtsmith A1c Roy Gifford - Fairchild Lowry BN students - other classes A1C Ed Abel A1c Wes Fullwood Mather 320th BW BN troops I remember MSgt. Bill Cobine Tsgt. Pat McDermott SSgt. Paul Porter MSgt. Bob Warren TSgt. Billy Reynolds SSgt. Jim Nagel Msgt. Dustin TSgt. Campbell SSgt Orv Hansen MSgt Ted Patterson TSgt. Ted Dlugosz SSgt. Larry Anderson MSgt. Joe Alex TSgt. Don Brass SSgt. Larry Piepmier TSgt Jerry Johnson Sgt. Gerald Mooneyham A1c Bill Richardson Sgt. Obrien (OB) A1c Bob Jones Sgt. Andy Stah Sgt. Rick McGill Sgt. Armond Wilhite Sgt. Mark Barber Sgt. Tom Wetzel Sgt Alan Riedel Sgt. Ernie Riedel Sgt. Ken Martin Sgt. Tim Riley
Terry McKinney <tmac3931@hotmail.com>
Tobaccoville, NC USA -

Hi, when I made my orignal entry my address was dwebster8@kscable.com. Its now dwebster8@cox.net
Donald Webster <dwebster8@cox.net>
Wichita, KS USA -

Good Work Jon. I was wondering who the yay-hoos where. Blot them out !!!! B-52's Peace through Strength. Victory through Annihilation.
Gene Lewan
Medical Lake, WA USA -

We got spammed! Some war protester jacked up the guest book but it is back up now. B-52... Keeping America free for over 50 years!!
Jon
USA -

God bless America.
Spirt of Bombnav
USA -

Old Bombnav troop. B-47 Lockbourne 56-59, Mcdill 59-62, Lincoln 63-65, B-52 Seymour-Johnson 65-69, Barksdale 69-73 with 1 yr tdy to guam, Grand Forks 73-76. Then retired. Spent the next 20 years in Electric Warefare at Robins in civil service. retired in 96.
Glenn Kees <ggk34ga@cox.net>
Bonaire, GA USA -

Early in the 1970s I worked on a satellite surveilance system (still in operation) that would detect and track all Russian missile launches.At that time, Russia had about 2,000 nuclear armed missiles aimed at the USA excluding submarine and A/C. We would run a test program that would simulate simultaneous launch of these missiles.It was a sobering sight to see a map of Russia with simultaneous initiation of 2000 launches and as tracking occured, the predicted impacts, in less than 40 minutes,on USA targets .These launches never took place, probably not because of love I suspect, but more likely because of the deterence of SAC bombers and missiles on alert status so as to respond before obliteration.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Nebury Park, CA USA -

A gentle reminder for Kim.......We all agree that war sucks. In SAC, our job and the task of the current military was/is to ensure that a war is NOT fought on American soil.I'd say we've done our job and done it with honor.....However, Kim, you too have a job as a peace loving, freedom enjoying American. Your job is to ensure that each and every American is respected for who they are, assured of their right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.That each citizen is assured of a safe environment, free from crimes of rape, burglary, murder,kidnap, corporate greed and incest. ....We've done our job Kim, why the hell don't you start doing yours?
Bill Eirish <Eirish1@attbi.com>
SAC, USA -

to kim jenson: you might remind your little boy that those of us on this web site spent many long hard hours maintaining the bomb/nav systems on the war birds that won the cold war so that perhaps her son wouldn’t have to.
Charlie White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

Thanks for the good words, but I would like to see this stay on the board so everyone can be reminded of what is out there. We, and others, fought so these people could do this. Thank God we won.
Gene <GeneCo@Hotmail.com>
Los Gatos, CA USA -

way to fire Geno i guess you noticed the dude (ess) didn't have the nads to put her e-mail address on her comments. of course dude esses don't have nads any way. the naivete' of these persons continues to amaze me. getting a real job would probably help out their prospective a lot. contributing to society instead of criticizing would help a lot too. i hope jon gets on this right away with a big eraser. keep the faith al hall
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

Wow!! Golly gosh.. You mean it's THAT easy? You sure opened my eyes. That means that in the 1700's the people could just have loved good ole' King George. In the 20's they could have had parties and cake with the sweet, lovable Kaiser. In the 40's we could have just gone over and covered good ole' Hitler and that scamp Tojo with Love, Love, Love. Of course it was too late to invite 6M jews to the party. Now, maybe we can go over and party hearty with that loveable little imp in Iraq. Of course, it will be too late to bring back those fun loving people he gassed. The women he beheaded in December for protesting, and the deformed Kurdish children he had gassed. But, what the heck that was all in love. Right? Right? Someone...Anyone....Bueller? Maybe the American GI's buried in foreign countries because of their LOVE for your freedoms and liberties would have been spared if they had just listened to you and loved the people that were trying to take away those same liberties and freedoms. Thanks for your deep insight and flash of perspective. Remember, nobody hates war more than the people that have to fight it, but know that sometimes it has to be done. I hope they just love good ole' Saddam to death. God bless and protect our troops. Peace out Dude(ess)
Gene <Geneco@hotmail.com>
Los Gatos, CA USA -

(I see ole Kim used spam as her email address... just like a war protester... too chicken to put anything of value on the line. Men and Women have died for her freedom here in America... I bet she would spit on their graves as long as she can have her French Coffee and Apple Computer.......Get a Grip on reality)

I'm happy to sign your guestbook.

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My little boy came home yesterday and asked why people go to war.

equity loan

It was hard for me to explain except to say that some people have forgotten how important love is.

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Let this serve as a reminder to everyone. Love and Peace.

mortgage lender

Kim Jenson
Atlanta, GA US -

Just found this site today,16 Mar 2003, GREAT SITE!! Iwas a BNS toad for many years. At Lowry 1960-1961. 5th A&E,Travis AFB CA 1961-1964. 7 Level School at Lowry 1964-1965. Back to Travis 1965-1967. Ellsworth 1967-1968 with a paid vacation to Guam Jan-Jun 1968. Then to Lowry as, at that time, BNS instructor on FB-111. Then off to RAF Upper Heyford UK, F-111E Automatic Test Station Operator 1970-1974. Then back to my first and only love Bomb Nav at Castle AFB 1974-1976. Then to Luke as a WCS/INS FTD instructor on F-15's 1976-1978. 1978-1980 FTD F-16 WCS/INS instructor at Hill AFB UT. Retired in 1980. I would love to hear from fellow BNS troops. Reconized some of the names i.e. Dave Ross Travis 1961-67 and Earl Polly, Guam Jan-Jun 1968. Keep up the good work on this site. Ben McCormick (Mac)
Ben McCormick <mccormic@visi.net>
Newport News, VA USA -

Does anybody remember my father Arnold (Arnie) Sorem ? Dad was a B/N Troop he retired in 1973. He was stationed at Carswell, Dyess, Blyeville, Larson, Moses lake . I joined up in 1976, My first station was at Carswell 1976-1980. I was a Crew Chief on 0586,0692.0073 D models of course. Retired a line Chief in 1996, flew on the same Buffs my Dad did. We would seat around for many hours talking abought the good old days, Dad died DEC 11 2000, but he was sharp to the end. He was still doing TA allingments in his sleep. I would like to here from anybody that remembers him I sure miss him and the stories. Thanks (One Of The Twins).
Jim Sorem <jimsorem@attbi.com>
Rowlett, TX USA -

http://www.1heluva.com/cgi-bin/join.cgi?refer=17476 COOL WEBSITE....GO KICK SOME BUTT GUYS AND LADIES!!!
Sherri <heluva76@yahoo.com>
USA -

for those of you who may be interested there is a "gathering of SAC eagles" at castle air park, formerly castle afb this coming oct. the details are listed at www.stratofortress.org which is the b-52 stratofortress organization web site. you california guys have no excuse however guys like myself and zellner will have to hit the road early. ........................keep the faith ...................al hall (alfie)
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

Mastagni and Raftopoulos. That sounds like a personal injury law firm. I have no doubt that he was the same Mastagni who was at Rapid City in the mid-fifties.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Mastagni and Raftopoulos. That sounds like a personal injury law firm. I have no doubt that he was the same Masgagni who was at Rapid City in the mid-fifties.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Mastagni?? Seems to me that we had a lt/col Mastagni as Co of the 4141 A&E in 1961 when I got to Glasgow AFB. Back in the early days of Glasgow, the A&E Floor of th barracks didn't have a CQ. When ever the barracks phone rang, Whoever was closes to the phone would answer. One week Mastagni and the first shirt Msgt Raftopoulos conducted an inspection of our floor. This must have been during an ori or Bar None. Any way the place was a mess. Mastagni, at the next commander call, call our place a pigpen. That night, Mastagni telephoned the floor. One of the com/nav troops (think it was Wilson) answered with a "Mastagni's pig pen which hog do you want." Mastagni went ballistic, wanted to know who answered. Wilson hung up. Next night, we had an NCO pulling CQ. Guess you had to be there. Cheers
Trinidad Herrera <therrera@rmisp.com>
Lander, WY -

I was a Com troop At Elmendorf 1979 to 82, and Wurtsmith 81 till 88. My best man at my wedding was a Bomb/Nav troop. Nothing but good times with Bomb/Nav troops. Would really like to contact some of the crowd from those days. WODERFULL SITE KEEP IT UP.
Tom "Ogre" Lowe <TCDCANDPR@Aol.com>
Bedford, Oh USA -

Hey Bob, I was at Keesler AFB from August '51 till Feb '52. Fundamentals and Q-13 school. Old Army non air conditioned open bay barracks.School 6 days a week, three shift operations, class KPs, mess server duty and marching everywhere.Sen. Kefaurer (sp) was conducting his probe on prostitution and gambling in Biloxi.Top 10% of graduates got their second stripe.Then I was assigned to a ground AC&W site.But we were making $78.00 a month, wasn't it great!
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

Back in 1951, the Electronics Fundamentals class was located at Keesler AFB, Miss. and was 22 weeks long. The B/N class was also located there and was 13 weeks long and covered either the Q-13 or the Q-24. The K-systems school was still located the the Sperry factory. My question is, when did it all move to Lowrey, and did they shorten the fundamentals class at all?
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Oh, THAT General LeMay! When I was at Rapid City in 1952 training at the local FTD to get ready to go to Ramey, our instructor, a TSgt. Parra, was also running an in-flight maintenance class for the RN's. There was a know-it-all Major in the class named Mastagni who expressed some wonderment that "all those little Bomb-Nav troops out on the flight line know all this stuff your teaching us?" Parra responded, "Sure they do, of course it didn't take them as long to learn it".
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

I retired 7-1957 665th AC&W Calumet, MI. Great little place
Gene H. Rice USAF-RET <magrice@hotmail.com>
Mondovi,, WI USA54755 -

After exchanging a couple of emails with Bill Hawkins, I recalled another happening at Robins about 1963. Lt/Col Tolman (A&E Comm), smoking his custmary cigar, approached Bill and I and said that he had been asked if the In-flight Maint. Manual could be improved to make it easier for the RN/Nav to locate the failed unit to be swapped. We pointed out the pictured locations, color coding and all already in the manual. Then Bill said " maybe we could run strings from the units that the IFM manual says to replace over to the actual units in the equipment rack itself.Them they could just follow the string, hand over hand, over to to the right unit." Lt/Col Tolman laughed as he walked away but I thought it was one of Bills better ideas.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, Ca USA -

GENERAL CURTISS LEMAY WAS THE FOUNDER OF SAC. HE THEN BECAME CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE AIR FOACE. HE PROBALLY DID MORE FOR THE ENLISTED MEN THAN ANY OTHER COMMANDER IN MODERN TIMES. I WAS AT LOCKBOURNE AFB OHIO ON RB47E,S THEN WE GOT ECH47 FROM BARKSDALE. IN 1959 I WENT TO GRIFFISS AFB N.Y. WE STARTED THE 4039 BOMB WING AND I WAS IN AERO REPAIR. IN 1962 IWENT TO RAMEY AFB PR WHERE I WAS IN TRANSIT MAINT. EVERY JAN. WE HOSTED THE WORLD WIDE COMMANDERS CONFERENCE, TWICE I GUIDED GEN LEMAYS PLANE TO HIS PARKING SPOT. I NEVER MET HIM, BUT DREW A CROWED. IN 1964 I WAS SENT TO A HELL HOLE CALLED KINCHLOE AFB MICH. UPPER PINCH. 10 MONTHS AFTER 10 YEARS 1MONTH AND 11 DAYS, I LEFT TO GO TO WORK FOR ALLISON DIV GM. I RETIRED AFTER 27 YEARS BECAUSE I HAD OPEN HEART SURGURY, AND RETIRED SO MY WIFE COULD HAVE MY BENIFITS IF ANY THING HAPPENED. SO MUCH FOR MY LIFE.IAM NOW 66YEARS OLD AND GOING STRONG, BOB
BOB SHADBOLT <DAD-SHAD@MSN.COM>
INDPLS, IN USA -

General LeMay? Who was he? :-) Ron Larson, I seem to recall the phrase "highly paid tech rep" floating around at a lot of SAC bases back in the 50's and 60's.
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner!@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

Tales from the "mole hole' (NCO stag bar at Loring AFB). One of my deer hunting companions was M/SGT Sparky Spangler, NCOIC of the B/N shop. Sparky was blind in one eye- but thats another story.He was a great fisherman but a lousy hunter.Consequently, as I was only after a trophy buck and Sparky was after meet to feed his large family, I agreed to shoot the first deer I saw, providing he would put it on his deer tag.So for two years in a row, Sparky had a deer hanging in his backyard on opening day which actually I had shot.But he acquired a reputation as a master hunter and would be sought out while we were tipping a few in the "mole hole" for his expert advice which he would freely expound on after a wink at me.i seemed to remember the phrase "highly paid tech rep" which seemed to be brought up when a new round had to be paid for. One memoriable night after passing an ORI, the Wing Commander bought a round for the whole place.A SAC legend for the youngsters out there.Gen. LeMay was asked onetime if ORIs were completely fair as sometimes just some bad luck might cause a failure. He replied that as far as he was concerned, that there was no difference in being unfortunate or incompetent.
Ron Larson <antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

To Alphie: I remember well, it was things like that that made it fun to be B/N troop. Too bad we didn't get a picture.
Charlie White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

re: the restoration project. i'll call the park in mobile and ask them if their cockpit is intact. if so i can take a run over there and get some photo's for you. another way is if some of these younger guys reading this have some tech data left over from the old days, showing the layout, they could help you out. when i retired the "d's" were being relagated to a sea surviellance mission and the dbns was a punch card reading device called the aou, (automated offset unit) it was scheduled to be mod into the g's and h's i did put an inertial nav system into a g at barksdale in '76 it was laying around a program office at wright patt. it was still flying when i retired. i heard it went into the d upgrade. blast from the past.................do you remember the night fiedler made a rope out of wax cord and hung james redd up over the shop door? i remember maj. vacarro coming into the shop to use the phone talking to job control and then looking at redd and saying something like what's he doing hanging around? keep the faith alfie
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

To Alfie: One of my post retirement careers was as a welfare worker for Riverside cty in So Cal and one of my coworkers was LCO Edge's daughter as the saying goes the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. I currently am a volunteer at the Travis AFB museum were we have a BUFF 56-696 it is in a sorry state, I just started and plan to start restoring the cockpi first. the A/C was a digital BNS from Carswell when it arrived here in 1983. On a slightly humoruos note SAC billed the Museum for the 40,000 lbs of fuel that was aboard. I have never seen the digital BNS and we have no tech data on it, so I have no idea how the lower deck is supposed to look. Keep the worl informed on the happenings at Castle in Oct. Sounds interesting. Vince Peraino lives in Merced, I think. Later!
Charlie White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

back to you charles................... two things come to mind when i read your input.................the night you killed the rat in the coffee shop with your syringe while holding it with the broom.....................and your favorite trick blowing smoke through plastic tubing by the modulator on the mock up...... went through west texas the summer before last and saw some of the old turf we flew over. it was just like yesterday. the mansion facade from the movie "giant" has now collapsed and is just kindling. but then so are we........ never forget going across mcallester ok at 100' at 6am. pucker factor was maxed out. but then bill edge (now deceased ) was at the yoke. heard from blinky wilkes awhile back. he's living in austin very retired. will send you his e-mail off the board. as i told ron larson under direct e-mail they're having a thing at castle this oct. might be good to get together and watch each other's eyes water up. there's a "d" on display at battle ship park in mobile alabama that i visit on occasion to bring myself back to reality. keep the faith alfie.........
al hall <minkey1@netzero.com>
carencro, la USA -

For Alfie Hall: The low level training route that you were referring to out in the Davis Mtns of W. Texas was "Poker Deck" 15-3 or 15-6 if you recall we would fly two flights a day on Saturday when they were checking the Bergstrom crews out on T/A. They would fly the route and terminate with a camera attack on Alpine or Valentine TX, I can't remember which. The wrench taped in the radome certainly wasn't our proudest moment, but as Terry Feidler would say it was a good" farmer fix" but then there wasn't a heading error. Your mention of Gen. Wells reminds me when we were on Guam in the fall of 1967 the Bomb Nav truck was dropping the night shift troops off in front of the Airman's club when Wells pulled up behind them and told them to police the area, one young troop took off running into "Tin City" and suddenly all the troops ran leaving the general standing there. We did have some good times over the years Bomb Nav troops were a tight bunch
Charles White <cwhite@castles.com>
Fairfield, CA USA -

Bill McKenzey!!! OK I answered your email, now refresh this old brain. Ain't been back to upper Maine since Loring. Get enuff snow and cold this year right where I am on Cape Cod.
Bill Farris <dipnet@gis.net>
Chatham, MA USA -

Loring AFB Me from 67 to 74. BN Tech. Rep. Was there with Bill Farris, Art Plant Sgt. Barnett, Sgt. Lions, Sgt Higgins. Now working at Space Division on the GPS program. No more Snow or 40 below Boresights.
Bill McKinzey <Billy.McKinzey@LosAngeles.AF.MIL>
Hawthorne, Ca. USA -

Anyone remember the Rendezvous and the Turf Club in Rapid City?
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

BOMB NAV RULES. I GOING TO PASS THIS SITE ON TO THE OTHER TROOPS WHO WERE STATIONED AT FAIRCHILD. ESPECIALLY THE MEMBERS OF THE PELICAN CLUB AND PRINCETON SHIFT.
Gene Lewan <AZAmes242@aol.com>
Medical Lake, WA USA -

I was involved in the training for "Wing X" to go to Ramey, but I was already at Rapid City when the training started. I waa transferred to the new wing and went through complete Q-24 training again and when they were getting ready to ship out the new wing, they transferred one third of the personnel to the 28th and a like number from the 28th to the new wing to give them a nucleus of experienced personnel. Guess who got transferred back to the 28? Thant's right, me! It made a lot of sense to me, NOT!
Bob Zellner <r.o.zellner@att.net>
Mechanicsburg, PA USA -

I was in B-29's in 1951 at Fairchild AFB in Spokane and went to RB-36's andto Rapid City SD for training in 1951 and then flew to Ramey AFB Puerto Rico as a radio/ecm/gunner and spent 2 years in Ramey. aour primary aircraft was no. 4492022 but we had a number of flights in 4492015, which was a problem aircraft for us as we made 3 emergency landings in Mcdill afb in Tampa Fla with engines out. We flew 2022 to north Africa in 53 and over England and France and back to Ramey with no problems. It was a great airplane in my estimation even with the engine fires and other problems. Thanks for the good site. My aircraft commander was Louis T. Pines and he was a good officer.
Dean Body <dbody@theofficenet.com>
Kettle Falls, Wa. USA -

Been looking at this site regularly and decided to send a couple of pics from Fairford. Okay, I was OAS (B-1B) originally from 1989-1994 (Grand Forks AFB) but found the light Barksdale AFB 1994-2000, and keep the BUFF in good words today 2000-present Instructor at Sheppard AFB. I'd send some old tech school pics, but maybe you don't want B-1 trainer pics....
Bill McGurk <sabmc@yahoo.com>
Sheppard AFB, TX USA -

At Griffiss AFB circa 1961,on a friday afternoon, I was out on the flightline assisting on a repeat writeup. Early evening, the trouble found and corrected, we returned to the A&E bldg. where I encountered Lt/Col McKinney, A&E Comm. (a fine officer and gentleman).He said that the decision had been made at the afternoon maint. mtg.which I had missed, to request Depot assist.and a TWX had been sent.I assured him that the A/C was ok and that depot assist (a mixed blessing at best) should be canceled.A tough spot for him but he said maybe he could scrape up a crew for a test flight tomorrow morning.Then he asked me if I could make the flight also and I agreed.The crew was staff people, no EWO or gunner or instructors.and not too familiar with the system.I had to point out a few of the switches to them.Off we went to the RBS where we made two Large charge runs with four excellent scores.No writeups. Returning to the base, I was able to move from the IN positiom (commode) up to the IP position to watch a landing for the first time.The copilot was making his first solo landing and it was a beauty. Turned out to be about the most perfect flight that I ever went on.
Ron Larson <Antiqueronkaz@webtv.net>
Newbury Park, CA USA -

mugu@mugu.comoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo<