missleman01
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Post by missleman01 on Jun 3, 2016 14:47:29 GMT 9
It seems that most of the documented Bear intercepts are Alaska or Atlantic coast.
Last year the July 4th Bears off California were widely publicized. Did this happen much or at all in the F-106 days? Did McChord or any of the California squadrons perform any intercepts from home base like the Atlantic coast squadrons often did?
-Thanks in advance from a grateful enthusiast.
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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 3, 2016 16:03:16 GMT 9
Bears flew down the coast often from Alaska. Alaska intercepted and escorted to the Canadian boarder where the Canadian Air Force picked them up and then the 318th FIS took over and escorted them down the coast until another FIS Squadron picked them up. Was nothing new.
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Post by pat perry on Jun 3, 2016 16:47:50 GMT 9
It seems that most of the documented Bear intercepts are Alaska or Atlantic coast.
Last year the July 4th Bears off California were widely publicized. Did this happen much or at all in the F-106 days? Did McChord or any of the California squadrons perform any intercepts from home base like the Atlantic coast squadrons often did?
-Thanks in advance from a grateful enthusiast.
Hey missileman01, did you finally graduate from A&M? Only heard from you in 2008 and 2011 and 2016. Didn't know where you disappeared to.
If you get up to Colorado Springs, visit the Peterson Air Museum on the base. They have a nice indoor display on missile systems.
Thanks, Pat P
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missleman01
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Post by missleman01 on Jun 4, 2016 4:33:03 GMT 9
Thanks all for the replies.
I wonder if there are many photographs then. There seems to be an abundance of photos of Atlantic coast intercepts and escorts. I haven't seen one for the Pacific side that wasn't listed as from Alaska (either F-102 or a 106 detachment there).
To Pat: I did finally graduate. Im down in Houston now working. If I get a chance to come up to Colorado ill see about finding that display.
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Post by pat perry on Jun 4, 2016 6:36:29 GMT 9
Thanks all for the replies.
I wonder if there are many photographs then. There seems to be an abundance of photos of Atlantic coast intercepts and escorts. I haven't seen one for the Pacific side that wasn't listed as from Alaska (either F-102 or a 106 detachment there).
To Pat: I did finally graduate. Im down in Houston now working. If I get a chance to come up to Colorado ill see about finding that display. I lived in Houston for 14 years working at Xerox Corp. Have lived in DFW for 21 years and Rochester NY for 3 years. All with Xerox. Been retired for 16 years in DFW. Where do you work in Houston? We lived in Kingwood, north of Humble, TX. My office was in the Galleria area on west I-610 loop.
I Binged Bear intercepts and found this: forum.f-106deltadart.com/post/52182/quote/5125
Here's the search on our F-106 main site in the photo albums: www.f-106deltadart.com/piwigo/index.php?/search/243 You've probably already seen them.
Here's Peterson Museum: petemuseum.org/ Peterson was ADC Hq. They have a nice exhibit on the Peacekeeper ICBM (for SAC guys) MIRV warheads and control centers.
Alaska and Washington F-106 Squadrons caught a lot of intercepts. I was at Castle AFB in CA. On the Pacific side we scrambled once in awhile but Bears usually probed for weaknesses from the north. And they never found any. We have some pilot stories about intercepts on the forum. On the 0-10 pucker factor scale, some of them rate a 12 on both the east and west coast.
We have 3-4 fighter interceptor missile experts on the Forum and I'm surprised none of them have responded yet. Probably taking a coffee break.
Tell us more about your interest in missiles. And what kind of engineering you do.
Thanks, Pat P.
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Post by LBer1568 on Jun 4, 2016 7:08:14 GMT 9
While I was at McGuire AFB NJ we probably average once a week to scramble the 5 min birds. Most were wayward airliners, but we did get our share of Bears in the Air. After 539th disbanded I went to Tyndall. While there I worked on test projects several times. That included gun mods and IR Slave mod. But we also modded one bird with 35 mm movie cams in the RADAR rack.(Left Forward Electronics Bay). We had a couple empty slots where no black boxes resided. We had one camera shooting straight out to the left and another with a 90 degree lens pointing forward. The one going straight had just a clear glass window cut into door. The one going forward had a bubble with glass to the front. We saw several sets of film from first trips to Alaska. Most remembered one was of the Russian right seater shooting the moon to the six. I don't think he realized he was on candid camera. The longest we ever had scramble was at McGuire when the Russian Airliner declared an in flight emergency and we (539th FIS) and other east coast squadrons (Loring and Dover) maintained overhear cover the whole time he was on ground at NY airport. If I remember right we flew over 24 sorties, two aircraft at a time for duration of stay. I also remember the discussions of the first sixes that flew into Alaska (318th as I remember) using the F-102 call signs and flight path, airspeeds etc. So first time Bears came after that they were surprised at the quick intercept and also having the sixes above them during intercept. The F-102's had a hard time climbing and trying to intercept the bears at altitude. Lorin
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Post by pat perry on Jun 4, 2016 7:35:23 GMT 9
While I was at McGuire AFB NJ we probably average once a week to scramble the 5 min birds. Most were wayward airliners, but we did get our share of Bears in the Air. After 539th disbanded I went to Tyndall. While there I worked on test projects several times. That included gun mods and IR Slave mod. But we also modded one bird with 35 mm movie cams in the RADAR rack.(Left Forward Electronics Bay). We had a couple empty slots where no black boxes resided. We had one camera shooting straight out to the left and another with a 90 degree lens pointing forward. The one going straight had just a clear glass window cut into door. The one going forward had a bubble with glass to the front. We saw several sets of film from first trips to Alaska. Most remembered one was of the Russian right seater shooting the moon to the six. I don't think he realized he was on candid camera. The longest we ever had scramble was at McGuire when the Russian Airliner declared an in flight emergency and we (539th FIS) and other east coast squadrons (Loring and Dover) maintained overhear cover the whole time he was on ground at NY airport. If I remember right we flew over 24 sorties, two aircraft at a time for duration of stay. I also remember the discussions of the first sixes that flew into Alaska (318th as I remember) using the F-102 call signs and flight path, airspeeds etc. So first time Bears came after that they were surprised at the quick intercept and also having the sixes above them during intercept. The F-102's had a hard time climbing and trying to intercept the bears at altitude. Lorin See what I mean missileman01. Lorin Berry is the REAL DEAL. He is as old as we are but can often embarrass us into adapting to new technology, like Win 10 and smart phones.
In 2017 we are having our 3rd All F-106 Troops Reunion in Nashville. If you can get off work, we'd love to have you there. I can see you doing a demo of a F-106 Flight Sim that would excite the old troops.
Think about it,
Pat P.
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missleman01
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Post by missleman01 on Jun 4, 2016 7:36:20 GMT 9
Thanks for the additional links. My question was more a curiosity. Most of the images appear to be from the squadrons in Maine and Mass. I was curious if there were more photos from the pacific side.
LBer1568: Thanks for the insight. I also appreciate the context with the F-102s. Kind of an Operation Bolo type setup with the call signs and flight paths when the F-106 was introduced. Im sure it was a surprise. I love hearing the modification stories and things. Its actually interesting that so many people will focus on new systems and replacing new systems. I find it more interesting sometimes to hear what clever things folks do modifying existing systems. The insight into upgrades, sensors, cameras, etc. is fascinating. F-106 is certainly unique. The basic airframe was solid and got the benefit of a lot of ingenuity over the years with its service.
Pat:
As for myself my background in engineering is aerospace, im currently working in Houston on the space station program. Im working in flight control supporting computer and comm systems for space station. Ive been doing that since 2013, junior relative to a lot of peers down there, but its a fun job and Im learning a lot.
Hopefully my username is not misleading. So I don't have a background in missiles . Ive had that user name for years on other sites from when I was younger in reference to space program 'steely eyed missileman'. I haven't been involved in missiles, but have been in the space industry. So no hopefully no disrespect to SAC missileers and ADC armament personnel.
Career wise ive focused on space but have a healthy aviation interest. I think I mentioned in an old post but my grandfather on my mother's side, a WWII veteran, worked sheet metal on the B-36 assembly line at convair Ft Worth. He worked tooling and support equipment for B-58 and also worked on F-111 before he left Convair. Ive always loved the entire stable of Convair/GD aircraft. My uncle on my mother's side now works on F-35 there. I was not there long, but was born in Fort Worth myself. Fort Worth and Dallas have a great aviation history. Not quite San Diego or Los Angeles, but Convair/GD, Vought, Bell Helicopter and SAC all made a mark. That atmosphere was more palatable when I was little right at the end of the Cold War before SAC left Carswell AFB, but it is still there in various forms.
Relative to everything most folks on this forum have contributed to our country, I am merely an enthusiast. On that note thanks to everyone here that served.
An to your invite to Nashville. I am flattered. I don't know if that's feasible right now for me to make the trip, but its something Id definitely consider.
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Post by Mark O on Nov 11, 2016 8:16:56 GMT 9
Seriously time for a photo of an F-106! I suppose this intercept of a Tu-16 near Korea in 1970 by an unknown 95th FIS Six counts as a Pacific intercept... www.f-106deltadart.com/korea.htm
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