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Post by dude on Jun 3, 2009 12:50:39 GMT 9
 The squadron always had an Avionics OIC (usually a Major) and often a junior officer (usually a 2nd LT). Well our Butter Bars was a nice enough guy, but the poor critter just could not get within ten feet of a Six without hurting himself. I mean who out there ever raked their face across the Angle of Attack vane? Jeez. He would always want to see what you were up to and we would always wince if we were scoping a rail or doing something else in the bay and he'd duck under. We just knew he wasn't going to come out of there with everything intact and he never did. The front corner on each door had that man's name on it. He must of had three or four spare shirts in his office. But that's not the story. The story takes place during one of our usual annual live fires at Tyndal. We're already down there and our birds are rotating in and out as the qualify. So on this day three of us are standing there waiting for one of our B-models to come in. (When TDY we MA-1 troops always tried to get a jump on the debrief by meeting the pilot at the aircraft. Helped to maximize club time. Heck if it meant a quicker brew we sometimes even help set the chocks) So the B-model gets parked and shutdown. Canopy opens and the front seater climbs down. He's holding a notepad and as soon as he steps off the last rung he spins and throws that pad as far as he can down the line. He then shouts some really fine academy grade explitives at the top of his lungs and stomps off after his pad and then towards debriefing without saying a civil word to anyone. About that time the backseater is stepping off the ladder. He turns and we see that it's good ole Butter Bars...still wearing his helmet. Well Butter Bars takes one look at us, gets this huge grin on his face and yells "Kill! Kill! Kill!" at the top of his lungs and prances off towards debriefing just as proud as a peacock. Well that left the three of us standing there wondering what the h--- we just witnessed. Some time later our Supervisor came back with the debriefs and related that Butter Bars had finagled a last minute backseat ride from Langley down to Tyndal. So there they are cruising along somewhere over Georgia. The pilot has the AFSC in full Auto pilot and is busy writing in his notepad. Meanwhile Butter Bars is in the back playing with the radar. Well Butter Bars finds a close target and locks on. Immediately the Six goes into auto attack and heads for the target, which turns out to be a commercial airliner. Evidently they are close enough that the pilot feels he has to punch it and do a hard bank to avoid exposing his tail number to the airliner crew. I guess that's the part that ticked him off. I don't know if there was any backlash over the incident except from then on Butter Bars couldn't even get a ride in a T-Bird.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 3, 2009 13:17:01 GMT 9
Pilots should be keeping an eye on the skyway infront of them, not writing in a book.
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Post by lindel on Jun 3, 2009 23:49:55 GMT 9
It was a "WTF!" moment... :tailed-devil :fire_missle_ani :fire_missle_ani
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Post by jimpadgett on Jun 4, 2009 0:05:34 GMT 9
Butter bars were more than skill could overcome. The ones they assigned to Field maintenance came without more senior officer supervision. So the Chief had to babysit them (as if he didn't have enough to do). Reminds me of an article I read about extracts from OERs. "Borders on the brilliant: bears watching." While not specifically about a butter bar, it would seem to fit minus the "brilliant." They must have had spare pants and underwear in the office too. I can still remember the expression on one of our butter bar's face when the MC-11 compressor he was standing next to reached 4000 PSI and unloaded 6 inches from his shoes. jim
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 4, 2009 2:26:29 GMT 9
I flew once with a young Lt. But I think he was a 1st Lt. If I remember correctly. We flew out of Sembach AB and I found us flying in a valley after awhile. I loosened my ejection seat straps so I could see around his ejection seat. All I saw was a Air Navagation map and directly infront of us it was all green. The valley was ending! I grabed the control stick, increased the two throttles for more power, and pulled back on the control stick as I hit the mic yelling trees. Just one of those "It was a "WTF!" moment..." as quoted by lindel ! We cleared the ridge and trees. I then asked, 'Whats going on up there?" He replied, "Was just checking the map to see our progress" or something relating to our location. Flying along at 175-200 knots you cover quite a distance in 15 or 20 seconds. Takes less than that to kill ya! I think we both had a skid mark on those shorts come laundry day.    |
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biendhoa
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Post by biendhoa on Jun 4, 2009 3:58:13 GMT 9
Same here bullhunter. My instructor always told me keep your head (eyes) out of the cockpit execpt in IFR conditions and you will live longer. So far over 33 hundred hrs and still going. :   |
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Post by lugnuts55 on Jun 19, 2009 21:14:44 GMT 9
Ah yes, Butter Bars. I think they are there for us enlisted troops to tell stories about and chuckle at later.
I had been at Bentwaters about a week and was still in the Transient Airman's dorm just down the street from the BX. There were about a dozen of us that had to process in and were all at the TA dorm. We had all gotten there right around the Christmas holidays and had to wait until everybody got back from leave at CBPO so they could process us. CBPO was across the highway (A12 I think) and down a side road past the round-about. This probably wasn't far, but we were walking and it seemed to take a long time. The whole inprocessing took about three days with all the newcomer's briefings before we were sent to our squadrons.
On one of our walks along the highway, we happened to have a 2LT walking towards us so we all saluted as we walked by. He turned around and called us back. We didn't know what he wanted but he was an officer so we went back.
He gave us a refresher course on the correct procedure when in a group and passing an officer. We were to form up and march at attention while the ranking group member rendered a salute.
I had been the AF about three years and vaguely remembered something like that from basic training. We apologized, saluted and went on our merry way.
The very next day, we were walking along the highway and saw this same 2LT coming our way. We decided we were not going to form up and march, so we spread out with a good distance between us and we each walked past him individually with a salute and greeting. I was near the end if the parade and he had a sneer/grin on his face. I don't know if he was amused or mad but he couldn't say anything because we didn't do anything disrespectful. It was one of those "you hadda be there" moments, but we had a good laugh about it later.
A little side note: There were a handful of Warrant Officers left in the AF in '72 and I ran into one of them at Bentwaters. It caught me off-guard since the chance of seeing one was small. I had to dig into the memory banks as to how to address him and whether to salute or not. I did salute and called him Mister. I wasn't sure about the Mister part since I couldn't see his name tag, but I remembered "if in doubt, whip it out". He smiled and returned the salute.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 20, 2009 7:26:28 GMT 9
I recall one day walking to the base post office at McChord AFB. Several officers were walking my way. Three butter balls and a Major. The sidewalk was narrow so I was forced off into the grass and rendered a nice saluter to the group. All three butterballs saluted back sharply. The major did not salute. I then said in a very load voice, "Excuse me major" and he stopped along with the three 2nd Lt's. He said, "Yes Sgt what can I do for you?" My response was, "Major, I believe you forgot something" and I snapped him a salute, and held it, until he returned it. I think the three 2nd Lt's figured I was a bit nuts.  |
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jun 20, 2009 8:40:09 GMT 9
Ya gotta love Butter Bars.
When I got to the 14th FIS at SCAB, we had a wonderful CO, Lt. Col. Bill Shomo, Medal of Honor awarded in WW2. He was saddled with Second Lieutenant David P. Platter III. Lt. Platter soared to new heights of idiocy one pay day. In those days, mid 1950s, we went to the orderly room to get our pay envelopes twice a month. The line chief started sending the troops to the orderly room to get paid and they were coming back, without getting paid. I was in line outside the orderly room and heard nothing, as we went in one door and came out another. When I got to the head of the line, I found out what was happening. Lt. Platter was inspecting us as we came through the door. The First Shirt had told him he shouldn't do that, and was ignored. Can you imagine people coming off the flight line after working on F86Ds and being ready for uniform inspection? Neither could we. After I was told to get myself ready for inspection before I came back to get paid, the line chief found out what was going on. Msgt McGintley was a little guy who took no guff, but was one of the very best I ever worked for. He went to the orderly room and politely asked Lt. Platter what the H... he was doing. The Lt. told him he was not to question him. So, Sgt Mac only asked one question: Where is Col. Shomo? Being told he was in a meeting at group headquarters, he walked across the street and told the group commander's secretary there was an emergency that Col. Shomo needed to deal with. When she got the CO, Sgt. Mac told him what was going on and they both went back to the orderly room. Col. Shomo told the Lt. to go in to his office and then he walked in closed the door and, from what Sgt. Mac said, he raised his voice and the Lt. got a royal chewing out. The next thing any of us knew about what was going on, the First Shirt, his clerk and Lt. Platter were in the hanger handing out pay envelopes to all the troops.
That was the last time I was ever inspected before I got my pay envelope.
Stupid Butter Bar, very sensible commander.
:god_bless_usa
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Post by Mark O on Jun 20, 2009 9:41:24 GMT 9
This Butter Bar thread got me thinking of the only 2nd Lt. joke I know. Q) What's the difference between a 2nd Lt. and an A1C? A) The A1C has been promoted twice! HA!!! (I told that joke to a female, USAF, maintenance 1st Lt. and she actually got a little offended. Told me something about Lt's doing Powerpoint presentations and other important work.....blah, blah, blah!!!!) Mark |
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Post by lindel on Jun 20, 2009 9:43:30 GMT 9
I've heard it said that their brains don't grow in till at least Major...
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Post by dude on Jun 20, 2009 11:29:20 GMT 9
I've heard it said that their brains don't grow in till at least Major... I think its just their egos expanding. |
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jun 21, 2009 8:04:41 GMT 9
:confused
When did the term "Butter Bar" come in to use? I never heard it until our son-in-law was in England in the early nineties.
My recollection was of calling them "shave-tails", "second looies" and "junior lieutenants".
I like the term "Butter Bar" and enjoyed calling our step grand-daughter that after she graduated from the AF Academy. Then she got her silver bar and now has been promoted to captain. So now I just call her Amanda.
:god_bless_usa
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Post by dude on Jun 21, 2009 8:49:46 GMT 9
 When did the term "Butter Bar" come in to use? I never heard it until our son-in-law was in England in the early nineties. My recollection was of calling them "shave-tails", "second looies" and "junior lieutenants". I like the term "Butter Bar" and enjoyed calling our step grand-daughter that after she graduated from the AF Academy. Then she got her silver bar and now has been promoted to captain. So now I just call her Amanda.  I first heard it from our TI in basic, TSGT Lucky (what a name for a TI). So that would have put it at least in early '73. |
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Post by jimpadgett on Jun 22, 2009 10:57:19 GMT 9
I first heard it from my TI in basic, SSgt Catlin, and that was 1961.
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Post by dude on Jun 22, 2009 12:02:18 GMT 9
From Wikipedia. I'll bet it started about ten minutes after the first Lt put the first one on. In the United States, second lieutenant is typically the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers. In the Army, the rank bore no insignia until December 1917, when a gold bar was introduced to contrast with the silver bar of a first lieutenant. As a result of the gold color of the bars, second lieutenants are often colloquially referred to as Butterbars, Nuggets, Commissioned Privates, or 2nd Luey.
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Jun 22, 2009 12:58:37 GMT 9
My first experience with a Butter bar was at Bentwaters working F-4s. Bobby and I were putting the aft seat bucket back into the jet and had one heck of a time getting the floor pins to the rocket motor to go into the lanyard slot. it seems the floor boards were replaced while the seat was out and they covered up the chain to the floor pins and he was trying to pull them out with out breaking up the new floor boards.
We decided to put the seat in all the way and work on the floor pins last, so I'm putting the tools and equipment back into the metro and Bobby is leaning into the cockpit, the only part of him outside is his legs, he's upside down with both arms under the seat trying to get he floor pins out. (it helped if you were a contortionist) I was in the metro when I heard someone walking on the B-1 stand, I thought he had gotten them and would be in the metro to sign the forms, after a minute went by I heard the most awful yell and crashing sound. I looked out the back doors just as this Butter bar landed on his butt looking up at the cockpit blood streaming down from his nose.
About this time a Lt. Col and a Chief showed up and asked just what was going on. Bobby was down on the ground now and said " I was working on the seat rocket motor when this yahoo grabbed my legs" The Lt Col looked at the LT and asked him what he was doing on the flight line in the first place and he said he was going to be a maintenance officer. the Lt Col then asked him if he knew the ejection seats had explosives on them, and what egress did. The Lt looked him in the eye and said "NO" I thought the Lt Col and the Chief were going to loose their eye brows from the look of shock on their faces. The Lt Col was from the south and I could hear his southern draw when he put his arm around the Lt and told him they needed to chat for a while.
Here's what happened, he goes up the stand and asks Bobby what he's doing, Bobby said I answered him but because of the way he was in the cockpit the Lt didn't hear him so the Lt grabbed his leg and Bobby kicked him in the face with his other one. We found out later he broke the poor guys nose. The Chief told us to go on about our business, we had a couple other buckets to put in and when we got back to the shop it was all over about Bobby and the LT.
My second run in with a butter bar was at Griffiss. I had just gotten out of my car at the BX parking lot and hadn't even shut the door when this LT starts yelling at me to "put my hat on", I was "out of uniform" etc, etc. I was a A1C at the time and this guy is going off on me like it was the Fourth of July! I put my hat on saluted him and off he walked. I'm still standing next to my car when a Chief came up to me and said don't worry about it he would talk to the LT. he walked up the LT saluted him and asked to speak to him in private, the LT said NO and the Chief said "it's not a request" and off they walked, the LT getting an ear full. I was still inside the BX when the LT came up to me and apologized for his out burst in the parking lot. The Chief was outside smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee when I walked out and asked if the Lt apologized? I said he did and was a little red faced about it. The Chief just took a drag off his smoke and said GOOD....GOOD smile at me and said have a great day.
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Post by lugnuts55 on Jun 22, 2009 21:02:46 GMT 9
Oh Man! Where would the officer corp be without us enlisted troops?
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 23, 2009 3:15:45 GMT 9
From what I hear from my daughter and son-in-law, the USAF isn't anything like it used to be and chiefs like the one Jeff mentioned above just are not around anymore.
I just don't think I would enjoy todays USAF.
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Post by dude on Jun 23, 2009 8:20:41 GMT 9
From what I hear from my daughter and son-in-law, the USAF isn't anything like it used to be and chiefs like the one Jeff mentioned above just are not around anymore. I just don't think I would enjoy todays USAF. Oh I think you would providing you had the same or similar job. At the end of the day its still about working with and for your buddies out there on the line while dodging as much beaucratic BS as you can so you don't get any on you. Keep the birds in the air. Everything else is window dressing. :yellow-beer |
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The squadron always had an Avionics OIC (usually a Major) and often a junior officer (usually a 2nd LT). Well our Butter Bars was a nice enough guy, but the poor critter just could not get within ten feet of a Six without hurting himself. I mean who out there ever raked their face across the Angle of Attack vane? Jeez. He would always want to see what you were up to and we would always wince if we were scoping a rail or doing something else in the bay and he'd duck under. We just knew he wasn't going to come out of there with everything intact and he never did. The front corner on each door had that man's name on it. He must of had three or four spare shirts in his office. But that's not the story.
