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Post by ma1marv on Feb 27, 2012 23:57:24 GMT 9
OK all you F-106 person's! Here is a thread I have been thinking of for a long - long time - bragging about one of your personal accomplishments! Pick one thing from your past - or two or three - that really is special to you and just maybe of special interest to all others on this site!
I hope the MOW will approve!
I'll kick it off with a little event in my past life. This was sparked by the "2nd verse to the Star Spangled Banner" post.
Back in 1995 I was working at the National TEMPEST School in Lackland AFB and I was on a TDY to Fort Meade, Maryland to set up a second training location for the school. I was accompanied by an Air Force Captain named E.J. Trivette.
EJ and I worked for a good two weeks getting the equipment set up and located and working so we could teach a four week class on TEMPEST Testing.
On our second week we had the opportunity to go to Fort McHenry. We arrived early because we were also planning on going to Philadelphia as well. The gates were barely opened by the park ranger when we drove through. We had to wait for the ranger to get up to the building and unlock the door so we could get in.
As we started our self guided tour the ranger approached us and asked if we would mind helping him to raise the flag. Both of us were a little stunned because the fort had a flag in place allready.. When we inquired we were informed that the "FLAG" we were to raise was a full size flag like had been flying over the fort when the national anthem had been written! Both of us were totally shocked and we eagerly volunteered to do so.
EJ informed the ranger that we wanted to do it as a full ceremony with honors because - as he told the ranger who was totally suprised as well - that he had an active duty Air Force Officer and a retired Air Force NCO present. The ranger was a former Air Force NCO who had also retired just a few years earlier.
SO - we not only took down the small flag - but we hold claim to being the only Air Force flag detail to have raised a full size "Old Glory" over Fort McHenry - a U.S. ARMY FORT!
EJ and I both recieved a letter of personal thanks and commendation from the park service for having done this task!
Not bad for a couple of Air Force troops - would you say!!!
MArv :fire_missle_ani :patriotic-flagwaver
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Post by MOW on Feb 28, 2012 0:02:04 GMT 9
:2thumbsup Absolutely approved! When I get finished with my few days of vacation here in the PI house I will write up one about my days with the C-141 and Operation Deep Freeze.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 0:41:51 GMT 9
Marv, only three of you to raise that flag? It is HUGE, and has to be incredibly heavy.
Good show, and great memory. And isnt that old fort just fantastic as a living piece of history? You can see where the British Navy was anchored and lobbing stuff at the flag, and the panorama is awesome.
Thanks for the history.
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Post by Jim on Feb 28, 2012 0:44:17 GMT 9
MArv, any other tale will pale in comparision.... No, I'll not be running another contest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Old Sarge
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Post by lindel on Feb 28, 2012 7:47:09 GMT 9
Might not be much, but I'm proud of the part that I played. It was in 82, IIRC, I was the only Mock Up tech in support of the INS mod to the Six.
I was there for the duration of the mod (roughly a year, give or take a couple of weeks) and tested/ troubleshot all the units in the mod, plus all of the MA-1 units brought in for other write ups. And repairing the Mock-Up they gave me to use to boot!
I really had to try hard not to help during Willie Tell that year...not an easy task!
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Post by ma1marv on Feb 28, 2012 9:23:28 GMT 9
Well EJ and I took down the small flag, folded it and presented it back to the ranger. Then he brought out the "BIG flag" all wrapped up in a bundle. We then attached it to the halyard and raised it ever so gently! The wind helped us just a bit though! All the ceremony was proudly conducted by the three of us!
The ranger told us it had been a great pleasure to do it right - FINALLY!
Evidently most of the time the flags were just grabbed as they came down and bundled up quickly. We folded ours!
MArv :fire_missle_ani :patriotic-flagwaver
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2012 10:30:25 GMT 9
Congratulations!! did you have an audience of civilians who saw the proper way?
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Post by ma1marv on Feb 28, 2012 11:48:35 GMT 9
Unfortunately - none with cameras! Several were there by then and they showed their appreciation with a very respectful amount of clapping! Yeah - it was a special feeling for the three of us!
MArv :fire_missle_ani :patriotic-flagwaver
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Mar 23, 2012 7:34:36 GMT 9
Mine's not AF related as all I was in the AF was a clerk....
ok..here goes...
I got hired on in 1980 to Mare Island Navshipyd as a civilian electrical designer..my work steadily improved and my boss recommended me to work for Ocean Engineering Electrical Systems Integration group for a special submarine used for soviet spying missions.
the Boat was called the USS Parche SSN683 and I helped install tons of electrical systems onboard the boat to allow saturation divers to egress the boat and plant underwater listening devices on underwater telephone cables....Ronny Reagan at the time wanted everything and anything available to subvert the soviets....so...with our listening devices in place...Nato ran an excersize right up to the Polish Border. This event threw all the warsaw forces on alert and they actually thought we were coming over the borders to take the union over.....well...NATO got right to the border...and ....stopped......stuck around for a few hrs and turned around...this was a totally unannounced excersize which scared the crap outa them.....
Reagan (I love this guy)..called Gorbechov to meet (remember this???) in iceland for an impromptu ....told gorby he knew that they thought we were coming over the border....told him that we didn't want to do anything to russia but we'd buy anything they had....just "TEAR DOWN THAT WALL" and make nice....which gorby did.....
I helped (in a teeny weeny way) bring the fall of the soviet union down with our submarine and intelligence activity.....with those wire tapping devices .....we knew what planes were flyable...what ships could make sail.....what general was boinking who due to the fact that they thought the phone lines were secure...they weren't cuz we were listening in on every conversation available to all the underwater phone lines they had ......they actually found one on the bottom and pulled it up...said CIA all over it....
and if you don't believe me...read "Blind Mans Bluff" by sherry sontag.....
Then of course I spent 7 yrs designing the Nuclear submarine SSN21 USS Seawolf class at Newport News Shipbuidling & Drydock company in Va....starting in 1988 and finished in 1995
Steve
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 24, 2012 2:20:57 GMT 9
Those are hard acts to follow. Congrats & :salute
Now I have to think on this some. Guess I'll go back through my CD/book and copy & paste in something.
Sure can't come close to designing a nuke sub!
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Post by lugnuts55 on Mar 24, 2012 2:54:50 GMT 9
Wow! Bullhunter is right. Those are hard to follow.
About the only thing I can think of and I don't know how interesting it is, but when I went to Combat Arms tech school at Lackland, I graduated as the Distinguished Honor Grad. When I got back home, the Commander gave me a plaque. It was to acknowledge my graduating at the top of the class. That accomplishment and my quick advancement to 7-level, along with designing and making training aids to use in the classes helped to earn the Air Force Commendation Medal. Those things happened over the course of about three years. I was promoted and eventually put into the Superintendent's slot which was an E-8 slot.When my boss left the unit, I became the superintendent. Like I said, I don't know how interesting it is after those stories starting off this thread, but I was very proud of all these things and I still am. :us_flag :salute
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 24, 2012 11:11:20 GMT 9
I have lots of flying stories of missions in T-33's, CH-53's, KC-135's, and OV-10A's but I guess I'll use a maintenance story. As the thread title says "Interesting Personal Accomplishments" A USAF Medal for Heroism is I guess a personal accomplishment. This is just one story out of my CD/Book. On July 28, 1980 while performing duties as Jet Engine Maintenance Weekend Supervisor, I was assisting in an engine maintenance run-up. Aircraft 68-03805 was reported to have a number two engine low torque problem. We rounded up a tug tractor and a tow-bar. I called maintenance job control and got permission to tow the aircraft. We towed the aircraft up to the trim pad and secured it with the tie-down cables. The aircraft was ready for its engine maintenance run-up. My crew and I prepared the aircraft for a dual engine run using appropriate Technical Manuals and Checklists. After I checked over the crews work, to make sure all technical maintenance data had been followed, the aircraft was readied for run-up, I assumed the position of Engine Trim Ground Observer. I’d sat in the pilot’s seat and done more engine run-ups than I could count so I instructed one of my troops (Melvin) to take the pilot’s seat (Position of Engine Run Operator) and a young new female airman to perform the duty of fire guard. I went over the procedures with her and showed her how the wheeled fire extinguisher bottle operated just in case of an aircraft or engine fire. I then positioned myself near our maintenance truck to monitor and watch the engine run-up. I called maintenance job control over the truck’s radio and got permission for us to start engines. I gave a thumbs-up signal to Melvin in the pilot’s seat and he radioed the tower for permission to start engines. You just could not move aircraft around or start up engines without permission. The control tower would have the security police forces upon you in a heartbeat. The Tower granted permission and Melvin started number one engine. The engine and propeller started perfectly. He then selected number 2 engine and that started right up. With both engines running very well he went through all the required engine checks. Slowly engine power was increased to full power and as the RPM’s stabilized at 100 percent, the number two engine torque was noticed to be 150 pounds of torque low. We were all aware of the low torque problems and I prepared to make engine adjustments. At this time the number 2 engine experienced an uncontrolled surge and the aircraft yawed violently for no reason. Simultaneously during the aircraft yaw, a fire was observed in the engine exhaust area. I quickly signaled Melvin to shutdown both engines. Melvin seeing the fire at approximately the same time as I, had already begun emergency checklist procedures for engine fire shutdown. All of a sudden smoke and flames bellowed out of the engine exhaust and inlet both. I looked over at our young female fire guard and she was frozen in place. Realizing within seconds the flames could consume the aircraft I rushed to the fire extinguisher and pulled out the fire hose and nozzle, charged it, and began fighting the fire before the engine had completely stopped. As the engine stopped, flames and smoke bellowed out of the engine intake and exhaust. Fire and heat coming out the exhaust was hitting the wing cracking the paint. The wing was full of fuel! Upon seeing Melvin still in the cockpit I rushed within 7 or 8 feet of the increasing fire, ordering him out of the cockpit, while suppressing the flames, even though the possibility of an explosion was eminent. Only after completing all emergency procedures and having the base control tower acknowledge his emergency radio transmission did Melvin leap from the cockpit and upon reaching the ground assist in extinguishing the fire. Knowing the effects of fire extinguisher agents upon the internal parts of a jet engine we both physically turned the propeller and engine by hand to prevent engine seizure from thermal shock, thus preventing additional major damage to the engine. I quickly radioed maintenance job control and advised them we had, had an engine fire, but that it was put out, and the base fire trucks were now arriving. I then directed the fire truck crew to rinse down the aircraft to remove any fire extinguisher agents left inside the engine or on the aircraft surfaces. A few weeks later my supervisor submitted Melvin and I for the Air Force Commendation Medal for Special Achievement. On January 27, 1981 Melvin and I received the medals at a Commander’s Call Meeting. We were surprised to hear that Headquarters had upgraded the medals from Special Achievement to Heroism. My citation read: Staff Sergeant Gary H. Price distinguished himself by outstand achievement at Sembach Air Base, Germany, on 28 July 1979. On that date, Sergeant Price approached a burning aircraft engine which had caught fire during a maintenance check. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, and despite the possibility of an explosion, Sergeant Price unhesitantly extinguished the rapidly spreading fire preventing the loss of the aircraft and injury to the aircraft engine operator. By his prompt action and humanitarian regard for his fellowman, Sergeant Price has reflected credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. Next month on February 1st I was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant. A Hometown news release was sent to our local newspaper. BTW, after that tour in Germany I divorced and got sole custody of my two children. Remarried now and very happy. Attachments:
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Post by Mark O on Mar 24, 2012 11:30:12 GMT 9
I remember that from your book Gary. Loved it, and thanks for posting here for everyone.
:salute
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Mar 24, 2012 13:11:38 GMT 9
awesome gary....just awesome.....
:salute
:clap :2thumbsup
Steve
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 24, 2012 14:39:32 GMT 9
Thanks guys. I was just in the right place at the right time and all my training just kicked in. I'd just missed TSgt by .025 and then that medal gave me 3.0 points. The incident happened before the promotion cycle end so I went into work a few days after getting the medal with TSgt on my arms. Was sweet!  |
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Apr 2, 2012 10:51:19 GMT 9
180 views and no more posts?  ?.......you guys have to have done something !!!! Steve |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2012 10:57:08 GMT 9
sometimes people dont like to "brag".
or they might think that what they did was "just part of the job"
Life is what it is. There are probably more out there, just need to be drawn out.
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Post by steve201 (deceased) on Apr 2, 2012 11:01:37 GMT 9
well.....hope somebody comes out with something......I hung some stuff out there...not trying to brag but it's something I am proud of my teeny part in a big cog!!you guys have even more right to brag here than me.......... :patriotic-flagwaver
Steve
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Post by Bullhunter on Apr 2, 2012 15:54:46 GMT 9
Its not much to talk about. Just another little story I copied and pasted from my CD/Book. If you have ever supported ADC or SAC Alert EWO duty you will relate to this. Its all in a days work, but when the Alert Klaxon sounds it gets everyones attention. Its just one story of an Alert Force Red Ball, what happened, and how I felt. Many of us have been there. Sometimes its just the little things that I enjoy most hearing about. Enjoy.  This had to be about 1975 at Griffiss AFB, NY. 416th Bomb Wing, SAC. I was working the jet engine dispatch section, it had been a fairly quiet morning, and I’d finished removing and installing a new inlet duct on a KC-135 tanker engine. So, I was looking forward to a little break just riding around in the maintenance truck. About 10 minutes into my rest I heard the Klaxon horns sing out. We had us an EWO Alert Scramble! Was it real world or just an exercise? We quickly positioned our truck inside the B-52 Bomber Alert Area to be close incase we were needed. Looking toward the alert force’s mole hole we could see all the crew’s and maintenance support people running and driving toward the Bombers and Tankers. It wasn’t but a minute or two and the 1st B-52 Bomber started engines with explosive cartridge starts in #4 & #6 starters, which produced lots of smoke. Within seconds the other B-52 Bombers on alert started their engines. I thought to myself, “All is going well.” Then the radio squawked that Alert B-52 number 4 could not get #1 engine to rotate. (Engine Shop Red Ball to Number Four B-52 was the radio order over the radio!) So, off to the Bomber we went. I bailed out with my headset and toolbox. The crew chiefs were already opening the engine cowling. I hooked into the aircraft’s intercom so I could talk with the pilot. “Oh Crap,” I could see that the first B-52 was already starting to taxi. I didn’t have much time to get this jet engine started. I figured it was likely a loose cannon plug on the starter control valve. I cut the safety wire off the cannon plug and checked for power, and there was electrical power. I reconnected the cannon plug and told the pilot to hit the starter button again, but nothing happened. I checked a few other things and discovered that the starter control valve actuator was just not working. The starter control valve was getting electrical power but just would not open for some reason. I figured, maybe it was stuck. At this point I could see B-52 number 3 starting to roll out of its parking place. It was time to pull a fast one. This was either nuke war, or an alert exercise. We were operating under the possibility of war so I reached into my toolbox and pulled out my ball-ping hammer and told the pilot to push and hold the starter button. I pulled back my arm and hand back with the hammer in it and the crew chiefs eyes got as big as golf balls. I swung the hammer and hit the starter control valve fairly lightly. Nothing happened! The pilot said it was his time to taxi. I asked him to keep the starter button pushed in and I pulled my arm back and gave a good hard swing this time hitting the starter control valve again. This time we heard the whoooooooshing sound of air passing through the control vale and starter, and the #1 engine started to rotate. I ducked back out of the way and the crew chiefs started to close and secure the engine cowling. At the correct RPM the pilot advanced the throttle adding fuel and the #1 engine was now operating normal. I quickly looked around on the ground for any items dropped or left behind that might be sucked up into the jet engine creating a hazard or an aborted mission. At the same time I told the pilot, “You’re good to go, and good luck.” He thanked me and I disconnected from the intercom. B-52 number 4 taxied out of its EWO alert spot right on time. I got the blast of hot jet engine exhaust fumes as the bomber made its turn. The adrenalin flows and the blood pressure rises during these EWO Alerts. As the hot jet engine blast blew over and around me, a sense of accomplishment and pride filled me. My job was not over yet. I had to call maintenance control and put in a work order for a (red ball) follow-up to get that starter control valve replaced when the aircraft returned to its parking spot. Hoping all along that the alert force was going to taxi back in and not take-off. The Bombers followed by the tankers hit the end of the runway and started their take-off rolls, but each one quickly reduced power and turned off the runway and headed back to their parking spots. It’s at that moment that everyone feels relief, blood pressures start to decrease, but your adrenalin is still with you. By the time the B-52 had gotten back to its parking spot base supply had a new starter control valve waiting. My lunch would have to wait until I replaced that starter control valve. EWO aircraft were top priority and came before everything. After lunch I had to explain to my shop boss why I hit a nuke loaded aircraft with a big hammer. All I could say was, “It’s an old trick used as a last resort. It was my last resort to ensure that our total alert strike force would all be taxing on time.” He then said, “Nice job.” Attachments:
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Post by pat perry on Apr 3, 2012 5:14:41 GMT 9
Nice work Gary...
Cannon plug safety wire... $.01
USAF ballpeen hammer... $2.00
Knowing how, when and where to hit that valve... PRICELESS!
:rofl
Pat P.
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?.......you guys have to have done something !!!!
