Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on May 31, 2009 14:04:49 GMT 9
  A-10 Warthog over Sembach AB: USAF photo. They came and went all the time when I was there. |
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az09
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Post by az09 on Jun 1, 2009 22:58:31 GMT 9
Sembach was one our 6 Forward Operating Locations (FOL's) from the 81st TFW. They were not TDY's, permanently assigned.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 2, 2009 7:17:37 GMT 9
az09, were you at Sembach? I enjoyed Sembach. great location. We had between 1978-1982 not only A-10's coming and going but now and then the German Air Force.   |
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az09
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Post by az09 on Jun 2, 2009 22:31:35 GMT 9
As a matter of fact, I did pass thru Sembach. Not on a Aircraft maintenance related trip, but we had broken down for 24 hours and toured the local area while the plane was fixed.
MSgt Joe Beecher was permanently assigned there along with a FOL crew. He would come to Bentwaters a couple times a year to talk support and get some face time with the DCM.
As for the German Air Force planes coming and going, I would hope so as we were very inner twined with all the host countries we were assigned. We sponsored a 2 TAF meet one year. This "Tiger" meet had representatives from all over europe. The strange thing was the British group I sponsored were concidered visitors to their own native land.
In addition to talking about 2TAF matters the individual arrivals were a sight to behold. Most came in like it was a short walk in the park but the Canadian group buzzed our runway in a low level high speed pass that brought everyone in the hanger running out to see who that was??? It was a CF-104 painted yellow with black tiger stripes. A couple of more passes and he finally landed. His taxi past our shop was applauded by the GI's.
That was a great week.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 2, 2009 23:42:55 GMT 9
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az09
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Post by az09 on Jun 2, 2009 23:59:16 GMT 9
That would be the one.
Now dial in a full burner low level pass and you get a "Top Gun" experience when the F-14 did a carrier deck pass in the movie.
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az09
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Post by az09 on Jun 3, 2009 0:06:23 GMT 9
I forgot my other tie in to Sembach. My brother did 3 years there. He was a USAF - AGE mechanic assigned to support the Army in the field.
When we finally met up to compare our days in europe he said he mostly worked nights in the field, laying on his bunk watching the light bulb. When it began to dim he would get up and go service the power unit. Other than pre shift and post shift inspections that was most all he did for 3 years. When he was home with his wife, they lived in the local village.
This was not his favorite tour in europe. He enjoyed his Italy tour much more.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jun 3, 2009 0:56:22 GMT 9
During my tour Sembach had TDY's each year to Italy, Avanio AB.
I never got to go one one. Went to the NATO Bomb & Gun Range at Zaragoza AB, Spain and flew all over Europe recovering broken aircraft.
Because I used to get so much flight time with my FCF Flights and aircraft recovery trips most all the other TDY's were given toother troops. And that was a very good thing.
Out of all the bases in Germany, I think Sembach is the place I rather be.
I do miss that German wine.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 2, 2009 3:57:52 GMT 9
In 1968 (1967?) a SR-71 made an emergency landing at Grand Forks AFB (ND) and was "parked" between two B-52 hangers close to the N/S road that paralled the base runway. The aircraft was completely visible to anyone using the road. Immediately after landing, GFAFB security established machine gun "nests" close to the plane. The two man crew could not exit the plane until a C-130 arrived from Edwards AFB with the ground support equipment and aircraft technicians to evacuate the crew and "fix" whatever the problem(s) were. Of course, everyone on the base came to see the 71 and security had to control traffic.. After the "fixes" were accomplished (two days?), the 71 exited the base heading north. A few minutes later it returned at a very low altitude at tremendous speed in a fly by. It was awesome and was probably witnessed by about everyone on the base. Eye candy for people who like airpanes! Grab your beverage and relax for a few minutes of awesome beauty. The SR-71 was the creation of Kelly Johnson, a Lockheed, Eisenhower and the Air Force engineer. It was envisioned in the '50s, first flew in the early '60s, retired in the '80s, briefly brought back in the '90s. In all, 13 units of the single seat A-12 were built, and 32 of the Pilot + Recon two seat SR-71 units were built.. Five A-1s, 2 were lost, one is stored. Twelve two seaters were lost. The remaining 27 are on display around the USA . So enjoy. One more thing. The author of the captions to the picture in this video made one misstatement, due to youth. The U-2 Recon aircraft was created in 1955, flew operationally in 1956. Kelly thought the USSR would shoot it down in 18 months. Lucky us, it flew until Gary Powers was downed on 1 May 1960. But Kelly Johnson already had the go-ahead from Ike for the A-12. It first flew in 1962, JFK kept the manufacture of it active. No one told LBJ, 'cause everyone knew he would spill the secret. He wasn't told until the week after JFK left us. And sure enough, LBJ gave out the secret in a matter of months. Not smart, like other of his major transgressions! Anyhow, the most interesting, most exciting five years of my life were spent in the program, as a KC-135 refueling pilot. Where the Blackbird went, we went. You will see several refuelings in the following. Enjoy. Click here to view the slideshow: www.greatdanepromilitar! y.com/SR -71/index.htm
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Post by daoleguy A.J. Hoehn (deceased) on Jul 2, 2009 6:27:21 GMT 9
Sorry, link fails. :scratch_head
AJ
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jul 2, 2009 7:28:35 GMT 9
Link is a no go for me also.
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Post by lindel on Jul 2, 2009 9:06:54 GMT 9
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jul 2, 2009 12:35:33 GMT 9
It works.
Very awesome! :salute
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