First 2 days of the trip after arriving in Germany the cell phone and Laptop failed. Got that fixed and the trip got better. While in the Mosel River valley we saw snow and the next morning ice Floating down the river. We saw quite A bit and after a C-130 to Lakenheath did not have seats we took a Train to England. We are now at our daughters house.
Now near Lakenheath AB, England with our daughter's Family. I had a nice Story all typed out about our flight over but it was on the hard drive that failed and the data was not retrieavable.At this time I don't feel like retyping it. These trips are nice but I hate living out of suitcase.
Been out to Lakenheath and got a few nice Pictures to share on here only.
I'm not 100%, but it is very possible I was in this aircraft when this photo was taken by an English "plane spotter" at RAF Mildenhall. I definitely confirmed my in my logs that I was flying her around the time this pic was taken, but several other crews flew her as well. I definitely remember that black-painted wheel as I was the FE on her when we had it changed in an emergency situation. We were on a TDY to Ft. Benning, GA and had to fly down to Robins AFB to get the new tire/wheel. They flew special ops Herks, so they had their wheels painted black.
I'd been watching flight missions for weeks so we could travel to Europe on a C-17 and be there for our daughter when she has ear surgery. I was not seeing any flights to Europe in awhile. Then one evening I looked at about 9:30PM and nothing. About 10:30PM something suggested to me that I look again. When I checked again I discovered a mission was added with a show time of 2:00AM only 4 away and we had almost a 2 hour drive to get there.
Belinda and I discussed it for a few minutes and decided, “there had not been any missions out of McChord AFB for awhile, family and friends had been praying that a mission would be scheduled, so it we decided the try and make this flight. After all we had been packing slowly for days so we were close to being ready anyway. We finished packing and headed out on the 2 hour drive to McChord AFB. We arrived just shortly before 1:30AM and checked in for the flight.
Shortly before 4:00AM we were taken out to the aircraft and got on board for the 11 ½ hour flight to Ramstein, Germany. There was a minor maintenance problem after engines were started and a couple technicians came on board and quickly fixed it. We taxied out and took off shortly after. Soon we were at cruise altitude and many on board including myself rolled out our sleeping matresses. Flying on a U.S. Air Force C-17 is really a first class flight all the way.
Belinda and I slept through part of the flight and I woke-up some place over northeast Canada. As we passed over Greenland I got a few pictures of the Greenland ice sheets. Later over England I was allowed to visit the flight deck for awhile. I took a few pictures and talked to the pilot and co-pilot for a few minutes. Out pilot was a Captain and the co-pilot was a young female 2nd Lt. It was a very smooth and relaxing flight. Our only worry was getting a room at the Ramstein Inn when we landed shortly after 11:00PM Germany time.
We passed through customs and got our passports stamped. We then crossed the street to the Ramstein Inn and discovered there was only one room left and we got it. The Lord did provide. After a good rest I checked flights to England and none were avaliable. The next morning I discovered our new Verizon global cellphone did not work. Tried to connect with Verizon via the internet to get assistance but that did help as connection with then kept breaking. I gave the computer a good tap and that didn't help it either causing the hard drive to fail. Now I had two pieces of electronic communication that was usless to me. My stress level was building. I was lucky to find a lady in the Ramstein Mall from a different company (Xmoble) who took a look at it for me. I told her Verizion set it up for globel use but it did not work. She quickly discovered that Verizon put in the wrong code and fixed it for me. I asked her, “How much for the technical service”, and she replied, “Nothing Sir.” StarBucks Coffee was next door so I got her a gift certificate for her help.
Next I we rented a vehicle (New Mercedes) and took the laptop to a local computer repair shop and got it check and repaired with a new hard drive. After checking on flights angain and finding none I rented a vehicle (New Mercedes) and we checked out a few local places. The next day we drove up the Rhine River and then down the Mosel River Valley visiting many old castles. After that we continued to Trier, Germany and checked out the sites. We continued that evening to Luxemburg and stopped at a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel for the night. The next day after seeing Luxemburg we went into Metz, France and enjoyed the day. I discover a C-130 was leaving Ramstein for Lakenheath, England at 4:40AM two days later so we headed back to the Ramstein Inn and was able to get a spot in one of the family units.
When the time came at 4:40AM I was advised that the aircraft had be configured for an airdrop mission and no passengers (PAX) were authorized to fly on it, so back to our sleeping unit for a bit more rest. That morning after breckfast we got train tickets for the next day. Last October we were stuck with getting 1st class train tickets which were costly, but this trip we got economy tickets which were a good deal for us.
Arriving at our daughter's home and seeing them all is just awesome.!
Looks like that 2 lt's flight suit might be several sizes too large as her rank patch is about halfway down her arm...... Co-pilot in driver's seat looking at an atlas? No railroad tracks or Interstates over the Atlantic......
The Old Sarge What is Irish diplomacy? It’s the ability to tell a man to go to hell, in such a manner he will look forward to making the trip. And buy his ticket!
Our daughter is doing very well. We had a good time in Gemany and England. Our daughter is doing great after her ear surgery last Monday. There are two aircraft departing Mildenhall in a few days so Belinda and I are hoping to get a space-a hop on one of them. Its been a good trip and visit, was great to be here during her surgery.
Those two KC-135's are full of troops going home. No open seats. Thursday there is a Jet going to McGuire. Hope there might be seats. In two hours Friday's schedule will be posted. Maybe one straight to McChord.
Weather wise yesterday was the nicest day we have had for the last 5 weeks in Europe. This morning its blue skies and warm sunshine. Hope it lasts as I want to take Belinda for a walk along the river.
This might be our last day here. There are 3 missions out of Mildenhall tomorrow going stateside. McGuire, Tinker, & Charleston. Hope there are seats released on at least two of the flights.h England. Any of those bases are closer to home than Lakeheath. Might have to finish the trip with Airline tickets.
Daughter is doing great so its time we get back home to WA State.
Wishing everyone a great week. God Bless to all.
I'd share some photos but the pix rate Setting on my camera is too high now.
Be advised that base shuttle Service on McGuire was suspended on April first due to lack of funding. Taxi Service form companies off base are not reliable. After landing shortly after 5:00PM yesterday we discovered this after calling 3 taxi companies. The last one said be there in 20-30 minutes. Taxi never showed and when my wife called them they were not avaliable. Finely after an hour the USO gave us a ride to billeting. People were taking the PAX Terminal luggage carts and Walking to billeting which is over a 35 Minute walk. One poor Lady started Walking it with 3 Little Girls Ages 2 to about 4 draging a suitcase and handbag. The USO sent an assistant to go pick her up. Once at billeting there was a Long line, but we got a room. There were no Family rooms left so People with children had to go off base. So if you are flying into McGuire plan ahead for These issues. With taxies stopped from coming on base as I heard from others and the shuttle bus discontinued that leaves handi-capped individuals no Options to get around. My wife had her ankle replaced several years ago and last year her knee replaced, this prevents her from Walking far. She has a government issued handi-cap Card so this could be a Violation of Federal law leaving handi-cap People without reasonable Access.
Be advised that base shuttle Service on McGuire was suspended on April first due to lack of funding. Taxi Service form companies off base are not reliable. After landing shortly after 5:00PM yesterday we discovered this after calling 3 taxi companies. The last one said be there in 20-30 minutes. Taxi never showed and when my wife called them they were not avaliable. Finely after an hour the USO gave us a ride to billeting. People were taking the PAX Terminal luggage carts and Walking to billeting which is over a 35 Minute walk. One poor Lady started Walking it with 3 Little Girls Ages 2 to about 4 draging a suitcase and handbag. The USO sent an assistant to go pick her up. Once at billeting there was a Long line, but we got a room. There were no Family rooms left so People with children had to go off base. So if you are flying into McGuire plan ahead for These issues. With taxies stopped from coming on base as I heard from others and the shuttle bus discontinued that leaves handi-capped individuals no Options to get around. My wife had her ankle replaced several years ago and last year her knee replaced, this prevents her from Walking far. She has a government issued handi-cap Card so this could be a Violation of Federal law leaving handi-cap People without reasonable Access.
Gary, I wonder if Military Installations are exempt from the Disabilities Law?
Seems that they are more concerned about cutting costs, at least the ones to help people, than anything else.
It will only get worse.
I wonder how long "Free" Space A travel will be allowed?
Jim Too
What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it. - John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress
Just as Military doctors Need to see dependents to Keep their skills sharp, AMC Needs to process retirees daily to Keep their skills current. When People sit idle they loose it.
This is part of the USO at McGuire AFB, DE. I took this the morning of or flight back to McChord AFB, WA. It's open 24/7 for everyone. On this morning (Saturday) they had a fantastic breakfast spread. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage patties, buns, muffins, bagels, juices, coffee, etc, etc, one could not ask for more. This had to have cost quite a few bucks to put together and dozens of troops (reserve weekend and they were mostly reservists) came through and ate along with a few retirees that were flying out that morning. I noticed that besides myself and a Master Sgt dropped a donation in the donation box. Everyone else passed it by and filled their plates. I think that is sad. The best part happened when we landed two evening prior. We need a room for two nights as we waited for our flight to McChord AFB. Belinda tried to call billeting and was on hold for 20 minutes while other passengers kept hearing ringing. I kept trying to get a taxi because I didn't want Belinda walking that far on her new knee replacement. People were getting upset and taking the terminal's luggage carts and walking the 35 minutes to the billeting office. Finely I went into the USO and asked how we could get to billeting. Ms Flammer tried to help but her calls did not answer. When she learned about my wife's knee she gave us a ride with our bags in the USO van. A mother traveling with 3 little girls and dragging a suitcase was walking and she sent her assistant to pick her up. Ms Flammer is the USO's Operations Manager at the Dover AFB AMC Passenger Terminal. I'm going to contact the Headquarters of the USO and let them know what a great service she provides to traveling active duty, reservists, retirees & their dependents.
Billeting did take us to the PAX terminal in the morning.
This will be Belinda and I next week as we try for a flight to England, Ireland, or Germany.
I don't know how long it will take, be we are going.
Will be visiting our daughter's family then sightseeing around Ireland as my wife is Irish and wants to go. Our son-in-law works at RAF Lakenheath on F-15's.
Our daughter works for Transit Alert on RAF Mildenhall. Its possible if we land there and she is working that she will catch our aircraft. That would be pretty nice.
Plan A, Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Spokane and catch a KC-135 at Fairchild AFB into Mildenhall. They have one or two mission a week into there.
Plan B, Hope on a C-17 out of McChord AFB to Germany which we have done before and taken the train to England. Once in a while McChord has missions into England and a few into Ireland.
Its off season so flights have fewer PAX traveling. We have been on the space-a list for 6 weeks so our standing is good.
I'll post pictures now in then of some sights over there if anyone is interested.
Mission scheduled out of Fairchild on Tuesday Mar 22 at 1355hrs. Airline tickets to Spokane have jumped to $209. They sold out of the $63 seats. That would be $418 then a night in hotel (Over $100) or billeting at $66. but there are only 10 seats "T" Last flight last week there were 30 seats and 16 people showed. March 7th there were 17 seats and 17 people showed. All the other missions have had 10T seats and only 2 or 3 people show-up. On the average there are 2 missions a week and I have been tracking them from Tuesday Feb 16th and that week only one mission unless there was one on Monday. I like flying out of McChord because if we don't make the flight we just come home and wait on the next one. It cost us about $650 with billeting at Ramstein, train to London, & train to Lakenheath area. Getting stuck in Spokane waiting on another flight could get costly or we would have to spend almost another $500 to get back home. Thinking this all over. We don't mind the train part as it's like an adventure and we spend time together and usually meet interesting folks to visit with. I'll wait to see what the missions are tonight. Another issue is returning to McChord and not have our vehicle waiting.
Fairchild posted a mission for Tuesday and we have rented a car, will be driving to Fairchild Sunday and get there in the evening. Relax Monday and visit with friends. Maybe breakfast with friends Tuesday morning. The Alaska Airline tickets I saw last week for this week at $63 all sold out and what is left is $209 which I decided not to Pay because it would be a big loss if we missed the flight. It was suggested to me the idea of a car rental & driving it. Got a pretty good deal. Just 10 seats listed. We have been on the space a list for almost 6 weeks so its looking good that we should make it unless lots of active duty show up. I look at it as an adventure and its not a sure thing. Plus by Tuesday we can look ahead on the 72 hr flight schedule for the next flight. Done many flights , but all out of McChord to Hawaii, Alaska, Turkey, and Germany 3 times.
My wife has never flown on a KC-135 before. We have flown C-130, KC-10, C-5, C-141, and the C-17 which we love. C-17 has 110 volt sockets for your electronic stuff. plus lots of room.
NOTE: 256 charactor typing limit in a Shout. Press Enter or click the Send button to post your shout.
lindel: While I don't have a cheap phone, I DO have insurance on it...should it fall into a outhouse or similar, it can stay there...insurance WILL take care of it.
May 15, 2022 3:53:15 GMT 9
johncarr: I wonder if any one can help me find a friend from Det 2 48fis Robert Puls He was the chute man Got maried while he was at homestead I left the in Feb 73 my Email is [email protected]
Feb 5, 2022 12:14:03 GMT 9
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Bullhunter: Yery well said !
Dec 13, 2021 6:14:51 GMT 9
flypapajohn: SMSGT James Gier, USAF Retired, passed away last evening! "The Old Sarge" was one of many great crew chiefs that I had the honor of knowing! Allan John Kelly, Lt Col USAF Retired
Oct 7, 2021 2:40:54 GMT 9
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Diamondback: Wave returned, Mike, though different vintage--my grandfather was a Green Dragon around '65-'70ish including Osan; one of the last out of NATO Chateauroux and a lot of that planeload ended up posted at McChord.
May 6, 2021 3:40:17 GMT 9
deltadartcrewdawg-mike crowder: Waving a hand to all my brothers and sisters of the 318th FIS, from 79 to 84 🖐
May 2, 2021 15:32:59 GMT 9
bobdavis: Happy New Year to all of my F106 friends! 48th FIS Langley 1973-78, Tyndall 4756th FMS 1978-1980.
Jan 1, 2021 9:38:15 GMT 9
burt49: General Price was determined to fly that day. It was a dangerous place to be with all that lightning, we were fortunate not to be hit ourselves.
May 26, 2020 4:09:09 GMT 9
chiefeda: Have been out of touch for a while but back
May 7, 2020 0:43:12 GMT 9
deltadartcrewdawg-mike crowder: Been along time , shouting out to all my old 318th brothers & sisters
Apr 19, 2020 15:29:42 GMT 9
oswald: what happened to the forum?
Apr 14, 2020 7:41:01 GMT 9
ma1marv: Thank you for this info! I need to get back here more often!
Jan 26, 2020 5:18:54 GMT 9
bobski9933: :-/Hey Sixers, I'm looking for any T.O. that listed weights of MA-1 heavy parts, like Stable Table, Radar Antenna, TR Unit, Magnatron, etc. How much did the "05 hell/door: weigh? How about Ground Service Equipment? for a VA back Disability Claim.
Dec 31, 2019 8:01:39 GMT 9
Bullhunter: Pat Mcgee, I told 3 people how to order your key chains today.
Oct 6, 2019 15:15:34 GMT 9
sand4u: I was a F106 mechanic at George AFB 329th FIS from June 1963 to Jan 1967,swing shift mostly,worked on all the aircraft we had there.
Jul 31, 2019 4:21:21 GMT 9
pat perry: bobdavis Tell Armstrong's son to join Convair F-106 Delta Dart group on FaceBook and post his Dad's info. They have over 5000 members and his chances of finding those who served with his dad are better.
Jun 19, 2019 2:33:35 GMT 9
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pat perry: On 12-31-2013 this was posted for LtCol Armstrong, Henry W by his son: I am signing on behalf of my father Lt Col HW Armstrong deceased 1-2-01 Skilled 102, 106, 101, 100 pilot and Cheif or Operations for the QF102, QF106 and QF 100 programs at Holloman AFB
Jun 19, 2019 2:00:59 GMT 9
bobdavis: I met a gentleman on another forum who say my signature F106 photo and messaged me. He said his Dad flew F106's back in the day. He said his name was Hank Armstrong. Did anyone know of him? Thanks in advance. Bob Davis 48th FIS and 4756th ABG
May 9, 2019 5:27:19 GMT 9
No railroad tracks or Interstates over the Atlantic...... 
