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Post by Jim on Feb 27, 2019 13:30:56 GMT 9
This is in reply to Lorin's post talking about being old- pasted here. ly #15 on 12 hours ago Reply WMIPSFSQuote Edit like Post Options Post by Jim on 12 hours ago LBer1568 Avatar 13 hours ago LBer1568 said: I must be really old. I remember going TDY from McGuire AFB to Tyndall AFB in 1960's. I was there from 1964-1967. The old C-123, C-119, and C-124 from Air Guard wore that patch. I have been down with a bad cold all week. Bad cough, fever and the big "D". Starting to feel a little better.   Lorin OLD??? When you took flying lessons from Orville and mechanicing lessons from Wilbur, then you can call yourself OLD. When you quit saying in the 1960s and use "in early '60s" or "64-'67" then you might consider your self as getting OLD. Just because the referenced a/c were in use at "your time" don't make you or the a/c old. Now if you would have said C-45, C-46 or C-47, you would have been talking Old A/C. Now if you want OLD start with Biendhoa (Jay), he is almost ancient, Capt Brownshoes Roger De'Entremont is ancient- he was issued Brown Shoes!, flypopa Kelly (AJ Kelly who will be at the reunion) and myself are approaching antiquity. I doubt that the 4 of us are going to sit and wait for you whippersnappers to catch up with us BTW, even after you pass the 10 level test, you have to get past Digger O'Dell and the review board (the above 4 experts). And a bit o advice, "ye best be a havin 4  in ye hands, or me foine duo will be a singing tha funeral dirge instead o beautiful Irish lullabys.  . Tha Olde Sarge Read more: forum.f-106deltadart.com/thread/5295/finally?page=2#ixzz5ghZ8XXXc And here is a reply about old Pilots, old Maint troops in OLD airplanes. This is from AJ Kelley, an OLD Six Driver from the 318th On 2/26/2019 10:43 AM, John Kelly wrote: JimG – I don’t have time enough to get on the F-106 Forum, but very interesting, My Friend. Lorin talks about going TDY to Tyndall in 1964-1967! In mid-1959, my first trip to Tyndall (as a 318FIS pilot, not checked out yet) was on a C-119 ‘Swift Lift’ USAF Reserve crew from Minnesota, with me in the cockpit watching (& worrying) with 30 enlisted 325FW maintenance people in the back (not very happy with their accommodations) from McChord to Wichita Falls. To clear the Rocky Mountains they climbed to 17,500 feet, and the flight crew was very happy with a nice tail wind at that level. I went down the ladder to check on people in the back after eating an awful box lunch (cheese sandwiches and warm milk) to find half (if not all) the maintenance people sick as Hell, mostly probably from the food and being at half the normal atmosphere. I tried to help and find Oxygen walk around bottles. Found the O2 bottles (all empty), so I climbed the ladder again and watched the flight crew (all with oxygen masks on) happily cruising along at 17.5k over Eastern Colorado! I got the attention of the Flight Engineer (MSGT) and told him we have some very sick people downstairs. He argued “We have a great tailwind up here!” So, I interrupted the two colonels (one Full and one Half) stating “We have to get down below 10,000 feet!” They were not HAPPY, but followed my orders! There were FOUR C-119s transporting 120 Maintainers + 4 Louies (like me) headed for PAM from TCM doing the same thing, which I discovered that night at Sheppard AFB. The next day, we cruised at 8,500 feet to PAM. The rest of the STORY returning to McChord (TCM) is much worse, and I will tell you in detail at the Tucson Reunion, if you are willing to listen. The worse being a takeoff at D-M (Tucson) AFB, with 45 Maintainers (in back) + 2 Lts ‘whatabe’ F-102 pilots watching a ‘WTF’ Flight Crew from Houston (Texas USAF Reserve) try very hard to kill us all. Situation: mid-day, 109 degrees, overheating right engine in runup, airborne, gear-up, stopped climbing at 200’ AGL, 90 turn (right) into a bad engine (I started yelling POWER when airspeed went below Min Safe SE limits, and MSGT FE & I both put our hands on the throttles pushing forward), then a 270 left turn below field elevation over the city of Tucson with a climb back to D-M (with two ‘Lts’ yelling at the flight crew telling them where the airport should be)!!! The AC Commander was quoted in the Evening Newspaper: ‘Nine minutes flight, “No SWEAT” ‘ !!! My ‘written’ Report, filed back at McChord, caused me some problems at several Higher Headquarters, but I survived to live another day! See you soon, John “Old-AJ” PS – The Flight Engineer MSGT flew P-51s in WW2, and he ate his cigar during the 9 minute flight…. And, now for some more of the story There is much more to the story, and apparently several NCOs never forgot my “Enough-of-this-crap” action that I took in the cockpit. I can still feel my hands on both throttles pushing them forward, and see the remains of the cigar as the FE MSgt destroyed it, and particularly, the look of panic of a little boy’s face on the ground as he jumped off his bicycle and looked up at us, as we passed over him, while roaring down an unknown street in lower Tucson. We were below the elevation of D-M, no doubt. The P-51 MSgt and I bonded big-time after that flight, and he told me his whole flying story, that night! Military Airlift Command got into the act and sent a C-118 from McChord to pick us up at D-M the next day! Some NCOs didn’t wait and bailed, because they had been on the other C-119 that lose an engine and made an emergency landing in Midland, Texas, where we gained the 15 extra souls. (Another whole story) A tall SSgt came up to me, and politely asked if I would loan him some money, so he and his buddy could take the train that night from Tucson to Tacoma. I told him a C-118 was coming for us, but he said “No More!” I gave him what he needed. Nash was his last name because he came up to me about 12 years later at McChord, after my family and I had survived a Military Charter DC-8 crash in Alaska, and wanted to shake my hand again! He asked if I remembered him from the D-M incident, because I had loaned him money. He also knew the Nurse that took care of me at Madigan General Hospital (a whole other story) on Fort Lewis. It is a very small world in reality! We are all related in this crisis, we call “Life!” Sincerely, AJ |
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Post by Gene on Feb 27, 2019 15:04:14 GMT 9
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Feb 27, 2019 17:29:46 GMT 9
Wow, C-118's, C-119's & P-51.
I've only seen C-118 & C-119 in air museums and P-51's fly at a few airshows.
Once when I was a very young kid on our farm in PA I saw a military twin tail aircraft pass over our farm after it just cleared a hill. My Uncle said it was a C-119, called a flying boxcar.
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Post by Jim on Feb 28, 2019 3:31:02 GMT 9
Wow, C-118's, C-119's & P-51.
I've only seen C-118 & C-119 in air museums and P-51's fly at a few airshows.
Once when I was a very young kid on our farm in PA I saw a military twin tail aircraft pass over our farm after it just cleared a hill. My Uncle said it was a C-119, called a flying boxcar. YEP That was old.... |
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Post by Gene on Feb 28, 2019 10:18:51 GMT 9
we've got a boxcar in our air-park...
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Post by Mark O on Mar 1, 2019 4:04:34 GMT 9
I'm not saying anyone here is old, but isn't this the Old Sarge supervising his crew doing a preflight?  (Union soldiers prepare Thaddeus Lowe's reconnaissance balloon for assent. This photograph was taken just prior to the Battle of Gaines' Mill on edge of the property preserved by the American Battlefield Trust. - Library of Congress)
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Post by Jim on Mar 1, 2019 5:48:32 GMT 9
I'm not saying anyone here is old, but isn't this the Old Sarge supervising his crew doing a preflight? (Union soldiers prepare Thaddeus Lowe's reconnaissance balloon for assent. This photograph was taken just prior to the Battle of Gaines' Mill on edge of the property preserved by the American Battlefield Trust. - Library of Congress)
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Post by pat perry on Mar 1, 2019 6:23:55 GMT 9
I'm not saying anyone here is old, but isn't this the Old Sarge supervising his crew doing a preflight? (Union soldiers prepare Thaddeus Lowe's reconnaissance balloon for assent. This photograph was taken just prior to the Battle of Gaines' Mill on edge of the property preserved by the American Battlefield Trust. - Library of Congress)
If the Old Sarge was there, that would be him standing on the crate between the balloon inflators that obviously came from Lowe's which is printed on the crate.  Since helium wasn't discovered until 1881, maybe the gas used to lift the balloons was hot air created by moonshine stills inside the crates. At least the recon crews in the gondola would benefit by the cooling and condensing of moonshine dripping on them during the flight.  That was a great article on Gaines Mill! Pat P. |
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Post by Gene on Mar 1, 2019 7:17:50 GMT 9
my mistake on the flyng boxcar...  its a C 82 packet... not a C 119  in the background... |
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 1, 2019 8:04:46 GMT 9
Two good classics, a Vet and C-82
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Post by Jim on Mar 1, 2019 8:37:36 GMT 9
my mistake on the flyng boxcar... its a C 82 packet... not a C 119 in the background... |
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Post by oswald on Mar 7, 2019 6:15:24 GMT 9
Just for the heck of it watch The Flight Of The Phoenix that starred Dennis Quaid.
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Post by Gene on Mar 7, 2019 7:00:22 GMT 9
I like the version with Jimmy Stewart better .
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Post by oswald on Mar 7, 2019 7:13:38 GMT 9
Gene, The reason I mentioned that movie was that the aircraft was a C-119. By the way I liked the old movie better also.
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Post by Gene on Mar 18, 2019 13:51:48 GMT 9
I got ya...  |
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 18, 2019 14:06:12 GMT 9
Just for the heck of it watch The Flight Of The Phoenix that starred Dennis Quaid.
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 18, 2019 14:28:05 GMT 9
This is a small section out of my book. Copy and paste makes it easy too share. My book is on a CD if anyone wants a copy just message me.
This was my first assignment and I was still a teenager. The Chief in charge of jet engine dispatch was very old and at this time his name escapes me. Most everyone referred to him as "Old Shakey", but he had every ones respect and when he spoke all listened and nobody dared speak while he was talking. He became like a father figure to me.
This was my first encounter with him.
My class all graduated jet engine technical school and military assignment orders sent us all on our way. I volunteered for Vietnam and March AFB, California. I do not recall my third choice. My new assignment was the 63 Military Airlift Wing at Norton AFB, California. It was a Military Airlift Command (MAC) Base flying C-141’s and T-39 Learjet’s. I really wanted March AFB which was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) Base. Norton AFB and March AFB were only about 15 miles apart.
I was content with this assignment as my mother had a brother and sister in the Hollywood area. My Aunt Helen and Uncle Mike both lived several streets away from each other and I had not seen them since I was a young kid. Both lived in North Hollywood less than a two hour drive. My Uncle was an Air Force Veteran and flew on KC-97 Air-refueling Tankers during his military service.
I arrived at Los Angeles Airport in uniform and headed for the front door, My Aunt was waiting for me. All of a sudden, as I was hurrying along the lighting got bright, a voice yelled, “STOP AIRMAN!” Startled, I stopped and a man came up to me and informed me that I had walked across a movie set. He asked me to sign a release incase that take was going to be used in the film. I sign it and went on my way. I met my Aunt and I spent that Saturday and Sunday morning at her house. That afternoon she drove me out to Norton AFB.
The base was located on the south side of the City of San Bernardino with the San Gabriel Mountains on the north and east. Farm lands and orange groves were on the south side.
My first summer there in 1972 I didn’t see the mountains for three weeks because of the smog. The local public schools had smog days where the students were not allowed outside because of the smog, but work continued out on the aircraft flightline. Norton AFB was not my favorite assignment, but I’m glad I was there and had the trainers and supervisors I had assigned to me.
I was assigned to the 63rd Field Maintenance Squadron and I was surprised when they asked me where I wanted to work. Wow! - Someone in authority was actually asking me my opinion or desire, not telling me what my opinion should be or what I should like. This was real refreshing. I responded by saying, “I’m a country farm boy and always enjoy the outdoors, so I’d like to work the flightline.” The next thing I knew they had someone from the flightline dispatch maintenance section escorting me down to the dispatch office to meet the Chief Master Sergeant in-charge.
The chief and I had a long discussion. He did most of the talking, and I listened. It was mostly all about safety, who was who in the squadron, location of other shops, working hours, etc. He said that I would be working with civilians and some of them were reservists. He then asked me, “What does this say?” as he pointed to the U.S Air Force tag on his uniform above his shirt pocked. I quickly replied, “Sir, United States Air Force”. He then went on and asked, “What is above your uniform pocket Airman Price?” I replied again, “United States Air Force, Sir”. Then he told me, “Get up and look out that window at the aircraft packed out on the Flightline – what do you see painted on the sides of them?” Again I replied, “United States Air Force.” He went on to say, “Your very observant and that is correct, and when you are working on a jet with a civilian you represent the United States Air Force, you are in charge – but listen to the civilians experience and direction, as you are responsible for the job.”
Within a few days I had my tools, and was out on the flightline working with other technicians. As a new trainee I was not allowed to work by myself. I needed more experience. As time passed I excelled and received several awards, including Airman of the month. I also remembered the stories told by our technical school instructors on how new airman had jokes played on them all the time. I kept on guard, always looking out for Sergeant’s trying to play jokes and games on me.
Being always observant of my surrounding I watched one afternoon as two of our jet engine troops were running up an aircraft’s jet engines. The crew-chief had a new airman under one of the jet engines looking for fuel and oil leaks, I guess. The technicians in our truck were betting on what the new airman would do when they opened the jet engine’s thrust reverser doors. Well, when the thrust reverser clam shell doors opened into the jet exhaust the new airman dropped to his knees and put a bear hug on the legs of the crew-chief. The truck was filled with laughter. A new mechanics first experience under an operating jet engine is a scary thing. The sounds, vibrations, windblast, and extreme heat is an event few ever forget. The warnings and movie we students viewed in Technical School of a mechanic getting sucked into a jet engine intake makes one very cautious. On a C-141 the thrust reverser has two clam shell shaped doors that deflect all the exhaust and heat forward of the engine. Most of us have heard the loud roar of a jet airliner after landing on the runway and the pilot selects thrust reversers to help slow down the aircraft. Try to imagine what that would be like if you were under the engine. I knew I had to keep alert or I would be the butt of a prank sooner or later.
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Post by Jim on Mar 18, 2019 22:33:46 GMT 9
Gary, I don't know how I missed it when I read your book, but the T-39 was made by North American Aviation... It was based on the F-86 and was called the Sabre Liner.....
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 19, 2019 2:03:53 GMT 9
JIM,,, That is correct. It was called Sabre Liner. I also worked the old 4 engine recip prop aircraft which was a C-118. It had a small APU in the tail section. C-141's, T-39's, & C-118. Those are the birds I got started on.
One day when I was off duty and driving around perimeter road I saw two F-106's taxi out. So I stopped and got out my camera and snapped this photo (Norton AFB, CA 1972). I had no idea what base they were from. I thought to myself , "Someday I'd like to work fighters." In 1976 I was working on F-106's.
 Anyway, not long after the F-106's visited I saw a F-4 parked on the ramp with the pilots and TA around the aircraft. Work was slow so I asked our supervisor if he would drive the truck over there so I could have a look see. When we got there and I got out and asked if I could look it over, the pilot said sure. After I was done I mentioned as as a kid I saw the Thunderbirds fly their F-4's. The pilot mumbled something, then said something like, "Stick around and watch." He started up and taxied and the driver park the truck so we could see the whole runway. The F-4 hit afterburner and headed down the runway and lifted off and sucked up the landing gear, gained speed, and pulled up at the end of the runway. A few of my supervisors mentioned a max take-off. Very shorthy after the F-4 went verticle the F-4 pulled back and went inverted back down the runway to the other end and rolled over. Then he pulled straight up and went out of sight. I don't know if my mentioning the F-4 Thunderbirds
made him decided to do that or not. But, it was a very cool show that I never forgot.
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Post by LBer1568 on Sept 13, 2020 2:41:52 GMT 9
I remember my first connection with the C-5. I was working day shift "MA-1 Quick Fix" at Tyndall in late 68- early 69 when a six pulled into quick fix and I hooked up intercom with him. He said my Radar isn't working. So I climbed up the ladder and peeked into Radar scope and saw ground clutter returns and asked how he determined it wasn't working. He said look straight ahead, there is a airplane out there. I saw it and looked for it on Radar, no airplane. So as he continued to wait, I opened the left front MA-1 door and ran some checks. My Radar was working. But we couldn't see the plane. He called tower and asked if they had the airplane on radar. They also did not have it on local screen. They called back a couple minutes later and said, look further out. It's about 25 miles out. So pilot used longer range and it showed up like a huge close in return. Tower called back and said it was a new C-5 on test flight from Dobbins and was just on edge of Tyndall controlled area. After that we got used to seeing them as they did local test flights before giving them to Edwards to fully test them. At that time I knew very little about it, but I also knew why it was called the aluminum overcast. It provided a huge target and did not enjoy the stealth qualities of modern aircraft.
I read that they are modifying some C-5 into C-5M and are scheduled to remain in inventory for 20 more years. They updated avionics and are re-engineering them a lot with many other updates such as engines.
Time sure has pasted quickly.
Gas is down to $1.90 last few days. I took wife down to Cincinnati Thursday to shop at Jungle Jim's. It's a big international food store.
Lorin
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in ye hands, or me foine duo will be a singing tha funeral dirge instead o beautiful Irish lullabys. 
. Tha Olde Sarge
