The picture above is of myself telling the short version of this story at the F-106 Reunion story time.
I'm in the brown shirt far right.
There are many stories in the book I wrote with 315 pages and lots of photos (copyright 2009).
If anyone is interested in the book just message me for details. Cost is just $5 because I e-mail it.
This years F-106 Reunion was a blast. If you did not attend, you missed a good one.
One busy day about two months later when everything was hectic the Chief stopped me
in passing and said he needed a yard of flightline quickly, and for me to round some up. I
said, “I can do that sir” and I went on my way. It then dawned on me as I entered our jet
engine shop dispatch truck that the aircraft were parked on the tarmac which we all
referred to as the flightline, just where we were headed. I couldn‟t have fallen for that,
could I?
As we drove around the flightline I noticed some construction going on over on the far
side of the flightline. I asked our truck driver to head over there so I could have a closer
look. As we pulled up I noticed that chunks of cement had been broken apart. I quickly
got an idea, but I‟d need help. I asked the civilian construction workers if I could have a
piece of cement (flightline) that was about a yard long. They looked at me strangely until
I explained my plan and they burst out laughing.
The construction workers found a chunk of cement about a foot wide and a yard long.
They put it in the back of out truck and off to the chief‟s dispatch office we drove. On
arrival I went in and checked to ensure the office was empty, and it was. I got two co-
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workers and my supervisor to assist me in carrying the “yard of flightline” into the office
and we set it on top of the Chief‟s desk.
We quickly departed the office area and headed back out on the flightline. It was a very
slow day for jet engine maintenance work so we parked in the shade and waited for a
radio call sending us to an aircraft or one calling us back to the shop. After a few hours it
was close to shift change and we were all ready to go home. As we pulled up to the shop
and walked inside I heard the chief yell, “Airman Price, get your young ass into my office
now!” One of my fellow airmen looked at me and said, “Oh crap” as he laughed and
started to lock up his toolbox so he could go home.
I beat feet into the chief‟s office as he yelled, “What the hell is this?” I paused for a few
seconds and replied, “It‟s that yard of flightline you requested sir.” The chief snapped
back at me yelling, “Don‟t get smart with me airman, take this dam block of concrete
back where you found it now!” The chief left for home, and I was all alone. There was no
way I could pick up that block of cement, let alone carry it anywhere. My dayshift had all
went home and it took me quite awhile to get the nightshift truck and a few fellow
mechanics to transport the yard of flightline back out to the construction site.
The next day while out on the maintenance truck we were all talking about the joke I
turned around on the chief. I was pretty proud of myself and said, “There is no way I will
ever fall for any joke or gag again.” The dayshift supervisor driving the truck turned
around and said, “Think so, your day will come sooner or later.” I was pretty boastful
and replied, “It will never happen.”
Several weeks or a month later we were informed that a Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY) was
leaving for Nellis Air Force Base at Las Vegas, Nevada. Identified as Operation Constant
Guard V and classified SECRET. Our C-141 cargo jets would be airlifting supplies,
equipment, and squadron maintenance personnel of the F-111 fighter bomber squadron to
Thailand. This was classified as a Secret squadron deployment and we were advised not
to talk about it.
I was still a pretty new mechanic in training, and I didn‟t expect to be picked to go on this
TDY to the fun city of Las Vegas. But to my surprise the chief called me into his office
and said, “Another slot had been requested for a jet engine mechanic, you have proven
yourself to be one of the best young airman mechanics I‟ve seen in a very long time. So,
as a reward you‟re going to Las Vegas.” I had really excelled, I had been awarded airman
of the month, completed my career development course (CDC) months early, and had
just been given a waver for Jet Engine Run-up School as an airman. I complete the
engine run training and did very well in the C-141 Flight Simulator with an excellent
rating. Engine run-up certification was an awesome responsibility mainly reserved for
Sergeants.
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Me in C-141 Flight Simulator Cockpit Instructor Photos: G. Price
The chief said, “Most everyone has completed their processing and you are to go upstairs
to the orderly room to get your TDY orders, and a pro-kit for deployment.” So off I
headed upstairs for the orderly room to process for my first TDY. I walked in and
informed the secretary who I was and that I was leaving on the Nellis TDY, and I need
my orders. She got up and went over to a table picked up my orders and handed them to
me and said, There you go Airman Price,” and she sat back down. I was left standing
there and then said, “Excuse me miss, but I also need my pro-kit.” She looked puzzled
and then said, “What?” I repeated myself and said, “I need my pro-kit, can‟t go TDY
without one”. She got red in the face and said in a low voice, “Sorry we don‟t have
them.” I stood my ground and said, “I need a pro-kit to go on this TDY, my shop chief
said so!” By this time the lady was as red as a very ripe tomato.
I guess the Squadron Commander (Major) overheard the discussion and stepped out of
his office into the orderly room and I snapped to attention, as commanders were all and
mighty individual figures to young airman like me. About that same moment the
squadron First Sergeant came out of his office. Both looked it me and then the
commander looked at the First Sergeant and said, “Take care of this.” As the commander
walked back into his office he was shaking his head.
The First Sgt put his arm around me and said, “Kid, lets step out into the hallway for a bit
and leave the secretary alone.” Once out in the hallway he said, “The term pro-kit is
used to describe prophylactics, you know, rubbers, and condoms. You‟ve have had a
practical joke played on you and I think our secretary got the worst of it.” He then told
me he would call down to my shop and let them know I was on my way down with my
orders.
When I walked into the shop, many of the shop supervisors were there along with the
chief. Everyone started laughing and it was a few moments before I loosened up and
joined in. My supervisor looked at me and said, “Never say never.” I‟d let my guard
down and they had played a huge joke, and I fell for it. Ha, Ha!
Its my understanding these types of jokes played on young airman are now a no, no, and can get you in trouble.
