Black Bart
F-106 Qualified
Currently: Offline
Posts: 49
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Joined: March 2007
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Post by Black Bart on Dec 24, 2007 9:43:53 GMT 9
Merry Christmas everybody. Each year at this time, I remember this incident as if it were yesterday. I've kept it to myself and the person that I will speak of.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 1968
The 71st FIS had just relocated to Richards Gebaur in Kansas City.
We were finishing up, ready to take a Christmas break and a major snow storm was headed our way.
My Six was Code 2 for MA-1, so I was pretty low in priority. Most of the shop was gone already and I only had some minor adjustments to do, so I sent my jeep home too. When I got my turn and got to the Flight Line, my bird had the last parking slot at the south end of the line. There weren't even any lights and all the other Sixes already had their nose covers on and there was not a soul in sight. The snow flurries were starting, so I was going to make this quick.
I adjusted the Range Gate drift, it wasn't necessary, but a writeup has to be cleared. After a quick look, I called Job Control on the UHF and called my bird Code 1 and please call the shop, to pick me up in ten minutes and also remind the crew chief that my bird needed a nose cover.
I wrapped my Six up, closed the canopy and proceeded to close up the AGE equipment. Then I put my toolbox by the Pitot Boom, put the hood up on my parka and proceeded to wait for the pickup.
As I was waiting, I was looking down to slot 1 that was lighted.
What a sight, at least seven birds in a row and it was snowing harder. A lone figure appeared and I thought, "Why didn't they send the Metro?".
It was then I realized that this lone person was wearing a Blue Parka, not a Green Parka. Who was this person?
He rounded the radome and did something, then rounded the next and did the same thing. I don't think he saw me in the dark, but he was coming my way, so I just watched and waited. This person got to the bird next to mine and did the same thing. Did he just touch the bird, just behind the Radome and under the door of the RADAR compartment?
He got to my bird and finally saw me. He said, "Bart is that you? What are you doing out here?". I said, "Runyan is that you? What are you doing?".
Mr. Runyan said, "On a night like tonight, you just need to show these girls that they are loved.". He proceeded to pat my bird just to the back of the Radome under the RADAR door and walked off.
If you are out there Hughes Rep Mr. Runyan, "Thanks for that memory.", and to the rest of you, Thanks, Merry Christmas. Black Bart
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,379
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Post by Bullhunter on Dec 24, 2007 13:24:23 GMT 9
That likely would have made a nice photo.
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