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Post by LBer1568 on Jul 5, 2016 23:52:36 GMT 9
I thought they were also allowed to grow long hair as part of their new religious beliefs.
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Post by Jim on Aug 20, 2016 8:04:18 GMT 9
From my former 496 F.I.S. flight commander at Hahn, Germany. ( I rec'd this from Capt Brownshoes) Retired USAF General Bruce Brown. Subject: GENERAL JACK VESSEY CHECKS OUT, RIP Perhaps the most inspirational military leader of our time. I had a typically magnificent experience with him when I was commander of Alaskan Air Command and he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which ended up with a phone call from him from Shemya Air Force Base at the distant end of the Aleutian island chain, an exceedingly remote assignment for Air Force men and women. I had briefed him on the sorry state of the facilities there and my plans and efforts to improve them (to make sure I didn’t get fired when he discovered them independently, as most assuredly he would). “Whose island did you say this was” he asked. “It’s mine, sir”, I replied. “Not any more, it’s not”, he said. “Now it’s mine”. We had no trouble getting funding for the “Fix Shemya” project from that day forward. Truly the kind of officer we all aspired to be. Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., a soldier’s soldier who lied about his age to enlist in the service, won his commission on a battlefield in World War II and became a four-star general and then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Reagan administration, died Thursday night at his home in North Oaks, Minn. He was 94. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Sarah Vessey Krawczyk. When his military career was finally over in 1985 — after the wars and killing, the medals and promotions, the White House meetings on defense and nuclear strategies, and the 46 years that had made him the nation’s longest-serving active soldier — General Vessey did not quietly fade away. Instead, in retirement, he went back to Vietnam repeatedly, as a special envoy of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton, to find out what had happened to the hundreds of Americans listed as prisoners of war or missing in action since 1975, when North Vietnam defeated United States-backed South Vietnam. The fate of the P.O.W./M.I.A.s has been one of the most divisive and troubling legacies of the war. General Vessey’s breakthrough talks with Hanoi in 1988 led to on-the-ground searches by Pentagon teams that uncovered the remains of about 900 American military personnel over the next two decades, and to official conclusions that no American prisoners were still being held in Vietnam, though hundreds of cases remain unresolved, a source of continuing political controversy and grief for families. Far from a West Point or Annapolis man, the future general was a Minneapolis high school boy, not quite 17, when he slipped past recruiters (minimum age was 18) and joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1939. His Army infantry unit was activated in 1941, months before America’s entry into World War II. By 1943, he was a first sergeant fighting in North Africa. His unit took a strategic hill in the American drive to seize the Tunisian port of Bizerte. Allied victories there and at Tunis proved critical to the defeat of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in North Africa. A year later, as American troops clung to the Italian beachhead at Anzio in some of the war’s bloodiest fighting, the sergeant and two other noncoms in his unit won battlefield commissions as second lieutenants. They were dispatched as forward observers; within days one was dead and the other seriously wounded. After the war, he served in Germany, a Cold War hot spot, and in Korea, though not during the Korean War. He next saw action in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. He was wounded and won a Distinguished Service Cross for defending a firebase that was partly overrun by Vietcong, the Communist insurgents in the south. The invaders were so close that he and his men had to depress their howitzer barrels and fire point blank into the onrushing enemy ranks.After assignments in Europe and Southeast Asia and at the Pentagon, where he was in charge of operations and plans, he won his fourth star in 1976. For three years he commanded American forces in South Korea. There, amid threats from North Korea, he persuaded President Jimmy Carter not to withdraw American ground forces from the peninsula. General Vessey was a surprise choice for chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 1982. Plain-spoken, he had none of the polish of former chairmen, and unlike most of them he had never been a service chief. He had mostly been a combat officer, out of Washington’s limelight. But he was regarded as a leader of proven courage and integrity who inspired confidence. He was also an old-fashioned patriot, and Reagan liked him. The general oversaw enormous growth in military spending and global military presence to counteract Soviet expansion. He deployed missiles in Europe and maintained strength in Southeast Asia, but was leery of military interventions in Central America. He directed a Caribbean operation to rescue Americans at risk in Grenada, but opposed using American troops in a multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon. Those troops were withdrawn after a 1983 truck-bomb attack in Beirut killed 241 Marines and Army soldiers. General Vessey improved interservice cooperation, defense budget analyses and military planning. In 1983, he suggested to Reagan that weapons in space might be used in the future for defense against Soviet missiles. The president seized on the idea and proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, the space-based system called “Star Wars.” It was never fully developed, although it led to better antimissile systems. The general was entitled to wear seven rows of battle decorations and campaign ribbons, but kept most of them in a drawer. On Memorial Days, instead of riding in staff cars, he marched to Arlington National Cemetery to pray at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He disliked jargon; to him, “restoring peace on favorable terms” meant winning the war. He rarely gave news conferences or interviews, and avoided the spotlight. “We have had a lot of famous generals who have been in the public eye, and I think rightly so — MacArthur, Eisenhower, Bradley,” he told The New York Times in 1984 as he approached retirement. “I am not in that category. They don’t need to see me. What they want me to do is to make sure that the armed forces of the United States are as effective as we can make them.” John William Vessey Jr. was born in Minneapolis on June 29, 1922, to John and Emily Roche Vessey. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940. He earned his first college degree, a bachelor of science from the University of Maryland, when he was 41 and a lieutenant colonel. He later received a master’s degree from George Washington University. When he graduated from helicopter school at 48, his classmates were young enough to be his children. In 1945, he married Avis Claire Funk, who died last year. In addition to his daughter, General Vessey is survived by two sons, John W. 3rd and David; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was active in the Lutheran Church and once considered a career as a minister. For his post-retirement efforts in Vietnam on behalf of American prisoners of war and those missing in action, General Vessey received from President Bush the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1992.
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Post by pat perry on Mar 7, 2017 0:23:26 GMT 9
Message from Bobski - Pat P.
All F106 Troops, I am saddened to report the passing of Ed Miazga. See emails below from Lou Touchette. Bobski On Mar 5, 2017, at 4:04 PM, Louis Touchette <loutouchette1@gmail.com> wrote: Bob, I just received an email from Ed Miazga's son saying Ed died of cancer at 11:50 this morning.
Lou ________________________________________ From: loutouchette1@gmail.com To: bobski9933@aol.com CC: loutouchette1@gmail.com Sent: 3/5/2017 5:05:33 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: Passing of C Msgt Edward V. Miazga this morning.
Ed was an F-106 crew chief in the mid 60's... Kincheloe (438th FIS) and Volk Field, WI (Alert Det. supporting 11th FIS, 438th FIS and 87th FIS)....... You should have records somewhere that can accurately pin point which base and years. I was also an F-106 crew chief at Selfridge during those same years.
Ed and I met at Malmstrom AFB, Montana in the mid 1970's. We were both MSgt's working in Quality control in the 17 Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (DSES) (EB-57's). Later we both were assigned to the ADTASC Headquarters in Colorado Springs where we both made SMSgt. I retired in 1981 and he stayed in a few more years retiring as a CMSgt.
Ed was still living in Colorado Springs where he passed away with his son and daughter at his side.
In October 2016 I asked Ed if he would be attending the 2017 F-106 Reunion. His response was: Hi Lou.....I would really like to attend this reunion but am hesitant to plan that far ahead. Not sure if you know, but I was hospitalized on June 28th for a low sodium condition. Went to the ER and spent 11 days in Penrose-St. Francis during which time I was diagnosed with a collapsed upper left lung and the presence of Small Cell Carcinoma. You may or may not know that SMC is incurable, but is treatable and manageable for who knows how long. Five years is a guess by my Oncologist who also said some folks fare better than others and exceed the 5 year mark. So far I've had five chemo treatments with one more scheduled later this month. My Oncologist is quite pleased as to how I'm holding up and tolerating the treatments. No real negative side effects except for hair loss, but that was happening anyway. On the whole I feel pretty good and the last body scan showed the mass in my lung has shrunk and there is no sign of spreading. I'll get another body scan and a brain scan after the next round of chemo and my Oncologist is predicting a good result.....She's pleased with my results so far.....says I'm big, strong and otherwise in good health. Smoking was more than likely a contributing factor but all the doctors were a little taken aback that this SMC presented itself this far along since quitting in 1996. Exposure to Agent Orange, JP-4, PD680 and lord knows what else we were exposed to are also likely causes. So, as far as the reunion is concerned, I think I'll wait till the next evaluation before making any decision. I've reached out to several maintainers I was stationed with at Kincheloe (438th FIS) and Volk Field, WI (Alert Det. supporting 11th FIS, 438th FIS and 87th FIS)...... Hope all is well with you... Ed Lou
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Post by pat perry on Mar 10, 2017 20:40:01 GMT 9
Message from Bobski - Pat P.
All F106 Troops, I am saddened to report the passing of Ed Miazga. See emails below from Lou Touchette. Bobski On Mar 5, 2017, at 4:04 PM, Louis Touchette <loutouchette1@gmail.com> wrote: Bob, I just received an email from Ed Miazga's son saying Ed died of cancer at 11:50 this morning.
Lou ________________________________________ From: loutouchette1@gmail.com To: bobski9933@aol.com CC: loutouchette1@gmail.com Sent: 3/5/2017 5:05:33 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: Passing of C Msgt Edward V. Miazga this morning.
Ed was an F-106 crew chief in the mid 60's... Kincheloe (438th FIS) and Volk Field, WI (Alert Det. supporting 11th FIS, 438th FIS and 87th FIS)....... You should have records somewhere that can accurately pin point which base and years. I was also an F-106 crew chief at Selfridge during those same years.
Ed and I met at Malmstrom AFB, Montana in the mid 1970's. We were both MSgt's working in Quality control in the 17 Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (DSES) (EB-57's). Later we both were assigned to the ADTASC Headquarters in Colorado Springs where we both made SMSgt. I retired in 1981 and he stayed in a few more years retiring as a CMSgt.
Ed was still living in Colorado Springs where he passed away with his son and daughter at his side.
In October 2016 I asked Ed if he would be attending the 2017 F-106 Reunion. His response was: Hi Lou.....I would really like to attend this reunion but am hesitant to plan that far ahead. Not sure if you know, but I was hospitalized on June 28th for a low sodium condition. Went to the ER and spent 11 days in Penrose-St. Francis during which time I was diagnosed with a collapsed upper left lung and the presence of Small Cell Carcinoma. You may or may not know that SMC is incurable, but is treatable and manageable for who knows how long. Five years is a guess by my Oncologist who also said some folks fare better than others and exceed the 5 year mark. So far I've had five chemo treatments with one more scheduled later this month. My Oncologist is quite pleased as to how I'm holding up and tolerating the treatments. No real negative side effects except for hair loss, but that was happening anyway. On the whole I feel pretty good and the last body scan showed the mass in my lung has shrunk and there is no sign of spreading. I'll get another body scan and a brain scan after the next round of chemo and my Oncologist is predicting a good result.....She's pleased with my results so far.....says I'm big, strong and otherwise in good health. Smoking was more than likely a contributing factor but all the doctors were a little taken aback that this SMC presented itself this far along since quitting in 1996. Exposure to Agent Orange, JP-4, PD680 and lord knows what else we were exposed to are also likely causes. So, as far as the reunion is concerned, I think I'll wait till the next evaluation before making any decision. I've reached out to several maintainers I was stationed with at Kincheloe (438th FIS) and Volk Field, WI (Alert Det. supporting 11th FIS, 438th FIS and 87th FIS)...... Hope all is well with you... Ed Lou
Added final obituary for Chief Master Sergeant Edward Vincent Miazga.
Pat P.
EV Miazga Obit FINAL.pdf (18.07 KB)
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Post by Gene on Apr 29, 2017 1:16:42 GMT 9
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Post by Gene on May 5, 2017 0:43:23 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Sept 14, 2017 6:10:09 GMT 9
In honor of the passing of forum participation. The Old Sarge
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Post by Jim on Sept 29, 2017 9:24:34 GMT 9
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Post by LBer1568 on Jul 9, 2020 22:33:38 GMT 9
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Post by pat perry on Jul 9, 2020 23:08:12 GMT 9
Lorin, is this the same person. If so we will indicate deceased in his profile. Thanks, Pat P. ALUMNI PROFILE CMSGT CARLSON, DICK S Name: CARLSON, DICK S Highest Rank: CMSGT Retired: Yes Units Assigned FIS:329th,539th,95th Record ID No.:1449 Updated:11/3/2013 7:43:35 PM
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Post by LBer1568 on Jul 9, 2020 23:43:54 GMT 9
Yes it is Pat. We used to call him Red as he had red hair. He was a very strict military type.
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Post by Jim on Aug 2, 2020 10:43:22 GMT 9
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Post by pat perry on Aug 3, 2020 4:19:56 GMT 9
Read this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_L._WeinsteinExcerpt: Criticism Weinstein has been accused of "waging a war on Christianity" by some critics. He has described "gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates",[49] and has said that the vast majority of his clients are practicing Catholics and mainline Protestants.[50] Weinstein has come under criticism for his salary and practice of voting on his own compensation as he is one of the voting members of MRFF's three-member board.[51][52] According to Weinstein, although he is a voting board member, he abstains from any votes on his own salary and has always done so. Supporters have noted this criticism comes from the same media source [53] which had named Weinstein one of the 100 Most Influential People in U.S. Defense in December 2012[48] and that the study upon which this criticism was based noted, "If you come across a charity whose CEO pay is higher than other similar charities, don't immediately dismiss that charity's request for funding. You're better off supporting a charity that is fiscally efficient, accountable and transparent, achieving its programmatic goals and paying its CEO well, than a charity that has substandard fiscal health, fails to live up to its mission, but under-pays its CEO."[54] This compensation policy for charity CEOs has been expressed by other reputable sources.[55] Jews in Green, a Jewish military support group, has challenged some of his claims, such as an entrenched anti-Semitism in the military, calling them baseless.[56] There are 64 external links made to Weinstein at the bottom of this Wikipedia. Let us not forget that appointments to military academies are often made by politicians and therefore get appointed by Liberals or Conservatives. More likely than not, if a "Dud" gets into an Academy his classmates will determine if he makes it or not to graduation. This one apparently slipped through. Pat P.
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Post by LBer1568 on Dec 8, 2020 23:28:29 GMT 9
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Post by LBer1568 on Jan 23, 2021 4:39:11 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Apr 26, 2021 7:47:05 GMT 9
Just rece'd this from MRoss Shulmister's favorite daughter. He was the first of the PAT'S original website that I regularly corresponded with about 20 years ago Hello friends of my father,
This is M. Ross Shulmister's favorite (also only) daughter, Meryl. Some of you may remember me from some reunions, I'm the one with the green hair.
I'm sorry to tell you that the man, the myth, the legend himself, passed away late Friday night. His heart.
We are making arrangements, and will keep you posted. If you are not able to travel, it's no problem, we will make a video for those who can't come.
Please add anyone who is not on this list and should be, and reply-all so I can get everyone on the thread.
Please don't send sorry's or condolences. Instead, please take a moment to share whatever photos, videos, memories or stories you may have about him, as much as you've got, for our memory book. As long-winded and detailed as possible! I want to share these stories with my son, who is only 4 and won't get to hear them from his grandpa.
Thank you, and please, hug your loved ones tight, and tell them you love them with all your might.
Love, My Father's Favorite Daughter ~*
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Post by Jim on May 10, 2021 14:30:44 GMT 9
Col., You are passing through 40,000 ft., Ops Officer says you should be at minimum fuel- time go home.... Thanks for the face to face years ago and for the perhaps more than 1000 emails over the past 20 years..... The Old Sarge, aka Jim Gier
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Post by pat perry on May 11, 2021 0:56:46 GMT 9
Col., You are passing through 40,000 ft., Ops Officer says you should be at minimum fuel- time go home.... Thanks for the face to face years ago and for the perhaps more than 1000 emails over the past 20 years..... The Old Sarge, aka Jim Gier Jim, Here's the Obit that Ross' daughter Meryl sent us: "Here's the Obit from our local paper The Sentry. My dad had a column there so they put his obit where his column was on the front page instead of in the obit section. In case you were wondering. Meryl". Meryl will be attending the F-106 Reunion is his place. Now I need to put all this on the Convair F-106 Delta Dart Group page using your message above if you don't mind.
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Post by pat perry on May 11, 2021 3:04:48 GMT 9
Col., You are passing through 40,000 ft., Ops Officer says you should be at minimum fuel- time go home.... Thanks for the face to face years ago and for the perhaps more than 1000 emails over the past 20 years..... The Old Sarge, aka Jim Gier Jim, Here's the Obit that Ross' daughter Meryl sent us: "Here's the Obit from our local paper The Sentry. My dad had a column there so they put his obit where his column was on the front page instead of in the obit section. In case you were wondering. Meryl". Meryl will be attending the F-106 Reunion is his place. Now I need to put all this on the Convair F-106 Delta Dart Group page using your message above if you don't mind.
Posted on Convair F-106 Delta Dart Facebook Group:
Pat J McGee and the F-106 Reunion Committee are sad to announce the passing of LtCol M. Ross Shulmister via his Daughter Meryl who will attend the 2021 Melbourne, FL F-106 Reunion in his place. In Pat J McGee's F-106 Forum, Moderator Jim (The Old Sarge) Gier said it best: "Col., You are passing through 40,000 ft., Ops Officer says you should be at minimum fuel- time go home.... Thanks for the face to face years ago and for the perhaps more than 1000 emails over the past 20 years..... The Old Sarge, aka Jim Gier". Both Jim and Ross were in the 27th FIS.
Attached is a Memorial Service announcement from American Legion Post #142 in Pompano Beach, FL. Also here's the Obit that Ross' daughter Meryl sent us: "Here's the Obit from our local paper The Sentry. My dad had a column there so they put his obit where his column was on the front page instead of in the obit section. In case you were wondering. Meryl".
Anyone who knew Ross is invited to share stories about him with his family members here on this post. Ross was a great contributor to the success of the All Troops F-106 Reunions. See you at the F-106 Reunion in Melbourne, FL Nov 17-21, 2021! Pat Perry
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Post by pat perry on May 11, 2021 4:41:59 GMT 9
This M. Ross story was reported on FaceBook by Jim Mattison:
Jim Mattison
Delta Dart Endurance
By: M. Ross Shulmister
mross849@hotmail.com
July 24, 2001
The F-106 was the best-designed fighter of its time. It was sleek, stable, and powerful. But it also had more
endurance than any of its contemporaries. Just how much is demonstrated in this story.
It was the summer of 1970, and the 27th F.I.S. Fighting Falcons had been selected to fly competition at
Tyndall AFB, Florida. The top guns of the squadron (majors and above, of course) all headed for Tyndall at
the end of July, ready to take on 104's and anything else the exercise could throw at them.
The squadron's only bachelor (me, a captain) was selected to remain behind.
But maintenance is never a sure thing, and the competition team needed another bird. None of the married
guys wanted to ferry a bird from Loring to Tyndall, so they volunteered the bachelor: "He won't care." (They
were right, I didn't care.)
And so, on the afternoon of 30 July 1970, I loaded my littlest travel bag and hopped into a Cadillac of a
fighter, the Delta Dart.
Loring was quiet. The B-52s were all snug in their alert chocks, the alert F-106's were waiting quietly in the
alert hanger, and no one else was flying. I started my engine, and was immediately cleared for takeoff. The
27th was located at the end of the runway anyway, so there was no significant taxiing.
Tyndall is approximately 3 hours from Loring (by 106, that is). The F-106, with external tanks, had
(according to the Dash one) an endurance of 3:15, plus 5 minutes for taxiing, so 15 minutes was an
adequate reserve. The '6 could fly a few minutes longer, but regs required shutting down with at least 600
pounds of fuel, so 3:20 was "it".
I have always been one to test the edges of a plane's performance, and so, when other pilots were content
to do their cross-countries at 39,000 or 41,000 feet, I preferred to ease the bird up to 43,000 feet. The
problem with flying any airplane at that altitude is that you start bumping into the "sound barrier" at lower and
lower indicated air speeds. You may be flying at the same true airspeed as at lower altitudes, but your
indicated airspeed gets lower and lower as you get higher and higher. Lift is related to indicated airspeed,
and maximum lift over drag (max L/D) is based on indicated airspeed. When you reach the altitude where
the speed of sound is down around 170 knots or so of indicated airspeed, you just can't maintain speed
without engaging the afterburner.
Flying at Max L/D also requires constant attention, to make sure you don't slow below that speed (it's called
getting behind the power curve - it takes more energy to fly slower), and that can tend to annoy a pilot who
has other things on his mind. But I really didn't have anything else on my mind so it was no big deal.
I took off and was cleared to 41,000 feet. I climbed to 39,000 at best rate of climb, and continued at Max
L/D speed with just enough extra power to have a little climb.
Most airlines cruise at 37,000 and 39,000. I asked for clearance to 43,000. Air Traffic Control didn't care.
No one flies at 43,000 except SR-71s, U-2s, and flying saucers, and most of those fly only around Nevada
and Roswell, NM. As the 106 burns off fuel, it is able to cruise-climb to a higher altitude without afterburner
assistance. As I burned off fuel, I eased the bird higher and higher. ATC chuckled as they cleared to fly at
any altitude above 41,000. The controller showed a little disbelief when I reported passing 45,000. Actually
I only made it about 100 feet or so above 45,000, but it was enough to impress the civilian down below.
Another thing about the J-75, the higher it gets, the less fuel it burns. I suppose that's partly because
there's less drag at the lower indicated airspeeds that come with those high altitudes, but the net result is
that you get the same true airspeed as at low altitudes, but with a dramatic increase in fuel economy.
Anyway, I found myself at Tyndall about 3 hours from Loring, and at 45,000 feet, and a surprising surplus of
fuel on board. Nothing like a little extra flying time. I requested clearance to Memphis TACAN and back, at
45,000 feet, of course, and ATC had no problem with that. Coming back from Memphis, I asked for an en route descent - always a great way to fly with very little fuel consumption, and from 45,000 feet - that's a L-O-N-G glide!
Down below, the flying was over for the day. There was no one in the Panama City skies, and the weather
was purr-fect. I did a few gentle 360s to buy more time with a minimum loss of altitude. Takes a really long
time to descend from 45,000 feet.
Meanwhile, someone down below was not a happy camper. I was overdue with more than 3:20 of flight
time, and the Ops Officer wanted to know why I was not on the ground. Ops advised him I was on
approach.
It was a lazy scenic approach, with the Gulf of Mexico on my left. As I neared the runway, it was power up,
speed brakes out, gear down, easy descent (with a light fuel load - almost none - the '6 handled like it had
helium in the tanks), grease it on, pop the chute, use enough brakes to stop at the intersection, and note the
flight time - 3:35. Add 5 minutes for taxiing, and that's 3:40. Add THAT to the performance boundary.
As I taxied to the ramp, my fuel low level warning lights came on. No big surprise there. As long as they
weren't on when I touched down, I would be okay.
As I shut down the engine, the crew chief advised me I was to report to the Ops Officer (I was one of his
"favorite" people).
"You're in deep [whatever-that-brown-stuff-is]," he said. "Your low level fuel lights are on."
"Yes, sir, they came on while I was taxiing in."
"How much time did you log?"
"3:40," I said.
"You're in deep [you know]. You stay right here until maintenance calls me with how much fuel you had
left."
A few minutes later, Maintenance called and reported I had a little over 600 pounds remaining.
The Ops Officer was pi....ed, but I think it was not because I demonstrated the capability of the Delta Dart,
but rather because he had no grounds to hang me 🙂.
So, it has been demonstrated that the F-106 had more endurance than any other contemporary operational
fighter.
And for those of you who never got to ride in a '6, you can experience the same feel of a cross country flight
F-106 by putting on a crash helmet and a face mask, and riding down the turnpike in a brand new Cadillac,
with your seat belt on.
LtCol M. Ross Shulmister
USAF Retired
P.S. The 27th lost the competition. According to the stories I heard when the major top guns and lieutenant
colonel top guns returned to Loring, they lost because the F-104's didn't play fair - they kept fighting
vertically instead of horizontally.
P.P.S. I understand that there were no F-104's at the 1970 William Tell – I don't know when else that some
of the competitors from the 27th put the blame on F-104's, so there is an inconsistency in my story that I
cannot reconcile. The story is, however, true. Since I wasn't selected to participate in the 1970 William Tell,
I would not have known which birds and which squadrons were involved.
Pat: Most of our F-106 pilots were really good. But a rare few of them became "One with their Machine" and could make it perform through situational awareness and feel. Like NASCAR, Indy Car, and Drag Racing Drivers they could make the Win when others couldn't. Ross was one of these Pilots. And he lived his life the same way. Pat P.
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