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Post by Jim on Sept 18, 2004 23:33:14 GMT 9
IT TIME FOR YOU ALL TO SUFFER- THE OLD SARGE
Signed into Griffis AFB and the 27th FIS Jun 1956 and was assigned to the post dock crew on the F-94C,,,, There was no FTD or any other training, except what you gave yourself. So, I would take the - 2 tech manual home with me and study the flight control systems( similar to the F-80 and T-33), hyd sys, how to remove and install the engine... Within 3 weeks, I had been cleared to runup and taxi the a/c.... Probably the 2 greatest things about being in postdock is that you made sure that the a/c was ready for test flt, and you got to know the test pilots...... Being one of the jr SSgts, I caught weekend alert NCOIC duty once a month and about my 4th time, we had scrambled the 2 hot birds and the pilots for the next 2 hot birds had just finished their walk around when the Klaxon went off again.... Now, I had no ready birds and we had to move 4 a/c into the scramble hangars and ready hangars,,,,,,,So, while the guys were moving a/c around. I took a tug and went over to the maint hangar, hooked on to the a/c and opened the hangar doors and started out of the hangar when I felt the tug jerk and heard something hit the floor,,,,,,,,Well, I hadn't opened the door far enough and the tip tank fin hit the door and broke off,,,,,,,,,,,,Luck was with me, I hadn't pulled the sealed nuts thru the back of the tank, but I now had an a/c that couldn't be used............So. I towed it around behind the alert barns and told my next in charge to get 2 birds off the flt line, that I had to into downtown Rome to get a tap to tap out the threads in the fin mounts........He said "Sarge-were you towing without wing walkers?" I said Amn, not only did I not have wing walkers, I didn't have a brake rider either............Now this was back in the days when you didn't go into business places in fatiques, and it was on a Sunday to boot, so the only place that was open was a Western Auto store- believe that it cost me about a buck for the tap.....Went to the tank farm and robbed a fin of another tank and headed for the alert barn.....Got the threads tapped out, bolt holes wouldn't line up, so I used a version of the bigger hammer fix- I used the tug to push the fin where I wanted it and tightened the bolts and put the Tip cone on and walked into the crew room..........Lt Palozi was standing there with the broken fin and he said, "Sgt Gier what in hell is this??" I told him that it was the fin I had boke off towing an a/c and the a/c was ready....He told me that he knew that because he had watched me fix it. He wanted to know if I was going to report it and I told him no I wasn't as I was the NCOIC and that I had corrected the problem....He wanted to know what to do with the fin and I told him he could pitch it or use it against me,that I didn't really care......He tossed it in the trash and said he liked the idea that I saved time and fuel by not defueling the tank to replace the tank.......He was the one that gave me a ride using JATO on Armed Forces Day open house....
he also gave me a Mach 1 ride in the F-102 and my Mach 2 ride in the F-106
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Durden
F-106 Qualified
Founding Member
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Post by Durden on Sept 21, 2004 22:30:26 GMT 9
Jim This story reminds me of an incident at McClellan. We had a six that had flown the test flight and was sold and it was being prepared for delivery to the owning squadron. The paint shop was called to do the usual paint touch up prior to delivery. The painter towed his paint cart and parked it in front of the shelter by the external power cart. The mechanic assigned to the A/C decided to do an engine run and failed to notice that the restraining cables were not connected. ;D He ran the engine up to full military power, jumped the chocks and ran out of the shelter. Before he could get the A/C stopped, the leading edge of the left wing hit the paint cart and ripped open the leading edge ;D. The paint cart turned over and splattered many colors of paint all over the concrete  Swing swift replaced the damaged section of the leading edge and had it painted for the next day delivery. The paint was cleaned up but you could see the stained area for years to come.  No, it wasn't me at the throttle this time.   |
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Post by Jim on Sept 21, 2004 22:53:24 GMT 9
AL  WHERENHELL WAS THIS STORY DURING THE CONTEST ;D.....I'VE GOT A FEW MORE TO POST FROM THE EARLY PART OF MY CAREER AND WILL BE PUNISHING YALL WITH THEM........THE OLD SARGE |
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Durden
F-106 Qualified
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Post by Durden on Sept 22, 2004 21:57:49 GMT 9
Jim It slipped my mind  until your story jogged my memory. I have been preoccupied working on a design to have a new F-106 Belt Buckle made. After two years, I am about ready to have the buckles made. F-106 A 59-0010 is scheduled to be transported to McClellan in the first week of December. I hope to have the buckles finished by mid November for the homecoming celebration.   |
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Post by Jim on Sept 23, 2004 0:25:05 GMT 9
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MArv
F-106 Skilled
"Aint electronics Wonderful!"
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Post by MArv on Sept 23, 2004 20:40:42 GMT 9
WOW!! A NEW buckle for th "6"!!!! We had a small operation going at Lowry, in the tech School for the students and for the Instructors. We ordered belt buckles from the "Buckle Connection" out of California and they had a really nice product. We ordered in lots of 30 or more and got them for under $4 each. They were really nice and were pewter, in look and color. I still have one along with an F-16XL, a B-58, and a B-1. You might check with them, if they are still in business. They also had Tie Tacks that were really great as well! I'm interested in purchasing one or two when you get them finished and under production. MArv |
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Durden
F-106 Qualified
Founding Member
Currently: Offline
Posts: 70
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Post by Durden on Sept 23, 2004 22:51:52 GMT 9
Marv
I have a buckle from the Buckle Connection. It is pewter with
a bronze coating. I wanted mine silver so i polished the gold
color off down to the pewter. I could not locate the company
so I believe it went out of business. The new buckles will be
solid bronze and can be gold or silver color. I will let you know
when they are finished.
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Post by Jim on Sept 25, 2004 6:26:02 GMT 9
TALE # 2--- Anybody out there besides KILROY,NUMBNUTS,BROWNSHOES,THUD AND OLD MA-1 WEENIE remember the one-piece fatiques (not BDUs) and the old fatique hat that you had to fold a certain way to put it in your pocket Well, one day coming out the BX at Griffiss, I took it out of my pocket and flipped to pop it open and put on( after six years I got good at doing this in one motion) and salute one of our pilots all in the same motion..Well the hat gave a snap , on to my head and the salute was rendered in fine fashion-----with the top of the hat hanging over my face!!!That pilot never did fully return the salute-- he was too busy  at me. By the time I got back down the hangar and safety wired it back together, the story was all over the sqdn.......This was before the days of the OD baseball style caps, unless you were part of an aircrew.......retired the last one of those when it was about 10 years old........ 8-)i |
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Post by Jim on Oct 28, 2004 4:22:33 GMT 9
WATCHOUT
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Post by pat perry on Oct 28, 2004 5:52:51 GMT 9
Watchout? Is there a truck coming? Or do you have another tall tale in the queue to share? PS: Just picked up Nov-Dec issue of Warbirds showing an update on the Robbins AFB Museum of Aviation F-106 project and the demise of their Duece display. The Duece is falling apart from corrosion and they are finally painting up the six to put it on display. Will try to scan it and send to MOW and Erv Smalley for posting. Also bought the Vol 40 #11 issue of Air Classics mag that has the short aritcle on the El Paso F-106s and The great article on the Yankee Air Museum from before the fire. Drink one for me Old Sarge! |
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Post by Jim on Nov 11, 2004 10:18:26 GMT 9
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Swing swift replaced the damaged section of the leading edge and had it painted for the
No, it wasn't me at the
WHERENHELL WAS THIS STORY DURING THE CONTEST ;D.....I'VE GOT A FEW MORE TO POST FROM THE EARLY PART OF MY CAREER AND WILL BE PUNISHING YALL WITH THEM........THE OLD SARGE 
until your story jogged my memory. I
at me. By the time I got back down the hangar and safety wired it back together, the story was all over the sqdn.......This was before the days of the OD baseball style caps, unless you were part of an aircrew.......retired the last one of those when it was about 10 years old........ 
