April 21st, 2023


 

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AF Story

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  Funny story. I worked "Special Handling" cargo at Elmendorf AFB, AK in 1981-1984. We were sitting around the office one night, listening to both ATOC and the tower. Sometimes planes come unannounced and we like to stay on top of it while playing cards. It was winter. In the winter, the AF did not use it's own planes to deliver cargo to the various radar sites in AK. They used Bush Pilots flying DC-3s. They ALWAYS came unannounced.  Suddenly the silence was broken and a voice asked the tower to turn on the flightline lights. The tower came back and asked questions because they did not see him on radar. They asked the pilot what runway he wanted. Silence. Then after about 30 seconds, the pilot came on and told the tower they just touched down and just needed to know where to taxi.  Pretty embarrassing for the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing.
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Cold War Exercises

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  While in AK in the early 80s, I was on Worldwide Mobility which meant I was ready to be deployed anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. It was the height of the Cold War. I was vaccinated for every disease on the planet.  It was constant exercises. We'd get called in the middle of the night. My bags were always ready. Most of the time, we just showed up, went through a line of people to help with finances, shots, red cross, cursor health checkup, and checking dog tags in order to prepare to be deployed. We'd just get sent home after that. Sometimes we actually boarded buses to the aircraft only to go back and be released. One time, we boarded the plane and taxied only to turn around and let us go. One time in 1983, we actually took off and was gone for 2 weeks.  A full bird Colonel was flying the C-130. He was also being evaluated and graded. Most pilots were Captains. As we neared our destination in the far north of AK, he began maneuvers to avoid ground fire. We ...
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