Happy Birthday USAF!

Today, September 18, marks the birthday of the United States Air Force. It's 66 years old today. Its birth came as a result of Congressional Act that was passed on September 18, 1947, which essentially separated the US Army Air Corps into an autonomous, independent branch of the US Defense Department.

In honor of this event, I want to - first of all - thank all of the men and women who have or are now serving in the USAF and its reserve components for answering what they felt was their call to duty.

Secondly, although the person who wrote the following [John Magee] was not a US citizen [He was a Canadian who served in the RCAF and had been deployed to serve during the Battle of Britain {1940}.], his thoughts mirror many of those who flew and/or are flying today.

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunwards I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a thousand things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air,
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

 

This coming Saturday (21 Sept) will mark the 49th anniversary of yours truly enlisting in the USAF (21 Sept 1964). Did Basic Military Training @ Lackland AFB [near San Antonio TX]. Did my Air Force Technical Training for Aircraft Electrical Systems Maintenance @ Chanute AFB [now closed; near Champaign] IL.

1st PCS was @ Davis-Monthan AFB [Tucson] AZ (worked on the F-4C fighters there). I was SAVED in Tucson @ an off base church!:thumbs:

2d PCS was @ Ramstein Air Base in what was then WEST Germany [Ramstein's kinda in between the German cities of Frankfurt & Saarbrucken; in the Kaiserlautern {"K-Town"} Military Community.] Worked on the RF-4C reconnaissance fighter jet. Was released from AD on 15 Apr 1969, thus giving me at least ONE good April 15th :smilewinkgrin:.

In August, 1988, I enlisted in the Tennessee Air National Guard (TN ANG). Did Tech School for the Avionics Guidance & Control Systems Maintenance @ Keesler AFB [Biloxi] MS. Worked on the C-130H transport aircraft.

Retired from the TN ANG in January, 2005. All told I had about 22 years total military service--at least 16 of them was as a drill status ["week ender"] guardsman.

 

Doesn't offend me. We USAF people tended always to look @ other military service people with a bit of respect. After all, we were all in this mess together. (Some just happened to be messier than others. ROTFL! :laugh

There is, BTW, an Air Force equivalent of "hoo-yah!" ...... But since BB is a Christian forum, I won't tell U what it is!!!!!!

 

DMAFB did support what I think were Titan II missile facilities during the time I was there (1965-67). I may have run into some of the missile troops when I was there, but if I did I don't remember doing so.

BTW, there is a deactivated Titan II missile silo facility somewhere south of DMAFB (off of I-19 S). It's operated by some non-profit group & is open for group tours. Fascinating if you're into that kinda stuff and/or are a Cold War history buff. The Pima Air Museum near (but not at) the Tucson Int'l Airport is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE if you're ever in the area.

Will try to supply some links to both places in another post.

Got the links right here!

Titan Missile Museum: www.titanmissilemuseum.org

Pima Air & Space Museum: www.pimaair.org