|
|
FIREBIRD FACTS - 1967 |
|
|
Christmas is upon us and so is winter, after a
very slow start. We are hip deep in snow, the temperatures hover near zero
degrees Fahrenheit, and we are struggling against the usual problems with
which you are all so familiar. The Sondrestrom rotation schedule goes
on...and on...and on...as usual. A long tiring flight terminated by a cold
beer, very little in the BX and much too much in the clubs. Sondy has a new
commander, and a new Protestant Chaplain who is a former P-38 driver. We have
never succeeded in persuading him to venture to the cap with us. His
reluctance could not have been because of his predecessor's briefing; they
exchanged greetings on the ramp leading to the "Yellow Bird," only!
We've been tapped to furnish base operations with a "TDY" clearance
officer for sixty days and Major Brackbill is in the slot now. "We've
done so much, with so few, for so long, now they expect us to do everything
with no one." `This recap of the year may be familiar to you late leavers, but
please bear with us for the benefit of the early departees. The year was
characterized by the many departures (all of you), arrivals too numerous to
list and the anxious wait for assignments by the new crop of "short
timers" To mention a few, Major Gregelein to C-123s in SEA, TSgt. Smiley
to Langley, Major Edgell to CCK, TSgt. Coyne to Lackland, and Capt. Morrissey
to RF4Cs in SEA. (Editor's Note: Capt. Morrissey is MIA as of 1996.) "Twas" a grim year for promotions, brightened by Major
Myer's promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, TSgt. Girven's selection to MSgt. and
numerous new TSgts, SSgts, and Sgts. Read the December 1967 issue of "Airman," and the October
issue of Lockheed's "Airlifters," (page 29), for news of fellow ski
troopers. We did our part in the usual number of exercises and special
projects, including the seemingly endless "Cool Rope" and HALO
training for the Army. Of special interest to those of you who participated
in "Turnkey," is the fact that your efforts were recognized by the
Secretary of the Air Force. Your letters will reach you eventually. We also
provided airlift support for the visiting King and Queen of Nepal, who came
over to sample Alaska's big game hunting. We celebrated two birthdays this year; the first anniversary of the
21st Composite Wing on 7 July, and the 20th anniversary of the 17th on 11
December. The first momentous occasion was highlighted by parades, parties,
etc., while the second, and dearest to us, was celebrated by an early launch
of the alert crew, a three ship TAC training mission, a strip check, and a
flying safety meeting. Thanks to DACs Peter Fink, whom you all remember, Narsarrsuak is now
an approved R&R center for the 17th aircrews in place at Sondrestrom. A
few of the boys were whooping it up in the mission commanders room, Peter
Fink called Colonel Bethe, a crew was launched and a precedent was set. Not all was fun and games at Sondy though, we did our share of work
too. Lots of trailers went to Dye III, along with steel to jack the joint.
Would you believe we bent one at Sondy last week? Good old 490 was attacked
by a wheel bird during an engine run up. Old Sondrestrom and Taipei Troopers will be glad to hear, we think,
that the "Dave Bunker Show" is playing at Elmendorf this week. The crop of Firebirds has fallen off this year; perhaps it's a sign
of advancing age in all of us? Again, it might be that we are flying more, or
better pills, or just plain luck. The ice cap is beginning to resemble a used airplane lot since a
second Aero Commander crash landed there in August. Major Gregelein and crew
brought the survivors out. A group has been attempting to salvage the first
Aero Commander, though they experienced navigational difficulties even after
a twenty minute, telephonic, course in celestial navigation. Major Larry Sharrow did an outstanding job of landing 489, gear up,
here at Elmendorf recently but his accomplishment was somewhat dimmed by his
being observed with a TAC patch on his flying suit upon exiting the aircraft. List of
"rotated" Firebirds - 1967 Major Gary G.
Lattin |