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Serving in the Armed Forces - USAF Days
*On October 1, 1972, the 40th MMS and 41st MMS from Plattsburgh and Pease AFB respectively were inactivated and activated the next day as the 380th MMS and 509th MMS. This action was part of a SAC-wide move to give munitions maintenance squadrons the same numerical designation as the wing to which it is assigned.
The group made history Aug. 6, 1945, when the B-29 "Enola Gay," dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The "Bockscar," visited the Japanese mainland Aug. 9, 1945, and dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
The 509th BW moved its personnel and equipment to Pease AFB, N.H. in August 1958. By 1965, the B-47s and the 509th BW were slated for retirement. SAC, however, decided to keep the bomb wing alive and equip it with B-52s and KC-135s.
Many Veterans of the Vietnam War Era were mistreated and dishonored by Americans who blamed them for the huge life loss during the war campaign.
What was amazing was that Americans spent their lives degrading and blaming the Veterans, marching in protest, burning draft cards, leaving the country to avoid the draft, as cowards do, BUT NOT ONCE, NOT EVEN ONE TIME, did you ever see a protest, or parade, or card burning for the American lives lost here in the states in the same time frame!
What lives you say!?
While they complained and protested about the 45,925 war heroes that died in Vietnam 1961-1972, NO ONE MADE ANY EFFORT on behalf of the 143,550 who died in their homes due to fires in the same time frame!!!
I became a member of the Lowry Golden Eagles - Drum & Bugle Corps - and I spent many of my weekends traveling around the state doing performances with the corps. Our most memorable was to be in downtown Denver on Memorial Day, as the sun broke through the clouds and we were a highlight of the parade! Gov. John Love asked if we would perform at
Yet, at 6pm that night, as we left for the chow hall, we had 4" of snow!!!
[We often traveled to the US Air Force Academy, Breckinridge Ski Resort, Loveland Pass Resort, and lots more doing parades, show presentations, and music performances.]
But the 4 hour horseback ride that I went on in the Garden of the Gods Mountains was BEAUTIFUL!!!
But I was 1 of 14 in a shop of 10 when I arrived in August of '67. But by November, there were only 5 of us left. The rest had deployed overseas. With Sgt Barry L. Team Leader, Sgt "Zeb" Z, CMSgt Nathan H., and SMSgt Ray B., we formed the only team in the 8th Air Force to receive 7 out of 8 Highly Qualified ratings on specific Weapons operations evaluations. We were proud of that - and the team we had. B-52's were the Aircraft on line with KC-135 Fueling Tankers as well. They had just begun bringing us new higher tech weapons and new fighter bombers [FB-111's] when I left the service in the summer of '70.
This is the weapon I worked on for 3 years - not classified anymore - right off the web now!
Mk28 [Mk 28 FI Mod 1]
It had 4 different delivery options against the enemy and had 1.1 Megaton of power for each weapon on board the Aircraft.
"You May Be a Nuclear Weapons Specialist If..."
You use TP-35-51 to work on your car.
Your first reaction to an international crisis is "Nuke em!"
You love the smell of MEK in the morning.
You laugh at the so-called "nuclear experts" in the media.
You have a mushroom cloud screensaver.
You've used a Kimwipe as a coffee filter.
You were disappointed when it was only an "elephant walk".
You thought Eastman 910 was sticky.
A zipper is either an "interlocking slide fastener" or a "neutron generator".
You claim to "fix typewriter's" for a living.
You can order a beer in two, three, or more languages.
You want to bring back airborne alert and QRA.
You miss doing B43 LLC's.
You miss the AIR-2A Genie.
You know what USAFE, EUCOM, and USAREUR mean.
You've done a "carrier landing" at the enlisted club.
You've visited Rocky Flats, and survived.
You've eaten food in North Africa and the Far East, and survived.
You think the USAF tech school should be at Kirtland.
You have a copy of "Dr. Strangelove".
You're an expert painter and craftsman.
You don't miss MSET!
You do miss SAC.
AFN-TV commercials still bring nightmares.
You've been stationed at places you still can't talk about.
You love demolitions training.
You know all the words to "Ein Prosit!"
You think beer tastes good with cola and a lemon in it.
You've learned to eat pizza with a knife and fork.
You knew people with names like "Udo", "Dieter", "Heiko", and "Heika".
After Germany, you know every "Sprockets" episode.
You've been to the DMZ.
You've seen the Berlin Wall.
Your workplace was a floating airport.
You know that "BUFF" really doesn't mean "Big Ugly Flying Fellow"
You can insult anyone in five different languages.
You know what a "pram, boot, nappy, and biscuit" are.
You've done an LLC standing inside the bomb!
You know who St. Barbara is.
You've survived NATO TAC Eval's and detest MOPP gear.
After PACAF, the neighbor's dog looks appetizing.
You know that "EOD" means "Every One Drinks!"
You know "Caddyshack" by heart.
"IYAAYAS" means "If You Ain't Ammo, You Ain't Sh*t!"
You know from firsthand experience that "Army Intelligence" is a contradiction of terms.
The shop motto is "BOHICA".
You know there's no such thing as a "peace dividend".
Your team members were named Curley, Moe, and Larry.
You've mastered the "million dollar screwdriver" on an E-1's salary.
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