434th ARW? I spent some time riding around in their KC-135s 1978-1982.Picture from the Boom Pod of a KC-135 assigned to Grissom. Boom operator is a buddy and great SNCO.
I have three jumps from a C-130, and two from aHercules, IMHO, is the best and most versatile plane ever!
I loved jumping them.
12 JASSMs off a pallet out of an MC-130? DAYYYUM!!The MC-130J Commando II is a special operations plane outfitted to fly low and at night to insert and retrieve special ops troops, refuel helicopters and Ospreys, and airdrop cargo or deliver cargo to dirt runways.
The USAF is experimenting with possibly developing an amphibious version via a kit added in the field, and also air-deploying a “Red Dragon“ pallet that would launch 12 JASSM stealthy cruise missiles in midair (the C-17 is also experimenting with this).
If you are going to be a Herc driver this would seem to be one of the more fun versions to fly.
Was active duty from 1979 to 1985. Moved to the Air Reserve Technician (ART) program in 1985 at Grissom. Started out in the 930th TFG as a jet tech on the A-10s. Transitioned to the 434 ARW as a Logistics Planner in 1994. Stayed with the 434th for the rest of my career.434th ARW? I spent some time riding around in their KC-135s 1978-1982.
And my father (and at least one other INGO member’s dad) was a member of the 434th when it was at Bakalar AFB near Columbus, flying C-119s.
Great picture btw!
Where is/was Bakalar?Was active duty from 1979 to 1985. Moved to the Air Reserve Technician (ART) program in 1985 at Grissom. Started out in the 930th TFG as a jet tech on the A-10s. Transitioned to the 434 ARW as a Logistics Planner in 1994. Stayed with the 434th for the rest of my career.
When I started out, we had several guys who had made the move up from Bakalar to Grissom in 1970. They were all "good ole boys" from the sticks.
Columbus Indiana!Where is/was Bakalar?
I remember years ago, looking over some data on some new lieutenants I was receiving. I took note of their Security Clearance dates which were not that long after mine. Then my brain shifted gears and I realized I was off by a column; those were actually their birthdates.
I think that actually beats newbie Fuels (POL) troops collecting exhaust samples in Mason jars from the refueling trucks. Yes, there were pictures.Guess I've got a few stories to add to the pile.
When I went though great lakes A school for basic seamanship.... Upper command was getting really strict on hazing there. As I'm sure you've seen its pretty easy to convince a fresh boot of basically anything
Apparently there was an issue of older guys convincing boots that the standard issue glow belt (to be worn after colors cause I guess recruits kept getting hit by cars) had to be recharged in the dormitory microwaves. Ha! I wonder how many microwaves got ruined by Ricky melting a plastic belt inside
The other issue there was that some poor recruit was convinced that of course everything needs to be stenciled and that included the dorm mattress.... And the only place that could stencil them was at the NEX all the way on the other side of base. Allegidly there was a guy that actually made it most of the way there with his mattress before someone stopped him, but I wasn't there for that.
Very believable. My neighbor in Norfolk was a submariner and he wouldn't say anything at all about those subs even tho we both were on the same base. Even now that we both are out he won't even tell me a thing about them. Sub guys are a breed all their own.Was in a unit for several years and one of my friends had a longtime on subs. He had stories about life on a sub that were really interesting. Lots of things he couldn't directly say.
Told me once he has seen places inside the USSR and China that were very interesting. Had a couple of awards that I couldn't readily understand and he won't say the reason why they were awarded.
Don