Happy Birthday USAF!

[ktn4eg]

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.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

In honor of the Air Force's birthday, a joke ...

A soldier and an airman, driving late at night on a two-lane rural highway, top a hill at the same time and collide head on. Their cars go flying into the ditches on either side of the road, but neither is hurt. The soldier says, "Hey, you know, I think that's a sign from God that our two services should stop feuding and be friends."

The airman exclaims, "You know, you're right! We need to be friends and not rivals."

The soldier says, "In honor of our new friendship, I think I've got something in the trunk to toast its existence."

He goes to the car, opens the trunk and pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels. He takes it back to his new friend and says, "Here ya go. You first!"

The airman takes a big ole swig and passes the bottle back to the soldier: "Your turn!'

The soldier says, "No thanks. I think I'll wait for the cops to show up."

 

[Herald]

I served in the USAF in the 70's and 80's. I was proud to wear the uniform. I was a morse intercept operator on RC-135 recon aircraft and had the pleasure of literally traveling the world.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I served in the USAF in the 70's and 80's. I was proud to wear the uniform. I was a morse intercept operator on RC-135 recon aircraft and had the pleasure of literally traveling the world.

I was Army -- rotary wing. Hence the joke. Hope that didn't offend you.

I'd say the Air Force equivalent of "hoo-yah!" but I don't know what it is! :laugh:

 

[ktn4eg]

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.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

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:

I had an uncle was a technician on the Falcon missile there. Did you know any of those guys? He would have been in about that time himself.

 

[ktn4eg]

I was Army -- rotary wing. Hence the joke. Hope that didn't offend you.

I'd say the Air Force equivalent of "hoo-yah!" but I don't know what it is! :laugh:

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!!!!!!

 

[ktn4eg]

I had an uncle was a technician on the Falcon missile there. Did you know any of those guys? He would have been in about that time himself.

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

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

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.

I misspoke. It was the Titan II missile he worked on. I had a cousin on the USS Constellation who was a Falcon missile tech. I was a space program freak when I was a teen. My uncle was a fount of information on the Titan II when it was used to launch the Gemini program spacecraft.

 

[SolaSaint]

I was a Titan II missile troop from 1978-82. I loved Tucson. I wasn't saved in Tucson but a man witnessed to me for the first time while I was there and had a great influence on me being born again.

I haven't been there since 1982 but hope to go back and visit the silo that is still there. I hear it is real sweet. I even think it is the one I used to work at down in Green Valley.