Did anyone hear that digusting remark made by Sen. John Kerry today, having a son who is retiring after 28 yrs. USAF needless to say all of us veterans totaly insulted.

althis is not the format to discuss the discusting remarks by Kerry, he has done it before to us Vietnam Vets. He is an idiot who still can`t get over the fact that he lost on 04!

Now on e-Bay, unrelated to me in anyway whatsoever: Two 10 oz., 692nd Radar Sq. beer mugs. Item no.: 130042325418; NORAD Alaska radar warning system ceramic coffee cup, navy blue, white lettering, Item no. 140047664028.

why have the people in washington gave the gi`s in iraq a 2.2% raise and all soc. sec. people and others 3.3%. i thought we were suppose to be supporting our troops. as usual it dont make sense. guess they dont need as much to live on over there.

I designed the patch with the bear for the 922nd and painted it on the Nco Club door.....ron

This weekend, look thru a museum topic that you have not read or haven`t in a long time. Take a look at some of the other folks on your sites: If you know any missing [??] or incorrect info, on them [or you], pls send me a msg. Don`t forget to setback your clocks, watches, cmptrs, sundials, [and the clox in ur vehicles] at 0200L [UrTime] Sunday, except for AZ and HI. Aaron.

To: Gene McManus I would like to point out that in the Hawaii section you have a newspaper article About the radar sites & ADCC center at Wheeler AFB, Hi. I was there at the time of that article. Our outfit had been known as the 6491st Air Defence Flight & on Feb 18, 1958 was assigned as the 326th Air Division We had 11 Officers & 69 enlisted men. Thank you , Raymond A. Hunt

See www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5983 for an interesting article titled ``Air Defense and Terror.`` The article has a few minor errors and omissions, but I found it pretty good over all. Thanks go to Ron Plante for bringing this article to our attention.

I arrived at Hancock Field in Sept. 1953 right out of Tech. School and was assigned to Hq. 32nd Air Div (D) of the old manual system. I arrived in Syracuse by Train and took a taxi out to the Base, well when I arrived at the base I was actually at the Hancock Airport. When I informed the driver that this wasn`t the right place and a brief explaination that I was being assigned there the driver stated `Oh you want the weather station`. After ducking an overseas assignment to Korea due to the fact that I had just returned from there in 1952 while I was in the Navy, I was given an assignment to Ramore Ontario Canada on the Pinetree line for a year and a half. The Canadan tour was one of he best ssignments I had during my AF career. When I left I was sent to Roslyn AFS on Long Island for about 6 weeks, I was due for discharge and wanted to go back to Hancock Field. When I returned to Hancock I was assigned to the same crew in operations that I had left when I went to Ramore. I can remember when they started the digging across the road from the base for the SAGE complex. In early 1958 I was sent to the SAGE School in Waltham Mass. After finishing the school I went back to Hancock back working in the Manual System for a couple of months and then was assigned to the Combat Center Which was to become the 26th Air Div. (SAGE). which was to become the first operational SAGE Combat Center. When we first moved into the Combat Center our first office space was one of the locker rooms in the men`s latrine. During this period of time I was busy doing the drafting work to get the training materials ready for the main body of troops. During the period of 1958 and 1959 The Mess hall was serving the best chow that I ever had in my 20 plus years of service. During 1959 I was assigned to Keesler as an Instructor in the SAGE School. During this tour I was sent back to Syracuse to the General Electric Factory to learn the 412L system and to teach at the factory school. During my stay at GE I used to take our GI instructors over to the base for the Noon chow two or three times a week and everyone was really inpressed with the food. Today I still live in Syracuse and every so often I am out in the area of the base and it`s such a pity to see the how the base has been let go and it` such a waste of a lot of good homes and the other property.

I am a former AC&W radar tech, 770th RADS at Ft. Meade MD. I was assigned to the search tower. I was a 30372 level NCO before my tour was up. Any info I can provide would be my pleasure. BGC

For Capt. Pineau. I for one, always had trouble keeping tract of the various units and commands located on a given Base. I too was at Hancock Field, `62 to `64 where I worked as an AST in the CC of the 26th Air Division. I do remember the occasional British and/or RCAF officers in the Combat Center.

Love the old Radar and communications information. I`ve been an Air Force communicator for over 20 years, and currently serve with the Air Guard back in Michigan. We have a few of these old sites at Selfridge (661st) and some Gapfiller sites around the state. Thanks for assembling such a great historical site!

A second postscript to Wm Shaw`s post about A1C Pitsenbarger: Bldg 399 at Randolph AFB, housing offices including the Retiree Affairs Office, is also named in his honor. A photograph of him which was likely taken at Bien Hoa is prominently displayed along with a copy of his MOH citation.

Spent two tours of duty at 21 Norad Hancock Fld. From July 1960 to 63 and from 75 to 79. Great tours of duty. Lived in North Syracuse and still go to visit . Last visited in 1996, sad to see the place in the rundown condition that it was at the time. Still have some good memories of the area. Guess nothing stayes the same. To ex NORAD personal interested in old times visit www.pinetreeline.org for pic and info on the Canadian Pinetree line and the NORAD System. Terry

A post script to Wm Shaw`s post. The Chow Hall at Wright-Patterson AFB Is Named Pitsenbarger Hall in honor Airman Pitsenbarger.

I served at the 698th Radar Sqdrn in Thomasville, Al. from 1962 to 1965. I worked the transmitter section of the FPS 35. We played a central role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I served at 754 Radar AFS PortAustin, Michigan TDY 665 Radar Calumet, Michigan TDY 756 Radar Finland, Mn. The early 70`

Enjoyed my first visit to your site. I was the last Supply Operations Officer at the 790th Radar Sq., Kirksville AFS, MO from January 1966 until June 1968. It was deactivated in Sept. 1968.

Welcome to Frank and Stephen. The names of Kirksville and Finland are rare posts on Radomes. Although I served at those two sites prior to your time...it`s a pleasure to know that there are still people `out there` who still remember those two small cities and their radar sites!!

To people signed-in on site rosters: Has your email address changed? Have you retired from the service or gov`t agency [FAA, NOAA, etc.]? Is there an error in your data on one or more rosters? Pls send me a msg and I will fix it for you if it is something you cannot correct. Thank you--Aaron.

Awhile back on this board, we had a running discussion about the training, or lack there of, that we USAF personnel received in the use of weapons. Like most of you, I got to fire the .30 calibre, US Garand Carbine and learned to qualify with it. The common thread through those messages was that we didn`t need the training because for the most part, it wasn`t going to be necessary. True enough, but I`d like to tell the story of A/1c Wm. Pitsenbarger for those who don`t already know it. He was born and raised in Piqua, Ohio. While in his junior year of H.S. he tried to join the Army`s Green Berets but his folks refused to sign for him. So after H.S. graduation, he enlisted in the USAF on New Years eve, 1962. After completing pararescue training he was assigned to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Sqdn. at Bien Hoa AB, Saigon. He took part in about 300 rescues. On April 11th, 1966, his unit was sent to extract an infantry unit which had suffered severe casualties and were still pinned down. After being lowered to the ground, he dressed the wounds of 6 severely wounded and got them hoisted up to the chopper. He stayed behind and continued to treat the others of the 20 infantrymen still alive. The chopper returned, and while lowering a litter, was hit by a burst of small arms fire, causing the engine to sputter. The pilot knew he had to leave and signaled to `Pits` to get on board. But he waved the chopper off, and he stayed with the troops who were still pinned down under heavy fire. At 1st. he continued to render treatment. Then he began to gather ammo from the dead GIs and distributed it to those still fighting. He finally picked up a rifle and joined in the fight to hold off the Viet Cong. He was killed sometime during the night. When he was found next morning, he was holding the rifle in one hand and his medical kit in the other, his citation reads. His actions saved the lives of 9 others who had continued to fight. I know he wasn`t AC&W but he did come through Lackland`s training like most of us. BTW, he earned the Congression Medal of Honor for that action.

I`m a member ,just got a new computer, would like to get back online

Have some good memories of this place going back to 1956 but it was cold and deeper snow then I was used to. Beautiful country and truely wild.Spent a lot of hours and miles on the mail run to Bonners Ferry, when the river road was flooded & had to go by way of Libby. Merci, those were the days.

Scientists create cloak of invisibility (AP), Scientists are boldly going where only fiction has gone before — to develop a Cloak of Invisibility. It isn’t quite ready to hide a Romulan space ship from Capt. James T. Kirk or to disguise Harry Potter, but it is a significant start and could show the way to more sophisticated designs. In this first successful experiment, researchers from the United States and England were able to cloak a copper cylinder. It’s like a mirage, where heat causes the bending of light rays and cloaks the road ahead behind an image of the sky. For their first attempt, the researchers designed a cloak that prevents microwaves from detecting objects. Like light and radar waves, microwaves usually bounce off objects, making them visible to instruments and creating a shadow that can be detected. Cloaking used special materials to deflect radar or light or other waves around an object, like water flowing around a smooth rock in a stream. It differs from stealth technology, which does not make an aircraft invisible but reduces the cross-section available to radar, making it hard to track. The new work points the way for an improved version that could hide people and objects from visible light.

Was at Sado Shima from June of 57 to June of 58. would like to hear fom anyone stationed there for reunions. Call sign was Sodawater..

In regards to Salt Tablets. When I was at Lackland for Basic in the summer of 1962, I was a Road Guard for our Flight. I remember wearing swim trunks, a tee shirt, a Pith Helmet, and Canteen Belt. In addition to my canteen, I was the designated Salt Tablet carrier, and yes indeed, I had an exta canteen filled with Salt Tablets. Whenever we stopped marching or running, I was ordered to pass out 2 tablets to each Airman, who were to take them right away, washing them down with water from the canteens. The tablets were the size of everyday aspirin. The purpose of the Salt Tablets was to replace the salt in our bodies lost through perspiration (at least that was the accepted concept back then). As for our clothes, they all had white salt stains on them, which were ugly and difficult to remove....especially from the G.I. fatigues!

Recently discovered your site and I am impressed with all the information contained. Keep up the good work. I am retired AF and spent 20 yrs in Radar Maintenance. Had basic at Sampson AB, NY in Jan-Mar 1954 then to Keesler for school on the FPS-3 & 6. Was sent to a moble radar unit in Udine,Italy followed by Saida, FR Morocco 1955-56, Palermo AFS 56-58, NJ,Langerkopf AFS Germany 58-62, Cutbank, MT 62-63, Sioux City IA (SAGE) 63-68,Minot AFS, ND 68-71, Great Falls MT (SAGE)71-72, 3rd MOB, TAFB,OK,73-78. My electronic backgroung enabled me to acquire a job with the E-3AWACS aircraft fleet at Tinker AFB, OK, as a Electronic`s equipment specialist, till retirement from my second career in 2000. Got a great education in the AF and enjoyed the small,close knit,family we had at each radar site. Wouldn`t change one thing.

I am from Maine was in the 762nd 1950--1952

For those who missed the Ceremony on Fox News today, on the opening of the Air Force memorial. Finially after 60 years we now have a memorial showing the Air Forces part in defending this nation.

Sorry I missed the dedication of the Air Force Memorial in DC I hope they have a rerun if anyone hears of it on again post it here

The performance by the Air Force Thunderbirds at the dedication of the new Air Force Memorial illustrates how united the modern Air Force has become. `Maj. Nicole Malachowski, 31, in her first season with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds”, flies the No. 3 jet as the right wing pilot in the diamond formation. Major Malachowski entered the Air Force in 1996 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Before her assignment to the team, Major Malachowski served as an F-15E Instructor Pilot and Commander with the 494th Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. She has logged more than 1,300 hours as an Air Force pilot, wiFlight th more than 1,000 hours in the F-15E.`

Regarding salt tablets during basic training. I too went through basic training at Lackland in July and August (1961). As I recall, one person in the squadron carried an extra canteen full of salt tablets that were dispensed whenever we had a break from drilling or marching in the sun. I too, recall the rings of dried salt on my fatigues. I believe that the medical establishment has since debunked the idea that salt (in the form of salt tablets) has to be replaced during heavy exercise. I believe now they replace `electrolytes` which I take to mean the various minerals and salts excreted by the body. Drinks like Gatorade are supposed to replace electrolytes. Today I live in the desert southwest (Tucson, AZ) where the summers are very hot. Down here, everyone is admonished to stay hydrated in the summer by simply drinking plenty of water. During the summer here, everyone carries a bottle of water. I have never heard or seen recommendations to increase salt intake. I guess the feeling is that salt intake through food is more than enough to make up for any losses through sweating.

Ref Salt Tablets as recalled by Gary Jacobs and John Tianen: I took Basic at Lackland during Sept-Dec `57 and the first month was hot for guys coming from the north...The tng. staff ordered us to take the tablets [ours resembled an aspirin] but some guys didn`t due to the taste and what seemed excessive salt-intake[?]. The big flap happened a few years ago when Ohio ANG AMB Micah Schindler and fellow basics were told to wear Winter-weight [closely-woven] BDU [fatigues] buttoned up to the neck[!] on their bivouac field exercies in field. Schindler, and a few others, started fainting and exhibiting signs of heat-distress but his trainers ordered him to drink more and more water: The Post-mortem showed that Micah`s blood and tissues had failed due to `water-intoxication` when the `waterproofing` of his blood vessles and capilaries failed. That incident ended the practice of taking many salt tablets and wearing wrong-season BDU, buttoned up in hot summer weather. Today, many people still take `salt-tablets` in industry but the `salt` is potassium chloride,an effective electrolyte aid in small amounts as it is a heart simulant[?] In very large quantities, it is the third drug administered in lethal-injection executions! Take sparingly!Aaron.

For John Tianen: I recall a news story here in Tucson just last summer about an older lady who drank the prescribed amount of water every day, and subsequently had to be hospitalized because her electrolyte levels were dangerously low. The story indicated she would have died within a couple of weeks without medical intervention because of this. The news story reported she was not alone, and recommended drinking sports drinks in addition to plain water to keep electrolytes at safe levels. I would guess that a lot of people out here in the desert actually suffer symptoms, and never realize the cause is actually from drinking too much water. Ironic, isn`t it?

Now I may well be wrong here -- memory fades. But I seem to recall that some guys in 1971 had a stripe in basic training if they had ROTC in some form. Thus upon graduation they had two stripes. I am not at all certain about this, though. It was something of a rarity. Off topic: Remember taking salt tablets in basic training, after each meal and one before lights out. They in my memory were about the size of two or three dimes stacked up, pure salt. I forget why we took them. Anyone know? I remember they made me feel sick so I used to palm them and throw them out. Something to do with the heat and salt was supposed to help, albeit in massive doses. (I was there in July and August.) I recall when my sweat dried on my fatigues, I`d have rings of salt.

TODAY IS A MARK IN HISTORY THAT ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. FINIALLY A MEMORIAL TO THE US AIR FORCE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MISSED THE CEREMONY TODAY IT WAS ON FOX NEWS. IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

Today`s Air Force. Read in my local paper that a young man just completed basic at Lackland and was an A1C. Can that be, coming out of basic with the rank of Airman First Class? Is there inflation in rank in the service of today?

I`ll try an answer for the question from Dick Murphy. One stripe for signing up for a `critical` career field. One stripe for a certain amount of college credits. That`s two stripes(E-3)which today is an Airman First Class.

Technical Training for Radar Site Communications {36230}was also provided at F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyo 1952/1954. Three weeks in addition to our regular 23 weeks of Telephone Central Office Training which was {36250}.

Woody, My TI`s at Lackland summer 1956 were A/1C Byrd & A/2C Waller..Al Miller

Stationed at No. Truro AFS, 762 Radar Sqdn from 1974 - 1976 & 1979 - 1983. Retired SMSgt, USAF.

Article from CNN re the aircraft crash this afternoon in Manhattan. `A swift federal and local response. The crash prompted a swift scramble from local authorities and the federal government. The White House was notified and North American Aerospace Defense Command said it authorized fighter aircraft into the air over numerous U.S. cities, as NORAD did after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.` The FAA placed a one-mile flight restriction around the site of the crash, but New York area airports were not affected.

Anyone who was stationed at the 794th Ac&w Cape Newenham Plase checkout the website www.msnusers.com/capenewenham we have members from all the years, 208 now, over 1600 pictures

Was just browsing your FPS-17 page. `FPS-17 radar installation at Diyarbakir, Turkey. Late `55 to early `56`. The picture you show is taken in the 70`s or 80`s. It shows the `Cinerama` antenna installed in 1957, the FPS-79 installed in 1963 which became operational in 1964, full grown trees around the base command building which I helped plant in 1959. The Base Chapel and `new` dining hall were also later additions. I was PCS to TUSLOG Det 8 in 1958-59 when it was under the command of USAF Security Service. I visited the base with the Commander 2nd Surveillance Squadron (ADC) in November 1963 and again PCS`d for the years 1964-65 as a contractor. I again visited with USCINCSPACE

FPS-17 (XW-1)note continued (accidently hit the return key). My last visit was in the late 1980`s with USCINCSPACE. Your photo was one of a set, taken looking generally south. I have similar 8x10`s taken looking east, west and north. I also spent a year at Shemya in 1961-62 with the FPS-17 (XW-3)and FPS-80, which I helped install, then returned on a visit with Cobra Ball again in the late 1980`s. I have all exact dates in my diaries. The FPS-17 (XW-2) near Laredo was the second of the series (I was there in May 1958), Diyarbakir was the first. Shemya has lots of web info but your Diyarbakir page is one of the few. Thanks and if your`re interested in any photos let me know. Jim

Is th ere any 1Sgt;s out there from Clark AFB PI from 1972 - 1974. I would love to hear from any and all of you.

This weekend pls visit the museum and see what`s new, then check your site[s] and check to see if you have all items filled in and your current email[s], postal address or phone nr. Pls also look at the other entries on the roster[s]--do you know any of the missing [or ??] items? If you worked at the nearby small sub- sites pls log-in on them also. Thanks and pls msg me with answers or corrections...Aaron.

Funny how ones perception changes over time. I was at Iceland, Rockville in 1956-57 and couldn,t wait to leave. Even though the duty wasn,t bad and the food good we all professed to hate it. Now the news that the last US GI has left Iceland brings on a sense of nostalgia. Must be old age setting in.

Looking back at my tour in Iceland H2 Langanese 58-59 can`t say I enjoyed being remote in fact at the time hated it, considered it a lost year of my life, good part was I met some great guys, wouldn`t want to do it again.

Was at Sado and Wajima Japan 1956-57. Sites for 621st ac&w.Loved every second!

From today`s ``Washington Post`` on-line (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093000717.html/), and other sources: ``U.S. military withdrawal end of an era in Iceland`` -- By Sarah Edmonds, Reuters, Saturday, September 30, 2006; 6:14 PM -- KEFLAVIK NAVAL AIR STATION, Iceland (Reuters) - The United States withdrew its last 30 military personnel from Iceland on Saturday as it shut a naval air base that in its Cold War heyday was the sixth largest town in the island nation. The closure leaves Iceland without home-based defences and ends a U.S. military presence that has continued, with a brief late 1940s hiatus, since World War Two. In a low-key ceremony before a U.S. Navy jet bore the remaining base residents back to the United States, a handful of U.S. military personnel faced Icelandic police as the Icelandic and American flags snapped briskly in the wind. Both flags were lowered, and base commander Captain Mark Laughton presented the folded Stars and Stripes to the U.S. ambassador. Icelandic police then sent their country`s flag back up its flagpole to fly alone. .... The base is a town in itself, complete with a primary school with a 650-student capacity, a high school, fast-food restaurants and the only baseball fields in Iceland. Iceland is looking at ways to re-use the residential buildings, perhaps as a campus or health facility, while businesspeople are eyeing the hangars and service buildings for commercial development.

Re Tom Page`s post---The article refers to the `cold war in its heyday` that most of us were part of. For the past few years, many articles have referred to the large numbers of WWII veterans who are `passing on` due to the fact that they are all in their eighties. The cold war heyday quote reminded me that within a decade, many of us will be approaching or have reached that landmark age. And the beat goes on...