I was 744th AC&W, Murphy Dome, Alaska. Basic Sampson AFB, 3-1-55 Keesler AFB, radar school, Murphy Dome 10-1-`55 to 12-1-`56. Call sign `Sandy`. Radar Op. Anyone who was there at the same time as I, send me E-Mail. Thanx.

I was 744th AC&W, Murphy Dome, Alaska. Basic Sampson AFB, 3-1-55 Keesler AFB, radar school, Murphy Dome 10-1-`55 to 12-1-`56. Call sign `Sandy`. Radar Op. Anyone who was there at the same time as I, send me E-Mail. Thanx.

RE: Remarks about new AF Uniforms. Back in the 1960`s our uniforms could be mistaken for those of Grayhound bus drivers. And what a about those SAGE Green fatigues what a laugh they were. When I went overseas the let us replace those fatigues with army fatigues at least we looked like military and not out of work house painters. So much for my musings. George Wickert

Although members of Radomes don`t need a reminder, perhaps some of your friends do: Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation`s service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans today have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country. There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50`s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

I worked at the 665th AC&W Squadron for 15 years as a civilian employee of Michigan Bell Telephone Co. George Thurner

I had heard something about AF `Billy Mitchell` heritage blue uniforms, but I thought it they were only for special ceremonies. I recall the all-white uniform tried in the 80s for officers and canned, and some kind of airline-pilot looking blues from the 90s that didn`t fly, so to speak. Seems to me there was in the mid-70s a long-sleeve dark blue shirt with a tie (?) that didn`t last long, along with the Jimmy Carter-era blue cardigan sweater. Kind of related, I seem to recall at one time no AF person could carry an umbrella for some reason, but I may be wrong? Remember the oil-resistant, steel-toed, electrical hazard chukka boots? Not supposed to be polished, that led to issues, as might be expected, sometimes with our sister services. BTW, maybe many of us are in those 26.5 million records missing from the VA? When I first heard the story, I thought it was one of those Internet hoaxes. Yeah, some guy took home 26.5 million records to work on them ...

New Uniforms! check out latest AF Times , I have a son who just put in for retirement (28yrs) has had to buy many diferent types officers uniforms and BDUs(Fatiques to us old troops) hope to get out before he has to spend more $$ what a joke someone gets a bright idea and there it gos, I went through it somewhat long sleeve khakis to short sleeve 505s to bush jackets& knee socks ; baggie one pc. fatiques then bought our own 2 pc. then those ugly grey or sage green ones, after seeing the new dress blues in AF times I just burst out laughing!!

jim,i was arrived @ the 616th feb 11,1959.i never was assigned to a crew(scope dope)as the site was being turned over to the german af.i reported to the 1st shirt every morning,and most of the tme after checking in was told to stay out of sight!got to do a lot of sight seeing of ulm.after about two months @ ulm, was sent pcs to prum (615th).

Gary J. That `Airline Pilot looking` blues outfit from the 90`s actually did fly. THAT is what the current dress blue outfit morphed into. Gen McPeak had to relent on his much cherished Airline Pilot/RAF/NAVY style rank for officers, (Bands on the sleeve/shoulder boards) as we were getting real close to riots in the streets over that one. The best part of that whole uniform change was the improved/enlarged/brightened-up enlisted stripes. Exactly what I had TOLD THEM to do back in 1976.

Re Buck`s post about new Air Force uniforms. Below is a link to a recent Stars and Stripes article including pictures. Let the comments begin!! http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=36437&archive=true

If anyone was stationed at the 794th AC&W Cape Newenham You might want to take a look at the Cape Coin on www.msnusers.com/capenewenham or join the site. For Those stationed at the other Alaska sites it might interest you to look.

I still haven`t heard anything from Joe Rushton, who was stationed at the 616th AC&W SQ. Does anyone know if he`s still around? I`d really like to hear from him and reminisce about the great times we all had, while we were stationed there. If there`s anyone else who was stationed in the 616th in Ulm, lets hear from you.

Has any one seen the new Air Force dress blues ? What a joke.

Gary Jacobs: Ebay item no. 1 shows the prototype AN/FPS-24 search radar set at Eufaula AFS, AL. (The background, though, looks more like desert Southwest than Southeast.) -- Tom

Now on e-Bay unrelated to me in any way whatsoever: 1. Vintage USAF radar station artwork, item no: 6631068942, old print with no identifying information. (Anyone know what set that is?) 2. Vintage Avco print, item no: 6631067591, “AN/FPS-26 Height Finder Radar; manufactured by AVCO Corp. for USAF.” Photograph of exterior of radar building with inset interior drawings. 3. WAAF Radar Operator book, Item no.: 6631770861, “One-Oh-Eight Miller,” by Anne Stobbs., soft cover book, 1989, 95 pp, “What was the war like seen by an ordinary WAAF?” Author was a WWII radar operator.

For all you scope dopes who were lucky enough to fly on the RC-121 Connies. I recently got a great book from Amazon.com . It is titled Queen of the Skies. The author is Claude G. Luisada. It details the development and history of the Lockheed Constellation and includes a chapter on the RC-121 model and its use for air defense at Otis and McClellan. There is also a chapter on the later model EC-121 and its use in Iceland and SE Asia. Several photos of radar ops.

G. Wickert: I was at Keesler 1958 Radar Operator School in Triangle Area on C Shift (night school) only there for short time off base only twice last two weekends of school. When I was stationed at 904th AC&W Winslow AFS had Twin Brothers from Pascagoula. I had and liked Ike jacket removed stripes and used it for several years after leaving Air Force. I was at Tyndall 1961-62. My Brother joined Air Force 1964 after Lackland & Chanute AFB Aircraft Instrument Repair School he was stationed at Tyndall 1965-66. 100 Miles from home in Tallahassee. Many weekends at home & brought his buddy`s home just like I did when I was at Tyndall,then Key West Naval Air Station at a USAF Fighter Detachment 1967-1968. He wanted to Travel spent almost all his time in Air Force in Florida. He called his Key West time his overseas time. Dan Cameron

Was stationed at 858th Radar Sqdrn, Fallon NAS, Fallon, NV July 1969-Aug 1970. Got my 5 level there (30352) and made E 4 at 24 mos in service. Performed maintenance on AN/FPS 6 (and upgraded to 6A) and AN/MPS 14 height finders, scopes, GPA 98 ECCM training console. Most memorable event: pulling illegal maintenance as an apprentice, Chritsmas 1969. NCOIC was on leave...no 5 or 7 levels around..fan blade broke lose on heat exchanger and flew through radiator, resulting in overheating of Magnatron and site failure. We had already given the 14 away to US Navy. Called Naval OD, got down to their maintenance shop and borrowed the heat exchanger from the off line MPS 14. Got us back up on line in about 4 hours. Got an Article 15 which resulted in 6 months letter of repremand from Sqdrn Commander. Was shipped out in Aug. 1970, cross trained to SAC 30332, RBS, Det. 14 1st Combat Eval Group, Bismarck, NC. Got my second 5 level and made SSgt in Korea at 37 mos in service. Got my 7 level and then seperated from active duty Aug, 1972. Got commercial 1st class FCC License and enjoyed fantastic 28 year career in communications electronics with RCA, GE, Motorola, ITT, in two-way, microwave, VASCAR, vehicular moving radar, MITEL PBX`s and retired 1-1-2000. State legislative officer with NC DAV. Owe it all to USAF eletronics training.

To Tom Page Thanks and it did happen in Jan of 60.. I went on line also after sending the message as an afterthought and found the same info.The name Julian Frank has always been with me through the years.It was an exciting and horrible thing for us at Fort Fisher.It was right before I shipped out in April of 1960 for Murphy Dome, Alaska. I was off a couple of years on the bombing of the aircraft, but that happens when you look back at almost 50 years...Thanks again Joe Dohmann

637th (Othello AFS) Reunion There`s a 637th reunion being planned for September 13 - 17 of this year. The reunion will be held in Pasco, WA and is being organized by Tommie Tindle, who has sent out letters within the last few weeks. If any of you are interested but didn`t get any mail regarding it,drop me a line and I`ll give you his number.

637th Reunion Just a quick note to say that you can get information on the September 2006 Oothello AFS reunion on page 4 of the Spring 2006 issue of `Echoes`, available on the Radomes `Members Only` pages. I also sent a request to Gene to put the notice up on the `Unit Reunion` pages of the Radar Museum, so you should be able to see it here soon. Tommie Tindel`s the guy to contact, and his email and phone address are included in the reunion notice.

In 1958 an airline exploded over the Fort Fisher site and rained body parts and aircraft parts over the site..It was tracking due south from New York over Wilmington and entered our ground clutter and never exited. A man by the name of Julien Frank carried a bomb aboard and blew the plane out of the air. We were one a swing shift that night and were notified by FFA. We had the a/c on our scope but were not plotting since it was not over water..We were detailed to pick up what ever we could find since we were going on 3 day break after that swing shift. A lot of the wreckage was found in the Southport area also..Army divers came and stayed on the site for a month diving for parts..Julien Frank`s body was found just a little south of Fort Fisher near the old Civil War memorial tower still strapped to his seat.I don`t remember too much about it except the FBI`s investigation proved it was a bomb and carried onboard by Mr Frank..If anyone stationed at Fort Fisher at the time knows any more about this incident please contact me. If I an not mistaken this was the first time a commerical airline was destroyed by a bomb carried on board by a passenger

For Joe Dohmann: I had never heard of the incident you described, so I went on-line and searched for information about ``Julien Frank.`` This came up empty, so I tried ``Julian Frank.`` Bingo -- that had numerous hits. According to one source, the incident occurred on 06 January 1960. The aircraft was a National Airlines Douglas DC-6B. The description reads as follows: ``The aircraft exploded at 18,000 feet following the detonation of a dynamite bomb. A passenger, Julian Frank, who had purchased a large quantity of life insurance just before the trip, commited suicide by detonating the bomb in his lap.`` Another website also lists the date as 6 January 1960, and has this to say: ``The plane disintegrated in flight at 18,000 feet and crashed 1.5 miles northwest of Bolivia, North Carolina. Detonation of a dynamite bomb by means of dry cell batteries, in the vicinity of row 7, in the passenger cabin. The plane continued to fly for a short time after which the fuselage came apart and the plane crashed in a ball of flames. Julian Frank, who had purchased 1 million dollars in insurance, was suspected of committing suicide by detonating the bomb in his lap or under his seat. There is a possibility Frank may have been an unwitting bomb carrier and that this bombing has something to do with the National Airlines crash of November, 16, 1959. No one was charged in either case.`` Both sources list a total of 34 fatalities (29 passengers, 5 crew). Interesting.

I think Bob Caggiano shares everyone`s hatred for the whole shade 505 uniform set. I don`t think I ever wore either the bush jacket, or shorts/kneesocks (ech!). I was in early enough (August 1956) to be issued honest-to-God khakis, and an Ike jacket with my blues. But, we were among the first to also be issued the 505s. Generally hated`em, loved the khakis, and generally the blues. The story I heard about the 505s back in my day was that they were suggested by some Generals wife who thought they would be cute!

At you a remarkable site, work in the same spirit:-)

Old memories about khakis, when arriving at Keesler (mar) 1954 from Sampson had only worn baggie 1 pc. fatiques and blue suit(also encluded Ike jacket) 1st thing we did was go to tailor shop and have our khaki shirts tailored bad mistake! few months later after scope dope school went to germany after a few 100 bottles of that great national product of germany (BEER) guess what ? needed new kahaki shirts.

There is a discussion about starting a physical location for a Radar Sites Museum in the U.S.A. at USAFRadarSitesVeterans on Yahoo. If interested go to USAFRadarSitesVeterans (be sure to type Capital & small letters in order). When you get to Web Page there several mentions for USAFRadarSitesVeterans but the best is at Bottom of the page. Dan Cameron

There is a discussion about starting a physical location for a Radar Sites Museum in the U.S.A. at USAFRadarSitesVeterans on Yahoo. If interested go to USAFRadarSitesVeterans (be sure to type Capital & small letters in order). When you get to Web Page there several mentions for USAFRadarSitesVeterans but the best is at Bottom of the page. Dan Cameron

I too took the bus ride from Lackland to Biloxi in Dec, 59. I wore my bush jacket as we were not allowed to wear blues as we were in the sunny south.It was cold! Never wore the stupid thing again. was put on KP so much,didn`t get out of basic for 5 and1/2 months. Hated the 505s. they looked terrible. Could never figure out why we starched the fatigues.Like wearing a piece of cardboard.Uniform decisions rarely made sense then or now. A few years ago they tryed to make the blues look like Naval uniforms. Then they tryed the blue camo utility uniform that looked absolutley stupid. What was that supposed to blend in with?? Even the latest camo looks pretty silly to me.I agree about having the troops evaluate these things.

Carl & Marion Wenberg: Carl, are you originaly from Brooklyn or Queens? I went through Sampson and Keesler the same time you did, and was also sent to Germany. While I was waiting to be sent to Germany from Camp Kilmer, in New Brunswick, N.J.,I became friends with a guy that lived in N.Y. and he invited me to his house to meet with his family. We wound up going to Coney Island on the ell, to spend the day before we went back to Kilmer.

Re: G. Wickert`s bus trip to Biloxi. I made the same trip in Sept. of 1960 from Lackland to Keesler. We got in way after dark. We were deposited into an extremely large hanger where we all sat on our duffle bags in nice neat rows. As they called out our names, one by one, we were taken to our respective Sgdn. area. Like G. Wickert, I spent the next nearly 5 months in the 3404th School Sgdn. and went through SAGE training. On this forum a few years ago, there was a running discussion about the `march on Biloxi`. An Airman or two were roughed up by some locals at an area High School football game in town. Retribution was sought by a large group of Airmen. Do you recall that incident? I believe I remember a very large gathering of angry Airmen there in the 3404th Sgdn. area in the Fall of 1960. About our uniforms. I liked the Ike jacket and wore it many times. I actually liked the `Bush` jacket but never wore it `officially`, only after I got out of the A.F. I too bought and wore the dacrons. No one ever called me out for wearing them that I recall. Oh yes, one more thing.....I loved the SOS over toast, then topped with scrabbled eggs. Never went hungry at Keesler.

I tried since last week to send message about USAFRadarSitesVeterans but couldn`t get through until Today don`t know why. Now it comes through twice. I agree Bushjacket was Ugly. Wore it on Lackland to Keesler trip. Also at a Parade at Keesler probably on Memorial Day. At 904th AC&W we had several Open Rank Inspections with Class A Bushjacket uniforms under Major Evans Squadron Commander. About a month after I arrived at 904th at Winslow we had a Open Ranks Inpection. I hadn`t worn Bushjacket since Keesler it had been hanging in closet. When Major Evans got to me he was angry because he could see creases from coat hanger. One time we had Open Ranks Inspection by Colonel Kight 34th Air Division Commander. There was a T/SGT that was not neat in any uniform. He was a big husky & nice guy but he just didn`t look neat. He had a clean pressed Bushjacket uniform but on him it didn`t look neat. When Colonel got to him he told he was a disgrace to the uniform and the worst looking NCO he had ever seen. I felt sorry for him. Shorts & Knee socks never ever wore them. I thought they were worse than Bushjacket. Only time I remember seeing anyone wearing them was at Tyndall. Jim Tonda who was stationed with me at Cartwright & Tyndall, put them on one Spring Morning for for Roll Call at Tyndall. I was in the Front Parking lot at Weapons Controller School Building. He was last to get in formation. As soon as the Sargent saw him he said your messing up my Formation get out and go in the Building. Everybody including the Sargent started laughing. He looked like one of the British soldiers in a Desert war movie. Jim kept wearing that outfit for several days until Sargent told him to stop. He didn`t have stand in Roll Call formation for a week. Another uniform foulup was The Blue Raincoat most I knew about did not shed water but let it soak in so you got wet anyway it just took a little longer. I was Lucky mine was good it shed water and I used it for about 15 years before it started to let water soak in. Dan Cameron

Dan: I do recall a problem downtown Bolixi with some rednecks. I didn`t get involved in it. Remember the week long KP you pulled before starting Tech school. I went to A Shift school in the morning and raked sand on detail in the afternoon. One of my class mates was a local he was from Pascagula I beleive his dad worked in the ship yards there so we used to hitch hike to Pascagulu or Golfport on our off duty time. Remember the old SAGE green fatigues that the lege would shrink real fast. I really liked the IKE jackets in fact I had zippers put in mine. I went from Keeslser to Syracuse NY into a SAGE DC/CC Complex. You mention Tyndall AFB and Basic Weapons Controllers School when were you there? I was stationed at the Controllers School in the early 70`s. I also went IWS at Tyndall and ADC NCO academy there. George

719th AC&W Sq Sparrevohn, AK Jan 55 to Jan 56 Truax Field, WI Feb 56 to Dec 57 The SAGE Building was under construction. We worked in the `blockhouse` where radar ops, communications, etc were located. SAGE apparently went `on line` after I got discharged. Transportation: Out of basic in Aug 54. They flew us up to Warren AFB in beautiful Cheyenne, WY for teletype operator school. The flight was uneventful except I was scared to death...my first ride in a plane. Uniforms: No bush jacket for us in the fifties. We were issued a `field jacket`, an ugly olive drab garment that didn`t keep you warm in the cold and kept you hot in the rain (after the rain soaked through). We went from one piece olive drab overall fatigues to two piece olive drab fatigues to two piece grey fatigues, with a grey baseball type hat. I remember people buying `gabradines` dress uniforms, if they didn`t like to wear the khaki`s. They were made out of some synthetic (dacron?). I don`t think they were ever regulation, but no one (brass) seemed to mind. Never wore the dress uniform. The whole bag full of uniforms went in the Good Will bin the day I got discharged. Would like to hear from anyone from that era.

Check out this link for more information on the history and evolution of Air Force uniforms. https://www.afa.org/magazine/1991/0691splendor.asp

I remember those God awful bush jackets! While I wasn`t issued one at Lackland in `62, a few guys I knew did have them. I think I only saw one or two people actually wear them. The summer short sleeve tan 505`s were not much better. You would iron them, wear them for five minutes and it looked like you slept in them! As I recall the later 1505`s were similar but much better to care for and were actually somewhat comfortable! I bought a set of `Dacrons` also, which looked great, were comfortable and easy to care for. The problem was they were not regulation issue, so while they were tolerated for some uses, they were not acceptable for daily use. I had an Air Force `Ike` jacket, which was willed to me by an older Airman who left the A.F. I loved that jacket. It was comfortable, and if you sat down, it didn`t wrinkle at all. Because the `Ike` jacket only went to the waist, there was no part of the jacket that you sat on, so it didn`t look crappy like the infamous `bus driver` jackets of the class A uniform. Why the A.F. got rid of it I`ll never know! Whoever designed the A.F. uniforms of the 60`s must have been a former Marine who wanted to needle us sky jocks. At least the uniforms of today look military, although I don`t know how comfortable they are to wear. There should be a law that says any new uniform design has to pass a 1 year trial by ordinary troops in the field. If they like it, it stays, if not it`s gone, and that goes for all branches of the service, not just the Air Force!

Jim Crocker: I tried E-mailing you but it wouldn`t go through. I noticed that you were stationed in Ulm the same time that I was, and I see that you were in maintenance. I was a scope dope on Charlie crew and remember tose cold nights sitting around the pot-belly stove in maintenance trying to keep warm. If you read this, get in touch. Jim

RE; Bus trip from Lackland AFB to Keesler AFB. I took that trip in the spring of 1960. I went to SAGE training course at Keesler we lived in open bay WWII barracks there. I thing the squadron was the the 3404th. My class was so smart it took us 18wks to complete a 16wk course. Any way I ended up spending 20 years in the Air Force equal time in SAGE Sectors and Manual Radar Units. I even managed to graduate from the Manual Radar Portion of IWS at Tyndall

Dan Cameron`s recollection of the bus trip from Lackland to Keesler brought back a lot of similar memories for me. One thing sticks in my mind...we were required to wear our bush jackets on the trip. Does anyone out there remember the bush jacket? In my opinion, it was the biggest piece of s**t that was ever issued as a military uniform. I recall it being universally hated. My only recollection of wearing it in my entire 4-year enlistment was that bus trip. For semi-dress, I went off base and purchased a uniform commonly called `Dacrons`. They were khaki colored and made of a lightweight material that didn`t wrinkle easily. Pants were available as plain front or pleated. The shirts were long sleeve and could be worn without a tie, or worn with a tie tucked in between the shirt buttons. As I recall, they also required collar brass. The uniform was sort of semi-official and no one seemed to object to them. They were certainly neater than the cotton 505`s that always looked like they had been slept in after wearing them for a short period. I also recall that at that time in the Air Force, many officers wore a full-dress khaki-colored uniform in the summer in place of the wool blue dress uniform.

Looking for some info on the Willow Run SAGE? site located on the east side of the airport.. Near the old Yankee hangar

For Eric Watkins: Willow Run AFS, MI (P-23) actually was not a SAGE facility. Rather, it was HQ 30th Air Division (Defense) and home to the manual air-defense control center (ADCC) for the Detroit Air-Defense Sector. The SAGE Direction Center for the Detroit Air-Defense Sector was subsequently built at Fort Custer / Custer AFS, MI (DC-6), with HQ 30th Air Division (SAGE) being activated at Truax Field, WI. Willow Run AFS ceased air-defense operations after the SAGE facilities were up and running, circa 1960. Anyway, to find what information we have on our website here, from the menu on the far left side of our web site, click on ``Radar Sites.`` When the search window comes up, enter any part of the name (for example, ``Willow Run`` or ``Custer``), state, or squadron number; then click on [SEARCH FOR SITE]. When the search result comes up, click on the hyperlink. When the site web page comes up, scroll down, and click on the information hyperlink desired (for example, `Photographs` or `Recent photos`). Hope you find what you`re looking for. -- Tom

For those interested in planned reunions, look at the “Unit Reunions” link on the left of this page immediately below the “Guestbook” link. In particular, the USAFRadarSitesVeterans is holding a reunion (Sept 10-14, 2006) for all persons having served at radar sites, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force adjacent to Wright-Patterson AFB. Further information is available on the “Unit Reunions” page referenced above.

I don`t know how everybody else got from Lackland AFB to Keesler AFB but we were sent on a (3) civilian bus convoy. I don`t remember much about trip from San Antonio to Houston because I slept most of the trip. Woke up just as we Pulled into Bus Line Garage for buses to be refueled. A/B Airman In Charge (no NCO`s on Trip) came on bus and said we could get off and stretch our legs as The shop had an emergency they had to finish & it would be an hour before we would be leaving. One my Buddy`s John Petro said if we got an hour lets go to a store I want to get something. So we went down street about 2 blocks to a Pawn shop. He bought a switchblade knife (more about that later at Keesler). When we got back the Airman in Charge was really upset said we were late, AWOL and had delayed the trip. He was going to report us to the Base Commander at Keesler where we would be Court Martial-ed for making the bus trip be delayed. We weren`t late. We got back about 15 minutes before were told the trip would start back up. The shop just got through with their rush job early and fueled up the bus. James Wilson my Flight Latrine Chief at Lackland said they had only finished refueling and got back on the bus about five minutes before we returned. As A/B trainees we worried about it almost the rest of the trip. After we left Houston we stopped some where in Louisana. Don`t know where but remember it was large white clapboard building out in the country not in a town I looked like and old country store but it was also a resturant. Bus drivers bought us a meal we had to pay for. I was one of the worst meals I ever had. The place had sign stateing they served Creole food. I was Red Beans & rice. I couldn`t eat the stuff. I don`t think they had cooked it long enough taste terriable. Still don`t like Red beans & Rice. Then on to Baton Rouge across the Huey B. Long Bridge. Short bridge but very high over Mississippi River. Very disappointed by river always read that it was very wide. At Baton Rouge it isn`t as wide as the Apalachicola River here in Florida. Another story about Aplachicola River at Tyndall later. At that time on East side of Mississippi was a long stretch of Swamp on both sides of the road. After seeing that I told guys on bus don`t say anything about swamps in Florida. Then we went South to New Orleans and picked up some Navy guys headed for school at Keesler. As we left New Orleans we crossed Lake Pontchartrain. At the time that long narrow bridge had small houses and fishing shacks scattered along both sides of the Bridge. It was getting late in the day and after sundown when we got into Mississippi. By this time Petro & I figured that the Airman in Charge was not going to report us to the base commander at Keesler and if he did was nothing we could do anyway. I lay down in the back seat of the bus and tried to get some sleep. As we were traveling down the beach highway some where around Gulfport James Wilson from California & John Dipaola I think from New York came back to me all excited what is that out in the water along the beach is it the Klu Klux Klan (Segregation was still in effect in the South). I got up looked out the bus window and bust out laughing. Every so often there was some one with a light on a pole under the water. What they were doing was Floundering at night. In Gulf of Mexico in shallow water in day light you can walk or drift in boat and with a frog gig stab flounder with gig. At night you can do same but with a Sealed Beam Car Head Lamp attached to a pole and a battery. After I quit laughing I told them what they were seeing. When we got to Keesler Bus Drivers let the Navy guys off at Barracks on main base the Marines were waiting for them Wow. Then they delivered us to Triangle Area. We spent what was left of the night in barracks that had the dispensary first time I ever saw or even heard of a Bidet. Next morning got assigned to barracks and to Basic training flights. Next was a week of KP. Some more about Keesler later Dan Cameron

RE DYE-III: For the past several years I have been keeping a lookout for anything on the ground in the vicinity of `Sob Story`, but today we hit paydirt. Tracking westbound at FL360 about 20 nm. south of the site revealed clearly a structure on the surface. I did not even know that it was a former DEW-line site so had no idea in particular what it was we were viewing - my best guess with the naked eye was perhaps a large Quonset-hut type hangar to shelter a supply aircraft if necessary. Your web site has shown me what I was really seeing, but from our distance even the detail of a radome was not apparent. Regardless it was easy to see, but I have no idea if I was looking down into a `pocket` of ice as your pictures depict. Thought you`d like to know that it`s still visible. Best Regards, Gord Leitch, B767 - Air Canada

I found pictures of the 616th AC&W Sq., Flandern Kaserne. I don,t know who took the pictures, but it brought some fond memories back to me. I have to dispute the description of the location of the Commanders Office. According to the caption, under the picture of the motor pool taken from the fourth floor window of the main building, J. Rushton says that the Commanders Office is in the left building of the motor pool. When I rotated back to the states in June 1957, the Commanders Office was located in the corner on the first floor of the main building overlooking the guard shack, and the Orderly Room was located in a connecting room. If J. Rushton is still available, I would like to hear from him.

Is anyone interested in purchasing the old 5-story concrete AN/FPS-24 radar tower at the former Blaine AFS, WA? If so, see www.ga.wa.gov/RES/008-01-05.htm -- it`s up for sale! Two smaller buildings are also included. The web page has several nice photos.

Looking for Daryl Allen. Daryl was a senior captain and a senior director at Udorn. He left McChord & was asigned to the 621st TAC Con Sq (Brigham Control) at Udorn Thailand in 1967. The troops at Brigham have found most people who were assigned during that time for upcoming reunions. He has seemed to drop out of sight & he does not appear on the social security death index. If anyone else was there and has not been contacted, please contact me. Thanks for your help, Ralph Gibbons

My father was stationed at Indian Mountain around 1972. He was one of the individuals that died during a hunting accident along with another young man. His last name was Hart. If anyone was there or has any information about what happened please contact me. I would greatly appreciate it. I have found some information on another website but I am unable to contact these individuals. Thank you.

For Nancy and Jeff States: Nancy, I apologize if it appeared to you that I was coming down hard--I did not mean it that way. I, too, saw radar operations from both the manual and SAGE environments during my career and maybe I was oversensitive when you expressed your preference for the manual system. Jeff, as a very new 2LT at Mt. Hebo AFS who had not had any formal training as a 3041 (USAF goof), I was sent to formal training on the AN/FST-2 at the radar site, conducted by Burroughs Techs. After that, I was sent to AJO training on the AN/FPS-24 radar TDY to Eufaula AFS, AL. Then, in 1962 I was sent to IBM Kingston for training as a rotating-shift Computer Maintenance Officer, 3061. I have always had a retentive memory for technical details, and in recent years I have done several `core dumps` of my recollections into Word documents to attempt to freeze what I can remember of those 3 equipments. The document on the AN/FPS-24 radar is featured here on Radomes on the Mt. Hebo AFS pages (689th RADRON); one of the documents about the AN/FSQ-7 and AN/FST-2 is published on the `web site` link of the Adair AFS pages. (If you are interested.) I have since written an expansion of the AN/FSQ-7 information, which has not been published anywhere. I really don`t know who I have been writing all those documents for, but I guess they are for me.

I was in USAF 15 Aug 66- 14 Aug 70 a as a 27350; Truax Field, WI Jan-Dec 1967 Othello AFS, WA Jan 68- Aug 14 1970. John Moroz 811 S. Orme ST. Arlington, VA 22204 703-892-5583 john.moroz@comcast.net

Does anyone out there remember the woman adjutant that was stationed at the 616th ACWRON, Ulm, Germany in the mid 50`s? I seem to recall she married a sargent from one of the army kasernes in Ulm. She was a redhead and use to go to the Bluebyway and play the piano there, and sing. She use to sing some pretty rebauld songs that could make a man blush. Anyway I was just asking. I think she might have tranfered out in late `55 or early `56.

*** News Flash *** -- Received Today -- Subject: 932 ACS Memorabilia As you know, the [932 ACS] squadron will be either inactivated or deactivated by Sep 30 [2006]. There are obviously many who are interested in preserving some of the historical memorabilia from around the squadron. The 48 FW Historian will be visiting Kef tomorrow (2 May) to determine the disposition of many of the historical items on the base and provide guidance on how that process will be administered. I`ve asked the Iceland Radar Sites Organization if they`re interested in supporting the effort, and they`ve agreed to contact several AF museums to find a home for the goods (if that becomes an option). If any of you ... has an interest in obtaining any historical items from the squadron or the Whiff, please let me know. It sounds like military transportation can be used if an item is shipped from one military organization to another. Perhaps the ACC Historian can coordinate with the USAFE Historian to work the details. Thoughts? Brian BRIAN T. VAUGHN, LtCol, USAF EUCOM EPOC-JTRE Exercises DSN 314-430-4161; Fax 430-4107 Commercial 011-49-711-680-XXXX vaughnb@eucom.mil vaughnb@eucom.smil.mil

To all veterans of Fort Fisher Air Force Station, North Carolina (701st AC&W Squadron / 701st Radar Squadron / 701st Air Defense Group; and Detachment 5, 14th Missile Warning Squadron): If you are interested in having a site reunion, please contact me. The proposed location is the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area. The proposed date is the weekend of 28-29 June 2008 (note that 30 June 2008 will mark the 20-year anniversary of the site closing). This gives us over two years to plan this thing right. I e-mailed everyone listed in the Site Roster, and so far all replies have been positive. Of course, there are many veterans who are not signed in. Also, quite a few of the notes bounced, indicating out-of-date e-mail addresses. So, please notify other FFAFS veterans with whom you might be in-touch, and ask them to contact me. We are also looking for volunteers to help organize the event. Let`s make this happen! Thanks!! -- Tom