Wild Blue Yonder October 12, 2017, 09:51:43 am I know we have some Air Force vets on the forum so thought you might be interested in this. The AF is celebrating their 70th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of General Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in Mojave with a warplane flyover on Friday. Read all about it here:Warplanes to fly over Tehachapi, Bakersfield as part of Edwards AFB celebrati...Thanks to all you Air Force vets for your service! BTW, I just finished reading Chuck Yeager's autobiography and highly recommended if you have not read it. A very interesting fellow! 4 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #1 – October 12, 2017, 10:23:12 am "Chuck Yeager's autobiography and highly recommended if you have not read it. A very interesting fellow!"As usual, I don't remember precise details, but one time we were out in Gertie and over in Death Valley Junction. We had apparently been reading about Chuck Yeager (I was our in-house Audible in those days!), when a plane landed nearby and a spiffy-looking gent popped out. We were too far away to tell who it was, of course, and I don't remember why we were convinced it was Chuck Yeager - maybe something in the news right about then. It probably wasn't, but it was really fun to conjecture. Virtual hugs, Judie 2 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #2 – October 12, 2017, 10:30:20 am I read that book quite a while ago.They say there are only two categories of fighter pilotsThere are Aces and there are targets!I found myself in the second category and decided to chose a different career! 3 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #3 – October 12, 2017, 01:22:53 pm Thanks for posting this, unfortunately I probably won't be able to see it.I served in the Air Force 1963~1967. I was stationed at George AFB in Victorville for 2 1/2 years working on the F-106, then 11 months in Thailand working on the F-105. My time at George was great and after spending time there I decided that California would be my new home (born and raised in Chicago). I had some interesting times at George but if I told you I would have to......... 6 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #4 – October 12, 2017, 03:32:08 pm "I served in the Air Force 1963~1967. I was stationed at George AFB in Victorville for 2 1/2 years working on the F-106"I flew in F-106 at Langley AFB in Hampton, VA. When the Vietnam war ended, the AF was giving early out to nearly anyone who wanted one. 3 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #5 – October 12, 2017, 03:37:21 pm I'm with Jerry, AF 1960-74, Microwave Tech, Keesler AFB '60 - '63, again '66 - '69, Turkey '69-'70, Rhein-Main AFB '70 - '74. Managed to avoid all shooting venues! Marine Corp '53 - '60 until I got smart! 4 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #6 – October 12, 2017, 03:48:27 pm Quote from: Judie Ashford - October 12, 2017, 10:23:12 am"Chuck Yeager's autobiography and highly recommended if you have not read it. A very interesting fellow!"As usual, I don't remember precise details, but one time we were out in Gertie and over in Death Valley Junction. We had apparently been reading about Chuck Yeager (I was our in-house Audible in those days!), when a plane landed nearby and a spiffy-looking gent popped out. We were too far away to tell who it was, of course, and I don't remember why we were convinced it was Chuck Yeager - maybe something in the news right about then. It probably wasn't, but it was really fun to conjecture. Virtual hugs, Judie Judie, if he did a low-level flyover it was probably him!I also recommend the movie, "The Right Stuff" if you haven't seen it!
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #7 – October 12, 2017, 04:48:52 pm I was in the Air Force from 71 to 74 (early out for school as part of the draw down). Stationed at Lackland, Goodfellow, Karamusel CDI, Clark and Edwards. Thanks for the heads up. My father was part of the brown shoe Air Force. Hopefully the flyover will be on line somewhere. 3 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #8 – October 12, 2017, 04:57:09 pm Quote from: John DaCrema - October 12, 2017, 04:48:52 pmI was in the Air Force from 71 to 74 (early out for school as part of the draw down). Stationed at Lackland, Goodfellow, Karamusel CDI, Clark and Edwards. Thanks for the heads up. My father was part of the brown shoe Air Force. Hopefully the flyover will be on line somewhere.More info here, John:Warbirds descend on Edwards for upcoming 70th Anniversary of Supersonic...My Dad was career AF. He lives in the Philippines now and I will be flying out in a couple of weeks to pay him a visit. Flying into Clark, coincidentally! 2 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #9 – October 12, 2017, 05:05:36 pm Babe in the woods here. So no stories, but props to those who have 'em. Well, obviously not actual props, but you know...Closest I came to supersonic was watching the last XB-70 land at WPAFB for enshrinement in the Air Force Museum. Then, watching it be towed down the entrance ramp to Rte. 4 and down the road to the new-at-the-time museum. I don't think they'll break it out and fly it around for this anniversary... or any other, for that matter.Chip 3 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #10 – October 12, 2017, 07:06:01 pm "I also recommend the movie, "The Right Stuff" if you haven't seen it!"Between "The Right Stuff", "Apollo 13", and "Dr. Strangelove" . . . well, you get the picture! Virtual hugs, Judie 2 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #11 – October 12, 2017, 08:37:43 pm Hmmm... no one caught the missing two years, '64 - '65? Those were spent on the lovely tropical shores of Guam while stationed at Anderson AFB.Had lots of fun watching the B-52s buzz the Russian Spy Ships. Coconuts, coral reefs, and only 90 miles of road to circumnavigate the island. Like living in a box. Then there were the termites which ate all the wood in our prefab concrete house forcing us to move in with a neighbor for six weeks. Solution to problem? Fire up Coleman lantern after dark, set it in middle of front yard and leave front door standing open. The little buggers fly to the light and you quickly slam the door shut. Only works when they have wings! 5 Likes
Re: Wild Blue Yonder Reply #12 – October 13, 2017, 10:06:51 pm Thanks for the post. I was Air Force 1965-1969; Lackland, Gunter, Langley, Shemya. Kinda wanted to do career, but they were pushing force reduction at re-up time. The Air Force Museum is amazing. 3 Likes