 I flew the F-104 out of Homestead '63-'64 and accumulated 231 hours in that airplane. I took this photo while pulling Mobile Control duty and am happy to display it. Look closely, these troopers are in perfect landing formation. My favorite photograph.Vince Arias. |
 T-39 and me over USAF Academy circa 1971. Although all airplanes were favorites, I flew the T-39 for 10 years, ferrying one from Nebraska to Yokota, Japan plus 1 year in SCATBACK, Vietnam. Jim Reed |
 This photo was taken near the little fishing village of Rac Gia on the West Coast of the South Vietnam Delta. We were assigned to the 22nd TASS. I was the unit CO and we re-opened the Forward Command Post in June 1968. It was the best job I had in 22 years in the USAF. I was there for six months before being reassigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force in Saigon which I hated with a passion. Our unit supported a Vietnamese Army Corps and we had two 0-1 Aircraft, two jeeps, four pilots, two A/C mechanics, two radio operators and an admin guy. We received support from the local USA Advisory Team and we lived in town in an old French villa. Our airfield was located about 6 km out of town in contested territory. We were escorted to and from the airfield by US Army and Vietnamese Army convoys. Lars Larsen. |
 When the Mig 24 went into service for the Russians it was reported to be able to achieve U-2 altitude. When asked what did we have that could sustain flight at 70,000 feet at 2.4 mach to counter the Mig 24, the answer from a knowledgeable Captain was the F-104G. So was born Operation Ice cake. That's Lute Eldridge in the Moon Suit with over 1,000 flying hours in the F-104. Lute has zoomed the F-104 to 100,000 feet. |
 F-86D, all weather interceptor of the 1950s. It had high fuel consumption and short legs, but was a highly stable, great handling bird. I logged about a 1000 hours in it. Hal Wade. |
 I have logged 13010 hours, (4000 hours wx) in various types of aircraft, even some C-119 time. Mostly T-33's as a flight instructor, B-47's as Aircraft Commander. 3000 hrs T-33; 2500 hrs. B-47; 1700 in KC-135's; the rest scattered out in a bunch of stuff. Retired in November 1972. Lloyd "Bud" Timmons. |
 My first assignment after graduation from Class 55-D was to the 782nd Troop Carrier Sq. in France. Our flying area of coverage was all of Europe, Africa and the Near East. When the wing got short of A/C's, I was one of a number of Pilots who checked out as Aircraft Commander while still a 2nd Lt. We made friendships in that assignment that have lasted more than 50 years. The photo is a 3 ship night formation between Paris and the coast. Jim Reed. |
 My fighter choice. Flew the Delta Dart in lots of great experiences, some I can't tell about. Did research & develoment flying for almost 10 years. Among projects were digital computer, multi-mode storage tube, air-to-air refueling, air-to-air combat testing, clear canopy, gun, long range tanks, and high altitude work at Edwards, 93,000' tops. My really favorite airplane. Dick Merkel. |
 My Favorite. Me and 'Blue Eagle'. Acro Sport II, built from scratch, first flight May 1998, fully acrobatic, 310 flights so far, Oshkosh trophy winner. Dick Merkel. |
 Early/Merkel field, 10 miles West of Rockford, IL, 3000' runway 32/14, our house on left. Dick Merkel. |
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That's me (picture on the left) in the F-86L that I flew with the
Fresno Guard. I got out of the Air Force in September of '58 and went back to
Fresno state got married to
Lyn and we've been together for 48 years. Joined the Guard in November of '58
and this was my first chance to fly on a live range and qualify. I was lucky. I
qualified on the first pass on the range in Southern Arizona. I was on spring
break and celebrated at the Marine Corps Officers Club that night. I flew with
that unit, the 194th Fighter Group until I went to work for Lockheed in April of
'62. I then flew the mighty C-97 (with the Van Nuys Guard) which is not nearly
as photogenic as the '86. The F-86L is basically an F-86D with some upgraded
components, new slats and 2 feet added to the wing span.
From '62 to '82 I flew the Jetstar and the Tri-Star at Lockheed. J.D
Wells. |
| In 1962 Lockheed Decided they wanted to make another push to sell the F-104 G mainly in the U,S. but to other foreign countries also. I was chosen to organize a team that consisted of 26 people from various departments of the company that included: Marketing, Product Support, Maintenance & Flight Ops, and a second demonstartion Pilot. After developing and coordinating a demonstration flight profile with D.C. Center out of Andrews AFB with support from the 89th Mil A/c Wq, (Presidential Fleet) we continued demonstration flights for almost 6 months. We each flew 2 demo rides of 2.5 hours apiece 6 days per week. The first 6 months was only the beginning and the program went on for almost two years. Demonstration locations were: Palmdale, Andrews (2 tours), Langley (2 tours), Homestead, Peterson Field (COS), Palmdale, continuous, following the road show. I felt like that F-104 (right) was my semi private airplane. Lute Eldridge. |  |
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I know! I know! This is supposed to be about airplanes. Or is it?
Thought this might be interesting to all. This is the 40' sailing vessel
"Landfall" we had during our 6 years at the Kwajalein Missile Range. When we
left Kwajalein in 1986 my dilemma was where to take the boat. I decided to sail
it 2200 nm to Yokosuka Naval Station south of Tokyo, Japan. With 3 other friends
we sailed to Yokosuka stopping only once for an overnight in the Bikini Atoll at
the invitation of the head of the team working there. 200 miles south of Tokyo
we were confronted by a typhoon so we turned south to get as far away from the
eye as possible, The eye turned with us and passed within 30 miles of our
position. The trip took 21 days and the only navigation was celestial. The Navy
shipped the boat back on a Navy ship to Hunters Point, just south of San
Francisco, under the Opportune lift program. We live just north of San
Francisco. Jim Reed More . . . |
 I flew the EB-66 (ecm models) for over 2000 hours in England, France, SEA, and Germany. Good duty. Dick (Andy) Anderson |
 This is a picture of me on takeoff at Nellis AFB in 1960. At the time I was assigned to the 18th TFW, Kadena AB Okinawa and our Wing represented PACAF in the USAF Weapons Meet at Nellis in 1960. The aircraft is an F100D-90NA. It is loaded with two 500 pound Napalm bombs, two 500 pound General Purpose bombs closest to the fuselage and a rack with 4/ 25 pound practice bombs near the wingtip. The pipe coming out of the leading edge of the wing was the refueling probe we used for air to air refueling from tanker aircraft. Mel Elliott |
 Del Tally, LtCol (Ret) beside an A-37 Dragon Fly, my primary airplane at Da Nang, South Vietnam. I flew 300 combat missions in Vietnamese Air Force aircraft as an advisor, Instructor pilot and Chief of Safety for the VNAF military Region MR-1, 41st Air Division. |
 John Gross is pictured here in front of his aircraft. John was in Vietnam flying the F-105F as a Wild Weasel. He flew out of Korat, Thailand. |
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(News article reprinted for easier viewing) Friday, March 30, 1962 A Professional Job Skillful Pilot Saves Plane Capt. Richard Merkel brought his aircraft in safely here Monday after a flameout at 25,000 feet. The Captain, from the 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and Cultier, Iowa, was on a test flight at the time the engine of his F-102 quit. In the overcast weather, Captain Merkel radioed the tower that he was in trouble. Just after he got off that message, his radio failed. The Captain came through the overcast and at a height of 4,000 feet could make out the field. He stayed with his plane and landed safely. |