HuggyU2

Hold on before you throw all bands under the bus. Many of you rip our willingness to abandon heritage, yet you wholesale throw the baby out with the bathwater. Please be a little more "surgical" if you ever become a flag officer, and have the power to influence. Case in point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Drum_and_Bugle_Corps https://drumcorps.mbw.usmc.mil/ These guys still train a basic infantrymen. A Marine friend was telling me about a change of commands in the USMC. Big production, with lots of good tradition, including the band and marching. He mentioned a commander that didn't get the band. Everyone was saying "what did he do to screw up and get the band turned off?" It turns out there was a pressing need for the band members to deploy as riflemen, and for a period, that overrode the need for the band. Seems that they have a good perspective.

Will one of y'all post the picture of the 100th anniversary nose art on the jet in the desert that got sent out today? I believe folks here will like it.

Great post, Spoo! I believe we are the oldest squadron in North America,... uncontested. I seem to remember claiming we were the oldest in the world, but Steve Davies said the British had a balloon squadron before us. A "balloon squadron" is a silly claim, and doesn't count. So, we still win. (No offense, Steve!)

We had one from our squadron go to the Navy to fly T-45's. I get the impression you really believe this.

No, WE should feel ashamed. Ashamed that our country has come to this,... and we have allowed it to happen. Sickening.

Back to the DFC, I'm surprised a commander was able to look himself/herself in the mirror when writing this,... especially the "crippled tanker" part. A crippled tanker. Really. Well,... "crippled" with 4 good engines and flight controls, anyways. This seems more like what I would expect: The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Merrel F. Adams, Jr. for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 February 1967, Captain Adams launched as Flight Leader of a section of two A-4E aircraft in support of an emergency retraction mission of a twenty-four man, Marine reconnaissance team which was surrounded and temporarily pinned down by a numerically superior enemy force in heavily wooded, mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Chu Lai. A previous helicopter extraction attempt had been aborted due to intense hostile fire from an estimated 130 Viet Cong positioned within 200 meters of the landing zone. Arriving over the besieged area, Captain Adams expertly assessed the situation, selected his approach pattern and pinpointed the enemy positions. Skillfully and without regard for his own safety, he placed his first two bombs directly on the enemy emplacements within 100 meters of the Marines’ position. Commencing his second run, Captain Adams placed two bombs only fifty meters from friendly positions. Continuing his low level attacks with unerring accuracy, Captain Adams silenced one enemy gun position and reduced the volume of enemy fire delivered from the tree line surrounding the landing zone. After expending his ordnance, Captain Adams fearlessly made repeated dummy runs over the Viet Cong positions until the helicopters had safely retracted the entire reconnaissance team. His unwavering determination and complete disregard for his own safety contributed significantly to the accomplishment of an extremely hazardous mission and accounted for an estimated twenty-five enemy killed. Captain Adams’ exceptional aeronautical skill, resolute courage and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

I saw this elsewhere. Is this legit? For service as set forth in the following: CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major X, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 913th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 384th Expeditionary Operations Group, 384th Air Expeditionary Wing, deployed to a classified location in the United States Central Command's area of responsibility on 13 January 2003 in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On that date, while flying over enemy territory, his KC-135R aircraft suffered a total loss of a transponder, as well as all control and navigation display systems. Unable to restore the affected systems, Major X demonstrated superb leadership and crew resource management skills by directing the copilot and boom operator to use dead reckoning navigation to arrange a rendezvous with another KC-135R in the area of operations. Major X then coordinated with the responding crew to escort his crippled tanker to a deployed forward operating runway. His outstanding efforts ensured the safe recovery of his aircraft and crew and the completion of a successful and critical combat mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major X reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

A real man isn't concerned about "inquires from his spouse".

I have to disagree with the "open a tab with your credit card" plan. Always use cash. The credit card documents your evening itinerary... and eventually it will be used against you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icosahedron

It's spelled " y'all ", not " ya'll ".

This medal's precedence means it will be worn ahead of the new Drone-Operator-Air-Medal-thing that just came out. Laugh all you want... this is our future.

Steve, check p.m.'s.

The Air & Space article was good. But hearing the actual story from those involved in it is really something. Originally, Oprah wanted to do a segment on it (that was shot down). The full story is worthy (by Hollywood standards) of a made-for-TV movie. As hokie as that sounds,... and as much as I hope that is never done,... a lot of people, including those of the host nation military and medical community, worked hard to keep him alive. Were you there, Spoo? I remember that Smoke and Fidel, and maybe Sharkey were, but can't remember who else. Apparently, in the course of "the situation" some local base leadership stormed into Ops to get "the brief", and wanted to know who was in charge. They were not happy to find that Captains were running the show,... and they were further put out when no one had time to deal with them. For the record, those Captains ran things perfectly. It's a sad shame that Kevin and Lt Col Russell were never recognized in a more formal manner for their efforts. I hope Kevin writes a book about it.

No. It was mainly for those that had a severe hit, or repeated hits. Too much to discuss on this forum, and too much of it is my opinion. Bottom line: like Spoo said, this "problem" is no more. Um... yes? What about that surprises you? Try harder.

The Garmin acts normal. We avg about 410 knots ground speed at cruise, and it does just fine.

Pretty much,... yes.

I believe it is just the standard policy of "no last names" you see when the press talks to aircrew. But your guess is as good as mine.

Yes, it is a Garmin. Big rubber band,... but I like the pantyhose idea too. We carry about 4 Garmin's on an operational sortie. "John" or "Jon"?

No.

https://entertainment...&lite=obnetwork At least Bruce Willis is in favor of the 2nd Amendment.

The chicken a la king is pretty good when heated. The manufacturer FINALLY is coming out with some new flavors. I didn't go taste test the new stuff, but it got great reviews. The spaghetti was apparently fantastic. That said, I rarely bring any tube food anymore. Instead, I do a few bottles of Myoplex meal replacement. Too bad the AF won't buy that: $2 per package vs ~$12 per tube food.

https://news.msn.com/obits/battle-of-midway-hero-jim-muri-dies

Read "Escape from Camp 14". It will validate what you just wrote.

Maybe so. I gave him his T-38 academics checkout, did his sims, flew with him, and went TDY a couple times with him. An entirely positive experience. Talking to some others like yourself, I am in the minority. But I'll take BG Ritchie any day over many "leaders" I've met... both personally and professionally. Back to the subject,... yes, I don't wear scarves anymore either. Unlike some of you, I was around when it was actually required for us to wear them. But rather than dismiss it as "ghey", I'd say it is simply a past tradition that is... Oh wait! We cannot have past traditions and heritage! I forgot, sorry. OK, back to your regularly scheduled episode of "Squadron Heritage Confiscation".