Author Archives: Cheeta17

No BDA, but One Hell of an Airshow!

Posted on 24/03/2020 by Cheeta17

In the early 80’s I ran into (Retired) M/Gen. Peter DeLonga at an airshow at Kelly Field, TX, and he shared a great story with us – about an “airshow” he put on in Vietnam. In 1970 he was flying … Continue reading →

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Cold War Preparation

Posted on 19/02/2020 by Cheeta17

I had the opportunity a couple-3 days ago to talk with a friend from my Senior year of high school, General H. H. Arnold High School in Wiesbaden, West Germany. I knew of John O. in school, but I didn’t … Continue reading →

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Into a Black Hole

Posted on 14/02/2020 by Cheeta17

I was on a C-141A trip with Phil F. when we were tasked to fly into Bien Hoa, South Vietnam one night. Not a ‘big deal.’ Upon contact with Bien Hoa approach we were vectored to the airfield for an … Continue reading →

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C-141A No-Flap

Posted on 14/02/2020 by Cheeta17

There are moments in flying that never quite escape you. This is one for me. I was flying a C-141A to Elmendorf AFB, AK with Phil F. one evening. He had taken the first leg to Dover AFB, DE from … Continue reading →

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Eating Up Runway

Posted on 14/02/2020 by Cheeta17

Jim was in his office one afternoon when a young IP came in and asked to speak to him.  Mike was relatively new and was somewhat ‘white’ in the face.  Of course, Jim told him to come in and have … Continue reading →

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For a Quarter?

Posted on 08/02/2020 by Cheeta17

CUATION: John, put down your coffee! So, one day Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi find themselves standing next to each other in the Men’s Room. They both look down and spot a quarter in Bart’s urinal. After they finish their … Continue reading →

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The Program for the Nurnberg Trials…

Posted on 11/01/2020 by Cheeta17

A couple-3 weeks ago I was rummaging through an old footlocker of my Dad’s when I found this gem: It contains the description of 22 German/Nazi defendants. I remember my Dad telling me about attending the trials, and actually seen … Continue reading →

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Posted on 10/01/2020 by Cheeta17

A few years ago I was visiting my old Air Force ROTC detachment, Det. 620 at Bowling Green State University (OH). I met a Lt. Col. who told me that she had flown helicopters, in Keflavik, Iceland while assigned to … Continue reading →

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“Judgement”

Posted on 07/01/2020 by Cheeta17

When we graded UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) students after a ride there was always a block called “Judgement” on the grade sheet ‘Judgement’ was a graded item in all the different phases of training: contact, formation, nav and instruments. The … Continue reading →

Posted in E'spirit de Corps, UPT | Leave a comment

The ‘Mexican Standoff’ in New Hampshire

Posted on 31/12/2019 by Cheeta17

In 1977 Col. Wilson C. Cooney was assigned to Vance AFB, OK as our Director of Operations (DO). As he was settling in to the operations he wanted to visit our ACE* (Accelerated Copilot Enrichment) bases. I was a T-38 … Continue reading →

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