Category Archives: War Stories

“…Take the Bus!”

Posted on 29/01/2019 by Bobo

Just after I upgraded to IP (instructor pilot) in the HC-130 I would be assigned to fly 4-hour ‘locals’ with various pilots requiring currency and the like. Often we would take off and fly to one of several other bases … Continue reading →

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King 21: 12 July 1974

Posted on 28/01/2019 by Bobo

In December 1973 I reported to the 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. I was assigned as an Aircraft Commander (AC) in the HC-130. Our primary mission was “Combat Rescue.” The Vietnam War was “essentially” … Continue reading →

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“Where Are You Guys?”

Posted on 17/12/2018 by Bobo

One of the ‘additional duties’ we had in the squadron was to provide resources to the Base Exercise and Evaluation Team (BEET) for exercises on occasion.   And one day we sent 2 of our pilots to participate in a staged … Continue reading →

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How Do You Spell the Name?

Posted on 13/11/2018 by Bobo

My second trip with Major General LeRoy Svendsen was a 3-day cross-country to Las Vegas.  He had some business out there and I was once again, his “seeing-eye IP.” The trip was more or less straightforward until we stopped at … Continue reading →

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The Day Goes by So Much Better…

Posted on 09/11/2018 by Bobo

One morning ‘the Burker’ was the opening SOF (Supervisor of Flying) at Vance.  His report time that morning was around 0430 or so.  Helping him open that morning was a female Ops Specialist, a blonde 2-striper who had not been … Continue reading →

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Flying With Iranians…

Posted on 23/10/2018 by Bobo

In the late ’70’s, we received 29 Iranians at Vance AFB, OK for pilot training.  In preparation for these guys we had a 3-4 hour briefing on their (Muslim) customs from the State Department. (In retrospect, one of the best … Continue reading →

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“Kansas City Center, Guess Who?”

Posted on 21/12/2014 by Bobo

It was about this time of the year when we took a 4-ship out to the area to ‘play’ a bit.  The students had all gone home for the holidays so there were just IPs (instructor pilots) in the jets.  … Continue reading →

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The Basic Aircrew Read File

Posted on 21/08/2014 by Bobo

In 1977 we (Vance AFB, OK) picked up an ACE (Accelerated Copilot Enrichment) mission, using T-37s at 4 or 5 ‘northern tier’ SAC (Strategic Air Command) bases.  This was a program where ATC (Air Training Command, now AETC) provided SAC … Continue reading →

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“Bounce and Tilt”

Posted on 09/08/2014 by Bobo

A friend of mine, call sign ‘Rat,’ once flew with a Tweet guy (T-37 IP) on a staff assistance visit somewhere or another.  They were in formation with another T-38.  At one point while in ‘fingertip’ formation (on the wing) … Continue reading →

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The Little Coincidences…

Posted on 26/05/2014 by Bobo

Last April (2014) I was visiting Bill and Fran Ferrier in San Antonio when Bill pulled out his Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book to show me a trip that we took when we were flying T-38s at Randolph.  I … Continue reading →

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