“Oh Christmas Tree…Over the Balcony…”

Posted on 28/01/2014 by Bobo

In 1963 we lived in an apartment complex at 18 Floridastrasse in Wiesbaden, West Germany – base housing.  Our apartment was on right side of the complex, on the second floor.

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At Christmas that year, Dear Ole Dad bought our tree and brought it home.  This in itself, was no easy task.  The German Christmas trees weren’t cut quite like the American Christmas trees we were accustomed to.  At any rate, after a couple hours of searching, he found one and was very proud of it – until he got it home, upstairs, and into our apartment.  Then Mom informed him that it was ‘ugly!’  Wrong thing to say to Dear Ole Dad – especially when he had been drinking!

He stood back and took a look at the tree himself for a moment.   Then without saying a word, he took it, opened the sliding glass door and tossed it off the balcony!  Down two floors it went, splattering on the ground below, eventually coming to rest there in the dark.  “You’re right,” he proclaimed, “it is ugly!”   He fixed another drink and settled down at his place at the head of our dining room table – just staring at his drink.

“I’ll bet there are children in this world who would love to have that ugly Christmas tree,” he remarked, without looking up.  And we all became quiet, thinking about what he had said.  “And now that ‘ugly’ tree is laying down on the ground, all by itself – out in the cold,” he added.  He had a way about himself, when saying things like this, that could ‘bring out the tears.’

“Oh crap,” Mom thought, and then she sent my brother Bill downstairs to retrieve our Christmas tree.

So Bill grabs his jacket and goes down to get our ugly tree.  He drags the it around to the front of our building and then up the stairs back into our apartment.  Dear Ole Dad then sets it into the Christmas tree stand, and we all stand back – to have a look at it.  It is ugly, that’s for sure… and off the balcony it goes, again.  This time with the tree stand!

And yep, Dear Ole Dad fixes another drink.  He then again takes his place at the head of the table, staring into his drink.  After a while of contemplation he says, “I’ll bet Jesus would have liked that ugly tree.”  Reflection, then more tears…

“Aw crap,” Mom says once again, and Bill reaches for his coat.  Once the name of Jesus was invoked, who could leave a tree out in the cold?  Even an ugly one?

Bill drags it back around to the front of our building once again, and then up the stairs and back into our apartment.  This time the tree makes it to where it is suppose to sit, and we all begin to hang ornaments on it.  Hanging ornaments on that tree was kinda like putting lipstick on a pig.  It just wasn’t going to get much better.  And of course, two trips off the balcony didn’t help either…

And this was “my normal” growing up… What?  LOL!

 

Posted in Family, Wiesbaden AFB, West Germany | 1 Comment

Integrity

Posted on 16/01/2014 by Bobo

Want to talk about “integrity” a bit this morning… I want my grandkids to know what I think of ‘integrity.’

It was reported this morning that 34 Air Force officers, missile launch officers at Malmstrom AFB, MT,  have been decertified because of cheating on their monthly proficiency tests.  Not all the officers were cheating – some knew of the cheating and chose not to report it.  This is really a ‘tough one.’

I have always thought of ‘integrity’ like crystal – once you break it, it can not be put back together.  I think a discussion on ‘integrity’ is warranted  when a kid turns 18 or so.  It’s something to sit down and talk to a kid about, then let him or her find their own way.  You will be tested…

In pilot training I witnessed 2 of the captains in our class cheating on an academic test.  I just happened to glance down at the 2 ‘bozos’ and saw them exchange answer sheets.  And they saw me!  Later, as to ‘cover their tracks,’ they told me that they had finished their tests and were just ‘checking’ their answers.  That’s called cheating.

The problem here is, I was put in a compromising position.  I had in fact, witnessed the cheating.  But I am also not a “rat,” I wasn’t going to tell on them.  (However, if I had been hauled in and asked about it, I wouldn’t have lied for them either…)  Of note, both of these pricks finished ahead of me in academics, and in the overall class standing.  I kicked their asses in flying – guess they couldn’t cheat in the air.

In the mid-’80’s we had a Stan/Eval (Higher headquarters) inspection when I was int he 560th Flying Training Squadron.  I was the Chief of Check Section at the time.  A written general knowledge test was part of the inspection.  A day or so before the exam I learned that a few of ‘my guys’ had the “intel” (the questions) to the test.  And I knew who was leading the push.

I called the guy aside and told him that if I learned that the test “was compromised” on the day of the exam, I would report it.  He argued with me, that it was “all part of the game.”  No it wasn’t, and it isn’t!  That was cheating, and I was not going to stand for it.  Needless to say, I wasn’t very popular, but then again, I wasn’t in a popularity contest.

Do I think ‘they’ cheated?’  Yes, but I couldn’t prove it.  The “ring leader” was so brazen he  took the test twice – once in the morning, and again in the afternoon – as if shining his ass.

I think you have to lend some thought to this before you get “caught up” in it.  By then it’s too late.  I think you have to let folks know, from initially meeting you, what you stand for – that you are a person of integrity.  And that you will not waiver.

I can tolerate a lot of “shortcomings,” but not a liar, or a cheater… I think the officers that were actually caught cheating should be thrown out of the Air Force, and the ones who knew about it, and didn’t report it, be given Article 15s (non-judicial punishment).

This is all.

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‘Joint Base San Antonio’

Posted on 11/01/2014 by Bobo

These “joint bases” these days – what a load of crap!

‘Joint Base San Antonio’ as an example, encompassing Randolph Field (AFB), Ft. Sam Houston and Lackland AFB all in the San Antonio area.  What I am seeing is a complete loss of identity, of heritage, and I for one, think it sucks canal water.  But it is totally aligned with the systematic dismantling of “American exceptionalism.”

Oh, I understand clearly why the bureaucrats, spelled ‘shoeclerks,’ are driving it; money.  But what is the real cost?

In the military we put a premium on unit pride, on heritage.  This concept goes way beyond what civilians can, or ever will understand.  But Hey, the military deserves to be mediocre just as well as what we see in civilian industry (what’s left in America these days) and business.

The problem is, the ‘kids’ today coming into the system really don’t know any difference.  They have been brought up in an educational system the advocates that no one is really different from anyone else.  Well Pilgrim, that being the case, why don’t you go out and fly the damn jet?

Shoeclerks, politicians and democrats – they are all doing to America what no enemy has been ever to do – destroy us… and all I’m able to do is, stand by and watch.

“Joint Base whatever?”  I have a “joint” for you!

(And now, I feel better!  LOL!)

Posted in "Political Correct BS", A Nation Gone Nuts, Politics | Leave a comment

Cruising at FL 430

Posted on 11/01/2014 by Bobo

In the early ’80’s we were having a rash of J-85 flameouts, engine failures, at altitudes above FL 390.  The J-85 is the engine in the T-38A.  So Command issued a directive stating that flights would not be conducted above FL 390 unless ‘absolutely necessary.’  And of course, they held the final vote on what was “absolutely necessary.”

The J85 is a good engine, and very reliable, but it does have its limitations.  Think about it; it was designed in the ’50s, and is still with us.  If you know and respect these limitations there really are no problems with it.

One of the idiosyncrasies it has is, it is very sensitive to ‘rapid’ throttle movement in higher altitudes.  Define rapid?  I can’t – but I know what they are when I see them…

In the early ’70s our IPs (instructor pilots) were guys who trained on the T-33, the T-Bird.  The T-Bird had a maybe a second or third generation engine and was susceptible to flameouts with a rapid throttle burst.  If you slammed the throttle from idle to Max, you had a 50-50 chance which way the engine was going to react.  One, good; one, not so good.  At any rate, pilots of my generation were taught, from the very beginning, to be cognizant of throttle movement.

In the late ’70’s we began taking more and more FAIPs into our instructor corps.   (A FAIP is a First Assignment Instructor Pilot – an individual who graduates from pilot training and is assigned as an IP with his or her, or gender to be determined assignment.)  Anyway, with so many new young kids coming back, some things got dropped – like J85 throttle considerations.  And we began seeing the consequenses.

If you experienced a J85 engine failure at altitude, it wasn’t (really) that big of a deal.  Yeah, you were going to go down, but more often that not, the engine would restart below FL 260 as designed, and you could continue on.  However regulations at the time, stated that pilots experiencing an engine failure would land “as soon as conditions permit.”  This often meant a divert to a base that didn’t support T-38 maintenance.  So, maintenance troops would have to be brought in for an engine inspection, and the dollars began to mount up.

With a rash of T-38 J85 engine failures the dollars really began to mount up, so Command attacked the ‘symptoms’ of the issue, and missed the cause.  There was no problem cruising in the 40s, if you didn’t fly the jet with “ham hands!”  So, I more or less, ignored the rule.  And I knew, if I and any problems, I would be held accountable.  I was willing to accept that proposition.

From when the edict was put on us until I retired in 1988 I must have had a half-dozen flights in the ’40’s – with no problems at all…

Aside:  Right after this ‘rule’ came into affect I was at the SOF (Supervisor of Flying) desk one afternoon when call came in from an inbound jet.  The pilot wanted to be sure we knew he was coming.  Then came the call, “Houston Center, Tonto XX back with you at FL 430.”

The SOF couldn’t risk the “free shot, “Reporting at FL 430 this is Copperhead, say call sign.”  Nothing!  LOL!

The pilot, a general from Headquarters, landed, got in his car and drove off with nary a word!

 

 

Posted in The Book, War Stories | Leave a comment

MSP – 5

Posted on 11/01/2014 by Bobo

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

“Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary.  They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.”

Beverly introduced me to a concept: “What others think of me is, none of my business.”

It took a real long time for me to “get this.”  For a great prat of my adult life I felt as if I did, have to please everyone.  To do this I would take on different ‘persons.’  I became one person for my wife, another for my kids, someone else for the guys I worked with, a different guy for those I worked for – and someone entirely different for those I didn’t know.  The end result of all this was, I lost my self.  The only time I I felt I was ‘really me’ was when I was drinking.  Because when I was “lit” I didn’t care what you or anyone else thought.

Then Beverly told me, “Bob, what others think of you is none of your business.”

I took this and wrote it down on 3″ x 5″ card, and taped it to my bathroom mirror – and I read it every day, at least once a day, until it began to sink in.  And after 3-4 years, the light began to come on!

Today I am not ‘insensitive’ to what others think; I just don’t react like I used to – to what I think they are thinking.  I am not able to read minds anymore!  Shocking, I know!  And, liberating.

Posted in Spiritality | Leave a comment

1.9 from Dyess to Randolph?

Posted on 09/01/2014 by Bobo

After I relinquished command of my squadron, just before retiring in 1988, the DO (Director of Operations) told me, “Well, since all you seem to enjoy is flying, that’s what we decided to let you do for your remaining time in the Air Force.”

“Well Hell,” I thought, “why didn’t I apply for retirement 2 years earlier?”  LOL!

I did love to fly, and I loved working with ‘the young kids’ – both the students and the young IPs.  I loved asking them questions that made them think.  I loved talking training ‘philosophy,’ and challenging them about their follow-on career options.

One of the “good deals” I had was flying in the B-1 “fast-mover” orientation program at Dyess AFB, TX.  This was a program where we gave the new B-1 pilots 4 rides in the T-38 to acclimate them to the higher speeds and stresses they would be encountering with their transition to ‘the Bone.’

One afternoon (23 March 1988) after flying I was scheduled to take a jet (T-38A) back to Randolph AFB, TX – solo – another good deal!  Scheduled takeoff was at 1530 hrs.

Dyess is 180 air-miles from Randolph.  Flying at .9 mach, 9 miles per minute, the flight plan called for about 20 – 25 minutes of flying.  Hardly worth the effort of strapping in.  With my retirement looming on the horizon, I decided to take a “Texas tour” on the way home; I decided to head West after takeoff (instead of South.)  This is my flight plan from that flight:

AF Form 70

 

It shows where I took off and headed over to Roswell, NM.  Form there I dropped Southeast to Fort Stockton, TX.  Once I got to Fort Stockton I was on our normal arrival route into San Antonio.  Not a big deal – except this flight plan was 586 NM instead of the usual 180 NM from Dyess to Randolph!  Not only that, I climbed to FL 430 (Flight Level 430 – 43,000 feet).  The ‘normal cruise’ level would have been around FL 350 or 370.  And I throttled back to 0.83/0.84 mach.  I knew this was probably my last solo flight in the T-38, and I wanted to savor it – and I did!

When I got to Randolph there was little-to-no traffic in the pattern and I had a ‘little gas’ remaining, so I decided to ‘shoot a couple patterns’ before landing.  Man, that was fun!

As much fun as I was having, all good things eventually come to an end.  When I got to the chocks and shut down, I had about 700 pounds of fuel remaining.  (Our minimum was 600 pounds.)  All-in-all I felt good.  And wouldn’t you know it, it was 1730 hours – Happy Hour!  So, naturally I headed over to the Auger Inn.

I hadn’t been in the Auger, maybe 30 minutes or so, when I spotted the ADO, (Assistant Director of Operations) bearing down on me with a very focused look on his face – and not a very pleasant ‘very focused look.’

Without as much of a “Hi Bob,” he lit in to me.  “Can you explain to me why it took you 1.9 hours to fly from Dyess to Randolph?”

(I knew he was “gunning for me;” I felt it ever since he arrived at Randolph a year or so earlier.  He was a “fast burner,” as rising star, and I wasn’t impressed.  I saw right through him from the very start, and I think he sensed it.)

“Well Sir,” I began, noting the smoke beginning to emerge from his ears, “I knew this was probably going to be my last solo flight in the jet, so I decided to savor it.  And, for 6 years now I have sat in staff meetings where Maintenance continually talks about the high-rate of brake wear.  So, with the high ambient temperature out there this afternoon, in the low 90’s, I decided to “lower my landing speed” by burning off fuel before I landed – hence conserving brake wear.”

He knew I was “packing sunshine” up his ass, and there was nothing he could do about it – I did nothing illegal.  Well almost.   It never occurred to the dumb shit that I climbed to FL 430 for the flight home.  I don’t think it ever would have dawned on him – he was a “glad-hander,” not an aviator.  Anyway, he stood there for a moment, fuming, then realizing there wasn’t anything he could do, he turned and left… none the wiser.

I am still ‘tickled’ with this story…LOL!

Posted in PIT, The Book, War Stories | Leave a comment

MSP – 4

Posted on 08/01/2014 by Bobo

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control

“You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives.  They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.”

It took sobriety for me to begin to understand this.  When I was drinking I would “champion” just about any cause, or issue of ‘the freedom, oppressed peoples of America,’ no matter how small they might be.  I would gleefully ‘mount my horse, and charge any windmill in sight!’  Just like Don Quixote.  Over and over I would take up thinks I couldn’t control, and hammer at them – until I was exhausted.  Then I would drink.

Sobriety is such a blessing.  Today I am cognizant of what I have control of, and what I don’t have any control over.  And I am so aware of “choices” that I have today.  (Actually, I have had “choices” all my life; it’s just while I was drinking I made so damn many wrong ones!)

For me today, it’s the “awareness” that I do have these choices that enrich and empower my life…

I still tend to waste energy on things I can’t control, but no where near as bad as what I did before.  I think they call this ‘progress…’  And this is all any of us can ask for: “…progress, not perfection.”

Posted in Sobriety, Spiritality | Leave a comment

Time to Clean House…

Posted on 08/01/2014 by Bobo

Congress has only been in session 1 day this year (2014), and the bickering is as loud as ever.  I for one, am very tired of it all.  All the partisan bickering, and nothing of substance ever gets done.  Beginning in the 2014 elections I WILL NOT vote for an incumbent. Good guy, bad guy, ‘no’ guy – I don’t care.  These guys just can’t play well together.  I would love to see “incumbents,” no matter who they are, take a hit this year, and the remaining guys know what’s coming!  It’s way past time “to clean house!”

uscapitol-washingtondc-picture1

We seem to have forgotten that when the idea of the Congress was formed, it was not for a “career.”  The idea was for citizens to go to Washington for a while, serve, then return home.  A “while” was never meant to be a 20 – 30 year career!

It’s time, actually way past time, to get back on track… but I don’t think we ever will.  There’s just too much money and power at stake anymore.  If nothing does change, we are so screwed…

 

Posted in A Nation Gone Nuts, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Presidential?

Posted on 08/01/2014 by Bobo
This is a series of pictures taken of Dear Leader at Nelson Mandela’s state funeral.  It sure doesn’t look very “Presidential” to me…
Bob Holliker's photo.Bob Holliker's photo.Bob Holliker's photo.
Bob Holliker's photo.Bob Holliker's photo.Bob Holliker's photo.
This guy is truly a ‘sham.’  I hope I am still alive when it all comes down…
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Robbie Risner

Posted on 05/01/2014 by Bobo

This just showed up on the River Rat’s Newsletter this week… Great read!

“Boy, the latest issue of MIG Sweep had two RSVP shockers in it.

Robby Risner and Burt Spalding.

God I hate to think that they are gone.

I first met Robby in April of ’65 at the Than Hoa Bridge strike.

He was circling the target calling bombers in by call sign and giving assistance in their bombing.  “Aim about 50ft right as there is some wind.”

He kept circling the target as 57s went off all around him and I thought “man SOME BALLS.” I was a flak suppression F-100 from Danang and he said good hit.

The NVA HAD PULLED THOSE STEEL HULLED 80FT SWATOWS EITHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AS FLAK SITES. THEY LOOKED LIKE PORCUPINES.

THE NEXT DAY WE WENT BACK TO THE SAME TARGET AND THERE HE WAS AGAIN, THIS TIME I WAS A MIG CAP AND RESCAP. ROBBIE GOT HIT AND PUNCHED OUT ABOUT A HALF MILE OFF HE COAST LINE.

HE WAS ON GUARD AND SAID THEY WERE SHOOTING AT HIM WITH A 57 FROM THE COAST. I WAS CAPPING AND COULDN’T SEE THE GUN EMPLACEMENT. YOU CAN PICTURE HIM, BANG, SPLASH, PADDLE PADDLE BANG, SPLASH, PADDLE PADDLE, ANYWAY I FINALLY SAW THE GUN EMPLACEMENT OUT ON A SPIT ALL SANDBAGGED IN, I POPPED UP TO ABOUT 15000 AND ROLLED ABOUT VERTICAL AND FIRED ABOUT 200 ROUNDS INTO THE PIT, EXPLODING THE AMMO AND STOPPING THE FIRING.

WE HAD ALPHA, BRAVO AND CHARLIE HU-16S ON STANDBY AND I CALLED BRAVO AND THEY STARTED OUR WAY. WE TOOK TURNS GOING TO THE TANKER TO TOP OFF AND CONTINUED TO CAP HIM, SHOOTING UP SOME BOATS THAT WERE TRYING TO GET TO HIM.  ANYWAY BRAVO LANDED ON THE WATER AND I SAW THEM PULL HIM INTO THE SA-16 AND START TAKE OFF. WOW WHAT A TAKE OFF, I KNOW IT WAS AT LEAST 5 MILES. AIRBORNE  — SPLASH —- AIRBORNE — SPLASH. I THEN ASKED BRAVO IF WE COULD LEAVE HIM WITH CHARLIE AND WE WOULD GO HIT SOME MORE BOATS. HE SAID “NO — WE HAVE DAMAGE”, I HADN’T SEEN ANY OTHER GUNS SHOOTING OUT THERE — BUT-SO WE STAYED WITH HIM AND CIRCLED HIM ALL THE WAY TO DANANG.  TURNS OUT THE DAMAGE WAS FROM THE LANDING, HE HAD TAKEN OFF FROM DANANG WITH ABOUT 16HRS FUEL ONBOARD INCLUDING DROP TANKS. WELL – YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO WATER LAND WITH THE DROP TANKS FULL.-THE YOUNG LT. FLYING WAS A LITTLE EXCITED AND FORGOT ABOUT THE TANKS. THE DAMAGE WAS FROM THE LANDING WHICH KNOCKED OUT THE RH WINDSHIELD AND I BELIEVE PART OF THE RADIO RACK.

THAT EVENING AT THE BAR ROBBIE SAID THANKS FOR TAKING CARE OF THE 57 AND THE CAP. HE SAID HE WAS SURE GLAD TO SEE THE DUMBO COMING , BUT ON THE LANDING, HE SAID THE SWELLS WERE ABOUT 6-8FT AND WHEN THE DUMBO LANDED ALL HE COULD SEE WAS THE TAIL STICKING UP FROM OVER A SWELL AND HE SAID, “DAMN THERE ARE 10 OF US IN THE WATER NOW!”

THE NEXT THING HE NOTICED WAS THE DUMBO BACKING OUT FROM THE SWELL WITH A LOT OF ROARING AND GURGLING THEN TAXIING UP TO HIM. HE SAID THE LITTLE KID HELPING HIM INTO THE AIRPLANE WAS SO SCARED HE COULDN’T GET HIM TO REACH AND GET HIS PROTECTION INC HELMET SITTING RIGHT IN THE DOOR.

ANYWAY, HIS HELMET WAS NOW GONE.

ROBBIE WAS A REAL HERO AND A HELL OF A LEADER AND PILOT.

WE’LL MISSED, GOD BLESS.

LEO CANAVAN   LT.COL RET
612 TFS, 615TFS 523TFS 457TFS
57B— F-80, F-84F,F-86,F-100,F-4,F-105.
FRONTIER/ CONTINENTAL/UNITED AIRLINES
31,000 + HRS”

Posted in USAF, War Stories | Leave a comment