FXramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 7027 posts, RR: 93 Posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 3735 times:
Hi fellow airliner/military junkies.
I'm about to get my undergraduate degree and am considering life as a pilot in the military. It runs in the family for me and it's always interested me in serving my country.
My grandfather flew P40s, B25s, A20s, P38s, and P51s in World War II, serving in the South Pacific as a combat fighter pilot. He was shot down in his A20 and saved his gunners life. He got a bronze star for his effort. I've always been pretty proud of this!
My uncle was a chopper pilot/medic in Vietnam. He never really has told me any details about his experiences, but my aunt has told me he did two tours voluntarily.
Would enjoy reading any of your active duty experiences!
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 3730 times:
my grandfather was an infantryman fighting the Germans in 1940 and the Indonesian rebels in 1946/47.
my father was an expert marksman on everything from pistol to 40mm AAA who just missed the last troopship to Korea.
I was disqualified on medical grounds from entering the armed forces or I'd likely have joined the airforce professionally. If I had I'd possibly either have seen action over Yugoslavia and/or Afghanistan or been RIFfed by now.
DeltaGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3592 times:
Don't really want to hijack the thread either, as I haven't done it "yet", but I will volunteer-
My great grandfather flew in WWI, actually can't remember much more about it to be honest lol.
My grandfather flew in WWII, as an Enlisted Naval Aviator on the TBM Avenger
My uncle flew in 'Nam, as a Navy RA-5C Vigilante pilot
And my dad flew in Desert Storm, A-7's and later F/A-18's.
I myself plan on flying whatever the Guard will let me get my hands on Military flying is a good tradition in my family, so no plans to let it stop. Get back with me in a year and I'll know what I plan to go to
Ulfinator From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 311 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3548 times:
Speaking of having family that were military pilots I heard a sort of interesting comment on Mail Call last night.
The B-52 is already old enough that fathers and sons have been pilots of the model. The plan to keep the B-52 in service goes out far enough that even grand children of original B-52 pilots might end up flying the aircraft.
That is a long time for having even versions of the same aircraft in service.
Lt-AWACS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3535 times:
Flew on 16 O1 Combat sorties over Iraq during OIF, plus one on the British E-3D over Iraq. I have several other OEF and OSW stories/sorties but can't tell them here...yet LOL
Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, I'm from Texas, what country are you from
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11712 posts, RR: 52 Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3534 times:
I flew 137 combat missions in the KC-135 during Vietnam and Desert Storm. 550 combat hours.
FVTu134 From Russia, joined Aug 2005, 169 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 3432 times:
Not as own experience,
But I know a couple of 104 guys who were active when the Cuban missile crisis went hot, and they are very clear about it. They were sitting at the beginning of the runway with the airstarts running (i.e. 1,5 min to takeoff) with Nukes under the wings.
Doesn't qualify as as a wartime experience but it's veeeeeeery close.
Most of the guys knew that if they had to take off, probably they would never be back because their individual targets were so far that there was not enough fuel to return home.
Thank god a few people kept their heads together and avoided "what could have been".
For those who don't know much about it.... have a look at the movie "Thirteen days"
who decided that a Horizon should be HORIZONtal???
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11712 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 3418 times:
Quoting FVTu134 (Reply 6): But I know a couple of 104 guys who were active when the Cuban missile crisis went hot, and they are very clear about it. They were sitting at the beginning of the runway with the airstarts running (i.e. 1,5 min to takeoff) with Nukes under the wings.
I would say that counts, too. I sat on alert every third week during my flying career in SAC for about 12 of my 22 years in the KC-135. At Pease and Plattsburgh, the KC-135A/Q alert force was with the FB-111A alert force. At Carswell, the KC-135A alert force was with the B-52H alert force.
I never had to launch on an alert mission. But, at Pease and Plattsburgh, we had 12 minutes to get all alert FB-111s and KC-135s airborne, at Carswell we had 15 minutes to get airborne with the alert B-52s and KC-135s.
USAF336TFS From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1411 posts, RR: 53 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 3410 times:
Weapons Systems Officer with the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, "Rocketeers", during the first Gulf war in '91.
Sal
336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB
Moose135 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2009 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 3246 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 7):
I would say that counts, too. I sat on alert every third week during my flying career in SAC for about 12 of my 22 years in the KC-135. At Pease and Plattsburgh, the KC-135A/Q alert force was with the FB-111A alert force. At Carswell, the KC-135A alert force was with the B-52H alert force.
Same here, although I sat my alert at Grissom AFB. One nice thing about KGUS, we didn't have B-52s, so it was a little more "relaxed". Well, just a little...
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10062 posts, RR: 71 Reply 10, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 3220 times:
A cousin in my mother's generation flew Corsairs against the Japanese in "The War." Showed me some really cool pictures a few years ago.
An inlaw drove a jeep in the Korean War. Never had the opportunity to ask him about it.
Vietnam was my turn. 1276 hours of electronic surveillance missions. I could tell you more but then you'd have to go around with TOP SECRET tatooed on your forehead. By the way, anyone who tells you Cambodia was "neutral" is full of crap.
Peripherally involved with small-scale combat a couple of times in Latin America, but virtually as a tourist.
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
Aerlinguscargo From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 70 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 3169 times:
From what i can gather, a great uncle of mine flew for the British during the second world war.
One of the many irish that joined there enemy in fighting the greater evil.
JarheadK5 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 216 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 3071 times:
Almost did, for OIF. Got dropped from the deployment list about a month from departure because someone in the Navy finally realized that 10 CH-53E's, 12 CH-46E's, 6 AH-1W's, 2 UH-1N's, and 6 AV-8B's weren't all going to fit on one LHA and one LPD... and someone had to babysit the four 53's that stayed home.
Gunships From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 574 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (7 years 5 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2965 times:
I served as a crew chief and took part in the airlift of supplies into Sarajevo in the mid-1990's.
Also participated in operations in Rwanda, Haiti, and Somalia during the various conflicts in those areas.
FXramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 7027 posts, RR: 93 Reply 15, posted (7 years 5 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2934 times:
Quoting DeltaGuy (Reply 2): And my dad flew in Desert Storm, A-7's and later F/A-18's.
KICK ASS!
Quoting Ulfinator (Reply 3): The B-52 is already old enough that fathers and sons have been pilots of the model. The plan to keep the B-52 in service goes out far enough that even grand children of original B-52 pilots might end up flying the aircraft.
My neighbor growing up, was much older that me, he flew outta Louisana on B52 missions on the first Gulf War...awesome!
Quoting Lt-AWACS (Reply 4): Flew on 16 O1 Combat sorties over Iraq during OIF, plus one on the British E-3D over Iraq. I have several other OEF and OSW stories/sorties but can't tell them here...yet LOL
My hero!
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 5): I flew 137 combat missions in the KC-135 during Vietnam and Desert Storm. 550 combat hours.
SICK SHIT!!!
[quote=USAF336TFS,reply=8]Weapons Systems Officer with the 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, "Rocketeers", during the first Gulf war in '91.
My hero!!! I would love to finish college in two semesters, join OCS at the Air Force, and fly Warthogs in Iraq!
Thanks all for the stories...I just had a talk with my grandfather for 4 hours about his experiences in WW2,,,I freaking teared up...shit fire...I wanna write a book about what the old man did in the war!
Scottieprecord From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 1363 posts, RR: 12 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2836 times:
Quoting FVTu134 (Reply 6): But I know a couple of 104 guys who were active when the Cuban missile crisis went hot, and they are very clear about it. They were sitting at the beginning of the runway with the airstarts running (i.e. 1,5 min to takeoff) with Nukes under the wings.
My grandfather was one of those men. I always found that to be a fascinating story. He also had some great stories flying F-4s in Vietnam... his service makes me very proud and has always pushed me toward serving in the Air Force: hopefully someday.
LongbowPilot From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 577 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2561 times:
Flew in Afghanistan for a spell... Definately a different conflict than the traditional army on army war. Still a conflict that led to losses..
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4891 posts, RR: 55 Reply 18, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2555 times:
OttoPylit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (7 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2110 times:
Does serving in Operation Southern Watch Over Southern Iraq count with my Air National Guard unit in 2000? If so, count me in. If not, oh well.
Serving in the military has been a tradition in my family since the Civil War.
My grandfather was a National Airlines pilot and became part of the Ferry Command during WWII. His pilots license was signed was signed by Laurie Yonge and his was signed by Orville Wright. I've seen some of his logbooks. WOW!! Has ratings in everything from T-6's to P-51's to A-20's to B-25's to B-17's to B-24's to...we've so far counted over 20 different types of aircraft over his lifetime. He later ran his own maintenance shop at Jacksonville Municipal Imeson Airport.
Another drive an armament truck in N. Africa and a step-grandfather fought as a grunt in the Pacific, winning a Purple Heart and Silver Star for taking a Japanese grenade between the legs while saving a wounded comrade.
My dad spent 30 years working in the Florida Air National Guard as a crew chief and flight chief, retiring as a Master Sergeant. Worked on aircraft from F-102, T-33, F-106, F-16 and F-15.
And I also did a tour in the ANG as a Command and Control Specialist and an Aircraft Fuel Systems Specialist on the F-15A Eagle. My brothers served along side me in Squadron Operations and Life Support for the Guard.
ERAUMcDlover From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2066 times:
I have a friend at my church who flew outta Barksdale (Louisiana), and he flew the longest mission, from BD to Iraq and back to start the first Gulf war....officials called it "Senior Surprise" aircrews called it "Secret Squirrel" Each carried 7 ALCMs if I remember correctly, and there were only 5-7 aircraft on the mission, anyway, his old man flew in the big belly Ds in Nam. Bless them all.
DL, what a classy lady....Mad Dogs...a classy plane.....USA...just the best all around
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