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. . . . . : . . . . . ..o .... H I : ~ " ~ G I : ....

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Fro1l1heChietf StaffFOR the past few years, Americans have watched theirTV sets with keenest interest as OUT astronauts haveventured further and further into space. With theOemini series now successfully completed, we feel COn-

f i d e n ~ that within the decade we will actually be ableto place a man on the moon.We have all been aware, as we have watched themanned space shots and read about our related unmanned experiments-such as Voyage" Mariner and

Orbiter-that the lunar program has been a giganticteam effort of specialists and technicians in many fields.We have also been aware that the goal of the programhas not been just to place a man on the moon, but toextend the scope of man's activity and usefulnessthrough knowledge of space.The lunar program, as a major effort in the nation'speaceful exploration of space, is under the direction ofthe National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA), a civilian agency. It is not too well known,however, that the military and, especially, the Air Forceplay n important part in this effort.I am not only referring to the fact that out of the19 astronauts who so far have traveled in space, 18were military officers-men possessing the extraordinary flying skill, diversified experience and unique personal characteristics that are fostered in the ArmedForces. It is also significant that the Air Force isrespo,nsible for all launches, for flight safety-whichhas prevented the loss of a single astronaut-and, together with the Navy, for recovery operations.These and many other contributions of the militaryto NASA's programs have made it a vital partner onthe space team. In turn , the cooperation with NASAhas been highly beneficial to Air Force's space efforts.Recently I visited the NASA Manned SpacecraftCenter and, subsequently, had the opportunity to speakto a group of Houston's citizens. I thought you mightbe interested in some of the points I made about thecooperation in the US civilian and military spaceprograms:" NASA occupies a high place in the interest andadmiration of the Air Force. For some years now ourtwo organizations have shared a common interest inthe development of space capabilities of importance toour country. And our already excellent team relation-

ship continues to be strengthened as we pool our experiences and assets toward achieving those goals."Through my close association with Jim Webb(NASA Administrator), which I value both on a personal and professional basis, I have come to appreciatethe extent to which NASA has enlarged lhe potentialfor Air Force progress with defense-related space activities. Conversely, it is very gratifying to me that AirForce space boosters, range facilities and experience inlaunch and recovery operations have proved useful insupport of NASA's manned and unmanned space work."With the building blocks provided by the spaceboosters and satellite components brought into operation by both segments of the NASA-Air Force team,J am confident that we can continue to advance at arate required to maintain our lead in scientific anddefense applications of space technology.

"As we consider the important implications of thisendeavor, I believe it is well to reaffirm the non-aggressive intent of our military operations and objectives inthe space medium. Militarily we have no desire todevelop an offensive space capability. On the otherhand, we want to insure that no potentially hostilenation develops such a capability against which wewould have no defense. That is why we place suchgreat importance on OUf systems which are already inoperation for the purpose of detecting, cataloguing and,to the extent possible, evaluating the space vehicleslaunched by other countries."By placing into orbit the payloads for communications and weather-forecasting programs, we also arehelping to improve the effectiveness of both surface andair operations. With the information we expect to gainfrom our Manned Orbiting Laboratory we will be ableto determine and use to the best advantage man 's uniquecapacity for performing useful functions in space."The United States has joined other cc.untries in establishing principles for the peaceful pursuit of all spaceefforts. Our nation's share in these efforts will continueto be fostered by the contributions of the Air Forceand its men.

GENERAL, USAF

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t

I.

Volume XI, Number 4

Moj. Gen. EUGENE B. LeBAILLYDirector of Information, OSAF

Col. BISHOP M. KILGOREChief, Internal Information

Lt. Col. JESSE F. TOWNSHEND, Jr.Editor

THEODORE R. STURMAssociate Editor

Copt. ROBERT P. EVERETTExecutive Editor

Moj. GEORGE N. WINKLERArt Director

MSgt. MANUEL A. COlLASOStaff Photographer

RUSSELL M. WOODSProduction Manager

THE AIRMAN is published monthly by InternalInformation Division, Directorate of Information, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.As the official magazine of the United StotesAir Force, it is primarily a medium for the exchange of ideas an d informo'ion among AirForce personnel. Readers are encouraged tosubmit articles, short subiec's, photographs,an d artwork. All contributions will be givenconsideration. Suggestions an d criticisms orewelcomed. Opinions expressed by individualcontributors do not necessarily reflect the official viewpoint of the Department of the AirForce.THE AIRMAN is available on subscription for$3.50 per y ~ a r domestic, $4.75 foreign, 35c.per copy, through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washing-ton, D. C. 20402. No back copies can befurnished.Editorial Offices: THE AIRMAN, Stop B15,Bolling AFB, D. C. 20332. Telephone: AreaCode 202, 562.9000, Extension 4100. Interdepartmental code, 1414100.

USAF RECURRING PUBLICATION 30-15Picture Credits: All photographs ar e officiolUSAF photos unless otherwise designated.

Front Cover photo ofCaptains Henry M. Crook (left)an d Patrick H. Hafnerby A2C Hunt Ethridge,Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

April 1967

FEATURES

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]G

The Phantom's MenThe writer was tickled when the pilot pickledThe Right Hand MenJack-of-all-trades, from baby-sitting to plumbingThe Man LaunchersBlue-suiters he lp put 'em in orbitOperation Safe SideNew, tough breed of security policemanA Tiger in Every TankerFlot on your belly ot 28,000 feet, ond sweotingThe Fighter Weapons CenterGraduate school for fighter pilots

SHORT BURSTS12 Those Lights Are a Year Away::1 Reasons They Stay Air Force

Welcome the A-37 in '67"} On Again, Off Again Air Baseci 1 Birds by Rail."" That Worn Ou t Uniform'. S Perambulat ing Python

DEPARTMENTSLetters to the EditorWhere in the Air Force Are You?Air Force Report

. J . ~ : Hobby Corner,2", Who Is This Airman?Vignettes from VietnamPentagon PersonalJungle Jollies

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORAFA Support

Sir: Th e generals did indeed listenwhen the lieutenant talked (THEAIRMAN, Dec. '66). I refer, of course,to the Air Force Systems Command'sJunior Officer Science and EngineeringSymposium and Lieutenant Huelsman's paper which was also deliveredlater at the "senior" symposium atArnold Engineering DevelopmentCenter. Cash awards for the bestpapers at both symposiums are givenannually by the Aerospace EducationFoundation, which is a part of AirForce Association. Both are fine programs and the Aerospace EducationFoundation is proud to support them.John F. Loosbrock

Editor, Air Force/Space Digest Watch THE A IRM AN fOT a storyahout the entire AFA awards program; it's tentatively scheduled forlater this year.* * *Naval Broadside

Sir: Several of us Navy personnelare working with the Air Force Security Service in a tenant unit. Recentlywe qualified as expert with the .38revolver and the carbine, under supervision of the local small arms NCO.The Air Force people who also qualified were awarded Expert ribbons. We!'Javy personnel have been told thatAir Force orders cannot be cu t to accord us the same recognition. Why?LtJG Richard H. SchraderAPO New York The Snwll Arms Expert Marksman-2

ship Ribbon was established for AirForce personnel who qualify on weapons specified by AFR 50-8. The keywords are "Air Force personnel." Theregulation does not permit award ofthe ribbon to other service members.* * *Is She Dependent?

Sjr: I am married to an Air Forcelieutenant and we're currently assignedto the same base. Th e Air Force considers my wife as a nondependentwhen com puting my BAQ. I have beenadvised, however, that if I am reassigned overseas, my wife will be considered as a dependent and I mustserve an accompanied tour if she accompanies me. Is this so? \\'hat regulation outlines this policy?AIC Joseph R. Ferri

Wurtsmith AFB, Mich. You would he required to serve an"All Others" tour as explained in Rule9, TaMe 7-2a, AFM .39-11. Your Consolidated Base Personnel Office(CBPO) should have a copy.

* * *Snakes Alive!Sir: It appears that somebody is

usurping the Civil Engineers' responsibility (page 15, TH E AIRMAN, Dec.'66). Suggest that this patrol be diverted to the CE's UMD.Lt. Col. R. F. Sherman

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio Imagine that! Who would haveguessed that one of the responsibilities(Continued on Page 39)

BehindThe

that l O d i ~ r

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" ' h e r e in th e i r .=orc::e -"re Yon?

I f occu rs to me that the future of our whole countrymay depend on a well-trained Air Corps. All thatwe are to become may depend on the men who aretrained at this field."So spoke a governor at the dedication of this basewhere flying training activities have spanned the era

from Jennies to jets.Dedicated on June 30, 1930, and named in honor ofa member of the committee that selected the site, thisbase had-in little more than 10 years- already fulfilled the governor's prophecy. For the pilots trainedhere formed the nucleus of America's air armada ofWorld War II .Incidentally, the building pictured above could becalled the first cafeteria on the base. It was opened byMr. Louis Siriani as a restaurant for workers buildingthe base. He unabashedly called it the Greasy Spoon.The cafe was located where the base exchange is today.Since 1931, when Maj. Frederick L. Martin became

the first commander, there have been a great number ofchanges in aircraft and training, but this base hasproved equal to every challenge. It's role in flyingtraining began in ear ly 1931 with the relocation of theAir Corps Primary Flying School here. Primary trainingcontinued until 1939 when the mission was changed tobasic pilot training.In March 1943 basic pilot training was replaced bythe Central In structors School. For the next two yearstraining instructors for Air Corps primary, basic -and ad-

April 1967

vanced flying was the foremost mission, and 12,585pilot instructors were graduated.For a brief period in 1943-from April to December-basic pilot training was replaced by the Army AirForces Pilot School. This school specialized in transitiontraining for B-29 bombers. Then primary and basic pilottraining again was the mission for the next three years.I n March 1948, primary pilot training was deletedfrom the program, and until 1950 activities were somewhat curtailed.August 1950 saw the activation of a Combat CrewTraining Group. Later that same year the phase-out ofthe Pilot Training Course began and the first class ofB-29 Combat crews graduated.For the next six years combat crew training was thebase's primary mission. Instead of teaching men to fly Orto teach, the school taught graduates of other schools tofly as a team. Men were trained for the B-29 and B-57bombers, the C-119 transport and the KC-97 tanker.During this period the Air Force's only helicopter

school was also located here.In addition to its many and varied training facilitiesthis base presently supports many tenant units, including Hq Air Training Command and the USAF MilitaryPersonnel Center.Before you turn to page 39 for the name of this base,here's one last clue. This base is also known for its famous landmark, a 50,000 gallon water tank that masquerades as a magnificent piece of architecture.-TSgt. M. E. COWAN.3

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THE PHANTOM'S MEN

In the cockpits andon the line they work and study hard.They know m,,--_enemy is to .... and ruthless.

Story and Photos by HAP HARRISThe Airman Stoff

I T was a small sign in a big hangar. It read "The Phantom's Men. " The major jerked his thumb at it andsaid affectionately, "You can say that again. After you'veflown the Phantom you almost become part of it. TheF-4C is a droop-snooted, saggin ' tailed, two-seater, butit's one of the world's best fighter-bombers, and it's doing a great job in Southeast Asia."We were at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., home basefor the 4453d Combat Crew Training Wing, a unit witha whale of a mission- training aircrews for SoutheastAsia and aircrews needed to convert 12 Air Force fighter wings to the F-4C.To accomplish that mission, they had planned andimplemented flying and radar training courses designedto fully prepare the two-man crews necessary to take advantage of the versatile Phantom. The two officers ofeach crew, the aircraft commander and the pilot, returnto their parent organizations as fully qualified teams,needing only a short additional training period to become combat ready.My "host" while visiting and flying with the wing wasMaj. Kenneth R. Fleenor, operations officer of the4456th CCT Sq. He is a veteran of 5,000-plus flyinghours, 30 F-4C combat missions over North Vietnamand additional A-I E dive-bomber missions to the Mekong Delta. He was eager to point out the solid air andground training today's Phantom jocks receive.As we took a lengthy, detailed tour of the wing's operational facilities the major noted important additionalfacets of the 4453d's mission.

4

Like conducting the Radar Academic Training foraU rear seat F-4 pilots assigned to the George, MacDilland Eglin AFB's RTU Replacement Training Courses.

Or managing a continual upgrading program to provide instructor pilots for the training mission.The wing's primary mission is to provide RTU flyingtraining and 50 percent of the air time goes into thisimportant course.On the line the major gave a thorough in-cockpitbriefing on the F-4C. (We would fly in it later.) As thefastest all-weather jet fighter-bomber used in large numbers by the Air Force, it has had a successful "career"in Southeast Asia, and has been highly praised by theNavy. The USAF chose the aircraft for Tactical AirCommand in 1963, has several hundred in use and hasscheduled purchases of more than 2,000.Sophisticated Weapons

A spanking new F-4C containing the Air Forceelectronics "packages" and four Sparrow I II missilescosts between $1.7 and $1.8 million. When operatingagainst North Vietnam, the aircraft carries a basic loadof eight 750-pound bombs plus other equipment.

Built by the McDonncll Aircraft Corp., it is poweredby two J79 engines, each capable of delivering 17,000pounds of thrust. This adds up to approximately 23,000horsepower at 500 miles an hour.Because of its first design as an aircraft carrier fighter,it ha s excellent short-field capability. The F-4C uses a"blown" boundary-layer control system that blowsThe Airman

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streams of high-pressure air over the leading and trailingedge flaps to increase wing lift. A considerable amountof excess thrust at low speeds helps shonen the Phan-tom's take-off roll and provides an unaccelerated rateof climb at sea level of over 35,000 feet per minute.As I sat in the cockpit of the 58-foot-Iong craft I wastold of its nuclear and conventional weapon deliverycapability, including air-to-ground missiles. In air-to-air

combat, the F-4C carries guided missiles and heat-seeking missiles, both of which are very effective. Its levelflight speed at 40,000 feet is Mach 2.6, or approximately 1,600 miles per hour. In a cross-country flight fromLos Angeles to New York, the Phantom covered thedistance in 2 hours 49 minutes. An F-4C set a flightrecord in time to climb to 98,425 feet-37 I seconds.A powerful radar operates from the nose of the craft,permitting target detection and automatic tracking at

10l1g range under all conditions of weather, day or night.Classroom in the Sky

The next day we had our mission - practice nuclearweapons delivery using visual delivery techniques while

The Phantom's Men Ofe on their way to the Gila Bend Gunnery Rangeover rugged Arizona desert land for their varied bombing minions.streaking close to the ground' toward a target.The pla ce: the huge Gila Bend Gunnery Range onthe Arizona desert near Tucson and Davis-Monthan.The weapons: four Phantoms loaded with smallpractice bombs in a pod dispenser.The men: seven Air Force pilots and the author.

The planes would comprise "Paris Flight," commanded by Major Fleenor. Three of the six crew members who would fly as " Paris Flight Two, Three andFour" were in the conversion course. Each of the in-structor pilots had completed 100 or more combat missions over Nonh Vietnam. They included 1st Lt.Imants "Kris" Kringelis, who downed a Mig jet; 1stLt. Robert W. Bowmaster and 1st Lt. George "Mack"April 1967

Hardwick. The pilot students were 1st Lts. Wayde T.Frederickson, John M. Smith, and Robert S. Thompson.Techniques to be used on the mission included aLADD or low altitude drogue delivery (toss bomb).This involves the aircraft approaching a previouslyknown IP (identification point) on the gunnery range,allowing the pilot to program the timer. The timer automatically calls for a steep climb at the time of bombrelease. This allows a time period for the aircraft to flyaway from the target prior to bomb impact.

The second method we would use was called visuallaydown delivery (VLD). This technique requires visualsighting of the target and the pilot uses a mil depressionvisual sight for the mission. The aircraft approaches thetarget at low altitude and high speed. The bomb is"p ickled" (released) by the pilot when the visual sightpicture on the target is attained. The bomb-sight presents a visual reticle image on the plane's windshield.This image is superimposed on the target and the pilotreleases the bomb at that instant.Following our preflight briefing at 0800 hours on allaspects of the mission, we staned engines at 0940. The

Meanwhile the Wing'. DeS/Ops, Col. Daniel 'Chappie' James, talks shopwith crew chief SSg,. Williams ond his helpe, A3C Pren.,o on line.weather was clear. Major Fleenor marshalled the flight.We taxied to the arming area near the runway. Hereexperienced NCOs and airmen (called a quick-

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race track pattern above 4,OOO-foot-high, boulder-strewnCimarron Peak, in the Sand Tank Mountains east ofAjo, Ariz" while "Dallas Flight" below us completedits gunnery mission.Aim Right, Paris Flight

We cleared onto the range, and the flight took upechelon formation for the "spacer" pass. (The initialpass down the range is a spacer pass to get each aircraftequally spaced around the delivery pattern.)

OUf lineup of aircraft numbers and crew numbers wasradioed to the RO (range officer) for scoring purposes.He answered, "Roger on the lineup. You're cleared in.Altimeter setting is three zero two one. Surface windscalm. Latest report gives 3,OOO-foot wind at 100 degreesat 9 knots."

While some students fly, others on ground "fly" too, in F 4C cockpitsimulator where many problems and emergencies of flight are presented.

Fleenor acknowledged and ordered, " Paris Flight, setthe pull-up timer for a nine-knot tailwind." Acknowledgments came, then OUf plane streaked in at a lowaltitude down the "run in" marked on the desert floor.

Our Phantom was like a live creature. It whinedquietly, shuddered slightly as our 400-knot speed "ateup" the air space between us and the huge concentricrings of the permanent bull's-eye target ahead. Trees,gulleys, nearby hills, rocks - all blurred as we slicedthe air, twin jets roaring smoothly.The moment came. Major Fleenor's flight instrumentspresented bomb-run information. These data, combinedwith his training and experience, caused him to "pickle,"pull back the stick, give full throttles and afterburners toour Phantom, and we shot skyward in a muscle-wrackingpull-up. G forces slammed us into our seats. I strained6

to hold my camera steady and take pictures. "Have yougot it?" (the target) said the major's voice on our intercom. "Did you see the burst?"

"Looks fairly good - think I've got it ," I mutteredthrough clenched teeth. As I answered our afterburnershurled us higher and higher, many thousands of feetper minute, away from the simulated nuclear blast.

We leveled off and monitored the target runs of ParisTwo, Three and Four. Each aircraft reported frequentlyby radio. Fuel status; as they turned base leg - thetype of weapon delivery; and a final call at the 40,000-foot marker on the run-in line. At this point the RangeControl Officer gave final clearance for ordnance delivery. This method was repeated until each Phantomhad six runs on the target, our plane included. TheRange Control Officer reported our flight had done well,

The Wing's "Old Man" is working, too. Colonel Smith visits the air-craft radar checkout shop where OJT is port of the doily routine.

and gave his compliments for a good mission."Let's go button six," (go to radio channel six) themajor radioed. He contacted Gila Command, we werecleared out of the area, then formed up and made visualchecks of each other (checking for hung bombs, doors,possible damage). We then flew to D-M for landing.At the clearing area, annamcnt crews installed safetypins, and checked the plane externally. Then we took afull load of fuel aboard in the refueling area, taxied tothe ramp, shut down, briefed the crew chief on themission and reported to the maintenance diagnostic of-fice. Here we debriefed and reported several minordiscrepancies in the plane's performance. NCOs in thisoffice are specialists in the F-4C's systems.All aircrews of Paris Flight reassembled at the 4456thSquadron's briefing room for detailed debriefing of the

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mission, with emphasis on weapon delivery patterns andana lysis of air tactics."Now you've seen many elements of the thoroughtraining our F-4 jocks get before they go to operationa lunits," Major Fleenor said. "The Phantom is a complex,sophisticated plane. It deserves good pilots and it getsthem."Non-nuclear combat training comes in the RTUcourse. Aircraft commanders and pilots are trained inprecise crew coordination during a five-month period.They undergo transition, formation, in strument, air-taair intercepts, air combat tactics plus air-la-air missilefirings and conventional air-la-ground weapons.We were scheduled for a meeting with Col. DanielJames , Jr., a lOt-mission Korean veteran who servesas Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the wing.

The six-foot, six-inch pilot was enthusiastic about

Paris Flight hos reached Ihe gunnery range- and mode bomb runs onthe torget. Note open bomb dispenser pod on right wing as plane turns,

the 4453d's training program. "Men are most important. We give them everything we've got. They workhard. Six and se ven-day weeks occur, at times , becauseof the Vietnamese war. Over there, they're all workingseven-day weeks."The colonel noted t h r ~ e of the courses given: RadarAcademic Training Course, the Combat Crew TrainingCourse and the RTU Replacement Training Course.Radar training qualifies recently graduated pilots inoperating the F-4C's airborne missile control system fortactical air operations. It's a prerequisite for entry intomore advanced pilot training in the F-4s .

The combat crew course transitions aircraft commanders and pilots into the F-4C from other planesand provides fundamental knowledge during a 10-weekperiod. They study and practice instrument flying , air-April t 967

to-air refueling, air-to-air intercepts, conventional air-to-ground weapons, nuclear weapons delivery, and combat profile missions including radar low-level navigationand radar weapons delivery.Co lonel James remarked that "o ther pertinent subjectsare also given, but an F-4 man keeps learning. There'snothing like on-the-job experience."Acting wing commander Col. Foster L. Smith, a

West Pointer with 4V2 Mig-15s to his credit in Koreawas to meet me at 0400 the next day to visit the lineand shops.The Arizona morning was dark and cold as thecolonel and I drove from point to point. He greetedmany men by name, asked how thing were going, listened carefully to some suggestions by top noncoms andairmen, and remarked later, "That the F-4Cs here stay

Sallet of the hardstand takes place when flight return, to DM AFB .Thi1 is rear cockpit view of crew chief signaling pilot to pork on line.

in shape and give top performance is not luck. The menhere make that possible. I've never forgotten that, notsince my cadet days. All of us at wing know it, and weoften tell these great troops that we know it."The colonel noted that a top job was also done by a

number of civilian administrative and education specialists in the wing, many of whom were service veterans. Herecalled that the 4453d had received outstanding ratingsin the past two Twelfth Air Force general inspections .Many of the men are completing classroom and onthe-job training in the wing's Southeast Asia maintenance training program. Co lonel Smith added, "Theyknow where their next assignment will be, and theyknow the aircrews will depend on them. These menreally care. What more can you say?" eOa

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THE RIGHT-HAND MENby WILLIAM A. KINNEY

The Airman Staff

THEY are spread quite thinly throughout the AirForce. You hear little about them, individually orcollectively.Yet, in a very real sense, they constitute an elitegroup although they would be the first to disavow anysuch complimentary description.They are the unsung airmen who assist Air Forcechaplains in the accomplishment of their high missionStateside and around the globe.As in the case of any other specialty, these airmenmust first satisfy the officially prescribed qualificationsfor the assignment. In practice it has been found thatthe more additional talents and skills a man possesses,the more useful he will be in the job.Some small experience in leading a choir, for example, is obviously an added asset. Or to have a waywith young children is plainly no handicap for a manwho will be helping to handle Sunday school. Butthen, too, a bit of know-how in carpentry or plumbinghas been known to come in handy on occasion. So hasan instinctive eye for beautification or the knack forpicking up a new language.At present there are some 1,100 airmen on dutywith chaplains. Some are old hands who have alwayshad that service. Others of long service are men whoretrained from other career fields. Most are youngermen who volunteered for the assignment soon aftertheir enlistment.Making the ChoiceIt is, as a matter of fact, quite unusual for a youngman to enlist in the Air Force with the preconceivedpurpose of serving with chaplains. Many motives influence enlistments. The prestige of the Air Force undoubtedly carries much weight as does the possibilityof duty touched with glamour.Not until the indoctrination process has been completed does a recruit begin to realize the complexity of

the Air Force. Given reasonable intelligence, he willsee that there are a host of things which require doingboth for the proper functioning of this branch of serviceand also for his own good, as well as that of others.At Lackland and Amarillo AFBs all basic traineeswho show quaHfication in screening examinations mayapply for training in one of the various career fields.Any choice is strictly voluntary on the part of the newairman. He is informed what special schooling will be

8

necessary and he knows he will have to acquit himselfwell there to make the grade. Only he can make up hisown mind.The factors which actuate men at moments like thisoften defy analysis. Some will pick what seems like thepath of least resistance. Some will seek a course withthe most promise of advancement. Some will follow anatural bent, recognized or latent. And some will bemoved for suddenly dominant reasons to ask for a lineof duty they had not associated with the Air Force before enlisting.

Volunteers for a chaplain services specialist careerare not immediately welcomed into the fold, so tospeak. First they have an extended session with an NCOsupervisor in that specialty. He briefs them on the predictable future duties and responsibilities the career involves. The briefings are. designed to be as informativeas possible and also to dispel any notion that the job isa sedentary sanctuary.N ext each volunteer is interviewed by a chaplain ofthe major religious denomination to which he belongs.This is a critical step in determining the recruit's motivation in volunteering. It also permits an explorationof his civilian background, examination of his religiousthinking and an appraisal of his personality.Even when a recruit is accepted he still must complete his basic training, including familiarization withweapons. Under the Geneva Convention which definescertain practices to be observed in wartime a chaplain, as a noncombatant, is in the "protected personnel"grouping. An airman working with him does not havethat immunity, however, so he should learn how to defend himself.

Once ready for special schooling, a volunteer's training has a wide range. He learns to type (35 words aminute or better), keep accounts, perform clerical andadministrative practices so that he will be equipped tohandle the office routine, correspondence and otherpaper work which the job entails. In the strictly re-1igious area there are classes in such subjects as denominational requirements and practices, religious facilities and supplies, missions and procedures of USAir Force chaplains, religious and spiritual morale factors. ]n addition he receives instruction on audio-visualaids, use of the voice, music, motor vehicle maintenance and operation, among other things. For all theformal classroom work they receive, newer chaplainservices airmen are inclined to attribute a very im-

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portant part of their "education" to the OJT they receive once assigned.Making the Duty Distinctive

When the Air Force achieved autonomy as an individual component of the Armed Forces in 1947, organizing its own chaplaincy along the lines to serve itbest was one of the numerous transitional tasks to beundertaken. And necessarily it extended to nonclericalpersonnel assigned to duty with chaplains.During the years the Air Force had been part of theArmy such personnel had been called chaplains' assistants (a designation some chaplains still prefer at thislate date). Their official classification, however, wasclerk-typist.

The first Air Force Chief of Chaplains felt that assistants should have a separate, distinguishing classification. He had no prejudice against a clerk-typist andfrom World War 11 experience he was well aware thatmany of the routine duties performed by the assistants required those skills. On the other hand, a highlyefficient clerk-typist could be an utter washout as achaplain's assistant if he lacked other qualities considered essential. Among these were good character, religious conviction, high motivation,Building his own office at Pleiku, Vietnam, Chaplain O. l. McCormackhandles sow. Hammering anistants ore Al Cs Holewinski and Countryman.

April 1967

Students in the Chaplain Services Specialist School at Amarillo AFBge t instructions from NCO on letting up Jewish Chaplain's Field Kit .

The chief also believed that service with chaplainsshould be a distinct career field for personnel and so itbecame in March 1949. Men who had been serving aschaplains' assistants and others who had been engagedin a welfare program for casualties and their dependents were reclassified as welfare specialists.The new name was not a happy choice, as lateracknowledged, for it failed to identify men specificallywith the chaplaincy. Moreover, the reclassificationsaddled chaplains' men with much additional work unrelated to their multiple regular duties. They had tocarry this extra load for three years before it wastransferred back to personal affairs where it had been .The "welfare" designation lingered until May of '54when it was replaced by chaplain specialist.

For more than a decade after the Air Force becamea separate service it had a serious shortage of chapla in s. The shortage of chaplain specialists was evenmore acute. The career program had not been suf-ficiently publicized among personnel already in unifClrm and there was delay in seeking men directlyamong new enlistees in basic training .In one effort to cope with the situation some WAFwere used as chaplain specialists and acquitted themselve s commendably. However, a specialist's work occasionally called for strenuous physical labor deemedtoo heavy for a woman to undertake without risk ofinjury. The last WAF was phased out of chaplaincyduty four years ago.

lt was in 1959 that systematic procurement of candidates for chaplain services from the ranks of newlyenlisted airmen began at the Military Training Wing,

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Lackland AFB, Tex. Since then the supply of proper per-sonnel has proved adequate.It is no exaggeration to say a chaplain is always oncall. His fixed schedule for religious services, variouspastoral work and related duties may not seem overlytime consuming. But many unscheduled things occur.A crisis or emergency arises. "Get the chaplain!" The

shadow of death slants unexpectedly across a hosp italbed. "He'll be wanting the chaplain." An early morning domestic row threatens to erupt into violence. "Butthey'll listen to the chaplain."As for the chaplains, they know not the day nor thehour they will be needed.An intelligent, well motivated airman who volunteers to serve with such men to facilitate their highmission can have little illusion that he is taking a berthwhere the work tour fits a changeless time clock pattern. Or that it will always respect the calendar. It'snot that kind of duty.Chaplain services specialists know well in advance

of their first assignments, for example, that they canexpect to be fully occupied weekends when mostother personnel normally can look for a period of relaxation . The same goes for the occasion of high religious feasts when others are excused from duty.But a Sabbath or Sunday is just one day in a chaplain 's week. It has six others. On some there may beboth a morning service and another in the evening orsome chapel-related gathering. Weddings, funerals ,baptisms divert time earmarked for paper work, stillthat paper work must get done. And there are alwaysunforeseen situations which develop, and these consumemore time.Another imponderable in these airmen's lives stemsfrom the practice of assigning one specialist to eachchaplain. Now suppose that Chaplain B's man becomesill or is absent for any other reason. Is that clergymanleft to shift entirely for himself? No, Chaplain A's andChaplain C's men will step into the breach. Theyknow how to fix the chapel for any of Chaplain B'sservices and other basic things pertaining to his religious functioning. It means more work, more time, butthe overriding consideration is that it be done.In sum, as far as duty hours, you can say that theyare mostly open end . I have heard of chaplain'S aideswho don't mind stints which run from 0630 occasionoily to 2400 as demands dictate. Theoretically menare supposed to have their day off, but this is lookedon not as a right but as a privilege-if and when itcan be arranged conveniently.Leave likewise comes when it can be scheduled andmany factors may affect that, considering that chaplains and chapels operate year around. I f there is anything resembling a lull in the tempo of activity it normally comes after Easter and efforts are made to takecare of leave time then.

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Not many airmen are aware of these aspects of thelife of chaplain services specialists. With rare exceptions they have found these careerists readily available any time they have had the slightest reason to seethem. This leads to the unthinking assumption that theready availability involves nothing extra in the way ofwork or effort. Chaplains' aides make no point of trying to point out otherwise. I t is an eloquent tribute notonly to the aides' dedication to furthering their chaplains' mission but also to their selfless interest in thewelfare and good treatment of fellow airmen.Little thought is needed to realize what sacrifices allthis involves for a single man when his off-duty life isconsidered. I f the man is married, it takes less thoughtto imagine how much domestic comfort he willinglyforegoes, not to mention how sympathetic and understanding his wife must be.Vet the rewards of the duty are great, psychologically and spiritually. Said one young airman: "Being achaplain services specialist has made me see the manysides of religion, brought me to see its importance topeople of all creeds, and given me a deeper understanding of my fellow man."The Boss Knows

I f there is a general tendency to take chaplain services personnel pretty much for granted, it certainlyis not shared by the clergymen with whom they work.

Inltructor A2e G. l. Och,ner ch.c ... lOt' accuracy the work of olpiringchaplain Ipecialists in handling of chaplain fund accounting tasks.

The Airman

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The chaplains are well aware of the volume of workthese men handle even though much of it may be donenot under a chaplain's immediate supervision. Theyalso know the practical versatility these men have displayed on many occasions in meeting situations whichcould even give a chaplain pause.One chaplain called the specialist assigned to himhis "right-hand man" and that compliment about sumsup what these airmen have become.The specialists are specifically enjoined against attempting to do any counseling themselves but not infrequently they serve as stepping stones between thosein need of help and a chaplain. An airman needingadvice or in trouble, for example, will not hesitate toseek out a chaplain specialist who is the same gradeas himself and has the reputation of being a "goodguy." He may, however, be hesitant to approach hisdenominational chaplain who is a light colonel.When the specialist realizes why the troubled airman has come to him, he tells him the one he shouldsee is that light colonel who is a very human and understanding character. He recounts a few anecdotes tounderline the fact. It is not a sales talk but usually theman with a problem follows the advice where to gowith it. And he realizes he is going to see a chaplain,not a light colonel.This "middleman" role has more value than immediately reaches the eye. An airman haunted by

A knack for baby sitting con .ometimes be helpful to chaplain .pedalilt.Ale John J. 80renl performs " guard duty" for a group of wor orphan .

April 1967

problems or beset by trouble is not likely to be doinghis best in his assigned duty slot. Nor can his morale beexpected to be high . If one or more sessions with achaplain help straighten things out for him, his unitstands to gain in the better performance of his dutiesand improved morale.In another, if more limited area, specialists provide

a good influence at installations where they work . Asone would expect from the nature of their duties, theyafe individuals of upright character, sincere, honest,dependable. Living and associating with a man completely on the square is bound to have an effect for thebetter on at least some of his fellows.Chaplains' sPecialists, too, make contributions to aninstallation's social and cultural life through the planning of and participation in a variety of chapel-sponsored events from picnics to forum discussions.Since the Air Force became autonomous its chaplain services specialists have received a goodly numberof awards. Perhaps not as many as merited, for theirwork is not apt to attract any spotlight and no smallportion of it may go without notice at the base whichbenefited.But publicity, the limelight is not what motivatesthese airmen. Infinitely more important is to hear thevoice of one unseen whisper:"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Jock.of-olltrode. Airman Borenl instalt, new plumbing at orphanage .Money for installation comes from men of the 8th Tactical Fight.r Wing .

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A new man can seethe lights and almosthear his own heelsclicking on the big city'sstreets-it's tough to convince him

THOSE LIGHTSARE A YEAR AWAY!by SSgt. STAN McDONNOUGHHq Alaskan Command

Lieutenants Terry Lenchitsky, left, and William Carlson get in a bit of skiing practice on thelite', ski slope. AcrOH the water twinkle the lights that ore two miles and a year away.

A year is a long time to the menwho operate the jointly manned, remote aircraft control and warningsite at Fire Island, Alaska. Although they can look across thetwo miles of water of Cook Inlet inthe evening and see the skyline andtwinkling lights of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, their assignment isnone the less remote.The men on Fire Island can onlyimagine the bustling activities ofAnchorage for the scant two milesthat separate them from these thingsmight as well be a thousand. FireIsland and the 626th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is anessential link in the air defense ofAlaska and the rest of the NorthAmerican continent. The island had

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a mission during World War II asa lookout site for submarines andbegan its present mission in 1951.The Mission Comes First is themotto of military men on Fire Island, and that mission, as part of avast radar surveillance network, isto detect, identify and, if necessary,direct the interception and destruction of any airborne object within

its sphere of responsibility.As a North American Air De-fense(NORAD) control center, FireIsland receives and displays on itstracking board statewide information on airborne objects from twosubordinate radar direction centersand other control centers and surveillance sites in Alaska.This information is transmitted

The site at fire Island geb its perishoblesupplies by helicopter from nearby Elmendorf.

to other control centers and to the'master display board at the AlaskanNORAD Region headquarters atElmendorf AFB, near Anchorage.The wizardry of an electronic datatransmission and display system provides an up-to-the-moment pictureof every aircraft in flight over ornear Alaska. This information isavailable to not only the regionalheadquarters at Elmendorf AFB,but also to several NORAD controlcenters similar to Fire Island.Fire Island and her sister ACWsites inform the battle commanderof the speed, direction and altitudeof aircraft within their area, and inmany cases determine the aircraft'sorigin and probable type.Air defense of the Anchoragearea is the mission of the US Armyat Fire Island. Army air defenseoperations officers work side byside with their US Air Force counterparts and, with their Nike groundto-air missiles, stand as a secondline of defense for Alaska's largestcity. The Air Force weapons controllers assign intercept missions tofighter-interceptor aircraft.

It takes about 200 men to operate a remote site such as FireIsland. For, in addition to the obviously important radar o ~ a t o r s ,and communications men, there'must be maintenancelUldoperationsI\dministrativeequipment.either.

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Inside the Fire Island combat center, the battle staff keeps a constant watch on Alaskan skies. A "bogie" will scramble interceptors. A time to work and a time to play. Slot car race track was built bymen at the site. It's one of the mast popular off-duty activities.

of his own to open a haberdashery,the site commander Lt. Col. JohnT. Brown, Jr., believes that a busyman doesn't have time to get lonesome or homesick, and runs hisland accordingly. Most of the menassigned to Fire Island hold downat least one additional duty alongwith their principal job. This notonly reduces the number of peopleneeded to run the installation, butis a morale factor, as the trainingrequirements and additional jobs donot allow the men much free timeto brood over their remote existence.Into the portion of their time notused for eating, sleeping and working is crammed a full recreationprogram which includes indoor andoutdoor athletics, craftwork-suchas lapidary and leather-working -movies and many other activities.The men at the site have builtseveral major recreational facilities.These facilities include ski andtoboggan slopes, an ice skating rinkand an intricate indoor slot cartrack. Competitive sports and recreation are encouraged on the site.One of the most important support functions at Fire Island is anenergetic fire prevention program.April 1967

The Fire Island Volunteer Fire Department is made up of one fulltime fireman and four volunteerswho train in their spare time. Asall the buildings and facilities atthe site are necessary for it to function normally, a fire at Fire Islandwould literally leave them out inthe cold.The 626th Aircraft Control andWarning Squadron not only supports the military mission on theisland, but provides support for theFederal Aviation Agency (FAA)operation as well. One of the threesurveillance radars on the island ismaintained by the FAA and furnishes information for its Air Traffic Control System. The FAA alsooperates electronic aids to aerialnavigation and communications facilities on the island.Transportation to and from theisland and re-supply of perishableitems for the military is achievedprimarily through the use of H-21helicopters. The H-2l s are eagerlyawaited by the men on the island,because they also carry the mail.In the personal life of a man stationed at the site, the letters fromhome are a big morale booster.

Resupply of nonperishable itemsis accomplished in the summermonths as part of Project MonaLisa. (See The Other Mona Lisa,THE AIRMAN, May '64.') MonaLisa provides everything from staple food items to heavy equipment,from diesel fuel to run the 10 electric power generators to the saltused to soften the site water supply.The supplies are brought in bybarge and unloaded at the island'sonly dock, about three miles fromthe site. They are then trucked tothe site.Spiritual needs of the men atFire Island are provided for by theAlaskan Command Chaplains' Office which sends circuit-riding chaplains, Protestant and Catholic, andcivilian missionaries to visit FireIsland, which has a 3D-seat chapel.Though a man stationed at FireIsland can gaze at the lights ofAnchorage across Cook Inlet witha longing look, he soon puts thoughtsof the city aside and buckles downto his job--making sure those lights,and the lights of hundreds morecities in the Free World continue totwinkle brightly. eGa

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_ _ _ _ _ _PROJECT Gemini, the recently concluded portion ofthe United States' manned space program, rang upan impressive tally on the space computers. Collectively, American astronauts logged nearly 2,000 hoursin space in the course of some 600 revolutions ofthe earth during which they traveled more than 16million miles. They went higher, explored more, experimented more, made more rendezvous and moredockings, physically worked more, recorded more, andaccomplished more than Man had ever done before.

Those are some of the facts that impressed millions throughout the world. Less familiar to the worldaudience that followed the 20 Gemini astronauts ontheir to spectacular flights, however, is the fact thatone particular organization of the US Air Forcehelped make it all possible.This is the story of that organization - the onlyone in the Free World to have ever put a man inorbit. It's a story of hard work, professionalism, andabove all, a remarkable team effort.The Grganization is the 6555th Aerospace TestWing at Partick AFB, Fla. It's part of Air ForceSystems Command's Space Systems Division, whichhas its headquarters in Los Angeles.The 6555th Aerospace Test Wing traces its ancestry back to early 1946 when the First ExperimentalGuided Missile Group was activated at Eglin Field,Fla., to test adaptations of the German V -I guidedbombs. The unit first came to Patrick in 1950 andwent through several name changes before acquiringits current one in 1962.It was also during 1962 that the 6555th got itsfirst man-launching experience. On February 20 ofthat year, the wing successfully launched Marine Lt.Col. John H. Glenn, Jr., into orbit. This use of an

Air Force-developed A t/as booster in Project Mercurymarked a departure from the earlier, suborbitallaunches in which the Army's Redstone missile hadbeen used.The Air Force was already familiar with manyaspects of manned space flight as far back as themid-fifties. It also had a backlog of experience withballistic weapon systems. In 1958, when the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wasdirected to conduct the man-in-space effort, theAir Force was assigned the task of developing boosters to support manned S'lace flight.With little hesitation, the Air Force Space SystemsDivision chose its A rlas intercontinental ballistic mis-sile for the Mercury program. Conversion from a wea-pon-carrying ICBM to a booster is not-'a simple one. The process is and _involves installation of more sophisticatedsystems, building redundancy - duplicate systemsinto the booster wherever possible, and many o t l t e f ~modifications. The changes were made, and thesuccessfully put a total of four American a s I I r 0 1 ~ a I ; ~into orbit. They were. all launched by theAerospace Test Wing.

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Thus, in the first man-in-space program, it wasan Air Force rocket and Air Force technologicalknow-how from its experience with ICBMs that mademanned orbital flight possible.Birth of Gemini

Gemini hegan in 1961, when NASA decided thatan intermediate step was needed between Mercuryand the moon-bound A polio program. Whereas in theMercury effort the astronaut functioned primarily asan observer, in Gemini, he would be a pilot.Project Gemini was therefore the second phase ofthe United States' man-in-space program. Among themain objectives of the program were long-durationearth orbital flights to determine Man's capabilitiesin space during periods of weightlessness and, inlater flights, rendezvous and docking missions and experimenting with astronaut extra-vehicular activity.To meet the requirements of long-duration spaceflights, the Gemini spacecraft contained support systems capable of sustaining life for periods up to twoweeks. In short, Gemini was to provide the vitalexperience necessary for the eventual Apollo missionsto the moon.Again the Air Force was called upon to providea booster. While the Atlas had successfully carriedthe one-man Mercury capsules, it was not powerfulenough to handle the heavier Gemini spacecraft andits two-man crew. Air Force eyes turned to the TitanII ICBM.The Titan II was a reliable, powerful rocket, but- like the A tlas before it - had to undergo a program of "man rating," with primary emphasis onastronaut safety. The Air Force Space Systems Division augmented, rather than changed the Titan ll ,which needed relatively few entirely new systems.Under direction of the Gemini System Program Office, the Air Force built redundancy into the rocket'sexisting systems. Perhaps the best proof of the reliability of the Titan II booster lies in the fact thatit was never necessary to use the redundant systemsinstalled for man-launching.In Project Gemini, as in the orbital portion ofProject Mercury, the Air Force was totally responsible for the launch vehicle. It had done the research

April 1967

and development of each vehicle, overseen the actual construction, tested them, man-rated them, delivered them to Cape Kennedy, checked out their systems and finally-and spectacularly-launched them.This meant that when a launch was postponed due

to some problem, Air Force crews supervising theoperation - members of the 6555th - would workside by side with the contractor, sometimes for dayson end, until the problem was corrected. The countdown itself was a joint Air Force-

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Force, working with its contractors, actually put theastronauts and their target vehicles into space.The mission sounds almost simple when reducedto words. But it was not simple and it never becameroutine. The launching of a manned rocket calls forthe utmost attention to the smallest detail.The unit of the 6555th which was responsible forthe launch of the astronaut-carrying Titan II wasthe Gemini Launch Vehicle (GLV) Division. It washeaded by Col. John G. Albert. The Air Force officers and airmen assigned to the GLV Division arespecialists in the various booster systems - engines,hydraulics, guidance and others. It was their job tofollow the booster's progress from the time it arrivedat Cape Kennedy until it was launched. And afterblast-off, they had to see that the pad was madeready for another launch. This involved the repairor replacement of items damaged or destroyed duringbooster launch.The people of the GLV Division are especiallyand justifiably proud of their work in the "7/6Turnaround" in December 1965. GT -6 was originallyscheduled for launch in October, with its Atlas-Agenatarget. However, after launching, the Agena targetvehicle failed to attain orbit and the mission wasscrubbed. GT -6 was replaced by GT -7 on Pad 19.

The vehicle was checked out by the Air Forcecontractor crew, and the launch of the GT-7 cameon December 4. Immediately after GT-7 left the pad,almost before the smoke had cleared, crews went onan around-the-clock schedule and started erectingGT -6 again on Pad 19. GT -6 was ready for launchon Decen,ber 12, only eight days after the launch ofGT-7. Then, in the final countdown, a plug droppedout prematurely and caused a shutdown of engines.The problem was resolved and the countdown restarted. GT -6 actually got off the pad on December15, II days after GT-7, marking the shortest intervalfor two launches from the same pad in space history.The Atlas-Agena Division, headed by Lt. Col.LeDewey E. Allen, also had its busy moments inthe Gemini program. Some of the busiest came in May1966 when a failure occurred during the A tlas boostphase. The launch pad was immediately cleaned upand a new A tlas was erected and checked out. Twoweeks later the new booster successfully placed atarget vehicle in orbit. The fast turnaround set arecord for Atlas launches at the Cape.The Gemini program ended with the on-targetsplashdown of GTA-12, carrying Astronauts James A.Lovell, Jr., and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., on November15. With its conclusion come many changes for the6555th Aerospace Test Wing.For Colonels Albert and Allen, it means they'veworked themselves out of a job - almost literally.Completion of the program brings deactivation orreorganization of their divisions, and reassignmentfor the two officers. Each had a summation of whathe felt the program had accomplished.16

Three key men of Gemini discuss docking achievement.canter, commands 655Sth; Col. Albert (I) was responsible for IGemini-carrying Titon II, while Lt. Col. Allen headed Atlas

Colonel Albert stressed some significantbenefits." He commented, "There are threethat readily come to my mind. One is thatwith an advance in technology, there hascorresponding refinement of procedures. We'vefected our way of doing things and in the n,,>coveloped a good system of checks and

"The second thing is that we've learned totwo countdowns simultaneously. We launchedrockets with only an hour and a half between. . . and in the case of Gemini II , we got aoff with a launch window of only two seconds."The third thing Colonel Albert listed as abenefit" was related to the second. "We've

to control and track two birds in quickOur people all along the range got so theyswitch from A tlas-A gena telemetry to theGemini in an hour or less."

For Colonel Allen, the role of peoplemilitary contribution were extremely important.human factor was without a doubt theblended all the other elements of thegram into a workable combination," he said,I don't think any discussion of Gemini's successbe complete unless you recognize the factentire space program is based upon the de'veI

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Like his division chiefs, Colonel Ledford had wordsof praise for the people who made it all possible. "IfI use the word 'teamwork,' it tells only part of thestory. There must be added the word 'spirit.' A certain feeling existed in this program that was sharedby NASA people, contractors and blue-suiters alike.Perhaps it was just the knowledge that there was ajob to be done and so it was done. No one confinedhimself to the limits of his area of responsibility. Theletters of contracts were forgotten because the spiritdictated doing the job the best way you knew how."

Referring to his officers, enlisted men and AirForce civilians as "the best in the country," the colonelcontinued, "There's one point I want to stress moststrongly; and that is the really outstanding NCOs andairmen we have assigned. When the news photos showone of our officers or civilians at a console or acheckout panel, you can be Sure that somewherealong the system there's a top-notch NCO or airmancontributing his knowledge and skill. I have not theslightest doubt that without them we could never havegotten even the first bird off the ground."Colonel Ledford looked to the future when he continued, "Of course, the completion of Gemini is farfrom being the end of the road for the 6555th. We'rein the middle of programs involving the Minutemanand Titan Ill. And I'm pretty sure these are goingto take much of our attention for some time to come."The wording on an award presented to the 6555thand to its host unit at Patrick, the Air Force Eastern

Test Range, seems to vindicate the feelings of thesekey individuals of the Gemini program. The awardwas the NASA Group Achievement Award and itreads: "For outstanding teamwork by the 6555thAerospace Test Wing in conducting launch operations and the Eastern Test Range for range supportfor Gemini space flight missions. They exhibited exceptional technical competence and dedication to dutyin successfully launching and coordinating range support requirements."Mr. James E. Webb, administrator of the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration, had earliersummed up in a few words the Air Force contributionto manned space flight when, in a special article forTHE AIRMAN, he said, "The rapid rate of progressin the NASA part of the national space program overthe past six years would have been impossible without the launch vehicles and related technology derived from Air Force missile programs.

"I wish to emphasize also that with these rocketswe got much more than hardware. We obtained theadvantage of the experience and competence andgood will bf the Air Force personnel who helped usprocure and use these rockets and who have workedwith us closely in further perfecting them.

"NASA continues to look to the Air Force formany essential services in support of its operations."Beginning with the Apollo program, other organizations will launch men into orbit. But you can remember with pride that men in blue suits - members ofthe 6555th Aerospace Test Wing - did it first. eOaLog of the astronouts-the Gemini record

MISSION CREW' DATESGemini I Unmanned Apr. 812, 1964Gemini 2 Unmanned Jan. 19, 1965Gemini 3 Virgil I. Grissom Mar. 23, 1965John W. YoungGemini 4 James A. McDivitt June 37, 1965Edward H. White IIGemini 5 l. Gordon Cooper, Jr. Aug. 2129, 1965Charles P. Conrad, Jr.Gemini 1 Frank Borman Dec. 418, 1965James A. Lovell, Jr.Gemini 6 Walter M. Schirra, Jr. Dec. 1516, 1965Thomas P. StaffordGemini 8 Neil A. Armstrong Mar. 16, 1966David R. ScottGemini 9 Thomas P. Staflord" June 3-6, 1966Eugene A. CernanGemini 10 John W. Young** July 1821, 1966Michael Collins

Gemini 11 Charles P. Conrad, Jr'-' Sept. 1215, 1966Richard F. Gordon, Jr.

Gemini 12 James A.lovell, Jr.** Nov. 1115, 1966Edwin Aldrin*-Command pilot shown first. ..-Second Gemini mission.

April 1967

DURATION64 revolutions2127.1 miles3 revolutions4 hrs., 53 min.66 revolutions4 days, 1 hr., 59 min.120 revolutions7 days, 22 hr., 59 min.206 revolutions13 days, 18 hr., 35 min.16 revolutions1 day, 1 hr., 52 min.7 revolutions10 hr., 42 min.46 revolutions3 days, 21 min.43 revolutions2 days, 22 hrs., 47 min.

44 revolutions2 days, 23 hr., 17 min.59 revolutions3 days, 22 hr., 36 min.

HIGHLIGHTSUnmanned test of spacecraft and launch vehicle.Unmanned ballistic test of spacecraft and heat shield.First U, S. 2 man flight; first manual orbit change,First U. S. extravehicular activity (EVAI by White (22minJFirst 8 day manned flight.Ended doubts man could function under weightlessconditions for 2 weeks without ill effects.Historic first rendezvous in space with another manned spacecraft.World's first space docking with another vehicle; precision launch of Gemini spacecraft and Agena dockingvehicle, using simUltaneous countdown.Record EVA time by Cernan (2 hr., 10 min.1Smallest launch window (35 seconds) to date for renodezvous; deepest manned pentration into space (476mi.l; first rendezvous with 2 vehicles in 2 differentorbits; 2 EVA periods.Confronted by 2 second launch window, achievedlaunch precisely on time to rendezvous on first orbitof docking target; 2 EVA periods; new space penetration record {850 mi.lSimulated Apollo program rendezvous; new world record for total EVA on single mission by Aldrin (5 hrs.37 min.l

-Courtesy Aero;ef.Ganeral Corp.

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OperationSale Side

by MSgt. S. J. CHRISTALDIHq PACAF

"JOINED to Fight! Joined to Fight!"The words echoed over Hawaii's Schofield Barracks as the Air Force's elite 1041st USAF SecurityPolice Squadron double-timed smartly down the road.The 1041 st is unique. It is the hean of an AirForce test program called Operation Safe Side. Itspurpose? Form, equip and train a US Air Force Security Police force with the ability to secure air baseslocated in hostile environments against all forms ofenemy ground action.With greater mobility, more advanced detectionequipment, reinforced training , and heavier fire-powerthan is normally found in a security police squadron,the 1041 st, currently 200 men strong, is undergoingsix months of field evaluation.The idea for the unit was conceived in 1965 asa result of Air Force experience in Vietnam whereheavily guarded air bases were being attacked by theViet Congo Obviously, new procedures for internalbase security were needed. Although Air Force Security Police plans against sabotage were basicallysound for most bases throughout the world, a studyin Vietnam proved that no single existing system ortechnique provided sufficient security to thwart theViet Cong guerrillas in their own environment.Based on the situation in Vietnam a new base security concept, unlike any in Air Force history. wasdesigned. Evolved under the supervisory eye of Lt.Gen. Glen W. Martin, Air Force Inspector General In the lush Hawoiia., countryside. air policemen practice combal 'actics.Crew fires a .!iO caliber machine gun at Q simulated enemy target.18 The Arman

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until February 1967, the proposal was presented toand accepted by Chief of Staff, General John P. McConnell and the Air Staff. The name Safe Side wasassigned to the development of the new concept.Because of his experience in the field of internalsecurity, Lt. Col. William H. Wise was appointedproject officer for Operation Safe Side .Discussions were held with the US Army, MarineCorps, and Royal Air Force regarding ground combat training courses which would best suit the needsof this new program. The US Army Ranger Courseat Fort Benning, Ga., was selected. In addition tobeing realistic and tough, it also developed the individual's self-confidence, and leadership abilities, aswell as his skill in ground combat tactics.A training plan was written, based on ArmyRanger experience, and a number of Air Force Se-curity Police officers and NCOs were screened for in-structor duty. Twenty-three were finally selected forRanger training.Next, the call for volunteers went out to securitypolicemen. The requirements were stiff. Not only didapplicants have to be highly motivated, but their lastfive proficiency reports had to be in the top 10 percent! Naturally, applicants also had to be in nearperfect physical condition. One hundred seventy menwere chosen .The 1041 st USAF Security Police Squadron wasactivated in September 1966. It then had 225 men,including trainees, instructors and support personnel.All its combat members were, and still are, volunteers. Virtually all had been Air Force Security Policemen."During the first few weeks, trainees were given alot of physical conditioning and many hours of drill ,"said a training NCO. "We had to get them in shapeas quickly as possible. The drills were good for theircoordination. We wanted them to see everything,think quickly and clearly, to react instantaneouslyand to shoot straight. All of these are important in combat," explained the veteran security policeman.Schofield Barracks in Hawaii was se lected as thetraining site because of its terrain , housing, and otherfacilities. An obstacle course was not available atSchofield, but the instructors built their own, patterning it after the one at Fort Benning.Training was in a jungle environment, and included night infiltration tactics. Scout dogs were included in the program. Air Force personnel conductedall phases of training.April 1967

Trainees ar . schooled in the art of camouflage. Properly garbed, theyare almost impossible to lpot. See the M-16 aimed directly at you?

This is the first time a complete Air Force unithas been trained for defensive ground combat.':Local base security forces are responsible for theinternal protection of air bases," Colonel Wise stated."They have been very effective against attemptedpenetrations by saboteurs. But when hostile groupsovertly attack our base perimeters in large numbers,it's too late!"With units such as the 1041 st on the scene, theenemy would have a rough time getting in closeenough to the base without being detected," he continued. "We are equipped with modern electronic devices and scout dogs to alert us when someone penetrates our area of responsibility."Personnel of the 1041 st are highly trained in allphases of ground combat, with special empljasis ontactics relating to perimeter and internal securityprotection. Their basic weapon is the M-16 rifle, butthey also have, and are highly skilled in the use of,a wide variety of other weapons which make the outfit a high firepower organization.The dogs of the 1041 st are unique within the AirForce. They are scout dogs trained primarily not toattack an enemy, but to detect his presence, evenwhen he's hiding in water.A comparatively new system of hand-ta-hand combat measures is used by the unit. It includes self defense with and without weapons. It is designed tokill or incapacitate an enemy whenever physical con-

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tact is made. All assigned Air Force Security Policemen are skilled in hand-to-hand combat.To check on physical and combat proficiency, periodic tests were given. These included the 40-yard

low crawl, horizontal ladder, dodge run and jump,grenade throw, and one-mile run . Trainees were re-quired to score a minimum of 300 for all five events.When training began, the average physical condition score per student was 311 points. Six weekslater the average score had jumped to 381 - indicating the significant improvement in physical conditioning. More than 20 of the men clad in fatigues , combat

boots, web belt, and canteen were able to run themile in six minutes or less.Midway through training the men were subjectedto escape and evasion tactics. After being "captured"by the instructors, trainees were marched to an"enemy" compound. The students were held "captive"overnight - about 20 hours in all. " It was aharrowing experience," explained one of the men." I' ll never be taken prisoner," stated another."I t was all made very realistic," said CMSgt. Robert C. Frink, squadron sergeant major. "We harassedthem, insulted them, and did all the things we think

Trainees hit this chest.high log under a full head of steom; lOmenauit OVer it withweapons in hand. This obstacle is called, appropriately enough, the "be lly .buder."

. , ,~ . - ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

20

Wher'l Itudenh become proficient at crawling under the barbed wire ot this height,it', lowered a little. This is only one of 14 challenges in the tough obstacle course.

Many obstacles must be negotiated at a deadrun. Course is like Ft . Benning Ronger School.

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the enemy would do to humiliate them. They werevery uncomfortable. I don't think they got any sleepat all that night. Now, they have a better idea ofwhat it means to be captured."Sergeant Frink speaks from experience. DuringWorld War 11 he was captured by the Germans, butescaped 18 days later.During their 16 weeks in Hawaii, ending in mid-December, the men went through combat training asrough as any ever taken by an Air Force unit. Theirday began at dawn and ended long after dark. Manyof the veteran instructors who completed the Army

/

Ranger Course at Fort Benning rate Safe Side train -ing as tough, and in some respects tougher thanthat at Benning.Highlight of training came at the end of the ninthweek. At this point the students received the unit'sdistinctive symbol, the "blue beret." General Martin,who had seen the project through from its beginning.presented the berets. From then on the trainees andinstructors worked as a unit to form a flexible , highlymobile security police force. The men who had"loined to Fight" were now "trained and ready tofight." eo.

.I.

Combat members of the 104111 Security Police Squadron must be ready to surmount ony obstacle they meet. Here they spona 20meler river using a ,ingle rope technique known 01 the Swiu Segt . A slip here means a refreshing dip in the strea m.

April t967

Her.' , one way to whet (or wet) your .tudent'. enthuliasm.Troinee goes off the board blindfolded. the" swims to .hore.finally through their Irolnlng. these oir policemen or .ready for combot. Unit uses M16 and heavier weapons.

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by SMSgt. ED KOSIERHq USAF

22

REASONSTHEYSTAYAIRFORCE

Recent official surveys reveal sixsolid reasons why Air Force menare staying in.

STILL serving with the US AirForce are many veterans ofWorld War II, the Berlin Airlift,Korean war and the numerous in-ternational crises of the 1950s. Today, many of these men are fightingin Vietnam-their third war-andmost by personal choice.Why?Why do these thousands continueto serve the Air Force and theircountry, men who have sufferedwounds in action; men who werePOWs; men who have endured privation and hardship?

Although every career man hashis own particular and personal reasons, here are some typical answersto the question, why do you stayin? It was addressed to veterans ofthe forties and fifties."Twenty-year retirement and itsbenefits," was the blunt reply of anAir Defense Command pilot."Training and educational opportunities offered by the Air Force," aPentagon NCO answered.A fighter-bomber squadron commander in Southeast Asia said it infour words: "r like to fly.""I t just kind of crept up on me,"a Tactical Air Command NCO replied. "I reenlisted because of Korea, got married, and decided I likedthe steady paycheck. It's security."These four factors - 20-year retirement, educational opportunities,flying, security - emerged as someof the main reasons why peoplemake a career of the Air Force.Through surveys taken by theSampling Section, Headquarters USAir Force Data Services Center,

over the past few years, the AirForce has become aware of theseand other "plus" career factors. Approximately eight percent of the officers and four percent of the airmenare surveyed every six months.Surveyed are colonels throughwarrant officers and chief mastersergeants through airmen basicwith years of service ranging fromless than one to more than 20.The biannual comprehensivequestionnaire not only asks reasonsfor making the Air Force a career,but reasons for not staying in. Additionally, other questions are askedso that the Air Force can reviewand evaluate policies and programson career planning, retirement, de-pendents, quarters allowances, education, personnel services, informa-tion programs, Off-duty employment . ,and other topics under study by the;.:;!Air Staff. The surveys have.Siiil

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a continuing percentage drop incomplaints concerning pay and allowances; no doubt because of therecent pay raises.Repeatedly,careerists have listedsix primary reasons for making theAir Force a career. Only their orderof importance changes with each survey, and then by only minute percentage points.Plus Side for Officers

Twenty-year retirement and alove for flying are usually checkedby a great number of officers as primary reasons for staying Air Force.The 20-year retirement option isan obvious positive factor. Thosewho like flying are usually engagedin it. Most are assigned to flyingcommands like TAC, MAC, SAC.PACAF, ADC and USAFE.Fringe benefits such as commissary, medical care and pay usuallycome in a solid third.Fourth is adventure, travel andnew experiences. Most of the officers indicating this favorable aspectof a career were serving in an overseas command.However, the survey did indicatethat the younger the officer, themore fond he is of travel-and theadventure and new experiences thatgo with it.The fifth reason is simply that officers like military life.Opportunities for more trainingand education in the Air Force is thesixth choice. Overall, 45 percent ofthose completing the surveys said theAir Force had contributed to theirformal education.Some 65 percent of the officersdisclosed they planned to remain onactive duty as long as possible or atleast to complete 20 or more yearsof service. Only three percent weregetting out following their initialcommitment. Of the 22 percent undecided, most had relatively littleactive service.April 1967

The Plus Side for AirmenGenerally, airmen agree with

what officers consider the favorableaspects of an Air Force career.The surveys show most airmenstay because of educational opportunities and training offered by theAir Force. They reveal an airmanforce that is hungry for more education. Of those questioned, morethan 95 percent had a high schooldiploma; nearly 30 percent had somecollege or a degree; and of those whodid not possess a degree, 23 percentintended to complete the requirements by off-duty or Bootstrap studies. Twenty-sixty percent of the airmen said the Air Force had assistedthem in obtaining their education.The obvious incentive of 20-yearretirement and its benefits usuallyrates second and third.Fourth reason is adventure, travel, and new experiences. Hereagain, the career airmen are in concert with officers. Most serving overseas during the surveys liked thiscareer factor.

Security-the steady pay checkrates fifth with airmen. In 'sixthplace is the careerist's natural preference for military life.End Result

The end result of all the surveysshows that the Air Force has thisto offer: Twenty-year retirement and itsfringe benefits. Adventure, travel and new experiences. Opportunities for more training

and education. The opportunity to fly. Security. Serving the Air Force.These then, are the reasons whyveterans of the 1940s and1950s have stayed in. They havefound the Air Force a rich and satisfying life. As one NCO put it,"We'd rather fight than switch!"

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THIS is the new A-37.It was designed to meet specific Air Force requirements for counterinsurgency air operations and closeair support for ground forces.It 's rugged; a modified version of the tried andtrue T-37, the trainer used in pilot training programs.

The YAT (experimental) prototype successfullycompleted extensive Air Force flight test programs atEdwards AFB and Eglin AFB. There will be 39 copiesof the modified T -37 rolling off Cessna Aircraft Company production lines this summer. These will be delivered to Tactical Air Command, as available, forfurther flight testing and evaluation.An additional series of A-37s will be manufacturedby Cessna to meet future Air Force requirements.These will not be the modified T -37 version; they willbe original A-37s, and undoubtedly will incorporatenew changes recommended by TAC flyers.Although similar in appearance to the trainer version, the A-37 operates with twice the power and

twice the gross weight of the T-37B. (The T-37 wasdeveloped initially as a replacement for the piston engine T-28). To date more than 900 T-37A, Band Cmodels have been built and delivered to the US AirForce and eight allied nations.Modifications to construct the A-37 include installation of two General Electric J85/ 12 engines, whichincrease total thrust from 2,050 to 4,800 pounds.Eight wing pylons (four under each wing) are installed, along with self-sealing fuel cells and 90-gallonfuel tanks on each wing tip.The A-37 also has new electronic equipment; largerwheels, tires and brakes; a gross weight increase from

6,600 to 12,000 pounds; and provisions for a rapidfire minigun in the nose.Other installations consist of a fire-control and electrical system designed to accommodate all weaponsfor close support missions; provision for an access doorunder the fuselage for aerial cameras; passive defensive equipment including armor plating and shatter-

We/COllie the

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proof glass; and provisions to carry long-range fueldrop tanks:Performance figures of the A-37 show a maximumspeed of 415 knots, a gross weight takeoff distanceover a 50-foot barrier at 2,650 feet, and a landingdistance over the same barricr at 2,350 feet.

Rate of climb at 12,000 pounds gross weight is6,500 feet per minutc and 10,000 feet per minuteat 8,000 pounds gross wcight. The A-37 is 29.3 feetlong and has a wing span of 35.8 feet.Armament capability can be increased from 4,700to 4,855 pounds with a one-man crew. The aircrafthas provisions to carryall known conventional wcapons for counterinsurgency missions. The aircraft'sexcellcnt maneuverability, small silhouette, low enginenoise and high speed across a target, coupled withthe self-sealing fuel cells, armor plating and twin-engine safety, make it highly survivable.. Reports on flight tests of the YAT-37D revealedthat if an engine were lost after takeoff at gross weights

up to 11,700 pounds, the mi ss ion could still be completed on the remaining engine.

The A-37 can carry 4,855 pounds of ordnance, hasa rangc of 1,400 miles, and can be refueled in flight.Speed range will be from 138 to 436 miles per hourwith full external stores , and up to 478 miles per hourwith no external stores.

The basic T-37 trainer, which is still being manufactured for the Air Force by Cessna, has been thelowest cost jet aircraft in the military inventory withoperating costs reportedly less than half of any othermilitary jet aircraft.Last September the 35 14th Flying Training Squadronat Randolph AFB flew past the 40,000-hour mark inaccident-free operations in the T-37. In addition, students of the T-37 program flew some 44,800 spins inthe aircraft from February 1964 through September1966. (The T-37 is the only jet in the Air Force whichis spun regularly.) The safety mark was accomplishedwith a neet of only 30 T-37s. eo.