KOREA & 1950s - 1960s
Stinson L-5 “Sentinel”
Nice little airplane. We used it as quick transportation at the 601st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron, at a bombed-out aerodrome in Rothwesten Germany, 1952-53.
Douglas C-47 “Skytrain”
Models included: C-47A, B, D; VC-47D, RC-47D, SC-47D, C-117
My first C-47 flight was at Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, in 1952 and thereafter flights out of Rhine Main Air Base in Frankfurt and Ramstein (Landstuhl) Air Base, Germany, 1952-54. Flights within Germany, France, Algiers, and Libya in N. Africa.
Next flew C-47A, D and SC-47D (long range) models out of Otis AFB, Cape Cod, MA – aircraft #’s 49499 and 48929 from 1956 to 1961. Flights from Cape Cod to most of the United States.
During years 1961, 1962 flew out of Sculthorpe Air Base, England, all over England, Germany, and France.
Then while stationed at Toul Rosieres Air Base, France, flew all over France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden in 1962-64.
At Sheppard AFB, Texas in 1964-66, I flew a plush VIP C-47 around the southwest U.S.
Very reliable, versatile aircraft. Only lose two engines during all this time.
One memorable flight, just to generate flying time, was out of Otis AFB in a SC-47D, which held 18 hours of fuel and we flew it one weekend in a big square all over the U.S. The gross weight was so high that take-off and climb to 2000 feet took almost 20 miles.
Lockheed T-33A “Shooting Star”
Advanced Jet Trainer, Instrument Flight Trainer
Flew T-33s at Advanced Jet Training at Craig AFB, Selma Alabama and at USAF Instrument Flight School, Moody AFB, GA, in 1954-55. Also flew at 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Otis AFB, MA, in 1955-56.
Very unstable airplane.
F-94C “Starfire”
Flew this beautiful, stable airplane in training at Fighter Interceptor School, Moody AFB, GA. Then flew when assigned to the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Otis AFB.
North American B-25N “Mitchell”
Another beautiful, responsive, stable aircraft. Flew this for a short time at Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL, while going to Aircraft Maintenance Officer School, 1956-57.
North American T-28A “Trojan”
Also flew this aircraft while at Chanute AFB, IL, while at school.
Fairchild C-119J “Flying Boxcar”
Flew this aircraft out of Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL, on cargo missions carrying Field Training Detachment aircraft & training mockups to many Air Force bases around the USA. Nice stable airplane, easy to fly.
Fairchild AC-123B “Provider”
Flew many hours of cargo /personnel support for Air Defense Bases in the USA and Canada. Flew from Otis AFB, MA, and then out of Stewart AFB, Newburgh, NY, when the outfit moved there. Easy to fly, tremendous short field capability.
