Know Your Role As Airmen in Sexual Assault a Conversation Ahead of Time

On the cover: The teal ribbon symbolizes the fight against sexual assault.

APRIL 2015, VOL. 49 NO. 4

THE CONTRAIL STAFF

177TH FW COMMANDER COL . JOHN R. DiDONNA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER CAPT. AMANDA BATIZ PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER MASTER SGT. ANDREW J. MOSELEY PHOTOJOURNALIST TECH. SGT. ANDREW J. MERLOCK

PHOTOJOURNALIST SENIOR AIRMAN SHANE S. KARP PHOTOJOURNALIST AIRMAN 1st CLASS AMBER POWELL EDITOR/BROADCAST JOURNALIST TECH. SGT. MATT HECHT

AVIATION HISTORIAN DR. RICHARD PORCELLI

WWW.177FW.ANG.AF.MIL

This funded newspaper is an authorized monthly publication for members of the U.S. Military Services. Contents of The Contrail are not On desktop computers, click For back issues of The Contrail, necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the 177th Fighter Wing, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Depart- Ctrl+L for full screen. On mobile, and other multimedia products ment of the Air Force. The editorial content is edited, prepared, and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 177th Fighter Wing. All tablet, or touch screen device, from the 177th Fighter Wing, photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. tap or swipe to flip the page. please visit us at DVIDS! adversity that shows leadership capability. I am routinely blown away by your individual Lastly, I want you to HAVE FUN serving as a and collective achievements; you truly Jersey Devil! Yes, our mission is very serious, motivate me to give my best each day. I can can be extremely demanding and stressful, honestly tell you I have a tremendous amount of fun working here at the 177th FW, thanks Story by Col. John R. DiDonna, 177th Fighter Wing Commander and time management/prioritization is a continual challenge. But, military service to all of you! respect & dignity, and if we work together as a Jersey Devils, coupled with a highly competent/motivated If you’re still reading, thanks! I am honored to cohesive wing not simply limiting our view of Just prior to concluding group of Wing Airmen is a special combination serve with each and every one of you!! my remarks during the service to our immediate work areas. and should produce a fun/rewarding work Second, I ask all of you to take an active role in change of command last environment. drill, I took a moment to the progression of YOUR military career. Do not truly process the view of wait for someone to spoon-feed you; develop a you standing in the Wing thirst for knowledge with respect to your military formation. The advancement and perfecting your primary AFSC emotions I felt ranged capabilities. Actively seek out a mentor. If from huge personal responsibility to someone asks you to be a mentor, become one overwhelming organizational pride. I am truly sharing your experiences and path to military humbled to serve you and write my first Contrail success. If you are AFSC proficient and an article as your commander. unfamiliar opportunity presents itself to you, The 177th Fighter Wing mission is to “Provide grasp at a chance to broaden your military Highly Qualified/Combat-Ready Citizen Airmen, experience beyond your specific area of expertise. Mission-Capable Aircraft & Equipment to Broadening your experiences gives you the Support National and State Objectives”. I want advantage of better understanding how to take this opportunity to convey four areas of collectively we function as a military. importance to me; I hope you take a minute to Third, career progression in the 177th FW will be read what I have to say. based on an Airman’s fitness for duty, merit, and First – the men and women of the 177th FW – WE individual capability. My leadership philosophy is must focus on serving/functioning as ONE TEAM. simple; work hard, be productive, conduct No Airman’s individual job is more important than yourself professionally 24/7, maintain your another’s. ALL of us play a vital role in our Wing’s integrity, and treat your fellow Airmen with ability to achieve desired organizational respect; do all these and you will be competitive readiness/effectiveness. We will reach our full for professional advancement. Bumps in the road potential as a wing if all of us commit our best (mistakes) of a military career, depending on their focus and effort to serve our nation and one severity, may not necessarily thwart another, if we consistently treat each other with advancement. Often it’s how you handle the

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Jersey Devils, instance of sexual assault and/or harassment The month of April is DoD’s Sexual Assault and will hold perpetrators responsible for their Awareness and Prevention Month; “Eliminate actions. I echo General Welsh’s statement to Sexual Assault. Know Your Part. Do Your all USAF Airmen with respect to zero-tolerance Part.” of sexual harassment and assault: “those who do not understand…need to find a new line of USAF/ANG leaders routinely write policies and work.” articles and create prevention education on the subject of sexual assault & harassment. All Fourth, in the event you witness behavior communication methods are extremely inconsistent with military service, it is your important in attempting to educate and inform military duty and moral obligation to identify it Airmen. I have four thoughts on the subject of and take proper action to address it. sexual assault and harassment. I strongly support the efforts of national/state/ local partners and of every Airman to actively First, sexual assault and harassment exist in engage in public and private efforts, including the military simply because a military member conversations about what sexual violence is, has CHOSEN to commit sexual assault and/or how to prevent it, how to help survivors harassment. Keep decisions and actions connect with services, and how every segment consistent with our Core Values – DO NOT of our society can work together to better commit sexual assault or harassment; DO your address sexual violence. part to rid the military of these unwanted behaviors. Col. John R. DiDonna Second, the 177th Fighter Wing will support Wing Commander victims of sexual assault and/or harassment in 177th Fighter Wing every possible way. Third, 177th FW leaders will not tolerate any

177th Fighter Wing SARC: 609-385-3671 24/7 SAFE Helpline: 1-877-995-5247 Encourage Healthy Relationships and Interactions and Stay in the Green!

Asking for and hearing a “yes” can make all the difference. Many of the messages we receive from media are violent, manipulative or harmful to both young women and young men. It is important to think carefully about these images and stories so that you can create healthy relationships and respectful experiences KnowKnow youryour part.part. Consent means both people actively agree with what they are doing together. It is a decision that both people make without any force or pressure. Some ways you can practice consent: DoDo youryour part.part.  Ask the other person if they are comfortable when you are in a sexual or romantic situation. “Are you OK with this?”

 Wait for a verbal “Yes” (or clear body language like nodding their head that tells you they feel good about the situation). Silence, a “No,” or physically resisting means things need to stop.

 Answer honestly when someone asks you for consent. They might not know about this kind of consent, so have Know your role as Airmen in Sexual Assault a conversation ahead of time.

Prevention: http://www.pcar.org/encourage-healthy-relationships-and-interactions

 Respect the Air Force core values Green Line Yellow Line Red Line

 Have respect for self, each other, and the Air Force Supports Gender Tolerates Inappropriate Tells Gender Focused Institution Equality Jokes Jokes

 Educate yourself on sexual assault prevention Active Bystander Doesn’t Intervene to Makes Unwanted Sexual Stop Harassment Comments  Show empathy and support to victims Positive Role Model Doesn’t Intervene to Inappropriate Advances  Maintain and ensure accountability on issues of Stop Sexual Assault and Relationships sexual harassment and sexual assault Challenges Inappropriate Ignores Inappropriate Does Not Respect Behavior Relationships  Intervene against inappropriate behavior (Bystander Supports Survivors Ignores Peer Retaliation Perpetrates Sexual Intervention) Against Victims Assault Lives Air Force Values Blames Victim Perpetrates Rape “Understanding Sexual Assault” raising immunity and other health measures and improving life functioning. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual Recovering emotionally from assault can be assault is unwanted sexual accomplished by understanding that the emotions activity, with perpetrators using and normal responses that follow a disaster or other force, making threats or taking traumatic event can help a person to cope with their advantage of victims without their feelings, thoughts and behaviors, and can help the consent. person to begin to feel empowered and no longer remain a victim as they proceed on the path to Interestingly enough, most victims and perpetrators recovery. know each other. This suggests that people we trust could be potential perpetrators. So we should Fortunately, the effects of trauma do not have to last always have a plan when we are with friends that a lifetime. We are a resilient population. Most people will make us less vulnerable. Be aware that many will experience a trauma at some point in their lives, assaults take place when alcohol is a part of the and as a result, some will experience debilitating equation. symptoms that interfere with daily life. The good news is that psychological interventions are effective Psychologically, immediate reactions to sexual in preventing many long-term effects. Psychological abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term health is always available here at the 177th FW for symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic confidential psychological appointments. stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions CONTACT INFORMATION: for survivors, especially group therapy and support groups appear to be effective. 609-761-6871 / 609-289-6713 / [email protected] / Bldg.229 (Next to What can we do? Open Up! The assault was not the Gym) your fault. Writing about trauma reduces stress and avoids the need to relive it, each time it is discussed.

Writing about difficult, even traumatic, experiences appears to be good for health on several levels, U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Roske participates in the fourth annual 24 Hour Run Challenge for fallen tactical air control party airman March 26, 2015. Miles that Matter... Story & photos by Airman 1st Class Amber Powell, 177th FW/PA

T hrough the rain and cloudy weather, Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing came out to the fitness track here to participate in the Fourth Annual 24 Hour Run Challenge put on by the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron lasting from 1 p.m. on March 26 to 12:59 p.m. on March 27. The run challenge is a worldwide ASOS event in place to honor and remember fallen Tactical Air Control Party members and raise money for the TACP Association. “It’s to remember the fallen and help raise money for their families,” said Staff Sgt. Kane Lawlor, with the 227th ASOS. “It’s all for those guys.” This year, the 177th FW had 87 participants consisting of Airmen, their families and employees from the Federal Aviation Administration. The total amount of miles run was 766.78. The TACP Association uses the money raised to provide support to Airmen and their families when needs arise. Fourth Annual 24-Hour Run Challenge

WithWith 8787 participants,participants,

thethe totaltotal milesmiles ranran thisthis yearyear isis 766.68766.68

Above: Lt. Col. Thomas Dahl (left) and 1st Lt. Keith Giamberardino participate in the Above: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Donohue, with the 227th Air Support Operations Fourth Annual 24 Hour Run Challenge for fallen tactical air control party airman at, Top Ten: Squadron (ASOS), participates with his family in the Fourth Annual 24 Hour Run March 26, 2015. Giamberardino ran a total of 37.2 miles Challenge to honor fallen Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Airmen. Donohue completed 51 miles in the 24 hour event. Below: U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Illiana Rodriguez participates in the Fourth An- 1. MSgt Donohoe / ASOS………… 52.6 nual 24 Hour Run Challenge to honor fallen Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Airmen Below: Lt. Col. Albert Danza, commander of the 227th Air Support Operations on March 27, 2015. Airmen ran in cold, wet temperatures in order to support the 2. TSgt Donohue / ASOS…………. 51 Squadron, left, and Master Sgt. Patrick Donohoe, right, finish their last lap during TACP Association which supports families of TACP members. 3. 1LT Giamberardino / ASOS….. the Fourth Annual 24 Hour Run Challenge. Donohoe completed 52.6 miles during 37.2 the 24 hour event. 4. SSgt Haskins / ASOS……………. 31 5. Sonny Dagostino / LRS………... 26.2 6. SSgt Lawlor / ASOS……………... 26 6. Maj Roske / ASOS……………….. 26 7. 1LT Geimano / ASOS…………… 24 8. SrA Whitehurst / ASOS……….. 21 9. Dee Zaniewski / ASOS Wife…. 20 10. SMSgt Miller / MDG………….. 18.7 10. MSgt Eberwine / MDG…….. 18.7 the community. “As far as community service organization, with 100,000 dues-paying CLEAN projects, we want to do more things like, maybe members,” said Rob Frank, CEO of AFSA. “AFSA’s during the winter months, helping out in Atlantic mission is to advocate for improved quality of life SWEEP City at a soup kitchen once a month,” said Master and economic fairness to support the well-being Story & photos by Airman 1st Class Amber Powell, 177th FW/PA Sgt. Grant Holway, Vice President of Chapter 258. of the U.S. Air Force enlisted Airmen, veterans Last year an Extra Life event was held which and their families.” irmen from the 177th Fighter Wing consists of a 24-hour marathon of gaming. “We do this by lobbying Congress for fair and worked an off-day Monday, equitable compensation and benefits, and by volunteering their time to clean up the “We would have a couple hours of playing your providing our members exclusive benefits, and an A community. favorite computer game and then we took an hour to play some board games,” said Trombetta. Association that allows them to contribute and Above: Airmen clean up debris along Tilton Rd. outside the They participated in the Air Force Sergeants “We raised $750 and all that money was given to support fellow Airmen, and the communities in main entrance to the 177th FW on April 13, 2015. AFSA’s Association (roadside cleanup event picking up The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia through which they live," said Frank. Chapter 258 holds cleanup events on this portion of the road debris along a section of Tilton Road outside the quarterly. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.” For more information on AFSA you can visit base’s main gate in Egg Harbor Township. “We’re looking forward to planning and www.hqafsa.org. You can also visit “We’ve been doing this since 2010 when we scheduling camping trips and things like canoeing www.votervoice.net/AFSA/Home to see what the adopted this section,” said Master Sgt. Alexander for families,” said Holway. “We used to do a lot of active issues are right now and make your voice Below: Volunteers gather together for a group photo after Trombetta, former 177th FW member, now with fun stuff, like camping and having activities for heard. completing roadside cleanup. the 113th Wing in Washington D.C. and president kids. We’re trying to revive that.” of the Atlantic City Chapter 258 of the Sergeant’s Association, referring to the section of Tilton Road. Every year Chapter 258 has a table set up at the outside the 177th FW main entrance extending to Atlantic City Air Show where they sell t-shirts to the Airport Circle. raise money needed to maintain the chapter and provide for the events they host. The Atlantic City AFSA chapter has been working with Atlantic County Utilities Authority holding “What joining and supporting AFSA does is it these roadside cleanup events quarterly. gives us more votes which give us more of a voice in legislature,” said Holway. “One of the unique “I believe it is very important to volunteer because things about AFSA is the politics of it. When our it sets the example for others to follow and it retirement or other benefits are up for being cut, shows the community we serve that the Air they are able to fight to keep them for us.” National Guard takes an active role in giving back,” said Staff Sgt. Nicole Apel, Secretary of Chapter AFSA was established in 1961 by four 258. “Being Guard, we have a unique opening to noncommissioned officers who saw the need for serve the citizens of New Jersey; it's an enlisted members to have a voice to represent opportunity we should all take advantage of.” them, and their needs, to elected officials and military leaders. Along with the roadside cleanup, AFSA members are looking forward to planning more events in "We are the largest enlisted Air Force Story by Dr. Richard V. Porcelli

Introduction The North American F-86 Sabre, a The last installment of this series of articles Truly Iconic American Aircraft related that in 1963, after release from active duty for the Berlin Crisis and return to McGuire Part 1 AFB, the New Jersey Air National Guard‘s 141st Fighter Squadrons transitioned from the workhorse Republic F-84F Thunderstreak to the North American F-86H Sabre. Atlantic City’s 119th Fighter Squadron followed suit in 1964.

The “H” model of the Sabre, sometimes called the “Hog”, but other times nicknamed the “Cadillac of Sabres” or “the Last of the Sports Models,” was the ultimate version of this iconic fighter. Prior to moving to Atlantic City, the 119th FS had flown the F-86E model as was related in the January issue of the Contrail. But, due to the importance of the Sabre to the Air Force and Air National Guard’s Cold War heritage, and the role it played with the NJANG, it is worthwhile to divert from our main theme and tell the interesting story of the development of the North American F-86 Sabre family of jet fighters.

The Jet Age

The first operational jet airplane (an aircraft powered by a gas turbine engine) was Germany’s Heinkel He-178, which made its first flight on August 27, 1939. It was powered by Dr. Hans von Ohain’s turbojet engine. Across the English Channel, RAF Wing Commander Frank Whittle independently invented his version of the gas turbine. Although he ground -tested his design in special test cells years ahead of his German rival, it wasn’t until December 14, 1940 that Whittle’s engine was A YF-93A in flight. Originally called the XF-86C, it competed unsuccessfully for the Air Force penetration fighter contract. U.S. Air force photo installed in the diminutive Gloster E.28/29 to propeller driven fighters. Lockheed Aircraft airframe and test flown. followed with the XP-80 Shooting Star, again powered by a British engine, the deHavilland At that time the focus of the U.S. aircraft Goblin. It was just able to exceed 500 mph and industry and military was entirely on developing the P-80A became America’s first operational better piston engine aircraft in an effort to catch jet fighter. up to the more advanced types flown in Europe and Japan. American designs closed the The Origins of the Sabre technology gap when the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and North American Aviation also started to think of Republic P-47 jet (and rocket) Thunderbolt reached power, proposing production. It was modified versions of not until the the P-51. They development of the installed a rocket North American P-51 motor in the after- Mustang that cooler of a stock America achieved Mustang and superiority over its achieved 515 mph but propeller-driven only for about 60 Allied and enemy seconds. A rivals. However, by The Heinkel He-178, the world’s first jet powered aircraft, flew in combination prop/jet that time, Germany Aug. 1939. It was powered by Dr. Hans von Ohain’s turbojet engine. powered Mustang had leap-frogged with forward swept ahead with the development of the twin jet wings was proposed (to solve the perceived engine Messerschmitt Me-262, which was 150 wingtip stall problems of rear swept wings) but The prototype XP-86, flown by George Welch, mph faster than the Mustang. Only because of it never left the drawing board. Then in late first flew in Oct. of 1947. U.S. Air Force photo Hitler’s stupidity (and eventually, the impact of 1944 North American focused on a new jet for Allied bombing on German aircraft factories) did the Navy (!), but it still was based largely on the the Me-262 not have a strong impact on the Mustang airframe design, but with very thin, course of the war. Massed formations of Me- laminar flow wings. The Mustang fuselage was responded to the Air Corps request with a Switzerland of Germany’s Me-262 design, 262s, known as the Schwalbe (or Swallow in rounded and ‘fattened’ to accommodate a straight wing XP-86 based on the FJ-1 Fury. In indicated that swept wings suffered from a English) would have decimated 8th Air Force B- General Electric TG-180 axial-flow jet engine May, North American received a contract but severe loss of stability at low (landing) speeds 17s and B-24s. (license-built version of the DeHavilland Goblin despite streamlining the fuselage and reducing and in tight turns at high altitudes. The “game from England). North American built 31 FJ-1 weight (by removing aircraft carrier operations changer” was the realization that by installing In 1943, the Army Air Corps started to have Furies as the Navy’s first operational jet fighter. related equipment, including the tailhook and movable leading edge surfaces, commonly some interest in jet power, and contracted with heavier landing gear) they projected that the known as “slats”, the low-speed and tight turn The interest of the Army Air Corps in the new Bell Aircraft to built the XP-59 Airacomet, a top speed would fall well short of the Air Corps handling problems could be averted. North Navy jet (ah, the impact of inter-service rivalry!) relatively large straight-wing fighter, powered requirement. North American designers American engineers had earlier disassembled an stimulated a new request to aircraft companies by two Whittle engines borrowed from the RAF. concluded that only by sweeping back the wings entire wing recovered from a downed Me-262, for a medium range day-fighter with a top Unfortunately the poor thrust and high airframe could the speed requirement be met, but wind which had a primitive form of a tracked slat speed in excess of 600 mph. North American weight resulted in performance grossly inferior tunnel testing and reports leaked via arrangement. On November 1, 1945 the Air Corps agreed to problems. On December 20, 1946, North fuselage, surrounded by a full, blown Plexiglas American’s plant at Mines Field (now Los scrap the straight-wing design and North American received a production contract for 33 canopy with excellent 360o view, not rivaled Angeles International Airport) in Inglewood, American received an R&D contract for production -P 86As while the three prototype XP until the advent of the F-15 Eagle 25 years later! California. Following taxi tests, the jet was development of a new swept-wing fighter. -86s were still under construction, and the story Armament was six, 0.50 caliber M3 machine disassembled and trucked to the North Base Their calculations, wind tunnel tests (and of this iconic family of jets begins. That order guns mounted in banks of three on each side of area of Muroc Dry Lake Army Air Base (now eventually prototype flights) showed that the was thereafter increased to 221, again before the cockpit. Ammunition bays in the bottom of Edwards Air Force Base), California. swept-wing reduced drag and avoided the first flight was accomplished. the fuselage held “cans” with a maximum of 300 Coincidentally, on September 18, 1947, the U.S. compressibility enough to bring the XP-86 into rounds per gun, although due to early jamming Air Force as a separate branch of the military the 600+ mph range, even using the low thrust The XP-86 had 35 degrees of sweep problems, only 267 were loaded. On the was formed. Subsequently, the designation of jet engines of the day. The movable leading incorporated into the wings as well as the prototype and early production Sabres, the gun fighters was changed from P or “pursuit” to F edge slats, which automatically extended as the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. The muzzles were covered by movable doors that for “fighter.” But it was not until June 1948 that airspeed dropped, solved the low speed stability pressurized cockpit sat high on the forward opened within 1/20th of the second from pulling the XP-86 became the XF-86. the trigger. (This feature was later deleted.) Strangely, the guns had to be charged on the On October 1, 1947 after reassembly and more ground using a manual charger in each fuselage taxi tests, North American’s Chief Test Pilot side. Stoppages could not be cleared while George “Wheaties” Welch took the prototype flying. A gun camera in the nose ran XP-86 aloft for the first time. The 30 minute automatically when guns were fired or manually flight went smoothly until it was time to land controlled by the pilot. The aiming relied upon and the nose gear failed to fully extend. the proven type Mk 18 gyroscopic gun sight Although given the company OK to eject, Welch with manual ranging. decided to stay with the valuable prototype and executed a smooth approach to a lakebed The airframe structure was mainly aluminum (rather than the concrete) runway. After but with the use of fiberglass a nose cap, tail touching down on the main wheels, Welch held strake and rudder top (left unpainted, the white the nose off the ground as long as possible; as fiberglass parts are clearly visible in photos of the airplane slowed and the nose started down, the prototypes and early F-86As). The the gear extended completely on its own (!) and prototypes were powered by Chevrolet-built J- a normal landing was completed. Welch was 35-C3 engines rated at 4,000 lbs. thrust. The heard to say to himself “lucky, lucky me” on the production Sabres were to be powered by the radio as he taxied back to the ramp. 5,000 lbs. thrust General Electric J-47 turbojets, Performance with the interim J-35 engine was but they were not ready in time for the impressive, but the full potential would not be prototype’s first tests. One of the many seen until the intended J-47 engine was innovations was the construction of the installed in the production jets. In fact, many fuselage in two halves, with the break-line just believe that George Welch actually broke the aft of the wing. The rear fuselage half could be sound barrier in a dive in the XP-86 prototype pulled back, giving easy access to the engine ‘597 over Muroc Lake two weeks before Chuck (attached to the front half of the fuselage) for Yeager’s historic flight in the Bell XS-1 (later X- repair or engine removal. 1). (The complete story of the amazing George F-86D Sabre Dog of 539th Fighter Squadron based at McGuire AFB; the fatter fuselage Welch, from shooting down Japanese attackers and radome on nose clearly distinguish the single seat interceptor. U.S. Air Force photo On August 8, 1947 the first XP-86 prototype during the Pearl Harbor attack, to his untimely (serial 45-59597) was rolled out of North death testing the F-100 Super Sabre, will be the subject of a future article in the Contrail.) A member of that Group suggested the “Sabre” The Air Force Museum’s F-86A in Korean War 4th Fighter Group name, which was accepted by the Air Force in markings; note black and white identification strips. U.S. Air Force photo Prototypes #2 and #3 (serials 45-59598 and - May 1949. Next was the 4th Fighter Group at 599) joined the test program, which proceeded Langley AFB, to protect Washington DC; and the smoothly and quickly; George Welch continued 81st Fighter Group at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, as the primary test pilot. In early March 1948 New Mexico, to protect the Los Alamos nuclear the first production P-86A (serial 47-605) came facility. Subsequently, the 3rd, 56th and 51st off the North American production line and in Fighter Groups received Sabres as production May the Air Force officially announced that ramped up quickly. George Welch had indeed broken the sound barrier in the XP-86 prototype, being the first In the next issue, we will continue the story with airplane to do so that took off under its own the Sabre’s introduction to battle during the power. The Air Force set the date of that record Korean War, as well as early efforts to develop flight as April 26, 1948, six months after that of other members of the Sabre family. Chuck Yeager. At the same time of this announcement, the Air Force placed an order for an additional 333 P/F-86As.

The First Production Sabre, The F-86A

North American built the F-86As in production blocks. The first block was designated the F-86A -1-NA, where “NA” referred to North American’s plant in Inglewood, California. Eventually, a total of 554 “A”s were built using the General Electric J-47-GE engines developing 5,200 lbs. of thrust. The wingspan was 37 feet, 1 inch, with an empty weight of 10,093 pounds. Maximum speed at sea level was 679 mph, an increase of 80 mph over the J-35 equipped prototypes. Service ceiling was 48,000 feet. The horizontal tail surfaces were conventional without any artificial feel system used on later models. The headrest and seatback were armor plated.

The next block, F-86A-5-NA, had a “V”-shaped bulletproof windscreen that replaced the flat one on the earlier version and the gun compartments were electrically heated. Block - 1 and -5 F-86As first equipped the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at March Field to provide protection for the Inglewood plant. A Day With AGE Story by Airman 1stClass Amber Powell, 177th FW/PA Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing’s Aerospace Ground Equipment shop perform preventative maintenance for the entire base here, servicing roughly 200 pieces of powered and non-powered equipment which help Airmen prepare our aircraft to get off the ground. from light carts and generators to air conditioners On one of the walls in the shop hangs two and hydrogen carts. paintings of an octopus with different types of Electronic manuals are used in order to ensure ground equipment in each hand, representing that the proper steps are taken while performing how much the shop is responsible for and how the work. busy it can get at times. “Each step must be complete,” said Senior “Sometimes it takes six arms to do everything,” Airman Gregory Gilkes, a Powered Support said Senior Master Sgt. Frank Camillo, Powered Systems Mechanic who has been with the AGE Support Systems Mechanic Supervisor. “There’s shop for five years, “and each thing has to be so much going on and so many things you have to signed off on in case someone else comes in to do to get the job done right.” finish the job; they need to know what has been “Our maintenance is labeled in two categories, done.” scheduled maintenance and unscheduled While Gilkes performs maintenance on a light maintenance,” said Camillo. “Unscheduled is cart, which is used by crew chiefs to light the anything that breaks, we fix it. Scheduled aircraft, he checks things ranging from hinges and maintenance has its own subcategories.” latches to the oil in the motor.

The subcategories are phase one and phase two Every little step plays a part in the inspection of Master Sgt. Keith Elliss, left, and Senior Airman maintenance. Phase one consists of six month each piece of equipment, making sure it is John Riccio, with the Aerospace Ground Equipment maintenance and phase two is annual mission ready. Likewise, every Airman has an shop, check the insides of a dash 60 generator here March 17, 2015. Operational checks are performed maintenance that is more comprehensive and is important job that keeps the base functioning in after any maintenance is done to ensure it is ready performed on each of piece of equipment ranging an effective way. to be used. ANG/Airman 1st Class Amber Powell

For more awards photos, check out the 177th Fighter Wing Face-

Senior Airman Michael Kelly , right, was awarded Caught By a Students from Solid Rock Christian School look through Chief by Chief Master Sgt. Randy Mason on April18 for his hard night vision goggles while touring the Life Support Shop work and additional hours worked ensuring his work center here on April 9. ANG/Airman 1st Class Amber Powell meets standards. When assigned as Crew Chief, he leads his work crew through repairs and checks, which produce zero discrepancies during their inspections. Courtesy Photo

Staff Sgt. Vanessa Beaulieu, right, was awarded U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ronald C. Anderson Jr., command Caught By a Chief by Chief Master Sgt. Francis Spence chief master sergeant, 1st Air Force, presented the CONR-1AF on April 19 for going above and beyond to execute Aerospace Control Alert Security Forces Member of the Year award the mission readiness of base personnel while saving to Tech. Sgt. Joseph Zavislak, with the New Jersey Air National also saving the base money. Courtesy Photo Guard's 177th Fighter Wing's Security Forces Squadron here on March 24, 2015. ANG/Airman 1st Class Amber Powell

Senior Airman Gabrielle Gagliardi, right, was Caught By A Chief by Chief Master Sgt. Randy Mason on April 18 for excelling in training. Former 177th Fighter Wing Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gagliardi is a Basic Training Honor Graduate and a Distinguished Francis receives the Legion of Merit award on April 1. Graduate from her Technical School. She has set and maintained Francis served as the Command Chief Master Sgt. of the the training standards for her work center, serving as the work 177th Fighter Wing from January 2007 to June 2009 before center’s training manager, which is noted by both senior retiring in 2012. ANG/Airman 1st Class Amber Powell technicians and newly assigned personnel. Courtesy Photo Jersey Devil Flight line ops

Video & photos by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht 177th FW/PA

A U.S. Air Force F-16D Fighting Falcon from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing "Jersey Devils" takes off for a training mission at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J., March 7, 2015 U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rachel Rivera loads practice munitions onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J., March 7, 2015. Rivera is a weapons systems specialist with the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing.

Final Photo

FINI FLIGHT

U.S. Air Force Col. Kerry M. Gentry, commander of the 177th Fighter Wing, prepares for his final flight in an -F 16 Fighting Falcon at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, N.J., March 7, 2015. Gentry is ending his 28 year career with over 3,000 flight hours. ANG/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht