DR AHEAD THE AIR FORCE NAVIGATORS OBSERVERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER VOL 34, NUMBER 4 LITTLE RIVER, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 2018 The F-101B was initially designed by McDonnell Aircraft as a long-range bomber escort (known as a penetration fighter) for the Strategic Air Command. The Voodoo was instead developed as a nuclear-armed fighter-bomber for the Tactical Air Command, and as a photo reconnaissance aircraft based on the same airframe. USAF photograph. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 26, 2019. The host hotel is the Radisson Hotel Branson. by John D. Bridges, James Connally 63-19 They are centrally located just off the Highway 76 strip, It is hard to believe that a year has passed since our offering easy access to most of the popular activities. last AFNOA Reunion that was held in San Antonio, Texas. The Radisson Hotel AFNOA room rate is $103.00 plus It has been a year of learning for me or at least trying to tax and includes a breakfast buffet. The physical ad- learn how this great organization operates. Fortunately I dress is 120 South Wildwood Drive. have been blessed with a wonderful staff of willing and Our reunions give the membership an opportunity to helpful people guiding me and for which I want to sin- renew old acquaintances, make new friendships and have cerely say, "Thanks so very much." a great time! Additionally, they give our organization the Sadly, AFNOA continues to lose many loyal and pa- needed time to conduct business. triotic members primarily due to the ravages of time. Mem- Branson should be an interesting experience for bership should continue to be an objective for all of us to those attending the 2019 AFNOA Reunion. I encourage pursue. Thankfully we are finding a few new members. If everyone interested to make plans early, as there is a lot you know classmates who are not members, ask them to to do and enjoy in Branson. The weather in September join, or e-mail me their names and I will call them. should very comfortable. Our next biennial reunion will be held in Branson, Mis- Hope to see you in Branson in September 2019! souri. It has been scheduled for September 24,25 and ********* NOTAM: DEATHS and CHANGES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION Report address, cell or land line number, and e-mail changes to: AFNOA, 4109 Timberlane, Enid, OK 73703-2825; or to [email protected]; or call 580-242-0526 DR AHEAD PAGE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message, by John D. Bridges . 1 From SAC to TAC, by Bob Hopkins . 6 Membership Application Form . 2 NOTAM, Rosters . 7 Historian's Report, by Ron Barrett . 3 A Visit to Argentina, by Charles F. Murphy . 8 NOTAM, Planning . 3 Reunion Notice . 9 Mission Strategic, by Henri L. Bailey III . 3 Showboat at Lima 32, by Robert A. Manns . 9 NOTAM, Electronic Issues . 3 A North Pacific Christmas, by Nils Ohman . 11 Civil Air Patrol Tour of 479TH FTG, An Unremarkable War, by Bill McBride . 12 by Lt Col Ramon C. DeJesus . 4 Letters . 13 Awards of the Legion of Honor, Last Flights, by Jim Faulkner . 14 by Capt Jessica L. Beauregard . 4 The AFNOA Board & Operating Committees . 16 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AIR FORCE NAVIGATORS OBSERVERS ASSOCIATION DR AHEAD Name_____________________________________ DR AHEAD is the official publication of the Air Force Naviga- Spouse's Name _____________________________ tors Observers Association; a non-profit, non-political organi- Address __________________________________ zation dedicated to maintaining the peace and security of the __________________________________________ United States of America and a spirit of comradeship among City _______________________________________ all Aerial or Surface Navigators, Observers and Bombardiers who are serving or have served in the U.S. Air Force or its State/ZIP ___________________________________ predecessors, The United States Marine Corps, The United Home Phone _______________________________ States Navy, The United States Army, The United States Coast Work Phone ________________________________ Guard, or any of the predecessor organizations of these ser- vice organizations, or persons closely affiliated with naviga- Cell Phone _________________________________ tion in any capacity on a case-by-case basis. TENOA, the E-Mail Address ______________________________ forerunner of AFNOA, was organized by Clarke Lampard, Base Name/Class Number ____________________ Ellington Class 50-D, in 1985. DR AHEAD is published by AFNOA, Inc., 6441 Avenida De Send a Tax Deductible $15.00 Annual Membership Galvez, Navarre, Florida 32566-8911. Presorted 3rd class check payable to AFNOA to: postage is paid at Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Dennis Ehrenberger, AFNOA Treasurer 2783 Glenview Drive MANUSCRIPTS are welcomed, especially by E-mail (address: Sierra Vista, AZ 85650-5734 [email protected]) or by submittal to the editor on data CDs, Telephone: 520-378-1313 IBM-compatible formats only please. All submissions must be signed and must include the address of the contributor; no Tax Deductible Life Membership Contribution anonymous material will be printed; however, names will be payable to AFNOA withheld on request. The editor reserves the right to edit sub- mitted articles for reasons of taste, clarity, legal liability, or Under 45 $175.00 66-69 $75.00 length. The comments and views herein represent the views 46-55 $150.00 70-79 $50.00 of the editor and are not necessarily those of AFNOA, Inc. 56-65 $100.00 80 and over $35.00 Deadline for the next issue is 15 November 2018. If you are currently a member, GREAT! Please consider CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please report changes of address to: a donation to the operating account, grant fund, or both. AFNOA, Inc., 4109 Timberlane, Enid, OK 73703-2825; If you are not a current member, please consider joining [email protected]; 580-242-0526 and giving a donation to the organization. Thank you. DR AHEAD STAFF: Membership $ _____________ Owner AFNOA Donation to Operating Account $ _____________ Editor, Richard W. Ahrens [email protected] Donation to Grant Fund $ _____________ Copy Editor, Sue Curran [email protected] Circulation, Jim Faulkner [email protected] Total Amount Enclosed: $ _____________ Distribution [email protected] ********* DR AHEAD PAGE 3 HISTORIAN'S REPORT MISSION STRATEGIC by Ron Barrett, James Connally 63-06 by Henri L. Bailey III, James Connally 64-05 A little less than twelve months from now a number When I left the Pacific Air Forces, I was reassigned to of us will be attending the 2019 AFNOA reunion in Military Airlift Command, 63rd Military Airlift Wing, 14th Mili- Branson, Missouri. First and foremost, Branson is a tary Airlift Squadron, Norton Air Force Base, California. The light-hearted tourist mecca. So the reunion promises to 63rd Military Airlift Wing was assigned the C-141A Starlifter. be fun. And, just to the west of Branson lies Eureka That was a four-jet strategic transport made by Lockheed Springs, Arkansas, where we will be touring to the Avia- Aircraft Corporation. I had to retrain, become familiar with tion Cadet Museum, run by former Aviation Cadet Errol the aircraft, and qualify to take it on global missions. From Severe. Serious fun for us navigators. the perspective of the navigator, there was little difference in For the many of us who were aviation cadets, I say in-flight demands. The C-141A was jet rather than turbo- seriously, "Prepare Mister, a report!" We are the very prop, flew faster and higher as an aircraft and had Loran C last surviving aviation cadets, so with that in mind, I sug- rather than Loran A. Despite those differences, very little gest that each of you who will, put together your story in else changed. Even airdrop missions were flown at the same a detailed report. Cadets existed from WWI to 1965. altitudes and airspeeds. At high latitudes, both aircraft were The very last aviation cadets ended up as navigators— required to fly grid missions for accuracy and economy. from James Connally AFB. Please make an Aviation The major difference was in the mission. While tactical Cadet History Report about you and your cadet experi- transports were primarily designed to provide in-theater sup- ences, and include as many pictures as you can find. port for military ground units, strategic transports were de- Provide your report in several copies. Please give signed to support Department of Defense requirements on a one to AFNOA for our historical files. The other copies global basis. The mission and flights were intercontinental. can be swapped with any AFNOA member who would Frag orders came from the Department of Defense through enjoy reading our history, as written by we who made it. Military Airlift Command with information to Headquarters, Title your Aviation Cadet history report as you like. United States Air Force to the Numbered Air Forces. They Do include on the cover page, your full name, the training were divided there among the wings assigned to that Num- class number(s), your current address, both postal and bered Air Force. The wings assigned actual physical re- email, and date of birth if you desire. This is all needed sources and forwarded actual personnel taskings to be to help us pass on contacts to you. E-mail addresses manned and flown to the squadrons. are best for this purpose. The missions of the 63rd Military Airlift Wing were mostly It is also best for AFNOA to get this type of informa- trans-Pacific. While I was assigned there, the principal mis- tion produced in Microsoft Word.doc with pictures in .jpg sion was in support of the war in Vietnam. We had a sec- files of approximately 1 megabyte size (.jpg below 700k ondary mission of transporting nuclear weapons and com- is not too good pixel-wise, and .jpg above 2 megabytes ponents between the strike forces who would be respon- can be difficult to transmit).