Vol. 75, No. 12 Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Friday, March 24, 2017 INSIDE Accident Investigation Board determines A page in history maintenance error damaged JSTARS aircraft commentary: Air Force Materiel Command damage to the JSTARS. ‘Joltin’ Joe Public Affairs The E-8C is an airborne DiMaggio and battle management, command the 7th AAF WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR and control, intelligence, FORCE BASE, OHIO — Drain surveillance and reconnaissance Page 2 holes in the radome of an E-8C platform. Its primary mission is Joint Surveillance Target Attack Women’s to provide ground surveillance Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft to support attack operations and History Month: were left covered after depot targeting. The JSTARS fleet Theresa Farris, maintenance allowing water to consists of 16 E-8C aircraft and accumulate and damage some of moving onward one E-8A trainer. the aircraft’s electrical systems, and upward Maj. Gen. Warren Berry, according to a recently released Air Force photo Air Force Materiel Command Page 5 Air Force Materiel Command Accident Investigation Board An Air Force Materiel Command Accident Investigation Board de- Vice Commander, was the report. AFMC administered termined a contractor maintenance error during depot maintenance convening authority for the caused damage to the radar system of an E-8C Joint Surveillance the contract while the plane Accident Investigation Board. Target Attack Radar System aircraft. underwent depot maintenance. Col. Matthew Pollock served The JSTARS aircraft, aircraft causing water from were uncovered during an as the AIB President. The assigned to the 116th Air washings and rain to collect inspection after the aircraft primary purpose of the board Control Wing at Robins AFB, in the canoe-shaped radome. was washed and four pre-flight was to investigate the cause Ga., underwent programmed The water eventually damaged inspections prior to the plane’s and contributing factors of the depot maintenance at the the aircraft’s radar antenna and return flight to Robins AFB. mishap and provide a publicly Northrop Grumman contractor other electrical components, Upon the aircraft’s arrival at releasable report of the facts and maintenance facility in Lake including 240 circuit cards. Robins, maintenance personnel circumstances surrounding the Charles, La., from March 2015 Total damage is estimated at discovered the damage during a incident. Happy 40th to July 2016. According to the $7.35 million. routine inspection. The executive summary of Anniversary report, contractor maintenance The report concluded There were no injuries to any the report is available. For more E-3 Sentry personnel covered three that Northrop Grumman civilian or military personnel information contact the AFMC drain holes in aircraft’s radar maintenance personnel failed and no damage to private Page 6-7 Office of Public Affairs at 937- radome on the belly of the to ensure the drain holes property resulting from the 257-7648. Tinker’s VITA office wrapping up Director of AF Security Assistance and 2016 tax season Page 9 Cooperation Directorate visits Tinker Tinker Events Jillian Coleman enterprise guidance and its Calendar Staff Writer status. Gutterman discussed the establishment and delivery of Page 1b Brig. Gen. Gregory training as well as the intention Gutterman, director of the Air to convene on a semi-annual Force Security Assistance and basis. A massive industry, USAF Cooperation Directorate, visited the FMS enterprise rakes in Thunderbirds Tinker to participate in a ribbon approximately $160 billion in cutting ceremony for the new revenue. Mission Support Office, Bldg. With 109 partnering nations 4001. around the globe, Gutterman The ribbon cutting praised the room of FMS ceremony marked a significant analysts and officers for their achievement for the AFSAC role in providing blankets Directorate and the Tinker of security. The general also Mission Support Office. A compared the timeline of the to headline $25,000 investment was made deliberate process in which on behalf of AFSAC to improve FMS sales and security operates, Star Spangled and upgrade its satellite “lightning fast.” Air Force photo by Kelly White Salute Air footprint at Tinker. “Right now our number Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Director Brig. Gen. During the general’s visit, one problem is not having the Gregory Gutterman spoke to Foreign Military Sales members about Show at Tinker he provided an overview of the Secretary of the Air Force’s enterprise guidance status at an all- May 20-21. the foreign military sales See Director page 3. call Feb. 27 during his visit to Tinker. 2 — www.TinkerTakeOff.com — March 24, 2017 Tinker Air Force Base Commentary: Photo courtesy Greg Morehead. ‘Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and the 7th AAF C-54 ‘Spirit of Freedom’ in-flight during a training mis- sion near Warsaw, Ind., in August 2014. The aircraft Howard E. Halvorsen is owned and operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Air Force Sustainment Center Historian Foundation which keeps the aircraft flying and avail- able to the public through important educational out- Before World War II, the Hawaiian Air Force reach and air show appearances. was jokingly referred to as the Pineapple Air Force. After the attacks on Dec. 7, 1941, it was renamed the Manufacturer: Douglas 7th Army Air Force and a born leader and warrior, Aircraft type: C-54 Brig. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker, was sent in to get Nickname: Skymaster the unit in fighting form. That he did, practically Crew: 4-6 overnight, before losing his life leading a new kind Power plant: Four Pratt & Whitney R2000 radial of bombing raid. However, General Tinker was engines creating 1,200 horsepower each not the only famous person to ever serve in the 7th In-service dates: 1942-1962 Army Air Force. Number produced: 1,163 In 1941, “Joltin” Joe DiMaggio helped the Tinker connection: Maintenance, repair and Yankees win the Subway Series in five games over overhaul the Brooklyn Dodgers. Just a few months later, America was at war. Players were torn over whether to enter military service or continue to play. Douglas C-54 In President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s now famous “Green Light Letter,” he encouraged baseball and its owners to continue playing during World War Skymaster II: Greg L. Davis “I honestly feel that it would be best for the Photo courtesy of the Tinker History Office 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer Major League baseball players Ted Williams, who The Douglas Aircraft Corporation C-54 people unemployed and everybody will work fought as a Marine combat pilot in World War II and Korea, and Joe DiMaggio, who served as a supply “Skymaster” was a four-engine cargo and troop See DiMaggio page 9. sergeant in the 7th Army Air Force team. transport built around a high-aspect ratio wing with conventional tail unit featuring a single rudder. The low-wing configured aircraft sat on retractable tricycle landing gear. This week in Tinker history Building upon the success of the DC-3/C-47, March 26, 1943 - Upon its completion the supply. Each division is in charge of a deputy Douglas had partnered with major airlines to design Douglas aircraft plant begins production of cargo officer who operates under the direct command of the DC-4 to create an aircraft capable of transporting planes. Gen. Borum. more passengers in a voluminous cabin. Although it March 25, 1944 - Col. Thomas R. Lynch March 25, 1948 - The second tornado to was meant for airline service, by the time the first aircraft rolled off the production line on Feb. 14, becomes Oklahoma City Air Service Command strike within a week hits the base and damages 1942, the U.S. was involved in World War II and the commander. 84 planes, 35 beyond repair. Projected damages first examples were delivered directly to the Army March 28, 1944 - Oklahoma City Air Service reach $6,000,000 with one personal injury. Command becomes the control depot for B-29 Air Corps as C-54s. March 24, 1949 - Supply begins stocking B-36 spares. Tinker began work on C-54s in the maintenance parts. Maintenance personnel receive training in March 28, 1945 - A committee is appointed to role within two years of the aircraft entering service. assume responsibilities for transfer of the Douglas the skills required to repair and maintain B-36s. A majority of the work performed here between April plant to Oklahoma City Air Technical Service March 28, 1962 - Tinker becomes the 1944 and December 1953 involved overhaul and Command. specialized repair site for C-135 aircraft. repair of the aircraft’s radial engines. Period photos March 24, 1947 - Service test of the three- March 30, 1998 - Tinker AFB hosts and honors show aircraft in Bldg. 3001 along with engines/ deputy plan begins. The three-deputy plan reduces nearly 100 former “Rosie the Riveters” during a propellers undergoing maintenance in the specialty area activity from five to three major divisions special celebration in recognition of women who shops within the Oklahoma City Air Depot. designated as administration, maintenance and had worked at Tinker Field and the Douglas Plant. The C-54 is famous on four accounts. Three of the four reasons center around a lone C-54, serial No. 42-107451, which was heavily modified to become the personal transport of President Franklin Key events scheduled in 2017: D. Roosevelt and earned the designation VC-54C. This luxurious aircraft was named ‘Sacred Cow’ April 7: Tinker Community Dining Out and became what we now refer to as the very first April 28: MWC/TAFB 75th Anniversary Gala Air Force One. The second reason is this exact May 20-21: Star Spangled Salute Air Show aircraft rushed the film documenting the Japanese Empire’s surrender back to the U.S.