MKopack

Ran into this online tonight, it's the story of the Air Wing of the Greek Expeditionary Force and their C-47's during the Korean War. It's an interesting read, had no idea that the Greeks were in Korea. During their five years in country, the "13th Flight" lost 12 officers and NCOs, and two of their seven C-47s. They received a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and nineteen individual Air Medals for their participation in the evacuation of US Marines while under heavy fire at Hagaru-ri in December 1950. Individual Greek military members, in the air and on the ground, were awarded 6 U.S. Distinguished Service Crosses, 32 Silver Stars, 110 Bronze Stars.

You're right. I worked for a company that was subcontracted to do mods on several of the future E-8 J-Stars. Two of the aircraft, the former Canadian CC-137 tankers, were in beautiful condition, two of the others, sourced from African airlines were - let's just say, "not".

I'm not sure that the costs quoted are accurate, but certainly a program that was WAY out of line as far as expenses go. Almost hate to see the Nimrods go from a historical perspective - as they were based on the Comet, they are the last flying link to the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. I'll never forget my 'ride along' flight on Nimrod MR2 XV239. Sadly XV239 and her crew were lost a year later in 1995 during the Canadian International Airshow in Toronto.

Navy announced new uniform regs today. Amongst them:

Perhaps a top secret Israeli spy falcon sent on a mission to destroy the Saudi Eagles. Good to see that the "fact-finding committee" wrapped up their work so quickly - must have been a bit of luck to actually find the bird in what was probably a lot of desert. My first thought was that if it wasn't a strike, they must have interviewed the bird to determine the truth.

Think the Vegas cop put him on hold before he busted out laughing? Or maybe on speaker?

Why age it in an oaken cask, when you can get it in the can (STS)? Thought 4 Loco was fun? It's eight shots in a can... I'll bet THIS is the good stuff.

Have a friend who was there when they medivac'ed him out after getting hit on the convoy in Iraq that swears he's the real shit. Who knows, maybe it was the Ranger training. Some Army friends tell me that the Ranger school in a lot of ways is almost an indoctrination into "ears on & brain off" discipline. While maybe that "don't ask questions" / "go take that hill" thing is necessary in the Army (or with Air Force cops?), I like to think that since we recruit from at least a little closer to the top shelf we might as well use some of the brains that the Air Force always brags about us having. Then again he's been trying to beat SP's into line for twenty-plus years, and that's got to take a little objectivity out of you...

"I'm French, f*** you!"

Mau Mau Rebellion? Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mau-mau Papa-ooma-mau-mau...

Well that would just about suck. At the same time, as I said, it was the Miami Vice days of the 80's and from what I understand there was a lot available if you decided "to partake". Figured I'd be better off to stick with the booze and at that time the 21 year old drinking age, well, let's just say there was some 'leeway'. Our dorm made Animal House look like kindergarten. Thought that was over when we got a new hard-assed, spit and polish, First Shirt from the Hospital Sqdn - until a couple of weeks later when on a surprise dorm inspection found his daughter busy 'supporting squadron morale'...

* Only offered to electrical and computer engineering students - who apparently wouldn't recognize a Hornet. ~ Be a leader ~ Manage a team ~ Work with big budgets

I know he's the President, but at this point does anyone give a crêpe?

When I first arrived at MacDill in '87 as a shiny new crew chief there was a lot of really bad juju between MX and OPS in our squadron. We were understaffed (due to a random pee-test of everyone in the AMU a couple of months before that busted out a full 25% of the unit - and even more of the younger ones)(Hey, it was the Miami Vice days and we were in Florida...) and they were overtasked with young student pilots (especially as we in MX were having trouble generating FMC acft). We all had a feeling that something bad was going to happen, like there was a train closing fast and we were ALL stuck on the tracks. What happened? A group of us younger crew chiefs ran into a bunch of our IP's out at a local chicken wing establishment on a Tuesday night. Everyone had a good night (nickle wings AND nickle beer probably helped) and it grew into an unofficial weekly event. Within a few weeks of talking over wings and beer, we both came to understand a lot of the "other sides" issues and priorities, and in doing so, a lot of those issues disappeared. Now the AF wouldn't have looked highly on this alcohol and chicken wing-fueled "fraternization" but it worked for us. Never could keep LOX in the jets on Wednesday mornings though...

Well, I agree with Natalie... and perhaps the 'celebrity' quote of the year.

"Ge mig en annan bild av ren smaksatt vodka, och jag kommer att åka släde!" Translation via Google: "Give me another shot of reindeer flavored vodka, and I'll ride the sled!"

They gave it back? If it crashed in my backyard in the morning, it would be hanging from the ceiling in the den by lunchtime...

Anyone want to guess which State will be the first to allow legal medicinal nutmeg? I'm going to be pissed if I have to show my drivers license at the grocery if I decide I want to bake a pie.

You guys mentioned it, so I spent a few minutes with photoshop this morning. Didn't know if it would be better posted here, or over in the Reflective Belt thread...

Had never read the full text of the speech before - would have liked to have heard it in person. I was one of the guys waiting on the flightline for the F-16 and pilot hit by the SAM over Baghdad to return - along with a second from that flight. Was a long day, almost can't believe it's been 20 years...

Now if he could turn those papers into Powerpoint presentations, he might just have something there...

Ahhh, but if you mix it with Four Loco, especially the grape...

Have to admit, as much as I'd have liked to see the tournament return to the US, I'm interested in seeing what Qatar can do with the World Cup - just to see the changes that have taken place since I was there twenty years ago. Our Wing spent seven months living in tents in a field at the little base at the Intl Airport. (When we were there the pyramid-shaped Sheraton was by far the largest building in the city.)