Heh...One of the former commanders of my USAFR squadron was a C-130 pilot at the end of the war...He was ordered to turn his aircraft over to the ARVN and evac to CONUS...The only documentation he had available for the transfer was an AF Form 1297 'Temporary Issue Receipt'...He had an ARVN officer sign for the C-130 and left...The 1297 was framed in his office while he was our commander... :D

I signed out a USAF Winter parka on a 1297... :roflmao:

I wasn't around, dad told me about it. My brother tried to make a career out of the Army but he soon found out, peacetime Army was not the same as wartime Army and he couldn't adjust. he was thrown out. I was in almost three years before I was levied for Nam so re-adjustment was easy, especially since I decided to stay with my own kind and we just got on with life. Best dose of medicine I ever took. :thumbup:

Those were the days.....:cheers:

We don't have any Navy or Marine bases around, only Air National Guard or Air Force, so I assumed they were from one of those. I do know that the Air Force was or is considering the purchase of F-18s. They may be taking test flights.

They were defintely F-18s, so possibly from a Carrier operating off the coast. We're only about 60 miles from the Pacific, so it's very possible that they were heading back to a Carrier.

My fondest memory is the sight and sound of A-1 Skyraiders making my day all warm and fuzzy again. And making Chuck's Suck...

I found an Aug 2009 post on this -

http://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/...y-f-18s/29710/

...But don't see any follow-ups...It would be interesting to see what happened to this idea...The F/A-18 has folding wings, talihook, special shock absorbing front wheels, all designed for high-impact carrier landings...I'm sure there are other differences between Navy strike aircraft and land-based fighters/interceptors not needed for land bases...Not to mention training of aircrew & ground personnel & logistical support, repair facilities...Agh...

I was reading just the other day that Navy/Marine F/A-18 carrier jets have a 'towel rack' in front of the pilot, so his non-throttle hand isn't on the 'stick' during catapult takeoffs...If it were, it would be pressed back into his lap at 7G and flip the aircraft on its back... :eek:

"I was reading just the other day that Navy/Marine F/A-18 carrier jets have a 'towel rack' in front of the pilot, so his non-throttle hand isn't on the 'stick' during catapult takeoffs."

They won't launch until the Catapult Officer sees both of the Pilots hands in the air, free of the controls.

So the last action the pilot takes is to slam the throttles forward & grab the 'towel rack'??? Visual confirmation???

Do they launch with afterburners on??? :confused:

My shot up carcass was hauled in aboard a dustoff after beig reeled up under fire on rigid litter. Ship took a lot of hits and held hover.

I had been shot in both legs by a NVA while directing a Cobra on his buddies.

We were in triple canopy and the Snake let loose a bit early. I have a piece of his ordnance still in one lung.

Being young, healthy, and determined, I was back in the field a month later to finish out my
2nd tour.

A 2nd Cobra was knocked down by a .51 while doing a visual recon for me just before this.
Pilot killed, gunner survived.

They were all "Blue Max" from the 17th ARA and had big Pour Le Merites on their mast housings.

I imagine he could have flown that plane to Thailand and gone directly into the air cargo business, as the plane was a write-off!

I was recently down in key west doing some fuel tank inspections at NAS Key west. From what I understand by our contact on base, was that was where the hold the TOP-GUN school at now. There were F/18's and I think F/5's flying around all day the whole week I was there. Some of the F/18's look to have British markings on the tail wing and there style camouflage. The f/5's were the type that was used as the MIG in the movie TOP-GUN with Tom Cruise. Them jokers would scat when they took off.

We did some inspections on part of the base that was on the NW side of the island that was interesting. It was a single building out away from the main road with all these radio antennas. I asked what they were for, but was pretty much told none of your business. And usually we take pictures of the tanks we inspect for reporting purposes, not out there!

That was one of the coolest work related trips I been on doing this kind of work I do. The NAS Key West had the best beach on all of key west in my opinion. It had the bar with a private beach with these little barrier islands that you can swim to. We would each lunch there every day. There was some pretty high ranking officers and pilots , I guess, that were eating lunch in there as well.

What was interesting was the fact that there was an air station there in key west. The time we spent down on duval street and down around all the bars and restaurants, you never once saw a Fighter jet. At least I didn't. The was they flew in and out of the base there were out a view from the tourist down that way.

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I'll be down in Key West the weekend of Sept. 20th. for the largest Charity Poker run in Florida. Something like 20 Thousand bikes will be there. Just found out a Navy Vet friend will be there for his hovercraft unit reunión!
There will be good times!!

You just cant help to have a good time down there. I was there on work related projects, but damn if I wanted to do any work. It was a bit chilly down there for weather when I was there. I guess around 60 or so. There were people all bundled up. I about died laughing. I think is was around November of last year. The weather was great. Definitely wouldn't mind going back and doing a little off shore fishing.

Just watch out for the chickens down there. They are everywhere. I wanted to a picture one day, we were at KFC and there was a couple of chickens on there sidewalk. Cant remember the whole story behind the chickens, but I know it aint a good thing to mess with them. Every morning I felt like I was on a farm when I was a the hotel. Good times!