38th TMW Medal Winners
Probably from the Sembach Missileer – circa 1963 (contributed by Julian “Bud” Fellers, 587th MMS, B-Flight) Click on article to see larger image.
Year: 2008
Sembach Tigers (1962)
Probably from the Sembach Missileer – circa fall 1962 (contributed by Julian “Bud” Fellers, 587th MMS, B-Flight) Click on article to see larger image.
TM-76A Visits Downtown Orlando
In an email from Edward “Beetle” Bailey (822nd TMS, A-Flight) to Russ Reston, dated 18 Aug. 2008, Beetle writes: “We were selected to take a bird to downtown Orlando. We were to put on a static display. We did the work and the Public Relations folks took over. We got …
Beetle Bailey’s Long Count Crew
Edward “Beetle” Bailey’s Long Count Crew 822nd TMS – A-Flight (circa March 1960) Click on photo to see larger image. Top Row; left to right: Tom Morris Mike Washburn Capt Edgar Harris – Launch Officer SSgt. Soule – Crew Chief (Did not deploy. Was bitten by a bee …
Half Million Dollar Training Complex
In May 1962, Maj. Thomas S. Robinson had the idea of constructing a unique complex to train TM-76A missile crews to combat ready status. Working with Mr. John T. (“Jack”) Conniff, Martin-Marietta technical representative, and A1C Edward (“Beetle”) Bailey, they developed a training complex, valued at over a half million …
The Sports Section – Hurst & King
Sembach Missileer – circa January 1963 (contributed by Edward “Beetle” Bailey, 822nd TMS, A-Flight) New Baseball – Football Coaches Named for Up-Coming Seasons Click on newspaper article to see larger image.
2007 TAC Missileers Reunion Pictures
Here are a couple pictures from the 2007 TAC Missileers Reunion in Tucson. (Let’s see how many people we can get to attend the 2009 Reunion in Dayton…) 823rd TMS Click on photo for larger image. Left to Right Nick Nicholson Michael Hamerski Ken Haehnel 887th TMS …
The Saga of Lee’s Mini-Cooper
By Lee Kyser (887th TMS) Let me start with the short story: In June 1964, I purchased a new 1964 Morris Cooper 1275 S (commonly known as a Mini Cooper S). It had been ordered with U.S. specs and, subsequently, I raced it in International events. That got the …
The Original “A-Flight” – Orlando, AFB
587th Tactical Missile Group, 822nd Tactical Missile Squadron, original “A-Flight”; photo taken at ??? Orlando AFB? / circa 1959.? Crews #17, 18, 19 & 20 were formed after picture was taken. Click on picture to enlarge. Front Row – Left to Right SSgt. Westley D. Curry – Crew Chief; …
“A-Flight” Long Count Crew #14
“A-Flight” Long Count Crew #14 (587th Tactical Missile Group, 822nd Tactical Missile Squadron; photo taken at ??? Orlando AFB… / circa 1959) Click on picture to enlarge. Left to Right TSgt. Walsh SSgt. Thomas Swoopes A2C William Hoffeld SSgt. Jesse Bailey A2C Wylie Thompson – San Antonio, Texas …
Wylie Thompson – Driver of the Month
1 August 1962 A1C Wylie R. Thompson, a member of the 822nd Tactical Missile Squadron, the 38th TMW’s Driver of the Month, receives a pen and pencil set and the congratulations of the 38th AB Group Commander Col. Roger W. Page. Looking on is the 822nd Squadron Commander Lt. Col. …
Orlando Class – May 1962
Many thanks to Andy Holcombe (822nd TMS) for his Orlando Class photo. Can you help us identify the people? If so, please send an email to Russ Reston. Click on thumbnail to see larger image. Standing – Left to Right: 1. Anderson M. “Andy” Holcombe (Rome, Georgia) 2. Samuel F. …
Mace “Switcheroo”
Did you ever realize that the missile on display at Sembach AB in the 1964 -1966 timeframe wasn’t really a “Mace”? In an email from Fred Horky to Russ Reston, dated May 30, 2008, Fred writes… I’ve been going over your website again. It’s a never-ending reverie of great times! …
“C” Flight Organizer & Jet Ace
In a letter from Lt. Col. Richard S. “Dick” Becker to Russ Reston, dated May 17, 2008, Dick wrote… “Your records are correct. I organized and trained “C” Flight at Orlando; took them to New Mexico where each crew fired a number of TM76 / Mace Missiles. We arrived at …
585th TMG Bitburg – Commander “Drops In” On TM Site
Bitburg Skyblazer Weekly – circa 1957/8 Submitted Phillip Thomas (Grünstadt Med. Tech.) on behalf of Kayo “Red” Adams (585th TMG, Steinborne, Det 4 – 57/58). Maj. Gen. Gabriel P. Disosway visits Bitburg’s 585th Tactical Missile Group (Matador), Detachment #4 (Steinbourne) and comments “… I don’t need to taste the cake …
The Original “C Flight”
The original “C Flight” was the third increment of the first Mace squadron (822nd TMS) to be deployed to Sembach AB. With little help from 38th TMW, “C Flight” converted a former radio listening site into Site III – Grünstadt (“The Hill”). Here’s a picture of the original “C Flight,” …
Missile Squadrons Move Up In Sembach Sports Program
Original publication and date unknown (probably the Sembach Missileer – circa Fall 1965). (Courtesy of Richard Ertz – 823rd TMS) Missile Squadrons Move Up In Sembach Sports Program The tactical missile squadrons are moving ahead in base-wide competition. The 822nd TM Sq. is pacing the base’s intermural Basketball League and …
Did You Get The Message?
In an email from Lee Kyser to Bob Bolton et al, dated April 1, 2008, Lee writes… The hard hats were a requirement when RFML started. As you recall, Bob, anytime any launch crew member went onto a pad, a hard hat was mandatory. I’m thinking that requirement lasted for …
Single Missile – Continued
Many thanks to Fred Horky for helping to “educate” me… Russ. R. After reading Single Missile – 43 Minute Launch, Russ Reston sent an email to Fred Horky with some comments/questions. In a reply, dated Mar. 29, 2008, Fred responded as follows: Russ, You wrote: Fred, very interesting. Boy, did …
Single Missile – 43 Minute Launch
In an email from Fred Horky to Russ Reston, dated Mar. 26, 2008, Fred, in part, writes: Russ, You wrote: “Sheepishly, I admit, the website has concentrated mostly on the RFML time frame. That’s the time I was at Sembach, and the contacts/names that I have. You are the only …
Site III Gets “Designer” Furniture
In an email from Fred Horky to Russ Reston, dated Mar. 26, 2008, Fred, in part, writes: “My only experience was with Site III (Grünstadt), but I believe most operations were pretty much the same at the other two sites. The biggest difference for Site III was that the single/unaccompanied …
Actor on Stage Every Day
Sembach Missileer Friday, March 27, 1964 Guest Editorial by Col. Roger W. Page, Base Commander You Must Impress German Audience Every American man, woman and child here in Germany is an actor who is on stage every day. You have been performing to the same audience for over 20 years. …
Werhan Receives Certificate
How many people took advantage of University of Maryland classes? Here’s an article from the Sembach Missileer Friday, March 27, 1964 Captain Werhan Receives Certificate of Scholarship Capt. Clyde H. Werhan, a missile combat crew commander with the 823rd TM Sq., was a recent recipient of a Certificate …
Crew 3-7 Coloring Book
How many people remember this – The Crew #3-7 Coloring Book ? In a March 17, 2008 email to Russ Reston and Lee Kyser, Clint Everett states, in part: “In 1961, a thin paperback named The Executive Coloring Book was a surprise best seller. It was a book of basic …
Free Cheese Buffet & I’ll Take Sweden
These were just couple of your recreational options at Sembach AB on September 7, 1965. The “Free Cheese Buffet” was offered at the Officer’s Club beginning at 1730 hours and “I’ll Take Sweden” was being shown at the Base Theater at 1830 and 2045 hours. Capt. Allen was the …
Miscellaneous AF Documents
Here are a few miscellaneous Air Force documents… Do they look familiar? Click on thumbnails to see larger images. Leave Authorization Pay Change Notice Operator’s License – Privately Owned Vehicles Armed Forces Liberty Pass Automobile Insurance Card US Government Motor Vehicle Operator’s ID Card Operator’s Permit – Air Force Equipment …
Guys And Their Cars
In a March 7, 2008 email from Jim Plowden (822nd TMS; Crew #1-9) to Russ Reston et al, Jim in part states: “Funny how we remember the cars in our lives more than the women in our lives!” With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to show …
Website Finds Lee Kyser’s Mini Cooper S!
On February 22, 2008 we posted an article about Lee Kyser’s racing activities while stationed at Sembach AB; Sembach Sergeant Living ‘Fast’ Life (AF Times – November 25, 1964). The next day, Rui Mauricio, a Mini Cooper owner in New England, advised via the website’s Guestbook that he now owns the Mini …
Nuclear Weapons Personnel Life Insurance
How many Sembach Missileers had Nuclear Weapons Personnel Life Insurance like Jim Plowden? Per Jim, “This is the Nuclear Weapons Personnel Life Insurance Policy that no self-respecting Mech.2 would be without.” Click on thumbnail to see larger image.
Theater Group at Sembach
In a March 3, 2008 email from Jim Plowden to Russ Reston, Jim, in part, says: “We had a very active theater group, at Sembach, that put on some outstanding performances. These are a couple of the programs from the performances. I was never in any of the plays, but …