Mace Test Launch
Martin Mace Test Firing at Holloman AFB, September 2, 1959. (White Sands Missile Range Museum Archival Holdings – courtesy of Mike Alexander)
Tag: Launch
Capt. Wrenn’s Launch Crew (Long Count)
Capt. Eugene L. Wrenn’s Launch Crew Armed Forces Day – 1960 Click on photo to enlarge. Left to Right Capt. Eugene Wrenn TSgt. Earl Farnsworth A/1C Carl McCraw A/2C Glenn Chamblin A/1C Gerald Neeley SSgt. Kenneth Niblick SSgt. Elias Salas A/2C Leslie Downing
TM-61C Live Launch Certificate
Matador (TM-61C) Live Launch Observer Certificate – Cape Canaveral, Florida (Courtesy of Jim Holler – 38th MMS) Click on image to enlarge.
Long Count Crew #4
Orlando AFB – 1960 Photo courtesy of Tom Davis Click on picture to see larger image. Missile Crew Commander Capt. Malcom McManus Crew Chief TSgt. Lynn Wheatcraft – Deceased Crew Members SSgt. Quentin Davis – Deceased A2C Tom Davis – Fountain Inn, South Carolina SSgt. Doug Johnson A2C Ken …
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 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; …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
Misc. Recollections – Hahn TDY’s & MOC
In a February, 2008 email from Lee Kyser (887th TMS) to Fred Horky (887th TMS & 38th TMW Missile Operations Center), Lee wrote, in part: “I then went into the missile field, arriving at Lowry for training in Dec 1959. Following 15 months of training, I arrived at Sembach in …
Electrocution in the Blockhouse
In an email from Lee Kyser (887th TMS): Russ, there was a crew chief at B Flight, SSgt William Rowe, who was “electrocuted” in the blockhouse, but revived by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by the launch officer. The LOs name might have been “Thoeni” (pronounced “Thaney”), or something like that. Do …
‘Vigilance For Freedom’
Sembach Missileer – 9 September 1966 From 1958 To 1966 The Mace Helped USAFE’s – – ‘Vigilance For Freedom’ What does it take to mount a fourteen-year vigilance for freedom in an uneasy world? Whatever it takes can be found in the 38th Tactical Missile Wing. After nearly fourteen years …
Sembach Sergeant Living ‘Fast’ Life
(Posted to the website on February 22, 2008) AIR FORCE TIMES (Europe) NOVEMBER 25, 1964 (Posted to the website on February 22, 2008) SEMBACH, Germany – A sergeant assigned to Sembach is living a “fast” life these days. SSgt. Linvel L. Kyser, 887th Tactical Missile Sq. launch crew chief, …
Launch Order (4504th Support Squadron / Holloman)
Task Force #II 4504th Support Squadron Click on thumbnail to see larger image. (Courtesy of Wylie Thompson – 822nd TMS)