Guestbook

I was initially assigned to the 38th TAC Missile Wing in mid 1959 as Chief, Aerospace Ground Equipment Maintenance Officer. This is as well as I can remember the title. About one year later, the Wing had difficulty acquiring a Missile Maintenance Officer and I was placed in that position. I had no formal Matador or Mace training, but with the help of others in the headquarters I managed to get the job done. The job title given me was Chief, Deficiency Analysis Maintenance Officer. Like WOW! I couldn't hardly pronounce the name, but I had the job. Where did they find such a name for a title. The Wing had three outstations (Secret Misile Launch Bunkers, etc.), at this time I can only remember one near Bitburg -- I believe it was something like the 587th TAC Missile Sqdn., however, I'm not sure. I was a rated pilot and, in addition to other duties, was required to fly a minimum number of flights, day and night with a minimum number of landings, takeoffs, and instrument approaches. In order to do this I had to fly on nights, weekends and holidays because the ground job requirements were such that I couldn't get away during normal duty hours. However I did fly Missile Maintenance People, during normal duty hours, into Bitburg on several occasions to help in the repairs of out of commission missiles. Many, many times, I took long cross country flights to Italy, Berlin, London, Copenhagen, etc. After the word got out that I was flying into these areas, several requests came in to include airmen passengers who had authorized leave and desired to travel to various areas in Europe on weekends. I add this latter information, because some of the TACMissileers, especially those in the Sembach area, may remember being on some of those flights. Sembach had only two C-47 type aircraft, and those of us who were rated pilots flew those craft to get our required minimums.