Guestbook

Guild Fetridge wrote on November 13, 2011 at 6:54 pm

Orlando AFB 1957
Tainan AB 1958/59/60
I was with the 17th Tactical Missile Squadron (Martin Matador TM-61C Surface to surface missile) at Orlando AFB in 1957 which became the 868th Tactical Missile Squadron when it located to Tainan Air Base, Taiwan. I was there with the Armament Section for three years - extended my assignment twice while there. What a wonderful experience. I have pictures if interested.

Balducci, Dale wrote on November 8, 2011 at 2:45 pm

Hahn, A.B. 1959-1962

Michael J. Sweeney wrote on November 1, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Just thought I,d say hi and make a couple of corrections to the roll call. I was in Bitburg, Okinawa and a instructor in Orlando.
Bitburg 1957/1960
Okinawa 1965/1968
retired as Msgt in 1975

Gary Pruitt wrote on October 30, 2011 at 5:39 pm

I was a fireman stationed at Hahn AB 61-64. Worked at Metro Tango until the Mace Sites went Operational. Rotated between Sites 4, 5, 6, and Metro Tango frim Mar 61 - Oct 62. Was first assigned to the 586th SS which was deactivated in Oct 62. All fireman and air police were transferred to the 50th. Retired from the USAF in 1989 and retired Civil Service 2005. Now living in Beaver Dam, Arizona - extreme Northwest corner of state.

Jim Cagle wrote on October 19, 2011 at 12:36 am

Well, another TAC Missileer reunion is now history, after a really fun time in San Diego. My thanks to all of the TAC-M officers and anyone else who helped to put it together! The special Oktoberfest was a great cap on the festivities. I feel sure that our private \'fest was far superior to the public one! I\'m already anticipating the final date for San Antonio in 2013. Just hope we don\'t have to wear pith helmets....

Jim Cagle
Bitburg MEMS, Mace-B, 62-64

Lee Berkes wrote on October 14, 2011 at 5:12 pm

11th Pilotless Bomber Squadron, 11th Tactical Missile Squadron: Orlando Air Force Base - 54/56
Bitburg Germany - 56/58. Helped train Shanicle crews.

Jose [ Joe ] Sanchez wrote on October 10, 2011 at 9:07 pm

Bitburg - 1954/1956

Jose Sanchez wrote on October 9, 2011 at 5:02 pm

ENTERED SERVICE IN 1953, INITIALLY ATTACHED TO MATADOR 1st TACTICAL MISSILE SQUADRON BASED AT BITBURG 1954 â€“ 1956 FOLLOWING TRAINING AT KEESLER AFB AND SANDIA. TASKED WITH DISASSEMBLY, CONVERTING, ASSEMBLING, MAINTAINING AND TESTING NUCLEAR BOMBS TO PBS MISSILE WARHEADS. ALSO PERFORMED MANY VARIOUS TASKS WITHIN COC TRACKING BY MAINTAINING OPERATION READINESS REPORTS, AT TIMES WAS PERSONAL DRIVER TO BASE COMMANDER TO FIELD OPERATION LOCATIONS. TRANSFERRED TO MARCH AFB PERFORMING TESTS OF MK 15 AND MK 30 THERMO-NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR SAC B47 BOMBERS. DISCHARGED AT END OF OF SERVICE DUTY IN 1957.

John Keyes wrote on October 9, 2011 at 9:19 am

Was in both 873rd and 874th, site four Kadena crew 36 or 38 1962 and 1963.
Just found old friend and crewmember Jerry Strong on this site.

Max R. Butler wrote on October 8, 2011 at 7:14 pm

Well, the 2011 reunion is upon us everyone. 4 more days to the official start. Hope all you reunion attendee\'s are bursting with anticipation of a great time. I assure you, it will be. Of course the best part of the reunion is getting to be among your former comrades from just a few years ago. OH, how I wish it were just a few years ago. I do know that I would gladly do it all, over again, if it were possible. I truly enjoyed every minute of my Air Force years, even when I received a butt chewing for doing something stupid. Don\'t recall what that was, but I\'m sure I probably did something to warrant a chewing out.
For those that have never been to a TacMissileer reunion, please give it some serious thought about attending the next one that will be held in 2013. LOcation to be voted on at the upcoming reunion in San Diego. Being in the company of all those former Cold War Missileer Warriors, just gives you a very proud feeling. Of course when you witness someone recognize an old comrade from over 45 years ago, it really tugs at your heart. IN past reunions I have even witnessed a few damp eyes, from time to time. Don\'t think it was from having something in the eye, either.
For all the former Missileers that have been signing in on our web-site, we would love to have you as members in this wonderful TacMissileer organization. Due\'s are very reasonable at $15.00 annually, or $30.00 for 3 years, which is a $15.00 savings.
IF any of you would like a unit patch, I may have them in stock or can have them made if there is enough demand for a certain patch. Also can have the TacMIssileer jackets made with any and all lettering you may wish to have.
Also if any of you have any stories you would like to share with the MIssileer family, please contact our Newsletter Editor, Bob Bolton. He would greatly appreciate any newsworthy articles from you former Missileers. Why, they don\'t even have to be entirely true, but would appreciate them being reasonably close.
BY the way, I was at Hahn 58-60 and BItburg 60-61. WAs in armament on the Matador. Everyone stay safe. For those going to the reunion. SEE Y\'ALL THERE. EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE TRIP. Max

vincent seib wrote on October 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm

stationed at kadene in 498th tms 1966-1969

i was in maintenance in charge of electric and airconditioning shop

John Moore wrote on October 7, 2011 at 10:32 am

I Just read the submission by SM/SGT Sid Segler and I hope someone can say that isn\'t so and provide a resonable alternative theory, \"ie: that during the RFML changeover involving the TM76A an undetected defect was involved with the LEU hand crank that would have resulted in no Mace ever leaving the launch pad\" I shudder to think that so many of us spent 3 years or more of long wakefull hours on alert duty in the block house, and that if the time ever came to do what we were trained for, the system would have failed, and none of our birds would have left the pad. Even though the cold war era is long past and it no longer makes a differance I would like to know that what we trained for would have actually functioned as we believed it would
\"JR\" Moore 823rd TMS crew 2-7

Ron wrote on October 6, 2011 at 10:05 am

I was a 30353A AutoTrack technician, assigned to OL5, 601st TCS (Mausdorf) from Jul 1961 to Sept 1962. I was the last enlisted man to get orders after the disbanding of the TDPs. So many good memories. So many names forgotten, though I\'m still in touch with 4 guys from OL5. Would love to hear from anyone who served at Mausdorf.

Bert Schwind wrote on October 1, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Orlando AB - 1959, Osan AB - 1960. I was LO on Launch Team 6. We were originally told we\'d go to Germany but went the other way. Some guys get all the luck. During \'59, I had additional duty as commander of \'Camp Happiness\' during live launch for Teams 3&4. Our 310th Launch Officers were: Team 1-Capt Hughes, Team 2-Lt ??, Team 3-Lt Bob Kajawa, Team 4-Lt Bill Malone, Team 5-Lt Don Hensen, Team 6-Lt Bert Schwind. I\'d like to hear from any of the old heads who were at K-55 at the time. Maybe not too many of us left. Regards & good health. Bert Schwind

Carlton R. Rice wrote on September 29, 2011 at 3:24 pm

Bitburg 1959/62. Spent 4+ years with SAC in AGM-28 Hound dog, flying in B-52s now and then. Cross trained into PMEL in 68 where I spent my last 13 years. Retired from Eglin in 78 and enjoyed a second career as a Professional with the Boy Scouts of America. Graduated from Florida Southern College in 74. Married 45 years, 2 sons and currently 2 grandsons. Living in Birmingham, AL.

RobertB0bBozeman wrote on September 26, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Orlando 1958
Osan K-55, Korea, 1959/60

Henderson, Robert wrote on September 26, 2011 at 9:01 am

Hahn 1964/1966

Johnny Brezina Tex wrote on September 25, 2011 at 4:56 pm

Lowry AB 12/62-05/63
Orlando AB 05/63-12/63
873rd TMS Okinawa 12/63-06/65
71st TMS Bitburg 06/65-01/67
Mech 2 on launch crews both in Okinawa and Germany. Had lots of great times with friends and good working crews at both locations. Remember adventures with Max Saylor, Kirk Kaskin, Joe Andrews and Steve Rozic, but there were many others. Learned to play golf with Kaskin and spent time in the \"snake pit\" with many friends. One memory I have is rebuilding a VW engine in Rozic\'s attic in Germany in the winter, because he had no other place to work on it. Looking forward to the reunion in San Diago soon.

Chharlie Waugh wrote on September 24, 2011 at 11:01 pm

I cross trained from comm. to guidance systems in 1958. We moved from Shaw field S.C.to Orlando Fla.where we trained,fired our bird,the OLD MATADOR TM61c, then we all left for OS AN A.B. K55 Korea. Our sq d.launched the 1st MATADOR from K55. I left Korea in early 1960,went to LOWERY AFB Colorado where i went to instructor training and helped close out the MATADOR TM61c program.From there i went to Patrick AFB where i retrained to telemetry tech.and worked with the ATLAS A-BREEZE Program until it was moved to Calif.I did not want that so i went back to LOWERY,retrained into the SKY BOLT A.L.B.M. guidance. That system folded as well so i took my discharge and went work for FORD Motor co. for 33yrs. I am RETIRED now. I hunt,fish and look for old AF friends.

Mark Mazak wrote on September 14, 2011 at 2:55 pm

Lowery AFB, 1960
Orlando AFB 1961
Kadena AFB, 1962-1963
Orlando AFB, 1964

Joseph DiPietro wrote on September 12, 2011 at 4:08 pm

Kadena May 64-Nov 65, Site #4 Mech.1.
Was good friends with Eddie George, Jim Ringer, Al Joseph. Also knew Sid Couey, Les Dretsch,
Willy the pool player and ___ Kenny.
Launch Officer was Lt Womac. It was really great to see these postings.Have some good stories to tell.

Paul Gasperson wrote on September 6, 2011 at 7:14 am

I was assigned to the 11th TMS 1955 and was transferred to the 17th upon the deployment of the 11th I deployed with the 17th advance party to Formosa (Taiwan) in 1957. Somewhere along the line our designation was changed to 868th? (I think) I was assigned to Assembly and took care of the generators and vehicles crane operator.The Assembly Officer was LT Willie C Wilson The Ncoic was SSgt Nolan . The Launch team officer was Capt Carol and the Launch team Ncoic was SSgt Wilt. I left Tainan January 1959. I had the pleasure of returning to Tainan AB in 2001 as the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Pacific Areas and as such was given a tour of the base by the Operations Officer whom is now in Washington DC as a general representing The Taiwan Military . Believe it or not the bse looks the same. There is a TM61C Matador Missile mounted at the front gate Itook pictures I think it was one of the ones that we took over as the advance party. It sure brought back a lot of memories. I think the best part of that assignment besides the usual was the MAGAMBO

Paul Murphy wrote on September 2, 2011 at 1:05 pm

I was at Lowery in \'64, then to Orlando for 2 schools, we went to \"A\" bird school and at graduation they told us it was over so they put us through \"B\" bird school. Already had orders to Kadena. Ended up in Bitburg in late 1965 to early 1968.

Chuck Scheerschmidt Sr wrote on August 28, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Trained at Lowery \'60 - \'61. Crew training in Orlando \'61. Worked in GEMS at Kadena in \'62 to \'63 time frame. Returned to Orlando as permanent party in \'63 - \'65 adn then Back to Okinawa for 66-Dec 69. Worked in GEMs and then Maint Control under MSgt Scotty Wagner. Also interested in locating Reef Rovers and those who worked with me at the Swimming Pools.

Thomas Maslo wrote on August 24, 2011 at 6:49 pm

I was in the 498th from 65 to 67 - I was mech 1 on crew 40 at site 4. Lt Mccoy was my LO

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