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1302 entries.
Responding to David Henning May 31, 2021 request, I have pictures of the model that I assembled and this model is exactly as the one we took to the Paris LeBouget Air Show in 1959-1960
I dont know how to display these pictures for your observing but I make them available to anyone
I dont know how to display these pictures for your observing but I make them available to anyone
Wondering if any Sembach AFB Mace Missile TM76A crew members remember a SSGT Gronkowski, Missile Mechanic AFSC, during 1958-1960? Came across his picture recently and trying to locate him.
My father, Charles Henning, was at Sembach from 63-Dec, 65 in 38th MIMS, QC Section. He is now 92 years old and resides in Jacksonville, AR after his retirement from the 308th SMW at Little Rock AFB. I am currently working on the old Revell Teracruzer and Mace missile kit for a gift for dad and am wondering if any members might have a tech manual for the Teracruzer showing more details of the steering system and other portions of the underside of the cab. Have found good information on the site, but needing a little more for my model.
I must be an old man of the 17th TMS as I separated in Dec '57 to become a Flight Test Engineer for McDonnell/Douglas Aircraft. Since, I have only caught up with 2 of our Missileers and that was years ago. I read Geo & Bob's book to find little on the 17th but noticed the X10 Navaho mentioned where I also was an engineer before catching up with the 17th.
I am surprised to see that the 17th did deploy to Taiwan, if so I would have been on orders to go. In early 1957, we did send a Matador and MSQ with a team to show and tell for the Pacific Fleet but that was it. I was on orders to go but that was scrubbed as it interfered with my wedding. Later I was on orders for Hokkaido Japan which was scrubbed by the Japanese. then there were orders for Korea which did happen after I left.
My memory is foggy but I can confirm that we made a launch every 2 weeks in '57 from the Cape but it amazes me now that we could pass over GBI before dumping the missile without interference. One actually landed on the Eastern part of the island.
It will be nice to catch up with some of the Team should they live around Orlando.
I am surprised to see that the 17th did deploy to Taiwan, if so I would have been on orders to go. In early 1957, we did send a Matador and MSQ with a team to show and tell for the Pacific Fleet but that was it. I was on orders to go but that was scrubbed as it interfered with my wedding. Later I was on orders for Hokkaido Japan which was scrubbed by the Japanese. then there were orders for Korea which did happen after I left.
My memory is foggy but I can confirm that we made a launch every 2 weeks in '57 from the Cape but it amazes me now that we could pass over GBI before dumping the missile without interference. One actually landed on the Eastern part of the island.
It will be nice to catch up with some of the Team should they live around Orlando.
Noticed that most entries here are from the earlier guys, and not many from Taiwan, so thought I'd add a little bit of info for anyone who may wonder what eventually happened to the TM-61C birds and crews there.
I was a Flight Controls guy on Launch 'D' of the 868th TMS, stationed at Tainan AFS from mid '61 through early/mid '62.
We were the last crews to be sent there, and eventually participated in deactivating the unit, preparing the birds for scrap by destroying the bulkhead connections with axes (so they couldn't be re-assembled by the Chinese), shipping the warheads back to the US, and closing it all down. (The story at the time was that the U.S. had offered the birds to the Nationalist Chinese, but they would only take them if we included the nuclear warheads, which of course was not gonna happen).
We all worked hard to perfect our launch routines, and got really good at it before the end. Launch 'D' eventually got to where we could do a 15-minute Quick Count in six and a half minutes.
We enjoyed our time there.
I was a Flight Controls guy on Launch 'D' of the 868th TMS, stationed at Tainan AFS from mid '61 through early/mid '62.
We were the last crews to be sent there, and eventually participated in deactivating the unit, preparing the birds for scrap by destroying the bulkhead connections with axes (so they couldn't be re-assembled by the Chinese), shipping the warheads back to the US, and closing it all down. (The story at the time was that the U.S. had offered the birds to the Nationalist Chinese, but they would only take them if we included the nuclear warheads, which of course was not gonna happen).
We all worked hard to perfect our launch routines, and got really good at it before the end. Launch 'D' eventually got to where we could do a 15-minute Quick Count in six and a half minutes.
We enjoyed our time there.
Just wanted to remind one and all that........I wrote the original "the missile knows where it is at all times", in 1961, while a guidance instructor at Lowry on the A-bird. Here is the ORIGINAL.
The missile knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't !
By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference or deviation.
The guidance system uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the missile from a position where it wasn't to where it now is. Consequently, the position where it was is now the position where it isn't.
In the event that the position where it is now is not the position where it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation (variations are caused by external factors, and the discussions of these factors are not considered to be within the scope of this report). The variation being the difference between where the missile is and where the missile wasn't. If variations are considered to be a significant factor, it, too, may be corrected for by the use of another system. However, for this to take place, the missile must now where it was, also.
The "thought process" of the missile is as follows: because a variation has modified some of the information which the missile has obtained, it is not sure where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't ! (within reason) and it knows DAMN sure where it was and also where it wasn't. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't (or vice versa) and by differentiating this with the algebraic difference between where it shouldn't be and where it was, it is able to obtain the difference between its deviations and its variations....which is called the ERROR SIGNAL.
The missile knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't !
By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference or deviation.
The guidance system uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the missile from a position where it wasn't to where it now is. Consequently, the position where it was is now the position where it isn't.
In the event that the position where it is now is not the position where it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation (variations are caused by external factors, and the discussions of these factors are not considered to be within the scope of this report). The variation being the difference between where the missile is and where the missile wasn't. If variations are considered to be a significant factor, it, too, may be corrected for by the use of another system. However, for this to take place, the missile must now where it was, also.
The "thought process" of the missile is as follows: because a variation has modified some of the information which the missile has obtained, it is not sure where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't ! (within reason) and it knows DAMN sure where it was and also where it wasn't. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't (or vice versa) and by differentiating this with the algebraic difference between where it shouldn't be and where it was, it is able to obtain the difference between its deviations and its variations....which is called the ERROR SIGNAL.
Nelson Nunez, 84, died January 9, 2021. Nelson joined the 11th TMS at Orlando AFB, Florida in 1955. Lived in Groveland Florida. Obituary appears in the Florida Today Newspaper.
Way to go Henry Tracy
Gordon Fisk
Tainan. 58-59
Gordon Fisk
Tainan. 58-59
Pat Schroeder has informed us that her husband, Marv Schroeder (Hahn 63-66) passed away the 12th of November. Marv, a great friend, attended our Denver reunion sharing recollections from his days at Hahn !
Roger (Moose), were you on Site IV as a launch crew member between 1965 and 1966? I was there and was teamed up with Joe Eddins as launch crew techs. Your name is familiar.
Roger (Moose) Lamothe Hahn-1962-1966. I haven't been on this page for a few years, but was wondering if the Roster of Personnel who worked on the "Birds" was still being maintained. If so, how is it accessed? Thanks.
Hey Richard Hannaford, I recognize many of your names from Kadina and the the 873rd. I was roommates with Bill O'Hare while in Kadina. Crazy guy. I think Capt. Helms was on our basketball team. Spent '61 to '63 on the island.
Sincerely Bob Cornell,
ps remember the Pizza place just outside gate 1 in Koza city on BC.
Sincerely Bob Cornell,
ps remember the Pizza place just outside gate 1 in Koza city on BC.
Did it again misspelled Chuck’s last name should have been Reustle hit r on my I pad . Did poor proof read. Sorry Chuck if you see theses entries.
In entry yesterday had Chuck Rreustle last name incorrect . Sorry. He had very successful career, probley made SSGT in four, five years. Took me 6 years. Got out after enlistment ended. 10 years in and might have stayed but reassigned 1969 from Bitburg to Barksdale on Houndog missile with B52. Was assigned to work Houndog black boxes instead of working in hanger on Houndog or flight line with Houndog on the 52. But few years later went California and worked for Lockheed. Total 14 years six months and worked number aircraft as Flight Line Electronic tech. Six years flight test on F117 and later 6 months on YF22 until it went to Edwards on fly off against the YF23 from. Northrop
Reading thru guestbook recognized number names, Bill Horn on crew with him , Capt Helms and Sgt Walters Okinawa Dec 61 - March 63 Site 1, Jeff Schiff and Ron Boe on crew live launch of “Fink 7 Mace B 17 July 1963 and I think William (Bill) O Hare Mech 4- power man on Capt Helms and Sgt Walters crew Site 1 Dec 61 March 63. Also Chuck Russell who I believed said or did something when a visiting VIP , General, don,t remember if AF or Army walked in front of a theolite in the launch bay Just a little bit of humor.
Hi Max and Russ, it was interesting to read George Mindling's written article this past week. Being the first Senior Airman, Nuclear Weapons Mechanical Specialist assigned to Flight A which deployed with the Mace TM-76A in July 1959 to Sembach Germany, I was really impressed with all the assistance to relocate the bird to Vicennes, Ind. museum.
Great article, kudos to George and all others who gave assistance. This is the only way we can preserve the history of the Tactical Missile Program which gave much support to the Cold War and prevented thermonuclear war and obliteration of our culture.
If you ever need my assistance with info about Sembach or the entire Mace TM-76A initial stages I will be glad to help. I also was named the Nuclear Weapons Member of the Standardization Review Crew when in Sembach 1959-1960.
Thanks , Ed
Great article, kudos to George and all others who gave assistance. This is the only way we can preserve the history of the Tactical Missile Program which gave much support to the Cold War and prevented thermonuclear war and obliteration of our culture.
If you ever need my assistance with info about Sembach or the entire Mace TM-76A initial stages I will be glad to help. I also was named the Nuclear Weapons Member of the Standardization Review Crew when in Sembach 1959-1960.
Thanks , Ed
Just a note to any who are interested. I stoped to see the MM-1 Terracruzer that they have at the FWD museum in Clintonville WI. I had forgot how big these things were even if I did spend 1960 and 1961 working on them at Orlando AFB, if you are in the area check it out.
I'm sorry to report my good friend Robert L. Genovese, passed away November 14, 2019. Bob, known by many as Geno, was stationed at Sembach , 38th Tactical Missile Wing, from 1961 to 1965 and worked in Finance. He also served in Vietnam and was medically retired after contracting Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie (Nickweiler), who he met and married while at Sembach. To learn more about Geno and his life after Sembach go to https://www.mycitizensnews.net/obituaries/obituary-robert-l-genovese/
Who was the Sembach base commander in 1965? Last name Payne?
Harry Anderson. Saw your post. I was assigned to GSC same time you were in GEMS. Drop me an email at V8Logsserv@cs.com when you get a change and I'll dig out some old files to refresh my memory on shop personnel.
Going through some old files I came across the name of someone I lost track of.
Does anyone know or remember Don Franklin? We trained on the same launch crew in Orlando in 1961 but he didn't ship out to Kadena with us. I was under the impression that he would arrive with the next group but he never did.
I would appreciate any information you might have.
Thanks,
John Wood
Does anyone know or remember Don Franklin? We trained on the same launch crew in Orlando in 1961 but he didn't ship out to Kadena with us. I was under the impression that he would arrive with the next group but he never did.
I would appreciate any information you might have.
Thanks,
John Wood
Arrived at Kadena Air Base assigned to the 498TMG in January 1965 with the Mace B. (the Mace A was in Bitberg Germany, where I really wanted to go!!) Stayed 18 months leaving June 1966. I was a young second lieutenant as the Launch Control Officer on a 7 man crew.. My training out of OTS was at Lowry AFB and Orlando AFB. How was that for training sites.
Lived in a Quonset Hut with two fellow officers, Dave Parker and Chuck Prince. Came across this site looking for a model of the Mace Missile to hang in my room along site the Minuteman Missile, which was my next assignment.
I need it quick before I leave this earth and then I can leave it to my daughters who will probably throw it away.
I have a few pictures to post. How do you do that?
Lived in a Quonset Hut with two fellow officers, Dave Parker and Chuck Prince. Came across this site looking for a model of the Mace Missile to hang in my room along site the Minuteman Missile, which was my next assignment.
I need it quick before I leave this earth and then I can leave it to my daughters who will probably throw it away.
I have a few pictures to post. How do you do that?
498 MMS Okinawa Kadina 1962 1965
Assigned to 498th MMS from 9/1961 to 6/1965. I was assigned to the GEMS Shop,responsile for setting up the test modules and checking out the guidance system boxes. Some of those working for me were Armand Roux, Richard Sully, Jim Jackson,Terry Acree. After checking out the boxes, we sent them to the GSC Section, withDon Moody in charge. Some oh the people working out there were Henry P. La Montagne, Gil Lomax Mac McKay,George Bennet. They would install the black boxes into the nose cone and assembled the missile. Flight Controls, run by Pete Samples would do their thing and then to the silos. Floyd Clark was also one of group that was there. We all trained at Lowery AFB, then went to Orlando AFB and on to Okinawa as a group. Most staled on until 65 or 66 before before returning to the states. These were some of the best times in my USAF Career. I went to McCoy AFB Fla as a radar tech with the 966th AEW&C until I retired in 1973. Would enjoy hearing from anyone having like memories
It is with great sadness that I inform you my father, MSgt. Norris J. Maxwell (Bitburg Steinborn '57-'60) passed away on December 21, 2019. The Denver, Colorado reunion we attended together was one of his fondest memories. Services to be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas on Friday January 10th, 2020. Family & Friends Gathering will be from 1100- 1215, Military service will start promptly at 1230.