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1310 entries.
Ray William Meyer from Union wrote on March 18, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Arrived Hahn Oct 1959. Returned home to be station Andrews Oct 1961. Getting old so is my memory. Worked on MM 1 on site.
Dave Rush, Totten, Messer, Runnels and Parsons.
Frank Roales from Vincennes Indiana wrote on March 4, 2022 at 2:07 pm
I was at Orlando 12/59 to 8/61 as a special vehicle mechanic and worked on the MM1's. If anyone is interested the FWD museum in Clintonville WI has a running MM1 at there museum, where I was able to visit an old friend from my USAF days. Also if you have looked over this site you know we at the Indiana Military in Vincennes have a Mace B bird here.
Frank
David Henning from Redfield, Ark. wrote on February 15, 2022 at 10:37 pm
Here is a link to my completed build of the old Revell/Renwal Mace missile and Teracruzer. I can't express how much the photos and tech manual on this website helped in my attempt to build an accurate model of a TM-76A, MM-1, and translauncher at Orlando AFB. My late father, MSgt (then TSgt) Charles Henning, trained at Lowry and Orlando before going to Sembach with the 38th. He was in QC from mid 64 to Dec. 65.
Click here...
Anthony Aluknavich from Conroe, TX wrote on January 25, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Joe Dubner - I was at Hahn and on a launch crew when you were there, but I can't picture you (getting old, haha). We probably were at Orlando at the same time too. Maybe see you at the upcoming reunion? My launch crew included SSGT Jones and Joe Eddins, but I can't remember the launch officer we were with. In case your memory is better than mine, my email is (aja8888@gmail.com) if you care to drop me a line.
Joe Dubner from Independence, OR wrote on December 20, 2021 at 2:18 pm
Hello from the former Mace launch crewmember A1C Joe Dubner (long retired). I was at Hahn from 1965 until deactivation of the 38 TMW a couple years later.
My lieutenant (Robert A. Barton) passed away this year. I have not been in contact with anyone else in all this time but would welcome contact with others (jdubner@yahoo.com).
Richard Gross from Chester, Virginia wrote on October 25, 2021 at 11:50 am
I was among the first arrival of Air Force non-commissioned enlisted personnel in February 1951 to be assigned with the Matador B-61 project at Patrick AFB (formerly Banana River Naval Airbase). I also was briefly with the Glenn L. Martin Co. Testing Group at White Sands, New Mexico and during their transfer move to Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral Missile Test Center. I became an instructor to train ground crew launch personnel for the 1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron. Served at Patrick AFB until January 1953 to volunteer for service in Korea with the 319th F-94 Fighter Interceptor Squadron. I finally was discharged in December 1954.
Richard Linehan from Tamarac wrote on September 30, 2021 at 12:07 pm
I just bought the book "US AF Tactical Missiles 49-69.

My AFSC was 33150B and received weapons training at Lowry AFB in 1958. Then I was asigned to the 4504 Tac Missile Training Squadorn at Orlando AFB -- Sep 1958 - May 1959. Then as a complete squadron, shipped out to Osan Air Base as the 310 TMS. I was on Launch Team 4 known as the "Turtle Team."

After Korea, I was assigned to the 1090 Special Reporting Wing at Sandia Base.

After my Honorable Discharge, I earned an AA in Engineering Science at Nassau Community College and a BA in Physical Science, a Standard Life K - 9 Teaching Credential, and a Masters in Education Technology at San Francisco State University.

I have worked as an 8th grade Science teacher for 24 years, provided technical support to internal users of H-P computers at a variety of companies including H-P. Also, I have earned a 100 Ton US Coast Guard License and have worked as a sailing instructor and the captain of a crewed charter boat in the Caribbean.

I am now retired
George Glaush from Lincoln wrote on August 12, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Jacque Hansen, wife of Arnie Hansen, informed me today that Arnie had passed away on 10 August 2021. Arnie was a member of the 887th TMS. He was a good friend to all and will be missed.
Edward Nangle from Manheim Pa wrote on July 2, 2021 at 4:03 pm
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
Edward Nangle from Manheim wrote on June 30, 2021 at 12:03 pm
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.
David Henning from Redfield, AR wrote on May 13, 2021 at 10:42 pm
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.
Alan Aden from Orlando FL wrote on May 5, 2021 at 4:42 pm
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.
Barry Basinger from Lawrenceburg wrote on February 23, 2021 at 4:04 pm
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.
Mike Osborn from Rogersville MO wrote on February 6, 2021 at 8:28 pm
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.
Andy Hernandez from Satellite Beach Florida wrote on January 19, 2021 at 3:04 pm
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.
Gordon Fisk from Brooksville Fl wrote on January 12, 2021 at 11:32 am
Way to go Henry Tracy

Gordon Fisk
Tainan. 58-59
Admin Reply by: Russ Reston
Henry Tracy - Missileer of the Day - January 12, 2021
Julian P Esposito from Levittown wrote on January 12, 2021 at 9:05 am
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 !
Admin Reply by: Russ Reston
His name has been added to the Honor Roll. https://www.tacmissileers.org/honor-roll-of-deceased-missileers/
Anthony (Tony) Aluknavich from Conroe wrote on December 19, 2020 at 12:40 pm
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. from Greenville, NC wrote on December 15, 2020 at 8:50 pm
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.
Admin Reply by: Russ Reston
We don't maintain a list of everyone that worked with Matador / Mace missiles, but we do actively maintain a list of TAC Missileers members. It can be found at https://www.tacmissileers.org/active-members/
Robert 'Bob' Cornell wrote on December 3, 2020 at 7:05 am
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.
Richard Hannaford from Hampton, New Hampshire wrote on November 21, 2020 at 2:10 pm
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.
Richard Hannaford from Hampton, New Hampshire wrote on November 21, 2020 at 2:04 pm
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
Richard Hannaford from Hampton wrote on November 20, 2020 at 11:33 pm
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.
Ed Nangle from Manheim, Pa wrote on November 13, 2020 at 12:01 pm
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
Frank Roales from Vincennes IN wrote on September 27, 2020 at 12:56 pm
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.