Guestbook

Tom Gosnell from Moraga, CA wrote on November 11, 2018 at 2:00 pm

I arrived at Hahn a week before the assassination of President Kennedy, a depressing way to begin a new assignment. I was trained extensively on the AANC at Orlando, so I was naturally assigned to the MPT in the periodic maintenance area. Became MPT crew chief. A SMSGT showed up from USAFE Hq and was looking for guidance system guy and took me with him to Wiesbaden for a change of pace in my last year.

Gene Henderson from Mesa, Az wrote on September 13, 2018 at 12:59 pm

If I remember correctly we had a display TM 76 Mace Missile at Hahn AB. I was with the 586th Missile Maint Sqdn at Hahn from Dec 62 to Dec 66 and remember one there. I could be wrong tho, my memory is fading.

Edward T Nangle Jr from Lititz, PA wrote on September 6, 2018 at 8:13 am

I happened to be reading one of our postings in 2012 when the TM-76B Mace Display was completed in Indiana.
FYI- in 1959 when we first inserted the TM-76A Mace into Sembach to replace the Matador, we had a display that we took to Paris LeBourget Airfield to display in the International Air Show in June 1959. We also took the MM-1 Terracruzer. This Mace display was painted White like the one in Indiana. I also posted a picture of the display at that time June 1959 FYI.

Tim Barlow from San Antonio wrote on August 31, 2018 at 3:44 am

I was stationed at Hahn from 83-86. I've been researching the aircraft and histories of all the aircraft that were part of the 38th and 50th. If anyone has any information on the final disposition of tail numbers let me know.

Edward T Nangle, Jr from Lititz, Pa wrote on August 26, 2018 at 9:15 pm

Recently assembled model of TM-76 Mace and Terracruiser Launcher. Picture attached

A1C, Edward T Nangle, Jr, 46350B, Nuclear Weapons Mechanical Specialist, 38th TMW, 587th TMG, 822nd TMS, Sembach AB TM-76A Mace Flight A, April 1959, 822nd TMS Standardization Board Member April 1959-1960. Completed the model in August 2018.

Admin Reply by: Russ Reston

I've attached your photo to your guestbook entry. Regards...

Brian McCornick from Casselberry, fl. wrote on August 12, 2018 at 11:21 pm

Lowry 1960, Orlando 1960-61, Kadena Sep 61 to Jul 64, 498 MMS, back to Orlando as instructor (443) 64-67, Bitburg, eval team 67-69. Retired as E-8 Aug 1986.

Gene Henderson from Mesa, Az wrote on July 16, 2018 at 12:21 pm

I was at Hahn A B last week and it is about gone. Went to the housing unit I lived in and its still standing but in bad shape. Could not access the building. There is a big tree growing in front of the entrance and the building is locked. Went out to the maintenance area and it is now a recycle plant. Stunk like hell. There were people working but would not let us in. They had the gate locked. The old buildings are there and they added one bldg where we parked the MM-1"s. Sad

john Alfieri from West Henrietta wrote on June 13, 2018 at 4:23 pm

Like old times. Was assigned to the 585th Support Squadron 1957-1960, Special Weapons AFSC. Is this Gary Renfrew from the old E-Bay, worked for Capt Rheinhardt??

Gary Renfrew from Albuquerque wrote on May 28, 2018 at 12:43 pm

Does anyone have a picture of the 1st PBS patch, or an original patch? I would love to obtain one or two...or to get decals made. Also the 1st TMS patch.
Thanks for the response.

Admin Reply by: Russ Reston

See this link... https://www.tacmissileers.org/photos-videos/photos/patches/

Fred Partington from Mount Vernon wrote on May 19, 2018 at 8:25 pm

I was a missile instructor for the TM-76A & B from 1959 thru 1964 in the big hanger at Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado. I enjoyed driving the big FWD Translauncher.

Ed Valentine from Severna Park , MD wrote on April 1, 2018 at 12:01 pm

I was at Bitburg from May 56- May 59 spent 2 years on a launch crew. I was a nuclear weapon specialist, I went to Wheelus once.

Gary Renfrew from Albuquerque, NM wrote on March 13, 2018 at 12:06 pm

Saw John Gibbs' entry. I was also on the 1st PBS, then 1st TMS.
Bitburg AFB '54 to '57, was going to make a career, but TBI at Bitburg made me get Hon. Discharge in Aug '57. VA is taking excellent care of me in NM. Any others from 1st PBS out there?

Bob Shuping from Concord, NC wrote on January 20, 2018 at 2:59 pm

Haven't been on the site in a good while. Good to see all the postings.

585th Support Squadron
Bitburg Air Base, Germany
58-61,

gordon fisk from brooksville,fl wrote on January 13, 2018 at 2:20 pm

the B-61 story/launch was great,brings back some memories!

guy vanderman from deatsville, Al wrote on December 29, 2017 at 7:44 am

I have a document titled Project Sunset Lily Part A. Is there a Part B? I was part of that Project when I was an airman.

Jeff wrote on December 27, 2017 at 3:31 pm

Site IV was actually turned into a U.S. Army chaparral missile tac site which is where I served 75-78. Really cool to see it's previous history as a MACE missile site.
Were the warheads Nukes?

Eugene Bielinski from Delavan WI wrote on October 29, 2017 at 4:42 pm

Has anyone tried to sign up to the PX/BX online? I tried but they couldn't find my records. I was in the Air Force from July 1958 to July 1962.

Admin Reply by: Russ Reston

Gene, I had the same problem... I called Vet Verify at 1-844-868-8672 and they 'walked' me through submitting (online) a copy of my DD-214. Within a few hours after the submission I received an email stating "Thank you for applying to participate in the Veterans online shopping benefit. Congratulations! You have been verified and can begin shopping on November 11, 2017. The exchanges will keep you updated with important developments."

Tom Sandman from Taneytown, Lmaryland wrote on September 25, 2017 at 12:25 pm

498th GEMS 1967 - 1969. Was there for shutdown of the 498th - disassembled the GEMS Shop, and cut up the big cables for scrap at the four launch sites. Left Oki in January 70 for AMMS Squadron at Fairchild AFB. Notified on arrival of acceptance to the AECP program. Commissioned in September 72. Retired from the AF in 82 as a Captain. Retired in 2010 as Manager of Telecommunications for the National Weather Service.

Eric [ Ric ] Haase from Irvine,ca. 92604 wrote on September 15, 2017 at 5:04 pm

Just checking in,did my time [after tech school ] at Bitburg,launchcrew.. C-pad ..71 st TMS [60-62] then off to Hahn site IV [62-63]...site MMS...Hello to those of us still here [ lol ]

Joseph Bogo from Avella, PA wrote on August 11, 2017 at 12:05 am

Hahn AFB, 1964; Mace Missiles (maintenance) until I moved into fixed and then mobile radar at Giebelstadt and Grafenwoehr.

Robert L. Bolton from Gainesville, GA wrote on March 30, 2017 at 6:04 pm

It's with much regret that I am posting this notice of the passing of one of Grünstadt's original Mech 1s. Steven Andrew Moore, "Sam" to his close friends.
Sam passed in early February. He served at Grünstadt from early 1962 until shutdown September 1966. Sam went on to serve 20 years with the Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force he earned a degree in Electronic Engineering and worked for Delco. He is dearly missed by all his Missileer friends and fellow Grünstadt grovelers.

Paul Mason from Fort Worth wrote on March 29, 2017 at 8:52 pm

I was at Patrick AFB in 1953 assigned to 69th PBS. We left Jacksonville in 1953 on board a troop ship. We landed in Bramerhaven two weeks later. We were fasted trained to Hahn AB. 3 month later assigned to detachment (4) Back to the US in 1955

Joe Heeter from Continental, Ohio 45831 wrote on March 28, 2017 at 10:14 am

I was in Okinawa 1962-1964 as NCOIC Launch crew. Capt Brown, Roger Huckabee, Felix Nadolny, Richard (Whip) Wilson, Bruce Covey & J Fortman. I am seeking information about the use of agent orange at the launch sites. I understand that it was used extensively as a defoliant to maintain security around the sites. So if anyone can verify this procedure, Security guards, Maintenance personnel, it would be greatly appreciated. If you know of any personnel that has Prostate Cancer, Malignant Lymphoma, Type 2 Diabetes, Hodgkins Lymphoma or have children suffering from birth defects or any personnel have died from any of these malady's Please let me know.

Jack Drafahl from Jack Drafahl wrote on March 26, 2017 at 8:31 pm

I was at Hahn airbase 64-66, site IV, blockhouse 1. I bought one of the original Renwal plastic models of the mace, but was lost many years ago. Last year the redo came about for $40. I bought one, but wanted more, so I have a CGI version made that can be incorporated into photos and videos. I have just started working on some images and though I would share them with you. I own the CGI version outright, so if you look for it, it will not show up in the search engine. I will be doing more images and updating the link below in the next couple months. Gray body, different locations, that kind of thing. Here is the link to the images. No www at the front of the web address.
mace.jackandsue.com

Jack Drafahl

John M. Gibbs from Homosassa Springs, FL wrote on March 7, 2017 at 12:55 pm

Current Member of TAC Missileers.
1st Pilotless Bomber Squadron, Patrick AFB 1953; Deployed to Germany "on The Boat",1st PBS, later the 1st Tactical Missile Sqn, Bitburg AB 1954-56.
AMLO Wheelus AB 1954, 55, 56.
Hon. Discharged 56.

Just Checkin In. John

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