After going through school to work on the F-16 my first assignment was to Andersen AFB, Guam where I worked Transient Alert (now it's been outsourced to the civilians) and no there were'nt any F-16s in Guam.
Imagine how nervous I was when I was thrown in with guys my age that had a couple more years experience on the jet. Anyway, things were'nt so bad.
Current or Favourite assignment
I arrived at Mt. Home in the summer of 1993 and was put on dayshift (damn hot asphalt!!!). I remember how the flight chief laughed when I requested a transfer to the "phase" hanger (to learn more about the jet of course).
I was assigned to a jet under DCC John Lowery who had me launching the next day.
Truth be told, every time I was told "the pilot was coming out" I'd get excited and my palms would sweat, just like before a big football game.
I have very found memories of see Rupp driving around in the bread truck (he always had a big smile on his face), and not so found memories of "the wash rack" hehehe. I could still "pull an engine" like it was yesterday though.
I worked under SSgt. Hackwell as a member of the transition team to the Blk 52. At the time we were accepting all the new birds there was a mod that had to be done to the fan blades (I believe) in the engine shop, so we got very good at swapping engines.
I don't remember the details but I do remember being assigned to this jet and shortly after not having a DCC ( I just considered myself the DCC from there on out. I believe that there was some talk of having my name moved from the nose gear door to the cockpit but I did'nt have much time left in my term.
Shortly after getting out of the service Bruce Willis rode in the back seat of this one (I have a picture from the MHAFB website).
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SrA. James Kurtz (Ret.)
USAF USAF ADS