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  TSgt. Chris Johnsen (Ret.)

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Name TSgt. Chris Johnsen (Ret.)
Country
Unit Ogden Air Logistics Center
Crewing F-16s from 1986 until 2006
Contact juvat67 Send me a private message
Website
Joined the AF in 1986 and my first assignment was with the 34th at Hill AFB, back when we belonged to the 388th AGS. Got to see Misawa AB as a 3-level, and visit Holloman AFB, for winter deployments. My first aircraft was 82-1012, Jimmy Danning's plane, but moved quickly to 82-1000 "Balls", Todd Andre's plane. Saw 82-1000 throughout my career till it went to Depot at Hill, still with the coffee can lid patch on the right stab. Left the 34th to go to the 421st Phase Dock, 388th EMS. 1990 recieved assignment to Spangdahlem AB, and the "Fighting Hawks" of the 23rd. I was assigned to 86-282, Todd Peterson's bird, but eventually became a DCC on 86-225. Went to war with them to the "Lik" and spent three months in cold and mud. My aircraft didn't make it down, so I crewed the "wing" jet, 85-552 during the war. After PC I & II left Germany (bad move) to Luke AFB, and into the 63rd Phase Dock under MSgt. Johnny Knight (I run into him once in a while, he's retired at Hill AFB) When the 62nd "Spike" transfered from McDill, I went over to stand up their Phase dock with Tom Mical. After Luke I went to Kunsan and the 80 FS "Juvats" This assignment was hard but rewarding. I worked again in the Phase dock with Tom Mical (Who I understand is with PACAF IG?) Kunsan sucked, but the team unity was awesome. I left Kunsan in 1997, after pulling a Lt. Gen string to get assigned back at Hill AFB, and lucked out into the 649 CLSS (Depot) I did some good work with them and learned a lot about the F-16. I was on the team to rebuild the 421st aircraft 89-2134, which after crashing and having nearly everything replaced, flew "code 1" on its first flight after being on the ground 4 years. I have the picture. I got involved in the community, and earned NCO of the Quarter and Year awards. I then got a non-volunteer assignment to Sheppard AFB, as a MRA instructor. I went and it was the roughest three years of my career. I got the "T" prefix, but saw friends go to jail, get kicked out and all kind of in trouble for things on the line we wouldn't even blink at. I left Sheppard for another Kunsan tour as a flight chief in the 35th FS "Pantons". I worked for a very difficult boss and she made the assignment unfun. The people were cool to work with and made friends. My last assignment before I retired was with the 4th FS at Hill AFB as a flight chief. I was back where I started and even ran into guys I knew when we were airman. I was working for Lockheed Martin as a F-16 Program Manager in the country of Oman, but now I am a Lead Safety Specialist with the OO-ALC/SE at Hill AFB matrixed in the 309th AMXG organization.

Current or Favourite assignment

Everything about Germany was cool, and the people I worked with made it even that more so. The supervision sucked, especially MSgt Reid, but the crewchiefs I worked with made the assignment the best. Plus going to war with the unit helps to bring out the importance of what we do.

Deployments

I deployed to Misawa AB for Cope Thunder as a three-level in 1987. I was brand new to the AF, and got to see the world all ready. The were people in the 34th that was awesome and taught me a lot. I have been to Red Flag at Nellis, and A couple of Winter deployments to Holloman AFB, NM. When in Germany, went to Lakenheath right when I got there to pick up a jet the had a "oil lube" light coming on after TA serviced the aircraft while running. Spent three days there, and found out what "hog call at Mildenhall" was all about. Right before the war, went to Zaragoza AB, Spain, and enjoyed to sun, and scenery. Then went to Incirlik AB, Turkey for the war, and spent 3 months in a tent. I went down with the Advon team while the rest of the main group was fogged in at Spangdahlem. The team was eight crewchiefs, two or three specs, a weapons crew, and some other support people, and Lt. Col Bereit. For 36 hours we generated 16 aircraft for combat operations three goes a day before the main body showed up. After the war, stopped by the "Lik" for some shopping in Provide Comfort I & II. Once I left Germany my deployments got less and less till 649 CLSS, then I went out and picked up crashed jets. Went back to Spangdahlem, then to Shaw, Kelly AFB for BRAC, and back to Kunsan for advertising tour. I never went on a deployment after those. I was a homebody and drove my wife nuts.

My Jets & Assignments

82000 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 34th Fighter Squadron "Rams" [Unit History]
Period 1986 - 1990
Current: 686   RJAF 6 sqn F-16A Block 20 MLU [ act]
This jet had a massive flight control problem before I got on it. It was the flagship, but would do uncommanded rolls. The specs got it fixed, and when I was on it, it never had problems. It did bomb itself one time. The pilot pickled his BDU-33 and then pulled up, but his momentum pulled him foward and the bomb hit the right stab and gouged it deep. When the plane came back, sheetmetal did a repair of taking a coffee can lid and sealing underneath and around the edges. The repair and the stab was on the aircraft when I saw my old airplane in 1999.
87282 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 23rd Fighter Squadron "Fighting Hawks" [Unit History]
Period 1990 - 1991
Current: 87282   USAF 100 FS F-16C Block 30 [ act]
Todd Peterson was the DCC, I was the ACC, Maj. Bruce Wright was the Pilot
86225 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 23rd Fighter Squadron "Fighting Hawks" [Unit History]
Period 1991 - 1993
Current: F16C 86-0225   USAF AMARC F-16C Block 30 [ sto]
I was the DCC and Brian Jackman was my ACC. Capt Bill Siphers was the pilot
85552 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 23rd Fighter Squadron "Fighting Hawks" [Unit History]
Period 1991 - 1991
Current: 85552   USAF 195 FS F-16C Block 30 [ act]
Wing Jet - I was the DCC, Kathy Saviano was the ACC and Col. Peskins was the pilot
Unit 63 FS 56 EMS
Period 1993 - 1994
Phase Inspection Team Member. Love Luke AFB, and the area. Learned alot here.
Unit 62 FS 56 EMS
Period 1994 - 1996
Phase Inspection Team Member
Unit 80 FS 8 EMS
Period 1996 - 1996
Phase Inspection Team Member. Kunsan, what else is there to say. Though I did play on the flag football team and we took 3rd on base.
Unit 649 CLSS OO-AFMC (ALC)
Period 1997 - 2001
Depot Maintenance Technician. Learned ABDR and became an assesor. Led a Field team for a BRAC assignment to Kelly AFB
Unit 362 TRS/RFB
Period 2001 - 2004
Taught new guys to be crewchiefs. I taught F-16 specific stuff.
Unit 35 FS/8 AMXS
Period 2004 - 2005
Assistant Section Chief. Kunsan again, enough said.
Other aircraft/assignments Last assignment was Assistant Section Chief, 4 FS 388 AMXS. I took over while everyone deployed to Iraq. I was left behind, because I was retiring.
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