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  MSgt. Jamie Cabral

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 Name MSgt. Jamie Cabral
Country
Unit 23rd Fighter Squadron "Fighting Hawks"
Crewing F-16s
Contact Viper2907 Send me a private message
Website
I came into the USAF in 1987. My first assignment was to RAF Bentwaters England. I was a flightline Jet Engine Mechanic in the 510TH AMU before the BUZZARDS flag moved to Aviano and became the flag for the F-16 unit down there. By the time I left RAF Bentwaters I was rivetized and ended up Crewing the SQ CC's A-10 0155 1987-1989. It was there that I had my first up close and personnel experience with the F-16. Bentwaters became the home of the F-16 527th Aggressor SQ. awesome paint scheme. My next assignment was Hahn AB 313TH AMU 1989-1991. That was a great assignment. I met some great people and had a blast for 2 years. This was my first true F-16 base. Great TDY's to ZAB Spain, Incirlik AB Turkey. After that I was assigned to the 412 LTF at Edwards AFB Flight Test Center 1991-1993. At the time I got to see the First Production C-17, YF-23 and the YF-22 and the first B2 bomber. Then to Korea the 36th FS at Osan 1994-1995. Back to the states SHAW AFB 78FS 1995-1999. Then went to Luke as an Maintenance Ready Training Instructor F-16 Tech School "HOT" training 1999-2003. Went back to Korea, Kunsan worked MAT training flight 2003-2004. I followed on to Spangdahlem AB Germany where I am now stationed in the 23 AMU. I cannot list all of the great people I have had the chance to work with. The list would go on and on. The things I have done, the people I have met and the places I have seen will live on forever.

Current or Favourite assignment

I wanted to go back to Germnay one last time before I retire. I ended up in the 23 AMU. I met alot of great people. We worked hard and played even harder. Manning was short but what else is new these days. Guys like Bill Hawkins, Mike Powell, Scooby, Laffy, Baxter, Serfling, Jason, Doolady, Reggie, Nick, De LA, Mustards, Pops, Rod, Don Kane, Shawn Harris. And of course Zulu 1, John Ablang who I have been stationed with during 3 assignments Good and Bad times. It was sad to see the old Crew break up but thats the way it goes. These are just some of the names that come to mind. Good times with great people doing great things in War and in Peacetime.

Deployments

Desert Storm- March-April 1991 ZAB AB Spain, What a great deployment. The Scratch Disco Tech was our second home. We worked F-16's from Shaw, Moody, Hill, F4- Wild Weasels from George AFB, F4RC's from Bergstrom, F-15's from Eglin, Seymour Johnson and 117's from Tonopa. Pops was there with me.

Vigilent Sentinel-Shaw AFB Sept-Dec 1995, Doha Qatar, Shaik Isa AB Bahrain the USAF very first AEF. AEF #1

Southern Watch--Shaw AFB June-Sept 1997, PSAB, Saudi Arabia

Desert Thunder--Shaw AFB Nov-Jan 1997-98, Shaik Isa AB Bahrain

Southern Watch--Shaw AFB Oct-Dec 1998, PSAB, Saudi Arabia Left one week before Desert Fox kicked off

OPERATION Iraqi Freedom-- Balad AB Iraq Sept 04-Jan 05, Worked in a core slot in the MOC I worked down at the CASH. This really hit home because I ended up loading and unloading our heros on Med Evac Flights back to Landstuhl Germany. And of course I was involved with the Patriot flights HR missions. That was an eye opener. This was not the usual Southern Watch Deployment. I was at Balad AB 50 miles north of Baghdad. We got attacked everyday. It was during the fight for Fulluja. It was intense times for sure. Had a couple of close calls. Laffy from Spang was with me. We woke up a few times with our hearts nearly pounding out of our chest. I have heard that it has calmed down alot since then.

BAP, Baltic Air Patrol, Sept-Dec 05. Lithuania Baltic States NATO patrol. I left early on that one, that was a great deployment while it lasted.

OPERATION Enduring Freedom, Sept 07--Jan 08 Currently here at Bagram AB Afghanistan, Quality Assurance EMXG/Transient Alert No F-16's here, they would FOD out within minutes of landing, the ramps are deteriorating pretty bad even though they just finished the new runway last year. Seymour and Davis Monthan are currently here. They are very busy.

Numerous RED FLAGS, GREEN FLAGS, COMBAT HAMMER, STRIKE FORCE , CORONET LIGHTNINGS and plenty of out and backs to fix broke jets.

My Jets & Assignments

 A-10 Thunderbolt II
Unit 510th AMU
Period 1987 - 1989
I would have to say the A-10 was a great aircraft to work on. At the time there were always Airshows to go to. The Boozehounds were created here. You know who you are. I can remember the first TEMS mod. The fact that history was made here with the F-16 and the new Aggressor SQ. I believe there were 11 or 12 Acft at the time. We were always TDY to Germany and they were always TDY to Sardinia. I will always remember Don Groce saying "ONCE AN AGGRESSOR ALWAYS AN AGGRESSOR" It was sad to see them leave Ibelieve the SQ was only around for a year and a half if that. Good times.
84272 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 313th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Lucky Puppies" [Unit History]
Period 1989 - 1991
Current:   F-16C Block 25 [ i/a]
What ever happened to Chippy???? 313TH Mascot who PCS'd from Incirlik. ha ha ha Don't know what happened to him after he got kidnapped in July of 91. Rainbow TDY to ZAB DEC 90, Singing Christmas carrols on the second story balcony outside the dayroom window on the ledge. Everyone having a great time KEG PARTY until we heard screeching tires on both ends of the street, SP's cordoned off billeting and yelled EVERYBODY FREEZE!!! Somebody yelled COPS!!!! Everyone jumping through windows back into the second story day room. Sp's wanted to know who was in charge and the 1st Shirt half crocked said "I am why" Everyone started laughing except for the SP's, there must of been about 30 of us so the cops just kind of gave up and joined the party. Introducing a little known LUCKY PUPPIE tradition to the 496TH guys who were TDY with us "PUPPY PILE" GET EM ha ha ha I was on the transition team, GHOST SECTION in the end, we transferred our acft to Terra Huete and Mc Connel Gaurd. The base closed I believe 1 year later. Ed Applegate, flying vacums at Incirlik, Guido, Scott Baker, Jon Curtis, Achilles Soukis, Bill Wilson, Rob Boneck, Giardelli, Hix, Bondo, Henton Brody, Steve Rodriguez, John Glatt, Mike Cavavagh, Don Cox, JR, Dave Vanvlack, Don Groce, BJ Honeycutt, Kevin Lane, Todd Andre, CAPT MILLER, the best OIC that I have had in the 20 years that I have been in. The MISSION-- NO LONE ZONE, Need I say more?? A mission I will never forget thats for sure and at the greatest turning point of the COLD WAR. While we were there the Berlin Wall came down. I was on a team that did the last ICT on base. I would have to say MISSION COMPLETE!!!
78096 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 416th Flight Test Squadron [Unit History]
Period 1991 - 1993
Current: 78096   F-16B Block 1 [ i/a]
C-17,GLCM, B-2, F-22 and F-23 photo chase and test. My jet was doing photo chase when the first Lightening now called F-22 Raptor crashed on the Edwards runway. We were watching the 2 jets pass by from the dorms. The F-22 was doing touch and go's. It dissappeared behind a hanger and never came out from the otherside. The pilot lived. Flight control problem. Very lucky it happened while doing touch n go's.
90779 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 36th Fighter Squadron "Flying Fiends" [Unit History]
Period 1994 - 1995
Current: 90779   USAF 36 FS F-16D Block 40 [ act]
AAHHH!! Korea, it was a bus but it flew like a champ. Hardly any if ever problems with this jet. 1994, it later came out that Clinton almost went to war with N. Korea while we were there. Supposedly it was on until N.Korea gave into consessions at the last moment. Smitty's, The Dragon, Heavy Metal Club. Working Hard and playing hard.
92907 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 78th Fighter Squadron "Bushmasters" [Unit History]
Period 1995 - 1999
Current: 92907   USAF 55 FS F-16C Block 50 [ w/o]
Great jet, good TDY's We were combined with OPs then. Things seemed to work so smoothly. The CC knew all the Crew Chiefs, we would get invited to go over to OPS and down a few with our pilots. It all went away though with the reorg. I read that General Mosely wants to bring it back, I hope he does. I would have to say that I had the pleasure of working with one of the best flights ever. Roxy's and Tracey's church night contributed to community relations.
Unit 309th Fighter Squadron "Wild Ducks" [History]
Period 1999 - 2003
MRT, Crew Chief Tech School, I mostly worked out of the 63rd FS while I was there. I actually worked out of all 5 Sq's but the 63rd is where I began
91474 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 23rd Fighter Squadron "Fighting Hawks" [Unit History]
Period 2004 - 2009
Current: 91474   USAF 179 FS F-16D Block 50 [ act]
Europe is a great place to live. With fewer people and an increase of pilots the mission is definately getting tougher. On going deployments and contingencies are getting to be more frequent especially with the MOVE EAST mentallity. It is a whole different world over here now with the former Iron Curtain countries opening up. I am blessed to have been able to come back for one more last Hurrah.
Visitor Comments
Hello Again :)
Megan B, Aug 25, 2012 - 03:52 AM

Hello Jamie, I'm Megan. Years ago, during your deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom, my afterschool group sent you and your co-workers cards for Thanksgiving. I wrote my letter to you, and recieved a letter back a few months later. This was back when I was in elementary school, so I forgot about it pretty quick. However, I found that letter while going through some papers recently, re-read it, and decided to track you down and say hi. So hi! Hope everything is going well for you. Have a great day.

Megan B.

Dude
Mick, Jun 12, 2013 - 01:18 AM

Hahn Germany. Man was that fun. So some nights get a bit fuzzy. What ever happened to the replica AIM - 9 missile? LOL I remember going to the lake and getting so burned I looked like a lobster. That's what I get for driniking 151 and setting out in the sun. Dude it seems like yesterday sometimes. Playing hacky sack and listening to awesome tunes. Just going to leave you with one thing brother.

Lethal Injection!!!! Alarm Black!!!!

What up Bro!!!
Kane, Sep 10, 2013 - 01:02 PM

Where are you now?

paul bridges, Feb 27, 2015 - 12:04 AM

Raul do you remember me your wife sharon was friends with my ex Judy ,I'm Paul who used to eat pizza and go on the beer with me mates in ipswich town reply if it's you like to here from ya

old times
paul bridges, Feb 27, 2015 - 12:04 AM

Raul do you remember me your wife sharon was friends with my ex Judy ,I'm Paul who used to eat pizza and go on the beer with me mates in ipswich town reply if it's you like to here from ya

Man Still Miss You
Mick, Oct 08, 2016 - 06:53 AM

MSgt Jamie Cabral. Brother... I will miss you. You were the first NCO that showed me the ropes of the Untied States Air force. For this you were more than my roommate and friend. Jamie will always be remembered as a beloved brethren of a family from around the world. Thank you sir. Final respects.







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