Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Yeah, that's the AF Outstanding Unit Award (which some folks have already explained). Each subsequent award warrants one bronze oak leaf cluster. Each 5th cluster (which is your 6th total award) warrants one silver oak leaf cluster. So the person above me was correct that said the marking shows 9 total awards.

Also correct was stating that one may only wear 4 devices on a ribbon at any given time. In theory, you could show as many as 21 similar awards on one device, with the basic ribbon (1st award) and 4 SOLCs (totaling 20 clusters).

Here's something for everyone...What's the most silver clusters you have ever seen someone wear on a ribbon, and what award was it? I think the most I've ever seen someone wear was either on a Longevity Ribbon or a Good Conduct Medal. I've seen somebody's Overseas Short Tour ribbon with an SOLC (which is far too many remotes).

As far as active units showing the award on their jets, I know the old ATC used to put them on their training a/c, such as the 37s and 38s. I don't know if AETC still does this, or if that went away when ATC became AETC (granted, AETC should NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, and I mean NEVER be confused with any "real" MAJCOMs) . I do however, know that they don't put them on their F-15s or 22s, so I never see that marking much around Tyndall, unless it is a transient unit.

As far as cool places to go in the San Diego area, it is a requirement as a flyboy that you have to go to the Kansas City Barbecue. Wild @$$ place it is. It has been highly decorated by visiting patrons (most of them military) over the years, so it doesn't look quite the same as it did when they filmed a couple scenes from Top Gun there ("One of our better business decisions," the manager says). Navy guys bring in ships hats, all flyboys bring in patches, and ladies hang their bras over the bar (rumor has it one of them belonged to an Admiral's wife). Very Happy

Hope she was hot...

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

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TC, I used to work right across the street from the Kansas City Barbecue at Seaport Village Very Happy

! I never got the chance to eat there, but I did stop in to take a look around and it's mucho cool Cool

. My girlfriend has one of their coasters and you've gotta love it. It says "Don't f--- with my drink, gone to pee Laughing

!" They still have the piano and jukebox from Top Gun. The jukebox broke a while back and they can't find parts, but the piano still works! Anyone here know how to play "Great Balls of Fire?"
I'll have to make sure to stop in next time out that way! Wink

Yeah, we went a couple years back, and I wanna go again sometime in the near future. I did the dumb@$$ tourist thing though. I ate, had a few Bud drafts, bought a shirt, got a couple of the "Gone to Pee, Don't F**k With My Drink!" business cards, and took a bunch of pics. Yeah, one would assume that the jukebox broke because so many people went in there to play "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" Rolling Eyes

even though that is one of the greatest songs ever written...I've tried to get a couple of my bros that work the beach bars here in PC Beach to start the bra tradition, but so far no luck...darn...

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

What's this marking?