Forum: Buddy Finder

Hello all. Great Website! My name is Joe and I worked as an avionics tech on F-16 A/C models. I started out working on Inertial navigation systems in 1982 on F-4Es in 347 TfW at Moody AFB, GA. We transitioned in 1987 to the F-16A and I was cross trained into A-Shop which was inertial nav, bombing systems, radar, Heads-up-display, Head-down-display and on the C model, Multi-function display.

I left Moody AFB in 1988 and spent 15 months at Incirlik AB, Turkey. We mainly supported TDY units from USAFE but did have 4 Victor Alert F-16s from TJ in Spain.

I returned to the States in 1990 and was stationed with the 363rd TFW at Shaw AFB, SC. We had F-16C models. I had only been back for 3 months when we got the call to deploy for Desert Shield. Langley, with their POS f-15s gets the credit for deploying first but our F-16s were operational first. Langley had jets scattered all over Europe.

I seperated from the AF in July 1991.

If anyone here knows of others on this site who deployed to DS with the 363rd, please point them my way. I have been trying to make contact with some of my old tent mates.

Thanks again for the great site.

Joe

F-16.net Sponsor

Hi Joe,

welcome to F-16.net, and thanks for the kind words. Hope you run into your old tent mates!

In the mean time, here are some 363rd / DS related links on F-16.net:

Photo Library:
<a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_photos_album85.html">363rd Desert Storm deployment photographs</a>

Forum:
<a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-533-highlight-363.html">Desert Storm Nose Art</a>
<a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-584-highlight-363.html">DS tailcodes in Desert Storm</a>
<a href="http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-38-highlight-363.html">F-16 Air-to-air kills</a>

Interviews:
<a href="http://www.f-16.net/interviews_article23.html">Interview with MSgt Erik Singletary</a>, who served with the 363rd during DS

Enjoy,

Stefaan

Thanks for the welcome. I actually watched most of that nose art as it was being done. The guy that did it was in our unit and worked the night shift with us. When we finished up with our regular work we'd go over and watch him.

Joe

I was there too, though not your tentmate. I was a Loader in the 33rd and was a Loadbarn puke at the time. I saw the nose art that was done in both sections, Warren did most of it and I last saw him at Luke. He pops in here from time to time. You bet we were operational first. I loaded the bombs, the DCM drove a jammer too, seems he was a prior enlisted weapons troop like me and could drive. Of course he was not a certed loader but who was gonna tell him he could not drive with the rest of the 3men.

I was in the 33rd as well. Specialist flight. Man, the memories are flooding back now!

Joe

I was in the 33rd through February 1990.

I was the Crew Chief on 1212, Miss B'Havin. Only female on the flight line for a long time.

I was there with the 17th crew chief - operational first even as we slept under the wings and took "showers" by running a hose from the Fire Hydrants! Yep the memories!

the 17th? I was a crew chief in the 17th during DS. I was an A1C at the time and one of my buddies was Bruce Bell. Yeah i remember taking showers under the hoses at night outside the Tab. Sounds like we may know one another! I also remember the female crew chief although her name escapes me right now. But im pretty sure she was seeing one of the crew chiefs while deployed. Me and a friend drew some nose art on one of our jets. It was a pic of a guy with a hatchet standing by a stump with a black hood over his head. Unfortunately i lost the pics some time ago. My buddies name was Bill Hennington who helped draw it with me.

Looking for tent mates? Well . . . I'm Warren Trask, and I remember Joe Spence very well. What a trip that was, huh!? I remember you stopping by to talk with me quite often while I was doing the nose art. I always appreciated the company and your comments /advice. I posted some photos in the "forum section" a while back of my living area inside tent K-8. So many new sections have been added to this website since I first logged on years ago, that I can't locate them anymore. They're in here somewhere, though. Happy hunting . . . and hope to hear from you again soon.
Warren Trask

I just had one additional entry to make. The aircraft "1212" mentioned above (Miss Behavin') . . . wasn't that the one we nicknamed "Dirty Dozen" . . . the one that that was test-painted desert camouflage with paint from a local hardware store? If it's the same aircraft, I know some people that have been searching the world for photos of that jet taken of it while it was wearing those colors. You wouldn't happen to have any good color photos in your private collection, would you?
Warren Trask

If this is the case. Please provide the F-16.net team with those picture(s) as well. We would surely appreciate!

Greets,

mykey37 wrote:

the 17th? I was a crew chief in the 17th during DS. I was an A1C at the time and one of my buddies was Bruce Bell. Yeah i remember taking showers under the hoses at night outside the Tab. Sounds like we may know one another! I also remember the female crew chief although her name escapes me right now. But im pretty sure she was seeing one of the crew chiefs while deployed. Me and a friend drew some nose art on one of our jets. It was a pic of a guy with a hatchet standing by a stump with a black hood over his head. Unfortunately i lost the pics some time ago. My buddies name was Bill Hennington who helped draw it with me.

Hey! It's Bruce Bell! I just read your message, but I couldn't figure out the name from your user name. Anyway, I live in Dallas now and I still see Bill Hennington from time to time. I have been looking for Jim Miles for a long time but with such a commom name, it is hard to find him.

Last edited by 260chief on Aug 15, 2006 - 03:12 AM; edited 1 time in total

Not a big fan of the emoticon reply.

I left the AF after Desert Storm and went into corporate aviation. I am now a tech rep for a business aircraft company and I am based in Dallas. Bill is now a part owner of a turbine engine maintenance company in Ft. Worth and they are doing good. It is probably the best shop around here for engine maintenance.

If you are planning on getting out, spend the time and get your A&P. Get a part time job in general or corporate aviation.

I was with the 363rd for DS. Backshop CRS and long time traveler with the 17th and 33rd. Just wanted to say that the last time I saw Jim Miles was at Cannon in "97". Lost touch after that.

Forum: Buddy Finder

New Guy, looking for 363rd TFW Desert Storm tent mates