16 TFTS

JONI*311 · by **JONI*311** » 08 Apr 2010, 17:19

Any block 1,1A maintainers from the 16 TFTS out there? I was in the 16 TFTS from early 1979 to Oct 1982. Then went to the KUN.

Jon · by **Jon** » 09 Apr 2010, 03:04

Hi

Make sure you CCs visit here:
http://www.f-16.net/crewchiefs.html

singe · by **singe** » 30 Dec 2010, 19:59

kelseyj wrote:Any block 1,1A maintainers from the 16 TFTS out there? I was in the 16 TFTS from early 1979 to Oct 1982. Then went to the KUN.

I was one door down and was there at the Same time ! And I remember black radomes!

dfischer · by **dfischer** » 30 Dec 2010, 22:20

I was in the 16th for a few months before going over to MOT & E. Loved Hill. Black Radomes Rule!!!

Gums · by **Gums** » 30 Dec 2010, 23:02

Salute!

Wow!

Charter members of the first active duty Viper outfit.

Showed up in June and so got my plaque with the "charter member" logo.

You guys prolly remember the old, scrawny dude that peed under the tail and spent a long time in de-brief. I wanted to learn everything I could about the jet and I managed to bring a few home in less than "code one' condition. But got'em home.

I also remember "Irene". Wow! talk about a treat when she strapped you in. Reminded us of what we were fighting for, heh heh. Had been away from the line for a few years and was neat to see females doing some grunt work besides you ugly guys.

My worst day was getting back to ramp with a fodded motor - 60 or 70 blades gone, bent, twisted. Shut down and crew chief looks in and then slowly walks away with head down and shaking his head. No matter. Got the sucker back and was glad I had peed under the tail ( old habit from 'nam).

Salute to all you old codgers! Could not have survived as long as I did without you. Your dedication, sense of duty and friendship - a bond that few units have.

Gums sends...

singe · by **singe** » 31 Dec 2010, 00:12

dfischer wrote:I was in the 16th for a few months before going over to MOT & E. Loved Hill. Black Radomes Rule!!!

I was in the 34th and jumped on the chance of moving down to the 421st and most of my friends and my trainer were from the MOT&E when it disbanded we got all that talent!! We really had the best of the best as far as a support team we ruled the sky and air to mud!! Did you know James Downey,Mack Holmes,Arthur Herbert ,Dirty Ernie Mills,Dale Quaderer,Bob Christiansen,Amy Sandoval to name a few?!! I was in "A" shop if I didn't say before!! Not only was I in the first active fighter Squadron for the F-16 in the states I was on the Cadre to Kunsan and We were the first Active fighter Squadron for the F-16 35th Pantons!! in PACAF and we were the first wing to get a excellent on an ori that year in PACAF as well !!

Boman · by **Boman** » 31 Dec 2010, 02:05

Ahem, may be wise to not use bold letters and large caracters - it's considered shouting on forums like this.

But do keep the stories comming :thumb:

singe · by **singe** » 31 Dec 2010, 02:19

Noted but caps is yelling!

Jon · by **Jon** » 31 Dec 2010, 18:03

We just recently released the history for the 16th TFTS/TFS/WS:

http://www.f-16.net/units_article107.html

JLMeurs · by **JLMeurs** » 03 Apr 2011, 09:09

Ah, the memories! I started my time crewing back-nosed Vipers in 1981 in the 34th. Ran the EOR crew for a few months, then moved to the 16th until I left for kunsan in April of 1983.

I remember being TDY to Luke when they got their first Vipers. A couple of our guys (rumored to be Ike Willer, Joe Chew, and others) put a big sign on our expediter truck that said "16th TFTS - 1st in the F-16" but our humorless AMU OIC made us take it down.

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday...

docneal · by **docneal** » 03 Apr 2011, 23:19

Arrived July 79, fell in love with the jet. Favorite story from 16th days was recovering code 1 jet (B-model, maybe 78-0079), starting turnaround only to have expeditor come get forms for impoundment. Seems pilot "forgot" that he fell like 18000 feet before recovering after stall and flying another 45 minutes uneventfully. One hell of a pilot! I remember some names, but most are lost. Great group of people to work with back then.

dfischer · by **dfischer** » 04 Apr 2011, 14:13

Mac and his then wife Margie Holmes, knew them both. I worked for Frenchie Le Brun in the APG flight. All of those names sound familiar. I ended up going to Bitburg then transferred over to Hahn when Hahn started up.

TJSmitty · by **TJSmitty** » 04 Apr 2011, 14:30

singe wrote:Did you know James Downey,Mack Holmes,Arthur Herbert ,Dirty Ernie Mills,Dale Quaderer,Bob Christiansen,Amy Sandoval to name a few?!! I was in "A" shop if I didn't say before!! Not only was I in the first active fighter Squadron for the F-16 in the states I was on the Cadre to Kunsan and We were the first Active fighter Squadron for the F-16 35th Pantons!! in PACAF and we were the first wing to get a excellent on an ori that year in PACAF as well !!

I was in the 421st from 9/81 - 9/83, until I went to the Kun (80th JUVATS!!)

I was a B-shopper and Bob Christesen and "Sandy" were my first bosses....B-Shoppers I can remember were John McNally, we both found our way to the Thunderbirds in the '90's... Rick Crawford, Mario Mulbach, Tony Madison (kicked out), Kevin Gable (kicked out)...

"Big Jim" Downey used to bring in his home-made beer .... I guess that was an "aquired taste" I never aquired... A-shoppers I remember... Kevin Reese, Tom McGovern, Syvia Dettweiler, Kevin Rankin..

Don Briggs was the electrician, Leon Shehorn was engines Mike "Mad Dog" Madsen great guy that I got run certified by.. ...Stella Frye was an electrician there that I wound up marrying & divorcing

C-Shop Ernie Mills , Dave Vost (Yost), Rob Vaugh, Kevin Hendershot...

Weapons - Wayne Linder

CC - Vinnie Scannapieco, Jimmy Ochsleger

I wound up back at Hill down in the 16th after I got back from Kunsan in '84...but they had Block 15's by then....maybe even 32's

Smitty

dfischer · by **dfischer** » 04 Apr 2011, 14:57

Correcting myself, it was Frenchie DeVault, not Frenchie LeBrun I worked for. Seems I knew more than one Frenchie during my AF time. Brain Fart and all that.

jtspeed · by **jtspeed** » 17 Nov 2012, 02:46

JONI*311 wrote:Any block 1,1A maintainers from the 16 TFTS out there? I was in the 16 TFTS from early 1979 to Oct 1982. Then went to the KUN.

I was in the 16th AMU Oct. 79 - Feb. 83, ECS shop. Then onto Torrejon AB Spain.