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  MSgt. Richard Davis (Ret.)

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Name MSgt. Richard Davis (Ret.)
Country
Unit 17th Fighter Squadron "Hooters"
Crewing F-16s from 1983 until 2004
Contact Davis83 Send me a private message
Website
Joined in July 1983. Did my FTD at Nellis AFB. 1st assignment was to Torrejon Spain with the 614th Lucky Devils.

July 1987 I pcs'd to Shaw and the 17th "White Owls" - later renamed to the "Hooters". Deployed with this unit to Desert Storm from Aug 1990 till March 91.
In 1993, the 17th disbanded and the unit became the 77FS Gamblers - served with this unit untill July 1998.

Pcs'd to Osan and was assigned to 51 OSS (Chief Dart drafted me).

Returned to Shaw in 1999 and was again drafted and sent to 20 OSS to work in Operations Mobility which really came to the forefront after 9-11. Stayed in this job untill 2002 when got an opportunity to pcs back to Osan on an accompanied tour.

Upon arrival, was assigned to the 36FS for all of 30 minutes. Once they found out I had 4 years experience with OSS, I was drafted to help stand up the new MXG/MOS due to re-org. Served as the Superintendent for Plans and Programs.

PCS'd in Aug 2004 to Seymour-Johnson AFB. There, assigned as Flight Chief of the TAMS flight - F-15E "yuk".

Aug 2006, retired and took a job with the City Of Goldsboro Public Utilities Department.

Current or Favourite assignment

17th was the unit I deployed to Desert Storm with... Best unit I was ever assigned to. The 17th had a great bunch of guys during those years...

Deployments

Multiple NATO exercises while stationed in TJ Spain.
Desert Shield/Storm
Multiple OSW and AEF deployments.
Cope North (via 10 days in Hawaii with broke jet...hehehe)
Too many Air Warriors, Red Flags, Green Flags and Long Shots to remember
Coronet Lightnings, Maple Flags and WSEPs

and seemed like a million miles up and down the east coast for diverted jets and hurri-vacs.

My Jets & Assignments

81821 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Lucky Devils" [Unit History]
Period 1984 - 1987
Current: AAFG0500   USAF AMARC F-16B Block 15 [ sto]
When first assigned, this jet was the flying CANX aircraft. We'd put it together, fly it TDY and first code 3 - it was K-ball for rest of the tdy. Around 1986, when flying hours started getting monitored much closer, it was about 300 hrs behind the rest of the squadron. Next thing I knew, it was the 16AF flagship (yes a 2 seater flagship because Gen Baker was too old to fly alone). Flew its but off for about a year straight. I got my incentive ride in it in late 1986. Good jet
84217 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 17th Fighter Squadron "Hooters" [Unit History]
Period 1987 - 1998
Current: QF-088   USAF 82 ATRS QF-16C Block 25 [ act]
This jet was the Sq/CC jet. If anyone has ever seen the book by Randy Jolly named "The Real Hero's". This jet is on the title page with LTC Diehl in the seat and "Yours truly" on the ladder. I crewed this jet until we deployed for Desert Storm - it had a big problem and was down for depot a long time - when it finally flew again, Vernon Suzuki was named the DCC. I think it actually got in on the last 7 or 8 DS sorties.
90754 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 17th Fighter Squadron "Hooters" [Unit History]
Period 1987 - 1998
Current: 90754   USAF 8 FS F-16C Block 42 [ act]
Absolutely hands down the best jet I ever crewed! Got it straight from the factory with 2 hours on it. Over the 2 years I had it (till it transferred to Luke). this jet broke all kinds of FMC and Code 1 records... It transferred with the exact same engine in it that it came from the factory with... was only rolled back once in phase to change a torn intake seal. They got this one right!
91346 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 77th Fighter Squadron "Gamblers" [Unit History]
Period -
Current: 91346   USAF 14 FS F-16C Block 50 [ act]
This jet came to Shaw via a 3 month visit to SP. The airframe was good, but I had no faith in the GE129.... leaked oil everywhere and seemed no matter which engine it had, it broke. This jet had its biggest moment about 1 year later - fresh out of full paint, Shaw was tasked to host Good Morning America - this jet was chosen for the back drop. It came out of paint and sat in a hanger being primped for a week straight. Probably the best photo of a F-16 that I have - so clean!
94045 [Detailed history of this F-16]
Unit 77th Fighter Squadron "Gamblers" [Unit History]
Period -
Current: 94045   USAF 55 FS F-16C Block 50 [ act]
Well Dallas/FW got 2 right. I got this one straight from the factory and crewed it till I was moved to expeditor. It was a good one! In my opinion, it was the best of the Blk 50's we had for a long time.
Unit 51 OSS
Period 1998 - 1999
Programs and Resources
Unit 20 OSS
Period 1999 - 2002
20th OG/Mobility and Readiness
Unit 51 MXG
Period 2002 - 2004
MX Plans and Programs Superintendant.
F-15E Strike Eagle
Unit 336 FS
Period 2004 - 2006
TAMS Flt Chief
Visitor Comments
Hey Ole Chief
Darell Adams (Retired), Sep 04, 2007 - 01:40 PM

Hey ole chief,

Remember me, I was in the 17th in 1987, I was on aircraft 1065 with Bowles. I did go to the misssouri Air national guard and retired from there, Worked at Mcdonnell Douglas as an Engineer and still do. I would have stayed at shaw longer than a year, but with that stupid drug thing that kept me off the flightline for nearly 2 months was enough for me. I mean me of all people drugs. Just goes to show you, if you come from Holland look out. I did get the crap recinded, but I will never forgive that !@#$%^& Col. we had. Anyway glad to hear you retired, where you keeping residence these days? I am living in St.Louis, Mo. Also I thought we changed our squadron to the 17th Owls, but I could be wrong, was a long time ago.Talk at ya later and happy flying.

Darell

81-0821
Beeman, Mar 10, 2008 - 03:06 AM

I got to see your jet at AMARC when I was TDY from Hill to do some pack and crates for FMS. I remember spending some time on this bird while we were at TJ (86-88).

Dave Beeman

hey Rick, its Foxy
Danny Foxworth, Feb 18, 2009 - 09:27 PM

i know you remember my ass. lol. we did the whole 17th/77fs during all those years at Shaw (1990 - 1998). i miss the guys man. Air Force aint the same any more. you, kevin bantum, mike zink, scotty Mac, and the rest of that group. that was the best set of maintainers ever assembled, hands down. let me know how you been doing. i retire 1 July and im stuck in Korea to do it. getting out and moving to Cali. later buddy.

81-0821
Scott Beavers, Feb 23, 2009 - 07:04 AM

MSgt Davis,

I was the original Crew Chief on 821 in 1983. I crewed F-4D 66-7715 before we transitioned to the Vipers in '83.

I did the acceptance inspection on 821 in the 614th hanger and dropped an apex bit behind a large fuel line on the right backbone area. When I got a magnet to pull the bit out, I pulled a double open-end wrench out too! It was from Ft Worth since the jet was brand new and it had the guy's name on the wrench! His name was "Ewing" which was funny since the T.V. show "Dallas" was popular at the time. QA sent the wrench back to GD with a rather nasty note!

It was a great jet in the year or so I had it. It had that "new car smell" when it arrived but it didn't take long for it to gather other smells since it seemed to be the designated "incentive flight pukemobile" for a while. I did my best to keep it clean and I hope you found it in good shape after I left. I don't know who got it when I left in June of '84.

It was in phase when I got my incentive ride with Capt Chace Johnson So I rode in 1011 instead (I think that was the tail #) Yeah, i puked and blacked out a few times but it was fun and by-god, i hit the BAG!

It's funny that 821 ended up back here at Tucson before it was wrecked. I'll try to find it on AMARC someday. I used to be a DV tourguide for AMARC when I worked at 12th AF.

When I left TJ, I became a Flight Engineer and never crewed again. I flew all over the world in my 26 years in the Af and loved every minute of it (except when getting shot at.)

Cheers!

Scott Beavers







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