#USAF Airmen

[thepersonalwords]

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.

Babe Ruth

[usairforcehistoricsociety]

[usafphantom2]

‘It’s just black sky up there’: 50 years on, the transatlantic flight speed record remains unbroken

Two men flew between New York and London at three times the speed of sound. No other aircraft has since been as fast as the Blackbird SR-71, explains crew member Noel Widdifield

David Barnett

Noel Widdifield and Jim Sullivan, each holding a case attached to their space suit by a hose, stand next to their wives in a 1974 photograph

Noel Widdifield, far right, and Jim Sullivan with their wives after the airmen made their record-breaking flight in 1974. Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

On 1 September 1974 two men made the fastest ever journey between New York and London. The astonishing trip – at three times the speed of sound – took less than two hours and set a record that still stands 50 years later.

Even the mighty Concorde, which set the record for the fastest commercial transatlantic flight in 1996, straggled in almost an hour behind.

The US air force Lockheed Blackbird SR-71 jet had a crew of two – pilot James Sullivan and reconnaissance systems operator Noel Widdifield – who completed the journey between the two cities in one hour, 54 minutes and 56 seconds before triumphantly landing to a fanfare welcome at the Farnborough air show in Hampshire.

Widdifield, now 83, splits his time between Virginia and Florida in the US. “In a way, this was a standard flight for us,” he said, reflecting on the momentous day. “There was nothing different about it or the way we flew the plane. But we had been told in July 1974 that we would attempt the world record for flying between New York and London, which had previously been set by Royal Navy pilots. There was a lot of media interest.”

It wasn’t just air force bragging rights at stake. America was undergoing something of an international public relations crisis – just three weeks earlier, the disgraced president Richard Nixon had resigned after the Watergate scandal and Gerald Ford had been sworn in to the White House. There was still a hangover from their disastrous involvement in the Vietnam war. The country needed something to cheer on.

There were other machinations, too. Widdifield told the Observer: “We didn’t know anything about this at the time, but behind the scenes there had been negotiations between the US and the UK to base Blackbird SR-71s on British soil.

“There were concerns about this in Britain because it was considered the move might ruffle a lot of feathers, especially in the Middle East. But after we broke the record and flew into the Farnborough air show, that seemed to seal the deal, and the UK allowed SR-71s to be based there.”

Widdifield was 33 years old when he made the historic flight. He had originally wanted to be a train driver, but after seeing a USAF jet fly low over his house when he was 12, he decided he would be a pilot.

After his training and flying B-52 bombers, Widdifield joined the Blackbird SR-71 programme at Beale air force base in California from 1971 to 1975, after which he stopped flying and became involved in the US space programme until 1982.

Flying the Blackbird was akin to being an astronaut. The crew wore space suits and flew at an altitude of 80,000ft (the maximum approved altitude for most commercial aircraft is 42,000ft). Widdifield said: “It’s just black sky up there. You see the stars, and either the moon or the sun, depending on what time of day it is.”

Their plane took off from Beale and had to fly around the coast to New York to avoid causing a sonic boom over populated areas and extensive damage to property. High above the city was an invisible “gate”, which would mark the start of the journey. Reaching speeds of Mach 3.2 – three times the speed of sound and about 2,455mph – the Blackbird tore through the gate, and the record attempt was under way.

The aircraft had to take on fuel twice: when it took off, linking with a refuelling plane above California to fill it to capacity, and partway during the journey near to Greenland.

There was also an incident which would have looked terrifying from the outside but which the crew took in their stride. The Blackbird began to suddenly “yaw” – moving swiftly from side to side – after losing thrust.

The Blackbird took in air from the front to give thrust to the engines, and it was common for a device in the inlet to become displaced, causing one engine to lose much of its power momentarily.

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Noel Widdifield and James Sullivan, in trim hats and short-sleeved jumpsuits, stand with their arms behind their backs in front of the Blackbird SR-71 with a sign reading “SR-71 Bele AFB”

Widdifield and Sullivan in front of the Blackbird SR-71. Photograph: Noel Widdifield

Widdifield said: “The automatic restart systems kicked in, repositioning this cone that had become misplaced, and the engine restarted. It wasn’t particularly a worry other than wondering what effect it might have on the record speed run.”

The plane crossed over the London “gate” without further incident and the Blackbird came into Farnborough, where there was a huge crowd waiting and a press conference was held, during which Widdifield and Sullivan were connected by phone to the new president. “There was a lot of international coverage for a year afterwards,” says Widdifield, who has six scrapbooks of cuttings. “One thing Jim and I always tried to emphasise, though, was that although it was the two of us who got the glory, there was a huge team behind every flight.

“When you take into account all the support staff and admin workers and everybody who does their bit to get us in the air, you’re talking about a thousand people. They need as much credit as Jim and me.”

Widdifield, who has been married to his wife, Ann, for 63 years and has two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, mourns the loss of both his co-pilot Jim Sullivan, who died in 2021, and the Blackbird SR-71 itself, which was officially retired from service in 1998.

He said: “Jim and I stayed in touch, but later on we only saw each other a few times at SR-71 reunions, as we lived so far apart.

“I was sad, of course, when the SR-71 programme ended. And am I surprised that nobody has beaten our record in 50 years? No. Because there’s been no other aircraft developed since that could beat it.”

@TheGuardian.com via X

[dangerousthingobservation]

F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron - PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search

Download Image of F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Free for commercial use, no attribution required. F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takeoff at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aug. 25, 2020. The 44th EFS conduct flying sorties daily to deliver air dominance in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cary Smith). Dated: 24.08.2020. Topics: deployed, centcom, uscentcom, saudi arabia, deterrence, afcent, f 15 eagle, usafcent, air force, united states air force, usaf, air dominance, deployed airmen, kingdom of saudi arabia, ksa, cary smith, staff sgt cary smith, prince sultan air base, psab, 378 aew, 378th air expeditionary wing, 378th aew, wintoday, prevailtomorrow, 44 efs provides deterrence support to region, dvids, ultra high resolution, high resolution, jet aircraft, military aircraft, us air force

[freetheshit-outofyou]

Chief Master Sergeant Wayne Fisk High Risk, High Reward

 

Son Tay Raid   On November 21, 1970, then SSgt. Wayne Fisk, a pararescueman, joined the all-volunteer search and rescue operation at Son Tay, North Vietnam. Sixty-one American POWs were reportedly held at the camp. Although no prisoners were found, the raid was considered a tactical success. On the return flight, Sergeant Fisk rescued a downed pilot from a separate mission. His overall actions earned him his first Silver Star.

SS Mayaguez Incident   Aboard a CH-53 helicopter, call sign Knife-51, TSgt. Fisk volunteered to extract American forces off Koh Tang Island in May 1975. As a pararescue specialist, he was responsible for retrieving US service members from the island. Despite heavy weapons and rocket fire, Knife-51 landed and evacuated the remaining personnel. TSgt. Fisk’s actions earned him a second Silver Star.

During his distinguished career, Chief Fisk served on the primary recovery team of NASA Apollo missions 8, 9, and 10. He is also credited with being the last American to engage communist forces in Southeast Asia. Finally, Chief Fisk led the efforts to establish the USAF Enlisted Heritage Hall, which preserves the history of enlisted Airmen, serving as it first director.

FINAL COMBAT: THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT AT KOH TANG After South Vietnam fell to communist forces, the US was again involved in combat in Southeast Asia. In May 1975, the Cambodian Khmer Rouge Navy seized the American cargo ship SS Mayaguez and its crew of thirty-nine in international waters.

President Gerald Ford acted decisively to rescue the crew. Air Force gunships sank three Cambodian patrol boats to prevent them from taking the Mayaguez’s crew from Koh Tang to the mainland. Soon after, US Marines boarded the Mayaguez and found it abandoned.

Near Disaster   Marines landed on Koh Tang in Air Force helicopters to rescue the crew, but incomplete intelligence made the operation a near disaster. The Cambodians shot down four helicopters, damaged five more, and killed fourteen Americans. More troops moved in urgently to reinforce the 131 Marines and five USAF aircrew trapped on Koh Tang.

As the assault continued, the Mayaguez crew appeared in a small boat, and were rescued unharmed. President Ford halted offensive action, and the operation shifted from assault to evacuation.

Determined Evacuation   Another 100 Marines moved into Koh Tang to reinforce and extract the trapped Americans. Only three USAF helicopters were left to extract more than 200 troops. On the last trip to the beach, USAF pararescueman TSgt Wayne Fisk left his helicopter to find two missing Marines still laying down covering fire. He led them to the helicopter, and the fourteen-hour mission ended.

Three Marines, inadvertently left on the island in the darkness and confusion, were killed and buried within a few days by the Khmer Rouge. Total US casualties included eighteen dead and fifty wounded. Twenty-three more USAF personnel died in a support force helicopter crash in Thailand due to mechanical failure.

Quick, effective action at Koh Tang by USAF, Marine, and Navy forces prevented a bad situation from becoming much worse. In particular, the persistence, determination, and heroism of USAF helicopter crews saved many lives. The action at Koh Tang between May 12-15, 1975, was the last combat action in Southeast Asia for US forces. Source

[militarymetalart]

Air Combat Command organizes, trains, and equips Airmen who fight in and from multiple domains to control the air, space, and cyberspace. As the lead command for fighter, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, personnel recovery, persistent attack and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and cyber operations, ACC is responsible for providing combat air, space, and cyber power and the combat support that assures mission success to America's warfighting commands. #military #usaf #metal #metalartwork #airforce #art #artist #artwork #military #metalart #militarymetalart https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn77DnCrGU8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 29 of 2023

Title: Run Run Cricket Run Authors: Tom Thompson ISBN: 9781636240374 Tags: FAC, Fiction, FRA Bernard Fall (Author), LAO Lam Son 719 (1971) (Vietnam War), LAO Laos, LAO Laotian Civil War (1959-1975), LAO USAF Steve Canyon Program - Ravens FAC (Laotian Civil War), Military Fiction, O-1 Bird Dog, O-2 Skymaster, THA RTAFB Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, THA Thailand, US USAF 20th TASS - Covey, US USAF 23rd TASS - NAIL FAC, US USAF 7th ABCCC Airborne Command and Control Sqd - Hillsboro, US USAF 7th ABCCC Airborne Command and Control Sqd - Moonbeam, VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975) Rating: ★★★ (3 Stars) Subject: Books.Fiction.Military.Vietnam, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Fiction

Description: Young American pilots feel the weight of destiny as they are tasked with shutting down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. 1970—the height of the Vietnam War. A group of young Forward Air Controllers based in Thailand is assigned with supporting the Truck War and the People's War in southern Laos, where the fate of the Vietnam War, and Laos' very future, is being decided. Tasked with shutting down the Ho Chi Minh Trail—the North Vietnamese supply lines running into South Vietnam—literally stopping the constant stream of trucks in their tracks, these American airmen, call sign "Nail," fly missions 24 hours a day. Daily, they run the gauntlet of intense anti-aircraft fire to bring in accurate attacks by American fighter bombers. At night, streams of red tracers scream up from the ground, seeking the metallic flesh of their fragile craft. During the day, they search the skies for the telltale black puffs of smoke that reveal the self-destructive warheads of the North Vietnamese gunners. Even when tragedy befalls the group, they persevere with their mission. But will courage and dedication be enough?

Review: Just finished reading this and I'm so disappointed in Casemate. There is a good book somewhere in here, but the author needed a good proofreader/editor in the worst way. Fiction needs structure and a narrative which this doesn't have AT all! It needs to have a compelling story to tell, and this is instead a mishmash of multiple small stories that muddy whether this is a story about a unit, or the main character (who is rarely a part of the book), or about ... what?!?! But the worst crime is the repetition. There is absolutely no reason to repeat the same paragraph (+) length info over, and over, and over, (ex why Lam Son 719 was named 719) in the course of a couple of pages. Any good editor should have redlined that! I can forgive the little issues like after repeating over, and over, and over, and over again about the whole right door being the ONLY door, they say they got in on the left door later. Or mixing up Callsigns, where Hobos become Zorro's and then back again. These are things all authors deal with in drafts and that often find their way into SELF PUBLISHED books. But a book from a publisher??? I expect so much better and thats why I don't fault the author at all, but definitely fault Casemate. Where the hell were the editors??!?!?

[lunarsilkscreen]

How did Bernie Madoff do it?

Still, to this day, nobody knows how he did it not a single person. We're facing a similar financial breakdown as nearly twenty years ago, and not a single person knows how Madoff's Ponzi scheme worked.

The question being; "How can you generate 1% returns a month, every month for as long as he had?"

When I tell you that the standard "investment advice" that financial advisors give (I mean real, qualified advisors, not the ones on WallStreetBets), when I tell you that their advice is this:

"Just generate 10% returns a year every year. It's easy if you make good investments."

This is a financial advisor that was paid to brief and educate.myself and fellow airmen in the USAF. And when prompted as to "how?" He said: "well I just bought an apartment complex with some buddies." I'm not calling him out, it's not illegal after all.

But watching the Netflix special "Madoff: Monster of Wallstreet" it's the one thing they keep repeating "nobody has this kind of track record, how can he do that?"

Side note, Madoff is quoted as saying: "It's a Ponzi scheme". I will not try to correct or interpret his statements.

Part of his business was as a "Market Maker" that means he was close to the market side, it's the closest thing you can get to being an "inside trader". Literal control of how the markets work. The thing that Citadel is, and why they're under scrutiny.

But I don't think that's it. It could be, for sure, but I think his investment/money manager accounts were simpler than that.

He worked like a bank, he took people's savings, or whatever they gave him and simply invested it. I think, since he charged no fees, whatever he made above 1% he kept to the company, and if he failed on another month he was able to continue adding the 1% to the pot in order to continue looking good with 1% returns.

This means that he had good returns one year, or even a few years. Well, let S&P's stockvalue tell you for it self. (That link is from macro trends).

From '98 to '08, you can see that just dumping money into S&P could give substantial returns. Didn't even need to time anything if you start in '03.

What probably killed him is a sudden influx of big dogs trying to get in on it, and then all the other things happening with the economy, 9/11, tech bubble, house bubble, etc...

What I'm saying is: it wasn't impossible, or even improbable, to do what Bernie Madoff did in a legitimate fashion.

So what the hell actually happened? (I'm not done with the series yet, no spoilers ty.)

[usafphantom2]

Airmen performing maintenance on F-15E 87-0200 assigned to 334th FS / 4th FW during a “Super Nights” training event at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Oct. 9, 2024.

USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal

@FightermanFFRC via X

[dangerousthingobservation]

picryl.com

F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron - PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search

Download Image of F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Free for commercial use, no attribution required. F-15C Eagles from the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron takeoff at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aug. 25, 2020. The 44th EFS conduct flying sorties daily to deliver air dominance in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cary Smith). Dated: 24.08.2020. Topics: deployed, centcom, uscentcom, saudi arabia, deterrence, afcent, f 15 eagle, usafcent, air force, united states air force, usaf, air dominance, deployed airmen, kingdom of saudi arabia, ksa, cary smith, staff sgt cary smith, prince sultan air base, psab, 378 aew, 378th air expeditionary wing, 378th aew, wintoday, prevailtomorrow, 44 efs provides deterrence support to region, dvids, ultra high resolution, high resolution, jet aircraft, military aircraft, us air force

[tommycthompson57]

"LONELY LOST SOULS"

Lonely Lost Souls

So Full of Pain

and Emptiness

So many

Lonely Lost Souls

With Unfullfilled desires

Broken Dreams

Feelings of Uselessness

Unending tears

With no one

to catch em

No one to comfort them

need them

to love em

sharing in all

of Lifes Charms

good times

Bad times

have someone Hear

Care

Hold em

But Just Once

In Life

is All

they ask

For

No One But

I

Inspired, That night news

Spread across my Airbase K.F.I.A., S.A.

That we just lost one of our birds;-(…

USAF Spectra Gunship Call Sign Spirit 03

14 Aircrew Airmen KIA 31 January 1991

The 14th Air Division (Provisional)

354th TFW(P) K.F.I.A.

unpublished works c2024 sensei Tora Aquila Dracos

[tigermike]

USAF E-3 AWACS Yukla 27 was airborne at 0745 on the morning of Sept. 22, 1995. Just a short while later at 0747 the copilot declared an emergency to the control tower. At 0747 Yukla 27 crashed just a short distance away from where it began its mission. Yukla 27 was airborne for only 40 seconds before the flight ended in tragedy. Twenty four U.S. and Canadian Airmen lost their lives, giving the ultimate sacrifice to their countries.

To the 24 crewmembers aboard Yukla 27, we will keep you in our prayers and memories. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten!

[michellesmusing]

My New Hero!

I so Want to meet her!

CAPTAIN MELANIE "MACH" KLUESNER

Captain Melanie Kluesner is the Commander, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The mission of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration team is to showcase the unique aerial capabilities of the Air Force’s most advanced 5th generation multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35A Lightning II, as well as highlight the history of the Air Force’s service through heritage formation flights. Additionally, she provides operational oversight and direction for the 13-personnel team, to include maintenance, aircrew flight equipment, and public affairs Airmen.

Capt Kluesner entered the Air Force in 2015 after receiving her Distinguished Graduate commission from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Southern California. She is an experienced fighter pilot with more than 800 flying hours in the F-16C Fighting Falcon, F-35B, and F-35A Lightning II. Her flying assignments include Undergraduate Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and fighter training in the F-16C at Luke AFB, Va., in the F-35A at Eglin AFB, Fl., and in the F-35B at MCAS Beaufort, SC. Operational assignments include Kunsan AFB, South Korea, a USMC exchange at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, Luke AFB, Arizona, and Hill Air Force Base, Utah. In 2020, she became the first USAF pilot to deploy in the F-35B. 

EDUCATION: 


2014 Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cali.  2021 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  October 2015 – February 2017, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas 2.  March 2017 – December 2017 Student, F-16 Basic Course, Luke AFB, AZ 3.  Janruary 2018 – January 2019, F-16 Pilot, Kunsan AB, KOR 4.  February 2019 – May 2019, F-35A Transition Course, Eglin AFB, FL 5. June 2019-August 2019 – F-35B Transition Course, MCAS Beaufort, SC 5. September 2019 – June 2021, F-35B Flight Lead, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan 6. July 2021 -- October 2023- F-35A Instructor Pilot and OSS Flight Commander, Luke AFB, AZ 7. November 2023-February 2024- F-35A Instructor Pilot, Hill AFB, UT 6.  March 2024 – Present, F-35A Demonstration Team Commander, Hill AFB, Utah

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Senior Pilot Flight Hours: More than 1000 Aircraft Flown: T-6, T-38C, F-16C, F-35B, F-35A

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Air Force Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant  May 2013 First Lieutenant  May 25, 2015 Captain, May 25, 2017 (Current as of March 2024)