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WINTER 2011

24 NOVEMBER 2011

Unsolved Scramble

D.B. Cooper & the 318TH FIS

An Air Defense Command pilot lights his F-106's afterburner on takeoff.

From Soviet Bombers to lost private airplanes, Air Defense Command fighter - interceptor squadrons were tasked to "police the skies" over America. In this role, McChord's 318th FIS became tied to one of the nations more intriguing crime mysteries on Thanksgiving eve 1971 - the D.B. Cooper Hijacking. Forty years later both can only be found in history books!

In the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a man named Dan Cooper purchased a one-way ticket on a normally scheduled flight from Portland, OR to Seattle WA. He along with the other passengers boarded the Northwest Orient Flight # 305 without incident. A few minutes in the flight, Mr. Cooper passed a note to a flight attendant claiming that he had a bomb in his brief case and told to pass that message on to the flight crew along with his demands for $200,000 in unmarked $20 bills, 2 back parachutes and a fuel truck to refuel their Boeing 727.

The plane landed at Seattle - Tacoma International Airport and taxied into an isolated area where all of Cooper's demands were granted and all passengers and two flight attendants were released, but this was not the end of this drama, while refueling Cooper relayed the next phase of his plan, a safe flight to Mexico City flown at minimum speed. Officials allowed the crew to fly the plane towards Mexico, but it would not be alone, two F-106's from the 318th FIS were scrambled with a task to shadow the hijacked airliner and track its escape to Mexico.

In the air over Washington or Oregon Cooper, with the ransom in hand, jumped from the rear of the 727 parachuting into the night and the history books - Cooper was never heard from again.

For many years following this hijacking, members of the 318th would hold an annual dinner; commemorate this incident and their role in the mystery of D.B. Cooper. This dinner was held every year until the close of the squadron in 1989.

1972 F.B.I. composite drawings of Dan "D. B." Cooper

16 SEPTEMBER 2011

C-17 Globemaster III celebrates 20 years of flight

BY Cindy Anderson - The Boeing Co

The Boeing Company on Sept. 15 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first flight of the C-17 airlifter. On Sept. 15, 1991, test aircraft T-1 (AF serial number took off from the Boeing Long Beach site on a two-hour flight that proved the engineering and design concepts of the aircraft and marked the beginning of the program.

T-1 flew by Long Beach again on Sept. 15, 2011, in a re-creation of its milestone flight. "The first flight of T-1 ushered in a new era in military and humanitarian airlift," said Bob Ciesla, C-17 program manager for Boeing. "Twenty years ago, when I was working in flight test for this new airlift program, I could not anticipate just how critical the C-17 would become for the U.S. Air Force and its allies. The success of the C-17 Globemaster III program extends beyond Boeing's employees and supplier partners who have proudly engineered and built the world's greatest airlifter for two decades to exceed the expectations of customers around the globe who fly the jet every day."

The C-17 has flown more than 2 million hours in its 20-year history, supporting worldwide airlift missions that transport troops and supplies to global hot zones and bring aid to those in need during humanitarian crises.

"There is no question that the C-17 has set the bar high," said Ciesla. "The program has performed on cost and on schedule for more than a decade. Now we are entering a new stage with a production-rate reduction from 15 to 10 aircraft per year, extending the life of the C-17 line to 2014 and beyond."

The C-17 aircraft has achieved a number of record-breaking milestones more than any other airlifter in history and set 33 world records during initial flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The C-17's records include payload to altitude and time-to-climb, as well as a record for short-takeoff-and-landing in which the C-17 took off in less than 1,400 feet, carried a payload of 44,000 pounds to altitude, and landed in less than 1,400 feet.

During the past 20 years, Boeing has delivered 235 C-17s - 211 to the U.S. Air Force, including active duty, Guard and Reserve units, and 24 to international customers including the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Qatar Emiri Air Force, United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India became the newest C-17 customer in June, when India's Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire 10 C-17s that will be delivered in 2013-2014.

T-1/87-0025 first flight video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPisSIJWytg

For additional stories, photos and memorabilia
visit the C-17 First Flight Reunion page

http://c17reunion.com/

On September 15, 1991 YC-17A 87-0025 is pictured minutes after it lifts off from the runway at McDonnell Douglas's Long Beach plant.

Photo by Jim Shryne - USAF

Freshly painted in full Edwards C-17 markings -0025 taxis past the control tower at at the base on October 19, 2007. The C-17 is still in use at Edwards AFB, CA.

11 SEPTEMBER 2011

9-11 Hero "still serving" on display at McChord

PHOTO BY ERNIE WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

F-16A 82-0929 is now displayed it a prominent display in front of the Western Air Defense Sector HQ.

With the Nation reflecting on the events that occurred on September 11, 2001, we also pause to remember a first responder that makes its home at McChord, F-16A 82-0929, one of the first fighters scrambled to intercept the hijacked airliners. In 2006, the F-16 from the 119th Fighter Wing "Happy Hooligans" of the North Dakota Air National Guard completed its last flight before being retired for display at McChord. The pilot that day, Lt Col Brad Derrig was very familiar with the jet, it was he and two of his fellow squadron mates (Lt. Col. Craig Borgstrom, & Lt. Col Dean Eckmann) in their F-16 were the first pilots scrambled with a mission to defend the Nation's Capital during the terrorist attacks on September 11.

McChord Air Museum volunteers played an important role in the acquisition and preparation for display at WADS HQ, below you can find two stories covering actions of Museum Volunteers in bringing this historic aircraft to McChord. For the story of the flight of the Happy Hooligans during the terrorist attacks of 9/11 please click the story link below.

Story - North Dakota pilots recount patrolling DC skies on 9/11

F-16A ADF Fact Sheet

Foundation Member helps

“land” a F-16 for WADS

(Story originally released in 31 December 2006)

Photo By ERNEST WHITE, II / McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

Lt Col. Brad Derrig "shuts down" F-16ADF 82-0929 for the final time in one of the McChord AFB Alert Hangars after completing a cross-country flight to Washington State. Col Derrig flying in F-16A -0929, and two other “Happy Hooligan” F-16 ADF’s scrambled from their unit’s alert detachment at Langley AFB, VA to intercept hijacked airliners over New York and Washington DC during Sept 11, 2001.

While many were out returning gifts a day after Christmas, a small crowd gathered by one of McChord's alert hangers to see the last flight of a aircraft that made its mark on history standing alert during September 11, 2001. The aircraft, F-16A S/N 82-0929, one of the 3 F-16 scrambled against hijacked airliners on 9-11-01, poked through the rain clouds and touched down for the last time after a cross country flight from it's base at Fargo, ND. The aircraft’s pilot Lt Col. Brad Derrig, Commander of the 119th Operations Group, North Dakota Air National Guard will always be linked by this journey, but the two will also be remembered as one of the U.S. initial defense against terror.

What started out as another day standing alert at Langley AFB for the pilots of the 119th FW better known as the “Happy Hooligans”, quickly became anything but routine. Shortly after terrorist commandeered civil airliners from New York airports, the units F-16's were ordered to “battle stations” and quickly given the “scramble” order by the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) to defend the airspace of the United States. F-16ADF 82-0929 piloted by the then Maj. Brad Derrig, and two other F-16’s flown by Capt. Dean Eckmann Capt. Craig Borgstrom would later perform history's first CAP over Washington DC and the Pentagon.

Since 2002 Foundation Board Member Ernest White lead the effort to bring the "9-11 first responders" to McChord for display. Over the years, White authored numerous letters and place more than a few phone calls to many individuals and organizations in the USAF, Department of Defense and Congress in a effort to gain a waver for S/N -929 because of its important history. Since the early 90’s only F-16 considered to be “non flyers” were the only aircraft available for display.

During the last months of 2006 what seemed to be a futile effort to acquire -929 became a reality. Working with the F-16 System Program Office or “SPO” White was able to secure the F-16 before it’s scheduled flight to the Davis-Monthan “Boneyard”, where it was to be used for a source of spare parts for other F-16. "It was not until I saw her taxi by until I realized that we really did get her here" White said, "This is a day I though I would never see!”

Although the McChord Air Museum was not on the Air Force’s waiting list for F-16, the Western Air Defense Sector had been on since 1994. The unit had planned on displaying the aircraft with the other historic Fighter-Interceptor aircraft, but later decided to honor the aircraft by displaying it in front of the units headquarters. When asked about the location change White responded “The best ending to this story is that a very historic aircraft was saved for many generations to admire”

PHOTO BY Abner Guzman / USAF

Foundation Board Member Ernest White greets Col. Derrig after he leaves F-16 82-0929 for the last time. White began an effort to bring the fighter to the Museum in 2002.

Members prep Falcon for its final assignment

(Story originally released in 16 October 2007)

Photo By CHUCK BOWEN / McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

McChord Air Museum Foundation volunteers (L-R) Jack Whitaker, Ken Roberts Dick Jones, Harvey Wishoff, Alice Jackson, Bert Brandt and Jerry McNeil pose next to F-16 82-0929 formally assigned to North Dakota National Guard.

After months of work behind the scenes, F-16 82-0929 emerged from the McChord Alert Facility hundreds of pounds lighter in preparation for display on the grounds of the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) located on the south end of the base. Over the last few weeks, members from the 162nd Fighter Wing, out of Tucson AZ and WADS, “de-milled” the aircraft, removing sensitive and serviceable items (including the engine). Once complete, the F-16 was moved from to the Museums restoration hangar to undergo some “final touches” in preparation for a complete repainting.

Another member volunteered for the project was Museum Member Ernest White, in charge of documenting and researching distinctive markings for “Hooligan” F-16s and basic markings worn by this and other Fighting Falcons. Once complete, information will be provided to painters from the 62 AW since most markings will be lost after the aircraft is sanded and primed. “Painting a F-16 is not something they’re not use to” said White, “We want to give the painters all of the tools to insure, from tip to tail, -929 is historically accurate”.

Plans are to mount the aircraft next to the F-4 display by NORAD’s 50^th Anniversary in May of 2008.

Western Air Defense Sector dedicates historic aircraft

(Story originally released in 21 May 2008)

Photo By Randy Rubattino /usaf

The F-16 fighter's place in air defense history is assured with this permanent display at the Headquarters of the Western Air Defense Sector at McChord AFB, WA

The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) hosted a formal dedication ceremony on May 21, 2008 for a historic F-16A Fighting Falcon from the North Dakota Air National Guard. The F-16 was set on permanent display on February 11 of this year.

The aircraft, F-16A ADF (Air Defense Fighter) S/N 82-0929, was one of the three F-16s scrambled against hijacked airliners on Sept. 11, 2001. The aircraft and its pilot on that day - Lt. Col. Brad Derrig, commander of the 119th Operations Group, North Dakota ANG - will always be remembered as part of the United States' first line of defense against terrorism.

Colonel Derrig, who participated in the dedication ceremony, piloted the historic jet on its final flight here Dec. 26, 2006. After its arrival at McChord, the aircraft was prepared for permanent display by volunteers from several agencies and organizations - the McChord Air Museum, the 162nd Fighter Wing from Tucson, Ariz., the 194th Operations Group, the 62nd Airlift Wing and WADS.

All groups who made this project a success were presented a Letter of appreciation and Commanders' Coin by Col Paul Gruver, Commander of WADS, accepting for the Museum was Foundation Board Member Ernest White who led the effort to bring the historic F-16 to McChord.

(Special thanks to WADS Public Affairs for their contributions to this artice)

Photo By Randy Rubattino /usaf

Joining Sector Commander Col. Paul Gruver, second from left, in unveiling the F-16 plaque they are from left Mr. Greg Heidloff of WADS; Senior Master Sgt. John Kennedy from the 194th Operations Group; Master Sgt. Scott McCool of WADS; Master Sgt. James Roark (partially hidden) from Arizona's 162nd Fighter Wing, and Mr. Ken Roberts, from the McChord Air Museum.

25 AUGUST 2011

Rodeo Recount

PHOTO BY Airman 1st Class Leah Young - USAF

Representatives from the 62nd Airlift Wing/627th Air Base Group Rodeo combo team on board a C-17 Globemaster III with Air Mobility Rodeo trophies August 24, 2011, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Discovery of a programming error in the Air Mobility Rodeo scoring system has the 62nd Airlift Wing/627th Air Base Group Rodeo combo team winning Best C-17 Wing.

2011 Rodeo ends with a win for the home team !

The Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 competition drew to a close at McChord Field with the 97th Air Mobility Wing earning the "Best Air Mobility Wing" title during the awards presentation for the air mobility competition July 29.

In the closing ceremonies, the Rodeo commander addressed the thousands of people who had traveled from around the world to the biennial competition. "We came to learn everything we can and work hard. Today, we hope to have a little fun as well, as we honor the competitors and their efforts," Brig. Gen. Rick Martin ( AMC Director of Operations and Rodeo Commander.) said.

In his address during the closing ceremony, the General called Rodeo "an opportunity to get together with our teammates from across the Air Force and around the world - to trade lessons learned and build camaraderie; to increase readiness and improve our military capability."

"We never know where we'll be operating next, whether it's aeromedical evacuation, support after a natural disaster, or delivering cargo, passengers or troops where they're most needed," Martin said. "The more partnerships we can build around the globe, the better we can perform our mission.

Weeks after the closing ceremonies an announcement was made that drastically changed the results.

Discovery of a programming error in the Air Mobility Rodeo scoring system has the 62nd Airlift Wing/627th Air Base Group Rodeo combo team winning Best C-17 Wing.

"This is great news!" said Col. R. Wyn Elder, 62nd Airlift Wing commander. "Our Airmen work hard every day to provide the best combat airlift in the world and it's an honor for them to be recognized at the premier mobility competition in the world for their outstanding work. The fact that the combined 62AW/627ABG team was able to win "Best C-17 Wing" at a joint base is a testament to the teamwork our Airmen demonstrate every single day throughout the world. "

The programming error, isolated to the C-17 and C-130 Container Delivery System airdrop scores, was discovered Aug. 18 by Air Mobility Command officials and changed the results of several major awards. "There is an automated process in the scoring algorithm which improperly assigned a median score for an event," said Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, AMC Director of Operations and Rodeo Commander. "This program error was not found in testing," said Martin. "All manual scoring processes were triple checked; however, there was not a final check for one critical portion of the automated scoring processes."

Best C-17 Wing was incorrectly awarded to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The 97th AMW actually finished in second place.

"It feels really good," said Maj. Scott Huffstetler, aircrew team chief. "We were all disappointed when the results first came out, but knowing all of the hard work and effort on everyone's part that went into this, finding out now that we won is really exciting."

During Rodeo the combo team also walked away with additional awards not affected by the error including another major award, Best Aerial Port Team, as well as the Best C-17 Preflight trophy and the Best In-Transit Visibility team. "We can't forget that we have over 500 Airmen deployed around the globe right now defending our nation. This award is just as much a statement about the quality of their work as it is the competition itself," said Elder. "Team McChord prides itself on being the best mobility Airmen every day - not just at the Rodeo competition. Colonel Hasberry and Chief Warren and I are so proud of our Airmen!"

Air Mobility Rodeo, sponsored by AMC, is an international Mobility Air Force's readiness competition focusing on improving worldwide air mobility wartime core abilities. Rodeo 2011 was held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord July 24-29.

The following teams were named the winners at Rodeo 2011:

--Best Air Mobility Wing (Moore Trophy) was incorrectly awarded to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The trophy will be awarded to the 314th Airlift Wing (Air Education and Training Command), Little Rock AFB, Ark.

--The Knucklebuster Award, which recognizes the maintenance team with the highest standards of professionalism, dedication and mutual respect for competitors: 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.

--Best Aerial Port Team: 62nd Airlift Wing/627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord

--Best Security Forces Team: Team McGuire, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

--Best Contingency Response Operations Team: 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base MDL

--Best Financial Management: 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.

--Best Aeromedical Evacuation Team: 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord

--Best Aerial Refueling Team: 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB (Receiver) and 92nd Air Refueling, Fairchild AFB, Wash.

--Best International Team: Belgium

--Best C-5 Wing: Team Dover, Dover AFB, Del.

--Best C-130 Wing: 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

--Best C-17 Wing was incorrectly awarded to the 97th AMW. The 97th AMW actually finished in second place. This trophy will be awarded to the 62nd Airlift Wing/627th Air Base Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., which incorrectly finished in second place.

--Best KC-10 Wing: Team Travis, Travis AFB, Calif.

--Best KC-135 Wing: 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB

--Best Airland Wing: Team Dover, Dover AFB

--Best Tanker Wing: 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB

--Best Airdrop Wing was incorrectly awarded to the 97th AMW. The 97th AMW actually finished in third place. This trophy will be awarded to the 314th AW, which incorrectly finished in second place.

Other awards:

--Best C-5 Air-To-Air Refueling Team: Team Dover
--Best C-17 Air-To-Air Refueling Team: 97th AMW
--Best KC-10 Air-To-Air Refueling Team: Team Travis
--Best KC-135 Air-To-Air Refueling Team: 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio
--Best C-17 Air Drop Team: Team Alaska
--Best C-130 Airdrop Aircrew was incorrectly awarded to the 314th AW (C-130E). The 314th AW actually finished in second place. This trophy will be awarded to 19th Airlift Wing (AMC), Little Rock AFB, Ark., which incorrectly finished in second place.
--Best C-17 Short Field Landing Team: 97th AMW
--Best C-130 Short Field Landing Team: 302nd AW, Petersen AFB, Colo.
--Best Joint Airdrop Inspection Team: Team Pope
--Best C-17 Backing & Combat Offload Team: 15th WG, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Best C-130 Backing & Combat Offload Team: 317th Airlift Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
--Best C-5 Aircrew: Team Dover
--Best C-17 Aircrew: 97th AMW
--Best C-130 Aircrew: 314th AW (C-130H)
--Best KC-10 Aircrew: Team Travis
--Best KC-135 Aircrew: 121st ARW
--Best KC-10 Cargo Loading Team: Team McGuire
--Best KC-135 Cargo Loading Team: 121st ARW
--Best C-5 Preflight Team: Team Dover
--Best C-17 Preflight Team: 62nd AW/627th ABG
--Best C-130 Preflight Team: 317th AG
--Best KC-10 Preflight Team: Team Travis
--Best KC-135 Preflight Team: 22nd ARW, McConnell AFB, Kan.
--Best C-5 Maintenance Skills Team: Team Dover
--Best C-17 Maintenance Skills Team: 437th AW, Joint Base Charleston
--Best C-130 Maintenance Skills Team: 314th AW
--Best KC-10 Maintenance Skills Team: Team Travis
--Best KC-135 Maintenance Skills Team: 97th AMW
--Best Maintenance Skills Team: 314th AW
--Best C-5 Maintenance Team: Team Dover
--Best C-17 Maintenance Team: 437th AW
--Best C-130 Maintenance Team: 314th AW
--Best KC-10 Maintenance Team: Team Travis
--Best KC-135 Maintenance Team: Team MacDill
--Best Aerial Port Challenge Course Team: 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
--Best C-5 Engine Running Offload: Team Dover
--Best C-130 Engine Running Offload: 910th AW, Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Squadron, Ohio
--Best In-Transit Visibility: 62nd AW/627th ABG
--Best Joint Inspection Team: 621st CRW
--Best 10K Forklift Operator Team: 521st AMOW
--Best 25K Halverson Loader Team: Team Travis
--Best Pallet Build-Up Team: 317th AG
--Best Advanced Designated Marksman/Sharpshooter: 621st CRW
--Best Combat Tactics Team: Team McGuire
--Best Combat Weapons Team: 446th AW
--Best Combat Endurance Team: Team Alaska
--Best Fit-To-Fight Team: Team Ramstein
--Best Aeromedical Evacuation Contingency Team: 446th AW
--Best Aeromedical Evacuation C-17 Configuration Team: 302nd AW
--Best Aeromedical Evacuation KC-135 Configuration Team: 302nd AW
-Best Flight Attendant Emergency Egress Team: 99th AS, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
--Best Flight Attendant Culinary Team: Team Ramstein
--Best Flight Attendant Team: Team Ramstein
--Best Contingency Operations ERO Team: 615th CRW, Travis AFB, Calif.
--Best Contingency Operations HELAMS Team: 621st CRW
--Best Contingency Operations SPICE Team: 621st CRW
--Best OSA/VIPSAM Precision Landing Team: Team Ramstein
--Best OSA/VIPSAM DV Block in Team: Team Ramstein
--Best OSA/VIPSAM Team: Team Ramstein
--Best T1 Low Level/Airdrop Team: 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
--Best T1 AR Team: 12th FTW, Randolph AFB, Texas
--Best T1 Team: 14th FTW, Columbus AFB, Miss.

13 AUGUST 2011

Awards and Donations Highlight the Museums Annual Picnic

Sunny and 80 - a perfect day for the Museums annual Volunteers Picnic on Heritage Hill on Saturday August 30. Almost 30 volunteers enjoyed all of the usual summertime foods including hamburgers and hotdogs grilled by Vice President Randy Getz. The picnic is also an occasion where Volunteers are recognized for their many years of service to with the Museum, this year 4 members were awarded Museum Service Plaques for a remarkable 25 years of service.

In a great show of support of the Museums C-130E, former 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron Commander presented a series of checks totaling over $9,000 towards the restoration of the aircraft. The effort known as the "Eagle One Fund Drive" saw many former Commanders (including Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force) and personnel of the 36th TAS - donate funds that will go towards the painting of the C-130E at a future date.

In a speech to the volunteers Col Hansen commented that there are additional funds and several requests for support are still in the works - If you would like to support this or any of the other Museum restoration projects - please contact the McChord Foundation at 253-982-2485.

PHOTO BY ERNIE WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

McChord Air Museum Foundation Vice President Maj. Randy Getz (USAF Ret) accepts donations from Col. Tom Hansen (USAF Ret) for the restoration of the Museums C-130.

15 MARCH 2011

Major General Jack K. Gamble

1922 - 2011

The members of the McChord Air Museum Foundation were very sad to hear of the passing of fellow member Major General Jack K. Gamble. One of the early members of the Museum, the General has been one of the McChord Air Museums greatest supporters. Over his 33 year Air Force career General Gamble twice served at McChord AFB with the 25th Air Division, Commanding the unit in 1972.

Born in 1922, at Belleville, Ill., General Gamble enlisted in the Army Air Corps in April 1942, entered the aviation cadet program and graduated in March 1943 at Williams Field, Ariz., with a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings. He then entered Night Fighter Combat Crew Training School, Orlando, Fla., where he flew the P-70 aircraft.

In July 1943 he was assigned to the 414th Night Fighter Squadron in the European Theater of Operations. Flying the Bristol Beaufighter, General Gamble completed 93 combat missions over North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, Southern France and Northern Italy, accumulating 277 flying combat hours. In December 1944 he returned to the United States to become a P-61 pilot instructor at Hammer Field, Fresno, Calif. In March 1946 he went to Germany where he spent three years flying the RF-51, P-61, and P-47 aircraft.

From March 1949 to July 1953, General Gamble served in the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In December 1953 he was transferred to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and assumed command of the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, where he flew the F-94C. In November 1954 he became director of combat operations for the 29th Air Division. In July 1955 he entered the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Following graduation in June 1956, General Gamble began an exchange tour of duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force Headquarters at Ottawa as chief of the Day Fighter Branch.

In June 1958 the General was assigned as staff planning officer with the 37th Air Division and later was assistant director of operations and training for the 30th Air Division at Truax Field, Wis. In November 1960 he became commander of the 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Ind., where he flew the F-106 Delta Dart.

General Gamble was next assigned to the 25th Air Division headquarters at McChord Air Force Base, where he served as deputy chief of staff, Civil Engineering, from July 1961 to June 1963. He then became a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

In July 1964 he was again transferred to Germany, this time to the 86th Air Division at Ramstein Air Base. As director of operations, he flew the F-102 Delta Dagger until his return to the United States in July 1967. General Gamble next attended the Air Defense Command Life Support Training Course and the F-101 Combat Crew Training School at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Following this training, he assumed command of the 52d Fighter Wing at Suffolk County Air Force Base, N.Y. In April 1969 He assumed command of the 35th Air Division with headquarters at Hancock Field, N.Y. In November 1969 General Gamble assumed command of the 20th North American Air Defense Command/Continental Air Defense Command Region with headquarters at Fort Lee Air Force Station, Fort Lee, Va., and had additional duties as commander, 20th Air Division.

General Gamble returned to McChord and became commander of the 25th North American Air Defense Command/Continental Air Defense Command Region in March 1972, with additional duties as commander, 25th Air Division. He was assigned as commander of the Alaskan Air Command with headquarters at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, in March 1974. General Gamble retired to the McChord area in 1975 with over 33 years of service to his country.

General Gamble's military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon. He is a command pilot.

One of General Gamble's sons, Patrick, followed in his accomplished father's footsteps. In his 34 year career, Patrick also reached to the rank of General serving as Commander of Alaskan Air Command, just as his father. General Pat Gamble also Commanded the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at McChord flying the F-106.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the General his widow Marcia, and family.

museum news archive

Click any link below to read the associated story

2010

Joint Base Lewis-McChord makes its historic debut

Stars Shine at the McChord Field Expo

Will you be "coined" by Santa?

2009

Here today . . . Gone tomorrow

Ed Baker

All around success makes for stellar Rodeo 2009

Its not a myth - the Mighty Hercules arrives at the McChord Museum