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SPRING 2010

01 FEBRUARY 2010

Joint Base Lewis-McChord makes its historic debut

DEAN J. KOEPFLER - TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Deputy Commander Air Force Col. Jerry K. Weldon II , left, and Commander Army Col. Thomas H. Brittain shake hands after the unveiling of the JBLM sign during a ceremony at the Joint Base Garrison building Monday morning, Feb.1, 2010. Fort Lewis and McChord AFB officially combined Monday as a way to streamline operations and save taxpayer money.

Back to the future - McChord AFB now McChord Field

STORY BY Don Kramer/Northwest Guardian - 04 February 2010

With the final tug of a canvas case, the unfurling and raising of its new flag, Joint Base Lewis-McChord began its history at 10 a.m. Monday during a ceremony in front of its new headquarters at Building 1010 on what is now called “JBLM Lewis Main.”

Joint Base Commander Col. Thomas H. Brittain and his Air Force deputy, Col. Kenny Weldon, shared the honors of uncasing the new JBLM Garrison flag along with their senior NCOs, Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Barnes and Chief Master Sergeant Frederick Wade.

The ceremony marked the beginning of Initial Operational Capability for the joint base, the founding of the joint base headquarters and the official start of the phased transfer of installation support functions for both installations to the joint base configuration.

The composition of the color guard reflected the spirit of amity between the two services, with two Airmen and two Soldiers performing the honors.

The transition period of IOC will last eight months until Oct. 1, when Full Operational Capability is reached with all milestones and objectives completed. The eight months will be divided into three phases during which increasingly complex units will integrate and take their places in the joint base structure.

“In a sense this is not new,” said Brittain. “Fort Lewis and McChord have been cooperating in defense of our great nation for many decades. In far-away places right now, Airmen and Soldiers are side by side on the battlefield.”

Four years of planning and analyzing have gone into this day since the Base Realignment and Closure process designated Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base as one of 12 sets of installations to be merged.

“Really, the actual work starts today,” Brittain said. “Now we begin this phased integration of all the support services that previously resided in the 62nd Mission Support Group ... and the services provided by U.S. Army Garrison into our Joint Base Garrison.”

Barnes and Wade did the honors in removing a cover from the “Joint Base Garrison” sign over the doorway at the main entrance to the new headquarters. Brittain and Weldon followed suit by jointly taking down a camouflaged poncho covering the JBLM Headquarters sign at the front of the property.

The casing of the U.S. Army Garrison flag that initiated the ceremonies was another joint operation, performed by Brittain and Barnes, with assistance from J. Randall Robinson, the director of West Region of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, and his senior NCO, Command Sgt. Maj. Terry Braddock.

“The United States military has always built its combat power on the legacy of those who have gone before us and the traditions of the services,” Brittain said. “We will preserve those traditions and heritage. We will create something new and enduring for our joint base, our local community and our nation. In fact, we envision that our headquarters will be a center for the preservation of those key heritages.”

Brittain invited the crowd into the headquarters after the ceremony to see the displays that lined both sides of the entrance and main hallway commemorating historic milestones of both Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Displays traced “Camp Lewis” back to 1904 and McChord Field to 1938, with brushes with famous figures such as Charles Lindbergh, Gen. Colin Powell and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“It is no exaggeration when I say history is being made here today,” Brittain said, “as only one of 12 joint bases and the largest under Army management, the only one with a corps headquarters. We are truly at the tip of the spear.”

(Click here for Museum's Joint Base Lewis-McChord page)

15 DECEMBER 2009

Fifty Years and Counting

F-106 is still the Fastest

Major Joe Rogers prepares to board the Museums F-106A, S/N 56-0459, before their next flight during "Operation Firewall"

December of this year marks the 50th anniversary of McChord Museums F-106's brush with history. In 1959 F-106A S/N 56-0459 was selected as the primary aircraft in the Air Forces attempt at the Worlds Absolute Speed Record. The aircraft flew all flights in the project - except for the last, a flight that ultimately became the record setting flight.

During the decade of the 50’s, considerable advances in jet turbine engine power and efficiency led to history's largest increase in aircraft speed. These advances led to the escalation of the worldwide competition to design and build the World’s fastest production airplane, the winner of this competition would own aviation’s Absolute Speed Record.

Not to be out done, the U.S. Air Force used its newest and fastest jet fighters in attempts to capture the speed record for America. These record setting flights were to be flown in a program code-named Operation Firewall. Historic fighters such as the McDonnell F-101A VooDoo (in 1957) and the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter (in 1958) achieved record speeds in their flights in this program.

In 1959, USAF planned to use their newest and most advanced weapons in attempts to break some of the Worlds most sought after aviation records. Attempts at a speed record (with the F-106), a close – course speed record (with the Republic F-105B Thunderchief), and a Helicopter altitude record (with the Kaman HH-43A Huskie) were all to be flown in the early weeks of December of that year. These aeronautical achievements were to be highlighted at the annual Wright (Brothers) Memorial Dinner in Washington D.C. on December 16.

Convair and USAF Officials believed that their new interceptor, the F-106 Delta Dart, possessed the performance necessary to surpass the record speed of the F-104. A pilot to fly this mission was nearly an unanimous decision, program officials called upon Major Joe Rogers who at the time was overseeing the integration of the F-106 into active service at Air Defense Command Headquarters, Ent AFB, CO. Major Rogers, a combat seasoned Fighter Pilot, had been deeply involved with the early development of the F-106 and F-102 Delta Dagger with many flight test hours in both programs.

Selecting a F-106 for Firewall flights was almost as easy, program officials dipped into the F-106 test fleet and selected S/N 56-0459, which was considered by most F-106 Test pilots to be the “Hot Jet”, in other words, the Delta Dart that had flown the fastest with the best handling qualities, a perfect combination for this record attempt. Although the standard engine found in production F-106 Interceptors (Pratt & Whitney J75-P17 turbojet) possessed all of the power needed for this attempt, officials made plans to install a “gold plate” engine (a standard engine modified to produce 9% extra thrust) inside –0459 for all Operation Firewall flights.

Guidelines for all aviation record attempts are established by The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI); a Paris based International Aviation organization founded in 1905. During the Firewall project the FAI was represented in the United States by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), forerunner to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

During early planning stages of Operation Firewall, the United States lost its two-year possession of the World Speed Record on October 31, 1959 to a jet fighter from the Soviet Union. Pilot Georgii Mossolov flew Mikoyan Design Bureau's Ye-6T/1 (a prototype of the MiG-21 Fishbed), to an unofficial speed of 1483.83 mph, breaking the record of the F-104A. Per FAI a new record must exceed the old by 1%; the new goal for the F-106 was to reach a speed of 1497.83 or greater. At the time many thought the Soviets successfully raised the bar, it was later discovered that the Ye-6T/1 flew its record setting speed with the assistance of a 6,615 lb thrust rocket engine, violating the FAI rules.

Electronic measuring instruments were installed in area within Edwards AFB, CA. to create the boundaries of the course, basically an “electronic tube” that measured 10 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 328 feet in height. The F-106 must fly two passes through the “electronic tube” or "trap", with the second pass flying in the opposite direction from the first. The two flights are required to diminish any chances that the aircraft speed could be affected by favorable or unfavorable wind conditions. While making these flights no part of the aircraft can touch edges of the "trap". The final figure is derived from the average speed from the two passes.

Major Rodgers and F-106A S/N 56-0459 are pictured on takeoff during Operation Firewall

In early December 1959, Firewall flights began at a feverish pace, but problems with measuring instruments installed F-106 -0459 slowed the programs progress. Special altimeters used to measure and maintain proper altitude were found not to be as precise as needed. To correct this problem, a more sensitive Vertical Speed Indicator was installed, but Rogers needed a better option. To keep -0459 level though the course, Rogers manufactured what was to be known as a “horizon indexer” which was a small piece of metal fixed to the canopy splitter that could be moved to match the horizon upon course entry, simple but effective. The problems with the aircraft were much more difficult to diagnose.

Throughout its involvement in Operation Firewall –0459 experienced seemingly uncorrectable compressor stalls as the F-106 reached speeds below Mach 2. The violent yawing (side to side twisting motion) continually pushed the aircraft out of the course boundaries, and on one of the last flights nearly costing Major Rogers his life if not for his expert airmanship. During the two weeks of flying a number of quick fixes were employed to correct the issues with the F-106 without success. With the deadline approaching, a discouraged Firewall team was forced to pull -0459 out of the program; hopes for a record were seemingly gone.

Without a plane, or a record a disheartened Rogers bordered a T-33 T-Bird on a flight to Washington D.C., Rodgers and the record setting HH-43 and F-105 Pilots were to have their records featured at the Wright Memorial Dinner on the December 16. Rodgers would have to face his colleagues without his prize, but there was still hope.

Back-up pilot and close friend to Major Rogers, Major Bob Rushworth found a replacement for -0459 from Convair’s structural & loads testing program at Edwards - F-106A S/N 56-0467. As the back-up pilot, Rushworth could have flown #0467 in this new attempt for the record, but out of friendship and respect, Major Rushworth insisted that Major Rogers should be the pilot to set this record in the new aircraft. Within hours Joe was on his way back to California to make a new attempt at the record.

On the morning of December 15, F-106A #0467 pulled from its F-106 test duties and readied by Convair Test Pilot James Stewart, months of preparation had come down to this one flight. Within hours Major Rogers had climbed aboard –0467 and prepared the jet for flight. In this unfamiliar aircraft, Rogers leapt into the air, aiming his new mount through the center of the course. The pair pushed though the first leg of the flight well beyond Mach 2. Joe reduced the jets speed to an idle, and looped around for another pass. Approaching the “trap” Rogers lit the afterburner, -0467 traveled through the course without any of the problems experienced in the earlier flights in #0459. A little more than 25 seconds later Joe and –0467 accelerated out of the course flying 1,515.45 mph. On his last pass, Joe and –0467 was clocked at 1536.43 mph with his speed still climbing as he flew through the end of the "trap". An early analysis of the flight data showed the average speed of the two passes at 1520.9 mph but within a few hours a more detail study recorded the official speed at 1525.95, setting a new World Absolute Speed Record.

The F-106 would hold the record for two years until a heavily modified U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom prototype set a new mark of 1,606.342 by Lt. Col. Robert Robinson (USMC Ret) on 22 December 1961. Even though the F-106 lost its hold on the absolute speed record, it is still recognized as the fastest single-engine aircraft.

After her release from the F-106 testing program, F-106A #0459 served four years with the 11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Duluth AFB, MN and another eighteen with McChord's 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. After the interceptors retirement on 06 October 1983, the F-106 was the second aircraft to enter the Museum collection on 01 November 1983.

The McChord Air Museum's "Firewall" exhibit (located next to the F-106 simulator) is a popular display in the museums gallery.

Click here for Col. Joe Rogers Biography

Click here for F-106A -0459's last pilot, Col. Randy Neville's Biography

Click here for the Museums F-106A page

Click here for the Museums F-106 Simulator page

09 OCTOBER 2009

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

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

The Museums C-130E S/N 62-1789 is pictured resting in the Washington sun on its first day of retirement.

With the landing of "Jaded-04" the McChord air Museum received an aircraft that has been on the top of its whish list for years, that aircraft being the Lockheed C-130E Hercules. The aircraft, S/N 62-1789 and its composite crew from Hill AFB, Utah under the radio call sign "Jaded-04", completed a 12 hour flight from Alabama to McChord landing minutes before 7pm. "The flight was originally scheduled to take about seven hours" said Museum Board Member Ernest White "but wing restrictions (fuel) an engine oil leak forced the crew to land at Hill Air Force Base for fuel and repairs", "it (the flight) took longer than I expected, but it was worth the wait ! "

Over the last few years, the Museums attempts to obtain a C-130's have been dashed, most recently by a Air Force wide 2005 grounding and storage of a number of C-130E’s until the completion of an on-going Mobility Capability Study, limited the number of aircraft available for display – until September.

In the late Summer of 2009, Museum Curator Ray Jordan, was informed 62-1789 was available for the Museum if acceptable. While acquiring an aircraft that had been based out of McChord was a priority, over the last few years almost all of these C-130's have been flown into storage and eventual retirement. Losing this C-130 for display without a guarantee of one of the very few remaining former 36th TAS aircraft "wasn't a chance I was willing to take" said Jordan.

Although 62-1789 lacks a tie with the Base during its career, McChord has a very strong connection with the C-130 Hercules. For 14 years C-130's were a familiar sight in the skies over McChord, flying with the 62d Military Airlift Wings 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron. With the transfer of the 36th TAS "Eagle Airlifters" to McChord on July 1975, the 62d Military Airlift Wing became the only mixed fleet of Tactical (with the C-130) and Strategic (with the C-141) Airlift in the Military Airlift Command.

During their McChord assignment, the 36th TAS proved to be one of the more distinguished C-130 units in the MAC. The "Eagle Airlifters" were frequent participants in many deployments, exercises, and worldwide rotations. The units' high proficiency did not go unnoticed; being awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 3 of the 5 times eligible during their C-130 era at McChord. The 36 also received multiple nominations for MACs "Outstanding Tactical Airlift Squadron of the Year" award, winning it in 1980.

The 36th flew C-130Es from McChord until the Squadron was slated for deactivation in 1988 & 1989 as a part of an Air Force wide force reduction plan. In 1989 the Eagle Airlifters would be redesignated as a 36th Military Airlift Squadron flying C-141's at McChord. On 01 October 1993 the squadron tenure at McChord would come to an end with the Squadron (designation) moving to the 374th Airlift Wing's Operations Group at Yokota AB, Japan flying C-130.

After a few months of preparation the -1789 will be repainted in the Southeast Asia scheme worn by McChord C-130's in the early 70's. By the end of 2010, the Museums C-130 will be moved to Heritage Hill next to the Museums C-141B StarLifter.

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

McChord Museum Curator Ray Jordan is pictured with -1789's last crew

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

With all signatures complete, the aircraft is offically turned over the the Museum.

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

Looking out in to the night -1789's cockpit show its last bit of life before being shut down for the last time .

USAF PHOTO

Plans are to repaint the Museum's C-130 in the Southeast Asia camouflage pattern worn by C-130's of the 36th TAS in the late 70's as displayed here by 63-7788 in 1978. The aircraft will be placed on Heritage Hill across from the types former wing mate - the Museums C-141B StarLifter. Restoration & Sighting should be complete in 2010.

01 AUGUST 2009

All around success makes for stellar Rodeo 2009

Photo By Randy Rubattino /usaf

Museum Member Jim Bernethy is pictured here driving his 1953 Dodge weapons Carrier Truck for Gen. Arthur Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander, and Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, RODEO 2009 commander, in the "pass and review" portion of the opening ceremonies for Air Mobility Command's Rodeo 2009 July 19 at McChord AFB. The Museums C-141 & C-124 were also opened Rodeo participants and visitors.

The 62nd Airlift Wing wrapping up the “Best of the Best” award at Rodeo 2009 was merely the icing on the cake, Rodeo officials said this week while reflecting on hosting the mobility competition. Since Rodeo’s debut at McChord in 1994, the 2009 competition has to go down as the best so far, according to Jonathan Harris, a Rodeo program manager who’s attended each one here. “The planning has gotten better and we’ve constantly improved theinfrastructure for Rodeo along the way,” Mr. Harris said. “McChord really has the stamp on the Rodeo plan now.”

From the lodging and rental car arrangements to the setup and maintenance at Rainier Ranch, Mr. Harris praised the extensive volunteer support network which was required to orchestrate such a highprofile event. “All the Wranglers and the folks at the 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron, as well as the base populace, worked really hard to make this a great event,” he said. At one point during the week, there were five four-star generals in attendance, as well as the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy.

“That’s a lot of exposure, but it shows we do a great job,” Mr. Harris said. “When you gather that many people from around the world together for nearly a week straight and have no major mishaps or injuries, you walk away and say ‘wow’”.While the behind-the-scenes workings of Rodeo went off without a hitch, the 62nd AW team took care of business on the scoreboard.

In addition to taking home the top overall award — the Best Air Mobility Team — the wing also captured awards for best C-17 team, best airdrop team, best C-17 low-level airdrop crew, best C-17 aircrew and best C-17 post-fl ight team. It also grabbed the top spot for the best aerial port challenge course team and the best joint inspection team.

“It really makes everything worth it for all the effort the guys put into the training,” said Maj. Timothy Kimbrough, 62nd AW Rodeo team chief.

While the 62nd Operations Group team got off to a slow start in the arrival portion of the competition, it was the lone hiccup in a nearly flawless week of competition. The team bounced back with a stellar performance in the cargo delivery system drop. “It turned (the competition) around and things really snowballed from there,” he said. “They fed off it.” The 62nd Aerial Port Squadron team turned in a second place overall finish in its competition, winning the challenge course and best joint inspection team. “We worked really hard to win the challenge course … it’s basically the bread and butter in our career field,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Hartman, 62nd APS team captain. “Everyone stuck with it … that was awesome,” he said. “People are (now) walking around with their heads held a little higher.”

The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron team did its part in contributing to the overall team title, winning the best C-17 post-flight competition. “To win that was a big accomplishment,” said Capt. Burgess Gow, 62nd AMXS team captain. “We kept it together, and that says a lot about the team.”

Fielding a team composed of Airmen new to Rodeo, the 62nd Security Forces Squadron put together a solid week of competition, finishing second overall. “They gave it 100 percent effort and I’m very proud of each one of them,” said Master Sgt. Guy Dashnea, 62nd SFS Rodeo team captain. The SFS team also took pride in the fact its training partners — 446th SFS team and the 92nd SFS from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. — performed so well. The 446th team won the competition while the 92nd SFS took third. “If we wanted anyone else to win it, it’s them,” Sergeant Dashnea said of the 446th SFS team.

Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 ended on July 24 with a closing ceremony and the announcement of 74 awards including the coveted "Best of the Best" Award.

The competition is the Air Force's and Air Mobility Command's premier mobility competition and included seven international competitors and observers from 13 other nations.

The main awards presented during the closing ceremony were:

· Best Air Mobility Team 62nd AW, McChord AFB, WA

· Best C-5 Galaxy Team - 60th AMW, Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-17 Globemaster III Team - 62nd AW, McChord AFB, WA

· Best C-130 Hercules/C-160 Team - 19th AW, Little Rock AFB, AR

· Best KC-10 Extender Team - 60th AMW, Travis AFB CA

· Best KC-135 Stratotanker Team - 916th ARW, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.

· Best Airdrop Team - 62nd AW McChord AFB

· Best Air-land Team - 60th AMW Travis AFB

· Best Tanker Team - 97th AMW, Altus AFB, OK

· Best Aerial Refueling Team (tanker) - 22nd ARW, McConnell AFB, KS

· Knuckle Buster Award - 374th AW, Yokota AB, Japan.

· Best Aerial Port Team - 19th AW, Little Rock AFB, AR.

· Best Contingency Response Team - 621st CRW, McGuire AFB, N.J.

· Best Security Forces Team - 446th AW, McChord AFB WA.

· Best Aeromedical Evacuation Team - 86th AW, Ramstein AB, Germany

· Best International Team - South Korea.

The sub-category winners were:

· Best Fit-to-Fight Team - 446th AW, McChord AFB

· Best Aeromedical Evacuation Configuration - Turkey

· Best Aeromedical Evacuation Contingency Flight 86th AW Ramstein AB, Germany

· Best Security Forces Combat Weapons Team - 92nd ARW Fairchild AFB, WA

· Best Security Forces Combat Shooter Airman 1st Class Cory C. Linn 60th AMW from Travis AFB, CA

· Best Security Forces Combat Tactics Team - Germany

· Best Combat Endurance Course Team - 305th AMW/514th AMW, McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best Aerial Port Challenge Course Team - 62nd AW McChord AFB, WA

· Best Aerial Port 10K Forklift Operators - 521st AMOW Ramstein AB, Germany

· Best 60K Tunner Team - 60th AMW, Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-5 ERO Team - 60th AMW, Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-17 ERO Team - 97th AMW, Altus AFB.

· Best C-130 ERO Team - 19th AW, Little Rock AFB.

· Best En route ERO Team - 521st AMOW Ramstein AB, Germany

· Best In-transit Visibility Team - 19th AW Little Rock AFB, AR

· Best Joint Inspection Team - 62nd AW McChord AFB, WA

· Best Joint Airdrop Inspection Team 43rd AW Pope AFB, NC

· Best Contingency Response HELAMS Team 621st CRW McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best Contingency Response SPICE Team 621st CRW McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best Contingency Operations ERO Team 615th CRW Travis AFB, CA

· Best Low-level Airdrop Crew - 47th FTW, Laughlin AFB, TX

· Best T-1 AR Crew - 47th FTW Laughlin AFB

· Best T-1 Aircrew - 47th FTW Laughlin AFB

· Best C-5 AR Crew - 60th AMW Travis AFB

· Best C-5 Aircrew - 60th AMW Travis AFB

· Best C-17 Low-level Airdrop Crew - 62nd AW McChord AFB

· Best C-17 AR Crew - 437th AW/315th AW Charleston AFB, SC

· Best C-17 Short Field Landing Crew - 437th AW/315th AW Charleston AFB, SC

· Best Backing/Combat Offload Crew - 305th AMW and 514th AMW from McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best C-17 Aircrew - 62nd AW McChord AFB, WA

· Best C-130 Low-level Airdrop Crew - 86th AW Ramstein AB Germany

· Best C-130 Short Field Landing Crew - 19th AW, Little Rock AFB, AR.

· Best C-130 Backing/Combat Off-load Crew - 314th AW Little Rock AFB AR.

· Best C-130 Aircrew, (Col. Joe M. Jackson Trophy) - Israel.

· Best KC-10 AR Crew - 60th AMW Travis AFB, CA

· Best KC-10 Cargo Loading Crew - 305th AMW/514th AMW McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best KC-10 Aircrew - 60th AMW Travis AFB, CA

· Best KC-135 AR Crew - 121st ARW, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, OH.

· Best KC-135 Cargo Loading Crew - 916th ARW Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC

· Best KC-135 Aircrew, (Gen. Bruce K. Holloway Trophy) - 916th ARW Seymour-Johnson AFB NC

· Best OSA/VIPSAM Arrival Crew - 86th AW, Ramstein AB Germany

· Best OSA/VIPSAM Aircrew - 375th Airlift Wing Scott AFB, Ill

· Best C-5 Preflight Team - 60th AMW Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-5 Post-flight Team - 60th AMW Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-17 Pre-flight Team - 437th AW/315th AW Charleston AFB, NC

· Best C-17 Post-flight Team - 62nd AW McChord AFB, WA

· Best C-130 Pre-flight Team- 19th AW Little Rock AFB, AR

· Best C-130 Post-flight Team - 314th AW Little Rock AFB, AR

· Best KC-10 Pre-flight Team 305th AMW and 514th AMW McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best KC-10 Post-flight Team - 60th AMW Travis AFB, CA

· Best KC-135 Pre-flight Team - 97th AMW Altus AFB, AR

· Best KC-135 Post-flight Team 916th ARW Seymour-Johnson AFB, NJ

· Best C-5 Maintenance Team - 60th AMW from Travis AFB, CA

· Best C-17 Maintenance Team - 446th AW McChord AFB, WA

· Best C-130 Maintenance Team - 19th AW Little Rock AFB, AR

· Best KC-10 Maintenance Team - 305th AMW/ 514th AMW McGuire AFB, NJ

· Best KC-135 Maintenance Team - 97th AMW, Altus AFB, AR

(Special thanks to the NW Airlifters Tyler Hemstreet for his contributions to this article)

30 APRIL 2009

Ed Baker

3 June 1940 - 31 June 2009

With heavy hearts, we must pass on the news of the death of long time Museum Member Ed Baker. For more than 25 years Ed was a very important piece of McChord and its history wearing many hats at the Museum. Born in the Territory of Hawaii, Ed worked at many aircraft company's, retiring in the mid 80's from the Boeing Company.

From the Tower, to the Gallery to the his beloved C-47, Ed has left his mark around the museum, being a important driving force in many Museum projects.

Ed is survived by his son William Franco, sister Emma, plus several sisters and brothers

Often known as "Mr. McChord Air Museum" Ed will certainly be long remembered for his many years of service in support of the Museum.

20 MARCH 09

Here today . . . Gone tomorrow

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

A U.S. Navy crews guide the Museums T-33 away to a soft "landing" on Heritage Hill. The aircraft retired by McChord's 318th Fighter - Interceptor Sq in 1986, was last painted by the squadron in the early 80's. The aircraft will be be repainted representing T-33's of the 318th during the squadrons Aerospace Defense Command years in the late 70's.

PHOTO BY ERNEST WHITE - McCHORD AIR MUSEUM

Moved earlier that day, the A-10 is pictured before beginning tied down for the night. The wind and rain caused unanticipated problems for the crane and tow crews postponing the towing project for a few days. One of the last airplanes to join the McChord Air Museum 16 years ago, the A-10 one of the last airplanes in the Museum collection to be re-painted. The A-10, S/N 75-0275 will retain the colors of the "flagship" for the formerly McChord based 354th Fighter Sq "Bulldogs" Commanders aircraft.

museum news archive

Click any link below to read the associated story

2008

Museum thanks Volunteers at 2008 Picnic

Museum shines at 2008 McChord Air Expo

WADS dedicates historic aircraft

Lt. Fain H. Pool

2007

Expedited Delivery

Grand Forks AFB helps move a piece of history

Members prep 9/11 responder for its final assignment

The North Dakota Pipeline