Anyone else do AFR time as an IMA? I got into the program with the SP squadron at Lowry AFB in 1986. They accepted my civilian police academy training and gave me my old Army rank of E-5. There were around 24 of us in the program, almost all were civilian cops as well. We did a lot of training for the regular AF people. (I did DUI classes since I was an SFST instructor on the civilian job.) When Lowry closed, I picked up a slot at Travis AFB and made E-6. Did 2 years in the program after that and gave up the reserves; my city job was just taking too much time, and there weren't any good places to do reserve time near Denver. I did get to go to Lackland, though - Lowry sent me to the LE Supv course back in 1988. That was a hoot, and I got to see the Northern Lights around 5AM on the drive back home. Several of my regular colleagues got on my dept when they got out. A good group of cops IMO.
Air Force Combat Masterpiece
- Thread starter Cyrano
- Start date
JWM
Member
Annual USAF SP rifle & pistol match
I would like to hear any information from the old timers on this thread concerning the annual Rifle & Pistol matches that involved active Security Police personnel back in the day. A little history or personal experience would be great to hear. For me, I competed and won a slot as a "first termer" on the 3700 SPS (Lackland base police) team in the summer of 1980. I shot in the ATC matches that fall, but did not make the cut to be on the ATC team. I remember that we shot with target grade model 15's with Winchester wad cutters, and the course of fire was using B-27 targets. Of course, we also shot the M-16 as well. I think that 1980 was the last year that it was a pure "shooting match". Later it was changed to "Peacekeeper Challenge", which did not interest me anymore. Anyway, got a palace chase in 1982, did a year in Mass Air National Guard, then got out.
I would like to hear any information from the old timers on this thread concerning the annual Rifle & Pistol matches that involved active Security Police personnel back in the day. A little history or personal experience would be great to hear. For me, I competed and won a slot as a "first termer" on the 3700 SPS (Lackland base police) team in the summer of 1980. I shot in the ATC matches that fall, but did not make the cut to be on the ATC team. I remember that we shot with target grade model 15's with Winchester wad cutters, and the course of fire was using B-27 targets. Of course, we also shot the M-16 as well. I think that 1980 was the last year that it was a pure "shooting match". Later it was changed to "Peacekeeper Challenge", which did not interest me anymore. Anyway, got a palace chase in 1982, did a year in Mass Air National Guard, then got out.
thomasinaz
US Veteran
Oldafsp; The F106s were still on alert when I got there in 87. They were there for my first couple of years on the base. Those 106s were impressive old school interceptors, from my perspective anyways. All the Model 15s I qualified with were very accurate, unless the rear sight base got loose. If one started shooting bad groups the CATM guy would take a screwdriver to it, and the groups would tighten up again.
Memory Lane
It doesn't have the USAF stamp, but the NIB 15-4 TTTH I just picked up will hold me. That in turn required me to pick up a (repro) SP badge. No issue number and it has pins and clasps on the back--but it is pretty. Put it in the blue box and will probably put a copy of my DD-214 in there too.
This must be the week for reminiscing. The current Blue Press magazine has an article by Barrett Tillman, "Gifts That Keep Giving" about experienced planes and weapons still in use today.
In case you wonder which issue it is, look for Kayla in cutoffs. With a S&W wheel gun in her hand.
It doesn't have the USAF stamp, but the NIB 15-4 TTTH I just picked up will hold me. That in turn required me to pick up a (repro) SP badge. No issue number and it has pins and clasps on the back--but it is pretty. Put it in the blue box and will probably put a copy of my DD-214 in there too.
This must be the week for reminiscing. The current Blue Press magazine has an article by Barrett Tillman, "Gifts That Keep Giving" about experienced planes and weapons still in use today.
In case you wonder which issue it is, look for Kayla in cutoffs. With a S&W wheel gun in her hand.
elm_creek_smith
US Veteran
Time to bring this thread back to life again...
From my friends at the Security Forces Foundation.
Female SP/LE's qualifying on the Model 15 at Camp Bullis, 1971.
Great photo. Notice the lack of eye and ear (maybe) protection!
cjtraining
US Veteran
McCoy AFB, Air Police 1963-1967. There were no women in the Air Police and very few in the USAF. The base where I was stationed was closed in 1974.
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florange
Member
McCoy AFB, Air Police 1963-1967. There were no women in the Air Police and very few in the USAF. The base where I was stationed was closed in 1974.
Great Photo. My unit, the 507th TAC Con Gp at Shaw AFB in South Carolina, had a Detachment at McCoy. So I would go TDY to McCoy in 67/68 on "inspections". Its hard for people to believe that Orlando was a sleepy "orange grove" town in the mid 60's.
Even some experienced airline folks don't know the origin of Orlando's airport code "MCO" from its McCoy heritage.
This thread takes me back to my VN days. We were an Army Aviation outfit flying JOV1A Mohawks. We were colocated with the USAF at Ubon Thailand. We were issued M10 round butts with either the heavy barrel or (my case) pencil barrel. My revolver was marked on the backstrap "MPDC". I later learned that the Army had grabbed a shipment of revolvers slated for the DC Metro Police claiming they needed them more urgently. All of the USAF guys were packing the M15s, with flight crews and some others(SP Officers) in 2" barrels. The AF armorer was a great guy and did action jobs on their revolvers, and also did one on my M10. Absolutely the slickest S&W action ever, and I have had lots of Smiths since then.
Us Army types were in heaven, the AF lived and ate better than any of us ever dreamed of. The Army Aviators in country lived in tents that were regularly attacked with rockets and mortars. We shared air conditioned trailers 2 men per. Biggest problem was getting enough steaks to BBQ every night. I still have the holster the AF gave me-we packed our weapons in shoulder holsters while aviating, but around the base belt holsters were more comfortable, and of course the M10s fit the M15 holsters exactly. Without confessing anything, I do believe I could lay my hands on that M10 very quickly if I needed to today. I do wish I could have wound up with one of those M15s though........
Us Army types were in heaven, the AF lived and ate better than any of us ever dreamed of. The Army Aviators in country lived in tents that were regularly attacked with rockets and mortars. We shared air conditioned trailers 2 men per. Biggest problem was getting enough steaks to BBQ every night. I still have the holster the AF gave me-we packed our weapons in shoulder holsters while aviating, but around the base belt holsters were more comfortable, and of course the M10s fit the M15 holsters exactly. Without confessing anything, I do believe I could lay my hands on that M10 very quickly if I needed to today. I do wish I could have wound up with one of those M15s though........
hunterdeneugene
Member
I too was an Air Force SP stationed at Griffiss AFB from 1986-1992.
I was in the active duty Air Force as an Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist (AFSC 46270) assigned to an Aerospace Rescue Recovery Squadron in Korea from September 1983 to September 1984.
Although we normally worked on aircraft mounted weapons, i.e. M61A1, 20mm Vulcan Gatling guns mounted in fighter aircraft, we only had helicopters that used M60D 7.62mm machine guns.
Everybody in the shop, being gun enthusiasts themselves, volunteered to take on the additional duty of maintaining the aircrews and Para rescue small arms weapons. These included the M-15 snub noses that these folks carried.
In hindsight, I wished I had noticed the USAF marking on these guns. About a month after my arrival, the M-15's were going to be turned in to Supply and the aircrews/PJ's were issued WW-II era M1911's (Colts, Ithaca's, and Remington's).
We in the Gun Shop asked that the M-15's be transferred to us as we were required to be armed when transferring the aircraft M60's from the Security Police Armory out to the helicopter(s). So, they became our side arms. It beat carrying an M16 or an M4 around all day!
Although we normally worked on aircraft mounted weapons, i.e. M61A1, 20mm Vulcan Gatling guns mounted in fighter aircraft, we only had helicopters that used M60D 7.62mm machine guns.
Everybody in the shop, being gun enthusiasts themselves, volunteered to take on the additional duty of maintaining the aircrews and Para rescue small arms weapons. These included the M-15 snub noses that these folks carried.
In hindsight, I wished I had noticed the USAF marking on these guns. About a month after my arrival, the M-15's were going to be turned in to Supply and the aircrews/PJ's were issued WW-II era M1911's (Colts, Ithaca's, and Remington's).
We in the Gun Shop asked that the M-15's be transferred to us as we were required to be armed when transferring the aircraft M60's from the Security Police Armory out to the helicopter(s). So, they became our side arms. It beat carrying an M16 or an M4 around all day!
Rhino1
Member
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I never was a revolver guy but wanted one of these for my collection for nostalgia reasons. These were issued to aircrew. Flew F-4s out of Ubon. I'd been looking for one for quite a while but stumbled across the S&W Collectors at NRA in Houston. The guy in the booth said he had a couple and would sell me one. Gun was pristine condition. We were issued gun cards when we arrived to Ubon. The guns were stored in the gun room. When we went to fly a mission, we'd stop by the gun room on he way to the flight line. We'd exchange our gun card for the gun, put it in the holster, fly the mission, and return it to the gun room after the mission. I figure a lot of them were hardly ever fired. The only thing is that I can't find USAF anywhere on the gun. It may not have been an Air Force gun but that isn't a show stopper for me. If someone could post a picture showing where USAF is stamped, I'd appreciate it.
A quick comment on the picture from the gate at Stategic Air Command HQ from a fighter guy. The SAC motto says, "Peace is Our Profession". We'd add, "war is just a hobby"
A quick comment on the picture from the gate at Stategic Air Command HQ from a fighter guy. The SAC motto says, "Peace is Our Profession". We'd add, "war is just a hobby"
My first experience with Air Force cops was as a young Marine stationed in Naples, Italy in the late 80s and early 90s. We had a couple posts to guard over at AFSouth and when we would drive through the gates, that base was guarded by Italian Caribenari and AF cops. I noticed one AF cop as we drove by that had a Ruger six series revolver in his holster. I can't remember if it was a Service-Six, Security-Six or what not but I do remember the distinctive cylinder release of a Ruger. I never knew Ruger had a military contract which is why I remember that really standing out in my mind.
Fast forward a little over a decade and now I found myself in the USAF reserves as a CATM instructor. Our CATM shop at Seymour-Johnson AFB in 2007-2008 was top to bottom reservists (and having the highest qual rate in ACC, I think we knew what the hell we were doing) but the Chief looked at the manning document and figured we had to have active duty bodies in the CATM shop so being the IMA, I was the first one to go to flight for 3 months then off to the cop armory for another 3 months before I deployed to Afghanistan. Yeah, I was bitter about that whole ordeal but the silver lining to that cloud was that the guy that took my CATM slot a few years later was busted for stealing and selling ammo and weapon parts on the internet!
Hey, they wanted him, they got him! LOL But I digress.
Anyways, in the cop armory, we had a couple obsolete weapons to include an M-79 bloop gun and an M-15 revolver. The M-15 never seen the light of day really since the only think it was used for was for K9 to use blanks with while working with the dogs. I don't remember the USAF stamp on it anywhere but I do remember the blue finish, broken rear sight and generally beat to hell condition. I still have a couple other revolvers that rate higher on my want to get list but getting an M-15 is also on that list as well. Not as high as some of my other wants, but still on a short list.
Fast forward a little over a decade and now I found myself in the USAF reserves as a CATM instructor. Our CATM shop at Seymour-Johnson AFB in 2007-2008 was top to bottom reservists (and having the highest qual rate in ACC, I think we knew what the hell we were doing) but the Chief looked at the manning document and figured we had to have active duty bodies in the CATM shop so being the IMA, I was the first one to go to flight for 3 months then off to the cop armory for another 3 months before I deployed to Afghanistan. Yeah, I was bitter about that whole ordeal but the silver lining to that cloud was that the guy that took my CATM slot a few years later was busted for stealing and selling ammo and weapon parts on the internet!
Hey, they wanted him, they got him! LOL But I digress.Anyways, in the cop armory, we had a couple obsolete weapons to include an M-79 bloop gun and an M-15 revolver. The M-15 never seen the light of day really since the only think it was used for was for K9 to use blanks with while working with the dogs. I don't remember the USAF stamp on it anywhere but I do remember the blue finish, broken rear sight and generally beat to hell condition. I still have a couple other revolvers that rate higher on my want to get list but getting an M-15 is also on that list as well. Not as high as some of my other wants, but still on a short list.
dsink
Member
I have a model 15 made in 1970 with target hammer and target trigger. It does not have any Air Force markings on it but is there any chance it would have any connection with the Air Force since it has the TT and TH?
Rapidray
Member
Now that photo brings back a lot memories. When we came back state side from Ramey AFB, it was to McCoy AFB in 1970. My dad retired with his 20 years there. He was a Small Arms Instructor. Thanks for sharing!McCoy AFB, Air Police 1963-1967. There were no women in the Air Police and very few in the USAF. The base where I was stationed was closed in 1974.
donniedee
Member
REALLY EASY TO CHECK IF ITS STOLEN U.S. PROPERTY? id toss that sucker fast if it was local pd can check vs getting in tons of hot water, same said for U.S. property marked colt 45
jonesy814
Member
My dad was in the Air Force from 1952 - 1972. He worked in the air to air missile field from the early 60's til retirement. In 1967 we were station in Goose Bay Labrador, where my dad was a senior master sergeant with nuclear missiles under his control. He was issued a S&W snub nose .357. He cant remember what model it was, and I was only 4 and don't remember it. He said almost no one could qualify with the snubby at the required range, and that frequently whoever was running the qualifications would walk up to the target and poke holes with a pencil so they would qualify. Any ideas what model of .357 this might have been?
