Shemya is way out almost at the end of the Aleutian Island
Chain. Only a couple thousand more miles to Tokyo. USAF
had has(?) a 10,000 foot runway there. USAFSS did business
out of there. Maybe they still do.
RC-135
- Thread starter steveno
- Start date
Shemya is way out almost at the end of the Aleutian Island
Chain. Only a couple thousand more miles to Tokyo. USAF
had has(?) a 10,000 foot runway there. USAFSS did business
out of there. Maybe they still do.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Yes indeed. USAFSS was also on St. Lawrence Island.
I've had folks who were stationed there tell me they saw USSR fighters on a gunnery range.
I don't think they could see Sara's house, but they could see Russia, at least a little of it.
Speaking of St. Lawrence Island-
On June 22, 1955, during the Cold War, a US Navy P2V Neptune with a crew of 11 was attacked by two Soviet Air Forces fighter aircraft along the International Date Line in international waters over the Bering Straits, between Siberia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Alaska. The P2V crashed on St. Lawrence Island's northwest cape, near the village of Gambell. Villagers rescued the crew, 3 of which were wounded by Soviet fire and 4 of which were injured in the crash.
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Another story about St. Lawrence from around 1953 or 1954
a Russian submarine came up and sat in the bay for several
hours. As a result, the story was that a General made an
inspection of our preparedness, in the event the Russians
had landed. He reported that each of the military personnel
had a weapon, but they could only find one round of ammo on
the island. (Don't know if it's true, but a good story).
My final assignment in the Air Force was with the 97th Intel Sqdn at Offutt AFB. Our folks crewed the back end of RIVET JOINT, COBRA BALL, and COMBAT SENT RC-135s.
RC-135S COBRA BALL
(official AF picture)
RC-135S COBRA BALL
(official AF picture)
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Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
One of the primary missions and aircraft is known by the code name "Rivet Joint".
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Just like those of us reading and posting on this site, the RC-135 is getting older and older and they ain't making any more. An article in the current AVIATION WEEK discussed them and that the Air Force is looking for a replacement.
Two competing schools of thought. One is to build the next R- on a large(r) business jet, the other is to build it on the Boeing 737. The Navy's observation/submarine hunter, the P-8, is built on the 737.
Two competing schools of thought. One is to build the next R- on a large(r) business jet, the other is to build it on the Boeing 737. The Navy's observation/submarine hunter, the P-8, is built on the 737.
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I really want to keep this thread alive, so if you don't mind I will bore
you with another story. It's not about the R-135 but it's kinda related.
I think it was 1953, we had a cook at our Elmendorf AFB headquarters.
He was enroute to or from one of our detatchments when the plane
exploded. He somehow made it to terra firma attached to a parachute.
He was serving in the chow line one day so I asked him how he managed
to make it out. (I think he was unconscious) He said "I must be awful
smart or awful dumb." He was a real big guy. They sent him back to
the states to be fitted with shoes and things.
you with another story. It's not about the R-135 but it's kinda related.
I think it was 1953, we had a cook at our Elmendorf AFB headquarters.
He was enroute to or from one of our detatchments when the plane
exploded. He somehow made it to terra firma attached to a parachute.
He was serving in the chow line one day so I asked him how he managed
to make it out. (I think he was unconscious) He said "I must be awful
smart or awful dumb." He was a real big guy. They sent him back to
the states to be fitted with shoes and things.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Somebody mentioned Rivet Joint.
One day I was the assigned Base Host at Takhli RTAB, Thailand.
The command woke me up and said we got a 135 arriving.
What kind of 135?
Its a Rivet Joint, crew 25-30 or so.
I don't need a bigger boat, I need a school Bus!
Command Post - I already called the motor pool.
One is on the way.
One day I was the assigned Base Host at Takhli RTAB, Thailand.
The command woke me up and said we got a 135 arriving.
What kind of 135?
Its a Rivet Joint, crew 25-30 or so.
I don't need a bigger boat, I need a school Bus!
Command Post - I already called the motor pool.
One is on the way.
41
Member
The refueling 135's have lights across the belly of the aircraft so the pilot of the aircraft being refueled can see when he is in the right position. The lights are shielded so you can only see them when you are in the correct position.
Looks like they call them Pilot Director Lights:
http://www.cormusa.org/uploads/Visu...ts__Improvement_for_Pilot_s_Visual_Acuity.pdf
I use to work as an observer on Polo Hat Exercises from 1981 to 1986. I flew on a B-52 for 17 hours on one exercise.
I also worked at Bendix in 1966 on the ARIA program. There was a shortage of engineers at the time and we were working 60 hour weeks. Bendix was also hiring engineers from England and paying their moving expenses.
Looks like they call them Pilot Director Lights:
http://www.cormusa.org/uploads/Visu...ts__Improvement_for_Pilot_s_Visual_Acuity.pdf
I use to work as an observer on Polo Hat Exercises from 1981 to 1986. I flew on a B-52 for 17 hours on one exercise.
I also worked at Bendix in 1966 on the ARIA program. There was a shortage of engineers at the time and we were working 60 hour weeks. Bendix was also hiring engineers from England and paying their moving expenses.
41
Member
I was checking on some Bendix information today and ran across this link on the ARIA program:
Bendix Radio Corporation
Bendix Radio Corporation
