USAF AP/SP/SF's Photo Thread

[617X10]

I really wish I could find some pictures of the "Kill Box" at the front gate of Barksdale AFB. It was two lines past the guard shack with the actual words "Kill Box" written within. It was supposed to serve as a reminder of the limited effectiveness of the 9mm pistol on a vehicle that ran the gate. Somebody with a bird or a star must have complained, because it got removed after about 2 months. The only time I've ever been in handcuffs is because of some stupid piece of plastic not getting re-posted after an eye appointment. I can't figure out who's more at fault, the doctor for telling me he'd call to get it re-posted, or me for not making sure before I went beyond the point of no return. It sure made a lot of my co-workers happy though. Now that I can laugh about it, I think it was pretty funny too. They put the arrest report on the bulletin board behind glass for a month. Good times.

 

[Texas Star]

Please keep us posted. Interesting subject!

I do know that LeMay possessed tremendous power. And he did want to improve the marksmanship of USAF personnel. I heard that he was responsible for getting the AR-15 to replace the old .30 carbine. That was certainly a step in the right direction!

He came to power during the WW II Pacific campaign, where he later had all but the tail guns removed from B-29's because he was afraid that the gunners would shoot their own formation's aircraft or escorting fighters! Had I been on a B-29 crew, that would have made me uneasy.

He was an aggresive man with a flair for showmanship. He was rumored to deliberately run a gate to see if he'd be shot at. I worried that he or some other officer trying to be flamboyant might do that. I'd probably have fired at him and just hoped the chips landed well for me. I think that actual Soviet penetrators would have been more subtle.

Did any of you guys who worked at sensitive checkpoints ever see people trying to get in with a picture of the wrong person (or a dog!) on their ID passes? I worked often as access controller at both the Nuclear Weapons School and the Air Intelligence School, and we were warned to be wary of such security tests.

 

[oldafsp]

So funny you mention the dog picture....lol

I spent 2 years on the SP IG staff (1980-1982). Although we were concerned with all facets of the SP mission, specials security was always a numero uno priority.

You never knew when we would show up. We even had some E-3's go in on TDY orders for 90 days to evaluate procedures.

I don't know if they now go as far as we did when the Cold War was still a very real threat.

Most all of the people I met knew their jobs and had personal recognition down very well.

I can honestly say I am proud of my fellow SP's.