| Witkin, Ken (W3XAF), CCM USAF(Ret) | ||
|
| |||
| Service Photo | Service Details | |||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
Official Badges
|
|
|
Unofficial Badges
|
|
Additional Information
|
|
|
What are you doing now: I am a webmaster. I design web sites. |
|
Other Comments: Auf Deutsch unten: BIOGRAPHY OF CMSgt Kenneth D. Witkin, USAF Retired (This Biography Was Created By The Air Force When I was Selected As A Senior Enlisted Advisor In Germany.) Kenneth David Witkin was born on February 10, 1938, in New York City, New York. He attended public school and high school in New York City and graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in June 1955. After graduating high school, he moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he attended New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, now New Mexico State University, as an Aeronautical Engineering major. In June 1957, Mr. Witkin left New Mexico to join his parents, who had moved to Florida. Due to financial difficulties, Mr. Witkin did not return to college. On March 3, 1958, Mr. Witkin joined the United States Air Force. After completing Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Airman Basic Witkin attended the 19-week Airborne Radio Operator's Course at Keesler Technical Training Center, Mississippi. Airman Third Class (A3C) Witkin graduated in September 1958. After graduating technical training school, A3C Witkin was reassigned to the 1400th Operations Squadron, Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, where he served as an airborne radio operator on C-47's and C-54?s. Not satisfied with just studying for his 5-skill level, A3C Witkin spent many long nights at Keflavik studying for his amateur radio operator's license. A few months before he departed Iceland, he earned both his 5-skill level and his "Ham" license. After departing Iceland in October 1959, A3C Witkin was reassigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England, where he served as an airborne radio operator on WB-50's. When the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron deactivated in February 1960, A3C Witkin was reassigned to the 7310th Material Squadron, Rhein Main Air Base, West Germany. While stationed at Rhein Main, A3C Witkin served as an airborne radio operator on C-47 aircraft that flew the Frankfurt-Berlin-Frankfurt Corridor mission. In August 1960, Airman Second Class (A2C) Witkin volunteered to participate in the Congo Airlift and served as an aircrew member on a C-47 that flew from Frankfurt, West Germany, to Leopoldville, the Belgian Congo. In October 1960, A2C Witkin volunteered for a special duty assignment to West Berlin, Occupied Germany, where he served as a C-47 airborne radio operator/German Language Interpreter on aircraft transporting East German refugees from West Berlin to West Germany. On August 13, 1961, Airman First Class (A1C) Witkin served as the airborne radio operator on the first American aircraft to fly over the Berlin Wall, which was still in the process of being constructed by East German forces. Furthermore, while assigned to Berlin, A1C Witkin was selected to fly on the command crew for the Commandant of Berlin, Brigadier General Albert Watson. Finally in October 1963, after spending five years overseas, A1C Witkin was reassigned to the 964th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, McClellan Air Force Base, California, as an airborne radio operator on EC-121D radar surveillance aircraft. While assigned to McClellan Air Force Base, A1C Witkin earned his 7-skill level, earned a private pilot's license, graduated from Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Preparatory School, was selected as Squadron Airman of the Month during April 1964 and Wing and Base Airman of the Month during May 1964. In January 1965, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Witkin volunteered to participate in a classified project at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, South Vietnam. While assigned to Tan Son Nhut, SSgt Witkin flew as an aircrew member on C-47's used to resupply U.S. ground forces throughout the Republic of Vietnam. In June 1966, SSgt Witkin was reassigned to the 9th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACCS), Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, as an airborne radio operator on the Commander-in-Chief Pacific (CINCPAC) EC-135P Airborne Command Post (ABNCP). While assigned to the 9th ACCS, SSgt Witkin was upgraded to Communications Team Chief and supervised a five-man communications team. Furthermore, SSgt Witkin worked as a crypto custodian in the squadron crypto vault and occasionally served as an airborne radio operator for Admiral Dudley Sharp, CINCPAC. In July 1970, after spending four years in Hawaii, Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Witkin volunteered for an assignment to the 7th ACCS, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. While stationed at Udorn, TSgt Witkin served as an airborne communications team chief on the Seventh Air Force Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) and supervised a three-man communications team. TSgt Witkin also served as the 7 ACCS Training NCO and OJT Administrator. Before leaving Thailand, TSgt Witkin had flown 1300 combat hours and 100 combat missions over Laos in the EC-130E aircraft. Upon returning from Thailand in July 1971, TSgt Witkin was assigned to the 8th ACCS, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, as an airborne communications team chief on the Tactical Air Command (TAC) EC-135K Airborne Command Post. While assigned to the 8th ACCS, TSgt Witkin graduated from the Tactical Air Command NCO Academy at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, was selected as the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base NCO of the Quarter during the first quarter of 1973 and was selected as a member of the Tactical Air Command Commander's aircrew. In October 1975, while serving as the 8th Tactical Deployment Control Squadron's (formerly 8th ACCS) NCOIC of Communications, Master Sergeant (MSgt) Witkin was selected by Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, to participate in an Air Training Command sponsored Radio Operators Training Workshop conducted at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. During this workshop, MSgt Witkin presented a talking paper and staff study report to the conferees on the necessity of establishing separate career ladders for "airborne communications systems operators,"-- a term created by MSgt Witkin--and ground radio operators. The staff study report was eventually forwarded to the Air Staff and a few years later, the Air Staff approved the establishment of separate career ladders for ground radio operators and airborne communications systems operators. Before leaving the 8th Tactical Deployment Control Squadron, MSgt Witkin was elevated to the position of Squadron Communications Officer. On January 21, 1977, after spending almost six years in North Carolina, MSgt Witkin volunteered and was selected for a special duty assignment to the 89th Military Airlift Wing (89th MAW), Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, as a Special Missions Communications Electronics Systems Operations Superintendent on VC-135B aircraft. While assigned to the 89th MAW, Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Witkin graduated from the United States Air Force Senior NCO Academy, Gunter Air Force Station, Alabama and was selected as the 1981 Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year for the 1st Military Airlift Squadron (1st MAS). In 1982 Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Witkin was selected from a field of 5 CMSgt's to become the 1st MAS Operations Manager and was responsible for the daily activities of 146 enlisted aircrew members. Furthermore, in June 1982, CMSgt Witkin qualified as an aircrew member on the Vice President's VC-9C aircraft. From June 1982 until June 1985, CMSgt Witkin flew on 120 missions transporting the Vice President of the United States and his staff throughout the continental United States. Before his departure from the 89th MAW, CMSgt Witkin had served on missions transporting the Secretaries of State; Treasury; Defense; Commerce; Energy; and Health, Education and Welfare, as well as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chiefs of Staff of the United States Air Force and Army. After spending almost eight years at Andrews Air Force Base, CMSgt Witkin was selected for a special duty assignment to NATO AWACS, Geilenkirchen NATO AB, West Germany. CMSgt Witkin arrived at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, West Germany on June 29, 1985. While stationed at Geilenkirchen, he served as the Air Force Senior Enlisted Advisor, President of the Allied Forces Central Europe/ Geilenkirchen Chiefs' Group, Chief Enlisted Aircrew Manager for 140 U.S. enlisted aircrew members, chief of a 20-man multinational NATO Communications Section, Vice President of the Charlemagne Chapter of the Air Force Association and an aircrew member on the NATO AWACS E-3A aircraft. During his tenure as the senior U.S. enlisted member at Geilenkirchen, CMSgt Witkin was responsible for the Base Senior NCO, NCO, and Airman of the Quarter and Year Recognition Programs and the Base Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program. CMSgt Witkin has a Community College of the Air Force Associate Applied Science Degree in Communications Technology. During his 30-year career, he helped write two promotion tests and one career development course for the Airborne Communications Systems Operations Career Ladder. CMSgt Witkin's decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Combat Readiness Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Occupation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. During his thirty-year Air Force career, CMSgt Witkin accumulated more than 15,000 flying hours. Chief Master Sergeant Witkin is featured in the following three books written about American servicemen and servicewomen: (1) In the Footsteps of David by Howard Leavitt, (2) Air Force One by Robert Dorr and (3) War Veterans of the U.S.A: One Hundred Years of Service by Michell Spivak. ========================== Jetzt auf Deutsch: Ich bin 73 Jahre alt und ausgedienter Luftwaffebordfunker. Ich bin 30 Jahre an Bord C-47s, C-54s, WB-50Ds, EC-121Ds, EC-130Es, C-130s, EC-135Ps, EC-135Ks, KC-135s, VC-135s, VC-9Cs und dem E-3A AWACS geflogen. Während meines 30-jährigen Beruf, wurde ich im Ausland ungefähr 15 Jahre stationiert und habe in Keflavik, Island; RAF Mildenhall, England; Rhein Main AB, Bundesrepublik Deutschland; West-Berlin, Deutschland; Saigon, Südliches Vietnam; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Udorn RTAFB, Thailand und Geilenkirchen NATO AB, Bundesrepublik Deutschland gewohnt. Ich habe auch in Texas, Mississippi, Kalifornien, Nordkarolinas und Maryland gewohnt. Ich habe bedient und habe Wartung auf dem AN/ARC-8 (T-47 Sender & BC-348 Empfänger) installiert auf C-47s und WB-50Ds, das 618S-1 Transceiver durchgeführt, das auf C-54s, dem 618T-1 Transceiver und dem ARR-15A Empfänger installiert worden ist, die auf EC-121Ds und dem ARC-58 installierten auf VC-9s, EC-130s, VC-135s, KC-135s & EC-135Ps installiert werden. Ich habe das TGC-29V Fernschreibersystem, das TGC-14 Fernschreibersystem, den ARC-146 SATCOMsystem und den Collins URG-1 installiert auf dem EC-135Ks bedient. Als USluftwaffeMARSfunker während der frühen 1960er Jahren, habe ich den Hallicrafters BC-610 Sender und den Collins KWM-1, KWM-2 und 75A-2 Empfänger benutzt. Weil ich Deutsch 10 Jahre studiert habe, habe ich als Englisch-Deutsch Borddolmetscher für die Östdeutschenflüchtlinge gedient, die im unserem C-47 Flugzeug fast alltäglich aus West-Berlin nach Bundesrepublik Deutschland geflogen sind. Ich war auch an Bord dem ersten Alliiertflugzeug das am 13. August 1961 über die Mauer geflogen ist. Zur Zeit wurde die Mauer noch gebaut. Ich habe auch zwei Wochen während 1987 auf dem Britischen Flugzeugträger Ark Royal und dem Britischen Zerstörer Manchester als NATOverbindungsunteroffizier während einer NATOübung auf dem Nordsee gedient. Ich habe mein erstes Rufzeichen, K4BAY, 1959 bekommen. Ich habe auch TF2WEK während des Lebens in Keflavik, Island gehalten und DL4RS, während des Lebens in Frankfurt am Main und Berlin gehalten. Mein erster Sender war das 200-Watt Johnson Viking Valiant und mein erster Empfänger war ein Hallicrafter SX-99. Von 1959 bis die Gegenwart habe ich ungefähr 50 elektronische Bausätze, einschließlich Empfänger, Sender & Prüfgeräte gebastelt. Ich fahre jetzt einen Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V Transceiver, einen MFJ-989D Antennentuner, einen ALPHA 8410 Verstärker, ein MD-200 Kommandmikrofon, eine SignaLink USB Tonkarte, eine MFJ-557 Morsetaste und eine Windom oder eine Buckmaster oder zwei G5RV oder eine 15, 20, 40, 80 Meter Dipolantenne. Alle Antennen sind ungefähr 30 Meter hoch über meinem Hinterhof. Ich habe auch in der Funkbude drei Bird Wattmessgeräte um meine Sendstärke zu beobachten und auch habe ich einen BHI Störsignalausstoßungmodul. Ich habe eine Privatpilotlizenz 1965 verdient und habe ein Piper Colt, Cessna 150, T-34 & L-19 gesteuert. Ich habe ungefähr 600 Stunden im Pilotlogbuch. Bis bald, |
|
Countries Deployed To or Visited
|
||
|
|
||
Ribbon Bar
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unit Assignments
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Colleges Attended
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recruit Training - Trainee/Instructor
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My Aircraft/Missiles
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
           | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Combat and Operations History
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Military Association Memberships
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1
