SSgt Howard Spicer - Military Timeline

Service Status USAF Veteran	Last Rank Staff Sergeant
Service Years 1969 - 1976	Last AFSC/MOS 43151E-Aircraft Mechanic

New Hampshire State Active Service Ribbon

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2003

Connecticut Long Service Ribbon 10 Year

Criteria
The Adjutant General, upon receipt of an application, shall present the long service medal adopted by this state to each soldier or sailor who has completed ten years' faithful service in the armed fo... More

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2003

National Defense Service Medal (2001-2022)

Criteria
The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... More

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2003

Air Force Longevity Award

Criteria
It is awarded to all service members of the U.S. Air Force who complete four years of honorable active or reserve military service with any branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Force Long... More

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2003

Service to 1976

157th Air Refueling Group
Rank Staff Sergeant	Location NH ANG Pease AFB - New Hampshire
AFSC 43151E-Aircraft Mechanic
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1975 - 1976

157th Military Airlift Group
Rank Staff Sergeant	Location NH ANG Pease AFB - New Hampshire
AFSC 43151E-Aircraft Mechanic
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1973 - 1975

Air Force Good Conduct Medal

Criteria
The Air Force Good Conduct Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from May 31, 1963 to the present.

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1975

103rd Tactical Fighter Group
Rank Sergeant	Location Bradley ANG Base - Connecticut
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1972 - 1973

3560th Pilot Training Wing (Staff)
Rank Sergeant	Location Webb AFB, Big Spring - Texas
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1972

Webb Air Force Base
Rank Sergeant	Location Big Spring - Texas
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1972

Air Force Good Conduct Medal

Criteria
The Air Force Good Conduct Medal has been awarded for qualifying service from May 31, 1963 to the present.

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1972

67th Fighter Squadron - Fighting Cock
Rank Sergeant	Location Kadena AB - Okinawa
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1971

18th Tactical Fighter Wing
Rank Sergeant	Location Kadena AB - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1971

Kadena Air Base
Rank Sergeant	Location Kadena AB - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1971

347th Tactical Fighter Wing
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Kunsan AB - Korea, South
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1971

35th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Yokota - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1971 - 1971

347th Tactical Fighter Wing
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Yokota AB - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1970 - 1971

Yokota Air Base
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Yokota AB - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1970 - 1971

80th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Yokota AB - Japan
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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Best Friends
Joe Brown
Mark Gola
Others whose names escape me.

Best Moment
2 weeks of no duty before leaving to PCS to Kadena.

Other Memories
Great duty station.

Headhunters in the Yokota Era â?? F4C (1967-1971)
(This information in yellow was compiled by Joe Snoy and sent in by Norm Turner on 2 Aug 2003. Many thanks to Joe and Norm for this very important information in our Squadron's History)

In the winter of 1967 - 1968, the 80th began transitioning to the F-4C Phantom II at Yokota AB, Japan as part of the 347 TFW. It was during January 1968 that the 80th was involved in the Pueblo Incident. All available aircrews and aircraft were sent to Korea to participate in the USAF reaction. At the time of the incident most of the squadronÂ¹s F-105 crews and equipment were in the process of augmenting the F-105 units at Takhli and Korat, Thailand and the replacement F-4C crews and conventional ordinance at Yokota were almost nonexistent. Most of 1968 was spent getting the squadron equipped and combat ready. During the summer of 1968 the 80th became the first PACAF squadron to be manned with a small contingent of specially trained F-4C Wild Weasel crews composed of highly experienced F-4 aircraft commanders and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs). The first modified F-4C Wild Weasel aircraft arrived in April of 1969.

Throughout the 1968 - 1971 time frame the primary mission of the 80th was to deploy on a rotating basis with the 35th and 36th TFS to Osan AB, Korea, providing a nuclear strike alert posture against targets in North Korea, China and the Soviet Union. The squadron maintained several aircraft on fifteen-minute nuclear alert full time, and engaged in a vigorous conventional weapons training program. On several occasions the squadron reacted to provocations by the North Koreans by putting crews and aircraft on heightened states of air defense and conventional weapons alert.

In 1970 all PACAF F-4C Wild Weasel aircrews were transferred to the 80th. At this time the squadron was composed almost exclusively of Wild Weasel aircrews. These crews trained in Wild Weasel tactics while maintaining all weapons qualifications and pulling nuclear alert as a primary commitment.

On 15 February 1971, shortly after its twenty-ninth anniversary, the squadron was deactivated in a general reduction and realignment of US military forces in Japan, Korea and Okinawa. Shortly after this order was issued it was announced that the squadron designation would be reactivated in Korea without equipment and personnel. At the time of deactivation the 80th personnel, including all the Wild Weasel crews, were transferred to the 35 TFS and later in the spring these crews and all the F-4C aircraft deployed to Kadena AB, Okinawa to form the 67 TFS under the 18th TFW.

A year or so later, the F-4C Wild Weasels, trained by and formerly in the 80th TFS performed with distinction in combat during Linebacker II.

After heightened operations following the Pueblo crisis in January 1968, the squadron began a series of periodic deployments to Osan Air Base, South Korea. Between 1968 and 1971, the 80th deployed to Osan nine times, usually for about a month each time. In April 1969, 80th aircrews participated in the search for the wreckage of the Navy E-121 from Atsugi NAS that had been shot down by the North Koreans.

For its involvement, the squadron earned one Battle Honor, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm), and four Air Force Outstanding Unit Citations. During the war, the 80th produced one Ace, Jeff Feinstein, with 5 confirmed kills as a WSO in the F-4.

1970 - 1971

347th Tactical Fighter Wing
Rank Airman 1st Class	Location Osan AB - Korea, South
AFSC 43151C-Jet Aircraft Mechanic
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1970 - 1971

3779th Student Squadron
Rank Airman	Location Sheppard AFB - Texas
AFSC 43131C-Apprentice Aircraft Mechanic
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1969 - 1969

Basic Military Training (Lackland AFB, TX), 3707/1136
School Basic Military Training (Lackland AFB, TX)
Squadron 3707	Flight 1136
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1969

Service from 1969