Flaherty, Virgil F., SMSgt

Retired USAF. Duel qualified on the C-130H2 in the Guidance and Control (GAC) and the Communications and Navigation (CN) avionics systems, having worked the C130A, B, E, H1, H2, H3, and LC models. I deployed on military missions to all 7 continents and 45 different countries, many of them numerous times, such as 6 trips to Antarctica ("Operation Deep Freeze" 1998-2005) working Avionics systems on the LC-130 for the 109th Air Lift Wing. This included deploying two weeks early on the first trip of the 1999-2000 season to Antarctica as part of the maintenance team supporting the aircraft going to rescue Dr. Jerri Nielsen from the South Pole, she had developed breast cancer over the winter. Her book detailing her ordeal became the movie "Ice Bound" staring Susan Sarandon. I met Jerri in 1998 at McMurdo Station, in Antarctica, about 30 days before she left to winter over at the South Pole. Sadly, she has since passed away from cancer. I've been lucky enough to have traveled to both the North and South Poles.

As a historical side note, just to prove that I'm an "Old Fart".  During the Vietnam War I worked on 53-3129 "The First Lady" when it was in its gunship configuration (16th SOS). 53-3129 was the first C-130 to come off the production line in 1953.
https://afarmamentmuseum.com/details-ac130.html, I last saw "The First Lady" in Panama under Operation "Just Cause".

One of the C-130A's that we had at Nashville TN (118th AW), that I worked on, (56-0518) was the last C-130 out of Saigon. https://www.aeroflap.com.br/en/the-day-a-c-130-took-off-with-more-than-450-people-on-board/ .
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I decided to get into Ham radio and got my license. Comm's shack includes a Kenwood TS-2000 base and a kenwood TH-D72 portable HT as well as FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB, etc capabilities. 

FCC licenses held. - 

PG0615660 - General radiotelephone operator with Radar endorsement (Commercial)
RR00137965 - Restricted General radiotelephone operator (Commericial)
AK4FG - Ham Extra (Amateur)
WQND964 - GMRS (Amateur)
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Fixed wing commercial pilots license with multi-engine and instrument ratings.
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PhotoJournalist for “Today's Photographer” with international and domestic press credentials.




 

 I was active duty 1966-1972, had a break in service from 1972 - 1980. Joined the TN ANG (118th AW Nashville, TN) from 1980-2007. I spent 3 years on the state Combat Pistol Team competing on the national level until we lost funding. Retired from the Air Force/ANG with just under 34 years total service.

1972 - 1989  Worked in television broadcasting (WKRN Channel 2 Nashville TN) as an audio/video engineer. (FCC 1st class license which later became the General radiotelephone operator). Retired from General Electric Broadcasting, Knight Rider Broadcasting (1989), and from the USAF/ANG (2007).