I'm retired now. I entered the Air Force as a minor, I was 15 years old. I completed basic training at Lackland Air Base, went to a cooking school at Fort Lewis Washington. Doing this time period the Army, Marines and the Air Force attended training schools together.
On my completion of training I was temporaryly assigned to Pier 91, a Marine and Naval Depot near Seattle Washington for a couple months, I then proceeded to the 500th Air Bace Sq. near a small town called Coraopolis, Pa, also near Pittsburgh,Pa.
Subsequently I was transfered to the Air Police Squadron. My last year in the Air Force, I was assigned to duties over seas, Wheelus Field Air Force Base, 7272nd Air Police Sq.,Tripoli, Llbya. While in Ttipoli I worked closely with the Arabs,I learn to speak their language and understand their custons. On my completion of assignment in Tripoli, I returned to the good old U.S.A., Manhattan Beach New York and received my honorable Discharge. I still can speak a little Arabic.
Other Comments:
Go to web search/ northsidejournal.stltoday.com. On Nov 7,2007 the North side Journal News paper worte a front page store on my military memories with pictures. (North city). The store was, In theirown words /Veterns share their memories. If you are unable to find the story on the web site, then E=mail me and I will forward it to you.
1965-1972, I worked for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, Ca. Subsequently Douglas merged with McDonnel Aircraft, becoming McDonnel Douglas Aircraft. My position there was Foreman, I worked on the DC 61, DC 9 and I helped development of the DC 10 model. The good thing was,I was able to attend College while I was at McDonnel Douglas AC, the times were good in the late 60's, but everything comes to an end. This was also near the end of the VietNam War.
1952-1955, C-46 Commando
From Year 1952
To Year 1955
Personal Memories
I miss those metal bucket seats on those long trips.
Image
C-46 Commando Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was an American transport aircraft originally designed for commercial use although it was primarily used during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces; the Navy/Marine Corps version was known as the R5C. Also known to the men who flew them as "The Whale," or even more irreverently as the "Curtiss Calamity," [2] the C-46 served a similar role as its counterpart, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but was not quite as famous or as extensively produced.
Postwar, C-46s were briefly used in their original role as passenger airliners, but the glut of surplus C-47s dominated the marketplace with the C-46 soon relegated to a secondary status. However, the C-46 was adopted as a rugged cargo aircraft for northern and remote locations with its service life extended into the 21st Century.
Model Curtiss-Wright C-46A Commando Length 76.44 ft | 23.30 m Width 78.54 ft | 23.94 m Height 21.75 ft | 6.63 m Engine(s) 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-51 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial engines generating 2,000hp of thrust each. Empty Weight 30,001 lbs | 13,608 kg MTOW 55,997 lbs | 25,400 kg Max Speed 269 mph | 433 km/h | 234 kts Max Range 1,199 miles | 1,930 km Ceiling 27,559 ft | 8,400 m | 5.2 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 4 Operators the United States of America