Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USAF Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Chief Master Sergeant
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Current/Last Primary AFSC/MOS
43291-Aircraft Engine Superintendent
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Current/Last AFSC Group
Aircraft Maintenance
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Primary Unit
1982-1984, 43190, 6515th Test Squadron
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Previously Held AFSC/MOS
43210-Jet Engine Mechanic
43250-Jet Engine Mechanic
43270-Jet Engine Technician
43290-Aircraft Engine Superintendent
43190-Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent
43191-Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent
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Service Years
1954 - 1984
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1968, Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)
- Assoc. Page
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1970, Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), AF294 (Paymaster) (Edwards AFB, California)
- Chap. Page
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1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 2989, Lake Los Angeles Post (Lancaster, California)
- Chap. Page
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1982, American Legion, Post 311 (Vice President) (Lancaster, California)
- Chap. Page
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1986, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Chapter 29 (Rapid City, South Dakota)
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2002, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 20 (Bakersfield, California)
- Chap. Page
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2002, Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Association
- Assoc. Page
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What are you doing now:
Retired and traveling in an RV full time ,visiting friends and family. Bought a winter home in Tucson AZ. in Dec. 11. still travel 6 mo..
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Other Comments:
Looking for other members o the 334th FDS AT CHITOSE AB Japan 1955-57
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1954-1955, 43210, 3359th Student Squadron (Cadre)
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1955-1957, 43250, 4th Fighter Bomber Wing
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1955-1957, 43250, 334th Fighter-Day Squadron
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1957-1958, 43250, Williams Air Force Base - IWA
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1958-1961, 43270, 22nd Maintenance Squadron
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1959-1959, 43250, Technical Training Center - Chanute (Staff)
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1961-1964, 43250, 3970th Combat Support Group
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1964-1966, 43250, 90th Field Missile Maintenance Squadron
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1966-1969, 43270, Hahn Air Base
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1969-1969, 43270, NCO Academy - AFSC (Staff)
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1969-1970, 43270, Edwards Air Force Base
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1970-1970, 43270, 4410th Combat Crew Training Wing (Staff)
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1970-1970, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing
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1970-1971, 43270, Military Advisory Assistance Group Vietnam (MAAGV)
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1970-1971, 43270, 315th Tactical Airlift Wing
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1971-1973, 43270, 516th Field Maintenance Squadron
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1973-1976, A-10 Test Team, Edwards Air Force Base, Edwards Air Force Base
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1973-1976, 43290, Edwards Air Force Base
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1975-1975, 43290, Technical Training Center - Chanute (Staff)
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1976-1977, 43290, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Headquarters Command (HQ USAF)
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1977-1979, 43291, 354th Component Repair Squadron
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1978-1978, 43290, Technical Training Center - Chanute (Staff)
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1979-1982, 43190, 376th Field Maintenance Squadron
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1982-1982, 43191, NCO Academy - Gunter AFB (Staff)
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1982-1984, 43190, 6515th Test Squadron
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1968, Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)
- Assoc. Page
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1970, Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), AF294 (Paymaster) (Edwards AFB, California)
- Chap. Page
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1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 2989, Lake Los Angeles Post (Lancaster, California)
- Chap. Page
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1982, American Legion, Post 311 (Vice President) (Lancaster, California)
- Chap. Page
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1986, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Chapter 29 (Rapid City, South Dakota)
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2002, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 20 (Bakersfield, California)
- Chap. Page
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2002, Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Association
- Assoc. Page
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- Jacobs, Fred, SSgt, (1948-1952)
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Reflections on CMSgt Jacobs's
US Air Force Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.
I had a brother in the Army and one in the Air Force so I joined the Air Force so I could work on Air Planes and see a lot of the USA and other countries. I joined just out of High School. I went to Sampson AFB N.Y. | Basic |
for basic training as my brother went to Lackland AFB T.X. and told me to stay out of TX. He was there in the summer time. I was in WV still in school but my family moved to OH in my senior year. I left WV in Dec. of my senior year and went to OH. and tried to enlist in the AF but the recruiter talked me out of quitting school as he said I had enough credits in OH to graduate that I just had to show up at school until June and I would get a diploma and if I did he would give me a base of choice for basic. I did and I went to SAFB.NY. Was never sorry. Thanks, AF.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I went to Chanute AFB ILL. for Jet Engine School., and stayed in the field for my entire career. I went to all the schools at Chanute AFB for the jet engine field including the 7 Level School, Accident Investigation School,& Propulsion Management School. I worked on the following air craft F86, B47.F4, B47, KC135, UH1F Helicopter, B1, A37, OV 10, C-130, and the A-10. I worked as a Jet Engine Mechanic on the Flight Line and in the Shop as a Jet Engine Intermediate Maintenance Mechanic, and as Test Cell Operator. I served as the Mechanic and Supervisor in all the above positions. I was a Propulsion Branch Chief and then the Field Maintenance Branch Chief. When I retired I was the Maintenance Chief of the 6515 Test Squadron at Edwards AFB. CA. I was responsible for the 13 Test Branches assigned to the Squadron testing not only the aircraft but all aircraft systems associated with aircraft.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I only served TDY in Korea from 55-57. Was on Bug-outs to K-8 and K-55 several times spending time on the alert pad sitting in an F-86F listening to the radio and when the alarm went off I would start the engine and the pilot would climb in and taxi off. We did get to watch his film when he got back. Spent a year in Vietnam at different bases as an adviser on the A-37 Most of the time in DaNang, but did serve time at Phan Rang AB, Bien Hoa AB, and Kahm Ranh Bay AB. My assigned duties with the AFAT-1.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I received orders for Kadena AB, Okinawa, to be the propulsion branch chief, when I arrived I found out that there were no spare engines for the KC-135s Q model which refueled the SR71. We had to have one KC 135 in the air and one running on stand by each time the SR71 took off. I rearranged the shop and changed personnel positions and within 6 months we had 100 percent spare engine status. I received a letter from SAC Headquarters stating that we were the only propulsion branch that had ever had 100 percent spare engine status. The wing commander had the local military TV station come out and interview us and put it on local TV. The Japanese government wanted to build the first KC 135 hush house on Kadena and I was assigned the project manager for the air force to assist the Japanese in building it the way the AF could use it for all models of the KC 135. In the hush house, you could run up the engines at 100 percent power with doors closed with very little noise out side. I was one of four MSGTs selected for the A-10 test team to test the four prototype aircraft before Fairchild Aircraft Co. started building the A-10 A. There was one MSGT for each squadron, Field Maintenance, Organization Maintenance, munition maintenance, and Avionics. Maintenance. We were all selected from TAC Headquarters.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Meritorious SVC MDL W/2 Devices and the AF Commendation MDL W/1 Device. A-10 test Team and the 374 Strategic Wing with KC 135 Kadena Okinawa.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
No one individual stands out as the one that made a difference in my military career. As I went up in rank and supervision positions I watched each person above me on their method of getting the job done and not making everyone in the Unit mad at them or the Unit.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Not many incidents in the military that I think of made me laugh or was funny. But my best buddy Ron Huffman that I met in Basic Training and went to Chanute for Jet Engine school together for 8 months [waiting for a class date]. On our time off we would hitch hike to WV or OH or somewhere in IL and would get picked up by all kind of individuals. On Thanksgiving day we got picked up by a family that said be careful as there were pumpkin pies in the back seat. When we got out Ron told me that he had put his hand right in the middle of one of the pies. I think of that and Ron all the time as he was my best friend and he passed away last year. Those were the good old days when people would pick up hitch hikers and buy them a drink or go out of their way to a better place to hitch hike.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After retirement, I went to work for Rockwell International on the B-1A at Edwards AFB CA as a Quality Inspector. I quit and went to work for Northrop-Grumman Corp. on the B-2 as a Quality Inspector at Edwards AFB CA. I retired in 1995 and sold our house and started RVing full time traveling around the USA seeing AF friend and family. In Dec. 2010 we bought a winter home in AZ but still go out in our RV in the hot summers.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I quit all military associations and only belong to motor home clubs and associations. I do belong to military frequent campers as we stay a military camp grounds and we get a discount at AF bases.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
I spent 30 years in the AF working on jet engines and service craft in general. The AF sent me to many Technical Schools and educational schools plus I got some college credits on my off duty time. All of this made me a better-educated person. When I retired I had no problem getting a job in the aircraft field.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE AIR FORCE?
I want to thank all the men and women in the military that are still serving. My advice is to stick with it and retire for the benefits and that check that comes monthly. We all have had poor leaders both enlisted and officers, but as we always said play their game as another day is coming and they will be GONE and you might be in their shoes. My advice is to pay attention to their leadership skills and develop your own.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and The USAF |
When I joined togetherweserved.com I was hoping to find a few of my friends of years passed, I did find a couple but I have really enjoyed looking through my records finding out things that I had forgotten. My second thought was to have a complete record of my service in one place for my children and grand children. This I have completed. One other thing is that I did not use or own a computer until I heard about Together We Served, so I bought a used one and started trying to use it. I still talk to other military people to try to get them an interest in joining. It's the best web site I know of. I'm still looking for friends from my first assignment at Chitose AB Japan. The 334th FDS. F-86. Looking for Leroy Fuller from Bristol, Tn and James Crisci from Savanna, Il, and John Lykes from Freehold, NJ where they joined the AF. DS 8/16/17
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