Where and when duty stations

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Permalink Reply by Gary on October 19, 2008 at 6:14pm

Joined in 1984 in the Aircraft Maintenance field. (was 431X3, now 2A5X1) First assignment after tech school at Sheppard AFB, TX was Dover AFB, DE working on the C-5. 3 years there and then to Rhein Main, AB Germany where I was a crew chief on the C-9 Nightingale. (Tail #71-0882) 3 years in Germany and then on to McChord AFB, WA where I mainly worked the ISO dock on the C-141. 6 years at McChord and ready for a change. Put in for a special duty assignment at Robins AFB, GA. There I did ABDR (Aircraft Battle Damage Repair) Loved it, lots of TDY's and very unique work. After 5 years there I was ready to go and got an assignment to Osan AB, Korea. I was in the 55th Airlift Flight as a government representative for the C-12 contract. A rather strange job for me! I also had 7 additionaly duties. I stayed rather busy, to say the least. My last assignment, oddly enough was the same place as my first, Dover AFB, DE. I didn't really want Dover again, as it certainly isn't the best place for a maintainer, but my follow on choices were rather limited. So I retired from Dover after 20 years in the Air Force and live in the area. I am now working back on the base as a civil service employee in vehicle operations. Guess you never know how things are going to turn out.

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Permalink Reply by Gary L. Benton on October 19, 2008 at 7:27pm

After completing basic and technical training, I was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 100SRW, for upgrade training. I was responsible for instruction of aircrew members flying the U-2, DC-130, and T-33 aircraft, in parachuting and survival skills. I was soon promoted to Airmen In Charge of (the) Training Section. This unit had numerous TDY's to Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. I was promoted to E-3 and E-4 while assigned at DM.

1973-Assigned to U-Tapao, RTNB, Thailand. Where I taught the usage of survival gear, parachuting techniques, and survival procedures to B-52 aircrew members. I lived in Bang Chang, Thailand and was with the 307th BW.

1975-Assigned to Cannon AFB, NM, 27th TFW and 481st TFTS, where I was responsible for teaching F-111D aircrew members egress and ejection procedures. Developed the first static F-111D egress and ejection procedural trainer in the history of the USAF. I used an ejected module to make this training device. Also, I used another module to teach water survival techniques to crew members.

1979-Assigned to Pope AFB, NC, 317th TAW. I was responsible for keeping the Wing's aircraft configured with all required survival gear as well as conducting survival training, including parachuting techniques to aircrew members. Worked closely with the local Combat Control Team and other special mission units.

1983-Due to a cutback in personnel, cross-trained into Industrial/Occupational Safety

1983-Vance AFB Oklahoma, where I learned the new job.

1985-Assigned to Rhein Main AF, Germany, as the NCOIC of Safety.

1989-Assigned to HQ MAC, Scott, AFB, IL where I handled manpower issues for the command. This was a one deep slot.

1991- Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, HQ 21st AF, another one deep slot.

1995-Offutt AFB, Nebraska, Wing Safety Superintendent and my last duty assignment. I retired with a few days over 26 years.

I now work as a webmaster and professional writer. I have 8, soon to be 9, books in print and you can see all of them at www.wrbenton.net. I love to write and draw cartoons. You can see my cartoons on the Main Site.

Gary

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Permalink Reply by George H. Schryer on October 29, 2008 at 8:58am

Gary L. Benton said:

After completing basic and technical training, I was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 100SRW, for upgrade training. I was responsible for instruction of aircrew members flying the U-2, DC-130, and T-33 aircraft, in parachuting and survival skills. I was soon promoted to Airmen In Charge of (the) Training Section. This unit had numerous TDY's to Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. I was promoted to E-3 and E-4 while assigned at DM.

1973-Assigned to U-Tapao, RTNB, Thailand. Where I taught the usage of survival gear, parachuting techniques, and survival procedures to B-52 aircrew members. I lived in Bang Chang, Thailand and was with the 307th BW.

1975-Assigned to Cannon AFB, NM, 27th TFW and 481st TFTS, where I was responsible for teaching F-111D aircrew members egress and ejection procedures. Developed the first static F-111D egress and ejection procedural trainer in the history of the USAF. I used an ejected module to make this training device. Also, I used another module to teach water survival techniques to crew members.

1979-Assigned to Pope AFB, NC, 317th TAW. I was responsible for keeping the Wing's aircraft configured with all required survival gear as well as conducting survival training, including parachuting techniques to aircrew members. Worked closely with the local Combat Control Team and other special mission units.

1983-Due to a cutback in personnel, cross-trained into Industrial/Occupational Safety

1983-Vance AFB Oklahoma, where I learned the new job.

1985-Assigned to Rhein Main AF, Germany, as the NCOIC of Safety.

1989-Assigned to HQ MAC, Scott, AFB, IL where I handled manpower issues for the command. This was a one deep slot.

1991- Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, HQ 21st AF, another one deep slot.

1995-Offutt AFB, Nebraska, Wing Safety Superintendent and my last duty assignment. I retired with a few days over 26 years.

I now work as a webmaster and professional writer. I have 8, soon to be 9, books in print and you can see all of them at www.wrbenton.net. I love to write and draw cartoons. You can see my cartoons on the Main Site.

Gary

As one who has used that equipment I wish to thank you, and particularly those who trained me, for your dedication to aircrew safety. I know you sometimes wondered if anyone was listening but we were. I heard it enough times that when I had to use it I didn't have to think about it, it was second nature. Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by George H. Schryer on March 17, 2009 at 1:58pm

I started my service in 1957 in the Navy Reserve while still in high school. In 1962 I switched to the AF and was sent to Lowery AFB in Denver to attend B47/52 Bomb Nav. electronics school. After school was assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing in Lincoln Neb. where I worked on B-47's. In 1966 the B-47's were being phased out so I cross trained to B-52 Tailgunner and went to Castle AFB in Merced Ca. for flight training and on to the 51st Bomb Sq. at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro NC. While there I rose from A1C to Tsgt and from regular crewmember to flight instructor to flight evaulator. I also spent one tour in SEA in 1969. In April of 1971 I was transferred to 69th Bomb Sq. at Loring AFB Me and lived in Caribou Me. In Nov of 72 I took my 2nd trip to SEA and particpated in Linebacker II. In 73 I was forced to quit flying and was sent to Incirlik Turkey for 15 months. From there I was assigned to Andrews AFB in DC for 18 months and then sent to the USAF Survival School as a staff instructor until my retirement on Dec 31st 1980. I would have stayed but they wanted me to move to Texas because the AF had gotten totally ridiculous. They were at that time assigning personnel in the rank of E-8/9 to supervisory positions in fields they were not qualified for. I was going to be the Superintendent of the Base Security Forces. I had never been involved in Law Enforcement with the exception of being their guest for short periods of time but I knew there was no way I was qualified to supervise cops. MacNamara (Pres. Johmson's Sec. of Defense) instituted a policy that if you were a senior NCO you were a manager and could manage anything. Some more of the thinking that lost us the war in Vietnam.

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