A Quote from our yearbook.
"It started February 3, 1967. On this day, the class of 68-E received the dubious honor of being the first class in "Willy Air Patch" history to begin the business of fifty-three weeks in the stag bar. For better or worse, this set the tone for theremainder of our pilot training." Continued:
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This page is dedicated to my classmates in class 68-E, Warlock and Boysan flights, Williams AFB. Where does the time go? It seems only yesterday I was checking in at the BOQ, wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into with this Air Force and pilot training thing. It was a scary time for me, and I suppose many of my other classmates were having the same experience.
So, to the chase. Below you will find photos of all my classmates. This page came to life in the summer of 2002. At that time I had contact with two classmates and had no idea about anyone else. Contacts were slow to come at first, but each year seemed better than the previous and the numbers have grown.
May 26, 2008 -- The countdown is getting serious. We now have 24 classmates connected, mostly due to information provided by Dick Albertson and Art Martinez. The year 2008 is here and the fortieth reunion planning has begun in earnest. The reunion will be held in Milwaulkee--Harry Dennis will host our get together. Festivities will begin on Thursday evening, July 31-- Harry will host a catered dinner in his airplane hanger. On Friday, Aug 1, we will golf, pontoon boat, hang out, do a light lunch, and complete the evening with a fish fry at the Golden Mast restaurant. Saturday, Aug 2, will see us busing to the EAA Convention in Oshkosh--we will have a catered tent dinner in the evening on the EAA grounds. Departure will be on Aug 3. Registration packages have been mailed to all classmates and checks are due back to Harry on May 1.
There were 33 of us listed in the yearbook--we have lost 5, Jim Bauer, Tom Taylor, Richard Mucciano, Stanley Erstad, and Steve Deichelmann. We have 4 classmates unaccounted for--John Butler, Chuck Link, Lee Phillips, and Chuck Schmidt--if you have any information concerning these individuals, please get in touch. In addition to the 33, Bruce Cowee and David Cormack started with us in Warlock and were moved to Good Grief to balance the classes. Bruce and David will be joining us for the reunion.
The quotes you see listed with each photo come from the 68E yearbook. There is a story behind each quote, some of which I remember and some I don't. I would like to have each individual's take on the particular quote--so if you can find time, tell me the story behind the quote. Until that time--Enjoy.
Kenneth L. Richardson
"I've never been late."
"I'd say that looks like a hometown news release."
John G. Nettleton
"Freeze this Link!! I'm getting out now!!"
"Yes, I have something to say about military discipline."
Richard E. Albertson
"Albertson must know something, he's keeping too quiet."
"Sure am glad KC-135s don't fly formation."
As for the "Sure am glad
KC-135 don't fly formation" quote in the year book, I didn't get to fly
other than as a passenger in KC-135's but did fly formation with the darn things
often enough while re-fueling the buffs. It demanded as much concentration as
anything I've ever done and wasn't nearly as much fun as flying formation in
the T-38's.
James F. Bauer
(Deceased)
"B sec., ah Warlock, I mean Boysan, Attention."
"That's what I say, one every 9 months."
John L. Broadbent
"Bottle of wine, bottle of wine, when will I ever get sober."
"I've got 30 hours solo, 190 hours dual and 40 hours sailing."
John R. Butler
"What do you mean you saw my sister at Nortons."
"Copper Quickie 15, Fox 1."
No Email
D
Donald G. Dana
"The Garden of Eden, oh yes, that's somewhere in Idaho."
"It's a comfortable feeling driving a dependable car."
"Ahh..."
Stephen T. Deichelmann
(Deceased)
"Boysan's own Reincarnated Polloust Unit."
"I find that 40 degrees of bank in the roundout gives you excellent perspective on judging the exact time of wingtip contact."
Harry S. Dennis III
"Yes Sir, I'm ready. I've got Form 70's for 15 routes, 11 altitudes and all cruise machs between .8 and .95. These two airman will carry my plans to the plane."
"Gasser's new altimeter ..."
Michael Durbin
"Down at Craig we flew in the clouds all the time."
"Yes Sir, I always make my first few landing in Max A.B."
Stanley L. Erstad
(Deceased)
"What do you mean, you've paid those boners already, would you like to check my immaculate books."
"Because I hate watermelon, that's why!"
Damian G. Evans
"What! Me buy 33 cheeseburgers."
"What'dya mean Colonel, there's no rank in the stag bar."
Victor G. Grahn
"How do you expect me to know where PT is?"
"But honest - the car really did break down."
Frank R. Gualco
"Why yes, I flew with Bensley."
"Some people are sticks and study; I take out the Colonel's daughter."
David R. Hudlet
"The way I see it Sir, if we can schedule our cross country during deer season ..."
"ADC is really a dull mission. Just lead me to my deuce."
I took up golf after I retired,
and enjoy getting out for a time of frustration. I do remember one of our PE
classes was hitting some golf balls at the base driving range at Willy. The
particular group there that day was made up of guys that didn’t which end
of the club to grab. Vic Grahn came by and laughed at us, grabbed a club and
hit a couple about 200 yards with a 5 iron. “See, that is how it is done.”
Then he wouldn’t give us any pointers. I think his thoughts were there
wasn’t enough time to help that pathetic group get started. We all had
a good laugh.
Richard W. Kates
"Gasser, I'm in Cherokee Area, I didn't get a burner light on takeoff - request closed - full stop."
"If this program had lasted another month, I would have gained another ten pounds."
I was so afraid of falling in Cessna training that I could barely do a stall series. So one day my instructor took me up and did a whole bunch of spins one right after the other. After that a stall series was much easier.
One day in T-37’s it was so hot that I started sweating profusely around my oxygen mask. I took a moment to take it off and wipe my face. The instructor thought I was going to barf, and looked at me with an alarmed face and said, “What’s the matter?!!!” I chuckled inside.
My T-38 instructor was Lt.Kretzchmer. On a cross country to Nellis, his student that I think might have been Al Sundine, packed his shaving cream inside his shoes and put them under his seat. When they got to Nellis they discovered that the shaving cream can had exploded. Kretchmer couldn’t stop laughing.
Maurice Kettell
"But sir, I haven't had it flame out on the taxi before."
"What do you mean check section likes to see mature men who smoke pipes."
My alledged flame out occurred during T-37 training. I started out with Lt. Waters, but when Lt. Utley arrived, I moved to his group. I'm sure we all remember having to do spin recoveries--well I went up with Lt. Utley and the first order of business was spins. I think I can even remember the recovery maneuver--push the opposite rudder for one complete revolution and then slam the stick forward to break the stall. On this particular day, I slammed the stick forward without the rudder. If I thought a regular spin was awful, I found out an accelerated spin was much worse. This couldn't have been very long after Lt. Utley arrived, and my spin recovery definitely got his attention. He shouted, "I've got it," grabbed the stick, and made a perfect recovery. When we got on the gound, I was so distraught about my performance that I was a basket case. As we were taxiing in, I somehow moved the throttles to shutdown and when the whine of the engines started to abate, I realized what I had done and move the throttles back up--the engines reignited. It was a miracle, and we managed to make it back to the parking area. Wish I had a copy of my scoring for that particular ride.
Richard L. Latteier
"Farouk two . . . . where are you?"
"Fraction 3, Fraction lead, where are we suppose to be going?"
Charles D. Link
"Whatdaya mean Major? Two more two-ship rides!"
"I always delegate everything out; responsibility, blame ..."
"A green monster drug me into S-16 and sprinkled blue chalk dust on me."
No Email
Arthur Martinez
"Cross-country's primary objective is for training, that's why I'm going to Las Vegas."
"Good Night, Gasser!"
Joseph A. McGraw Jr.
"These Old's just run and run and run and run ..."
"Yes, one every 12 months keeps her in fine shape."
Richard F. Mucciano
(Deceased)
"Hey you guys, did you see my stage grade."
"Excuse me Sir, can you tell me where to buy my mach 1 hero pin?"
"Hey what did you get on your check ride, huh?"
Kurt H. Mueller
"That's right, M-U-E-L-L-E-R, Miller!"
"So your old man flew in WWII, well mine was in the Luftwaffe!"
Lee Phillips
"What do you mean, I need glasses?"
"I think I'll go to the stag bar and hang on another one tonight."
No Email
Daniel J. Phillippi
"Although I"m still a virgin, at least I didn't have to pay for the baby sitter."
"I hate Airmanship."
"Not another blind date that drinks."
Richard L. Pietro
"It's only a fire light, and I don't smell smoke, so I'm not shutting it down!"
"Exam? Where's Deichelmann?"
Charles E. Schmidt
"No Capt., I can't afford another 100 boners."
"At least I never forgot my gear in the T-41."
No Email
Attila T. Simon
"Lawman 4 - if you are there, speed brake now!"
"I won't be at PT tomorrow, I have 5 remakes and a ground eval."
Michael J. Steele
"Now then, does everyone have the new operational supplement . . . . Steele!!!"
"Those Christmas breaks sure wear a guy out."
Albert R. Sundine
"I don't think I'll ever make it."
"What do you mean there are 65 cigarettes in my ash tray."
"What, me worry?"
Thomas W. Taylor
(Deceased)
"Does Taylor have his helmet on? I can't tell, does it have hair around the edges?"
"Why not kill two birds with one "stone."
Barry L. Valentine
"Valentine, are you talking fast or am I listening slow?"
"Why yes, Barbara is a good friend of mine."
"Night Gasser? But I've got a date."
Gavan D. Woods
"But Sir, this is only the 27th time in the program I've gone NFDS for personal reasons."
"How do you log a complete mission?"
David E. Cormack
"Any more crap from you and it's gonna be Rum all week."
"Listen Bruce, this has got to stop, I'm getting married next month."
Bruce T. Cowee
"Who gives a damn about that formation check, Occidental Petroleum just went up 5 points."
"But Sir, Lt. Senko said I could leave early . . ."
