May - June 1966 Lackland AFB, Texas (San Antonio) Basic Training
June - Sept. 1966 Lowery AFB, Colorado (Denver) Technical Training - Weapons Mechanic Course (AFSC 462XX)
Oct 1966 - Oct 1969 RAF Station Wethersfield, Essex, UK - United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE), 3rd Air Force, NATO. See newly added Images of Wethersfield in the late '60s.
 | Wheelus AB, Libya (Tripoli) Loading bombs, missiles, rockets and guns for pilot weapons delivery training. |
| Aviano AB, Italy (Venice) Alert duty & pilot training (Aircraft photos from Aviano) |
| Cigli, AB Turkey (Izmir) Alert duty & pilot training |
| Bergen, Norway - Deployment |
1966 - 1969; 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing; Weapons Mechanic on F100 Super Sabres; SSGT (E5). Assigned to flight line first as a weapons load team member then as a weapons load team chief. There were as many as nine load teams in the 55th. Mine was team 55-2. F100 load teams were comprised of four members. The team chief (#1 man) observed and supervised the other three to ensure that weapons uploads and downloads were carried out safely according to AF Technical Orders. The #2 man prepared the cockpit, ensuring that all switches and controls were correctly set. The #3 man was responsible for preparing the aircraft wing stations or pylons and actually attaching the weapon. The #4 man prepared the weapon including transporting and fusing it. Bombs were transported and positioned using the MJ1 bomb lift truck. I was a #3 man before becoming a team chief in September 1968.
Be sure to check out this great site about RAF Wethersfield.
55th TFS Weapons Shop Reunion, June 1990 at Lowery AFB, Denver, Colorado. We are standing in front of a retired F100D. Author in center (blue shirt)
Insignia of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (55th is a squadron in the 20th)
The 20th TFW is now designated the 20th Fighter Wing. The 55th TFS is still a squadron in the 20th, though now designated the 55th Fighter Squadron. The 20th & 55th now fly F16 Falcons and are stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. For more on the 20th, past and present, click this LINK TO THE 20TH FW.
F100D in Thunderbird Markings - Photo courtesy USAF Museum. Click image for more F100's.