Description:
In 1954, pilots were called back to duty and picked up twenty worn out KC-97E model tankers at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from the 305th and 306th Air Refueling Squadrons forming the 98th Air Refueling Squadron. When transferred to Lake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana we became the 68th as support system for the B-47 Bomb Wing but could refuel any plane compatible with our boom. The 68th was needed so s not to take from the combat ready existing forces of bombers and tankers located around the world. In 1957, we were sent on temporary duty for sixty days to Goose Bay, Labrador which was highly secret. I wasn't allowed to tell my family where I was going. We got the green light from the tower at Lake Charles and took off in radio silence all the way to Goose, then called the tower for landing instructions. This is where the first refueling of the B-52's awesome global flight took place called OPERATION POWER FLITE. Our tankers were launched a minute apart in a daytime blinding snow storm with the lead pilot being a green card pilot (cleared to fly in any kin of weather) telling the tower, we have 300 foot ceiling, one mile visibility. Meeting the B-52's at 20,000 feet in the clouds, our KC-97's successfully refueled them for their global victorious flight demonstrating to any potential aggressor the power of the Strategic Air Command with the motto, peace is our Profession. On our return to Goose Bay, we found a field to be minimum. Once KC-97 had engine trouble and landed in Greenland, two landed at Seven Islands, Canada Air Force Base and three at Loring field, Maine. Then the Commanding General of the 8th Air Force admirably described the 68th flying the old KC-97E models as the "SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL SQUADRON GETTING THE JOB DONE." After returning to Lake Charles, the 68th wash sent to Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. Here, I was sent off crew status and was assigned to the Command Post. Colonel Nowell received a quota from the 8th Air Force Headquarters to send two controllers overseas giving the choice of two bases. One was the Azores, the other, Bermuda. Easy choice! After Bermuda was Bangor Air Force Base, Maine with the 71st Squadron. In 1963 I retired from the Air Force here.
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