BTW, Addison, has the statute of limitations expired on that windshield?
Wilton
- Original Message -
From: "WILTON"
To: "Addison Thompson"
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT - Another non-political B-52 tale - MOVING IN THE BUFF
A great story, and it's not boring! Let's hear more of it!
How 'bout it, y'all (Southern for youse guys)? Let's get 'im to tell us
more.
Wilton
- Original Message -
From: "Addison Thompson"
To:
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 4:46 PM
Subject: [MBZ] OT - Another non-political B-52 tale - MOVING IN THE BUFF
Wilton,
Here's a very interesting small world story for you. I was the Wing
Director of Operations when you visited there in '79.
Shortly thereafter that, in Early December of '79 I was directed by the
AFFTC Commander to take charge of the cruise missile/B-52 integration test
program that was starting up at Boeing Wichita over the objections from
Edwards (we wanted to do the testing on home turf at EDW and not on the
contractor's home turf). The contract had been signed between Boeing and
the SPO without coordination with the test agency, EDW.
By the time I got told to "fix it," Edwards had lost the argument about
the test location. So I was the "stuckee!" I had to work with Boeing, the
SPO and Edwards to organize a place (offices, flight line stuff, etc.) for
the combined Boeing, Edwards, SAC, AFOTEC test team; shanghai test guys
from Edwards with the appropriate skills (when none really wanted to move
to Wichita); get an agreement with McConnell AFB to store our cruise
missile warheads (TS CNWDI), etc. etc.
I scrounged a Division Commander checkout in the Buff (a 5 day ground
school in mid-Dec) having never even been in a Buff before. My three or
four flight checkout (and the first time I had ever been in a Buff) was at
Edwards. The flight started with takeoff and immediately join up with a
tanker right after departure turnout for refueling during the climb out.
What a humbling experience that was!
Then the SPO General and the Edwards General, that didn't get along very
well, both thought that I worked for them. Then I found out that, oh by
the way, President Carter has declared that we will achieve IOC with the
ALCM on the Buff in less that two years from now. At least they gave me
the top priority code so I could get anything that I needed. So get to
work...…
There were a lot more stories there but I won't bore you with any more.
Just thought the small world connection was interesting.
Regards,
Addison Thompson=
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