Coz we're all about "the rest of the story" (with apologies to Paul Harvey). Here's Virgil (the first part of the story is just below):
One assumes Virgil didn't get grounded, after all.I also left out what really is the kicker. You see, I (and another guy in my squadron) were on the Wing Commander's sh$$t list. He wanted to jerk our wings for some, um, "unauthorized" tangling with some RAF (English) Electric P1 Lightnings in mock air-air combat. Now, I didn't ask for my cousin come to come to my aid--I didn't even know he was coming and he knew nothing about my travails, but everyone on the base assumed that was what he was there for--especially when the Wing Commander showed up at the O-Club in dress blues to greet the General. As one 2nd Lt in the 92nd TFS (who knew of my situation) assigned to the command post said later: "I thought Virgil was in really deep serious, but after we got that call from Air Force 3 I realized he didn't have any troubles at all." LOL!
Virgil flew F-4s out of RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge
What was REALLY interesting was the "repartee" between the Wing Commander (O-6) and my Cousin (O-7) and myself at the O-Club bar before my cousin and I went to dinner. The Wing CO trying to suss out how much the General knew of his attempts to ground me, and my cousin's realization that there was a "disturbance in the force" but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. A very stilted "polite" conversation all round.
DAMN, you're good, Buck. Did you dig up that F-4 model on purpose, or randomly? Because it is painted with my Woodbridge-based squadron (78thTFS Bushmasters) colors (red-stripe on tail fin) and letter designation (WR) Enlarged one can see the 81st TFW decal on the side of the engine air intake. In my day it would have been our squadrons decal, however.
ReplyDeleteOn purpose, Virgil... but only for the "WR." I had no ideer what squadron you were in.
DeleteThe "WR" was the unique Woodbridge designator. The other two squadrons over at Bentwaters each had their own separate designations: (91st TFS "Bluestreaks" blue-stripe & WS; 92nd TFS "Avengers" yellow stripe & WT -although in 1972 shortly after I left just before they withdrew the F-4 they changed and gave ALL the F-4s the WR designation for some unknown reason. (Must have ticked off the 91st & 92nd guys having to have to adopt the hated (we were our own Air Force over there, out from underfoot the all-seeing eyes of the Wing Staff, unlike the jocks at Bentwaters who couldn't get by with ANYTHING, lol) Woody designator, tail wagging the dog, etc., lol)
ReplyDeleteBuck,Is there parts 1 and 2 somewhere? I did a cursory search, but didn't come up with anything. Tales of VX are GOLD!
ReplyDeleteSee the post immediately below this one, last item of three.
DeleteAnne and I stopped in at the Air Force Academy a few months ago and hit the O'club where they were having a thing. We went down to the basement which is where the bar is and we were sitting at the bar with a pair of egregious Colonels when the Commanding General came down to chat with them. The bar almost hit vacuum as the colonels sucked up to the general who was wearing mufti.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to be retired, but I have to say, we never had that kind of thing with flag officers. We were pretty much like the crew from the TV show 'Leverage', head down, head butt, backhand, smack but obsequious we did not do.
for fun alone, I used obsequious, and mufti in a comment. Not everybody can do that you know. :)
I'm surprised you and Anne weren't the only people in the bar. I quit frequenting the club out at Cannon a few years back because I don't like drinking alone (even though I do a LOT of that at home). I kid thee not: there were times at 1700 hrs where it was just me and the bartender. That just ain't right. As far as bein' obsequious towards the GOFOs goes... I never had much occasion to hang with generals and I hardly ever saw senior NCOs sucking up to colonels and the like. All that said, I don't doubt you for a moment. It's not your father's Air Force any longer.
DeleteAnd I'm in mufti right now.