I'm sure most everyone can remember their first time doing things. The first time deserves a special marker among all the other things we do during our lives. Remember your first love, remember your first train ride, your first home, your first time doing anything? You get the idea. Recently, in a moment of nostalgia, I was remembering the four years I spent serving my country in the United States Navy and I remembered my first airplane ride.
As far back as I can remember, I was an airplane nut. While growing up, I built many model airplanes and would imagine myself sitting in the cockpit flying the oftentimes unfinished model airplane. Military fighter aircraft were always the most fascinating and my favorite of all time was the North American P-51 Mustang. And as I write this short story, there is a large, scale model of a Mustang sits in my little home office and a smaller version sitting on my desk.
When I entered the navy, in 1956, I applied to the naval air cadet training program and was rejected due to my lack of education. A college degree or equivalent was required and I had neither. The navy offered a lot of alternative training programs and I decided to forget aviation for the moment and selected radio communications school. After the 6-weeks learning how to become a Navy radioman I was ordered to a ship in support the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.
Life on board ship was routine and very boring and as luck would have it, I met a special detachment of the guys on my ship who fascinated me. They were the Underwater Demolition Team 21. Apart from flying airplanes they were exactly the kind of macho dudes I wanted to be a part of -- so I volunteered. There was a lot of paperwork, physical examinations, psyc...
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... for comfort. You must wear the harness but it is not required to click onto the actual parachute/seat unless when necessary.
It's dark inside and there are few windows. As the C-119 flies along, there is, however a lot of engine noise and quite a lot of vibration. The shaking and vibration causes the pallets of cargo that are strapped down in the center of the airframe to shift and dance all over the deck. One can simply and vividly imagine being crushed against, or pushed completely through the airplane skin at any moment, although the straps should stop it just short from actually doing that. I suppose because I was nervous, frightened, and very excited at the same time, the flight seemed to take several hours.
My first airplane ride only lasted 30-minutes, but it was one of my life's unforgettable experiences and truly the original white knuckle flight.
...ccess of the P-51. From the early days of the A model all the way to the newly designated F-51D, the Mustang fought through swaths of enemies to allow victory for the Allies and the United States. The P-51 is a recognizable machine that embodies the entire war effort of the time and continues to inspire aviation enthusiasts. Today there are many people and companies that are dedicated to preserving and protecting these pieces of our nations history by reconditioning and donating to capable museums and collectors. Through the work of these individuals the P-51 Mustang will forever be a symbol of air power during the world toughest times.
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
The author Kenneth Sewell, who is a former submarine officer (Hutchinson) does an outstanding job of not only describing the overall picture, but also breaking down not only the submarine, but also the men who served on her final mission. He provides personal information about everyone from the commanding officer all the way down to the junior enlisted sailors of K-129. As a former submariner, Mr. Sewell understands the strong bond that occurs between submariners. This bond may well have saved the world from nuclear destruction.
...basketball. After graduating, I was hired by the High School that I graduated from to teach Science and Coach basketball. Then on 1 April I was recalled to active duty to what was to be for only a 30 months period. Then after the 30 months ended
Although I grew up in a military family, I never saw myself going into a military career. Up until I was about fourteen years old, I planned on being a marine biologist in Hawaii. Sounds nice, right? Well, at the end of my eighth grade year I decided that I might as well join NJROTC, because all of my friends were doing it and it seemed okay. I have to say, looking back, I was quite naive. Joining NJROTC was the smartest and most valuable decision I have made to this day.
One afternoon the young teen took a trip to the county fair in Lawton, Oklahoma. The county fair was host to an aerial exhibition revealing to Wiley Post, his first glimpse of a manned aircraft. It was at that moment when he realized his destiny to become a pilot. Without delay he enrolled in aviation school in Kansas City, Missouri. Post had high hopes to fly for his country, but the war ended faster than he could sign the dotted line.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the limits of innovation are often put to the test. In the case of a submarine launched to sea in 1938, the USS Squalus, bad luck proved disastrous. Within minutes of a test dive, twenty-six men drowned. Years later, Peter Maas compiled the known information about the tragedy into The Terrible Hours: The Greatest Submarine Rescue in History. Over the heartbreaking journey of hopelessness to hope, crisis to survival, and depths to ascension, Maas weaves the sad tale depicting the unknown dangers that technology possesses.
My initial reason to enter the Air Force was a great way to pay for college which turned into a call of duty and a service commitment which has actively allowed me to contribute to the Air Force mission. Thus far I have led a joint force search and rescue effort and a multinational exercise to preserve freedom. As an F-15E instructor WSO and combat mission ready WSO I actively contribute to ensure our freedoms are preserved and the attacks of September 11, 2001 will never happen again.
As a child I attended a local air show with my father and came away smitten with aircraft, and the idea of someday being a pilot. The idea of joining the Air Force, which would give me the opportunity to serve in the military while at the same time following my dream of flying airplanes, suited me perfectly. The prospect of a free college education made the idea even better! Throughout high school I devoted my efforts in and out of school to achieving this goal. My pursuit paid off with an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 2004.
I had to pass jump school to attend Special Forces school where I had a slot waiting for me. I wanted to be a Special Forces ambassador in uniform so I could represent my country abroad. Special Forces trains a host nations military by teaching it essential skills. I wanted as many overseas assignments as I could get. My respect for Special Forces and my desire to be part of this elite group gave me my motivation to continue and never give up. I wanted to be in one of America’s best units.
In the thirty-eight years of the United States Naval Submarine Service no United States submarine had ever sunk an enemy vessel. With the ignition of the Second World War the poorly equipped and poorly trained Silent Service, nicknamed for the limited access of the media to the actions and achievements of the submarines, would be thrust into the position American submariners had longed for. The attack on Pearl Harbor left the United States Navy with few options for retribution. The three remaining aircraft carriers were to be “the last line of defense.” Commander Stuart S. Murray made the precarious situation clear to his skippers, captains, upon sending them on their first war patrol. He stressed the importance of smart sailing by warning them not “to go out there and win the Congressional Medal of Honor in one day. The submarines are all we have left.” We entered the war with 55 submarines, 27 at Pearl Harbor and 28 at Cavite in the Philippines. At first our submarine strategies lacked ingenuity and failed to use our subs to their full potential. United States subs were assigned to reconnaissance, transporting supplies, and lifeguard duty, picking up downed airmen and sailors. They were even, on occasion, sent to rescue high profile Americans on the run from the enemy or from islands under enemy siege. Although their ability was, unfortunately, wasted in our entrance to the Pacific Theater the Silent Service would soon gain the recognition its men yearned for.
When I entered the airplane I was as excited as a 6-year-old could be about losing the people she loved the most. The greatest aspect of my fear was the idea of losing my mother. As a child, I always
Just after this quick bend, the crew became visible helping people on. Just before I entered the transportation unit, I looked down at the gap left between the door and I. The metal around the entry door was rusted and worn, which gave me an eerie feeling. Reluctantly, I stepped aboard and felt uneasy as I saw those responsible for taking us to our destination. I would soon know for sure, how I felt about my now plausible career.
The adventure began with a cold winter morning in florid, Uncle Bob and I decided to head out to his secret spot, the dive site was roughly 100ft and a Spanish Galleon laid rest. My dad dropped me off at the boat dock where I met up with Uncle Bob. We did a gear check to make sure we had everything to complete our dive. After the gear check, we headed out, after a couple
I can still remember how excited I was before take off, I mean it felt like forever while we sat in the plane waiting to take off. Just all the anticipation that was inside of me had just made the wait even longer for me. Finally, I heard the pilot say 'prepare for take off'. When I heard those words I was so overjoyed I could hardly contain myself. That rush I got once the plane took off was an experience like no other. The plane ride was about hours long and I enjoyed every minute of it. Little did I know, that was less than half of the fun I was going to have at Orlando.