Wherein trof attends the 90th Anniversary of his Air National Guard squadron.

[trof]

106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 117th Wing, Alabama Air National Guard.
I flew RF-84/Fs there from '63 till '71.


The banquet is at a VERY posh venue in Birmingham, Alabama.
THE CLUB!
That's the name of the place.
Founded in 1951, it's always been called THE Club.
http://www.theclubinc.org/club/scripts/public/public.asp?GRP=9246&NS=PUBLIC

I was never wealthy enough to be a member (not even close), but attended many parties given by friends there in my misspent youth.
The view from atop Red Mountain of the city is breathtaking.
In the lounge there's a huge grand piano veneered in mother-of-pearl.
I've played it a few times in my salad days.
("Salad days" is an idiomatic expression, referring to a youthful time, accompanied by the inexperience, enthusiasm, idealism, innocence, or indiscretion that one associates with a young person.&quot

I was in heaven.


Most of the older (older than me) guys I flew with back in the day are dead.
Happily (I guess?) by natural causes.
We had a few close calls during my time in the squadron, but no one bought the farm.

But there are a few of us Septuagenarians still above the turf and it will be good to see the guys again.
Tall tales, some of them actually true (mostly), will be told.
Toast will be drunk.
Probably quite a few.

Skol.

[Suich]

1. Have fun!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear trof!

Congrats!

It sounds like it'll be a complete blast for you and all the other survivors...

The venue sounds wonderful too...

Yay!

[trof]

5. It'll be fun. Wonder if we'll sing the squadron song?

It's "Maryanne Burns, Queen of All the Astrojets".
Ever heard it?
I think the lyrics just might get this thread locked.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. You joined the Air National Guard 90 years ago??

Oh.

The squadron's anniversary, not yours.

You scared me for a minute there.

[trof]

4. Sometimes it seems like that long.

[Downwinder]

6. If I could have flown 84 Fs instead of C- 97s I might have stayed

for retirement. What are they flying now?

[trof]

7. KC-135 tankers

They went from B-26s to RF-84/Fs to RF-4/Cs to...TANKERS!
Oh, the horror.


During Op. Desert Shield/Storm 6 of our RF-4s (including one flown by a buddy) flew 15.5 hours non-stop from Birmingham, AL to Abu Dhabi.
16 refuelings each on KC-10s and KC-135s.
whew

[Old Troop]

8. Have a great time trof

and please let us know how it goes. Any stories regarding your flying service would be welcome too.

[MicaelS]

9. Have a good time...

IMO, the F-84F was one of the ugliest planes the US ever fielded. What was like to fly?

Shockingly according to Wikipedia.

Three Hellenic Air Force RF-84Fs that were retired in 1991 were the last operational F-84s

1991??? Holy crap.

[trof]

10. At the time we thought it was pretty slick.

A bit underpowered, though.
An afterburner would have made it much better for takeoffs.
The old joke is that if a runway was built that ran all the way around the world, Republic could build an airplane that need that much.

But hell, it was a single seat, single engine JET fighter.
Every boy's dream.

And this was an RF.
Slick nose and engine intakes in each wing root.
The nose bays were full of cameras.
Way cooler looking that the F model.

Seriously?
Once you got the damn thing off the ground it was fun to fly.
Almost sonic.
Extremely maneuverable.
Air refueling was a bit of a challenge on KC-97s, due to their slow speeds.
Once we had KC-135s available it was much better.

[trof]

11. Well, it was QUITE a party.

Over 250 attended.
More generals than I've ever been in a room with before.

Fantastic meal.
Filet mignons about 2" thick.
I couldn't finish mine.

I was reunited with some of my fellow pilots I hadn't seen in over 40 years.
Many tall tales and true were told.
And a few toasts made.
OK, several.

[Skittles]

12. PILOT PARTIES

I could tell you a few stories; yes INDEED

[trof]

13. I remember a toga party in ???Columbus, Ohio?

We took sheets off the beds in the motel.
Met at the steam room.
In our togas.
And then...the togas dropped.

Wonder what brought THAT on?
(I believe 'adult beverages' were somehow involved.)
Awesome.


On edit:
This was in my AIRLINE days.
Cabin attendants (stewardesses back then) were in attendance.

[Skittles]

14. OMG TOGA PARTIES

I REMEMBER!