Martin RB-57F

Joseph "Paul" May, e-mail, 17.11.2022 20:50 Served in the 58th from 1965 to 1968, mostly in Met /Are (PAYLOAD). Worked for Msgt Woods. TDY to Alaska, Panama, Mendoza, Johnston Island, and Samoa. I'm looking to contact someone who was TDY to Samoa with me. reply

Curtis D. Dale, e-mail, 16.09.2022 11:24 According to General Jack Catton, COMAC, I was the first Navigator to command a Military Airlift Command flying unit. I was commander of Task Force Charlie, 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, at Albrook AB, Panama Canal Zone in the period of 1971 or 1972. We took 3 Longwing B-57Fs and 5 aircrews, Life Support Personnel (who supported we aircrew members in the Space Suits that we had to wear when flying our missions at 70,000 feet in the Longwing. I also had maintenance personnel, administration and medical personnel on the staff. General Catton came in for a USAFSO visit, found we were operating his Air Weather Service Aircraft from there and wanted a briefing I was told it should last 13 minutes. I got the word in the late afternoon before I was to brief him at 8 AM the next morning. I had to fly a maximum mission during the night, had a few people help me prepare the briefing with charts for the presentation. He arrived with his staff, told the Howard AFB Wing Commander to stay outside during the briefing and I had my complete task force in the briefing room. I made the presentation on the WB-57F operations and finished in 13 minutes. He said, "Good briefing!" Then he started asking questions about how we were supporting the WB-47E and WC-135 Operations at Howard on the opposite side of the Canal, which I was also charged with. I started answering his questions in detail Then he had questions about the Longwings and WC-135Bs were were supporting in Mendoza, Argentina. I was able to answer all his questions fully and contribute other comments. He was the new COMAC, so it was clear he wanted to know more about the AWS operations he'd inherited. He then asked me how I knew so much about the WB-47 and WC-135 operations, in addition to the WB-57F. I told him my first operational aircraft had been the WB-47 at McClellan. Then I was made dual current in the WC-135, flying both in Atmospheric Sampling and synoptic weather missions over a good part of the world, and for about 3200 hours, plus more time in his WB-F7C Shortwings. I had about 100 hours in the shortwing by then. I told him that I had flown a broad array of the missions of the 4 aircraft over the past 6 years, plus, at that point. He was delighted with all of that. I could see that Wing Commander, outside, through the large front windows of the big room, and he was clearly furious that I had exceed the 13 minutes. General Catton finally stood up and came up to me. I introduced the people and he was very congenial. He finally turned to me, and looked at my wing. I was a Major at that point, and he said, "I have one more question. What the hell is a slick winged Navigator doing commanding one of my flying units?" I simply replied, "Because I know what I'm doing, General." He considered that and said, "Yes, I'm sure you do." He dismissed that Wing Commander and asked me to show him the rest of the operation. It was pretty meager on niceties, but we were carrying out the mission 100%. When we redeployed to Kirtland, a nice letter from General Catton to my 58th Commander, Colonel Douglas "Reddog" Campbell was there, and he had noted the part about me being the first Nav to command a MAC unit. The letter was very helpful as I came up for Lt. Colonel about 3 years later and after another full tour at DaNang in EC-47, flying EW, and then CINCPAC ABNCP at Hickam where I made Lt. Colonel and got selected for the War College. Those 5 crews and the team at Task Force Charlie "did me proud." reply

Bert Hudson brhudson.com, 28.03.2022 09:10 I was with the 58th from 1964 to 1969 then went to yokota 610 mass then wordsmith and tinker in 1977 a month after they got ther first E-3,A retired there in 1983 reply

Alvin Press, e-mail, 11.03.2021 16:37 Im looking for 7407th ss B57F patch reply

Gustavo Marón, e-mail, 07.06.2020 03:11 Hello to everybody! Mi name is Gustavo Marón, Aviation Historian from Mendoza, Argentina. I am very impressed by the stories you are telling here about the activities of RB-57 and WB-57F in my Country, because several former officials of the Argentine Air Force told me that when I was young and, since then, I am searching about the 58 WRS. I found precise data about some aircrafts used in Mendoza in the Air Force Historical Research Agency. However, I am interested in to know the stories and memories of the protagonists. Please, contact me to dr.gustavo.maron@gmail.com Sincerely yours, Gustavo reply

Ed Bishop, e-mail, 20.01.2018 04:06 I worked approach control at Yokota 69-70-71. RB 57 Fs were fascinating to me. We could tell who they were on radio checks because the "mikes were hot" and we could hear them breathing in their pressure suits. Call sign as I recall was Robin 35. reply

Joseph Devenport, e-mail, 18.12.2017 03:30 Any one interested in attending our reunion for the 55 and the 58 WRS in June, please let us know, By all means use 55 and 58 WRS in the subject line, it would be helpful. Currently planned for the 6th, 7th and 8th.. reply

charles large, e-mail, 30.08.2017 21:45 I was stationed at Kirkland AFB from 1963-1965. I was attached to the 58th Weather Recon Sq as an operations specialist. I would like to hear from anyone that was with the 5th during this time. I always loved working around aircraft. I retired from the airlines (30 years) as an agent. Please cont act me if you were there or know anyone that was. reply

Mick Guthals, e-mail, 23.08.2017 17:22 F-Troopers. My father, Paul Guthals, was one of you from the very start of the WB-57 until well into the NASA program as the lead for the LASL work. I saw just Monday, 21 Aug 2017 that NASA flew 2 WB-57Fs to follow the solar eclipse. Wonderful article in Aviation Week about the mission which brought back a flood of memories about my time as a youth with the 58 WRS and the WB-57F at Kirtland. Please feel free to contact me. Cheers. reply

David McCullough, e-mail, 09.08.2017 08:46 Aloha all. I'm a VA nurse living in Sebastopol,California. My father was Richard W McCullough or Mac and he died in 1999 at the age of 66. He was a B-57 driver first with TAC on the short wing out of Laon. I was born in 1960 at Elmendorf when the collection missions were on. Later he was on the RB-57F out of Rhein Main. I ran into a B 57 mechanic today while I work and he related the story of that B-57 shoot down (or O2 system malfunction) over the black sea in December 1965. I remember Lester Lackey and his family and the story I heard related over and over was that my dad and he had flipped a coin to see who would fly that day. If anyone can confirm that Or knows anything about it it would be an honor to hear some stories and especially if anyone knew my father. I can be reached at Davidmccullough@gmail.com. Thanks to all of you and the work you did. reply

Richard Bryant, e-mail, 13.03.2017 21:28 My father was Major William P. Bryant navigator on RB57f out of Kirtland. He was a decorated WW-2 veteran B-17. He was buried at Santa-Fe National Cemetery , Santa Fe New Mexico. Did any of you guys know him assigned to 58WRS. reply

Joe Smith, e-mail, 07.08.2016 01:18 I would like to contact CMSgt Isaiah Woods (Woody), if anyone has his address /e-mail. He was my first CMSgt. reply

Isaiah Woods cmsgt (ret), e-mail, 19.06.2016 09:12 I served with the 1211 Test Sq /58 WRS from 1962-until I retired in 1973. I was NCOIC of the MET /ARE sampling section most of my time and participated in most of the missions cited on the web page plus others. I would also like info to contact Brig Gen R. Moeller & Col D. Wolfe reply

Emmet Cook, e-mail, 31.05.2016 22:09 I attended John Penz'z funeral services. A sad day. He was a great NCO. I worked the Flight line and was the Crew Chief on 295 for a short time before I went to Docks. One of my favorite bosses was CMSgt Houghton. My best to all you guys from the 58th. Those were the good old days. I spent 20 more years in the Army after THE Air Force. reply

Curtis, e-mail, 03.04.2016 01:28 TO: Phil Putnam, Yes, I certainly remember your father, Joseph Putnam. If I recall correctly, he was the oldest man flying in the Space suits as an Air Force pilot while I was at Kirtland (68-72). Seems to me he was the Chief of Planning for the 58th WRS at the time I was there. We flew together at times, and he was a great pilot, all business and did it right all the way. I was Chief of the Command Post for a while, Special Assistant to the Commander for Colonel Douglas "Red Dog" Campbell, then Chief Navigator when Colonel Click D. Smith came in. I made a pretty fast exit as he came in. I did not like him, did not trust him, and was ready to go to Vietnam to fly the EC-47 to get away from him. Best move I ever made. I will add that I was fortunate, as a Navigator, to be the first navigator to command a flying Unit in the Military Airlift Command--maybe the Air Force. I was Commander of a Task Force at Albrook AB, Panama for a period with two WB-57Fs, three crews, Life Support Personnel, a medic, and maintenance personnel. General Jack Catton, COMAC, cam into Howard AB, CZ, to visit USAFSO, and sent word that he wanted to be briefed by me on the operation of "his" WB-57Fs out of Panama and Mendoza, Argentina. We also had WB-47s, and WC-135s operating into and out of Howard, while we were operating the F's out of Albrook on the other side of the Canal. So I was alos responsible as senior officer for AWS (MAC) for any support needed from our operation. General Catton came to Albrook for the Briefing. It wasn't fancy as I had flip charts, hand made, but they were well done as I had one NCO who was really great at hand made graphics. I had been told to give him a 12 minute briefing, and a Colonel Whitehead was Wing Commander for USAFSO at Howard. Whitehead was a real jerk and wanted to dictate what I did for the briefing. I declined his directions and created the briefing as seems appropriate. But I did adhere to the 12 minutes as that may have come from Catton. Upon his arrival--with Whitehead in tow--Catton told Whitehead to stay outside. I did the 12 minute briefing, and it was apparently just what Catton wanted. Then he started asking questions about the WC-135 and WB-47 operations, and I was answering everything in detail. Finally, he asked me how I knew all of that just off hand. I told him I had flown the 47 for over 1000 hours, about 2000 hours in the WC-135, and held the record for Polar Missions at that time (eventually 178 polar missions including 87 polar crossings) so I knew exactly what all of the missions were and had flown them. His questions ran that 12 minute meeting far beyond anything I'd imagined. Seemed he just wanted an education on his AWS operation portion of MAC. As I finished, he stood, came forward to thank us, looked at me and said, "I just have one more question. Why the hell is a slick wing navigator commanding one of my flying units?" Without blinking an eye, I said, "Because I know what I'm doing, General!" He replied, "I'd say you're right!" When I arrived back at the 58th some time later, there was a nice letter from Catton to Colonel Campbell telling him of the job I was doing down there. That sure didn't hurt my chances when I came up for Lt. Colonel, I'm sure. Colonel Curtis D. Dale, PhD, USAF (Ret) reply

Joe, e-mail, 21.02.2016 06:47 Don't for get reunion is coming up June 15, 16 and 17 in Branson, MO. reply

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