Comments on: The Story Behind the Secret History Part II. Getting B-52s through the Soviet Air Defense System

By: steveblank

steveblank — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:39:47 +0000

Yep, worked on the ALR-20, ALR46- and ALQ-117 on the B-52′s. The shop had a screen room with the old ALT 6-B’s and ALT-28′s. I seem to remember a ton of leaking cooling oil that those jammers used.

Worked on APR 25/26, 36,37 on the F-4 and A-7′s and the APS-109 for the F-105. Was backup for the AlQ-72, 87 and 119 jamming pods.

Somehow I seem to recall my military speciality code was 32853? Though after 40 years perhaps that was my zip code

By: bobertk

bobertk — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:58:07 +0000

I’ll never forget the “Peace is our Profession” sign outside the base in Dr Strangeglove. Also the low level bombing run. To this day, nothing but pure rain water and grain alcohol for me. Purity of Essence, you know.

By: Steve P

Steve P — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:01:15 +0000

I was also an EWO, during the crazy SAC years. I am thankful that guys like you were fixing my equipment. I remember one ORI when I fell asleep prior to the point when I was supposed to warmup my equipment. So, I turned on what I could and did the best I could with half the equipment working. I was sure I had done the worst job and caused the squadron to flunk the ORI. On the way back, I opened a few panels and switched the fuses, burning out half the fuses to the EW equipment on purpose. As I walked into the squadron, after the mission, I told the debrief-er that, “It was not my fault, half my equipment was not working.” I was then informed that I had the best scores of the whole squadron. The commander used me as an example for others to follow. Looking back on SAC and those years, there sure were a few absurd situations.

By: The Four Steps to the Epiphany is Now in Russian « Steve Blank

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By: Warren

Warren — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:02:38 +0000

Thanks for the memories….I was an instructor at Keeslers 3390th in the mid to late sixties in the EW maintenance & trainer courses, never got to the real USAF as I was “drafted” for instructor duty after graduating BED/EW maintenance. I can still recall specifics from the tech manuals on the ALR-20/ ALR-19 ,ALT-15/16, ALR- 25/26 ,ALT-13/ ALT-6B as well as the QRC jamming pods. That info was so burned into my 23 year old brain I could NEVER forget it as much as I tried…..a shame I had a T prefix stuck on everything service related & could’nt escape ATC regardless of volunteering for SEA or Guam, the old needs of the USAF story. On the advice of a sage E8 who had been in SAC most of his career, I bailed from the USAF & made a career in the telecommunications business .I have never regretted serving but always felt I was cheated out of flight line/operational experience while training others, including old timers who changed career fields to get the proficiency pay offered those over 4 years service in the USAF. I do consider myself privileged to be considered “an old crow” in the order of the raven….we made a difference whether the average person ever realizes it or not. Thanks again for the trip back to a time where we never took our lives or our freedom for granted & the Russians knew it…………AFSC 30153 I remain forever.

By: Don Cook

Don Cook — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:34:19 +0000

I also was a ECM troop in the early 80′s. I remeber when the first G model came to Carswell to replace the D’s we had. Someone showed us how to turn on the ALQ-117 and supposebly it nuked the SP’s radar gun as he was checking flightline maintenance trucks for speeding.

By: Ted Lesher

Ted Lesher — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:59:57 +0000

I sort of made the reverse journey — grew up in Ann Arbor in the 40s and 50s, joined the Air Force, and spent the 60s and 70s as a B-52 Electronic Warfare Officer. Retired in 1983 with 7500 hours in the B-52, 207 combat missions over Viet Nam (including Arc Light One) between 1965 and 1970.

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By: Maurice Karnaugh

Maurice Karnaugh — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:09:41 +0000

About halfway through this post I found myself surprised at how beautifully written it is. Congratulations.

By: Ben C.

Ben C. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:48:11 +0000

Funny, the start of your Air Force career was eerily similar to my dad’s. He did maintenance on B52′s in Ubon/Korat, Thailand (met my mother) moved to Michigan, Wurtsmith AFB (had me) and then moved to Seymour Johnson AFB in NC. Now his son is reading your blog about creating a startup. Small world…

By: Calvin Chin

Calvin Chin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:21:58 +0000

Great war stories, Steve. Thanks!

Wondering if, in the years since the Cold War has ended, you ever had a chance to meet one of your Soviet counterparts. Ever talk to someone from the other side who had similar stories of struggling to track and shoot down that 170-ft signature sphere?

Sure the rest of the stories diverge though… can’t really imagine a Soviet counterpart to the Customer Development method.

By: Brian Dunbar

Brian Dunbar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:34:10 +0000

The last picture – that’s you? In the Air Force?

That’s quite the wig they let you guys get away with.