Oh yeah Dutchy, that's where I'd cut my teeth on the A-10. When I was a loader for the 358th, back in the late 70's, it was actually the 358th Tactical Fighter TRAINING Squadron. Back then all 3 units, the 358th, 333rd and the 357th were all training squadrons. Our mission at that time was to teach pilots to fly and fight the A-10A, of course, that was back when it'd just been fielded. They were also, at that time, setting up Bentwaters, and when the factory was turning out the A-10's for there, with the dark green paint scheme, the vast majority, if not all of them rotated through DM on their way to England. It was really weird seeing the dark green birds mixed in with the traditional light gray.
Working with JEEP Pilots made for some exciting times. I had a pilot once who'd climbed down from the bird when we were doing quick turns, and right after he stepped away from the ladder, I scrambled up it to check the armament panel switches so we could re-arm it for the next go. I was shocked to see that he'd left the gun set up. Oh, he had set the Master Arm to safe, but the rest of the switches were still set up and armed for the gun and a couple of the bomb stations. Whats more, the bone head had left without safeing the Ejection Seat. I practicly jumped down from the ladder, and just let into him with a verbal assault that he wouldn't soon forget. I was just a 2 striper at that time and he was a Butter Bar, but I ended by saying, \"You get your a$$ back up that ladder, look at the seat and armament panel and then give me just one reason why I shouldn't have your wings hanging on my wall!\" When that kid climbed back down, realizing that he'd flown over a city, and gone through de-arm at EOR with his switches still set, he walked over to me with his face white as a sheet and said, \"I'm terribly sorry sir, it won't happen again.\"
Good Times.
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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option
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