Fourth Group Farewell Roast for LTC Plumb and SMGST Ball
On 27 May 1976, cadets from Fourth (4th) Group participated in honoring the Group AOC and Senior NCO with a “Farewell Roast.” Here’s the program.
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Webb AFB UPT Graduation
For some reason, a contingent of CS-39 Campus Radicals trekked (or trucked?) down to Webb AFB, TX, (near Big Spring – singular, not plural) to attend a dining-in and graduation ceremony for their spring 1976 UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) class. I can’t remember if they were our squadron sponsor or what the affiliation was, but … Read more
Letter of Appreciation re: ATOs
While this was rather perfunctory, and I didn’t do all that much, it’s still a nice reminder that I did play a small role in an event of some historical consequence. Note: Unless you knew who the “Air Training Officers (ATOs)” were, you wouldn’t be able to discern their significance from the letter. There’s no … Read more
Jeff Short Memorial Service
Jeff Short died tragically on March 20, 1976, just 74 days before he would’ve graduated with the Spirit of ’76. I can’t find the supporting evidence, but I recall he died in a car accident coming back to the Academy from Spring Break. Jeff and I roomed together during SERE in the summer of 1975, … Read more
Two Certificates of Merit
As a Firstie I received two Certificates of Merit, one as a Squadron Commander and another as Outstanding Flight Commander for Fourth Group, Fall Make List (i.e., 1st go-round). Outstanding Flight Commander Squadron Commander
Squadron Commander’s Notebook
I kept a steno-sized spiral notebook my Firstie year while I was a Flight Commander (first go-round) and then Squadron Commander (winter go-round). These are from the winter (9 Nov 75 to 29 Feb 76), primarily notes from Group meetings and for Squadron meetings. It looks like I missed several meetings at which either Dano … Read more
Squadron Commander
I was somewhat surprised to find this in my “Cadet Wing” attic box. I remember it, but can only guess at the reason I wrote it. I believe that my AOC, Lt. Col. Bob Haines, asked me what I would want to pass along to my successor as CS-39 Squadron Commander, Joe Smith. So I … Read more
1976 Contrails Desk Calendar
It’s a slideshow. Hover over the cover and the Left-Right scroll indicators will appear. Or below the slideshow you can see the individual images that you can click on directly.