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. [metaslider id=”6380″]

’76 Ring Dining In

Update: General Yeager died on December 7, 2020, at the age of 97. The following day, Terry Gross of NPR’s “Fresh Air” broadcast a 10-minute excerpt from her 1988 interview with Yeager. Listen here, with transcript.  Ticket and Program with featured speaker Brigadier General Charles E. Yeager (USAF Retired). The text for the ring description, … Read more