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Show Page HILL TOP TIMES 14 88ih October 22, 1976 TFW Veteran's Day Message "On Veteran's Day, we honor members of the Armed Forces, both past and present, who for over two centuries have answered the nation's call to arms whenever and wherever freedom was challenged. Those who have defended our nation in years past and those serving today can take pride in their role of helping to preserve America's heritage of freedom and democracy. Along with americans everywhere, I salute the men and women of the TAC team, both active and reserve, whose readiness, professionalism and dedication are visible symbols of America's determination to remain the world's bastion of liberty." the 421st helped write the history of the air war over North Vietnam during early stages of the conflict. On April the squadron 1967, returned to the United States. The squadron soon returned 24, to Southeast Asia, this time After a brief flying F-4E- s. diversion to Korea, AWOL they rate, for command The incidence of AWOL (Absence Without Leave) in Tactical Air Command is down 33 per cent for the first half of Calendar Year 1976, which means a cost savings for the command. According to Capt. Larry Reid, chief of TAC Personnel Actions Branch, the projected AWOL rate for 1976 will be about 8.66 1,000 per a is This about population. third lower than the 12.69 rate for 1975. During 1975, 8,145 mandays were lost at the half-yea- r mark, representing a loss to TAC of $208,267. The loss for the same period this year was $83,204, a reduction of over 50 per cent. "The projected total cost of lost mandays for 1976 should be significantly lower than the $373,499 amount produced by the 1975 total of 14,605 lost mandays," said Captain Reid. - 421st TFS - Black Widows the name, professionalism the game A-2- reduces saves money Following is Gen. Robert J. Dixon's Veteran's Day message to all TAC units. General Dixon is commander, Tactical Air Command. P-7- N ElftfS Tighter Country TAC Organized as the 421st Night Fighter Squadron on April 30, 1943, this unit began training for the Pacific air war of World War II while at its first duty station, Orlando, Fla. In October of that year, it moved to Kissimmee Army Air Field, Fla. for training on 0 aircraft, a night fighter version of the 0 Havoc. In December 1943, the 421st deployed to the South Pacific Ml Continuing, the captain said, "Many TAC bases are in a position to come out with AWOL rates lower than the TAC goal of 7 per 1000 arrived at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of South Vietnam on population. June 27, 1969 and began flying under Fifth Fighter armed interdiction missions Command, Fifth Air Force over North Vietnam and Laos. 0 equipped with the For three years the 421st aircraft and later the 8 TFS was mainstay at Da Lightning. not leaving until June, While Stationed at Milne Nang, 1972 when it was reassigned to Bay, New Guinea, the new Ta Khli RTAFB, Thailand. squadron received combat There, the squadron became training assistance from the known for "Linebacker" famous Air Force Ace, Capt. escorts over the North, having (later Major) Richard Bong. never lost a single escorted In June 1944, the 42ist aircraft. received its first the While assigned to the 432nd famed "Black Widow" night TFW in April 1975, the 421st and a participated in evacuation of interceptor to the Phnom Penh, Cambodia reassignment "The reduced AWOL rates are not the result of a single cause," the captain noted, but are probably due to a number of possible causes. The volunteer force is among these because it means that the service has more willing and highly qualified people. "Other possible causes are the preventive law and AWOL counseling programs which urge the airman to 'ask first.;" This often prevents the airman from further complicating his or her "Other possible causes are the preventive law and AVVOL counseling programs which urge the airman to 'ask first.' This often prevents the airman from further or his her complicating personal problems before going AWOL to solve them. By coming through the proper channels, airmen can usually get permission the anyway," for leave concluded. captain 1966. On the F-10- Fred June 29, while flying Thunderchief, Maj. 5 L. Tracy, squadron commander, made the first MIG kill of the war. F-1- 05 Known as the "Black Widows" in Southeast Asia, squadron participated ; same dedication and professionalism that is their trademark By SSgt. Gerry Ditchfield The working environment experienced in a tactical fighter wing is unique. Accomplishing the mission is always first and foremost with a goal of "doing the job as quickly, safely and professionally as possible." However, in the rush to get the prime goals accomplished, sometimes minor things, such as housekeeping, are ignored. It takes very little time to pick up an oily rag and put it away, take a soda bottle back to the rack or sweeping a little dirt off the floor at regular intervals. these duties are accomplished at regular If The 421&t TFS adopted this unofficial patch of the "Black Widows" during their tour in Southeast Asia. The disc is gray, banded with black and red and the black widow spider in the center with a while F- -l plane superimposed on its back. HS places second regularly scheduled A few Keep a clean scene,look sharp intervals during the day, they don't become major tasks at the end of the shift. A messy shop not only creates a bad impression to visitors, but dirt and debris also create a safety or fire hazard, or both. "The first thing I look at when visiting a shop is how clean and neat the work areas are kept," said Col. Robert L. Rodee, vice commander, 388th TFW. Colonel Rodee has begun a personal campaign of getting work areas cleaned up. Shop personnel may have noticed him lately, walking around with a photographer. He's getting slide pictures of both sides of the coin. The slides will be used at wing standup to show how good some of the shops are and how bad others are. But fear of becoming noticed at wing standup should not be the reason for keeping work areas clean. A neat and tidy working area shows that people working there take pride, not only in the way they do their job, but in the appearance of their section. Adopt a new rnotto Professional, Show it." "Be the Wing off-dut- the minutes time can result in a superior shop. All materials are readily available and nothing misplaced. Keep a clean scene. (U.S. Air Force Photo By Etsil Fisher) '57 SSgt. Brenda C. Anderson is the NCOIC of Administration for the 388th Safety Office. "On my y time I play the organ for many church and civic groups" she said. She was a member of the Air Force Women's bowling team when it placed first in an interservice tournament at Camp Pendleton Marine Base, near Oceanside, Calif, in April, 1974 and has serv ed three overseas tours. Two at Korat RTAFB, Thailand and one at South Ruislip Air Base, England. Sergeant Anderson was also a Military Training Instructor at Lowry AFB, Colo., attended the NCO Leadership School at Westover AFB, Mass. and has been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. (U.S. Air Force Photo) sea so a The team lost the final game by only six points. Second place trophy and team trophies were presented at an awards ceremony at the base gym last Thursday. Coach for the team was and in Women of place in the base flag football championships. Capping a highly successful season in which the team allowed only two touchdowns to be scored against them in Vietnamese personnel from Saigon, by flying cover for evacuation aircraft. The following month the tactical operations associated with recovery of the SS Mayaguez and its crew. The 421st TFS is now assigned to the 388th TFW at Hill AFB. As one of three assigned fighter squadrons, it continues to perform with the -- s The 388th Headquarters Squadron captured second P-6- 1, forces in Japan until their deactivation in February 1947. With the advent of war in Southeast Asia, the 421st reactivated in November 1962. The squadron arrived at Korat RTAFB, Thailand in April A 388th P-3- American ilf going AWOL to solve them. P-7- removing mm personal problems before te Phillippines. At the end of World War II, the 421st joined occupation j - Jerry Rainey. Maj. Don Carson acted as assistant coach and trainer. Col. Neil L. Eddins, 388th TFW commander, Col. Robert L. Rodee, 388th TFW vice TSgt. commander and Major Carson and his wife were named as chief boosters for the team , because they attended almost every game. Since the team consisted of only 12 players, each member had to be able to play both offensive and defensive positions. Top Care Survivor Benefit Rates Air Force personnel contemplating purchasing to life insurance their supplement military or government survivor benefits should take note of recent congressional action to raise dependence indemnity compensation (DIC) rates. Col. to According J. Rudolph Stanislav, director, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, headquarters Tactical Air Command (TAC), "DIC is a program to provide a monthly income to our families in the event of death while on active duty. "As such, it is one of our most important benefits and will be even better with enactment of the new law. "Without the coverage," DIC colonel continued, "each of us would need an additional $25,000 to $50,000 of life insurance, depending on an individual's pay grade, to replace the value of DIC." This house bill, which was signed into law by President Ford on Sept. 30, will make permanent an "interim" eight per cent rate of increase which has been in effect for some time and will provide an additional seven per cent increase in cost-of-livin- g DIC rates effective Jan. 1, 1977. "This rate increase," concluded Colonel Stanislav, "will insure that benefits for our survivors are equitable with other federal programs automatically indexed by law to the consumer price index." |