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Sunday, July 9, 2023

Westbound ...

The Collings Foundation F-4D Phantom II
By the time you read this, I will be on my way to the aeroporto for a ten day stint in Sandy Eggo. I'll be working aboard a haze gray ship of the United States Navy.

Talk quietly among yourselves, stay away from the liquor cabinet ...

Oh why bother? You'll be in it up to your elbows in no time. So have at it lads and lassies, just be nice.

Brother juvat is up on the morrow, I'll try to squeak something out from the hotel.

Stay frosty ...




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28 comments:

  1. Nylon12July 9, 2023 at 3:19 AM

    Safe travels Sarge. The Road goes ever on and on.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 5:23 AM

    Shepherdson, LTJG, USS Michael Monsoor. His grandparents Linda and Mike attend church with us and occasionally share a frosty beer and a pizza outside of San Antonio. He should still be assigned to the ship but is preparing to transfer to a new duty station. If you see him, tell him his grandparents are proud of him. Small world we live in...and have fun for the rest of us!
    :-)
    -Barry

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 5:56 AM

    Those Zumwalt's didn't look exactly "Haze Gray" to me but you've been much closer than I have, Sarge. The 32nd Street waterfront looks very different from the days I did penance in the Fleet. I've only seen it from the water and have NO intention of going through the gate ever again.
    Vaya con Dios, Sarge
    Boat Guy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJuly 9, 2023 at 6:14 AM

      My CAC card has my rank encoded, I like that. Got a raised eyebrow from a coworker that rode in with me one morning when the guy on the gate said "Have a good day, Master Sergeant." The Navy is good with that sort of thing. "

      Yeah, the Zumwalts look paler than haze gray. I'll have to ask what shade of gray they use.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 9:22 AM

      We used to have maze gray for the bulkheads, deck gray for [guess where],machinery gray for stuff in the holes or berthing furniture, and torpedo gray. I think the airdales had gull gray for their toys. But, something about 50 shades of gray in the Navy just doesn't seem appropriate.
      John Blackshoe

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeJuly 9, 2023 at 5:54 PM

      Hahaha!

      Delete
    4. AnonymousJuly 10, 2023 at 8:21 PM

      Dunno John! "50 shades" seems perfectly appropriate for today's Fleet
      BG

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeJuly 10, 2023 at 8:34 PM

      Yeah, but ...

      Nah, I got nothing.

      Delete
  4. Hippy Dan, Pilot of the Starship 2112.July 9, 2023 at 7:21 AM

    You flying that thing to the Left Coast? And who is this Sandy person? Bet they don't make an Eggo better than me, man. Saft travels. See ya when you get back.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mary F.July 9, 2023 at 7:55 AM

    Safe travel Sarge! Hope this phase goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. RobJuly 9, 2023 at 7:58 AM

    10 days on the west coast in July, there are worse things... The last time I was in San Diego was in 2009 for Comic Con.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 8:18 AM

    Crusty Old TV Tech here. Bon chance mon ami in the deserts of Californiastan. At least San D is in the faaar SOUTHERN end of that place. Love the picture, that F-4D is one mean, nasty looking hunk of aluminum overcast (that's a big complement for a warbird). Great at turning JP-4 to outrageous quantities of noise, smoke and bang bang! Just the thing to ruin the bad guys day, when used per label instructions.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 9:32 AM

    That F4D- be still my beating heart!

    At first glance, "Hey that's a really great photo and I sure do miss those noisy smoky things, even the non-carrier deployed ones."
    Second glance- "What's that "OY" tail flash?"
    Third look- Something like "Huh,"Triple nickel" on the top?"
    Fourth look- (via google)- OY= Udorn, Thailand.
    Closer look- FIVE nice little red and yellow things up by the intake.

    BINGO! That has to be none other than his badass self, COL Robin Olds!

    I bet with a high resolution you can see the world's greatest fighter pilot mustache peeking out of the mask.

    Salute to COL Olds, and to Sarge for sharing this reminder of the good old day when the USAF was all about "Fly and fight, or support those that do."

    I'm surprised this is not on your masthead rotation.
    John Blackshoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 9:34 AM

      Okay, so it's the Collings Foundation tribute, not the actual thing, but close enough for me.
      JB

      Delete
    2. OldAFSargeJuly 9, 2023 at 5:57 PM

      Actually the five kills were made by Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue. I have worked the actual 7463 at Kadena and at Kunsan. The actual airframe is now a static display at the AF Academy.

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeJuly 9, 2023 at 5:57 PM

      Oh yeah, I believe the Collings Foundation repainted her fairly recently to represent a different F-4D.

      Delete
  9. Joe LovellJuly 9, 2023 at 9:48 AM

    Safe journey! Keep her steady between the hawsepipes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJuly 9, 2023 at 10:43 AM

    Have a safe/great trip, my friend. Eat some more realistic Mexican food (if you're allowed). Miss Jeanie and I would give a lot for a decent burrito here in Ormond-by-the-Sea!
    Fuzz-D4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJuly 9, 2023 at 6:00 PM

      Diet-wise I have to be vewy, vewy careful for the next few days. I can't even have a beer until next week!

      Thanks, Fuzz-D4! (Man you have a lot of monikers!)

      Delete
    2. TunaJuly 10, 2023 at 5:12 AM

      Bland soup and water? I think Shakespeare's does a clam chowder that might work! Hope to see you if schedules align.

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeJuly 10, 2023 at 5:55 AM

      Hahaha!

      I'll be in touch.

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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