Is She Ready to Go?
submitted by: Alva Leon Matheson
After the birds came out of periodic maintenance, I’d preflight ‘em, fuel ‘em up, perform engine run-ups, and even taxi them around the ramp when the “Big Cheeses” weren’t around. Of course, that was to test the brakes for sponginess
only – of course.
It was Jim who said, “They started when I started them and they shut down the same way – and they brought me back every time.” Captain Macaulay would often come up to me and ask, “Is she ready to go?”
“Yes sir,” I would say, and he often enough would never look at the aircraft again. He would simply tell me to “button it up,” and he would jump in.
At that point, I’d lock the cowling down and pull the ladder away from the wings, stand by with the fire extinguisher, and pull the chocks when he gave me the signal. An hour or so later he’d return and I’d go over any problems he’d noted – usually spongy brakes.
Next day same thing, “Is she ready to go?” “Yes sir!”
But once in a while it was, “Good, get your helmet, you’re going with me!”
Personally I thought this was an excellent way to keep a crew chief on his toes. And in another way it was a tremendous compliment to our maintenance skills and dedication. It said we were a team.
Gentlemen, don’t think for one second we didn’t know what you were up against. We truly appreciated the fact that mechanical failure of our birds was not acceptable – things were bad enough. As a crew chief I’d often perform a specific task, then double check, then triple check, then ask another crew chief to look at it. And at that point our QC man would go over it.
The pilots in 19th TASS were fortunate to have a QC inspector like Larry Reynolds. I still recall the remedial training he gave me on my safety wiring technique. Oh sure it would have passed and the chance of failure was nil. However, Larry would point out, “You can do it better.” And then he’d take the time to show me his technique. Larry’s attitude and inspiration stayed with me the whole time I was in the AF.
I always considered myself to be one of the fortunate few when it came to my military service. I wanted to be part of the AF Team and I wanted to be involved with aircraft. This probably sounds strange to this day’s “new generation.” Even at my time of enlisting the military wasn’t fashionable. Call me crazy if you like, but I volunteered for my assignment to Vietnam. When I arrived in country my two brothers were already there. Due to the “Sullivan Act,” I had an opportunity to turn down my assignment. To me this was not an option.
My uncles served in the AAC during WWII, and they had a strong influence on my brothers and me. As a young boy I’d spend my summer vacations in my hometown of Clinton, Iowa flying with my Uncle Bob in his Cessna 140. The first time he did a loop in that bird, I was hooked.
To Jim Kidder, Jim Glanton, and Bill Shelton I would like to address the REMF subject.
Gentlemen believe me I am not down on myself about this, so-called REMF status. I am perfectly comfortable with my station in life. I am also acutely aware of the sacrifices made by so many of America’s finest. Although to this day it angers me beyond comprehension the way our country has treated all Vietnam Veterans. To this day, I hold my head high, and I’m proud of my service as a support person. My logic is thus – If you weren’t the one hanging it out everyday then in my book you qualify for REMF status. I truly appreciate your compliments and I’m sure I speak for every crew chief. Your were our charge and it was our responsibility to give you the best aircraft possible I pray to the good God Lord that none of us failed.
Editor’s Note: I have deliberately chosen not to edit this piece too much. I think it says more “in the raw” than it would say if I smoothed it out a bit. Put another way, I could easily edit the “bite” out of it, but at that point, it would have no meaning. So, I have chosen to leave it pretty much alone. I would like to think it speaks for Sergeant Art Skillman and Airman Cotton, and others who served me so well as crew chiefs. As for the REMF comment – there were REMFs, but our crew chiefs weren’t among them, and Bob, you need to know that we knew that!