I was doing research for a Homeland Security class a couple of years ago when I came across this picture:
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| W80 Warhead Receipt, Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY, 4622 MMS (circa 1981) |
I'm behind Airman Grimord on the right (I'm holding the checklist -- I was crew chief on this op). SSG Timmerman was QA and observing (Facing camera).
I have no idea who is underneath.
This was receipt of the first W80 nuclear warhead at Griffiss AFB in 1981 for loading on the Air Launched Cruise Missile.
I'm also in this pic (my back is!)
In the distance underneath the ALCM there is a SRAM (Short Range Attack Missle) that also was nuclear armed.
Good times!
By the way -- I have no pictures from those days -- cameras weren't exactly welcome in a Nuclear Weapons Storage Area! My guess is these were declassified by the Air Force recently.
What's missing is the image of the huge mushroom cloud mural I painted on the back wall of this maintenance bay....
Very cool! I joined the 416th as a 46330 in October, 1982. I thought this pic, which has been floating around th eweb for years, was in our High Bay in the WAS! I was stationed there from October, '82, to Jan. '86, when, by the skin of my teeth, I was granted cross-training (a first for some 35 463s). I went became a jet engine technincian. I haven't been able to locate anyone from my time at Griffiss. SSGT Kevin finnegan was my first supervisor. Then, Keith Brockaway, Steve Preble, and I remember Timmerman becoming our shop chief in '84. Then, Msgt Kurtz, who was the last shop chief, when I cross-trained. My name is Doug MacKenzie. I remember receiving and installing many W-80s. I also worked extensively on SRAMS. Do you remember Doc Wachter? Angus Claytor was the QA guy when I was there.
ReplyDeleteHi Doug, Bob Durling here. I was a 316 missile mechanic with the 416th. From 1981 to 1985. I remember you well. I also remember Doc and Angus. Col's Connor and then Pappe were the CO's when I was there. Pete Flahive was the SMSGT in charge of the IMF.
DeleteWow! Amazing! Doug -- you must have worked in the new building. I was working SRAM and bombs (a backhanded gift to us newly married guys, I think!)
DeleteBob -- I remember you!
Hi Dan, Doug, & Bob - Joe Toppi here. I worked in the ALCM shop at Griffiss from April 1984 until November 1986. Great to read these posts, see the pictures, and hear all those old names! Dan, I don't think we ever worked together, but Doug & Bob, we were there in the WSA during the same period. In fact, Doug - I think we lived in the same apartment complex over on North Levitt Street, as did Frank Major, who also worked in our shop. When I left Griffiss & went to Edwards I again worked with Angus Claytor, Kevin Finnegan, Doc AND Nancy Wachter (Doc got out & worked as a defense contractor while we were there), & Brian Grimmord (who became an OSI agent at Edwards). Pete Flahive & Mike Kurtz, who I worked for in he IMF have both since passed away. Keith Brockaway was my first direct supervisor at the Griff, & Steve Preble was a great guy (MANY excellent parties out at his family's house out on New Floyd Road!)Lt. Col. Pappe was also the 416 MMS Commander when I arrived there. Such a beautiful Air Force base & lots of great memories ... hated to see it close. I hope that all of you guys continue to do well. Great to hear that you're out there. - Joe.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great memory! Brian was best man at my wedding. We finally reconnected a couple of years back. He and Karen live in Fredrick, VA now.
ReplyDeleteHey there, I was stationed at Griffiss between 80-83 as the new IMF was being constructed. We moved into the new facility and worked on the stock pile of ALCM missiles. After the inspection of the first W80 nuclear warhead at Griffiss AFB in 1981 I along with A1C Kevin Finnegan and SSGT Angus Claytor loaded it into the first AGM-86 Air Launched Cruise Missile and put it onto a pylon.
ReplyDeleteAs I remember, that facility and the support equipment had a lot of bad bugs due to some bad designs engineering. The over head doors use to try to open while they were locked and if you weren’t careful you could bend the dead bolts. The monorail hoist counter balance came crashing down on top of a missile and almost killed one of the contractors from Boeing one day. The trailer that carried the pylon use to break all the time. I remember being on the cat walk when it was teetering back and forth like a piece of playground equipment. Fun times but I’d never want to be part of a first time deployment of untested equipment again after that experience.
Names from the past:
Greg Clute
Otto Kline
Mike Breadahoff
Angus Claytor
Thomas Stackhouse
Kevin Finnegan
My goodness -- those were all folks I worked with when we were doing SRAM and Bombs. Then a couple of us were shifted to the bomb shop -- what a culture shock that was! We were "married guys" and I guess they figured we'd be less happy working the long hours. But we worked them anyway!
ReplyDeleteDan, I remember your name from the bomb shop. I really never got to know anybody there because of the work load at the IMF between 81-83. I left May of 83 and went to a bomb shop overseas. The difference between the bomb and missiles shop was the politics. Working SRAM and ALCM you had a lot more freedom because there was a lot more to do and less time to think about it whereas in the bomb shop you trained to be certified so you could be ready for a day that may never come. Bomb polishers. I never like it in the bomb shop I was in. I never made it back to SAC. Like many others, I got cross trained out in the late 80s and then separated when my enlistment was up.
ReplyDeleteAngus, Kevin and I use to take weekend fishing trips and camp. Those were the best days.
What happen to Leon G?
I was in the IMF from 80-81. We were plenty busy in both shops, and I was never happier the day I separated. a year later I was in the NY ANG, then PAANG (193rd SOG), then 11 years commissioned Army officer after Army OCS.
ReplyDeleteHmmm.........I'm sure the spelling of the last names will be suspect, but let's recall...........
DeleteDoug McKenzie, did everything and drove a Falcon.
Doc Wachter, only man I ever knew who washed his hands before he went.
Bob Hess, Just the damn coolest guy.......next to the Fonz.
LT Turko, damn that eye!!!!!!
Michael Collins, best damn screw remover.
Keith Brockway, just a good guy.
Frank Major, never could say garage properly.
Baron Dobert, what a slut.
Joe Toppi, proud of his stripes.
Dave Thimpson, loved to eat.
Henry "Hank" Oaks, Mr Air Force.
Bob Blasi, did not belong in the military.
Kevin Finnegan, played a good Hendrix at costume parties.
Doozer, I can't remember his damn name but wow.......take a bath.
Nancy Wachter, read the same poem every Christmas.
Mike Kurtz, never did trust that guy.
Lt. Ingman, Best officer we ever had.
I could go on destroying name spellings but I'll leave with this...........
The one thing I remember most is the long night playing cards, laughing at the little man on the wall of the break room flipping us off and eating pizza rolls.
I have pictures of all of you......and the break room picture. A camera wasn't that hard to find in those days.
416 MMS, Building 917..........Mushroom Farmers. I still have the T-shirt.
If you guys put the first live W80 to go to ABLE row on a pylon, our crew was the first to put it on the plane. I was a 46250 from across the runway and our crew got tapped on a weekend to load it up. Not planned, it just worked out that way as we were on that weekend. I worked as a 1 Man on a load crew in MMS from Dec 80--Jan 83. I still have the commemorative AGM-86B medallion that Boeing gave away once the system went live.
ReplyDeleteI just chatted with Mike Breddhoeft today on Facebook. He informed me that Angus Clayter or Claytor and Doc Wachter passed away. He went on to tell me a funny story, Nancy Wachter divorced Doc and married Angus. I don't think anybody would have ever predicted that.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness -- realy? What happened to Angus?
DeleteI don't have the details but, I heard he died of a heart attack while driving. Mike also said that Doc died of cancer. Both were way too young. I taught Angus to fish while we were stationed together. I use to go camping with his wife and kids. RIP guys.
Deletehttp://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Claytor&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GSsr=41&GRid=154250561&
DeleteThanks for the ink, Don. Wow... I'll have to contact Brian Grimord. Brian followed Angus to CA after Griffiss.
DeleteHoly moly!! Doc is gone? And Angus? Jeezo....
DeleteI didn't know about Nancy and Angus. Must have happened after I left. I wonder whatever happened to Kevin Finnegan....
Oh my word!!! Angus and Doc are gone? Way too early....damn.
DeleteHi there!! Doug MacKenzie, here! I was a 463 in the Griffiss IMF from October 1982, until December 1985, when I cross-trained into turboprop propulsion on C-130s. Went to the ME for the Gulf War. Separated in 1992. I always enjoyed my time at Griffiss, and it's SO cool to see so many names I remember so well. I went to 463 school with Keith Brockway and Steve Preble, who were crosstraining into nukes. Kevin Finnegan was my first supervisor, and Keith Brockway my second. I'm now living a few hours from Griffiss. I keep telling myself to stop and check it out when I'm passing through, but, honestly, the Google Earth photos were depressing enough. It was all new and shiny when I was there. Maybe I don't need to be reminded that, along with the old base, I too, am crumbling into history. But, what a boatload of great memories from my time there!!!
ReplyDeleteHi folks!! What a blast from the past!! I was a 463 at Griffiss, in the IMF, ALCM and SRAM, from October 1982 to December 1985, when I cross-trained into turboprop propulsion, working on C-130 engines and props until 1992, when I separated. Went to the Gulf War in September 1990, returning in July 1991. I well remember my time in the IMF!!! Kevin Finnegan was my first supervisor. I went to school at Lowry AFB with Keith Brockway and Steve Preble, both of whom became my supervisors, in time. I've often thought of stopping at Griffiss when I'm passing by on my way to see my brother, in Syracuse, but I never do. I guess I don't need the visual reminder that the WSA is crumbling into history....but, man, what great times, there.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news about Doc & Angus. Two great guys. I've chatted off & on with Mike Arlaud on facebook. I also keep in touch with Bob Porter and Rich Ulin... a couple of TSGT's from my shop. I saw Lt Ingman's name mentioned above. I agree: he was the best officer we had. He helped me when I was applying for OTC. Those were great times. + Bob Durling
ReplyDelete