After my Germany tour, I was assigned to the 552nd Airborne Early Warning Wing at McClellan AFB, California. While there, I took the Officer Candidate School test, passed it, and was accepted for class 57C.
Upon completing OCS, I was assigned to Harlingen AFB, Texas for navigator training and then back to Keesler AFB for Electronic Warfare Officer school. Upon graduation, I was assigned to SAC, but first I had to attend Survival School at Stead AFB, Nevada; Combat Crew training at Castle AFB, California, and B-52 Difference training at Travis AFB, California.
My next assignment was to the 28th Bomb Wing at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico from August 1959 to August 1962. Then, on to the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. While at Ellsworth, I went on my first Arc Lite tour from March 1967 to September 1967, at Andersen AFB, Guam.
The next duty was with 5th Bomb Wing at Travis AFB, California from January 1967 to June 1969. After Travis, I was assigned to the 22nd Bomb Wing, March AFB, California. While at March, I went on my second Arc Lite tour, January-July 1969. I flew missions out of Guam, Okinawa, and Thailand. Upon return, I was reassigned to Headquarters, SAC, at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. I served in the SAC headquarters for four years (August 69 to August 73). For my next assignment, I remained at Offutt and was transferred to the 544th Air Reconnaissance Technical Wing, August 1973 – January 1976.
From there, I went to the 376th Strategic Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where I served until August 1978. I was then assigned to the 50th Tac Fighter Wing at Hahn Air Base, Germany for three years, August 1978- August 1981. My last assignment was with Headquarters 15th Air Force at March AFB, California from which I retired in October 1985.
Tom
Ed. Note: After a long battle with kidney disease, Tom passed away on 2/27/2006.
Send E-Mail to: dnagel@cox.net