ELMER MALLETTE JR Colonel USAF (Retired)

USAF OCS CLASS 57C, OC LT, 5th Squadron Training

I was born in Odon, Indiana on 20 September 1930, oldest of four children. After graduating from High School in May 1948, I enlisted in the Air Force on 4 June because I wanted to become a pilot - and didn't want to be a farmer! After basic training at Lackland AFB, I attended Aircraft and Engine (Jet) School at Chanute AFB and was then sent to Howard Air Base in Panama. I served as an assistant Crew Chief on an F-80 for ten months until Howard closed and I was reassigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB. I became a Crew Chief on a T-33 aircraft and kept that job when the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing moved to Langley AFB and eventually to Wethersfield RAF Station in England. After returning to the States in December 1954, I worked at Scott AFB in Transient Aircraft Maintenance until reassignment to Laughlin AFB in March 1956, working on T-33's again. While at Scott, I obtained a Student Pilot's License - still interested in becoming an Air Force pilot. Next came OCS Class 57-C in March 1957. The OCS experience was one never to be forgotten and was very hectic to say the least. OCS candidates were a special group of people and will be long remembered. I only encountered one OCS graduate, however, in some 30 years of commissioned service. I intended to apply for pilot training but the AF quit granting waivers for officers over age 27, and I was 27 on graduation day!

Following graduation came Aircraft Maintenance Officer School at Chanute AFB and then assignment to Lockbourne AFB with the 376th Field Maintenance Squadron. The wing had lots of B-47s and KC-97s and I stayed there until April 1964 when reassigned to Headquarters, Eighth Air Force at Westover AFB to the KC-135/Support Aircraft Maintenance Branch. After one year, I received orders for Vietnam and spent two months at Ton Son Nhut Air Base and the last ten months at Binh Thuy Air Base in the Delta. Next came a tour at SAC Headquarters in the Aircraft Maintenance Policy and Procedures Branch.

After three years at SAC, I attended England's Royal Air Force Staff College at RAF Station Bracknell for one year and then sent to an Exchange Officer post at RAF Station High Wycombe with HQ Strike Command for two years. The RAF maintenance people were a great bunch of folks to work with and for. No twelve plus hour days, few briefing requirements, Wednesday afternoons were sport days and weekend work was very rare. Their Officer "OER" rating system was unique. The OER was not discussed or shown to the ratee. The ratee could visit the RAF personnel shop in London and be told how he or she was performing, but would not be shown the OER. It certainly allowed the rater to "tell it as it was" and probably made a more accurate assessment of performance.

After returning to the USAF in 1973, I served as the 5th FMS Commander at Minot AFB (B-52/KC-135 aircraft) for about a year, then sent to Thailand as Commander of the 8th OMS (F-4 aircraft) at Ubon RTAFB for four months, then as Commander of the 347th FMS at Korat RTAFB (F-111 aircraft) for eight months, and then to HQ TAC, Langley AFB, VA as Chief of the Maintenance Management Division. That was a very "interesting" four-year tour and one likely to never be forgotten. Lots of overtime, tense environment, many briefings, but lots of good, hard working folks in the LG areas. I completed lots of college courses and was able to get a degree in Business Administration after some three years of night classes and six months of Operation Bootstrap.

In February 1979 came an assignment as the DCM of the 366th TFW, Mountain Home AFB -- with the F-111 aircraft again. Tough aircraft to maintain - lots of "Hanger Queen" aircraft, parts shortages, and operational challenges. Nevertheless, good people, nice part of the world, learned to ski, and enjoyed the work.

Next assignment was as DCM of the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. We had a variety of aircraft, such as T-39s, C-130s, EC-135s, and one T-37 that were used for testing AF electronic equipment. Several EC-135s have a seven-foot antenna in their nose for collecting telemetry data for DOD customers. Half of our maintenance force were skilled civilians and had been in the wing for many years, thus providing a thorough knowledge of the various aircraft systems. Best DCM job in the Air Force!

Last job was with the Air Force Systems Command IG at Eglin AFB. I had always tried to avoid an IG assignment but the only escape was to retire - and I wasn't quite ready yet! Actually, the IG was an interesting job. Visited a lot of acquisition functions in AFSC, learned a lot, worked with the best folks AFSC had to offer, and enjoyed my last three years in the Air Force. After retirement, Jeanne and I traveled in a 5th Wheel Travel Trailer for about nine months and then bought a home in Niceville, FL. Now playing a lot of golf and visiting the kids.

Last, but certainly not least, I married Jeanne in 1951 and still have her, or she still tolerates me. We have three sons that have made us proud -- two have provided five grandchildren and the youngest is still single. All completed college and are successful in their careers -- the oldest, Steve, owns a Forestry/Farm Management Company in Virginia, the second, Scott, is the Senior Advisor to the Chief of the DOE's Brookhaven Laboratory on Long Island, NY, and the youngest, Todd, is an attorney in Mobile, AL. We have been very fortunate.

I guess you could say I enjoyed my AF career, after having stayed with it over 39 years. I especially enjoyed my enlisted time and the fine people with whom I was privileged to work. I also worked with some excellent people throughout my commissioned career. The six months in OCS was also very memorable. Lot of folks working together and striving to successfully complete a difficult and challenging program. It was the most rewarding experience of my life! Hope to attend the next reunion.

Elmer (“Buzz”) Mallette