340boy, my oldest and best friend was an RF-4 IP in the Idaho ANG at Boise. He flew a bunch of combat missions from Thailand, went on to be a T-37 instructor (when I met him) then the RF-4 and finally an Alaska Airlines 737 jockey. He is now retired and lives in Eagle. None of which is of the slightest interest to anyone here.
I have 40 hours, mostly solo, in the bastardized AT-33. It was half T-33 trainer (two seats) and half F-80 (guns and rocket/bomb pylons) that I flew out of Cannon AFN, NM. They were used as in-country trainers for guys called up to Korea, and then mothballed until needed to upgrade us Forward Air Controllers who were destined to work with the US Army (an Army requirement). We called it "Instant Fighter Pilot School" because we came out of it with the genudamnwine official rating of "Fighter Pilot."
Rocky, I envy you and your friend your experiences in the AF.
Also, thank you for your service to this country, sir.
"For joy of knowing what may not be known we take the golden road to Samarkand." James Elroy Flecker
