Lajes AB, Azores
1st Overseas Assignment
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I arrived at Lajes around the first of June, 1960. I was assigned to the Charlie One Crew, who was responsible for the enroute maintenance of the larger aircraft such as the C-124's and C-133's plus an occassional odd ball. Actually, Charlie One was made up of several crews or teams of mechanics. The smaller aircraft such as the C-118's and C-121's were handled by the Charlie Two Crew.
It was usually feast or fammin for work. The common occurance of high winds made base closures quite common. On the other hand, it was not uncommon to have 20 to 30 inbound aircraft on an 8 hour shift, most of them short ground time. A refuel and a quick maintenance check. Usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Played a lot of Pinochle on those days when the field was closed. We were on rotating shifts which was hard enough to deal with, without messing it up worse with a sleep period out of sequence. Left, Unknown - Center, Ralph Waldron Senior Controller, Right, J.C. Wheeler Controller
After about nine months, after injuring my back while changing a generator on a short ground time (hour and a half) C-124, I got into Maintenance Control. This I enjoyed very much, but it was as hectic as the flight line. I was on the Base and NCO Club Trap Shooting teams as was my Senior Conrtoller, SSgt Ralph Waldron. We made two TDY's on the Trap Team, one to Madrid Spain to shoot competition against the Spanish Team, and one to the Island of San Miguiel, to shoot against the Portugese Team.
I had my family over there, in fact a daughter was born there, August 31, 1961. My wife, Betty ,was on the CAMS Wives Bowling Team. We lived just outside the main gate, almost across the street from the Taxi Stand. Paid $28 a month rent, the light bill was a flat rate $8 a month. A full time maid was some $20 a month and that included 2 nights a week baby sitting. Gasoline was 11 cents a gallon, bread 10 cents a loaf and cigarettes were a whopping 85 cents a CARTON. Bought a new Winchester Model 12 Shotgun for $87, wish I had a dozen or so today. Lived pretty good on the pay of an E-4. Time to leave for Stateside again, off to, Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas. |