Comments by "Colonel K" (@Paladin1873) on "B-47 over the USSR" video.

  1. What a cool movie this would make. I can appreciate Colonel Austin's hesitancy to talk about the mission if LeMay had still been alive. He was always a daunting personality, even in old age. When I was a brand new shave tail (2nd lieutenant) in 1978 I was assigned to escort duty for distinguished visitors at a major USAF Security Police symposium on Lackland AFB. One of these guests was General LeMay, who had been instrumental in the creation of the predecessor organization, the Air Police (now Security Force). During a BBQ housed under a large general purpose tent I saw him sitting alone at a picnic table eating his lunch. I briefly pondered the notion of joining him, but remembering all the tales my Dad had told me about LeMay when Dad had served in the Air Force in the late 40s and early 50s, I hesitated and decided discretion was the better part of valor. Soon some old acquaintances of LeMay showed up and they began chatting, so he was no longer alone. As for me, I've always regretted my decision, even though it was likely a prudent one, because we so rarely have the opportunity to interact with living history.
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  2. My ROTC detachment at Georgia Tech (1973-77) was a rogues' gallery of Air Force flyers. Our first detachment commander had started his career flying P-51 escort missions over Germany. Our second detachment commander was a former B-47 driver who kept a massive photo of the plane over his desk. One of my class instructors had been an AC-130 aircraft commander in Vietnam and another one had flown the RB-57 during that conflict. I don't recall if it was the D or F model, but in one of his desk photos he was wearing what looked like an orange space suit (as best I recall).
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  3.  @vanceb1  If only we could relive such moments in our lives. Then again, we might step in it.
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