!969 to 1970 – South Korea
The 6146th Air Force Advisory Group (AFAG) was located in Seoul Korea. Headquarters was co-located with the Korean Air Force (ROKAF) at their building on the south side of the Han River. Quarters for families was on the US Army Youngsan Post north of the Han River. Unaccompanied personnel were housed in two dormitories on Camp Coiner adjacent to the Youngsan Post. AFAG also had operating locations throughout South Korea. This included Kimpo, Taejon, and Taegu and the ROKAF air bases and radar sites. AFAG was part of Headquarters USAF at Bolling AFB, MD and all personnel were in South Korea on diplomatic passports. AFAG was not part of a Military Assistance Group (MAAG). AFAG had personnel from all administrative, operations, support, and technical areas to include Communications Electronics. Significant events during this period included the destruction of an EC-121 over the Sea of Japan (aka East Korea Sea) by North Korea in 1969. On a positive note, ROKAF received the firs...
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!970 to 1973 – Gunter AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
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Certificate accompanying the award of the Air Force Commendation Medal.
1945 to 1991 – North America
Prepared by the Radar Station Veterans Worldwide (RSVWW) on Nov 10, 2014. This statement helps to preserve the air defense effort, primarily covering the cold war period of time, for our defense of the country and preserving peace. I served as a Communications and Electronics Officer at the 689th Radar Squadron, Mount Hebo Air Force Station from 1965 to 1967.
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OUR NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE LEGACY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION; the legacy, of those who participated in the Air Defense of the North American continent during the cold war, will be passed on to future generations through literally hundreds of available reference sources. The following are suggested as outstanding sources. First, web sites such as the USAF Radar Station Veterans, the Online Radar Museum, then through books such as The Peacekeepers (author Jack Miller, ISBN: 978-1-936759-09-5) and lastly the National Air Defense...
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1956 to 1979 – Mount Hebo Air Force Station, Oregon
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Squadron identification patch.
1959 to 2009 – Many Places
Steve Weatherly
5743 Bent Oak Drive
Sarasota, FL 34232 (Nov to Apr)
21325 Otter Pond Road
Wellesley Island, NY 13640 (May to Oct)
[email protected]941-371-1597 / 315-482-910
It took me almost 40 years to settle down after graduating with as BS from the College of Forestry at Syracuse University in 1963. I could blame it on the draft. Truth is I wanted to see more of the world and the military was a very good travel agent. So I signed up for the Air Force in 1964 as a Communications and Electronics Officer. At first everything I had would fit in my car as I traveled about between assignments in Texas (twice), Mississippi, and Oregon. Then I was off to Korea, and got married to Jin in 1970. I was still on the Air Force roller coaster, but now needed a moving van. Our daughter Jane joined up for the ride in 1974 in San Antonio, TX. We lived in Virginia (twice), Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas before retiring from the Air Force in 1984 after 20 great years. My Air Forc...
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1963 – Syracuse, NY
In 1948, a new selective service act was passed in the United States that required all men aged 18 to 26 to register. Once registered, men aged 19 to 26 were liable to be drafted (conscripted) for 21 months' military service, which would be followed by 5 years of reserve duty. The draft was primarily used to meet US Army manpower needs. The United States subsequently halted conscription in 1973. I registered for the draft in Syracuse, NY in 1959 when I was 18. I was then issued a Draft Card. While at the College of Forestry (now Environmental Sciences and Forestry) at Syracuse University from 1959 to 1963 I was classified as 3-S (student). When I was a Junior in College, I had to report to the Draft Board for a pre-induction physical. As a result, I was classifed 1-A (ready for service) upon graduation from College. While still in College, I interviewed for jobs and the first question was always what is your draft classification. My answer 3-S was not ac...
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4 Jan 1964 – Syracuse, New York
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Certificate of enlistment on active duty in the United States Air Force. After enlisting I was sent to Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, TX (Medina Annex).
4 Jan 1964 to 31 Mar 1964 – Lackland AFB, Medina Annex, San Antonio, TX
I enlisted in the Air Force on 3 Jan 1964 and immediately was headed to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. From Syracuse we were flown on a commercial flight to New York City where we joined a much larger group and all were headed to Lackland AFB. This group was largely made up of people going into enlisted basic training. I was part of the much smaller group going into the Officer Training School. On the commercial flights from Syracuse, NY to NYC, and from NYC to San Antonio, TX we were all treated as regular airline passengers. That all changed when we arrived at the San Antonio airport very early in the morning before dawn. My OTS group was separated out from the rest of the group. Those going into enlisted basic training were immediately organized by tough talking Training Instructors and herded onto blue Air Force buses for Lackland AFB. Those of us going to OTS were left in the passenger waiting area and left much to ourselves. Most took the opportunity to nap as we had been up si...
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Jan 1964 to Apr 1984 – Lackland AFB, TX to Washington, DC
On enlisting into the Air Force my serial number was AF12680998 (my Dad's was 32044998, same last 3). This was very important since all my Air Force issued clothing had to be marked with the first letter of my last name, and the last 4 digets of my serial number. Hence I became W0998. When commissioned a 2dLt in the AF reserves my serial number became AO3148021. At this point no one was concerned about how my clothing was marked. A true transition had been made from enlisted man to Officer. A year later when I became a 2dLt in the regular AF, my serial number became FR79587. As time marched on the Air Force changed serial numbers to Social Security Numbers (SSNs).
30 Mar 1964 – Lackland AFB, TX
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Issued upon discharge as a Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in the regular Air Force. At this time I received an Air Force commission as a Second Lieutenant (2dLt).
31 Mar 1964 – Lackland AFB, TX (Medina Annex)
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Headquarters Air training Command letter designating me a Distinguished Graduate of The Officer Training School Class 64-F. I was initially commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the AF Reserve. However, because I was a Distinguished Graduate my commissioned was changed in 1965 to Second Lieutenant in the Regular AF.
1964 - 1965 – Keesler AFB, MS
In 1964-65, Ground Electronics Officers in AFSC 3041 attended a 51 week long training program at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. The only longer training was for undergraduate pilots at 55 weeks. Part 1 (Electronics Fundamentals) was conducted for 30 weeks at Keesler AFB Annex #3, just off US Hwy 90 and closer to Gulfport than Biloxi. There was a bus from the Keesler AFB BOQ that provided transportation to and from Annex #3. Annex #3 was formerly the Gulf Coast Military Academy. All the Annex #3 buildings are now gone, and the grounds are part of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport. Part 2 (Sets) for radar maintenance was held over 21 weeks at Keesler AFB Annex #1 off Pass Road just down the road from one of the back gates to Keesler. Training was based on the FPS-6 Height Finder and the FPS-20 Search radars. Additional training was provided on the OA-99 and UPA-35 search radar displays, and a RHI height finder display. Graduate Ground Electronics Officers received maintenance assignments at units such as radar squadrons, weather squadrons, and security service squadrons.
1964 to 1984
- Student Officer Training School Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) (Medina Annex) 1964 Distinguished Graduate
- Student Ground Electronics Officer Course (Radar Systems), Keesler AFB, MS 1964-1965
- Communications-Electronics Officer, 689th Radar Squadron, Mt Hebo Air Force Station (AFS), OR 1965-1967
- Student Air Force Institute of technology with duty at Texas AM University, College Station, TX 1967-1969
- Senior Ground Electronics Advisor (Radar Systems), 6146 Air Force Advisory Group, Seoul, South Korea 1969-1970
- Computer Systems Analyst (Data Communications), Detachment 13, Headquarters Air Force Communications Service, Washington, DC 1970-1972; and Gunter AFS, AL 1972-1973
- Student Advanced Communications-Electronics Course, Keesler AFB, MS 1973
- Communications-Electronics Staff Officer, Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX 1973-1977
- Data Communications Systems Analyst, Defense Communications Agency, Arlington, VA 1977-1984
1964 to 1977 – Various
Much of what I learned about my Air Force duties and specific responsibilities was learned on-the job. We call this OJT. For the Airmen there was Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX and then formal Proficiency Training to provide a structured and documented approach to increasing their skill levels. This was the Air Force classification system. There was an entry level that included a school like Keesler AFB, MS for communications and electronics fundamental and an introduction to specific equipment operation and/or maintenance. For others, they were sent to a directed duty assignment and learned by OJT. This included jobs like administration and personnel services. Once at a duty location, personnel in communication or electronic completed OJT and Proficiency training to receive an upgrade to a 5 (journeyman) level. From there they progressed through 7 (technician) to the 9 (supervisor) skill level. In addition, many different subjects were offered through correspondence class administ...
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Mar 1965 – Keesler AFB, MS
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Dog Tag with my Regular Air Force serial number in 1965, 2dLt.
27 Apr 1965 – Keesler AFB, MS (Biloxi, MS)
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Issued upon completion of the 51 week Air Force course in ground-electronics. This course was the primary school to train AF Officers in radar maintenance.
1965 – Annex 1, Keesler AFB, MS
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Graduates of my Radar Maintenance class at Keesler AFB, MS
1966 – Mt Hebo AFS, Oregon
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From L to R - Lt Col Walter O. Reil (689th Radar Squadron Commander), Major General Elder (Commander 25th Air Division), 1st Lt Steve Weatherly (Radar Maintenance Officer). Foggy days were frequent on top of Mt Hebo.
1966 – Mt Hebo Air Force Station, Oregon
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A view of the radar towers looking towards the Pacific Ocean. This radar site was operated and maintained by the 689th Radar Squadron. This squadron was part of the US Air Force, Air Defense Command, 25th Air Division.
Feb 1967 to May 1970 – South Korea
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Pocket Badge I wore while in Korea. This badge is enamel over metal. A leather tag was attached with a button hole so you could wear it suspended from the left side of your shirt or coat. This Badge is 2 inches square.
1967 – Mount Hebo Air Force Station, Oregon
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View of the Air Force radar station looking northeast. The three white radomes are on the left and they provided envronmental protection to the radar antenna under each one. From the left to the right the radomes were for the FPS-26A height finder radar, the FPS-24 search radar, and the FPS-90 height finder radar. The largest radome is 140 feet in diameter and 96 feet tall. It was installed on a five story, 85 foot tall radar tower. On the right side of the photo is the station administartive area with offices, barracks, dining hall, commissary, gym, snack bar, bowling alley, motor pool, and power plant. A family housing area with 27 homes was located down the mountain about 2 miles away to the west. The radar station was at 3154 feet in altitude and 5 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The land surrounding the radar station was part of the Siuslaw National Forest. About 70 miles away to the east was Portland, OR. By 1984 all of the facilities of the radar station were removed and today's visitors can only see a meadow. The US Forest Service added an interpretive sign in Aug 2014 that includes photos, text, and a timeline to show visitors the complex air defense facility that was formerly on the top of mount Hebo.
Feb 1969 to May 1970 – South Korea
I spent many days in 1969-70 along or adjacent to the south boundary of the DMZ; from the center to the eastern end. Traveled with ROKAF personnel usually from HQ ROKAF, or the ROKAF ACW radar sites at Youngmunsan and Kangnung. Never saw other Americans (Air Force or Army) in my DMZ travels except once. I met up with a Pacific Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency (PAC GEEIA) team from Hawaii doing support work for ROKAF and us. They were late to our planned rendezvous because of vehicle problems. Given the desolate and rugged nature of Korea in the central DMZ area, it was not easy getting in touch and confirming that they were OK. Visited many locations near the DMZ used by ROK Army units, or just plain unoccupied - just the wind blowing. Briefings given by ROK Army were done in Korean with pointers slapping the board for enemy locations and stopping just short for friendlies. Despite language issues, their message was clear. Travel by road was rough or impossible in mos...
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1969 – Yungmunsan, South Korea
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Steve Weatherly visiting a ROKAF Radar site in South Korea.
1969 to 2000 – US and Korea
I was assigned to various radar and communications units/positions during my AF days. I was not rated, but did fly as a passenger in the C-46, C-47, UH-1, and UH-19 in Korea, the VC-118 Independence (DC-6), C-118 Liftmaster (DC-6), T-39 Sabreliner, and T-43 (737) while at Randolph AFB, and the C-130 Herc while at Keesler AFB. I also worked with the NEACP/NAOC command post aircraft while in the earlier EC-135 and later E-4A and B (747) configurations. Some thoughts my aircraft experiences follow. The C-46s were flown by ROKAF and they had a version with a navigator chair that could be jacked up into a small Plexiglas dome in the top of the fuselage. If you looked closely, and under the parachutes, you could find coal from the Berlin airlift. The USAF used C-47 for transport around Korea and to Japan. Flew out of Osan AB, south of Seoul, Korea. Both USAF and ROKAF flew the UH-1’s. The ROKAF UH-1’s were acquired for support to ROKAF radar sites. Several were configured for Pre...
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1969 to 1970 – Seoul Korea
We used Military Payment Certificates (MPC) in South Korea when I was with the 6146th Air Force Advisory Group in Seoul. I was primarily a radar maintenance advisor to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), but one of my several additional duties was on the 8th Army MPC Destruction Committee. This was during the period from 69 to 70 and all US Military had to convert greenbacks to MPC when entering Korea. When you left on temporary duty (TDY) or permanent change of station (PCS) you got greenbacks back. The MPC in use was in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollars, was in different colors, and reminded me of monopoly money. There was fractional MPC in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, the bills were smaller than the dollar amounts, but it was not in circulation. US coins were OK to use. I personally saw the destruction of 2.5 million in fractional MPC which was burned in the boiler plant on the US Army Youngsan Post in Seoul Korea. It took two days to burn it all. The US Ar...
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1970 to 2001 – Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and Montgomery, AL
AF Communications Service Detachment 13 at the Air Force Data System Design Center from 1970 to 1973 (Washington, DC and Gunter Air Force Station, Montgomery AL). Designed, developed, and implemented Burroughs B3500 computer software to interface Management Support Data Systems with The Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) at all worldwide AF Base Communications Centers. Coordinated integration efforts between software developed by the Design Center and the Communications Computer Programming Center (CCPC) at Tinker AFB, OK. Defense Communications Agency (DCA) Code 532 from 1977 to 1984, Communications Services Branch (HQ DCA). Managed and led DCA Category I and III testing for connecting user data terminal equipment to AUTODIN IAW DCA Circulars 370-D195-1 and -3. Worked with The DCA Engineering Center Reston, VA to design and implement such data communications programs as the Modular AUTODIN Interface Device (MAID), and the AUTODIN Satellite Compensation Device (ASCID) which were based on microprocessor software control using Mode I or V communications protocols. Retired from the Air Force in 1984 and then worked at Booz, Allen Hamilton on Defense Communications until retiring again in 2001.
17 May 1971 – Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Issued upon completion of the Squadron Officer School correspondence course. This was the first of three professional military education classes. They were in order Squadron Officer School (SOS), Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and Air War College (AWC).
15 Dec 1972 – Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Issued upon completion of the Air Command and Staff College correspondence course. This was the second of three professional military education classes. They were in order Squadron Officer School (SOS), Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and Air War College (AWC). I also completed the first of 2 separate ECI AWC correspondence courses before retiring in 1984.
1973 to 1977 – Randolph AFB, TX
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Citation to accompany the award of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal.
1965-67, 1969-70, 1973-77 – Oregon, Korea, Texas
Job Titles for Air Defense Related Assignments: a. Second/First Lieutenant, Radar Maintenance Officer, AFSC 3044. Assigned to a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Long Range Radar Station. Served as the Communications-Electronics-Meterology (CEM) Maintenance Officer in accordance with Air Force Manual (AFM) 66-1, Maintenance Management. Additional duties included Communications Officer, Operations Officer, Personal Services Officer, Cryptographic Officer, and Food Service Officer. Worked directly with the Air Division Chief of Maintenance and his staff regarding training, maintenance evaluations, operational testing, and to resolve maintenance and supply issues. Worked directly with the Air Staff, Headquarters Air Defense Command (ADC), Air Force Systems Command (AFSC), and Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) in the modification, and implementation of new radar systems and associated support equipment such as radomes. Temporary Duty as Squadron Commander. b. Captain, Radar Main...
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27 Aug 1976 – Issued in Washington, DC
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Issued upon completion of ICAF. I attended through correspondence. ICAF was one of the professional military education (PME) programs offered to members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
1977 to 1984 – Arlington, VA Headquarters DCA
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Pocket Badge I wore at the Defense Communications Agency. This badge is enamel over metal. It was attached with pins on the left side of your shirt or coat. This Badge is 2 inches square.
1977 to 2001 – Andrews AFB, MD plus.
I remember "nightwatch" and the EC-135 (a Boeing 707) aircraft known as the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP). Similar planes were used by Eastlant and Westpac for emergency UHF comm relay. The early NEACP was not a Strategic Air Command (SAC) "Looking Glass" plane, but both were EC-135s. The "Looking Glass" was a SAC creation and copied by European Command (EUCOM) and Pacific Command (PACOM). NEACP was a Joint Staff sponsored command post. I remember testing a MILTOPE printer on the EC-135 NEACP at Andrews in 77 or 78. This was not an impact printer, but a thermal type and the worst place to have it was on an airplane. The fumes when printing were terrible and would make you sick. I also visited the EC-135 NEACP when the transition planning for the E-4A (a Boeing 747) NEACP was underway. They had a model at Andrews AFB of where the EC-135 equipment would be placed in the E-4A. As the E-4A was much bigger than the EC-135, there was lots of u...
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1977 to 1984 – Arlington, VA (Defense Communications Agency)
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Certificate to accompany the award of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
1982 – Washington, DC
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Official AF Photo
As of Apr 2008 these planes are still in service. – Various alert locations around the US.
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A modified Boeing 747 series 200. Known as the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP). Later named the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). Used to support the President, Secretary of Defense, or other key government leaders. I worked on the acquisition, installation, and operation of the data communications terminal. This terminal was connected by satellite and radio to the Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) for the worldwide transmission and reception of message or data traffic. The hump on the aircraft behind the cockpit area is for the satellite antenna. Later I also worked on system updates for the NEACP/NAOC.
2009 to 14 May 2012 – Sarasota, Fl and Wellesley Island, NY
I worked on this book starting in 2009 with Jack Miller the author. I started off submitting stories about my radar station experience, then helped with initial technical editing. I also provided additional text about the evolution of radar stations from the manual Aircraft Control & Warning systems that came after WWII to the computer controlled air defense system known as the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) that began operation in 1959 and was essentially phased out in the late 70's.
As the effort continued I worked as a member of the Greybeards in 2011 that edited Jack's manuscript. Then in 2012 I became a member of a special group of 13 Notifiers to let radar station veterans know about the book and specifically advise each of those veterans whoes stories were included in the the "Peacekeepers."
I then circulated the following notification about the publication of "the Peacekeepers." Quote - Our book ...
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1964 and 1973 to 1977 – San Antonio, TX
Medina Base, also known as the Medina Annex, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas was initially a National Stockpile Site (NSS) constructed between 1953 and 1955. A Modification Center was built at Medina Base in 1959 for disassembling weapons, at which time storage operations were discontinued. On 13 November 1963 there was a large chemical [non-nuclear] explosion involving components that were from obsolete weapons, which were being disassembled. These chemical explosives detonated with a force equivalent to more than 60 tons of TNT. There was little contamination from the nuclear components stored elsewhere in the building. Injuries to workers were minor, and adjacent work areas were not damaged. This was national news and made the papers around the nation. The disassembly/modification work was transferred to Pantex from Medina in 1965. The Security Forces Center moved to Lackland's Medina Annex from Kirtland AFB, N.M., in November 1997. Air Force Officer Training School [OTS] w...
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