Matt arrived at Kadena AB during the end of October, 1976. His first assignment was to the 376th Field Maintenanance Squadron in the Repair and Reclimation shop. While working in this shop he got valuable experience on changing flight controls, windows, landing gear and many other major components on the KC-135 aircraft. This knowledge would prove beneficial later on in his career.
After spending some time in the R&R Shop, Matt asked for and was transfered to the flightline to the 376th Organizational Maintenance Squadron where he was assigned as an assistant crew chief on KC-135A #58-0013. Later on he was assigned to the "Hog Pen" working on RC-135M aircraft. While he was a Recce hog farmer, Matt was known for re-painting only the pilots side of the cockpit and making it look like new. His logic was that the co-pilot had something to look forward to this way. This is one of the aircraft that Matt crewed. This picture is taken as the aircraft is sitting on the wet hammerhead waiting to take off.
After Matt left the Recce Hog Pen, he was assigned as the Crew Chief on KC-135A #64-14838 (the 3rd from the last tanker ever built!) where he spent the rest of his tour. Matt had many TDY's to Guam, the Phillipines, Austrailia and other places during his tour at Kadena. The pictures below are some that Matt took while refueling one of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing's F-4's.
While working on his tanker, Matt also got to refuel some of the same RC-135's that he used to crew while he was a Recce Hog Farmer. Unfortunately Matt can't find any pictures his tanker. He used to have some but they seem to have been lost.
One of the good things about being in the military is all the great people you meet. This guy in the picture with Matt is Frank Philbin. Frank was one of the pilots and treated the crew chiefs like gold! His attitude was a rarity among flight crews and ensured that I would do anything I could to make his flight a bit easier! Frank is now flying for Delta and I will always remember him for sneaking me into the officers club to buy me a "going away" drink. Man those "O's" sure do get rowdy when they drink! Especially the fighter pukes! I missed Frank after he left, but then I met another great Tanker Driver!
UPDATE: Cathy Philbin (Franks wife) emailed me and I was sorry to learn that Frank lost his battle with cancer. This One-In-A-Million friend passed away on January 29, 2007. My prayers go out to Cathy, his brother Regis and the rest of his family and friends. Frank touched my life and left his fingerprints on my memories. Thank you Frank for being such a good friend.
Every once in awhile you meet someone that has a profound impact on your life and your outlook on things around you. After Frank Philbin departed for the states, I met Captain James R. Pugh, Tanker Pilot. As a result of the time we spent on Alert, TDY, and Jim flying my tanker, we got to know each other quite well and I'm proud to say that on a professional level, Jim Pugh was one of the best "Zipper Suited Sun Gods" that I ever had the pleasure of letting fly my aircraft, and on a personal level, Jim Pugh was one of the best friends that I ever had! What will always be etched in my memory was that as the crew chief, when I told Capt. Pugh that I had checked something that was it, no questions, no doubts. My word was gold with him, and he was one of the few that ever gave a maintenance troop that level of respect. For the sake of those that came after me, I hope they are fortunate enough to come across men like Jim Pugh and Frank Philbin.
Col. James R. Pugh III
Some of the people that left their marks on Matts life were, James Pugh, Frank Philbin, Bill Fox, and Gordon "Buzz" Parkhill, the best damn Deputy Commander for Maintenance I ever had!
When Matt was due to rotate back to the states, he was selected for special duty with the 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Maryland. After an intensive background investigation, interviews with security personnel and a shrink, Matt was accepted for this very selective duty assignment. Matt left Kadena in 1979.
While assigned to the 376th OMS, Matt crewed KC-135A #64-14838. His aircraft set the Wing record with 36 consecutive on-time take offs. Matt also earned his SAC Master Crew Chief patch. Still looking for a 376th OMS squadron patch.
