KEN WITKIN'S COLD WAR PHOTO GALLERY

September 1963--Tempelhof Central Airport, West Berlin, Germany.

I served three years in occupied-Berlin from Oct 1960 to Oct 1963 flying on board the two C-47s assigned to Tempelhof Central Airport.   I was assigned to the 7350th Support Squadron.  I was the radio operator on the first NATO aircraft to fly over the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961.  I was also the radio operator on board the Commandant of Berlin's, General Albert Watson's, VC-47D aircraft.

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October 1963.  Berlin Island Association Certificate.

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October 1963 to January 1965 & May 1965 to July 1966:  I served almost 3 years on board the Air Defense Command's EC-121D Warning Star Early Warning Aircraft stationed at McClellan AFB, California. Note:  I was assigned to the 964th Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron

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April 1964.  NCO Preparatory School Graduation.  This was a four-week in-house course at Mather AFB, CA.

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May 1964.  McClellan AFB Airman Of The Month Certificate.                            May 1964.  McClellan AFB Airman Of The Month Award. September 1965:  I earned my private pilot's license while stationed at McClellan AFB, California and flew all over Caifornia, Nevada and then later--Hawaii, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia & Delaware.  I checked out in a Piper Colt, Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Cessna 182, T-34, and L-19. I joined the Hawaii Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant pilot and flew reconnaissance missions in a L-19 all over the Hawaiian islands. March 1965--Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam (I actually volunteered to go to South Vietnam in 1965!!!  I served on board C-47s and C-54s and lived in Tent City.)  I was captured by the Viet Cong when I volunteered to drive a truck full of supplies from Tan Son Nhut Air Base to Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.  I was a prisoner of war for almost two weeks and then managed to escaped my Viet Cong prisoner camp.  I was wounded in April 1965 by a Viet Cong sniper's bullet that penetrated the underside of our aircraft and then penetrated the radio operator's seat and lodged in my right buttocks.  I was air evaced to the hospital at Clark AB, the Philippines and then to the Travis AFB, California hospital where I spent an entire month recuperating.  I then was reassigned to McClellan AFB, CA for the second time.  Now, today, I walk bent over and have to use a "walker" to get around because I have two vertabrae that have separated from my spine due to my 1965 bullet wound. July 1966-July 1970:   I served 4 years on board the CINCPAC Airborne Command Post  (ABNCP) and was assigned to the 9 ACCS, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Note:  The above aircraft, 007, also served as the personal Command Aircraft for CINCPAC, Admiral John McCain & later, Admiral Dudley Sharpe.  I was fortunate enough to be chosen to fly both with Admiral McCain and later Admiral Sharpe as their radio operator. November 1970:  EC-130E Airborne Battlefield Command & Control Center (ABCCC) Communications Team Chief. Flying A "Hillsboro" Combat Mission Over Laos I served an entire year as a member of the 7th Airborne Command & Control Squadron (7ACCS), Udorn, Thailand, flying over Laos in an EC-130E ABCCC during the Vietnam War and flew a total of 100 combat missions. July 1971--January 1977:  I served almost 6 years on board the Tactical Air Command (TAC) Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) (Call sign: HEAD DANCER) and was assigned to the 8 ACCS (later the 8 ACCS was redesignated 8 TDCS), Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. Note:  The above aircraft, 55-3118, also served as the personal Command Aircraft for General William Momyer & later, General Robert Dixon, COMTAC.  I was fortunate enough to be chosen to fly both with General Momyer and then his sucessor, General Robert Dixon, as their radio/teletype operator.                   December 1972.  Tactical Air Command NCO Academy Graduation, Langley AFB, VA.  This                   was a six-week in-house course.                   December 1972.  Tactical Air Command NCO Academy Graduation Certificate.   April 1973.  Seymour Johnson AFB NCO Of The Quarter Award                          June 1973.  Outstanding Young Men of America Letter.   The above aircraft, VC-135 24125, was one of five VC-135s assigned to the 89th Military Airlift Wing (89 MAW), Andrews AFB, MD and used extensively to fly distinguished visitors (DVs) all over the world. From 1977 to 1982 I had the distinct privilege of transporting the following DVs:   Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare; US UN Ambassador, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff USAF; Chief of Staff US Army; and at least 50 senators and 100 members of the House of Representatives. During 1980, two VC-135s were modified with an enhanced two-position Airborne Communications Systems Operator (ACSO) console located parallel with the main cargo door. Also installed were a CMT-500 teletype terminal, a KW-7 encryption device and two telephone hookups for ground voice and teletype operations.           February 1979.  Juanita Kreps, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Letter.           December 1979.  Senior NCO Academy Graduation, Gunther AFS, AL.                                            This was a nine week in-house course. September 1981--Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger Presenting Me With My Chief Master Sergeant Stripes on board a VC-135B aircraft. June 1985--On board Air Force 2      I served three years flying on board Air Force 2      as the Air Force 2 Chief of Communications. AIR FORCE 2 The above aircraft was used by then Vice President George Bush for all his stateside missions.  I flew 120 Air Force 2 missions over a three-year period (1982-1985). FLYING HOURS CERTFICATE . NATO AWACS E-3A, GEILENKIRCHEN NATO AIR BASE, WEST GERMANY July 1985-February 1988:   I served almost three years flying on board the NATO AWACS.  I was also the senior US enlisted member at Geilenkirchen, the president of the US Chief's Group, the vice-president of the local Air Force Association chapter and was the Chief of NATO Flying Squadron One Communications Section and had 20 multi-national airmen working for me--including a Norwegian captain.        February 1988.   After almost 34 years, including four years with the Air National Guard,        retirement ceremony at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany. 1988 New Year's Card Thank You.  Since August 2022 You Are The   Visitor To This Website. Copyright ©2023 By Ken Witkin.  All Rights Reserved. Web Page Designed and Maintained By: Ken Witkin Last updated 19 June 2023 URL:  http://abcccassociation.org/kengallery.html