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of what the future has in store for the Blackbirds, the Habu
community will continue to perpetuate its legacy. It's difficult
for those who didn't belong to imagine the closeness of this
small group of aviators and their associates. Those of you who
belonged to a fraternity or sorority may be able to partially
understand this special relationship. And those of you who have
shared a combat experience, i.e., lived and died together, can
understand the higher level of brotherhood among Habus. |
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As
one who has experienced combat, I must tell you there is no higher
level of comradeship, brotherhood, or fellowship than that experienced
among Habus. In a very special way they are closer than brothers,
more faithful than an old dog, and more dependable than a beating
heart. I know of no military relationship that is all-encompassing
as the respect, admiration, and friendship that each has for his fellow
Habu! |
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Col.
Frank Stampf
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"Habu
"traditions" rejected what could be thought of as
a singular, collective personality, comprised of bits and pieces
formed from the individuals that flew and supported the mission
over more than a quarter century. Deeply entrenched in those
traditions is the music still being played whenever Habus gather.
Memories are recalled, and still being made, to the tunes of
David Allen Coe's "You don't Have to Call Me By My Name",
better known as "Darlin".
"In contrast to the traditional country and western slant,
one particular Habu commander made it almost mandatory for his
crews to know the words to every song on Meatloaf's "Bat
Out of Hell" album. You can be sure there aren't many Habus
who haven't been awakened between the hours of midnight and
three in the morning to the sound of "Would you offer your
throat to the wolf with the red roses"...the beginning
of one of Mr. Loaf's more popular songs." |
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| "As
a trainee I really admired the SR-71 crew members that got to
wear the prestigious HABU patch on their flight suits. That
was an honor that had to be earned by successfully flying an
operational SR-71 mission. The patch was a long time coming
because the training program took approximately one year to
complete. One of my proudest days was wearing the HABU patch
on my flight suit. I have no idea who started the tradition
but it became one of honor and importance to the SR-71 crew
member." |
Col.
Roger Jacks
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The
final touches to Det. 4's logo are drawn on the rudder of
aircraft 980. The dart sticking in the double two represents
Det. 4. Some of the artistry on other SR-71s was much larger
and more detailed. The only approved method of writing on
the aircraft's exterior was with chalk because it wasn't harmful
to the skin of the aircraft at high temperatures.
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Col.
Roger Jacks
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"The
camaraderie and team spirit was unmatched when compared to any
other flying experience. SR-71 aircrews, maintenance personnel,
KC-135Q aircrews, mission planners, administration personnel,
and Recce Tech squadron personnel worked hard and played hard
at our Detachments. I recall a mission that, according to the
Intelligence Shop, was going to be especially hazardous since
it had been reported the "bad guys" were out to shoot
down an SR-71. Everyone seemed to sense the potential for danger,
and the resolve to successfully pull off the mission became
intense. As we were cleared to taxi onto the runway and hold,
my pilot, Maj. Joe Kinego said, "look out the right side
of the aircraft, you won't believe it." When I looked out
the aircraft, I saw our maintenance crews all lined up down
the right side of the runway saluting the aircraft. With a lump
in our throats and pride in our hearts, we launched out on the
mission. Upon returning, the maintenance crews met us in the
hanger with a large banner that said, "welcome home Kinego
and Jacks." |
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| "Over
the years the Skoshi became the place of choice for a large
number of the Det 1 permanent party, as well as the SR-71 crew
members. The manager, Mr. Jack Oshiro, always made the Habus
feel welcome while Ito in the bar, Kiyoko in the dining room,
and Chef Higa in the kitchen gave us the special attention that
made us "regulars" at the Skoshi. I have many wonderful
memories of my time in Okinawa, one of the most favorite is
of sitting at the upstairs bar looking out over the East China
Sea and watching the sunset. I remember how I used to remark
to Lt. Col. Joe Vida as we arrived at the instrument approach
fix for the landing at Beale and the radar controller would
say, "Aspen, you're at Paradise" (the name of the
fix) - I would simply smile inside my pressure suit helmet and
say, "not really, it's actually 3,000 miles west!" |
Col.
Tom Alison
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| At
his restaurant, Mr. Nakachi explains to a group of Habus the
Okinawan's famous "Tiger Drink." Okinawans truly believed
when a man drank the "Tiger Drink" he would have increased
virility and manhood. I can personally vouch that the drink
put most Habus to sleep more than anything else! |
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Lt.
Col. "Geno" Quist
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"We
were tasked to take an SR-71 to Mildenhall for a two week stay.
Gil Bertelson and Frank Stampf were the primary crew, and Nevin
Cunningham and I were in 980 as a flying spare, taking off thirty
minutes after them. Since Mildenhall wasn't a "normal"
detachment at that time, we weren't allowed to tell our wives
what was happening or where we were going, so I simply packed
two bags and told her if somebody called and said send one bag,
I was somewhere in the United States, and if they said send
two bags, I was overseas."
"Unfortunately for Gil and Frank, the DEF system was not
working and required an abort at GO/NO-GO point if it didn't
correct itself. Within a minute of hitting the GO/NO-GO point,
I heard Frank and responded, "We've got it!" I called
the mobile crew and asked them to call my wife and tell her
to send two bags - 7.5 hours of Habu ecstasy!" |
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| "I
remember this training as the most intense training I have ever
experienced. Roger, my RSO, and I would spend hours at night
together reviewing procedures and "chair flying" the
next simulator mission. This made us very close, but more importantly,
it instilled the necessary confidence we had in each other.
We knew that the other guy was ready for anything!" |
Col.
Joe Kinego
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Return
to Habus |
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