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Takhli RTAFB - Land of the King Cobra

474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Bill Moir on 5/1/2009, 14:33:39

Hey Guys, it's been a long time.

I went to Takhli from Nellis on Sept 24th., 1972. I was the 2 man on a loading crew with Dave Peliquin, Rick Carver and Dave Gowert. Another buddy was Monty Kamps. We spent about a month on the flightline then 3 month in pre-load in the bomb dump. Sure humped a lot of bombs out there. We certainly had a hell of a good time both on base and off. I got orders to Korat while I was there, and Dave and Rich were getting out, so we left before the rest of the guys. I got out in 1975, went to Forestry School and have been with the US Forest Service most of the time since then. 30 years Fed. Govt. service in a couple of weeks. I'd like to hear from anyone from the Takhli and Nellis days. Best to you all.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by BILL on 7/8/2009, 20:44:58, in reply to "474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was there and you and I probably went over on the same flight. I was a crew chief with the 474th. My hooch in Takhli was 1152...did you go by way of Tonsanut Saigon?

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Mike Moore on 1/30/2010, 8:56:40, in reply to "474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was on the same TDY and was a BB stacker working the hard bomb night shift. Then went to dayshift CBU crew. Worked part time in the fuze shop, remember the little trailer that came to pre-load with all the fuzes and arming wire in it? My compliments. Ever notice how the F-111's seem to take 2nd row to all the rest. And after 4,000 sorties with 6 planes lost. Went back to Nellis for 2 months then on to Danang for a couple of months before finishing up at Utapao back in Thailand building bombs for B-52's.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Wilmer (Butch) Shelton on 3/2/2010, 13:14:26, in reply to "474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was there, for the full term, from initial 474th Nellis deployment to Takhli close.
My first crew chief was SSgt Jacobs, Dave Worly #3 man, and I was the jammer jock #4 man. For the life of me, cann't remember our #2 man's name. He pulled a SUU-30 off the trailer one nite during a load and forgot to put the slide rails on the trailer, SUU-30 came off and crushed both his legs, just remember he was from Texas. I spent time at the gantry (preload) too. Couple of weeks up there, best I can remember. That was also interesting, one day we unchocked the back MK-82 and the rest came rolling off the trailer. A dozen or so 82's falling 5-6 feet bouncing on the concrete and then rolling down the ramp. Was there the night the flares got ejected and burned holes in a foot or more of concrete. Had alot more respect for them flares after that! Was there when we lost the bird on takeoff, that time the 82's did go off. Still remember the OMS or FMS truck with the sharpnel holes in the sides, and the customized fire truck. The revetment they scrapped and dumped the left over scraps of F-111 in to. Do you remember the one weapons expiditor we had, he was the son of the guy on TV who ate tree bark etc. etc. He had really big elephant ears?
MMS and AMMO back in the days, right?
I stayed and finished out an Air Force career, retired in 1992. Did a little of this and a little of that and ended up with FEMA, back with the government. Live in Missouri, spend most of the time on the road, one disaster or another, am presently in Iowa, still here from the massive flooding in 2008.
Some time when you are bored, give a holler back.
Sure would like to hear from Robert Jacobs or his where abouts.
Butch Shelton

RE: MMS 1966-67

Posted by Gary Briscoe on 3/18/2010, 6:44:16, in reply to "474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was sent TDY from Okinawa to Takhli for 3-4 months and worked the night shift in the bomb dump, there where only two of us at the time and a bunch of Thai boys to help load the trailers. Can't remember the name of the only AF Warrent Officer I ever met while in the service. If anyone can remember please let me know.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by retor jones je on 3/31/2010, 1:35:00, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

served with the 474mms nellis a.f.b. as a #4 man on a load crew tdy to thailand anyone remember bobby ward, sueson,or midnight chrow

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Kevin Jones on 9/24/2010, 22:32:12, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Hi Mike: I think I just missed you. Was there TDY for Constant Guard, went back to George AFB Ca. in October/72. I was also a BB stacker, still a lot of snakes in and around the bomb dump! Funny, I saw lots of CBU's in the revetments but they wouldn't let them be "delivered", nice sombody got them out! Take care!

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Greg Sniegowski on 3/9/2011, 11:26:58, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was on SSGT Padgetts load crew. The "bark eaters" kid was Gibbons. His dad was Euhl. Our crew spent some time out in preload as well. Nice duty - all by ourselves at night with no one to bother you. When we got back to Nellis, I got a crew and remember my #4 man (a youngster back then) went out to the Cottontail Ranch and dropped over $100. All he did was smile when we asked him what he spent his money on. He was too young to even buy a beer, so he had to drink 7-UP.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Denny Buterbaugh on 1/29/2013, 12:16:10, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

I also came over from Nellis with the 474 MMS in 1972. Because of my last name everyone called my Butterball. Spend most of my time in pre-load. Was there for Linebacker II. I remeber the F111 crashing on takeoff and I also remeber there was a older guy who said his father was Euwll Gibbons.

Re: 474 MMS, 1973 tdy

Posted by Gene Erbe on 12/3/2013, 20:31:46, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Crew chief Hank
#2 Al
#3 John
#4 me

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Dennis Wolverton on 2/13/2017, 8:40:47, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Greg, I was also on SSGT Padgetts crew when we first went over there. I was the #3 man on the crew. Wasn't our jammer drivers name __Williams? I was sent back early to train with another crew, then came back to Takhli. When I came back I don't remember any of the old guys. But, in the meantime you and our jammer driver suggested that I volunteer for permeant duty to SEA, as I would most likely get those orders in the future. So I volunteered and was sent to U-Tapao for a year (1973-1974).

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73 TDY

Posted by Lell Shillings on 8/11/2017, 0:01:10, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Load Toad.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Barry Rowland on 10/24/2017, 20:03:09, in reply to "474 MMS, 1972-73"

Came back from NKP and DaNang June 1970 to June 1972 then TDY from Nellis September 72 to Jan 73. Worked on the non-operating gattling guns on the 111's so I cleaned mer and ter racks and wrote Batman and Robin jokes on the bombs you guys loaded. Tried to get an early out (two weeks early) to go back to college to no avail as there were "no adequate replacements"!!. Can't believe that as we played more pinochle and other card games with the civilian gun plumbers back at Nellis until we were discharged. Hope you guys are doing well.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Roger S Graeff on 11/14/2017, 9:48:51, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

My father was Roger S Graeff, with the 474th and 'on loan' to the 6280th SOS.. He ran the weapons maintence and ended up going out on a run to better inderstand why/how your barrels were jamming/melting. I believe you took a hit so he had to assume the port side (something he hadn't done before). I believe Portz was the another pilot? I am desperately looking for help in locating anyone who could help me find one of his buddies who also served out of Tahkli. My father passed in '06 and never came to terms with his time in country. I'm want to honor him and help him find peace but getting his buddy's name on the wall (currently not there however his buddy was definitely KIA). Due to the black ops the 6280th sos were involved in they 'didn't exist', which is why I believe his name doesn't appear on the wall. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Bill Cadwell on 9/21/2019, 15:07:34, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was in The TDY from Nellis to Takli. The first 3 months on the flight line, number 3 man. Crew chief was a tall SSGT from Texas. Last three months on Gibbons crew in pre load. He was a nice guy. He actually inherited millions from his dads book sales.

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Marlin Popp on 4/12/2020, 15:47:57, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Previous Message

I was there, for the full term, from initial 474th Nellis deployment to Takhli close.
My first crew chief was SSgt Jacobs, Dave Worly #3 man, and I was the jammer jock #4 man. For the life of me, cann't remember our #2 man's name. He pulled a SUU-30 off the trailer one nite during a load and forgot to put the slide rails on the trailer, SUU-30 came off and crushed both his legs, just remember he was from Texas. I spent time at the gantry (preload) too. Couple of weeks up there, best I can remember. That was also interesting, one day we unchocked the back MK-82 and the rest came rolling off the trailer. A dozen or so 82's falling 5-6 feet bouncing on the concrete and then rolling down the ramp. Was there the night the flares got ejected and burned holes in a foot or more of concrete. Had alot more respect for them flares after that! Was there when we lost the bird on takeoff, that time the 82's did go off. Still remember the OMS or FMS truck with the sharpnel holes in the sides, and the customized fire truck. The revetment they scrapped and dumped the left over scraps of F-111 in to. Do you remember the one weapons expiditor we had, he was the son of the guy on TV who ate tree bark etc. etc. He had really big elephant ears?
MMS and AMMO back in the days, right?
I stayed and finished out an Air Force career, retired in 1992. Did a little of this and a little of that and ended up with FEMA, back with the government. Live in Missouri, spend most of the time on the road, one disaster or another, am presently in Iowa, still here from the massive flooding in 2008.
Some time when you are bored, give a holler back.
Sure would like to hear from Robert Jacobs or his where abouts.
Butch Shelton

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Marlin Popp on 4/12/2020, 16:08:34, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

I was tdy from Nellie to takli during my first deploy I received orders for Vietnam so came home for a 30 day leave the last week of my leave those orders got cancelled I reported back to Nellis &was sent back to takli tdy for 6 more months when that ended I got an early out for palace chase I was discharged 12/24/1973

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by RETOR JONES JR on 6/21/2021, 14:45:43, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Previous Message

served with the 474mms nellis a.f.b. as a #4 man on a load crew tdy to thailand anyone remember bobby ward, sueson,or midnight chow

Louise riggs

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Earl Lindsey on 5/31/2022, 18:00:58, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

Served in 1973 with 474 mms

Previous Message

Previous Message

served with the 474mms nellis a.f.b. as a #4 man on a load crew tdy to thailand anyone remember bobby ward, sueson,or midnight chow

Louise riggs

Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73

Posted by Glen Myers on 1/11/2023, 10:20:22, in reply to "Re: 474 MMS, 1972-73"

I came over from Nellis with 474th MMS. I worked, Preload, with Buterbaugh, Spainhour, Inkman, Lenhardt,Sheets, Reuv, Gibbons,Blutcher,Crawford,and some others I can't remember their names.I swung bombs, prepped BRU's and work the gantry. Had a cast on my arm for a good month. Also remember the time the nose fuzed 82's on the gantry rails where backed into and fell nose first into the pad by the Thai boom operator. We all got over that revetment wall real quick.

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