- F117sfa.org
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- F117sfa.org
Volume 12 Issue 2 Nighthawks Summer / Fall 2015 Stealth Fighter Association Newsletter I apologize for not getting the Summer edition of the newsletter published in a timely fashion. Life seems to get in the way. I started to publish in early August, but I realized there were a couple of significant anniversaries for the F-117 this summer and thought that I would combine the Summer and Fall issues into one newsletter to cover these important events. Twenty-five years ago in June, the last F-117 was delivered to the Air Force. Take a look at Ben Rich’s comments from July 12, 1990. Also, just two months later in August 1990, the F-117 was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert shield began. This was arguably the biggest event to happen for many of us during our careers. It involved every single member of the Nighthawk Team. I’ve included excerpts from the “History of the 37th Fighter Wing 5 Oct 1989 – 31 Dec 1991 volume I” written by SMSgt Vince Breslin and ‘Special Study 37FW/HO-90-1’ compiled by SMSgt (Ret) Harold Myers, and Revised by SMSgt Vince Breslin. In this issue, I’ll only cover events from the Summer and early Fall of 1990. In the next newsletter, I’ll revisit additional history of Operation Desert Shield. I hope you enjoy reminiscing as much as I do. If any of you out there have stories from Desert Shield or Desert Storm, send them to me in an email and I’ll get them in one of the upcoming issues of the newsletter. Editor—Greg Meland Inside This Issue Article President’s Corner Page Article Page 2 In Memoriam 12-14 The Last F-117 Delivery 3-5 F-117 Archive 15 Operation Desert Shield 6-11 Join The SFA 16 Vice President’s Corner We Need Your Help to Grow! SFA's goal is simple: ensure that our history is preserved, our stories are told, and what we (the Stealth Team) did for national defense. We need to honor the men and women that play a vital role in making the F-117 a successful important national program. Our history basically started with a concept in the 1970's, Have Blue, first flight of a F-117A in 1981, IOC 1983, Panama 1989, Gulf war 1991, and many other operations the 117 performed over its life time, to its retirement in 2008. It's important that the many civilians, contractors, airmen and officers, that formed the Stealth team/workforce are recognized for what we did for national security. SFA has a small membership base, but we're looking to build the members by our next reunion in the June 2017. This doesn't happen without each of your support, help the SFA strengthen its membership, so we can ensure that our history is preserved, our stories are told, and recognition is given to a remarkable team! Please encourage your friends, and co-workers (civilian, military, or contractor) to join the association that made history in the United States Air Force. New members can join online by visiting the SFA website. (www.f117sfa.org) Lou Gum Vice President Stealth Fighter Association SFA Board of Directors 2012-2017 Andy Papp, President Lou Gum, Vice President Mary Burris, Secretary/Treasurer Kent Burns, Board Member Greg Meland, Board Member VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Nighthawk Newsletter Team Editor: Greg Meland Web Site: Dave Walker Graphics: Dave Walker Newsletter: [email protected] Contact us F-117 Stealth Fighter Association PO Box 151196 Ft Worth, TX 76108-1196 Web: www.f117sfa.org Info: [email protected] Page 2 25 Years Ago... The Last F-117 Delivery Twenty-Five years ago the last F-117A (88-0843) was delivered to the US Air Force. A ceremony was held at Lockheed’s facility in Palmdale, CA on July 12, 1990. Remarks of Ben R. Rich F-117A final Delivery Ceremony 12 July 1990 General Dugan, General Cranston, Colonel Tolin, Colonel McGuire, ladies and gentlemen. Today is a very special day, for as we turn this last F-117A over to the Air Force, we celebrate the completion of the production phase of a unique aircraft program. It’s not often that one has the opportunity to develop and field an aircraft that represents a true technological breakthrough. And the F-117 is just that…the world’s first very low observable fighter aircraft. It certainly is an odd looking flying machine…all black, flat surfaces, highly swept wing and V-tail, and grids over the inlets. Yet it is a sterling example of what American ingenuity and hard work can create in response to a critical need. In the 1970’s, the Soviet Union had begun developing and deploying new early warning radars, surface-toair missiles, and fighter aircraft. These new systems posed a major threat to our conventional fighter and VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 3 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 3 bomber forces. At the same time, technology breakthroughs in very low observables were emerging which offered the potential to counter the menacing threat buildup. And working together, the Defense Department, Air Force and Lockheed structured the F-117 program to capitalize on these breakthroughs by rapidly developing and fielding an operational stealth fighter. The result is the F-117A stealth fighter…an aircraft with dramatically reduced signatures which can avoid detection, penetrate heavily defended air space, and attack critical targets with extreme accuracy. Prior to the program go-ahead, five dedicated air staff officers reporting to General Al Slay, clearly defined a set of top level requirements for the F-117 weapon system. Then, a system program office with a minimum number of people was established at the Aeronautical Systems Division, under direction of the late General Dave Englund (then a Colonel). Similarly, a small Lockheed team was also established under the leadership of Norm Nelson. The F-117 SPO and Lockheed Program Office were supported by other organizations and groups whose efforts were crucial to the program. These include the Air Force Office of Special Investigations which developed and implemented effective security procedures for the program. The Air Force Logistics Command’s Sacramento Air Logistics Center which provided secure, specialized logistics support including supply support. And the Tactical Air Command which worked closely with Lockheed and the SPO to initially define operational requirements and later establish a secure, full operational and maintenance capability at the Tonopah Test Range Airfield. Also, working closely with the SPO and Lockheed as full partners, were contractors such as General Electric, Honeywell, Airesearch, and many others. And today, we are honored to have representatives from 31 F-117 subcontractors with us. Working together, this F-117A team established streamlined management methods with clear lines of communication and regularly scheduled meetings, but with a minimum amount of formal reporting. An appropriate amount of oversight was provided, but the team was not overburdened. We created a non-adversarial, problem solving environment built on trust and commitment. Together, we guided the program through development and production and into operational service while maintaining the highest standards of program security. As a result, the F-117A was developed and fielded in record time for modern fighter aircraft. Only 31 months after go-ahead, on June 18, 1981, Lockheed test pilot, Hal Farley, flew the F-117 for the first time. And with concurrent development and production, initial operational capability was achieved only 28 months later, in VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 4 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 4 October 1983. In other words, the operating unit, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, was ready to go to battle only 5 years after the program go-ahead. That’s roughly half the time of conventional aircraft procurement programs. And here we are today, roughly 9 years after program start, delivering the last of 59 production aircraft. But not only was the F-117 done quickly, it was done at low cost. At the same time we applied breakthrough stealth technology, we used proven components from other aircraft to reduce cost and risk – General Electric F404 engines, F-16 flight control computers, F-18 cockpit displays, and many others. Total Air Force development cost to date is very low compared to other modern day fighters – less than $2 billion. And the average unit flyaway cost for the 59 production aircraft is only $42.6 million including all government furnished equipment – very favorable compared to other fighters. We built the F-117 at two a season, 8 airplanes per year, and achieved a 78 percent learning curve. The total production program, by the way, was fixed price and we did not lose any money. In addition, the Skunk Works guaranteed range, radar cross section, and bombing accuracy. And thanks to the hard work of many of you, we met all our guarantees. But the bottom line has been the outstanding performance of the F-117 in service with the 37th Tactical fighter Wing. Their highly motivated pilots and crewmen have set new standards for fighter readiness, reliability, maintainability and safety. The unit has consistently received superior ratings in operational readiness inspections. They won the TAC commander’s award for top performance in aircraft maintenance, and they have the best safety record of any modern jet fighter. The F-117A program has been a tremendous team accomplishment, and many of you here today are the reason for the program’s success. It’s been your personal commitment and hard work, for years in total secrecy, that made it happen. And now that the veil of secrecy has been lifted, it is gratifying to see that the outstanding accomplishments of the F-117 team are being recognized publicly. Just recently, Norm Nelson, Alan Brown and Dick Cantrell were selected to receive the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design Award for their accomplishments on the F-117A. And finally, the Air Force/Lockheed development team was recently awarded the 1989 Collier Trophy for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics. And so today, we complete a chapter in the F-117A story with the delivery of the final aircraft. But in many ways it is still just the beginning. The 37th is now at full strength and just beginning to be fully utilized as a high leverage, integral unit with the Tactical Air Command. And we are keeping the F-117A at the technology forefront through a weapon system improvement program currently underway. These and future upgrades will ensure the F-117 remains effective well into the 21st century. The F-117A has set the benchmark for low observable technology. All future aircraft will incorporate some level of this technology. The nation’s investment in this highly successful program has been a defense dividend that has yielded a peace dividend for all of us which will continue for many years to come. I thank you all for a job well done – you have given the Lockheed Skunk Works another kudo in tradition of the U-2 and the SR-71. Let the nation know we are ready to do it again. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 5 25 Years Ago... Chronology of Events OPERATION DESERT SHIELD Special Study 37FW/HO-91-1 Compiled by Harold P. Myers, SMSgt (Ret), Historian Revised and Edited by Vincent C. Breslin, SMSgt, USAF Historian 9 Jan 1992 August 1990 17 Aug At 1000 hours, Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr., assumed command over the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) from Col Anthony J. Tolin. At 1400 hours, the wing received its deployment orders o Saudi Arabia. 18 Aug The 37 TFW began processing people and cargo for deployment to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD. 19 Aug Twenty one F-117A Stealth Fighters from the 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) deployed to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, completing their first leg to Saudi Arabia. 20 Aug The first C-5 touched down at King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia, with Colonel Whitley and Lt Col Ralph W. Getchell III, 415 TFS Commander, on board. They were officially greeted by Brig Gen Abdulaziz Bin Khalid Al Sudairi, Base Commander, and Col Faisal Eurwailli, Flying Wing Commander. 21 Aug Eighteen 37 TFW F-117As arrived from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia. 23 Aug The 415 TFS launched eight orientation sorties with the Saudis. The host wing used four F5s, three F-15s, and one Tornado to chase 37 TFW aircraft. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 6 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 6 26 Aug The.F-117A assumed alert duty for the first time in its history. September 1990 4 Sep Maj Guy C. Fowl, the deployed Deputy Commander for Maintenance, initiated Shade Tree Aircraft Repair (STAR) procedures to repair broken line replaceable units (or vionics boxes). This was another F-117A first. 12 Sep Gen Michael J. Dugan, the Air Force Chief of Staff, visited the wing at King Khalid. 22 Sep Two C-141s brought the 37 TFW’s avionics maintenance vans from Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, to King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia. 23 Sep Colonel Whitley issued Special Order #1 to assign all previously attached personnel to the wing for the duration of Operation DESERT SHIELD. 25 Sep General Norman Schwarzkopf, US Central Command Commander, visited the 37 TFW (Team Stealth) at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 7 25 Years Ago... OPERATION DESERT SHIELD History of the 37th FW 5 Oct 1989 – 31 Dec 1991 Volume I By Vincent C. Breslin, SMSgt, USAF Historian 22 May 1992 Leadership and Tasking On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded the Emirate of Kuwait in Southwest Asia. More than 100,000 Iraqi troops overran Kuwait City, quickly took possession of Kuwait’s oil fields, and pushed south to the Saudi Arabian border. Within a week, the Iraqi invasion force numbered 170,000. On 8 August, the United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait. Iraq’s Saddam Hussein ignored that order and began massing additional troops at the Turkish border on 9 August. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both fearing a possible invasion by Iraq, (requested) UN forces to set up defensive positions in their homelands. On 7 August 1990, President Bush ordered US ground and air forces to Saudi Arabia as part of the UN Coalition Force. Operation DESERT SHIELD had begun. F-15s deployed from Langley AFB, Virginia, to Saudi Arabia and the USS Saratoga battle group left Norfolk, Virginia, on the same day for the Persian Gulf. Earlier, on 3 August 1990, the 37th TFW Commander, Colonel Tolin, terminated local exercise FAST JOG 90-05 prematurely to prepare for (the) DESERT SHIELD deployment tasking. He directed his Deputy Commander for Resource Management to keep war readiness support kits (WRSK) already packaged for FAST JOG simulated CHECKERED FLAG overseas deployment) ready for immediate use. Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr. assumed command over the 37th TFW on 17 Aug 1990 from Colonel Tolin. A former Stealth Fighter pilot with the 4450 TG and VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 8 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 8 a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, Colonel Whitley’s assignment as commander came only hours before the arrival of wing deployment orders to Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD. Upon deployment notification, Colonel Whitley convened the 37 TFW battlestaff to begin processing people, cargo, and aircraft to an unsurveyed location in Saudi Arabia. Mission Support Upon arrival of the 37 TFW initial cadre support element at King Khalid AB on 20 August 1990, organization commanders and staff agency chiefs took quick action to establish support function, services, and provision. Within a day, members of the deployed aircraft maintenance unit (AMU) had set up house on the flightline, broken out the WRSK and aerospace ground equipment (AGE), and marshalled the F-117As to their hangars. Thirty hours after the last Stealth Fighter landed, 17 of 18 aircraft had been regenerated to full mission capable status. Meanwhile, a 37th Medical Squadron trauma team had set up a rudimentary clinic and had treated their first patient. By 23 August, the 37th Security Police Squadron (SPS) had established a security operations center, absorbed a 44-man airbase ground defense flight from the 554th SPS at nellis AFB, and manned a security perimeter for the wing’s area of operations. The Deputy Commander for Operations had established a three-man mini-command post for Stealth operations within the Saudi war room. And the wing’s resource management team had initiated contracts for general purpose vehicles, compacts, mini-buses, bottled water, food, trash collection, and fuel. Through the end of the year, the support infrastructure of the 37 FW continued to grow. By early December wing strength had grown from 500 to 900 personnel. A significant portion of that strength constituted the combat support element (later designated 37 Combat Supprt Group Provisional (CSGP)). The combat support element represented a conglomeration of many units, bases, and commands. The organization was not built from standard unit type codes (UTCs), nor did its members come wholly from the VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 9 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 9 ranks of the 37 FW. Rather, it evolved in bits and pieces. The SPS alone had policeman from nine different units, eight bases, and four major commands. Persian Gulf operations entailed the first large scale mobilization of Stealth resources – assets previously employed only on a small package 9four to ten aircraft), short term (two to five days) exercise and contingency basis. To support the new concept of operations, Col Whitley instituted around-the-clock work schedules both at Tonopah and in Saudi Arabia. Production rates sky-rocketed in practically every aspect of unit operation. Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO) teams (security, medical, and personnel specialists) processed more than 900 people through deployment mobility work centers while achieving 100 percent strength accountability of deployed forces. Wing legal specialists prepared 912 Last Will and Testaments and 823 Powers of Attorney. The communications squadron transmitted more than 99,000 AUTODIN messages. Base supply built, issued, and inventoried more than 1,300 mobility bags while stocking 47 WRSK pallets. Air freight teams shipped nearly 900 tons of cargo and ground support equipment aboard 40 cargo aircraft. The comptroller division managed 1,250 personnel travel vouchers and nearly 23,000 military pay transactions. Aircraft maintenance units (AMUs) built-up and furnished 2,142 tons of precision guided munitions in support of more than 1,200 combat sorties and 6,900 flying hours. In a corporate sense, this was TEAM STEALTH at its very best. Lessons Learned Over the course of Operation DESERT SHIELD, 37 TFW deputy commanders, squadron commanders, and staff agency chiefs identified a wide variety of lessons learned which they later used to modify unit contingency and mobility plans and develop more appropriate deployment packages. They also furnished their findings to Headquarters CENTAF in the expectation that the more generic of these could be used, in conjunction with lessons learned by other wings, to improve overall Air Force operational concepts. The 37 TFW ADVON arrived only two hours before the rest of the package airlift. The ADVON was responsible for ensuring the deployment base was prepared for the remainder of the aviation package. Specific tasks included setting up in-processing lines, coordinating billeting and messing, and determining the location of work centers. 1. Unless the ADVON arrives far enough in advance to accomplish these tasks, personnel and equipment in the main body will not be effectively employed immediately after arrival. The decision on ADVON flow is made by higher headquarters (TAC and theater VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 10 25 Years Ago... Continued from Page 10 staffs). The ADVON should arrive at least 24 hours in advance of the rest of the aviation package. Wing commanders must emphasize this issue with the TAC Battle Staff as soon as the unit’s deployability posture is increased. Weather Squadron personnel deployed with the 37 TFW had some, but not enough, training on the climatology of the deployed area of operations. This illustrated the need to increase training requirements for areas other than the primary taskings of the wing to support a 37 TFW world-wide mobility commitment. Please see the original document for citations and references. Operation DESERT STORM will be covered in the next two newsletters. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 11 In Memoriam Fallen Nighthawks In this issue I wanted to again pay tribute to our fellow Nighthawks who have “gone west”. I know that the list is not complete, so if any of you out there have other names of folks who worked in the F-117 program and have passed away, please forward their names and organization or position with the program. Last Name Abrams Aldridge Allen Allen Arnold Baker Barton Baso Bohanan Boland Bollinger Borjon Bouchard Bowman Broline Bruggeman Bulat Burgland Callison First Name Richard Mike James Clyde Gary William Charles Gus Larry Bruce George Dick Gene Medford Leonard Henry Tony Shirley Barry Prefix Mr. Campbell Cantrell Carter Castle Cooley Corcoran Cornell Coyle Creech Dean Fasulkey Ferguson Fisher Frierson Gerard Grey Hall William Coy James Donna David Micky Donald William Wilbur Greg Roger Dave Tom Allen Richard Charles Charles MSgt Mr. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 BGen Bandit No Date of Death Notes 8/11/1994 Lockheed Flight Test Director 158 SMS MSgt Dr Col SMS LtCol 173 313 8/23/1998 9/7/2002 9/21/2013 7/20/2012 5/29/2004 7/1/1996 12/1/2010 7/5/1995 7/12/2006 4450th Tac Gp CC 1982-1984 LMCO Engineering 4450th TG 1980 - 1987 CRS, AGE Branch Chief Lockheed Logistics Director 1979-1986 Lockheed Flight Safety Engineer 5/7/2001 7/15/1985 2/1/1996 2/23/2013 1/1/2010 7/23/2011 8/28/2004 12/25/2003 Item Manager, SM-ALC/QL Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL 4450th TG 1981 - 1990 CRS, AGE branch Shop Chief Aircraft Designer - LMCO Secretary, SM-ALC/QL 122 Lt Col Gen Lt Col 100 459 Lt Col Lt Col Col 177 3/25/2009 4/7/2014 8/27/2008 8/26/2003 5/21/2015 6/30/2006 8/10/2011 Blue Room - McClellan AFB mid 90s Flight Test analysis engineer TAC/CC 1985-1987 7/24/2006 8/12/1998 Warehouseman, SM-ALC/QL Avionics flight test manager Page 12 In Memoriam Last Name Harris Hastings Helms Heranimous Jackson James Jaspers Johnson Kelly Levens Macy McAvoy McCaslin McCloud Moore Moschgat Mulhare Murray Nance Nelson Odekerken Okamoto Park Parkerson Pickering First Name Mike Michael Ruth Mary Jo Steve Charles Greg Clarence Gary Kenneth Len Benton Ray David Daryl Robert Ross Thomas Charles Norm Joseph Tad William Jackie Herbert Rich Riedenaur Riefler Rosebrock Seekings Ben Robert Louis Douglas John Sheridan John Short Showalter Skinner Stewart Tarrant Alice Carolyn William Michael Kevin Mrs. Tolin Tweed Vollmoeller Wall Anthony Jay Phillip Robert BGen MSgt CMSgt VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Prefix Col Bandit No 167 MSgt Col 121 Col Capt 461 Mr. Lt Gen 201 Maj CMS MSgt 198 Date of Death Notes 2/10/2013 Flight & Maintenance manuals manager 11/17/2010 A-7s and Baja Scorpian - 1981 to 1989 Item Manager, SM-ALC/QL SM-ALC/QL SM-ALC/QL 10/5/2008 12/21/1990 VP ADP 10/15/2006 5/10/1995 1/24/2014 5/14/2004 2/26/2015 7/26/1998 4450th Tac Cp/ADO 1985-1987 SM-ALC/QL 7/11/1986 11/12/2004 8/4/2012 8/22/2003 3/17/1996 3/17/1996 4/26/1997 10/23/2011 SMS Col 1/5/1995 Lt Col Capt 103 166 Mr. Mr. Maj Lt Col 231 335 251 4/23/2007 F-117 program 1979 - 1984 F-117 program 1979 to 1980 Lockheed Skunk Works VP Engineering LMCO Field Service Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL Lockheed Test Pilot (Have Blue) F-117 program 1984 - 1988 VP-Gen Mgr Lockheed Skunk Works 1975 -1990 Lockheed Test Pilot 11/24/2005 Tech Writer - LMCO 8/3/2013 Lockheed Chief engineer 1982-1985, F4/17/2010 117 Program Mgr 1985-1988 Security Specialist, Directorate of specialized Management, McClellan AFB, CA Warehouse, SM-ALC/QL 4/29/2003 10/14/1987 6/22/2005 TTR - 1987 - 17 Aug 90 (4450th Vice CC, CC, 37th FW CC) 8/28/2013 2/1/2007 Flight operations Page 13 In Memoriam Last Name Wardell Watson York Zavala First Name Graham Paul Tom Art Prefix Grp Capt Bandit No 282 106 Date of Death Notes 6/6/1999 Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL Special Notice Calling all F-117 program Clemson University graduates! AFROTC Det 770 is creating a plaque for display at the University that lists Clemson alumni that were affiliated with the F-117. If you were or know someone who was in the F-117 program and graduated from Clemson University—contact Michael ‘Cookie’ Cook at: [email protected] VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 14 F-117 Archives Special Edition 25 Years Ago this Year Jan 19 - Aircraft 79-780 was delivered to TTR to be used as an Aircraft Battle Damage Repair trainer. Mar 8 - The new composite rudder was installed on its first production aircraft – 88-0841. Apr 21 - The F-117 was publically unveiled during a fly-in and display on the Nellis flightline. Aircraft 80 -0790 and 84-0824 were put on public display for the first time. May 11 - Ben Rich and the Lockheed/Air Force team were awarded the 1989 Collier Trophy for outstanding achievement in aviation. Jun 1 - The total F-117 fleet flying hours reached 40,000 hours. Jun 18 - The 415th TFS deployed six aircraft to England AFB, LA in the first publicly acknowledged F117 deployment. Jun 21 - Configuration Update 5 (CU-5) was started with aircraft 82-0805. Jun 27 - Aircraft 88-0843, the last production aircraft, was delivered to the Air Force. A formal ceremony was held two weeks later at Lockheed’s Palmdale facility. Aug 1 - F-117 total fleet sorties reached 30,000. Aug 18 - The 415th TFS deployed to Saudi Arabia at the start of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Aug 28 - The F3 IRADS modification was given the go-ahead. Sep 1 - Aircraft 81-0798 completed the first 1200 hour maintenance inspection for the F-117. Sep 21 - The Platy enhancement mod was completed for the fleet (acft 86-0838). Oct 1 - Lockheed began transferring F-117 tooling from Burbank to their Palmdale facility. Oct 3 - Gen Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, escorted Gen Mikhail Moiseyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Union on a static tour of several aircraft that included the F-117 at Ellsworth AFB, SD. Oct 25 - Configuration Update 4 (CU-4) (acft 81-10796) was completed. Nov 1 - Total F-117 fleet hours reached 45,000 hours. Nov 27 - The first Offensive Capability Improvement Program (OCIP) mod was completed (82-0805). Nov 29 - The 416th TFS/AMU deployed 18 aircraft to Operation DESERT SHIELD joining the 415th at Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia. VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 15 Join The Stealth Fighter Association Stealth Fighter Association Mission Statement The Stealth Fighter Association is an affiliation of individuals brought together by the common bond of association with the world’s first stealth fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-117, produced by the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for the United States Air Force. Our mission is to preserve the memory of our struggles to attain a stealth combat capability second to none, maintain the legacy of the F117 “Nighthawk,” maintain the bonds of brother and sisterhood between those who contributed to make the awesome combat capability of stealth a reality, and act as a governing board to oversee the planning and execution of periodic reunions at either five or ten year cycles. For those folks reading this Newsletter who are not current members of the SFA, membership is open to all personnel, civilian or military, who at some time in their career were associated with the F-117 Stealth Fighter Aircraft program. Additional info is available on the SFA web site, and hard copies of this newsletter are available for mailing to interested folks. Please ask a member or drop a line to: Stealth Fighter Association PO Box 151196 Ft Worth, TX 76108-1196 Web Site Info We’re still in the process of updating our web site.. If anyone of you out there have experience and would like to volunteer to help out, please let me know via email ([email protected]). By the next newsletter we hope to have everything up and running. Let us know if you would like see anything particular on the web site. You can reach us at: [email protected] http://www.f117sfa.org VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Page 16
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