49th Pilots and ground crew49th Pilots, Luke AFBVictory dinner 1955
The three items above, not being military issue, were left when the 49th F.I.S. at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA was transferred to Griffiss AFB in 1959. It is presently not known if these items were used at Dow.
Left – A Tech Order Compliance Chart. Glass framed chart to be used with grease pencil. Some of you may have used this chart.
Center – Aluminum shield with 49th marking. As can be best determined, the aluminum disk came from the metal shop and the shield markings is the one used on the 49th aircraft at that time.
Right – This shield is a single piece of plywood cut into the shape of the center item and hand painted.
The two shields, center and right, I believe, were located in the Officer’s Lounge (was usually there only on weekends when I was Duty Officer.) The chart on the left came from the maintenance area. If you know more about any of these items, please let me know.
There seems to be a lack of pictures from the L. G. Hanscom Field days of the 49th FIS. It seems that cameras were not allowed in the squadron area. This makes sense now that we realize that the squadron was testing the “new” S.A.G.E. system. As I recall we had the F-102 fighter next to us, also testing systems. Hopefully some of you have pictures from the Hanscom days, at least showing some of the personnel in non-secret activities.
However I did find a brochure prepared in mid 1959 of the 465th FIS which was the 49th FIS after the 49th transferred to Griffiss AFB, less aircraft and personnel. The pictures in the brochure are of the 49th personnel, and relate to the F-86 D/L.
Dave Jeffrey at Dow (winter 1954)Baseball at Hanscom Field (Not quite Fenway Park) Bob Thomalen coaching at third base Dave Jeffrey on deckDave Jeffrey in YumaWaiting for C-119 to take us to Yuma (2/4/1956) Dave Jeffrey (left) Dick Gulbransen w/headlock on Ray Fratus Henry Salustro is behind them reading his Boston paper
The picture on the right is a better picture of the F-86, but wasn’t used. Can you see why it may have been rejected?
Remember this is from a brochure showing the 465th FIS. Try to spot the problem with the picture on the right.
FU-303 picture used for brochure coverPicture of FU-303 taken at same time, but not used
ANSWER: Unfortunately the picture may not show it clearly on your screen, BUT if you look closely, just above the FO in U.S. AIR FORCE, you will see that the 49th Green Knight shield is still on the fuselage.
F-84Bs on the Flight line at Dow
Notice the change of colors to green and white around the nose and on the tail.
F-86F at DowF-86D at DowMajor John A. Bell, Commanding OfficerMajor Hayden H. Holton, Squadron Executive Officer1st Lt. Oliver N. Jackson Squadron AdjutantOperations OfficeLittle Baker and some birds ready to leap offM/Sgt John Camp, 1st SergeantValet service to the hangar, courtesy of John Clark.Time for a tuneupMission accomplished! All the birds back safely.C-47 at Dow. Tom Statler is Crew ChiefT-33 at DowJoe Chatfield, Paul Scoskie, and Tom Morrisey fine tune the radar for an F-86D.Buck Madruga on his T-33Gary Ferrol and Leland Goss take a break outside the Power ShopDan Ferguson gets a bird ready to flyNote the names on the two planes – on the left ‘Miss Citizen’. On the right-‘Miss Canuck’ They are Staff McDougall’s plane, one before he became an American citizen and one after. That’s Staff on the left and Don Findlay on the rightGordon Baker borrows a buck till payday from Paul MurphyDon Harbert, Gary Ferrol, Joe Skurka, and ‘Hagar’ Ray Fratus outside the DayroomCarl Threadgill, (?), and Van Cooney get ready to hit the beachConnie Swokla & Ben Frisby at a barracks party‘Red’ McGaffic, Jerry Page, and Lee ‘Breezie’ Briner. That’s not JP-4 they’re drinking!Bill Cooper, an Oiler who can read. Wow!!!Right-L-R: Front-Carl Threadgill, Arnie Cohen, Ed Bliss, John Szucs. Rear- Denny Tyrrell, Bob Thomalen, Ron German, (?) , Russ Oliver, Ed Roman, Frank Vincent, Bill BorusThis was not a prayer meeting in the barracks. Seated: Arnie Cohen Standing: Bob Thomalen, Russell Oliver, Ed Roman. Back row: Bill Borus. Remember Schlitz?Right: Red McGaffic, Mike Dargatis, Ron Lavoie, Ray “Hagar” Fratus, Bob KrobothLeft: Bill Aldorisio, Bob Thomalen, Bob Kroboth, Mike Dargatis, Red McGaffic at Yuma.Forget the scramble-I’ve got a full house going here! Lavoie, Thomalen, and Zimmerman at Yuma.121’s radar is fine, says Ron Lavoie at Yuma.No, it’s not Baryshnikov, it’s Vollbach at Bar Harbor.All dressed up on the flight line? L-R: Unknown, Walter “The Spider” Markot, Tom Morrissey.Cole Worthy waking Ben FrisbyConnie Swokla getting Neatness Award on KP at historic Camp Dow on the PenobscotPaul Scoskie in the Sight ShopTwo F-86Ds waiting to go upF-84B at Dow AFB, Bangor, ME. Note the red and white squadron color markings on the aircraft.Hangar at Dow. Note: P-47s, B-26, and F-84s. The changing of the guard has begun.
49thfightersquadronassociation.com 