Monday, October 29, 2012

99125

Nope, it's not a zip code. It was the identifier to my job in the US Air Force (1969-73). It identified me as a Special Electronics Technician in the 1035th AFTAC, or Air Force Technical Applications Command with headquarters then in Alexandria, Virginia.

More specifically after basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas and training at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado, I was attached to the 1155th Technical Operations Squadron at McClellan AFB (Air Force Base) north of Sacramento, California west of North Highlands.

My job was in depot engineering and maintenance for the worldwide network of field stations for the various system used to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty. That was our mission, to watch the world for nuclear tests and assemble a complete picture about the bomb.

I spent the rest of my four-year duty there except for a few temporary duty assignments to Edwards, AFB, California, Eielson AFB, Alaska, Alexandria, Virginia, and Hamburg Germany (actually a small town outside the city I can't remember the name).

I was scheduled to go on tour to Aukland, New Zealand, Alice Spring, Australia and Chang Mai, Thailand but my boss changed the orders the week we were supposed to leave as he wanted the trip. He was reassigned when he returned from the trip for changing the orders preventing me from going.

My job was intitailly in the maintenance shop for the equipment for the H-System or magnetic and electrical systems used to detect nuclear explosions. There were 8-10 different systems with two additional airborne and one sea-based systems.

The field sites using the H-System were in Thule, Greenland, Edwards AFB, California, Alexandria, Virginia, Hamburg, Germany, Punto Arenas, Chile (closed 1970), the Shah's Wildlife Reserve, Iran (closed in mid-1970's), Alice Springs, Australia, Aukland, New Zealand, Chang Mai, Thailand, and the test facility at McClellan AFB, California.

All equipment was repaired at the depot at McClellan AFB and shipped to the field sites. Field sites were not allowed to repair equipment but to operate 24/7 and to remove and replace any equipment which failed to operate correctly. Later I was transferred to engineering where I developed, built and tested new equipment with the scientists.

Some of the equipment was used by other system, mostly the seismic system which was very similar to earthquake monitoring and detection systems used then and today. The chart Helicorders still in used for graphic display of seismic data was developed in part during the 1960's from this program and system.

[Note.--The graph is not an ink on paper recording. The paper is three layers of a base paper layer, carbon black layer and a top layer of burnable paper. The "pen" is a heat element powered by 450 volts DC to burn the trace through the top layer exposing the carbon trace. This makes the trace permanent and can't be smudged, erased or ruined in any way. The tics are 10-second intervals.]

Anyway, it was a fun job but in the end I always remembered that the mission of 1155th TOS was to identify, locate and reconstruct nuclear explosions, and in the event of a nuclear war, we were the score keepers. We could detect any nuclear explosion on the earth or moon, meaning anywhere underground, on the surface, underwater, and atmospheric.

Scary thought then but we all survived.

111 comments:

  1. I was 99125 B System (Seismic) stationed at Det 333 in Tehran, Iran from 1976 to Feb 1978. After that I returned to Lowry and was a B System Analysis instructor. Nice to hear from another 99125 guy. You are the first I have found since leaving except for my old room mate living in Maine I am still in contact with.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another 99'er here. I also was in 'B' systems and served in Chaing Mai Thailand all of 1970. There was a cut-back in personnel and got reassigned to TV Equipment Repair. From Thailand I was shipped to Shepard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX for 5 months then went to Frankfort Germany.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tom,
      Another 991er here (O system) @ Det359 in Germany for 38 months & now I LIVE in เชียงใหม่.
      Small world.

      Delete
  3. Another special instruments tech here. I was at Det 333 Tehran (Turkman Deh, remember?) from May 1967 to Nov 1968. Q system. Was reassigned to the old HQ in Alexandria, VA following. Discharged in May 1970. Iran was a great tour.

    Bill

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also 333. U system March 67 to Dec 68. Our systems stood next to each other. - many stories to tell on the hill and in the desert. Henry Zelones

      Delete
    2. in 1970-71 our Outside Wire and Antenna team from the 1836th EI Squadron out of Ramstein pulled two TDYs to Det 333, the seismic station and pole lines on the Shah's Royal Hunting Grounds. We rehabbed coaxial lines throughout Tehran and into the Embassy. We also installed an Armed Forces TV antenna at the station in Tehran. We were there about six months in total and it was a truly mesmerizing experience. One of the best things that ever happened to me!

      Delete
  4. Yet another 99 B-Systems guy, here. I was stationed at Det. 141 in Glenrock, WY from 1967 to 1969. Then I went to Det. 423 in Mindanao in the Philippines until I separated in May 1970. I posted pictures of my time in Mindy on facebook. Search for Mindanao Memories. I loved my time in the Philippines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was also at Glen rock Detachment141 in 1967,68.

      Delete
    2. Stationed Det 423 1967-1968. Stationed first at Det 204 and Det 207 Alaska.
      Left AFTAC at McClellan AFB as 99125L

      Delete
  5. I was also B-Technique. Tech school in 1973-74, Detachment 452 from74-75 (Founding member of the Dong Patrol), Depot Engineering from 75-78. I was known as SSgt Howard Graham back then.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was in O technique stationed at Keflavik NAS in 74 and at McClellan AFB maintenance depot from 74 to my separation in late 76.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i was also in O stationed at det 360 in Keflavik from july of 73 until I think spring of 74. Then transferred to McClellan service depot until separation in Nov 76

      Delete
  7. Facebook has two private AFTAC realted groups you can join. Just search for the following in the search box next to the large "F" at the top of the facebook page. These are restricted groups - so once you ask to join the group, the administrators will "vet" you and you'll be able to join.
    1. AFTAC Alumni of the world unite!
    2. 99105 99104 99106 99125 9s100

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was in Bangkok for two tours 72/73. Everyone called me beep. Most af people know what that means. New guy . Unfortunately it followed me the whole time I was there. I was a Q and B/20 tech. Most of us learned the whole det. Systems . It allowed us to catch a n during those mid shifts. Det 412 Don Muang RTAFB thailand. The best years of my life. Randy Greer randygreer31890@gmail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 99125Q. Randy, you must have left Det 412 right before I got there. Maybe I replaced you! Some names I remember from 412: Bob Ramm, Greg Moffett, Sgt Grady, Major Nichols, Tom (Henry T.) Hilton, Walter Kopek, Ben Franklin, Steve Rogers, John Glacken. Lowry instructors I remember include Tom Hart and John Cucuzza and one name that escapes me. I still have photos of Det 412 exterior & tech gear.

      Delete
    2. 99125Q, 1965-1968
      18mos Karamursel, Turkey Det 38 my shift chief was SSgt Ben Franklin
      then 12mos in Bangkok Det 412
      Would really be interested in any/all photos you might be willing to share as I've lost all I had.
      Also managed a Thai band 'The Zoniks' Thammasat University students who I met in the Rome bar.
      Have been living in Chiang Rai the last couple of decades now.
      Joe Z

      Delete
    3. Hey Joe,
      I'm a former 99er, myself (Det359) Zweibruecken, Germany for 38 months Oct '68 - Dec '72 (O System).
      Now in Chiang Mai (for 3.5 years)
      I just spent a few days in เชียงราย.
      I still have a house back in the states & will spend a month or two there in the summer.

      Rick

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. Hi DaveS, I think we were at the det around the same time. I was a 99125Q.

      All the names you mentioned were there.

      Nick Ishe and Bill Embach were also there until the site closed due to the end of the Vietnam conflict.

      Delete
    6. Hi Randy, like Dave S, I arrived on site with wife in early 74. Probably just missed you. But it was a great experience and amazing times.

      Delete
  9. I was a 99125F "F Troop" at McClellan from Sept '69 thru Aug '72. I got an early out for school at the end of Summer '72 deployment to HI when F Technique transferred to Patrick AFB, FL and I didn't have enough time remaining in service for the Air Force to transfer me. It was good duty. I spent 3 summer TDYs at Hickam AFB, HI and a couple of TDYs to Kimpo AFB, Korea. Glad to see a lot of the basic mission was finally declassified and acknowledged.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dutch, from my research, the technical side of the work was never declassified, but information about it was unclassified. The work was reduced to secret and contracted out during the 1990's, and reassumed by the USAF a few years latter.

      From what I saw and read in the news the work, and the aircraft, used to follow the nuclear fallout from the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011 was done by the 1035th. Nuclear fallout is the same no matter the source, a bomb or a nuclear plant.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. I obviously know you, as I was in F Troop with you from 1970 - 72. 3 summers at Hickam, HI, Was also on the TDY to Kimpo. I believe that one or two of the mission planes that we flew on still fly today!

      Delete
    4. My dad was in F Troop, and did those three summers at Hickam. He was Col. Ron Bird--passed away 4 Oct 2000. A pilot at the time. Anyone remember him? I was a young lad, but I remember hosting a BBQ for all of F Troop in our back yard in Carmichael. It was quite an event. Let's just say that the neighbors noticed.

      Delete
    5. dBird, I remember your father very well. It was a privilege and honor to server under your father and Chief Goodreau during my 3 years in F-Troop at McClellan AFB. -- Dutch

      Delete
  10. I was a 99125 B at Det 333 from the fall of 1973 to January 1975. From Tehran I went to AFROTC at the University of Colorado, B-52s, then B-1Bs, retiring at Langley AFB as a Lt Col. So I went from monitoring to sitting alert with B-28, B-61, SRAM and ALCM nuclear weapons.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter, i think I remember you. Dave Congour. I came to Det 333 in summer of '74 as a "Q". I remember you as one of the "older guys", since I was 19 when I got there. I was a bit of a flunky; spent most of my off hours wandering around Tehran Bazaar snapping photos. Did some skiing, too! I remember Richard Helms coming out for a visit (Ambassador to Iran at the time). Really was a wonderful year.

      Delete
  11. Yes, I was also at Det 333 from 67 to 69. I was the shift chief for B, Q, D, B20-4 and 5, H, U and a few others. Then they got me out the night the locals took over the embassy. With the world politics that they are today, I am told to keep a closed mouth, which I do. I respect our organization and want to keep it that way. Thanks for the tip-off of this site...

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was a 99125Z, based at Lowry my whole term in the AF (1963 to 1967) except for a couple of TDYs to Hanscom AFB in Bedford MA for training on the newer ZII system. They turned me into an instructor, which I enjoyed very much. Also wrote a lot of course and testing materials. It was a fine field to be in, although I looks like its changed a very great deal now. Far as I can determine now, Z system is now an automatic system, not manned at all...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was a 99125Z, based at Lowry my whole term in the AF (1963 to 1967) except for a couple of TDYs to Hanscom AFB in Bedford MA for training on the newer ZII system. They turned me into an instructor, which I enjoyed very much. Also wrote a lot of course and testing materials. It was a fine field to be in, although I looks like its changed a very great deal now. Far as I can determine now, Z system is now an automatic system, not manned at all...

    ReplyDelete
  14. I was a one-termer in 99125-Q. Training at Lowry in 73-74. Shipped out to Tehran in '74 for a year. Lots of adventures living in Tehran, and at Det333. Looking for some of my former co-workers. Any help would be appreciated:
    Captain Helm - Det333
    Keith Wilson - Phillipines
    "Mac" Instructor at Lowry
    John Cucuzza Instructor at Lowry
    Thanks!
    Dave Congour
    Montrose, Colorado
    970.901.8757

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sgt Cucuzza was an instructor in training at Lowry when I was there. My recollection is Sgt Tom Hart was the main instructor during Systems. Can't for the life of me remember the fundies instructor name. Was "Mac" fundamentals?

      Delete
    2. I remember John Cucuzza with very well, and wish I could find him. Super friendly. One little memory: I remember him describing capacitors as the electrical version of keeping "assholes from slamming shut!". Uncharacteristically riske for his otherwise gentle demeanor! Can't remember what Mac taught; but I believe he must have been teaching fundys, as you say. He really was a "salt of the earth" kinda guy, but with a heart of gold. I visited Lowry many years later, after it had been de-comissioned as a base, and somehow ran into someone who said he "worked at a gas station nearby", but, unfortunately, time didn't permit followup on that tidbit. Since I left Tehran, I've only kept up with one other from that time period: Larry Douglas, who was also stationed at Det 333. Note: My phone # has changed: 970-901-0008

      Delete
  15. I was assigned to the 1155th from Feb. 1970-March 1974. I was a language specialist and assigned to the drafting room. I also ran the coffee concession (nice money maker!) It would be nice to reconnect with anyone who was assigned there at the same time as I.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was a 99125 when I started out in 77 and was converted to a 99105 later. I was in Det 460 78 and 79.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was at Lowry from Nov 1966 until Aug 1967. U system. Then to Misawa, Japan for 7 months and to Aviano, Italy (W system) for the rest of my 4 year enlistment. At Lowry I was a electronics fundamentals classmate of John Mutrux (see his post of April 29,2014 above).

    ReplyDelete
  18. 99125Q training at Lowry 1965-66. On first regular team to Fiji 1966. Can you believe it was considered a remote tour? Civilian clothes and a tourist hotel. Duty location was so bad I re-upped for another year. Good times. Constant party time 'cause Aussie and Kiwi tourists were on holiday. Then, when the 'alarm' sounded or there was an equipment failure, it was balls-to-the-walls. Came back to the States in 1968 and was stationed at McClellan in maintenance and micofilming until discharged in 1969.
    Paul Heuser

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was a Q troop in Fiji in 1970 Lived at the Hibiscus Hotel. Days off went body surfing down at Natadola Beach or out to the Mamanuca Group from Lautoka. Tough duty!

      Delete
    2. Didn't you just love how the waves broke right on the beach? Came up w/2 lbs of sand in your hair.

      Delete
  19. I was a 99125-L (Gas + mass spec sections) McClellan 5/72- 8/75

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was 99125-L Mas Spec Chem from '63 to '68. Training here led on to some fantastic jobs in civilian technology industries on both coasts

      Delete
    2. I was in mass spec from '70 thru '74.

      Delete
  20. I was a 99125Z and L (mass Spec chem tech)troop from 1965-1979. Det333 (67-68), Lowry AFB (68-71, and 1155th at McClellan. All great jobs, sport teams, and people. Via AECP I finished last 10 years in officer ranks working on satellites, including VELA (kind of came full circle in 25 years AF career)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Tom N ... Sgt. Mike here. I was in Mass Spec Chem 1966-1970/ I'm guessing who you really are. How is life in Colorado ?

      Delete
    2. I left Sunnyvale (VELA) in 1979 to move to Australia with my homesick wife. Wish I had stayed in!!

      Delete
  21. Wow! Just stumbled across this post.
    Was 99125B Stationed at Det333 from Nov '71 thru Oct, '73.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I was at Det 333 from fall 1973 to Jan 1975 then ROTC at University of Colorado. Served next 20 years flying B-52 and B-1B retiring as an O5 in 1996.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I was at Det 452 from 1976 to 1980 off and on, 99125 before they morphed it over - Old Newbie by nickname, Ernie Shafer

    ReplyDelete
  25. B-troop. 79-84. 1155th, Det 460. EL244 as a contractor. Visited a few others like Yakota lab, Chang Mai, etc.
    REPierce

    ReplyDelete
  26. I was in B system 69-73, stationed Det 421 & then McClellan until early out. My nephew is now in Alice Springs, only at what we called the ‘Space Base’. He has visited site. One classmate was one of four kidnapped in Turkey.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I was in basic from Jan to Mar of 68. I remember someone coming by before the end of basic and showing us a slide of a place that looked like a stone wall around a castle. They said if you wanted to be a 99125 they would wish you away for some very very secret stuff but volunteers only. Never volunteered for anything. Ended up staying at Lackland for crypto school then to Fy Monmouth fir DSTE. Always wondered about 99125 and until now it was a mystery! Spent time in Germany and Thailand during the war and got out in 72. Thanks for your service guys!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That’s pretty close to how I remember it. One day during basic I was sent to some kind of recruiting presentation. Seemed to be a fairly exclusive list of invitees They said if we volunteered for this secret 99125 thing, we could be stationed at many exotic locales around the world, and some not so exotic. I thought that sounded interesting so I signed up. Ended up in Casual for a while, presumably while my initial security clearance was being done. Fundies and Systems at Lowry, then on to Det 412 as a 99125-Q in 1974. Needless to say I would have re-upped, but there were cutbacks and I was sent to Bergstrom AFB in Austin to work on general avionics stuff. I hated it, got an early out.

      Delete
    2. Was that Captain Kornelius? He recruited me tom 99125 in 1972

      Delete
  28. Qsystem Instructor at Lowry 65-69 (sgt Moe)
    1 year at lowry common Electronics basic school but then in 99125 only Electronics basics school. Only det experience was at RMA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sgt Moe, Any chance as an instructor you know why USAF canceled a 99 class like ours? We would have graduated summer 67. We all went on in other electronics fields and mine was highly classified.

      Delete
  29. I went active in AUG66 and was ear-marked in Basic but did not know why. After a WFO delay it was Lowry for 99125 fundamentals. Specifics class was canceled and everyone split-up. After KP at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal I moved the the east side of Lowry and trained on ADC F106 MA1 weapons control. That resulted in Duluth MN, Tyndall FL, Eielson AK, Selfridge MI, Osan S KOR, Naha Okinawa, and back to Tyndall. The N KOR capturing the Pueblo spy ship dictated most of that duty. We were on Armed Alert most of the time intercepting Communists in AK and N KOR. Tyndall was development and live fire over the Gulf. Until now I never knew what I missed, but I really liked interceptors. The smell of JP4 is still exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  30. 99125Q - 1959 - 1961
    Det 327 (Lahore Pakistan)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. George Perzel
      99125Q at Det 327 in Lahore
      1962-1963
      Det 310 in Iceland
      1961-1962
      gmperzel@rochester.rr.com

      Delete
  31. I just found this site and it's interesting to get an idea of what has been de-classified. I've never talked about it much -- I remember we weren't supposed to mention the det number and the location together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still have never told my family what I did in the Air force.

      Delete
  32. Replies
    1. Tim you may have met Larry Silhanek who was there about that time?

      Delete
    2. Yes, he was there when I was. I think he arrived a couple of months after I did.

      Delete
    3. I'm not good at names but I remember a lot of names there. Jim Pelletier, Tom Paretti, Bob Darling, Bobby O. Miller, Dave Harris, Skip Prack, Joel Somebody. It was a small det - a few Qs and a few Is.

      Delete
    4. Ok... this is spooky (no pun), but I had the same experience... Lackland, take some tests, talk to some guy in room at end of corridor, can’t tell you much, where do I sign... Lowery for 10 months, 99125L, McClellan for 3 years. 64-67. Now the spooky stuff, my step-brother joins Airforce a few years later and ends up in 99125. His name is Tom Paretti! And I read his name here. Small world.

      Delete
    5. I was in Fiji 1970-1971 (still have my Fiji independence t-shirt and glass)and remember a few of the names mentioned here. Great "holiday"! Fond memories of the Hibiscus and lots of time at the Skylodge.
      Bob Thompson (Tom)

      Delete
  33. Reading recent posts here has jogged my memory on some more names. Richard Duval, Larry Silhanek, Bill Embach.

    I still have photos of Det 412, but not sure what's ok to share. Here's a few exterior shots that can't possibly be a problem.

    https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0eGgZLKuGA0g6V

    Are pics of the Q gear etc allowed? I've never been able to find any photos online, and I don't want to be the first to try that. lol. We were always told none of the gear was classified except for the contraption that required a weekly bottle change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dave,
      Yep, we were there at the same time. You even got a photo of the antenna array for the field test of the Q replacement system. I think it became J but others may be able to confirm deny.

      There are some photos of the Q system and others on the Facebook group "AFTAC Alumni of the world unite!"

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  35. My stepfather,Francis Klatka worked in the 1155th at McClellan.Hated when he went TDY being gone so long.Loved playing Pinochle.He taught me electronics.I have fond memories of going to the base so many times as a youngster. He was "Dad" to me.Frank died in 2003. He was one of a kind. Miss him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing your memories of your stepdad here.

      Delete
    2. I served in Q shop with Frank from July of 70 to December of 72. He was one of the coolest guys there. I remember going to his house one day to help move a piano and your mom talked me into finishing off a bottle of scotch so she could have the collector bottle. Frank was a decent guy with a great personality. I truly miss him.

      Delete
  36. Oh man I found the motherload of photos from my tour at Det 412. I added a bunch more scans of prints to the gallery link. And I have a whole bunch of Kodachrome slides I'd forgotten about, including many really good pics from Walter Kopek's wedding ceremony. I need to figure out how to get some of those scanned.

    Note the Org Chart. Let me know if you know any of the missing names and I'll update it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's that link again.

      https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0eGgZLKuGA0g6V

      Click on a photo and then you can scroll through at your own speed using left-right arrow keys.

      Delete
    2. I'm really not happy with how the photos are being presented on icloud, or with the embedded captions. I'll figure out something better and share it here when I have it worked out.

      Delete
  37. This is Bob Jones, I was a 99125Q at McClellan AFB maintenance depot from 1969-1971 until going to Det 441. You may have known Gary Warren, Dave Wright. They were also there but longer than I was.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Bones! This is Dave. I just found this blog and was really surprised to find anyone I knew from the 70's at McClellan. Hope you have managed to survive Covid. Donna and I are out in California. How are Joanne and Jennifer? Have you heard from Gary? I know he had back problems when we were at McClellan. Keep in touch.

      Delete
  38. Great seeing this post! 99125-B from 1966 to 1970. Lackland and Lowry (of course), McClellen AFB, Eilson AFB and Casper, WY. Wonderful memories. Originally from Detroit, now retired in Charlotte, NC. Career was in telecom in Detroit, Chicago, Tampa, Alabama, and Charlotte.

    ReplyDelete
  39. 99106 Here! We ran the "Pony Express" 1985-1989. Midway Island, Kwajalein Atoll back to Hawaii back to Sacramento we brought the real physical proof that the "Test Ban Treaty" was violated. I had a great time with some smart great people.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Just came across this site. Brings back fond memories! I arrived at the 1155th at McClellan in September 1960 as a newly married A/1C having trained in Denver. Looking at the dates in these posts, I might be an "old-timer". Three years spent in the Laboratory Maintenance Shop (except for one month at Eielson AFB). Funny thing is that I spent the rest of my working career using the knowledge I gained during those three years. Is there anyone else who worked in the Lab during the '60s.

    Regards,
    Calvin J. Bacon 99125FL

    ReplyDelete
  41. I was a 99125U airman. At Denver from Fall of 67 to 1968 then on to 18 months a Det 297 at Eielson. When my tour was up they went to something called "mini-max" and all first term Airmen were rotated out. I spent my last year at Westover AFB, Mass repairing airborne radios on B-52's. Something I knew nothing about. Thinking about it now, I never volunteered for 99125, they just put me there.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi George,

    I just saw your response to my post.

    My radio related email is k9hud@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Carey Rector - Q Systems Bremerhaven (Neunwalde) Germany, 1963 - 1965

    ReplyDelete
  44. Across the hall from you from 74 to 77. I was in Typographics. I knew all of the systems that are listed here. Remembered when Edgar Poe Allen retired.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Q at Edzell Scotland in early '70s. Got to open Det 370. Lots of work on the end of a WW2 runway. Little red school house got painted battleship grey (Navy Security Service installation). Scored one touchdown against the Marine detachment playing "touch" football, big mistake. 13 of us and a full company of them. Then off to the Baguio, Philippines, Det 418. Got to watch Marcos play golf, as our equipment trailers were near the half-way house on the golf course. John Hay AFB was an R/R base, in the mountains. One hole(3rd?) had a tow rope to help you up the side of a hill (fairway). Got to close the detachment, when Q was terminated. Then to McClellan as an L. Separated in 77 to finish school.

    ReplyDelete
  46. As I was getting ready to leave Lackland in December 1971, my orders were "redlined" and I was placed in casual status to await an in person interview to become a 99125, Special Electronics Technician. But I could not be told what it was! So, I sat around in casual at Lackland until Late January for this interview. Upon arrival at the interview, the group of 12 of us were told that the next class had been cancelled and would not re-open until late March 1972, Since the military could not keep us in casual status that long, I was offered any job I wanted that required a Top Secret clearance. I chose airborne missile maintenance. I eventually crossed trained into Air Traffic Control, a career with the FAA followed. At least now I know what I could have been doing.

    ReplyDelete
  47. 99105! Was at 333 in Tehran for 100 days before they kicked us out (the day before Khomeni arrived - 78). Then a B system instructor at Lowry. I revamped the seismic theory course. Then two years at 423 in Mindanao. Then HQ where I did ops for B, O & J. Got into software programming on the J system and then left the AF before they had a chance to ship me off to Korea (91).

    ReplyDelete
  48. 99125 A 1965-1968 Basic Jan 05 1965, Lowery 6 months
    McClellan ridin the sky in C-54 Capt Lockwood, C-118 ,try South America three months, Det 202 Eielson Feb 67-May 68
    Out in Oct. Went to Burroughs installed B-3500 mainframe systems at AF bases across US. Electrical contractor till retired 2009

    ReplyDelete
  49. Privileged to fly Ptmigan in WB-47’s many times. WC-135B
    To Yokoto and Moldyhole

    Luckily got to fly out of Tripoli in WC -135 to check out sand and camels. Who would believe even B-52g in EWO seat.

    ReplyDelete
  50. 99125Z & C, co-located with H and E. Det 424,Maui 1964 to 1967. Beachboy (part time) @ Sheraton Maui, 3-man band on off duty time. What a ride!!! Lived in the middle of a cane field in a converted maternity wing of an old hospital (Pu'unene), worked @ 10,023' in "Science City" (Haleakala summit) just above the park.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Jim B Same as others at Lackland Apr - Jun 1967, Spoke to Major who said, cant tell you your mission, cant tell you what your going to work on, cant tell you where you will go. Trained in U. then to Diyarbakir Turkey isolated remote Jul 68- Jun 69. Then to HQ Alexandria worked on K system on Ft Belvoir. Loved it but was newly married and heading remote again. Out as Ssgt in Apr 1971 and returned home to become a cop.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I was at Det 423, Mindanao, in 1968. CO was a POS, Major Fred Walker. Interestingly, I visited Det 423 in 1980, as a Naval Officer (changed services, got sent to college), and was amazed to see that the facility was no longer classified.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Bill D another 99125 B served 1964 - 1968. Was at Det 204 when it closed and moved to Det 207. Finished at HQ VA. Good times indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hello, unknown (L-mass spec) in 73?-75, so I must have UN-unknown you). I remember only 2 light and 4.5 heavies, and those damned Punch-Cards and Paper-Tape Readers. Small world, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  55. I am blown away by all the stuff about AFTAC on the internet now. Another B troop here. Like Bill D above, I was at Det 204 at Fairbanks when it was deactivated in 1965 and moved to Det 207 at Eielson. From there to Det 301 at Ankara in '67, discharged '68. In hindsight, staying in would not have been the disaster it seemed at the time. If Bill D is Duncan, I have a photo of you to share if you want to get in touch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like to touch bases again. Look me up at AFTACAA or AFTACWCC.
      Bill Duncan

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  56. 99125B Lowry training 1959, Det 162 Wyoming 1960 through 1962. No one seems to be that old. Had no knowledge of any declassification of mission.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Welcome, unknown, from one of us "kids" of a decade later. Outside of seeing an occasional story (that I can never find again) I've never tried to tell anything until well after anybody I know cared to hear anything about me. But WE KNOW.

    ReplyDelete
  58. I entered the U.S.Air Force on Sept. 9th, 1963 did my basic at Lackland A.F.B. for 8 weeks. Had my special meeting in late October '63 for a very special secret training program at Lowry A.F.B., Denver, CO.Went by train upon basic training completion 1st week of November. Attended 99125 training (U Systems)until August '64 which included 2 weeks field ops at Rocky Mountain Arsenal (where we were exposed to Agent Orange being tested there.) Assigned to McClellan A.F.B. 1155th T.O.S. Sept.'64 to Nov.'65, working on U & A Systems. Was then assigned to Detachment 333 in Tehran Nov.'65 until May '67. Was asst. Mgr., (in addition to my normal U Systems duties) of our "Scorpion Club Bar" at our 1st Staff House in Saltanatabad. Then moved to the Bachal Guest House near the Niavaran Palace in early '67. Got an "early out" in late May '67. Great assignment.

    ReplyDelete
  59. My name is Robert E. Lathe, just F.Y.I.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Name is Vaughn Hathaway. Enlisted AF 11/1957. as candidate for cadet but failed physical. Had 2 phases Basic @ Lackland. TRX to Lowry as A3C for armaments. Offered entry to Spec/Weps & accepted 3/58. Hospitalized 103 days w/ Rhu Fever 4/58. Re-entered school 8/58. Graduated 1/59. Sent to 1009th SWS @ WFO for OJT. Fwded to 407 @ Yokota AB, Japan 6/59. Early out 8/61. Greatly enjoyed job but sensed calling to ministry. Job @ 407 was routine 99125FL but for 3 events. 1) Yokota on unstable 50 cycle power grid affecting 407 equipment. I suggested solution. Equipment was modified & problem went away. Got early A2C -- fellows were unhappy. 2) I was selected for a special project to develop low-background analysis of debris. Findings & suggestions were accepted. Got A1C ahead of time. Again, hoi polloi were stirred. 3) On grave-shift duty one night in Summer 1961 Filters from a WB50 that didn't have an 99125A on board came in with fresh debris from event that was not detected by 99125Q (?). I really got pumped. Got a big pat on the bat for just doing my job. Was appointed to OCS; but turned it don for reason cited above.

    ReplyDelete
  61. 99125B Tehran, Iran and near Toledo, Spain. 66-67 Tehran was there when the Shari crowned himself. I was to the Caspian Sea wild boar hunting. We were first in a trailers. Some nice vipers there. Then when to Spain 68-70. Was surprised to see it here. I enjoyed Spain the most Marvin

    ReplyDelete
  62. I was slotted into 99125 during basic training at Lackland, but the OSI questionnaire that I filled out was filed in my personnel folder instead of going to OSI to get the required top secret security clearance. I found out this had happened when I had 6 weeks left on my enlistment. After 3 months in casual at Lackland waiting for a security clearance that was never going to happen, I went to personnel and got re-AFSC'd to 303x1, Air Traffic Control Radar Repairman. At that time, no 99125s would talk about their training or technical focus, except to say that 99125s did 18 months tech school at Lowrey AFB in Colorado and then went isolated for the next 18 months. One guy I talked to who had been to a briefing about the AFSC said the presenter wouldn't provide any detail about the work, but put his foot up on the table, pulled up his pants leg, and displayed the bullet hole scar he'd acquired while doing some of the work. I always wondered about that story. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  63. I was in school for 99125 in 64-65, but 120 of us across all shreds were cut before graduation due to overfill in the career field. Found that this wasn't a rare event for 99125. We were sent to either missle maint or radio maint which is where I landed for 25+ years.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I was in 99125O, stationed at det 360 in Keflavik from February 1975 through 76, then went back to Lowry as an instructor for the duration of my enlistment.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Was always curious about what I might have been doing. After about 10 days at basic in 1967 I was asked to fill out another Statement of Personal History ( I believe it was a DD Form 1098). When I inquired as to why I was told it was for a possible special job, nothing else. The only hint of what it was for were the numbers 99125 that I was told to write at the top of the first page of the form. About a week later I was informed that my basic grad date would be a week too late to get into the required tech school and that they had another qualified guy who graduated basic a week ahead of me. They gave me back a copy of the 1098 that I still have, thus I remembered the AFSC number. But because of it they gave me the option to pick my career field (I went in guaranteed electronics) from 3 they offered. Luckily one was what I wanted- Automatic Flight Control Systems. Stayed with that for 26 years with the best assignment with SR-71 and U-2s. Interesting that I'm now retired in Rockledge, FL, just down the road from AFTAC and been known to tip a few with some of the guys that work there yet.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Just found this, I was 99125 at Det 461 on Shemya, Alaska from 72-73. 2-mile x 4-mile island for 12 months. From there to Sacramento for the rest of my service at 1155th.

    ReplyDelete