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Range Rat Signin Book (RRBOOK) Listing
select * from rrbook order by date desc| Date: 07/12/2008 | |
| Name: Leonard Potter | |
| Email: lfpotter@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: West Palm Beach, Fl 33412, USA | |
Comments: I was the weather Tech from 1962 to 1971 on Eleuthera. Went back to West Palm Beach because range was scaling down.I met my wife at French Leave and we were married here in 1966, have 1 son and fortunately bought property here,and have built a house and spend a lot of time here. Look forward to hearing from some of the RANGE RATS.
Len Potter | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/09/2008 | |
| Name: Wallace L. Wilkins | |
| Email: wwilkins2@tampabay.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Crystal River, Florida, U.S.A. | |
Comments: Hired in P.A.F.B. 25 Sep. 1956, First assigned to G.B.I. 1 Oct. in P.Am's Task Force Construction Unit, to erect a Quonset Hut and dismantle old prefab buildings put there WW2. Russ Reed, Base Mgr.,and Curt Wooley,Task Force Foreman met me at the plane. Finished assignment, then on to Mayaguana, for the Runway addition, and on to all the A.F.Bases on the 'Long Range', until 1972. To Ascension, 1957 with Task Force to set up interim facilities for the first contingent to be assigned at Sta.12.
Built the Rawinsonde Fac., Fernando de Naronha 1958,then on to close the Base on St. Lucia, Beane A.F.B. and many projects on all the Range Bases. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/07/2008 | |
| Name: Dick Roberts | |
| Email: dar9999@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Mead, Co, USA | |
| Comments: Hello to all, I worked at Eglin on the Gulf test range from 1960 to 1963, where I worked with several MTP range rats on the FPS-16. In 1963 I went to San Salvador, where I worked on the FPS-16 until the Station closed in 1964.
In 1964 I went to Grand Bahama, where i was a Technician on the XN-2 and Leader of the TPQ-18 until 1967.
Then to Grand Turk as Leader of the TPQ-18 from 1968-1969.
I was Leader of mainland radars from 1970-1982 at Merrit Island, The Cape and Pafb radars.
Then to Antigua as radar Leader from 1982 until 1989. When we lost the contract I went to the Aerostat program where I worked in Texas and Puerto Rico from 1989 until I retired in 1994 and moved to Colorado.
I would look forward to hearing from any of my old range rat friends. Squeek Squeek! Anyone seen the MIPIR Mouse recently?
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/09/2008 | |
| Name: Joe Windes | |
| Email: jrwindes@cox.net | | City/State/Country: Norman, OK, USA | |
Comments: -1965, American Mariner out of Cape Canaveral
-1965-1966, Thew USNS Hoyt Vandenberg out of Cape Canaveral, then Pearl Harbor
-1966-1967, the USNS Hap Arnold out of Pearl Harbor-worked radar for James Caskey and Dave Kerrigan | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/04/2008 | |
| Name: George M Cousens | |
| Email: gmc2005@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: North Billerica, MA 01862, USA | |
Comments: Tour of duty: 05Jul66 - 31Mar05.
My first duty station was Eluthera prior to being
shipped off to Ascension. I xfered to Trinidad
in 1968 till my departure in 1971 for Vietnam.
I returned to the Range in 1973. Spent a short
time at Antigua before it was off to Ascension
for a second tour. That tour ended in March (I
believe) of 1978, when I xfered to Antigua where
I remained until I retired in March of 2005
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/01/2008 | |
| Name: Tom Bowen | |
| Email: jtbow@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: The Woodlands, Texas, USA | |
| Comments: Aboard the Timberhitch, 62 / 64 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/01/2008 | |
| Name: Roger D. Priest | |
| Email: kwajroger@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Merritt Island, Fla., USA | |
Comments: 1968-1970 GTK Pan-Am Powerhouse operator.
1974-1978 Kwajalien Powerhouse operator.
1978-1980 Mahe Pan-Am Powerhouse operator.
1980-1988 Pan-Am Cape & Cudjoe Key Aerostat Crew leadman.
1988-1995 Pan-Am/JCWS Kwajalein/Meck Island operations Supervisor.
1995-1998 JCWS Cape Generator/Searchlight Shop.
Retired from JCWS when SGS took over the Contract.
1999-2000 Raytheon Kwajalein Powerplant Supervisor
2001-2004 did 3 short tours to Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan with KBR and RMS.Hung up the old hardhat for good at age 62. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/29/2008 | |
| Name: JOE DERMOGA | |
| Email: joedernoga@juno.com | | City/State/Country: ORCHARD BEACH, MARYLAND 21226-2040, US | |
| Comments: Worked on the Rose Knot for over 3 years.About 1966 to 1968. Started in RF Command, went to Digital Command and then Telemetry.Was in Oxnard Cal when the ship was retired. I can not find the SIM, PORKCHOPS-Roy King, anywhere. He was a great guy. Joe Dernoga, once known as the Flashing Fork | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/27/2008 | |
| Name: James E. (Jim) Finley | |
| Email: jimfin522@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Tyler, TX, USA | |
| Comments: I worked for RCA on the American Mariner from early 1960 thru Dec. 1963. By the end of my stay aboard, I was the Instrumentation Manager. The Mariner worked in the Ascension area, Caribbean area, and also supported the high altitude nuclear tests at Johnson Isl. in the Pacific in 1962. The top RCA managers during my stay were: Joe Kaiser, J. T. Hiles, and Fred Ise. The most memorable stops the Mariner made during my stay included Recife, BR; Cape Town; and Honolulu. The time served aboard the Mariner represents an important period of my life experience. I met and worked with a number of very talented and fine individuals. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/26/2008 | |
| Name: Ed Walsh | |
| Email: ewalsh42@bigpond.com | | City/State/Country: Sydney, NSW, Australia | |
| Comments: I was on the Mercury from the early Quincy days before the new mid section keel was laid until we removed all the instrumentation at Port Huenme CA. I was Tracking Supervisor then later I replaced Russ Perkins as Instrumentation Supervisor. After the Mercury worked at Vandenberg AFB for FEC and left them after 20 years and moved to Sydney Australia where I now live. Ed Walsh | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/26/2008 | |
| Name: Bill Williamson | |
| Email: Kwajdiverbill@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: St. Petersburg, Fl, USA | |
| Comments: I went Down Range right out of UEI Tech School in Tampa January 1975. Worked TM on Grand Turk, Antigua, but mostly Ascension on the TAA-3A. After a year on the ETR I went for a tour to Kwajalein Missile Range in the Pacific. Two years with Kentron International. Then changed jobs with RCA staying on Kwajalein and Roi-Namur islands for more three years. Getting tired of island life I transfered to Alaska with RCA. Lasted almost a year with the Chosen Frozen, just outside of Nome, at Tin City AFS. After five years in Auburndale, Florida, I return to Kwajalein for seven more years working on the ALTAIR RADAR (GTE). Eight more years in Florida and back to Kwajalein this time with KRS (Kwajalein Range Services) for two years, working ALTAIR again, then Range Safety. PCS there for a job with Raytheon working the new ASR 11, DASR Radar. Feb. 2008 started working Raytheon St. Petersburg, Florida. Here I plan to stay for awhile, but, once a Range Rat, you always have than in your blood. What we do at Raytheon is important for the military. Just not the same as tracking space ships.
Bill Williamson
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/25/2008 | |
| Name: John James Herron | |
| Email: johnjherron@charter.net | | City/State/Country: Arden, North Carolina, U.S.A. | |
| Comments: RCA GBI - 1954 to 1958
Plotting boards (central control)
Range safety Radar
High speed radar caneras
Weather radiosondy baloon trackin
Base movie projecters Pactrick AFB - 1958 - 1962 Research & Development Lab. for down
rance and cape tracking equipment Trinidad, BWI, tracking station 1962 - 1967
Tracking Space objects - computer data.
Rosman, North Carolina - 1968 - 1973
stadan space data collecting. Computer
lock, track and high speed recording. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/24/2008 | |
| Name: Kent Angell | |
| Email: w7vz@burgoyne.com | | City/State/Country: Clearfield, Utah, USA | |
| Comments: My first range experience was on the last mission with the American Mariner, August 1965. I then made some trips on the Vanderberg and Arnold as a Telemetry Sr. Tech until August of 1966. I then packed up the family (wife and four kids) and pulled a trailer with a VW bug across country to Quincy, Mass. while the three Apollo ships were being built. Permanently assigned to the USNS Mercury as the Telemetry Supervisor through Apollo 10. Watched the moon landings from home. Have talked with Bill Connell a few times since then. Those four years were some of the greatest experiences of my life. Paul Alford found me and now communicate via Ham Radio (W7VZ). I feel honored to be counted among you real Range Rats. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/24/2008 | |
| Name: paul alford | |
| Email: plalford@msn.com | | City/State/Country: santa maria, CA., CA, USA | |
| Comments: I started aboard the Mercury in Quincy, MA in Oct 66. I got off in Guam in 68 when i transferred to Vandenberg AFB. I went on the Redstone to help support the lunar landing 1969. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/16/2008 | |
| Name: Carl A. Barone | |
| Email: mbarone076@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Elba, NY, USA | |
Comments: Ascension 1960s, 1971-1972
Ships 1964-1965
Trinidad 1970-1971 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/10/2008 | |
| Name: Donald R Houser | |
| Email: DJN1118@ATT.NET | | City/State/Country: Richardson, Texas, USA | |
| Comments: Range Rat 1965 thru 1968 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/08/2008 | |
| Name: Guy LoCastro | |
| Email: glocastro@bellsouth.net | | City/State/Country: Melbourne, FL, US | |
Comments: Great to find your website, see alot of names from the past...Range work history:
May '73 - Nov '79 6550th ABW/SVH at PAFB
Nov '79 - Oct '82 Pan Am SBSS at PAFB
Oct '82 - Jan '89 Raytheon SBSS at PAFB
Jan '89 - Feb '89 Antigua AS Logistics
Feb '89 - Nov '93 Ascension AAF Logistics
Nov '93 - Jan '01 CSR Range Logistics at PAFB
Jan '01 - Present SLRSC/ITT Range RMA Trends at PAFB, working instrumentation trends for ER and WR (Able to TDY to Kaena PT, Hawaii Q-14 Radar Aug '01, back to Ascension 12.15, Jan '02).
Hello to Jeff Roberts - I was just asking Randy S. about you last week, good 2 c U r still alive & well. Ditto, Mark Maffucci, Benny LaRoche, Fred Kenney, Bob Prince, Ben Juhl, Bobby Gardner, Jim Edwards, etc.
To add to the Asc Base Commander list (as I remember), LtCol Guy Childress was there '89-'90, I believe followed by LtCol Ken Mounts, LtCol Rick Mosby, and LtCol Gene Cuomo. Thanks 4 the memories! GLo | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/06/2008 | |
| Name: Jeff Roberts | |
| Email: fieldopspec@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Satellite Beach, Fl, USA | |
| Comments: Just wanted to pop in and check to see who else found your page. Headed to Antigua to do some comm work for a nice change. glad to see people still finding it and good to see some names on there from the recent past. | |
| Site Title: J Roberts Field Operations Specialist | |
| Site URL: http://www.fieldopspec.com | |
| Date: 05/01/2008 | |
| Name: Carl Anderson | |
| Email: anderson8778@earthlink.net | | City/State/Country: Cocoa, FL, United States | |
Comments: Although not a true "Range Rat", I taught classes on all the stations during the 50's, 60's and 70's. Taught An/FPS-16, Modems and other related radar equipments.
Worked on the range from July 1958 thru September 1993. Held positions as Instructor, Leader, Engineer and Manager.
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| Site Title: Technical Training Instructor | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/28/2008 | |
| Name: John Kish | |
| Email: jkish2@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Rockledge, FL, USA | |
Comments: On Range from 1956 to 1959. Home station was GBI. Traveled Turk, Eluthera, San Sal and Antigua.
Was in Optics ROTI (Beach Camera) then communications. Worked High Power 10kw Command Destruct Systems before transfer to Cape in 1959. Stayed to 1989 then took retirement (?ha-ha).
Really miss DR. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/26/2008 | |
| Name: Wallace L. Wilkins | |
| Email: wwilkins2@tampabay.rr,com | | City/State/Country: Crystal River, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: PanAm 1956 - 1971, Range Bases Construction GBI to Asc. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/20/2008 | |
| Name: Dick Becker | |
| Email: becker674@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Bellingham, WA, US | |
Comments: Hired on to RCA in 1965. Schooled in Quincy , Mass. for Apollo ships. Twin Falls 66-68. TDY to Sword Knot 67. Joined Knot in Durban and left from Freematle. Transferred to Alaska in 68.
Retired in 91. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/09/2008 | |
| Name: Rudy Grauert | |
| Email: rooddatood@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Merritt Island, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: I started out with RCA/MTP in July,1965. Then to Eleuthera for a few months of Tech Training while awaiting the USNS American Mariner to arrive at Port Canaveral. I rode the Mariner downrange to Trinidad, then to Recife. Next to Ascension to transport a load of local workers back to St. Helena Island. Then back to the Cape via Recife again. Next it was off to the West Coast for several cruises on the Vandenberg and Arnold. Made it to Midway, Guam, Japan, the Philippines, the North Pacific, Christmas Island, and many runs between Kwajelein aand Honolulu. Also several yard visits to San Diego, Alameda, Richmond, & Portland. After 2 1/2 years of sailing went to Goddard in 1968 in the Multisat & IUE control centers and the Optical Research Facility working with the Moblas trackers deployed to San Diego, Grand Turk, Wallops, & Patrick AFB. Came back to Florida in 1978 to work the Shuttle and am still at it today for another couple of years. I really feel lucky to have been a part of it all. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/09/2008 | |
| Name: bill Scott | |
| City/State/Country: birmingham , alabama, usa | |
Comments: worked in base supply at gbi, antigua and grand
turk 1966 through 1969 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/08/2008 | |
| Name: Larry schwartz | |
| Email: jdlar53@aol.com | | City/State/Country: stuart, Fl., USA | |
Comments: Started with RCA/MTP at GBI in Command in 1985
I really miss the Club Rendezvous!
Was transfered to JDMTA in Jupiter Fl. worked in Comm, Radar, and Command.
Still here at "Bronze 28"
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/07/2008 | |
| Name: John L. McDonald | |
| Email: john.lee.mcdonald@us.army.mil | | City/State/Country: Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, Marshall Islands, USA | |
| Comments: I am still alive and working on Kwajalein on the Worthy ship. Six Pac (John Bohrer is working with me) | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/06/2008 | |
| Name: Carl Abbott | |
| Email: cja@ftldesign.com | | City/State/Country: Hempstead, ny, usa | |
Comments: Worked the telephone & PA system '60-'63
I was The one driving L-12 truck most of the time.
For testing purposes I played music over the base PA system.One building at at time. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/05/2008 | |
| Name: Ray Miller | |
| Email: ray_mil96@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Hanapepe, Hawaii, USA | |
| Comments: Joe, I served in USNS Mercury T-AGM 21 from May 1967 until NASA released us from support in August of 1969. I ended up as the FPS-16 Group Leader with Russ Perkins as our Instrumentation Manager and Bill Oches as our Ships Manager. We certainly enjoyed our time supporting the Apollo missions 6 through 11. Since then I have been working at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai in Hawaii as a radar technician, radar supervisor, and now, radar systems manager. When I first arrived at PMRF I worked with Bill Karnopp on the MPS-25 S/N-5 that was originally stationed in Pretoria, South Africa. He and I went to Johnston Atoll twice and spent a couple of weeks supporting Air Force missions on the MPS-25 S/N-4 there before he moved on. Great to see a site dedicated to those of us that spent our time working the range instrumentation systems and making sure our astronauts had safe trips out and back.
Another Range Rat I worked with here at PMRF is Jim Roberts. He was on the American Mariner for some time and then came out to Hawaii to work at the range and finally retired here. Aloha, Ray
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/27/2008 | |
| Name: Stephen J. Shean | |
| City/State/Country: Bristol, Connecticut, USA | |
| Comments: I just wanted to share that on Mar.6 2008 my uncle Robert E. Shean passed away. He served for many years with pride on the USNS Redstone AGM-20. I am now 44 yrs old but I remember as a kid in the '70s seeing the ship docked in New York at what I guess was still the Brooklyn ship yards. Driving past her on the highway and seeing the gleeming white majesty of her near 600 feet length and the radar domes was probably one of the coolest things I'd seen up to that time and I couldn't wait to hear my uncle's tales of the sea. While my uncle was born in Brooklyn NY, his adoptive home was Port Canaveral FL. and while attending technical school in Orlando in the late 80s I was finaly able to see the ship up close and go aboard with my uncle and check her out up close.
Being able to stand on the bridge and look out over her is a lifetime memory for me, and while he was then retired, you could tell from the tone of his voice that if he could he'd sail with her again tommorrow. My uncle was a lifelong sailor, spending some 40 yrs at sea joining the Navy for WW2 and Korea, then sailing with the MSTS/MSC aboard the Redstone, and while he eventually married a women he loved very much (who always patiently awaited his return to port) I always had a feeling that the Redstone was his best girl. My uncle Bobby was 83 years old and Neptune has called him home. He will be missed.
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| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/22/2008 | |
| Name: Jim Cook | |
| Email: jhcatdix@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Rochester, New York, U.S.A. | |
| Comments: hello Joe. I worked for RCA from Sept 60 until Feb 73 mostly on tracking radar systems, about 3 years on GBI, 5 years in Pretoria,S.A. and 5 years on Ascenion Isl. A little on the FPS-8 at GBI, then the MOD-2, then the XN-2 and briefly the Mipir. Went to Pretoria in April of 62 to work the MPS-25, then to Ascension for the FPS-16 and the TPQ-18 (Mipir) until it was removed. Although I've been gone for many years I still think of myself as a radar tech and really miss what I thought of as importan t work. I made many trips to Letterbox while on Ascension and signed the Logbook. I miss those early days. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/22/2008 | |
| Name: mike reed | |
| Email: birdboy400mail-race@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: white sulphur springs, WV, usa | |
| Comments: Pan Am field maint.rep, power plant tech 1979-1985 The most amazing, all encompassing experience of my life. Thanks for all the friends and great people from GBI to Mahe. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/20/2008 | |
| Name: Paul Hagen | |
| Email: phhagen@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Eva, AL, USA | |
Comments: Ascension 1974 to 1976, Grand Bahama 1976 to 1977, Patrick 1977 to 1979, back to the Rock 1979 to 1981.
Now semi-retired at Huntsville. Al supporting the Ballistic Missile Defense System. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/19/2008 | |
| Name: David Ricker | |
| Email: xseagullx@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Somersworth, NH, us | |
| Comments: I worked on the Redstone And the Vanguard I had tons of fun on the redstone We didnt sail that often and got to see Bermuda a lot loveed coco beach | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/13/2008 | |
| Name: Jim Merthe | |
| Email: jmerthe@gmail.com | | City/State/Country: Jupiter, Fl, USA | |
| Comments: Range career was at GBI from 1966 to 1984. GDMTA from 1985 to 2007. Retired on Oct. 2007. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/12/2008 | |
| Name: Lee Zandanel | |
| Email: LEEZAND@VERIZON.NET | | City/State/Country: Largo, Fl, usa | |
| Comments: I worked on the USNS Vandenberg in the navigation center from August 1965 to August 1966. We were in the Pacific during this time. I then transfered to the USNS Twin Falls which was in the Atlantic test range. I left the Twin Falls in August of 1967. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/12/2008 | |
| Name: Alison Leth-Steensen | |
| Email: afrikanertoo@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Dallas, TX, USA | |
| Comments: widow of Fred Leth-Steensen. Lived on GBI 1971-1972. Moved to NM and then Kwajalein, back to NM, back to Kwajalein and now in the Dallas area where my daughter and her husband and my grandchildren live (16 month old twins-boy and a girl | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/11/2008 | |
| Name: Ray Kuhlman | |
| Email: kuhlmanr@usa.net | | City/State/Country: Titusville, Florida, USA | |
Comments: I finished 4 years in the USCG and signed up with RCA at the Tech Lab to go to Ascension January 1960 as a Comm Center Operator, at that time you had to know Morse Code. The pay was $75.00 a week plus a 40% bonus for Ascension. I was there for about 12 or 14 months (been too long ago to remember).
Chris Nielson was in charge of our crew. My best friend was Rebel (the donkey). Oh yeah, Jim Ketchum, Ellis Berger, Ken Murphy also. We did alot of snorkeling and started a dive club "Ascension Divers". I hope it still exists. We had a member (cant recall name) from Wyoming and didn't know how to swim but we taught him how to use flippers, mask and snorkel and he eventually qualified as an
official Club member.
Those were some of the best days of my life. I also spent time on GBI which was ok but couldn't compare with ASC | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/10/2008 | |
| Name: Wallace L. Wilkins | |
| Email: wwilkins2@tampabay.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Crystal River, Florida, U.S.A. | |
| Comments: Time short for some of us, . .Like to hear from any of surviving RRs, have many photos of the ETR Bases as far as #12, . .some of you will remember me, as Wally, PAA Task Force, or Range Bases Construction Unit. Let me hear from y'all. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/09/2008 | |
| Name: John Walker | |
| Email: john477@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Tequesta, FL 33469, USA | |
| Comments: My first Range assignment was San Salvador where I worked in Plotting, Giannini Data, and Gold 5 data, I was there from mid 1962 to 1965. Next I was transferred to Eleuthera and worked in Mistram II 1965 through 1970. Next I was transferred to GBI Telemetry where I worked from 1971 through 1986. Next I was transferred to Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex in Tequesta, FL where I was the Telemetry SME. I was promoted to station manager in 1994 and retired in 2005. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/05/2008 | |
| Name: Richard E. Small | |
| Email: rsmall003@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Reston, VA, USA | |
Comments: I was a RCA "Range Rat" from 1964-1966, mostly on GBI, but went to school on Antigua and Turks.
Also worked at Merrit Island just before the Apollo fire. Some guys I rember were: Charles Griffin (Radar Manager), Ken Willoughby (Instrumentation Manager), Bert Odom, Jim Simpson, John West and Mac MacAlister. I have some papers and photos from that era (somewhere) and can share them when I can find them.
Is ther a way to upload pictures/articles? | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/25/2008 | |
| Name: Tom White | |
| Email: tspike6@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA | |
Comments: I was ASOM and SOM of the Coastal Crusader, Timber Hitch, Arnold and Vandenberg in the 1965 to 1968 period in the Carribean, South Atlantic, Central Pacific and Northern Pacific areas and worked on missions in those areas. I also relieved the Honolulu rep (Joe Travis when he went on a vacation. I also served during shipyard periods in Portland and Savannah.
I have many vivid and fond memories as well as some photographs from that era.
I am in contact with two of the ARIS SOMS (Mike Templeton and George Nora).
Since then I went to law school (USC)and was a practicing high tech attorney (and litigator) in Silicon Valley and now do some venture capital related work as well as real estate development. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/15/2008 | |
| Name: John W. Myers | |
| Email: Johnm7@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Garland, Texas, United States of America | |
| Comments: Sub-Cable tech from 1961 to 1972. Also first Comm Tech Control Site Chief at Grand Turk. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/13/2008 | |
| Name: Leonard (Leo) Montgomery | |
| Email: leo_montgomery@juno.com | | City/State/Country: Panama City Beach, FL, USA | |
Comments: Spent a delightful four years on Fernando de Norohna (FDN or FDO ?)'59 - '62 working with the most interesting folks (Hoot Gibson and others), both RR and Brazilian. Took the opportunity to learn portuguese.
RCA MTP about 10 years and RCA comercial computing 2 years in NYC with Wally Tubell. After that spent 23 years in Sao Paulo, Brasil. Still messin' with 'lectronics for Seimans and BASF.
got a chance to spend 2 weeks on ASC the South Atlantic island paradise and I still have that lava bubble ashtray! I'll never forget the 6 weeks cruise on the "luxury vessel"
Coastal Sentry where I damn near lost my 510 day income tax exemption!!
Anyway it was a fine adventure and I'd do it all again. Just taking it easy now with Ms Janette, newly weds in PCB.
If any of you guys remember me or would just like to say hello?
Regards Leonard | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/11/2008 | |
| Name: Mike Grant | |
| Email: grantmichael@bellsouth.net | | City/State/Country: Merritt Island, Florida, USA | |
Comments: A Big Hi to all those that I have had the pleasure of working with and knowing all the years I was on the Range. I went to Antigua Telemetry in July 1966 and worked there until October 1979 when I went to Tel-4 at KSC. I met and Married my wife Caroline while in Antigua.
After we departed Antigua we moved here to Merritt Island and I worked at Tel-4 through the 80's and into the 90's. I worked my way up the food chain until I became Telemetry System Manager in 1991. I stayed at Tel-4 until the boss asked me to become the Operation/Engineering Liaison at Patrick in 1995 and I worked at the Tech Lab for the next 5 years. In 1999 it was back to Tel-4 as Telemetry Supervisor until my departure in Nov. 2007. Going into Retirement is our current effort and we are really looking forward to it. For those that might be interested...our Daughter Nina is at the university of South Carolina in Greenville getting her teaching degree and our son Nick is getting ready to go into the Coast Guard in March 08Working on the Range during the period I was there was like no other place or time that I can think of. It was the people that made it. We still know and keep in touch with a lot of our friends from those days...what great memories !!! Hi to you all | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/10/2008 | |
| Name: Daniel J.Chapman | |
| Email: dnlchapman@aol.com | | City/State/Country: San Diego, California, USA | |
| Comments: I worked for RCA Service Company from about Jan 1963 until about 1972. I worked in timing and telemetry on the timber hitch, coastal crusader, arnold and the vandenberg. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/09/2008 | |
| Name: Richard E "Rick" Marshall | |
| Email: remarshall99@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Inyokern, ca, usa | |
| Comments: I was the Computer Operator / Programmer at MISTRAM, Eleuthera, September 1965 to November 1967. I worked under William C "Sweet Old Bill" Roper, Data Analyst, who died in c2000. Ron Glendinning (sp?) was the site manager. Ed Jackson was my roommate. He owned the trimaran sailboat Scimitar. | |
| Date: 02/04/2008 | |
| Name: David Hladik | |
| Email: trax@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Merritt Island, FL, USA | |
| Comments: I hired on with RCA/MTP in 1981 and worked at Antigua radar for 4 years. I transferred up to Patrick to the Testbed radar for about a year then moved on to the Redstone radar section for another 4 years. Transferred to the Cape radar for another 6 years and then turned in my toolbox to work as Radar Controller. Presently working in Range Operations as Radar/Command planner. I've been living in the Merrit Island area since 1985 after leaving Antigua.
I recognize a bunch of people on here I've had the pleasure to work with through the years. Rest assured I'm still paying the government my FICA taxes so you can enjoy your retirement. | |
| Date: 02/03/2008 | |
| Name: Dom Martinelli | |
| Email: dommartinelli@embarqmail.com | | City/State/Country: Las Vegas, NV, USA | |
Comments: Great Website! Brings back many good memories.
I was the commander of Grand Bahama AAF from 1978-79. Some
of the great people that I worked with and became friends were:
Len Sluder, Don Coffey, Terry Hughes, Charlie Wright, "Shorty"
Booker, Lee Northrop, Bill DeGraw, Fred Derrick and many others.
Spent many good times at the beach enjoying Shorty's cooking,
shooting darts at the club, sailing with Charlie.
Retired from the Air Force in 1993 (Colonel). | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/02/2008 | |
| Name: Paul Harrington | |
| Email: paul420h@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Inverness, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: Worked for RCA on the Vandenburg TAGM 10 and on the WTR down range. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/28/2008 | |
| Name: William "Bill" Whitlock | |
| Email: bill.whitlock@roadrunner.com | | City/State/Country: Oxnard, CA, USA | |
| Comments: I worked on the Vandenberg from 1968 to 1970 in navigation with Hugh Lowe, Jake Jacobsen, Jim Witcher, Johnny Kellams, Charlie Birdsong, and others whose names escape me at the moment. I was the star tracker "guru". Some will remember me as the designer/builder of our on-board radio station KCUF at 690 kHz AM and 96.0 MHz FM. I also caused quite a stir when I traded souvenirs with folks on the Russian boat that followed us around off the coast of Kamchatka. When I left the ship, I moved to southern California and started my career in the professional audio business, working as an analog circuit designer for Capitol Records and Laserium, among others. I now own Jensen Transformers, makers of the world's best audio transformers for professional use - see www.jensen-transformers.com. I hold several patents, and have become a recognized expert on signal interfaces and ground loops - I was recently an invited lecturer at MIT. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/27/2008 | |
| Name: Bill Redman | |
| Email: basshogg@bellsouth.net | | City/State/Country: Melbourne, Florida, U.S.A. | |
| Comments: Hired on with RCA in February 1963. Spent over six years at Ascension, mostly at the FPS-16 radar, but some time at the 12.18 MIPIR also. Two years at the MPS-25 radar at Pretoria, South Africa. A short time at the Trinidad radar, and ended my downrange career at the On axis radar 3.13 at Grand Bahama. I left RCA for a short time and worked for Dynalectron and was assigned to the USNS Wheeling tracking ship out of Point Mugu, CA. Returned to RCA in 1973 as radar technician at White Sands, and worked on FPS-16 and MPS-36 radars. Left White Sands in 1977 and became RCA's site manager at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Grounds, Yuma, AZ. Returned to the Eastern Range in 1979 and was assigned to Radar's System Support Group. Became site leader of the Merritt Island MIPIR, 19,14 about 1987. Continued on with CSR after G.E. lost the contract in 1988. Retired from CSR in 2004. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/14/2008 | |
| Name: Mary Lynn Thorne | |
| Email: stickers21@charter.net | | City/State/Country: McKenzie, TN, USA | |
Comments: I was hired in Sept. of 1955 and worked for 'Hoot' Ringo in Range Survellience. From there it was to Telemetry, Timing & Firing. Telemetry broke away as it was all too much for one manager. I worked for Mel Patrick until he went back down range. We hired my husband, John Thorne, in May of 1956. If we make it until May, we will be married 49 years. Took care of a lot of insurance, etc. for the guys we sent down range. The 18 month tax law no longer exists. I met so many people. I worked for Fred Kennedy at AZUSA Mark II. Then Konklin Martin for CW Tracking. We had all the radars, LORAC, LORAN, etc. Thanks for the memories. Mary Lynn Thorne
=========================================
I have never seen so many people do so much that had never been done before. It truly was the last frontier. Our engineers, etc., developed everything from the transistor to everyday things we use today. I am proud to have spent 15 years and proud of the knowledge I picked up. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/11/2008 | |
| Name: William Mattern | |
| Email: Migorman@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Port St. John, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Hello and Happy New Year to all the Range Rats I had the fortune to know back in the 70's 80's 90's and this decade!
My start - June 1978 Ascension Telemetry (RCA)
Aug 1978 - Sept 1981 Grand Turk Telemetry (RCA)
Nov 1982 - Oct 1984 Hill AFB Telemetry (Kentron, CSC)
Dec 1984 - Mar 1986 Ascension Telemetry (RCA/GE)
Mar 1986 - Mar 1987 Antigua Telemetry (RCA/GE)
Mar 1987 - Mar 1988 Tel IV (RCA/GE)
Mar 1988 - Jan 1991 Metrics Photo (TGS)
Jan 1991 - Nov 1997 Metrics Photo (Bionetics)
Nov 1997 - Present Metrics Photo (CSR)
Thank you Ray Patrick, Chauncy Dunn, etc. for your guidance when I first started!
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/10/2008 | |
| Name: Ricky D. Littleton | |
| Email: rickradar58@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Orlando, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Grand Turk - January 1982-February 1982
Ascension - February 1982 - September 1987
PAFB/Cape - September 1987 - November 1992
Ascension - November 1992 - December 1995
Cape - December 1995 - May 2000
Ascension - April 2001 - February 2004
Cape - February 2004 - July 2006 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/07/2008 | |
| Name: Tom House | |
| Email: tom@tomhouse.us | | City/State/Country: Louisville, Kentucky, USA | |
Comments: AZUSA Mk I (GBI) - 1963 and 1964
GLOTRAC (Grand Turk) - 1964 and 1965
CW Radar Engineering - 1965 to early 1966 | |
| Site URL: http://www.tomhouse.us | |
| Date: 01/06/2008 | |
| Name: ron milburne | |
| Email: luv2stitch033@aol.com | | City/State/Country: perry hall, md, usa | |
| Comments: WAS STATIONED WITH THE ARMY AT THE RADIO PROPAGATION SITE AT GBI, SAN SALVADOR AND THE CAPE.MADE ALOT OF FRIENDS, AND OFTEN THINK OF THE GOOD OLE DAYS, 1962-1963.ANYBODY KNOW OF HOW I CAN LOCATE PAST EMPLOYEES AT THE CAPE, DURING THAT TIME FRAME? | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/05/2008 | |
| Name: Charles R Sells | |
| Email: csells@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Daytona Beach, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: I am a range rat that was in Grand Turk at the Pan Am AFB in the task force group of 1969. I am now in Daytona Beach Florida retired from Vandenberg tracking station, CA and enjoying golf (first hole in one achieved in Semi valley, CA 1992) with my daughter and grand daughter. If anyone remembers those times feel free to contact me via email.... | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 01/03/2008 | |
| Name: John Sewell | |
| Email: john@bbhi.biz | | City/State/Country: Clearwater, FL, USA | |
| Comments: Updating email address. Now retired. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 12/22/2007 | |
| Name: Gene Pugh | |
| Email: pghgn@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Cocoa, Fl., USA | |
Comments: I would also like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the old Range Rat people and second what Charlie Wright said about the old days "downrange" - the quonset huts, chow lines, work hours, etc. etc. etc.,but we did have good beer and friends. Everyone take care. Gene
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 12/19/2007 | |
| Name: Charlie Wright | |
| Email: chaz8330@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Micco, Fl, USA | |
Comments: In this holiday season I wish to send greetings to all of my old downrange workmates - those who worked many, many such holidays without pay, with-
out acknowledgement of their efforts to space accomplishments and now without official remember-
ances.
We were there; in crowded Quonsets, in one-quarter mile chow lines, in drinking salt water and eating green eggs, in many c-grade movies, in 18-hour/7-day work schedules and...in four hundred dollars per month pay. It took real men to stand those years. It is an honor to have stood with you. It was a time or times - great times! | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 12/10/2007 | |
| Name: Lon Jones | |
| Email: ltjones@ualr.edu | | City/State/Country: Little Rock, AR, USA | |
Comments: RCA Installation Support Shop (Cape Canaveral AFS) 1965 - 1978, "Climbers" group 1975 - 1978.
I traveled the range from CC and various Florida East coast LORAN sites, the Abaco cays, Bahamas, BWI, Trinadad, and Ascension Is. (never made it to SA or Mahe). Also did work on many of the tracking ships and did sea time on the Arnold a few times.
I worked for George Jones and Bill Belomany in the shop. Some of my co-workers were Jerry Worley, Bill Brashear, Bill Ball, Ken Woods, Charlie Jackson, Willie Carter and the notorious Artie Todd.
I also did a 5 week stint with RCA BMEWS in Thule (1972 I think.)
I left RCA in 1978 after a motorcycle accident did major damage to my left arm and I couldn't climb towers/poles/etc. anymore. After various jobs boatbuilding, cabinetmaking, furniture making I ended up doing UNIX and network support for the Univ of Arkansas in Little Rock (retired 2004.) | |
| Site URL: http://hawkeye.ualr.edu/~ltjones/ | |
| Date: 12/10/2007 | |
| Name: glyn d. reece | |
| Email: gdreece@up.com | | City/State/Country: knoxville, ar, usa | |
| Comments: I worked on Ascension 1964-1972 in telemetry and mils. had a drink once in a while. shot a lot of darts and played a lot of shuffle board.I am currently working for Union Pacific rail road. Am contemplating retirement. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 12/06/2007 | |
| Name: Mitch Bronson | |
| Email: mbronson5@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Cocoa, Fl, USA | |
Comments: Hello to all range rats. I'm still alive and well and working at Harris on the FTI contract.
Mitch Bronson | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 11/27/2007 | |
| Name: Frank Leslie | |
| Email: fleslie@fit.edu | | City/State/Country: Palm Bay, FL, USA | |
Comments: I worked for RCA MTP from 1965 until 1978 in Marine and Optics as a ship navigation analyst. I occasionally rode the Twin Falls, the Redstone, etc. going as far as the Indian Ocean.
I'm a range rat because Sam Boroughs and I went to GBI overnight, then by helicopter to Whale Cay, Abacos. We set up our field "base" and were supporting co-worker Ed French on a navigation accuracy test of the Compass Island. We established a radio ranging transponder over a geodetic benchmark for ranging to the ship. We only camped there 3 to 5 days, I recall the brilliant comet Kohoutek near the horizon.
I rode the Redstone in support of sonar transponder surveys, the "pickle barrels" used as Navy ICBM targets. Back at the AF Tech Lab, I sheparded the sonar data through the data processing to generate the geodetic positions of each transponder. I earned a master's degree in Space Technology at Florida Tech in 1968.
I then went to Harris Corp. in 1978 for 21 years in systems engineering, retiring in 1999. I now teach the renewable energy course at Florida Institute of Technology as an adjunct professor, the university that Dr. Jerome Keuper started in 1958 on a first donation of 37 cents pocket change at a bar. At one time, Dr. Harry Weber was my dep't head (then called Quality Analysis). Harry is now a trustee for Florida Tech.What a great experience being on the range! Frank Leslie | |
| Site Title: Renewable Energy | |
| Site URL: http://my.fit.edu/~fleslie | |
| Date: 11/16/2007 | |
| Name: Art Hensley | |
| Email: AHensley3@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Titusville, FL, USA | |
| Comments: New email address. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 11/14/2007 | |
| Name: Larry W. King | |
| Email: LARKING@PEOPLEPC.COM | | City/State/Country: Cocoa, FL., USA | |
| Comments: BFEC 1984 thru 1985 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 11/14/2007 | |
| Name: Jerry Franzetta | |
| Email: j_fran@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Scottsmoor, FL, USA | |
| Comments: Hired on in June 1966 and assigned TDY to Antigua where I spent six months. From there I went to the Sword Knot and stayed with her until she was given to the Western Range. Joined the Twin Falls in Port Canaveral and remained aboard 'til her life ended, then was one of the first to join the Redstone on her arrival to the Eastern range. I went into private business in 1974, then returned to RCA and the Redstone in 1984. From '86 to '88 I was assigned to the Observation Island, then returned to the Redstone. I came to the Cape in 1993 where I still work at the ROCC as site maintenance engineer. Among my most memorable experiences: spending 33-days in Recife under the guidance of Leo Feldmeier; receiving ship's indocrination from Carl Barone and the rest of the great PAA/RCA crew on the Sword Knot; having the privilege of working for Wally Tubell, and seeing the best of the world riding the Range ships. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/31/2007 | |
| Name: Eugene Wirtz (son Rick Wirtz) | |
| Email: WirtzFG@hqda.army.mil | | City/State/Country: Manassas, VA, USA | |
| Comments: My father was stationed at Turk from 69 to 73. He passed 1990. Just wanted to let you know. Rick | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/29/2007 | |
| Name: Robert Earl Townsend | |
| Email: bobtownsend@mail.coms | | City/State/Country: Cocoa, Fl., United States | |
Comments: I hired on with ITT Federal Electric in Dec.1966.
Assigned to the Mercury, I went to Decom. school at
GSFC then to The General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy
where the ship was being outfitted. Shortly after I
was sent to the Redstone to aid installing Decom 3.
That became permanent till after leaving Australia.
I requested transfer to the Vanguard which was in
Florida (my home). Except for a year that I quit to
be home (during the garp gate project),I stayed with
the Vanguard till she was removed from the STDN.
ps; I forgot to mention I stayed with the ship when
BFEC took over the contract. That was a long time ago, my memory is vague. I was 80 yrs old Apr 07. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/27/2007 | |
| Name: Ken Freeland | |
| Email: kf4u@embarqmail.com | | City/State/Country: Sebring, FL, USA | |
Comments: I worked as Comm Center Operator aboard the Vandy from Jan 68 thru May 70. We made several cruises to Northern Pacific. Mostly worked Kwaj, Guam, Midway,S.F. , Honolulu, Davey Jones Locker at the Reef Hotel was unofficial HQ in Honolulu. I worked with John Gentry, James Whitmore, P.T. Westerberg, Boyd Menendez.
I count those days as pretty much the happiest time of my life. What an adventure. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/26/2007 | |
| Name: Richard H. Knox | |
| Email: knox-richard@sbcglobal.ne | | City/State/Country: El Paso, Texas, USA | |
Comments: GBI 56-58, Eglin Test Range 59, PMR, Pt. Arguello 60-61, DTF, Ft.Huachua AZ 61-65,
WSMR,NM 65-95 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/18/2007 | |
| Name: Mike Templeton | |
| Email: templeton@cox.net | | City/State/Country: San Diego, California 92103, USA | |
Comments: I joined PanAm GMRD in June 1964. After completing Range
Operations School, I was assigned to the ARIS ships and was SOM
on both the Arnold and Vandenberg during deployments in both
the Atlantic and Pacific. Also pulled BOM vacation relief at GBI,
Antiqua, Grand Turk and Trinidad. I left PanAm in March 1967 to
join General Dynamics in San Diego as Program Manager for the
ARIS L-Band Radar tracking modiification. Left GD in May 1971 to
join Cubic Corporation as Manager of Aerospace Marketing and
later Director of Special Programs. Joined Titan Corporation in
February 1987 and retired as VP Special Programs to become a
consultant. Great memories of incredible people and exciting
times... | |
| Site Title: Templeton & Associates, Inc. | |
| Site URL: http://www.templetonassociates.com/ | |
| Date: 10/18/2007 | |
| Name: Andy Harper | |
| Email: antheaandme@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Bluff Dale, Texas, USA | |
Comments: Served in the Navy on Antigua, 1958 to 1962, Married Anthea, returned to the Range in 1962, with RCA, Grand Turk, Antigua, Ascension, and Grand Bahama, Left Range in 1972, Moved to S.C.,
and then to Texas, where I am now... | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/12/2007 | |
| Name: Jerry Blackerby | |
| Email: jerryblackerby@duracom.net | | City/State/Country: Milburn, Oklahoma, USA | |
| Comments: I am reposting hoping that someone can remember a name for me. There was an instructor, who was nearly blind from beri-beri, who taught crypto and astronomy. He was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. I think there was an article in the MTP News about some of his adventures. He mentioned several times that he hoped to write a book about his experiences. I cannot remember his name to search to see if he ever wrote a book. Does anyone know his name and if he ever wrote that book? Thanks, Jerry | |
| Site Title: Jerry's Website | |
| Site URL: http://www.jerryblackerby.com | |
| Date: 10/09/2007 | |
| Name: Craig Hawk | |
| Email: CEHawk@cox.net | | City/State/Country: Mesa, AZ, U.S.A. | |
| Comments: I was on the NASA Tracking Station from Nov. 1967 thru March 1969. I worked in the supply section with John Kelley. George Cantrell was the station M/O at the time. We also had a drunk donkey named J.J. who used to meet us every morning and we'd feed her fruit from the mess hall. I had a band called The Apollo's and we played at Two Boats club and the little beach hut and club in Georgetown a few times. Had a great time. Next went to Bermuda for 2 years and then onto The Canary Islands for 4 years until they shut the station down. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/05/2007 | |
| Name: Al Webb | |
| Email: we3brb@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Poulsbo, Wa/El Centro, Ca, WA/CA, usa | |
Comments: I will be attending the reunion in a few weeks.
Looking forward to seeing some of the other Range Rats.
Al Webb Pan Am 1956-1986
1956-1957 Mayaguana Fire/Security 1957-1959 Antigua Fire/Security 1959-1960 San Sal Asst. Fire/Security Chief 1960 Ascension Asst. Fire/Security Chief 1961-1963 San Sal Fire/Security Chief 1963-1969 Recife Station Manager 1969 Grand Turk Administration Supt. 1969-1974 Kennedy Air Force Station Cape Support Supv-Airfield 1974-1976 Sultanate of Oman Airport Fire Chief 1976-1986 Trident Navy Base Contract Admin 1995-1997 Kwajalein(Raytheon) Airport Manager Reside summers at Poulsbo. Wa. Winters at El Centro, Ca. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/04/2007 | |
| Name: Chuck Mayo | |
| Email: chuck_mayo@sbcglobal.net | | City/State/Country: Carmel, CA, USA | |
| Comments: Was a Data Acquisition Technician for RCA MTP on loan from the Eastern Test Range to the Pacific Missile Range serving aboard the Vandenberg and then the Arnold in 1967-68. Never did get back to ETR, transferred to the Information Systems Division. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 10/01/2007 | |
| Name: Joseph A. Gleason | |
| Email: josephgleason1@verizon.net | | City/State/Country: San Dimas, California, USA | |
| Comments: I started with PanAm's GMRD in February 1963 and was a SOM on the C1MAVis (Sword Knot, Coastal Crusader, Rose Knot and Timber Hitch), Twin Falls, Arnold,and Vandenberg, leaving the ships at the end of 1964 to work in the Range Control Center as an SRO through 1970. I left the Range in late 1970 to take a job with JPL in Spaceraft Mission Operations in Pasadena,Ca where I worked until retiring a few years ago. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/28/2007 | |
| Name: Jeff Roberts | |
| Email: fieldopspec@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Qalat, Zabul, Afghanistan | |
Comments: Glad to see the rangerat sign in book is going strong! Enjoy reading all the names.
Supporting OEF driving around here in Afghanistan reminds me of NE bay on Ascension, near where the old jeep road came down from the ashpit. Except there is no ocean, its a lot hotter in the day and colder at night! Keep up the good work. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/19/2007 | |
| Name: Terry C. Turner | |
| Email: TCTurner555@tampabay.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Plant City, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: PAA Range Rat, 1957-1966, CSR Range Rat, 1988-1994, Supply | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/19/2007 | |
| Name: Malcolm "Mac" Monroe | |
| Email: mmonroe8@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Melbourne, FL, USA | |
| Comments: Worked for RCA MTP from June 67 to June 79, in Reentry Ships Ops, for Bob Kansas. Did a lot of TDY time to the two ARIS, Arnold and Vandenberg, totaling to several years at sea, although never PCS, always TDY. Made a lot of "Special Mission" voyages on both vessels. Later worked on the Observation Island for another company (Nichols Research) as the Army rep, working with a lot of RCA/CSR old friends from my ARIS days. Now semi-retarded in Melbourne. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/10/2007 | |
| Name: Dick Rettig | |
| Email: rettigd@doacs.state.fl.us | | City/State/Country: Tallahassee, Florida, USA | |
Comments: I worked with the Task Force construction crew on Ascension in 1968 and 1969..I striped the airstrip and many of the roads...we air-conditioned the chow hall I finished working for Pan Am on Gran Turk in 1970....my next door neighbor in the barracks was Carl White (RCA).
Buck Bernard was the Task Force foreman at that time. Built a porch on the back of the snack bar restaurant during that time.
Married a Costa Rican girl after repeated trips there...37 years and counting | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/05/2007 | |
| Name: Hal Curling | |
| Email: bhcurling@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Pagosa Springs, Colorado, USA | |
| Comments: I just wanted to add a few more details about my involvement with Volcano Radio (ZD8VR). I was stationed with the USAF (Det 215) on Ascension from May 70 through May 71. While there I was heavily involved with VR as Assistant Station Manager, Program Director, Assistant Station Engineer, and a DJ as well (the part I enjoyed the most!). I worked closely with Mr JP Morgan (who worked for RCA, I believe). JP pretty much ran the station while I was there. I also worked with SSgt Ed Baum (from the Det 215 crowd as well). My on-air name was Dick Adams (and I had a "sidekick" named Tex (was also me). I thoroughly enjoyed my work at VR! I even produced some home-made promos: "Your voice in the South Atlantic", etc. and the station bought a professionally done promo from PAMS of Dallas that had a group sing "Volcano Radio." Big time stuff :-D While I was there we had AM and FM and part way through my tour the FM was changed to STEREO. Programming on AM was about half AFRTS-provided and half live during the day and all AFRTS over night. The FM was all automatic from a carousel that we loaded every day with LPs! If anyone would like to share memories or was there during the time that I was, I'd love to hear from you.
Hal Curling bhcurling@msn.com | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 09/04/2007 | |
| Name: Scott Adams | |
| Email: msadams@msadams.com | | City/State/Country: platteville, WI, United States | |
| Comments: I was on Ascension in the early 70s. I spent 18 months there working at the FPQ 12.15 radar (I think that was the official name) also known as TTR (Target Tracking Radar). It was located near comfortless cove. I was one of the SOI analysts there and still fondly remember the Island, the base and the people! I volunteered as a DJ at the AFRTS station there (Volcano radio) and my show "This Is My Song" featured albums from broadway musicals. I also volunteered as a reporter for the Islander newspaper and I think my my best article was a satirical piece that commented on the numerous truck accidents that the Saints (Saint Helena people) were having at the time. | |
| Site Title: Scott Adams Adventure! | |
| Site URL: http://www.msadams.com | |
| Date: 09/03/2007 | |
| Name: David E. Park | |
| Email: Dave@saelectronics.com | | City/State/Country: Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: Worked downrange for RCA MTP from 1966 to 1971. Sailed into Ascension Island in 1966 on the USNS Coastal Crusader and returned a year later for a couple of days.Spent my last two years stationed in Trinidad WI.In 1971 when Trinidad was closed down ,I was offered Ascension ,but said no thanks. I left the program in Oct.1971,and ended up in Fort Lauderdale. | |
| Site Title: Space Age Electronics | |
| Site URL: http://www.saelectronics.com | |
| Date: 09/03/2007 | |
| Name: Carroll R. Michaud Maj. USAF Ret'd | |
| Email: pepops@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Shreveport, Louisiana, USA | |
Comments: I arrived on Ascension 15 June 1971. I assumed command of the US
Air Base from Maj Jessie (Jack) Couch on 18 June. The Island Admin was H.W.D. McDonald,(64) Brig. Gen. Ret'd UK
Army. Val Bee was RCA Mgr. John Clouse was Bendix mgr. He and
Dr Tom Harmon Smith, (the island dentist) printed 1st edition of
“The Islander” newspaper 30 Apr 1971. Jeff Spec was NASA
Sta.Dir. George Smith was Pan Am Base Ops Mgr. Volcano Radio Sta, (ZD8VR) “The Golden Voice of So. Atlantic”
built by U.S. Army personnel. 1st "On_Air" broadcast was 3 Sept
1944, Call Letters WXLR. The sta. shut down when base closed
after WW-II. U.S. civilian contractors recommissioned the base
and Radio sta. in 1957 to support USAF Eastern Test Range ops. Base Commanders: Cpt William Woodside May 57-May 58
Cpt Edward Dutch May 58-May 59
Maj Donald Stephens May 59-Apr 60
Maj Francis Rohan Apr 60-Apr 61
Cpt Ronald Tyre Apr 61-Apr 62
Cpt Harry Thompson Apr 62-Apr 63
Cpt William Ritchie Apr 63-Apr 64
Cpt Row Dixon Apr 64-May 65
Maj Darrell Pilipovich 65-Jul 66
Maj George Freeman 66-Jul 67
Maj John Cureton, Jr 67-Nov 67
Maj Earl Engle, Jr 67-Jul 68
Maj Boyd Wise 68-Nov 68
Maj Donn Byrnes 68-Jul 69
Cpt Paul Drinnon 69-Nov 69
Maj George Rosenhauer 69-Jun 70
Maj Jessie (Jack) Couch 70-Jun 71
Maj Carroll Michaud 71-Apr 72 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/26/2007 | |
| Name: GERALD (JERRY) O'DONNELL | |
| Email: GODONNELL@worldnet.att.net | | City/State/Country: Savannah, Ga. 31419, USA | |
Comments: Arrived at Sabana de la Mar in May of 1956 with a suitcase full of clothes. Departed Sabana de la Mar in June of 1959 with a wife an daughter.
Fortunately, I still have the same wife after 50 years and same daughter after 49 years. Picked up another daughter and four grand children along the way. While in Sabana I was in charge of the weather station across the road from the "Base".
| |
| Date: 08/24/2007 | |
| Name: David " Doc " Holliday | |
| Email: deholliday2@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Orlando, FL, USA | |
Comments:
Arrived Ascension Jan. 1975, workeed FPS-16,and TTR.Left April
1977, to Patrick in the Shops, transfered to Comm at Cape 1993.
Still with CSR and thinking of giving it up next year. I still
remember Dale Beadle, Jim Erby and ALL the PanAm divers, Ron
Shannon was my best man, he and wife Pat still going strong in
Orlando. Any one else please get in touch. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/23/2007 | |
| Name: Steve Matthews | |
| Email: matthewssb@charter.net | | City/State/Country: Lenoir City, Tennessee, USA | |
| Comments: Went to work for RCA MTP in 1961 on the Twin Falls Victory, SPN-8 and FPS-16 radars(1961-63). Also spent a couple of months on the American Mariner. From there 10 months on San Sal on the FPS-16. San Sal scaled back about that time (1964?) and most of the RCA techs were reassigned. I was sent to Antigua, but left RCA a couple of months later. From there I went to work for NAA at the Cape on the Apollo Program until 1968. Late in 1968 went to work for Bendix FE in Tananarive, Madagascar. Took my bride with me. Later, we were assigned to Bermuda. In 1971 I left the Range for good. I'll be glad to hear from anyone. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/23/2007 | |
| Name: Duane K. Tuttle | |
| Email: dktuttle@gmail.com | | City/State/Country: Arden, NC, USA | |
| Comments: Worked for RCA and PAA 1956-1967 (with five years out for Univ and Law school). Radar troop on GBI, San Sal, Mayaquez, and Antigua. ASOM with PAA on Arnold and Vandenberg. Kwaj, Guam and Midway. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/19/2007 | |
| Name: Bob Csaszar | |
| Email: drumkis66@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Melbourne, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: My dad worked on the rock from 1981 to 96/97,his name was Frank Csaszar,we lived in Georgetown from 81 t0 86 ,at the time the only american family on the island,I used to surf all the time at deadmans beach with a few guys who worked for RCA and Panam during this time as well,anyone remember the people skating on the tennis courts across from the volcano club during this time,anyways my name is Bob,and during the time i was down there everyone called me Bobby..hope to hear from someone during this period ...my moms name is Heidi......God Bless. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/12/2007 | |
| Name: Barbara Savage | |
| Email: b4jesus49@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Palatka, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: Hi to all Range Rats Im a former RCA/GE employee I was hired by K.J.Starzinger (thanz) 1979 GBI FTSS tranfered to GTK remote site traveled to Newfoundland TDY with Mr.George? Then tranfered to TLM some years later. GBI with Johnny Walker manger. Ken,Stacey,Bill D. Bill R.Frank Jones,Frank? Will Webb,Sam,Ernie,Chad,Etc.Grand Bahamas closed.I transfered to ASC with Ray Patrick manger who tried to teach me how drive the van up the side of the mountain (brave).Angela,Barbara,Rhonda,Andy,Andy many more.Ilove you all and look foward to hear from everyone soon.Hi Rhonda Butler,Gary J.(comm leader)that pretty little girl is how old now? I guess we can say she pretty now.how is Daisy? T.Jones Where are You? My bad we lost contact. G.G.Mcintosh? Luke,Terry,Larry,Cheryl,Bonnie,Mrytle wheres the dudets? Hi Laura Rodgers where is the GBI crew.Mr.Flower Bill Dragett famous bbqs as everyone said those was the days Thanz for memories!!!! Lets make more.Email Me. | |
| Site Title: Range Rat | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 08/07/2007 | |
| Name: Gary Schulz | |
| Email: webdog@bfec.us | | City/State/Country: Dunnellon, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: Great site! I was with Bendix Field Engineering (BFEC) from 1966 -1996 and stationed at Tananarive, Quito & Goddard during the NASA years and Norfolk, VA, Fairbanks, AK and Camp Roberts, CA during the Military years on BFEC programs. | |
| Site Title: BFEC HOMEPAGE | |
| Site URL: http://www.bfec.us | |
| Date: 07/23/2007 | |
| Name: Diane Catanzaro | |
| Email: dcat101@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Bonita Springs, FL, USA | |
| Comments: I was an Operations Leader/SOI Analyst on Antigua from 1978-82. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/19/2007 | |
| Name: martin j. mackin | |
| Email: mjmackin26@msn.com | | City/State/Country: hicksville, NY, USA | |
| Comments: spend 3 years in grand bahama island (feb 1959-april 1962) in telemetry division. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/19/2007 | |
| Name: Bill Bailey | |
| Email: bbailey@cox.net | | City/State/Country: Crestview, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Joined RCA in 1959: Spent two years at San Salvador "Reef Club" with the likes of Woody Bozardt, Joe Petrone, Len Mashburn, Jim Velia, Fred Leth-Steensen,John Schnitzer,Arnie Harkins,Charley Sparger,Dick "Tweety Bird" Haas, Ron "RAT" Adams, Earl Wyland (Hound Dog troop),, the list goes on but the memory fails. I do remember the party at Carterville when Andy Porter
took over from Woody.. Fred Leth danced on the bar singing, Truly Fair, Then all the radar troops pretended to whip up on the radar manager Joe Petrone. You should have seen the look on the new IM's face(Andy Porter).
That's one of a few stories from my 29 years with RCA..about 25 of them on the Range UP&DOWN. ps. Does any one remember the Columbus Day Party that David Wolper produced for TV? They had a house out past the FPS-16 Site. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/19/2007 | |
| Name: Benny Juhl | |
| Email: benjuhl@joimail.com | | City/State/Country: West Palm Beach, Fl, USA | |
Comments: Just checking in before going to Ascension for 2 months to help out a short comm section.
Its now much different than one night I spent on Ascension in 1958 (quanset hut and latrine next door) | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/11/2007 | |
| Name: Robert Hauser | |
| Email: budhauser@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Leesburg, Florida, United States | |
| Comments: I was assigned to the Arnold briefly, then to the Vandenberg 69-70. At the time we were based out of Pearl Harbor but were at sea most of the time. Supported launches out of Vandenberg AFB. Traveled around the Pacific, some of the stops were Midway Is, Guam, Adak, Kwaj, Pago Pago America Samoa, San Francisco (drydock/repair) | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 07/03/2007 | |
| Name: Roscoe J Douglas | |
| Email: roscoe@firstbenefits.com | | City/State/Country: Macon, Ga, USA | |
| Comments: I was a coop student From Auburn University, assigned to the Pan American Down Range Scuba diving team headed by Bill H. from Jan 1967 until late 1968. I was TDY on Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Grand Turk, Fernando, and Ascension. I think I was the first Coop student to be trained as a Scuba Diver. The other 3 members of the team were x-Navy Divers. I worked 3 months and went back to Auburn 3 months. It a was great experience. I was 19 and 20 years old at the time. Does anyone remember the layovers in Recife. | |
| Site Title: firstbenefits.com | |
| Site URL: http://www.firstbenefits.com | |
| Date: 06/29/2007 | |
| Name: Henry Hice | |
| Email: hhice@dakotacom.net | | City/State/Country: Tucson, Arizona, USA | |
| Comments: I worked on the range with RCA from September 1963 until January 1970. I was first stationed at San Salvador for about a month (September 1963) going to school, then was sent to GBI for FPS-16 radar school (October 1963 – January 1964). Was transferred to Ascension Island to work on the FPS-16 and was there for the next three years. In 1966, I was sent to Antigua for RCA4101 computer training. This was the computer that was used on the TPQ-18 radar. I was transferred from Ascension in January 1967 to Trinidad, where I worked in the computer group on the Univac 1206. While in Trinidad, I meet my wife and we were married there. We left Trinidad in January 1970 and transferred to Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/16/2007 | |
| Name: Jim Judson | |
| City/State/Country: Pisgah Forest, NC, USA | |
| Comments: Saw many familiar names here that brought back many pleasurable memories. I transfered to M T P from RCA/Indianapolis on January 31, 1955. 1st down-range assignment- Mayaguana (close to 2 years), then St. Lucia, Eluthera, Fernando de Noronha, a couple of assignments at CCMTA. On to Gilmore Creek Alaska, Rosman North Carolina. Back to MTP in 1973, Vandenburg, Arnold, Redstone. After 25 years left RCA for Western Union in 1975, then Spacecom, a few years in Real Estate and final retirement in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/15/2007 | |
| Name: Robert Floyd | |
| Email: floyd@spawar.navy.mil | | City/State/Country: San Diego, CA, USA | |
| Comments: ET aboard the USNS COASTAL SENTRY (CSQ) from 1966 to 1968. The ship's motto was 'Let the good times roll'. I married Annette Carr while we were operating out of Fremantle, Australia. We have three grandchildren, and will retire when we stop having fun at work. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/12/2007 | |
| Name: Joseph (Joe) Richburg | |
| Email: jbrichburg@bellsouth.net | | City/State/Country: Fairhope, AL, USA | |
| Comments: I went downrange to the MISTRAM site on Eleuthera from 1963-1965. Originally in PMSS but took over as Computer Sunsystem Engineer my last year. Returned to Data Translation Engineering at the Tech Lab at Patrick AFB. I got a Computer Science degree from FIT in 1969 then worked for Harris Semiconductor and Harris Systems Division. From there I joined DataPoint in San Antonio, TX. Later, I founded and operated three successful software companies. Would love to dialogue with other Range Rats. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 06/08/2007 | |
| Name: Ken Heinze | |
| Email: wenken@lagunacom.com.au | | City/State/Country: Sunrise Beach, Queensland, Australia | |
| Comments: I was the SOM on the Vandenberg between 1969 and September 1971 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/18/2007 | |
| Name: Jack Eaton | |
| Email: jack@wgtech.com | | City/State/Country: Otisfield, Maine, 04270 | |
| Comments: I worked at RCA from 6/64 to 9/65 and worked on the H. H. Arnold during most of this time but did a TDY to the Coastal Sentry for the last 2-months. I was in the Cal Lab and worked for Walt Latham and with Sam Peckinpaugh. I had to return home due to my wife having difficulty raising two kids. It was a wonderful experience and had I been single I would have stayed there forever. Great people combined with important, interesting and exciting work made it great!! Jack | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/10/2007 | |
| Name: Ronald MacAllister | |
| Email: rmacalli@harris.com | | City/State/Country: Satellite Beach, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Worked for GDE at Quincy, Mass. shipyard building the USNS Vanguard, USNS Mercury and USNS Redstone 1965 thru 1966.
Was obtained by ITT and later Bendix Field Engineering and "served" aboard the USNS Redstone and the USNS Vanguard in the SATCOM section from 1966 thru 1977.
Now work for Harris Corp. located in Melbourne, Florida | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/06/2007 | |
| Name: Marshall mahone | |
| Email: mmahone@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Indialantic, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Thank you very much for listing my Mother's passing in Feb.She and my Dad Frank had many happy memories of the Range and enjoyed telling of there times there. They are both missed very much by there family.I do want ro thank all of their Range Rat buddies for remembering them
Marshall Mahone | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/06/2007 | |
| Name: Merle Wagner | |
| Email: merlefwagner@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: West Ossipee, NH, usa | |
Comments: Worked on USNS Mercury from 1966 (Quincy shipyard) through 1969 (sydney, Australia). Worked as Comm supervisor and then transferred over to computer systems.
Looking for crew members from this period. Contractor was Federal Electric at the time. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/05/2007 | |
| Name: Mike Cochran | |
| Email: mjc@CochranConsulting.com | | City/State/Country: Plano, Texas, USA | |
| Comments: Was on the Sampan Hitch & American Mariner for two years around 1961. Training on a number of islands & PAFB. My first job out of Tech School away from home. What an education!!! Would like photos of Sampan Hitch & American Mariner, mine were destroyed. | |
| Site Title: www.CochranConsulting.com | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 05/03/2007 | |
| Name: Steve Wooden | |
| Email: shwooden@verizon.net | | City/State/Country: Sarasota, Florida, USA | |
| Comments: Just checking in again. Did this back in Jan 07 Worked Twin Falls Victory, San Sal, Tech Lab, Capeside and KSC, MILA Station, tested ARIA aircraft, before AF rcvd them
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/30/2007 | |
| Name: Ed. Ehrenspeck | |
| Email: skybase@cfl.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Edgewater, Florida, USA | |
Comments: Worked for RCA Missile Test Project 1956-1970.
Started in Cinema Theodilites. Then to the first TV section on the Cape. Then transferred to the Igor tracking section and was assigned to Patrick Igor as the site was being built. Became site chief. At the same time worked on BU Telescope with Space Track. Was also in charge of camera located in Radar dish at PAFB. Worked various launches downrange with Mobile Igor. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/28/2007 | |
| Name: Tom McCarthy | |
| Email: TWMcCarthy@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Chino Hills, CA, USA | |
| Comments: Joe - This is not new, but Iarrived onthe Range in 1956 and worked in Tech Training, Ops Planning, and Ops Control until 1973. We now have a RangeRats mailing list where Range Rats can share memories, etc.. It is a "mailing list" which means that you must subscribe, then you will have a choice; receive all messages or simply be notifed when a new message is posted and then you can go to the archives to read the messages. It is very easy to unsubscribe if you decide it is not for you.
To subscribe: send an e-mail to:
rangerats-subscribe@topica.com. (Note: no space between range and rats.
Welcome everyone interested in the Ranges! We are enjoying chatting about old times!
Tom
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/25/2007 | |
| Name: Wallace L. Wilkins | |
| Email: wwilkins2@tampabay.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Crystal River, FL, U.S.A. | |
Comments: Wallace L. Wilkins (wwilkins2@tampabay.RR.com)
from Crystal River,Florida,U.S.A. wrote...
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Joe,I just added an entry to the RR Book, may have done this
before,. . . as I've changed Internet Servers several times.
Hope to hear from any of you RRs who are still around.
Best regards,thought I'd better renew the contact, regards, . . Wally
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/24/2007 | |
| Name: Bennard "Bernie" Buckingham | |
| Email: gilbertlpatton@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Merritt Island, Florida, USA | |
Comments: My address is:
680 Needle Blvd
Merritt Island, FL. 32953-6113 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/20/2007 | |
| Name: Don Cain | |
| Email: dccain@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Alexandria, Virginia, USA | |
| Comments: My 1st job (4 years on the Twin Fall Victory) 1962-1966 and various schools at PAFB & the ETR. Went to WDL Palo Alto as computer engr in 67 on DSP programs (which took me to Alaska & Thule Greenland). Next stop was Avionics Instructor (Boeing-68), then to Bermuda (4 yrs in charge of computer section). Next stop NSA as Civilian (5yrs 73-78) as Project Engr Space COMSEC Engr'g. After NSA formed company "Digital Solutions" (S/W engr'g & voice recognition technology development); hoped to go public (in 84)but patent process too painful. Joined MITRE Corp (McLean Va)as Lead Engr after selling Co. interests, where I remain. Anyone know John (Buzz) Dietz; Dick Haas; Ron Burke (roomate); Dick Anthony; Herb Dessling; Russ Zimmerman; Jammie Dill; Larry Ludwick; Dallas Kruse; Bill Schneider; Charlie Zoranski (roomate);Frank Gorski; Russ Zimmerman, DeForest Romain (ship radio Ofcr)etc? Sure remember good times from the Cape down to Cape Town, and even Mauritius and as far south as Anartica/Kergulen island. Want to trade stories? Fond memories from the beginning of my career on the Twin Falls (T-AGM-11)and all those schools. Best regards - Don (Killer) Cain! | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/17/2007 | |
| Name: Michael A. Nagy | |
| Email: manern@adelphia.net | | City/State/Country: Oxnard, California, USA | |
Comments: Hi,
I have finally taken a moment to sign in as a former GTK and GBI Ranger Rat I am curious to find former Range Rats that I have worked with. Mike Hager who I met at Sabana De Lamar, Dominican Republic are in contact with each other. I shared a room with Hank Taylor on GTK and would like to hear from him and anyone else that remembers me. It may have been a long time ago but I can still recall many good people and good times. Mike Nagy | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/16/2007 | |
| Name: dennis o. sparks | |
| Email: wb4nbe@aol.com | | City/State/Country: maryville, tennessee, usa | |
| Comments: hired in with rca 1962 at techlab patrick afb in communications. traveled to every station from cape to acension. transfered to the nasa mission control at the cape in 1964, still traveled the range, until aug, 1970. went back home to tennessee where i hired in at the OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY. still work there and with colabration with nasa at the ADVANCED SPACE PROPULSION LABORATORY, houston, tx. BEST EDUCATION I EVER GOT, TRAVELING THE RANGE. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/15/2007 | |
| Name: H. Lee Northrop | |
| Email: hln4gcm@worldnet.att.net | | City/State/Country: Brandon, Fl., US of A | |
Comments: Hi to all you Range Rats!
I started with RCA on the ETR, Sept.5, 1955, in
Cape Communications. Went down range to GBI Comm,
Dec.5,'55. Workeed; Receivers, Transmitters, and Command Control.
Moved back up-range Mar. 1963 to Cape Mission Control. May 1967 to Instrumentation Control sustem.
1970 to Computer Control Center, Data translation.
Dec. 1970 to Com Tech. Control. Lay-offs caused my transfer Down Range to Antigua Comm. June 1973 I transfered to Ascension, 12:15 Radar. May 1976, transfered to GBI 3:13 Radar as Sigma-5 Computer tech. June 1981 transfered to 19:17 Mobile Radar.
Retired from Eastern Test Range, Feb.3,1993 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/11/2007 | |
| Name: HARTLEY J WILLIAMS | |
| Email: eeeltd@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: ST JOHN"S, NONE, ANTIGUA /BARBUDA | |
| Comments: I STARTED WORKING FOR RCA IN MAY 1958 AND CAME DOWNRANGE TO TRINIDAD TO WORK ON THE FS SHIPS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO SEA. BEFORE I WENT TO SEA OUT OF TRINIDAD A FEW OF US WERE TRANSFERRED TO RECIFE BRAZIL. THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET. RETURNED TO TRINIDAD AND WENT TO SEA. IN 1960 WORKED AT THE TECH LAB BUT RETURNED DOWN RANGE ON A CIMAVE FOR NASA AND TRACKED JOHN GLENN OFF THE COAST OF LIBERIA. WORKED FOR MANY INCLUDING SPEEDY COLLIER. FINALLY WAS ASSIGNED TO ANTIGUA TELEMETRY WORKED FOR VERN UNTIL ASSIGNED TO ASCENCION ISLAND FROM JUNE 65 TO JUN 66 AS TELEMETY LEADER. RETURNED TO ANTIGUA UNTIL JUN 69 ASSIGNED TO COASTEL CRUSADER SETTING TARGET ARRAYS WHICH FINISHED LATE 69 AND BACK TO ASC UNTIL MIDDLE 1970 AND ELECTED TO TAKE THE REDUNDACY PACKAGE IN 1972 AND SET UP BUSINESS IN ANTIGUA UNTIL 2000 AND HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SUPER MARKET EVERSINCE. I AM PLANNING TO RETIRE IN 2010 OR THEREABOUTS. I PRESENTLY HAVE 4 CHILDREN THE YOUNGEST IS 40 AND 10 AND A HALF GRAND CHILDREN AND ONE GREAT GRAN. I HAVE BEEN READING JOES SITE FOR SOMETIME AND DECIDED TO PU IN MY TWO CENTS. ALL OF YOU KNOW ME AS WILLIE WILLIAMS. I ENJOYED MY INPUT IN THE SPACE RACE BUT NEVER WERE MOST OF US DOWN RANGERS WERE EVER APPRECIATED FOR THE MANY HOURS DAYS AND WEEKS WE PUT IN ESPECIALLY THE GEMINI PROJECT. ANYWAY WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE DID. WE WORKED HARD AND PLAYED HARD. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/09/2007 | |
| Name: Herbert Sayers | |
| Email: hsayers@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Santa Maria, CA, USA | |
| Comments: Worked at; Cape Canaveral,Patrick AFB, GBI, Carter Cay, San Salvador, Grand Turk, Mayaguez, Antigua, Trinidad, Twin Falls ( 1956 to 1966 ) Radar | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/06/2007 | |
| Name: Kerry Coughlin | |
| Email: BajaKerry@gmail.com | | City/State/Country: La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico | |
| Comments: I started as a summer trainee DGO (Diesel Generator Operator) in 1958 and 1959. Then I was permanent twice during the 1960s until 1968. I was stationed at GBI, San Salvador, Mayaguana, Antigua, and Ascension. | |
| Date: 04/04/2007 | |
| Name: Sanford " Charlie " Brown | |
| Email: chaswbt@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: White Bear Lake, Minnesota, USA | |
| Comments: Hello to all old range rats From 1965 to about Oct. 1969 I worked with RCA and Federal
Electric.
For RCA I worked on the USNS Mercury while it was
in the shipyard at Quincy. Then on the USNS Vanguard at the cape
while it was being turned over to Federal Electric. Then I went
to The USNS Coastral Sentry in Japan and Australia.
Then to Goddard Space flight center. Did not like it there.
Federal Electric contacted me and I hired on with them and went
back to Australia on the USNS Mercury. Stayed with them through
Apollo 11 and they disbanded us in California. Anyone that remembers me send an Email
Especially the heart playing rats from the Coastal Sentry
We spent many nights after dinner playing hearts in the middle of the Pacific Cheers to all And also a hello to the Range Rat Motorcycle Club from the USNS Mercury. I still ride at 65 years old
| |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 04/03/2007 | |
| Name: Tom McCarthy | |
| Email: TWMcCarthy@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Chino Hills, CA, USA | |
| Comments: Sorry, I did not include my personal history in my earlier post. I joined RCA n 1956, replacing Norm Tucker in Tech Training (Timing and Firing). A year later, I followed Norm to Ops Planning, when he went down range as Manager Timing and Telemetry (at Grand Turk I think). In 1961 I moved up to Ops Programs as Ops Programs Engineer (OPE) for several programs including ABRES, Space Track (OD 066) and Foreign Technology (OD 097). I became Leader, Orbital Ops at the Cape in September of 1965. I made many trips downrange on TDY but was never PCS downrange.
I left RCA in 1973 (after the re-arrangement and pay cut) to work for ITT at VAFB, then came back to RCA and AUTEC in 1980. From there to Jim Moore and GEODSS at White Sands, then to Ed Lauden's Radar Contract until we lost that contract in 1985. Finished my career at JPL, retiring in 1944. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/30/2007 | |
| Name: Tim Eastland | |
| Email: arjatim@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| Comments: Just found this site, and thanks for all who set it up and made entries. Was lucky enoiugh to be a Range Rat on the Atlantic and Pacific Missile Ranges and as well the NASA site in Pretoria. Met Russ Reed while working at Ratrick for Pan Am in the late 50's, and he convinced me quickly that down range was where I belonged. Was at SAL and MGZ from 1959-1961 and saw a world of things happen in that short time. Then to South Point Hawaii for Bendix, and then back to the Cape with NASA, when I took a TM van to Pretoria to record the opening of the ECHO balloon as it rose over the South Pole from a Vandenberg launch. Then took over Range Operations at Vandenberg for NASA before leaving and ending up working for the Canadian Soace Agency, where I am today. Spent the afternoon reading names I remember with a great deal of humor and fondness: Wally Wallace, Bob Baker, Herb Sayer, Ron Halter, Russ Reed, Charlie Mendez,... not to mention missing names like Bert Niro, Joe Robertson, and who can forget Andy Porter and Joe Petrone, who taught many of us all we ever knew about range instrumentation... | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/30/2007 | |
| Name: Tom King | |
| Email: tomking21@msn.com | | City/State/Country: Sharpes, Fl/, USA | |
Comments: 1956 to 1959 GTK. Northrop Tlm. Engr.
1959 to 1961 Cape Northrop Tlm. Engr.
Supporting the SNARK Program
Pan American Wd. Awys. Cape and Down Range.:
1961 to 1962 ABOM/ Base Operations Manager(roving) ASC,ANT,GTK etc
1962 to 1963 BOM SAL
1963 to 1966 Test Controller, SRO at Cape
1966 to 1970 BOM Mainland sites (originally Domestic Satellites on mainland U.S.); PAFB to Miami.
1970 to 1973 Safeguard Support Services project at Langdon N.D.(Pan Am)
1974 to 1982 Non-aerospace related employment
1983 to 1998 Kennedy Space Center.
Space Shuttle and ELV Payload Processor; McDonnell Douglas; later merged with Boeing Corp.
Payload Test Conductor, Payload Manager, Launch Site Support Engineer.
(First retirement)
SUMMARY. Many Years of working with and for wonderful, talented,dedicated people on a "real", meaningful functional space effort.2000-2001 Consultant; proposal preparation 2005 to 2006 Returned to work at request of a company. After all the dynamic years working for the space effort with "real" people; it was a totally negative experience.
Now retired; Enough Already!.. some volunteering.
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| Site Title: N/A | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/28/2007 | |
| Name: Charlie Wright | |
| Email: chaz8330@aol.com | | City/State/Country: Mico, Fl, USA | |
Comments: Remembering some of the Bob's at Ascension during the mid-'60's; Bob Husby, Bob Shaffer, Bob McIntire, Bob Day, Bob Johnson, Bob Douglas and others to make a host of Bobs!
I roomed with Husby and Shaffer for a couple of years each and can attest to their being "real characters". Shaffer's "Tents and Towers of Arabia" is a good read of his exploits during WW2 as a member of the State Department driving around the deserts of North Africa handing out bunles of money in order to buy Arab alliance. Doug Rogers has the only copy I know of.
Bob Shaffer died in N.Y. in the '80's and Bob Husby died at Freeport GBI in '92. They were true Range Rats, the likes of which I still miss.
Does anyone know whatever happened to Warren Way - the "Pig Roast King" - and Al Huff (two more "real characters")? | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/27/2007 | |
| Name: Mark Maffucci | |
| Email: mark_suntree@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Viera, Florida, US | |
Comments: After all these years I'm heading back to Ascension. When? You'll know when I get there.... Isn't the number still 2269?
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(Webmasters Note: Mark signed the regular guestbook on 03/08/07 with the above entry. I am now transferring this info. here so that all range rat inputs will be together in the RR book & not the Guestbook, which is for stamp and cover collectors.) | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/25/2007 | |
| Name: Mark Shellans | |
| Email: m.shellans@pathfinder-tech.com | | City/State/Country: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA | |
| Comments: I was assigned to the Vandenberg as Technical Operations Manager in 1969 during Ivy Green intelligence operations against Mid-Pac Soviet missile tests. I was USAF at the time, but worked closely with PanAm and RCA people as well as my own security troops from Kelly AFB. I remember with particular gratitude Cliff Wolfe who taught us Judo in the balloon hangar. Anyone know where he is these days? Mark | |
| Site Title: Pathfinder Technology | |
| Site URL: http://www.pathfinder-tech.com | |
| Date: 03/25/2007 | |
| Name: John Sewell | |
| Email: john@bbhi.biz | | City/State/Country: Clearwater, FL, USA | |
Comments: Timber Hitch 1961-62
Roseknot 1962-66 | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 03/09/2007 | |
| Name: Robert "Bob" Birdsong | |
| Email: kb4a@hotmail.com | | City/State/Country: Sharpsburg, GA, USA | |
| Comments: I worked in the Cays off Grand Bahama and Abaco in 1960-1962. I started in August of 1960 after I got out of the Navy. I saw an ad for RCA in the Atlanta Newspaper and drove down to PAFB for interviews and testing and was assigned to Grand Bahama after I was hired. I spent about 1 week at GBAAFB before being transferred to Carter Cay. I also worked on Allan’s Cay with only one other PAA employee. I remember my first manager at Carter Cay was Bill Mackey who later transferred farther downrange. I have a website with some pictures at http://classof56.topcities.com/page2/missile_range_1960.htm which is a page from my high school website. My first job on Carter’s was working with the high power transmitters used for navigation of the ships using a system called LORAC (not LORAN) that was also used by the oil drilling ships. I will have to try to remember some of the guys I worked with for that 2 years. | |
| Site Title: Missile Range 1960-1962 | |
| Site URL: http://classof56.topcities.com/page2/missile_range_1960.htm | |
| Date: 03/01/2007 | |
| Name: Jim Peterson | |
| Email: jpetersonbend@yahoo.com | | City/State/Country: Bend, Oregon, USA | |
Comments: I worked on Antigua HF xmtr site in 1969. I went on to work on
the USNS Arnold in later 1969 and onto the USNS Vandenberg
quiting in 1972.. I went on to work in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska until
2006 when I retired to Bend, Oregon.. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/25/2007 | |
| Name: Garry W. Gipson | |
| Email: garry.gipson.ctr@patrick.af.mil | | City/State/Country: Bowling Green (Corvette City), Kentucky, USA | |
Comments: Been a range rat off and on now for twenty Years. Presently on Ascension with CSR. My Firt contract was back in 1986 for Pan Am on the Island of Mahae, Seychelles, Indian Ocean. Have worked on RoiNamur (Kwaj) Marshall Islands.
This is my second tour of Ascension.
GG | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/23/2007 | |
| Name: ron milburne | |
| Email: luv2stitch033@aol.com | | City/State/Country: perry hall, maryland, usa | |
| Comments: was a range rat for the us army on grand bahama and san salvador. worked the radio wave propagation sites.also was at the cape and patrick afb. time spent there 1962-1963.does anyone remember the open air movies at grand bahama? | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/18/2007 | |
| Name: Freddie (Fred) M. Brown | |
| Email: freddiembrown@wmconnect.com | | City/State/Country: Malden, Missouri, USA | |
| Comments: Joined RCA June65, three years on Sword Knot, two years on Vandenberg and one year on Coastal Crusader. Left RCA June 70, Went to work for Union Pacific Railroad by way of St. Louis Soutwestern RR and Southern Pacific RR. Been here 36 + years. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/14/2007 | |
| Name: Dennis Swartz | |
| Email: DCSwartz@austin.rr.com | | City/State/Country: Buda, TX, USA | |
| Comments: I spent almost 2 years on Ascension and a year in Guam in the 1970's working in the RF tracking section. It seems like ancient history. | |
| Site URL: http:// | |
| Date: 02/11/2007 | |
| Name: William O. Lewis III | |
| Email: wol3@comcast.net | | City/State/Country: Acworth, Georgia, USA | |
| Comments: I served aboard the USAF (later USNS) Gen. H.H. Arnold (T-AGM-9) from February 1962 through August 1965. I began my service in RVRPE (RADAR Video Recording and Playback Equipment and after one year transferred to the Test Equipment and Standards Lab (TESL). Became a Shellback (only man aboard to be found Not-Guilty during my trial before King Neptune's cou |
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