Current Events2 Mustache March3 Women’s History Month4 Wing ORI & GAMA Cup5-6 Fort Benning Wing ELP7 Dining Out8 President’s Day Parade

March - April Edition - Spring 2013Table of Contents

Jessica McKibben

Ashley Robinson

Winston Atnip

Stephen Chappel

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Entertainment12 “Is It Safe?”13 Aircraft Word Search14 Air Force Humor15 Boredom Busters!

Lifestyle16 Study Tips16 Abdominal Workout Chart16 Workout Playlist17 General Mark Welsh III QuoteArnold Air Society/Silver Wings18-19 NATCON

Cadet Profiles20-21 Field Training Selectees & CTAs

Air Force Life22 Nellis AFB23 1st Reconaissance Sq.

Air Force Heritage9 POW/MIA Spotlight: Edward Mechenbier10-11 X-Planes: The XB-70

Public Affairs Flight

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Mustache March

Det 005’s

Mustache March

Winner:

Kevin Dennis

Mustache March is an annual event occurring in

the month of March, where young men in the United States grow

mustaches for amusement and to raise money for charity. The idea

stems from an early Air Force tradition in which members of the

U.S. Air Force would grow mustaches in good-natured

protest against facial hair regulations during the month of March. The act of growing a

mustache as a gesture of defiance against dogmatic leadership is

attributed to U.S. Air Force triple-ace Robin Olds who grew

an extravagantly waxed handlebar mustache which did not comply with U.S. Air Force regulations.

Brigadier General Robin Olds

#stacheprobs

March was Women’s History Month in the

Air Force and throughout the nation. It is a time to remember the sometimes overlooked female airmen who have contributed greatly to the accomplishments of our vision. One of these is women’s aviation pioneer, Betty “Tack” Blake. Now ninety-one years old, Blake is believed to be the only surviving graduate of the first Women’s Airforce Service Pilot training class during World War II. She became a member of the famous WWII all female aviation unit Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) when her unit, Women’s Flying Training Detachment, merged with the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron on Aug. 5, 1943. The WASP ferried fighters and bombers from the factories where they were built to front line military bases for the majority of the war, until a more effiecient means of transporting the planes could be set up. WASP was deactivated in Dec 1944 after flying 60 million miles and suffering 38 casualties. Its members were officially recognized as veterans in 1977 and issued honorary discharges in 1979.

Women’s History Month

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Wing ORI

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GAMA CupDet 005 Performance:3rd Place overall1st - frisbee2nd - soccer2nd - 5K2nd - basketball3rd - football 3rd - volleyball

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Wing ELPFort Benning LRC

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Wing ELPFort Benning LRC

Dining Out

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The Spring 2013 Dining Out was held at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National Hotel on April 13. Cadets, Silver Wings, friends, and

family all came to honor the Cavemen as they prepare to commission.

President’s day Parade

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Edward Mechenbier

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Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier was born during the height of World War II in Morgantown, WV on 29 June 1942. He enrolled in the Air Force

Academy in 1960 and commissioned on time four years later. Originally assigned to an F-4C squadron in England, it was not long before he was transferred to the 390th TFS, flying the Phantom out of Da Nang, Vietnam. This was December of 1966.

On 14 June 1967, on his 80th mission over North Vietnam, Lieutenant Mechenbier was shot down during a strike mission on a railroad yard thirty miles northeast of Hanoi. His callsign was Chisel 04. He describes the event in his own words:

"The aircraft right engine exploded simultaneous with lighting the afterburner pulling off the target. Soon the fire burned through the hydraulic system for the ailerons, and the aircraft entered a series of six snap rolls to the right, which I could almost stop with full left rudder. But with each roll, the nose lowered until it was 45 degrees below the horizon and gaining speed. The last I saw was 620 KIAS when we decided it was not going to recover."

"I owe my life to Kevin [McManus, his backseater]. I was wrestling with the airplane, trying to make it fly, as would any fighter pilot, when this calm voice from about five feet behind me said, “Ed, I don’t think we’re going

to make it.”

That brought me to reality and I said, “Bail out Kevin, bail out.” He paused and we went practically simultaneously, as I had always told him, if he heard the second “bailout” he would be solo. He paused long enough to say, “Sayonara” and we went simultaneously, inverted, according to the other aircraft, ejecting out of the orange fireball that had completely engulfed the aircraft.

Everything happened in slow motion.

The aircraft reportedly hit the ground at 620 KIAS before our chutes opened. So, we came very close to riding it in, and it was only Kevin’s comment that moved me to give the Bail Out command."Mechenbier was captured almost immediately and spent the next five years,

eight months, and four days in captivity. During ejection and captivity he suffered crushed vertebrae, dislocated shoulders, and broken teeth.

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier was awarded two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze star with V, two Purple Hearts, Meritorious Service Medal, 9 Air medals and the P.O.W. medal. He retired in 2004 at the age of sixty-two, after having reached the mandatory retirement age for his rank.

Gen. Mechenbier served his country for forty-four years.

XB-70A valkyrie

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During the 1950s, the prevailing bomber philosophy within USAF Strategic Air Command was “higher, faster, further.” Surface-to-air missiles were still in their infancy, and anti-aircraft artillery had a very limited effective altitude. Consequently, the only viable means of defense against enemy strategic bombers were interceptor aircraft. If a bomber could fly above the interceptors’ ceiling, then it could move and strike with virtual impunity.

Enter the B-70 Valkyrie, North American Aviation’s answer to a 1957 Air Force operational requirement for a bomber with a cruising speed

of over Mach 3, an over-target altitude of more than 70,000 feet, a range of over 10,500 miles, and a maximum weight of 490,000 lbs. In 1958,

NAA was declared the winner of the contest over Boeing, and a contract was issued for phase one of the project.

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Despite a number of innovative aerodynamic features, the winds of change were blowing in the world of air defense, strategic bombing philosophy, and nuclear delivery technology. First and foremost, the advent of the

ICBM had removed part of the need for decisive bomber superiority. Second, due to more advanced Soviet SAMs, new SAC nuclear delivery

theory involved high-speed, low-altitude penetration by supersonic bombers like the B-58 Hustler. The Valkyrie, which was meant to succeed the B-52 as the USAF’s main long-range bomber, had been designed from the ground up to perform well at extremely high altitudes. Below its prime cruising altitude, it offered only a marginal improvement on the airframe

that it was meant to replace, and so the Air Force deemed the B-70 unworthy of their investment.

Only two prototypes of the Valkyrie were created before the project’s cancellation. They were both experimental and carried the designation

XB- 70A. The two planes completed a total of 127 flights, though the second prototype, AV-2, as it was known, was destroyed in a midair collision with an F-104 Starfighter in 1966. The remaining XB-70 was retired in February 1969

and now resides in the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, near Dayton, Ohio.

“Is It Safe?”

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Word Search

A I RC R A F TThunderbolt

DemonTomcat

Globemaster

SpiritRaptor

Black WidowEagle

ReaperSentryLancer

Banshee

Strike EagleHornetValkyrie

Lightning

GalaxyPredator

StratofortressCobra

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Air Force Humor

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Boredom Busters!

Follow this link to learn how to fold an awesome origami eagle!

http://www.angelfire.com/ks3/origa-mikong/Photo_diagrams_Eagle2.html

Start

Finish

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Lifestyle With the end of the semester and

final exams rapidly approaching, it is important that we all make the most of our

time, while also taking good care of ourselves.

Here are some study tips to help you out. Good luck!

Fitness Study Tips

1) Your brain cannot absorb, retain, or analyze information for more than 50 minutes at a time. To get the most out of your study session, study for 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute study break. 2) During your study breaks, it’s best to completely change what you’re doing so your brain is forced to focus on something besides your study material. Try coloring a coloring page, listening to music, watching TV, or solving the puzzles in this Eaglet! The idea is that you want to do something visually demanding, but that requires little brain power. 3) Research has shown that listening to classical music while studying helps minimize stress levels and helps you retain information better. Contact PA Flight if you would like a copy of an excellent classical playlist.4) Another great way to keep your body and mind energized during a long study session is to do some exercise during your study breaks. Grab a dance partner in the library and get moving! 5) Proper rest is essential to information processing and retention. Get at least 6 hours of sleep each night, and no more than 9. Eight hours a night is considered the best amount to keep your brain functioning at 100%.6) You need to fuel your body in order to fuel your mind. It’s best to eat about 6 small snacks throughout the day to keep your body performing well. 7) If you’re stressed over a large amount of tasks that you have, write them down, along with any important thoughts or directions you’re storing in your mind. If you make lists of the things you have to accomplish, your brain will be able to relax because it no longer has to worry about forgetting them and you’ll be able to rest better.8) Work together and remain positive! A little levity goes a long way. Working in a group is a great method of accountability and support.

Swimsuit Season is coming up! Wanna work on that pesky midsection? Here are 40 ways to work out your core! Just add a mix of these

into your regular cardio and calisthenic routine. The variety will keep all of your muscles engaged and will

prevent your workout from being boring!

1. California Love – 2Pac – 4:442. Cinderella Man – Eminem – 4:383. A Millie – Lil Wayne – 4:404. Right Above It – Drake – 4:325. Hello – Martin Solveig & the Dragonettes – 4:416. Reptile’s Theme – Skrillex – 3:567. Turn the Page – Metallica – 6:068. Sail – AWOLNATION – 4:199. Robot Rock – Daft Punk – 4:4710. Bang A Rang – Skrillex – 3:36

11. Gold Dust – DJ Fresh (Flux Pavilion Remix) – 2:2012. Promises – Nero – 4:1713. I’m Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys – 2:3314. Good Good Night – Roscoe Dash – 3:2515.Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin – 2:2716. Harlem Shake – Bauer – 3:1617. Rock N’ Roll – Skrillex – 4:3518. Figure 8 – Ellie Goulding – 4:0719. Stronger – Kanye West – 5:1420. Some Nights – Fun. – 4:37

You know what would be great to go with those ab workouts?An awesome workout playlist!

Try this one to keep yourself in a steady pace and motivated!

**Disclaimer: Most of these songs have an original/explicit version and a radio edit/clean version. Read the title carefully before buying if you have a preference

over which you listen to.**

Arnold Air - Silver Wings

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This year’s Arnold Air-Silver Wings national conclave

was an immense success, thanks in large part to our own AAS/SW National Staffs! Arnold Air Society National Commander AAS C/Brig Gen Kevin Long and Silver Wings National President Miss Kelsey Cardinal oversaw the proceedings. Attendees participated in society affairs, including choosing a new Joint National Project, electing a new National Staff, and choosing the location of next year’s NATCON. Everone also enjoyed a formal military dinner, speeches given by Gen Richard Meyers and Brig Gen Richard Bundy, and the fabulous Atlanta nightlife.

Atlanta, Georgia:

HOTLANTACON

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Congrats!Congratulations to everyone who was

selected to go to Field Training this summer! Det 005 wishes you the best of

luck!WAR EAGLE!

Brian Booth

Stephen FaistCTA, In-Garrison

MAX 4, 5 & 6

Walter Brush Erin Callahan Leigh Ellen Cannon Daniel Cartin

TJ Conwell

John MarshallCTA, CSJFTC MAX 1, 2 & 3

Cole FinnertyDaniel Barnes“I expect Field Training this

summer to be a huge learning experience. I will be shadowing an officer for 7 weeks which is

an opportunity that most do not get in ROTC. I love the training

side of this program which is why I wanted to be a CTA. I get to impact cadets from around the country and help develop

them into the POC/Officers that they will be, and that alone is worth the more than 17 hours days and minimal sleep that is

required for the job.”

“I foresee this summer as being one of the greatest

leadership exercises of my career so far. I’ll have the

chance to learn from dozens of high quality officers and

other CTAs from around the country and will have the opportunity to impact and

further develop cadets under high stress situations. Sleep

will be optional this summer. Intensity will not. Bring on FTU 1!”

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Nathan Green Stephen Hindman Aaron Holliman

Hailey James Peter Last Tyler McCafferty Leandra Milton

Evan Oren Bodio Popoola Roberto Sanchez Aaron Sanderson

Willy Steers Brandon Thomas Philip Warden David Woodard

Christopher Gericke

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Nellis AFBLas Vegas, NV

Located outside of Las Vegas, NV, Nellis Air Force Base was originally built in 1941 as

the Las Vegas Army Air Field. It was renamed Nellis AFB in 1950 after Lt. William Nellis, who was from the Las Vegas area and was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in WWII. He was shot down on 27 December 1944 outside Bastogne. During WWII, the base trained bomber crews to fly both the B-17 Flying Fortress and, later in the war, the B-29 Superfortress. It was briefly deactivated after the end of the war, but two years later was reactivated. It has served continuously ever since.Today, Nellis AFB is one of the largest bases in the Air Force. Falling under the purview of Air Combat Command, it also has more units assigned to it than any other single base. This is due to its mission as the premier advanced air combat training facility. The 57th Wing is the main operational element on the base; it encompasses the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds”, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 414th Combat Training Squadron (Red Flag), 547th Intelligence Squadron and the 549th Combat Training Squadron (Green Flag-West).Tenant units also include the Air Force Reserve Command and two Red Horse squadrons, the 820th and the 555th.

An F-22 and an F-15 pull into a verticle climb above Nellis’ Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).

A C-130 participates in a mobility training excercise.

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Air Force Life1st Reconnaissance

Squadron

Beale AFB, 9th Operations Group: The oldest unit in

the Air Force turns 100 this year. The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, created in 1913 under the moniker “1st Aero Squadron,” was the US Army’s first official air combat unit. It first saw combat in 1916 under the orders of Gen. John J. Pershing when it was tasked to support the efforts of the Army in capturing the Mexican bandit, Pancho Villa. Since then, the airmen of the 1st Recon have flown 47 separate airframes. The unit has changed its name fourteen times and served in more than 50 locations globally. It has also been involved in some of our nation’s most famous historical engagements. From Chateau Thierrey and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1917, to the

firebombing of Tokyo in 1945, to the SR-71 flights of Vietnam and later, the squadron has distinguished itself at home and abroad.

Today, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is the formal training unit for the U-2 and the RQ-4 Global Hawk.