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Memories of a 141 Junkie 2004
Dick Reichelt
What will follow are some some ramblings of a C-141 'junkie', Maj. Richard
Reichelt, Ret., a 20-year USAF veteran from 1952-1972. I enlisted with the
intention of becoming a pilot, a life's dream. After two years as a tower
operator at Lowry AFB, Denver and as an A2C, I entered and passed through the
Aviation Cadet program and my adventure(s) REALLY began.
In 1966, I came back from a 3 year assignment in Wiesbaden Germany to check out
in the new C-141 Starlifter.
As I said to my 141 instructor, Capt. Gary O. Moles, on my first turn to final
on that sunny, windy afternoon in Oklahoma, Holy Shit! I'm on the front porch
flying my whole house around! Of course his response, the cool guy that he was,
'Nah, don't worry you'll get it, it's easy, and you will grow to love the 141.'
As these stories unfold, as they come back into focus, to me they are now very
exhilarating not, as they might have been then, mixed in with the mundane
duties of a routine day.
Looking back through the rosy haze of time, these are memories of a lifetime
experienced in a flying machine called the C-141 Starlifter. It served as no
other.
Col N…..was, by all evidence, a mean, crusty, nasty, skinny, little
bully of a full bird. The kind of guy that once you knew of him, he would make
you cringe. He would come out into the MAC C-141 system to get his flying time.
Storming through base ops and weather, and aggravating most of the people he
had contact with, no one looked forward to take off. He was most vitriolic with
the flight engineers, but the co-pilot position caught it and navigators were
'morons' The loadmasters were smart enough to stay out of his way. Way far
away.
Cruise checklist complete and 20 questions started. Not the start of a good 141
trip!
One idea was maybe to brown nose a bit. Yeah that's the ticket! Buy him a drink
and make friends. The really clever part of the plan, being a cocky Capt on
flying status, was that I would proceed to 'drink him under the table' so he
would at least 'know the better man'.
We both started on the hard stuff. Me buying and him on 'doubles'. (THAT should
have been a clue)
Note for history: I did not drink him under the table. It was I that was
crawling around under the table. In fact I got so blasted it should have been
illegal. I do not remember much more, I don't know how I walked or got to the
BOQ. I do not remember anything other than what a dumb idea that was in the
first place. Col N… stayed and swilled and was last reported as having
been caught making a ruckus and peeing on the base commander's front lawn and
bushes. I have no idea why they would have been so hard on him, but the rest of
the trip was OK with his replacement.
Liberty and justice for all!
Why would a rational man provoke someone who can cut off his fuel- or worse?
09/01/2004
Richard (Dick) Reichelt
richreichelt@sbcglobal.net
5690 Schaefer Ave. Suite H
Chino, Ca.91710