Doug Kibbey inspects the ranks of new armor....

[SFC_Jeff_Button]

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Here are the jets from the China Lake visit. I'll try to list them as they appear;
1. X-F4D SkyRay 124587 (nickname FORD)
2. F-11F-1F SuperTiger 138647 (2-3 left in world?)
3. F-18A Hornet 160775 (first Hornet built, was a target for a while)
4. TA4F A4 Trainer 152102 (notice missile head in nose)
5. A6E TRAM 152936 Intruder
6. A7C Corsair 156797
7. RF4B Recce Phantom 157348
Any questions concerning these particular aircraft should be addressed to Rob, he knows their particular histories.
This 3 days went flying by while Doug visited. Alot was crammed in, some of it rather unexpectedly but for the best. Once the post newpaper prints its story on Dougs visit, I hope his head doesn't swell to much, haha! Doug, it was great having you here, I'll try to make it down before I leave! Rob, thanks again for the tour of China Lake. I had another camera I could have shot up if it weren't for those pesky restricted area signs everywhere! Let me know if either of you ever need anything and I might be of some assistance.

[SFC_Jeff_Button]

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Here is the SkyRay that didn't post last message.

[Jinx]

Exceptional photos! Thank you so kindly for sharing your adventure with us all!

[Doug_Kibbey]

OK, now that I'm home after a mess o' drivin' today (and a thoroughly enjoyble visit with good AFV News company and family members), I can get back at Jeff with some pics of my own. Don't have 'em all uploaded, but I can't just sit back while he does all the work.

First, a word about Jeff...
While you can already see he's a generous and selfless individual from his posts on our forum(s) over the last few months, what you can't tell from just the internet is what a committed guy this is. By "committed", I mean to his country, his service, his interests, and MOST of all, his family. Trust me, this is one devoted husband and father....and mightily refreshing it is to see, too. Don't let the camo fool you, the Buttons' define "nuclear family"...and great hosts they are, too. Now I gotta' get 'em down to my town to try to repay the hospitality in what will seem a very small way if I get that chance. (and he's got a "toy room" to die for!)

Oh...another thing...we at this forum are priviliged to be witnessing the birth of a gen-u-ine historian in the making. When Jeff undertakes to research an item, he's incredibly thorough and tenacious. Some of what I saw he'd documented in notebooks oughta' qualify for a darn good start on at least a Master's thesis in history. Watch for big things from this guy when he gets more time on his hands.

Here's a few pics I've sized and uploaded just for tonight...haven't to get back to this later....

My hosts for the "big surprize", driving the M2. (Impressions: It drives like a deuce-and-a-half with stiff springs in back, more rattle, and challenging shifts...but consider the age. The steering is "one finger"...I was amazed...turns of the wheel are like a Cadillac with late '60's overboost...a 17 year old right off the farm in 1942 would have had no problem with this vehicle....)
I'll let Jeff try to spell (and I want that name!) the gentlemen who's the primary driver/ maintainer of this rig..., and a helluva' job he does at it, too!


I took the occasion to drive it and hijacked it to a point where there wasn't a bunch of motor pool clutter:


Here it housed with this significant aircraft:
It is housed and awaiting restoration with a functional museum piece in a special hut. This aircraft is designated as a "UH-1M", but appears to have been a "B" model in it's first life...I don't know what refit makes it an "M" model. The tailboom was grafted onto the original airframe fuselage...and flew with the Californial Nat'l Guard for some years after the war. It was in this aircraft that SFC Rodney Yano performed the actions for which he was awarded the CMH, as stated in the following citation:
(Ft. Irwin is the home of the 11th ACR to which SFC Yano was assigned, and the reason it resides there)

"YANO, RODNEY J. T.

Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Place and date: Near Bien Hao, Republic of Vietnam, 1 January 1969. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii. Born: 13 December 1943, Kealakekua Kona, Hawaii. Citation: Sfc. Yano distinguished himself while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop. Sfc. Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle. From an exposed position in the face of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire he delivered suppressive fire upon the enemy forces and marked their positions with smoke and white phosphorous grenades, thus enabling his troop commander to direct accurate and effective artillery fire against the hostile emplacements. A grenade, exploding prematurely, covered him with burning phosphorous, and left him severely wounded. Flaming fragments within the helicopter caused supplies and ammunition to detonate. Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control. Although having the use of only 1 arm and being partially blinded by the initial explosion, Sfc. Yano completely disregarded his welfare and began hurling blazing ammunition from the helicopter. In so doing he inflicted additional wounds upon himself, yet he persisted until the danger was past. Sfc. Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew. By his conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life, in the highest traditions of the military service, Sfc. Yano has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army."






One of the OC aircraft pulling pitch and entering a hover:

...and a quickie view of "The Bat"



Some mighty big thanks go out to Jeff Button (and family!), LTC Blackburn, Capt. Rayca, the CSM and 1st Sgt. and everybody else who made my visit so enjoyable and wildly in excess of any reasonable expectations. Also to Rob Roche for inviting us over to China Lake and hosting our visit to the museum there...even though they seem to delight in blowing up tanks!
I'll try to get some more stuff up tomorrow....

[SFC_Jeff_Button]

The gentleman in the photo that does all the driving and maint on the M2 Half-Track is SFC Levinsailor, (I think thats the correct spelling). He is actually attached to the museum till this May on active duty. His unit is from Maryland, I think. He's an ex tanker that was actually in the OPFOR in the late 80's. He has experiance on M60 series and M1's. Neil Morrison at the museum says he's a "God-Send" at organization and documentation, plus he knows his armor.
Your welcome for the visit, wish it could have been longer. Did you see the M3 pictures I posted? That was a sharp vehicle. If you had stopped, you probably would have been another hour later getting home. If the boys had not been with me, I would have been there longer. I will try my hardest to get to your home, would love to see it. You are much too kind in your praises, I'm blushing as I type, haha. I look forward to seeing your pictures, as I am sure they will make mine look "amateurish". Take care.

[Doug_Kibbey]

- SFC_Jeff_Button

Your welcome for the visit, wish it could have been longer. Did you see the M3 pictures I posted? That was a sharp vehicle. If you had stopped, you probably would have been another hour later getting home. If the boys had not been with me, I would have been there longer. I will try my hardest to get to your home, would love to see it. You are much too kind in your praises, I'm blushing as I type, haha. I look forward to seeing your pictures, as I am sure they will make mine look "amateurish". Take care.

Jeff...
So do I, Yes...I did, Yes...it sure is (and looks driveable!), I'm sure I would have, you darn well better, and I remind you that I wouldn't have any pictures if it wasn't for your efforts!

[Dontos]

"I KNOW THAT DUDE!!

Well it surely is a small world!!

Don

[Shadow_Bshwackr]

What a great way to spend time!!! It's always nice to meet people you've 'known' on the net but never actually met in person. And to meet them at such a great setting as this, well now, you have a classic "Time to Remember"...and fond memories they'll always be too...

[Uhu_Fledermaus]

Looks you had a great day there fella's

thankx for sharing some momentos of it with us


fled

[68Barracuda]

Yeah...the guy with the M-3 Scout car....I "know" him too! He also has (at last count) 3 maybe 4 halftracks lurking in various buildings there. He also has an M-8 and I think an M-20.

Interesting guy.....had a LOT more but has sold off tons of "stuff" over the last year or so, hope it didn't go to the scrapper...

[Doug_Kibbey]

and....here's some more. BTW, my living room looks like Christmas morning from all the stuff I brought back....big pile of goodies in front of the fireplace...apparently, Doug was very good last year.


One of the last remaining VISMOD Sheridans...this one in the markings of LTC Blackburn, the 1st Sqdn CO who presented my award. Nice they have the presence of mind to preserve a few.

At the airfield...

[C_Sherman]

- Doug_Kibbey

...apparently, Doug was very good last year.

Naaaaah...He just didn't get caught!