Dates

Event

Constructed as an A-7.

Circa 1972

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 72-0259.

From August 1979 to December 1979

Scott Carter reports: In August 1979 I became the crew chief of this plane at England AFB. It was in great shape, almost every screw and cam lock was in it and the hydrolics were good, when it shut down the control sufaces only droped 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. Some of the other planes on the flight line had there control surfaces drop a foot or more. The chief I was getting it from told me to bleed all three resivours by holding a couple rags over the nossel and let go of the button when I felt fluid, then wipe the landing gear down with the wet rags, it worked. I had many pilots coment on how well the plane flew and that as soon as they moved the stick the plane moved. I loved that plane and being a crew chief. Was moved to an other plane in December 1979.

Scott Carter continues: In the time I worked this aircraft we went through three surges, there war game excersizes were other outtfits come in or we go to another to get base, we also go on 12hr shifts. The first one we had an Air Guard outfit in flying F-105s, I got seperated from my plane and put on second shift so I will leave that one alone. The second one we split the base in half and fought each other. I got to stay on days and was assigned to my plane. On the first day I had every thing ready to go, I did my last check, the engine as I crawled out the pilot showed up, I greeted him and said I would help him strap in when I got my bunny suit off. He was a full bird and I was an E1. I told him to get squared away and let me know when he was ready to start. I closed all the panels and checked my tool box and there was a screwdriver missing. I re-opened all the panels and waved down the truck to get a bunny suit, climbed back into the engine. I could not find it any were, I told the truck driver and he had all the crew chiefs get out and help, then he looked at me and said you have got to let the pilot know. I said yeah I know.

Scott Carter continues: That walk up the latter to the cockpit was a terror, I was scared and thought I was going to be in trouble. I said sir I can not let you take this plane I have got a screwdriver missing. He said OK look some more I have got about 5 minutes. I kept looking and on my way out of the engine I saw a staff sgt stand up by my box and walk away. The screwdriver was back, I ran him down and chewed him out. I went to the truck, the pilot had gotten out to sit in the truck, I said we found the screwdriver you can go. So I got him up quick and went to the truck still thinking I was in trouble. The driver said you just made a friend, you did what you were suppose to and he was impressed, and to top it off he was the deputy commander of aircraft maintenance. From that point on I saw him at least once a month, he said he asked for my plane when ever he flew out of my section. I remember very few names from back then but I remember Col. Poor.

To Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, MD.
View the Location Dossier

November 1979

Photographer: Scott Carter
Notes: unfortunately the photo is damaged, had a fire in 1992 and this was the only one to survive. Notice that I named it Cajun Lady. I was told by the chief master Sargent it was illegal but didnt tell me to take it off. A couple pilots said they liked it and the AF should bring back the practice of naming planes. Picture taken at England AFB.