The White Falcon - 25.02.1961, Side 1

Our 'MISSION’
J?S TO PRODUCE
Service news
alcch
Volume XI, Number 8
Headquarters, Air Forces Iceland, Keflavik Airport, Iceland—A MATS Unit
^ND WE INTEND
^ULL COVERAGE
jfu EACH ISSUE
Saturday, February 25, 1961
Ttcted %
PaMihtf
This is to introduce a new
feature for the White Falcon.
This space is primarily for the
use of bits of information about
people, things and happenings.
Contributions for this column
are solicited and may be turn-
ed in by calling extension 4156.
Editor.
* * *
The Air Force Saturday goes
forth into battle against jack-
rabbits — symbols of the Old
West that have become a men-
ace to flying. Kelly AFB plans
to use a cordon of airmen to
drive the rabbits into an area at
one end of the runways where
Air Police will dispatch them
with guns. Officials say the
drive is necessary to keep the
runways relatively free of rab-
bits which have created a haz-
ard to takeoffs and landings.
Buzzards and hawks attracted
by carcasses of rabbits hit by
planes are an added menace.
More than 2,000 rabbits were
killed in a similar one-day cam-
pagin 18 months ago.
5jC ifc
In these days of “Ben Hur,”
“Spartacus,” and other screen
spectacles — Hollywood calls
them “blockbusters,” it would
seem that movies couldn’t get
any longer. But the Air Force
could piece together the gran-
daddy of them all — a movie
that would run for three and
a half years from start to fin-
ish. In length it would be more
than 85 million feet; to as-
semble it in one roll would re-
quire a reel 250 feet in dia-
meter. As for blockbusting,
some of its WW II combat
footage would put any movie-
land production to shame. What
is it? It is part of the Air
Force’s celluloid history, dat-
ing way back to the early
flights of the Wright brothers.
* * *
Selection boards to recom-
mend regular and reserve war-
rant officers for permanent pro-
motion to CWO 2, CWO 3,
and CWO 4 are scheduled to
meet at USAF Headquarters
beginning April 3. The board
will consider temporary war-
rant officers who do not hold
reserve appointments.
* * *
The standard saying here..
“only 364 mo-to-go” may be
ousted by another quotation
over-heard at one of the local
bus stops. One guy says, “Hot
dog, only 38 more days to go.”
Said another .. “Shux, I’ve
just got three more linen
changes left.”
Commander Selectee
COLONEL BENJAMIN G. WILLIS
Nominated For Brigadier General . . .
AFI Receives Award
For Fly-Safety Record
Air Forces Iceland has won the MATS Outstanding
Unit Award for its excellent flying safety record during
1960, Col. Benjamin G. Willis, commander, announced this
week.
During the past year, AFI did
not have a single aircraft acci-
dent. The unit was one of six in
Military Air Transport Service
to achieve this notch as MATS
set an all-time flying safety rec-
ord
In accomplishing this outstand-
ing record, AFI and 57th Fighter
pilots flew 10,226 hours. This is
about average flying time here
with flight hours recorded during
other years ranging from 7,700
hours to 12,000. Aircraft involved
included F-89s; C-118s; T-33s;
C-54s; C-47, and the copter.
In notifying Colonel Willis of
the award, Lt. Gen. Joe W. Kelly,
MATS commander wrote:
“I am pleased to announce that
Air Forces Iceland has been se-
lected to receive the Outstanding
Unit Award for having operated
throughout calendar year 1960
with a zero aircraft accident rate.
The savings in material and hum-
an resources that this record re-
presents, far exceed the recogni-
tion that is possible through any
award. Every officer and airman
can take just pride in his per-
sonal contribution to this record.
“Please pass to your personnel
my appreciation and congratula-
tions for a truly outstanding ach-
ievement, together with my best
wishes for continued success in
the field of flying safety.”
Colonel Willis had this to say
in a letter:
“I wish to extend my apprecia-
tion to each of the responsible
commanders, ’ to the supervisors
who direct the activities carrying
out their commander’s responsi-
bilities, and to everyone v^io so
successfully fulfilled the vast re-
quirements of aircraft accident
prevention.”
In 1959 Keflavik Airport had
four major aircraft accidents re-
sulting in the destruction of three
aircraft and the loss of two air-
(See, Award, Page U-)
Col. Willis to Receive
Upgrade to Brig. Gen.
Colonel Benjamin G. Willis, commander of Iceland
Defense Force (NATO) and Air Forces Iceland (MATS),
was officially notified this week of his promotion nomina-
tion by President Kennedy, to the**’
rank of Brigadier General.
The nomination now goes for-
ward to the United States Senate
for approval.
The new general-elect was cal-
led to active duty with the U. S.
Cavalry in 1941 after earning an
ROTC commission at Norwich
University where he majored in
Engineering and Economics In
mid-1959, the colonel earned a
Masters of Arts degree in Gov-
ernment and Politics from the
University of Maryland.
After completing 30 weeks of
basic and advance flying training
in 1942 as a second lieutenant,
Col. Willis served 19 months dur-
ing WWII in England and France.
He participated in the Air Of-
fensive Europe, the Normandy
Campaign, North France Cam-
paign, and Rhineland Campaign,
flying 63 combat mission in the
B-26.
Reassigned to Barksdale AFB,
La., in September 1948, Col. Willis
became commander of the 85th
Bomb Squadron. He remained in
the position until June of 1949,
at which time he attended the Air
Command and Staff School at
Montgomery, Ala.
Reporting to Tactical Air Com-
mand Headquarters, Langley AFB
Va., in January of 1950, Col. Wil-
lis was assigned as commander of
the 47th Bomb Group (Light),
equipped with B-45 jet bombers.
In January, 1952, Col. Willis
assumed the duties of Operations
and Training Staff Officer, Head-
quarters 49th Air Division at
Langley AFB, until November,
1952, when he was assigned as
Director of Operations and Train-
ing, Headquarters Third Air
Force.
One of his most recent assign-
ments was as Personal Air Force
Assistant to the Honorable Har-
old E. Stassen, Disarmament
Staff, the White House, from
May, 1955, to February of 1958.
Immediately prior to his as-
signment to Iceland he attended
the National War College in
Washington, D. C. His assignment
as Commander Air Forces Ice-
land, began July 24, 1959. Col.
Willis then assumed command of
Iceland Defense Force September
23, 1959. He is rated as a com-
mand pilot.
Married to the former Eugenia
Jennings, Col. and Mrs. Willis
have three children. Benjamin G.
Jr., 20, presently attends the U.S.
Air Force Academy. David J., 9,
and Eugenia H., 6, are with their
parents in Iceland.
WIN SPORTMANSHIP TROPHY
Although IKF, a team composed of Icelandic lads, won only two of
their 26 games played, their playing conduct and the fact they ap-
peared for every scheduled game, won the Sportmanship Trophy for
the quintet. Here, Bogi Thorsteinsson, Chairman of the Keflavik Air-
port Sports Club, accepts the torphy from Col. Myron F. Barlow,
while Ingi Gunnarsson, team captain, looks on.
U.S. AIR FORCE — AEROSPACE POWER FOR PEACE