The White Falcon - 11.03.1961, Blaðsíða 2

2
WHITE FALCON
Saturday, March 11, 1961
It’s Light But Strong Enough
Behind this month’s test firing of the Minuteman lay solutions
to a series of difficult engineering problems that made the solid-
fuel missile a success on first try.
One of the major problems licked was the design of a rocket
engine light enough, but strong enough to withstand the tremendous
temperatures involved.
The weight problem was attacked by girth-welding the engine
case in six steel ring forgings. Always a problem in its own right,
the heat factor also posed weight problems—how to construct
proper insulation light enough, as no single known substance is
strong enough to withstand the heat.
The solution hinged on development of several insulating mater-
ials that combined plastics, rubber, graphite and various metal
alloys at vital points in the Minuteman engine.
Specifications of the Minuteman were stiff. The first stage
engine had to incorparate: (1) high reliability; (2) great capa-
bility to survive enemy attack; (0) Maximum simplicity; (4) de-
creased reaction time (over previous systems); (5) lower cost.
Of the five, reliability, simplicity, and quick reaction time were
inherent properties of solid fuel propellants. Thus, the problem
revolved around designing the solid-fuel Minuteman for firing from
hardened and mobile sites.
Though heavy in punch, the Minuteman first stage engine is
a slender lad when compared to liquid fuel first stages of the Atlas
and Titan. Assembled, the first stage stands only 24 feet high and
measures slightly more than five feet in diameter.
And the developers of the Minuteman first stage engine, the
Thiokol Chemical Corporation, are continuing research into reducing
further the size and weight of the first stage engine to increase
Minuteman speed and range.
★ ★ ★
AEROSPACE EVENT
Feb. 10, 1910—The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution awarded the first Langley Medal to the Wright Brothers
at Washington, D. C., “for advancing the science of aerodynamics
in its application to aviation by their successful demonstration of
the practicability of mechanical flight by man.”
★ ★ ★
Just Too Much Junk
Too many home medicine cabinets are full of too much junk.
And if you think about that a minute, you‘11 realize they’re right.
It’s false economy to save old medicine because medicine, like
food, can get stale and lose its value or even become dangerous.
Often a prescription label does not say what particular ailment
the medicine is for and so you may take the wrong medicine, and
remember, some external medicines can be fatal if swallowed.
Why not save yourself from any kind of mixup and get rid
of medicines that have outlived their usefulness? Remember, too,
that small children are fascinated by a lot of odd-shaped bottles,
brightly colored pills, and curious little boxes and cans.
Once chidren start playing with this stuff, the next step is
to taste a few, or mix them all up and try that. Play it safe.
Clear out old medicines. And teaefi youngsters the hands-off rule
where all medicines are concerned.
★ ★ ★
AEROSPACE EVENT
Feb. 26, 1940—The War Department created the Air Defense
Command to intergate defenses of the United States against air
attack. The command, primarily a planning agency, was located
at Mitchel Field, N. Y. It was under Brig. Gen. James E. Chaney,
who assumed command on March 16, 1940.
★ ★ ★
Don’t Goof Off
For just about every guy in a rig on the road, there’s a gal
waiting somewhere .... a gal who cares. Mother, wife, sweetheart
or daughter .... they’re thinking plenty about the safety of
their guy.
So, even though you’re many miles away, get the message and
let the message make a firm impression on that noodle of yours.
You’re important and you’re needed and you’re wanted, so don’t
ever get the idea that just because you’re all alone in your vehicle,
you can assume the goof-off attitude of “I can take a risk because
I’ve nobody to hurt but myself.” Give those who care a break
by keeping your mind on safe driving.
And, of course, you’ll be giving yourself a break at the same
time.
THE WHITE FALCON
Col. Benjamin G. Willis, USAF
Commander, Air Forces Iceland
The WHITE FALCON ia an official Class II Armed Forces newspaper published weekly at
Keflavlk Airport, Iceland by Air Forces Iceland of the Military Air Transport Service for
all contingents stationed at Keflavik Airport. The WHITE FALCON receives AFPS and
AFNS materials. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the
Department■ of Defense.
Information Officer........Capt. Warren J. Papin, USAF
Editor ...................... TSgt Wylie Mason, USAF
Isafoldarp.-entsmiOJa h.f.
Aerospace Power for
The
Commander
Calls
The military has been termed
sometimes as a haven for those
people who just can’t “hack it”
in civilian life. But the uninform-
ed would hold that statement true
today.
The modern military man is
one of the most competent and
intelligent men ever to wear a
uniform of the United States arm-
ed forces.
Today’s technically minded
world demands steadily rising
educational levels for military
men. MATS is no exception. The
problem of providing fast, effici-
ent airlift is a technical one and
requires intelligent carefully
trained men at all levels of the
MATS team.
To retain these highly skilled
individuals after initial tours of
duty, incentives must be offered.
When deciding whether to stay in
or get out, things like re-enlist-
ment bonuses, accelerated promo-
tions, care of dependents, disloca-
tion allowances, steady pay, and
a host of other benefits go a long
way in influencing one’s mind—
just as they do in civilian life.
These incentives are in being
today. And, when the moment of
decision arrives they shouldn’t be
overlooked.
Every man must judge for him-
self, that’s true. But, some of us
are apt to be disillusioned by the
greener looking grass on the oth-
er side of the fence. Sometimes
it doesn’t turn out to be so green
after all.
When deciding the future, re-
member the important thing —
once you jump that fence it’s very
difficult, at times impossible to
get back on the other side.
Tinker Trainers
Are Up In Space
The 32 flying instructors as-
signed to Tinker’s 1707th ATW
have made 125 round trips to the
moon—figuratively speaking.
The training wing, called “The
University of MATS”, boasts one
of the most highly qualified
groups of flyers in the world. By
a conservative estimate, accord-
ing to 1707 statisticans, the 32
pilots have spent some 285,000
hours at the controls, and have
flown a combined total of 60 mil-
lion miles—they’ve got the flight
logs to prove it.
The men belong to the 1740th
and 1741st Air Transport Squad-
rons at Tinker, whose job it is
to provide flight instructions for
MATS pilots assigned to C-124
Globemaster units. Other elements
of this unique outfit provide in-
tensive courses in C-124 ground
and flying crew techniques.
USO Marks Its 20th
Many a career man, entering his 20th year of service begins
making plans for retirement. Others don’t, they’re goin’ for 30.
One veteran of WWII and Korea marked its 20th on Feb. 4, but
isn’t figuring on fading away — far from it. The United Service
Organizations Inc. still has a job to do and is doing it with
the same brisk cheerful spirit that millons of war veterans, in and
out of uniform, remember.
True the USO doesn’t get the public accolades it won for
itself in the war years when such show business liminaries as
Bob Hope, Irving Berlin, A1 Johnson, Marlene Dietrich and other
sparked its troop entertainments. Bob’s still going strong each
Christmas, of course, as the sailors and marines at Guantanamo
Naval Base can tell you. But in the main, people outside the
services are all too unaware of the year round boost to morale in
the Armed Forces both at home and overseas, supplied by the
USO’s varied activities.
All the more reason then, that we who know the score should
salute this group of agencies, the YMCA and YWCA, The National
Catholic Community Service, The National Jewish Welfare Board,
The Salvation Army and The National Travelers Aid Assn. It is
their unflagging efforts that keep USO clubs operating here at
home and in such major leave cities as Paris, Rome, Naples, Istanbul,
Casablanca, Tokyo and Seoul.
It is they who keep troupes of live entertainment on the move
wherever American troops are stationed overseas.
As for the unpaid volunteer workers who give generously of
their time and energy to help the USO carry on—well, they rate
a very special salute. Let’s hope that service people everywhere
don’t keep mum about the great job this organization continues
to do as it ends two decades of service happily with no end in
•sight. The public deserves to know more about it.
★ ★ ★
TAC School Fills Void
Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine officers are beginning to
trickle through Tactical Air Command’s new Combat Operations
Specialist course that is designed to breech the gap in traditional
military education by teaching a multi-service tactical doctrine.
Three such classes of company grade officers have been gradu-
ated from the TAC Air-Ground Operations School at Keesler AFB,
Miss. A shorter course for general and senior field grade officers
began last December.
DOD officials established the school’s new mission because they
felt there was a critical need for instruction on joint and combined
operations and there was no other service school giving operational
instructions in combined tactics. Thus, the TAC Air-Ground Opera-
tions School, which had been enganged in teaching joint command
tactics since 1951, got the mission assignment.
The basic course is three weeks for company grade officers
and two for general and senior field grade officers. Classes are
small with quotas of 32 each for the Air Force and Army and
four for the Navy and Marines. There are approximately six
places in each class for other American officials and for allied
officers.
Courses cover the full range of aerial, ground and amphibious
doctrine. For example, USAF teaches among other things courses
in “counter air,” “air interdiction” and “close air support.” Army
faculty members teach the Army’s “weapons system”, “target selec-
tion and marking”, and “airlift and airborne operations.” The amp-
hibious part of the equation taught by Navy and Marine officers
includes courses in “Navy-Marine air control systems”, and “Navy
weapons”. These are only a few of the 65 courses, panels and
seminars.
Officers selected to attend the TAC-run inter-service school
at Biloxi, Miss., must be currently holding positions or training for
positions in the Air Force’s Tactical Air Control System or the
Army’s Air Ground System. Other categories of personnel with
liasion, high level staff and MAAG duties also are eligible when
duties are multi-service related.
★ ★ ★
What Is Your Grade?
Can you make the passing grade in driving? In other words,
do you know, and do you use what you know about safe passing
practices? Almost every driver finds it necessary to pass other
drivers at times. The problem is doing it safely.
Here are some passing tips from the National Safety Council.
Be sure there is plenty of time to pass before meeting another
vehicle coming toward you. See that no other vehicle is about to
pass you. Give a left-turn signal for the driver behind and make
sure he sees it.
Sound your horn for the driver ahead and make sure he hears
it. Speed up a little before leaving your lane, not after you get
alongside the vehicle you’re passing. Don’t cut back into the right
hand lane too soon.
And always pass on the left unless the driver ahead has
signaled his intention to make a left turn. Pass, friend—but do
it safely.
★ ★
AEROSPACE EVENT
Feb. 13, 1913—The Langley Field Aerodynamic Laboratory
project was inaugurated with the appointment of an advisory
committee by the regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
Peace Through Deterrence