The White Falcon


The White Falcon - 27.02.1965, Blaðsíða 4

The White Falcon - 27.02.1965, Blaðsíða 4
4 WHITE FALCON Saturday, February 27, 1965 Saturday, February 27, 1965 WHITE FALCON PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING OUT OF THE HANGAR BARRIER CREW CLIMBS ABOARD ADMIRAL BRIEFS MEN OF BARRIER Pk cede Out WlarL CnJ Of BarOorjCant Jfter 4 U “My hat is off to all of you for the work you’ve been doing. Although I haven’t met very many of you, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the crew coming back from the 75,000 hour accident free Barrier Flight,” said RAdm Ralph Weymouth recently as he met with the men of the Barrier Forces, confirming the news of their operational phase-out. The admiral spoke informally to the men as he explained the situation to them. “You all heard the radio last night. I want to tell you what I think of the Barrier,” he said. The Barrier, which had its first flight in the Atlantic in 1957 and in the Pacific in 1958, is being phased-out. “This is how the Barrier started. It was designed to block end runs. Someone had to built it and the Navy had the best background for it. “The Navy was reluctant for two reasons. They con- sidered it to be a Maginot Line type operation and they didn’t like the amount of strength they would have to com- mit to it. However, though reluctant to do the job, the Navy did it. “Things change,” he added, “we are at the forefront of all these changes. The big thing affecting you today is the missile take-over. “The men of the Barrier Forces are some of the most capable and best qualified in the world. The probability of enemy planes getting through is low. “This decision to phase-out the Barrier Forces was made all the way up—by President Johnson. It was a difficult decision to make. “The money saved will go into another phase. As you know your talents will be needed elsewhere,” continued the admiral. “Your role has been tremendous... .The Navy has taken tremendous steps forward. Your continued services will be needed all over the Navy. The name of the game in military LOOKING OVER AN ENGINE is ‘Change’.” New weapons force the use of new defenses. Last week this basic law of military existence acted at Keflavik In- ternational Airport to disestablish the Barrier Forces At- lantic Announcement of the impending “phase-out” came from Iceland Defense Force Commander RAdm Ralph Wey- mouth, warning of the disappearance from Keflavik of those hump-backed, swollen-bellied aircraft, affectionately called “Willie-Victors.” Better known as the “Warning Star” Super Constella- tion, the EC-121J arrived at Keflavik June 19, 1961 and made its first airborne early warning flight from here at 0001, Aug. 1, 1961. Since then, these aircraft have kept an around-the-clock surveillance of the air space between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, searching for aerial intruders. In addition, crewmen have logged 75,000 hours of accident- free flying time. The history of Barrier Forces Atlantic at Keflavik has been one not only of reliability and hard work, but of bravery and compassion. On Sept. 5, 1961, a Willie Victor crew and a radar picket destroyer worked together in heavy seas to rescue the crew members of the trawler Sleipnir when it sank 200 miles southeast of Iceland. On Feb. 19, 1962, Barrier Force aircraft aided in search- ing for two fishermen missing from the trawler Ellidi which had capsized in heavy seas. Two months later com- mand units assisted the Icelandic Coast Guard in rescuing the crew of the burning ship Voerdur. From Sept. 23 to 25, 1962, Barrier Force aircraft as- sisted in search and rescue operations for the survivors of a Military Air Transport Service charter airliner which ditched in heavy seas. These are just a few of the efforts made by Barrier Force men to save lives, often at the risk of their own. In addition to their patrol and rescue mission, men of the Barrier Forces Atlantic have participated in many exercises and training operations. In 1961, for instance, men of the barrier took part in “Project 660”, “High Heels”, “Sky Shield,” “Desk Top” and “Star Step”. During 1962, they participated in exer- cises “Whiplash”, “Lantbex”, “Sky Shield”, “High Heels II”, and “Fallex ’62”. In 1963 they participated in “Mute VIII”, “Desk Top VI and VII’ and “Viking Shield” and, in 1964, “Fallex ’64”, “Newsbex” and “Teamwork”. Headquarters for the Navy’s airborne early warning operation — the extension of the joint United States — Canadian Distant Early Warning Line—was moved from Argentina, Newfoundland to Keflavik after being activated at Argentia in July 1955. Some 65 officers and 290 enlisted men of the phased-out barrier forces are scheduled to leave Iceland. CHECKING THE LANDING GEAR WILLIE VICTOR OVER ICELAND

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The White Falcon

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