The White Falcon - 08.10.1993, Qupperneq 5

Air Force celebrates 46th with Officer Ball
Story and photos by
J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
“Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun.
Here they come zooming to meet our
thunder,
At 'em boys, giv’er the gun!
Down we dive spouting our flames from
under,
Off with one hell-uv-a-roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame,
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force."
The cheery sounds of laughter, people talk-
ing and background music filled the air as Air
Force officers and guests attached to the 35th
Wing held their 46th Air Force Birthday Ball
at the Three Flags Club. R ADM Michael D.
Haskins, Commander Iceland Defense Force,
Col. Bran McAllister,Commander 35thWing
and representatives from the Government of
Iceland were on hand to celebrate the occa-
sion.
Following dinner, Col. McAllister gave a
speech in remembrance of the Air Force’s
birth, as well as in observance of the forma-
lion of the 35th Wing. He then turned over
Bie floor to Col. H. John Markulis, Deputy
’Commander, Iceland Defense Force and 2nd
Lt. Kyle Clark, 35th Supply Squadron to cut
the ceremonial birthday cake.
The history of the U.S. Air Force goes back
to 1907, when the United States Army Signal
Corps established a small Aeronautical Divi-
Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour prior to the dinner.
sion to “take charge
of all matters pertain-
ing to military bal-
looning, air ma-
chines, and all
kindred subjects.”
The Signal Corps
began testing its first
airplane at Fort
Meyer, Va. on Aug.
20, 1908.
Six years later,
Congress directed
the Aviation Section
to operate and super-
vise “all military air-
craft, including bal-
loons and aeroplanes,
and signaling appa-
ratus of any kind when installed on said
craft.”
Names changed but purposes remained the
same when the Air Corps Act of 1926 modi-
fied the name of the Air Service to Air Corps.
Yet another rendition came about as the Army
Air Forces were established in 1941. Post
war changes were many, and it took an addi-
tional six years for the Department of the Air
Force to be established.
The history of the 35th Wing is shorter than
that of the Air Force. The 35th Fighter Wing
was first activated in August, 1948, at Johnson
Air Base, Japan. In the years following, it
went through a series of mission changes and
name designations. From its first plane, the
F-51 to F-lOOs and B-57s, the wing eventu-
ally gained control of F-l5s which are now
used here by the 57th Fighter Squadron.
In 1978, the wing received its first F-4G
advanced Wild Weasel aircraft and contin-
ued in a dual mission of training replacement
aircrews in the F-4E and training and main-
taining operational defense suppression ca-
pabilities with the F-105G andF-4G aircraft
During a shuffle in 1991, the 35th Tactical
Fighter Wing was redesignated the 35th Wing
by the Tactical Air Command. Withinmonths,
the 35th Fighter Wing was inactivated and
the 35th Wing came into existance at Naval
Air Station Keflavik. The Air Forces Iceland
designation, a wing level organization, traces
its origins to the beginning of World War II.
Sailor makes splash
during reenlistment
Besides adding another six years to her
Navy commitment, AC1 Catherine Gott
(right) made a few waves last week when she
dove into the chilly waters of Keflavik Har-
bor for a somewhat original reenlistment
ceremony.
LT Mary Jane Klug (left), Air Traffic Con-
trol Facility Officer, joined Gott in the choppy
waters to perform the actual reenlistment
oath. The participants, clad in dry suits, rode
out into the open sea beyond Keflavik Harbor
in a semi-rigid inflatable boat belonging to
the Hjalparsveit Skata (rescue organization)
in Njardvik. Gott and husband, Duane Evans,
are members of the rescue team.
(Photo by J03 (SW) Andreas Walter)
October 8,1993
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