Donald M. Griffin
-- Thursday, January 06, 2005 13:24 --
update:
 This page is for friends who ocasionally ask, " ....where did
you come from, what did you do, and what kind of airplanes did you fly"? So,
here is a list of a few things with pictures, relating where, when and maybe
why. Click on the mark-ups to see more.
GRIFFIN, DONALD M.... born Oct 6 1925 in
Rural Yuma county
Colorado, raised in rural Rooks County Kansas
(dust-bowl) during the depression.
Chronological Military Service
Profile
| Oct 1943 |
US Army Aviation Cadet Training Program. PT-17, AT-6 |
| Nov 1946 |
Discharged, Williams Field Arizona , Reason;
Demobilization. |
| Feb 1947 |
Army Air Corps Active Reserve, B-26
aircraft, Civilian Occupation, Commercial
Flight Instructor. |
| June 1949 |
Inactive Reserve, returned to
family farm in Kansas. |
| May 1953 |
Recalled to Active Duty, Lowry Air Force Base, CO, RB-25
and RC-47, Line
Pilot and Flight Instructor. |
| July 1954 |
67th Tac Recon Wg, Kimpo Air Base, Korea, 11th Tac Recon
Sq, RB-26C
and RC-47,
Pilot, IP and Asst Sq Ops Officer. |
| Nov 1954 |
Moved with 67th Tac Recon Wing to Itami Air Base, Japan,
RC-47,
andRB-26C
. |
| Jan 1957 |
Moved to Yokota Air Base Japan, to transition into the
T-33 and Reconnisance Aircraft RB-66C
aircraft |
| July 1958 |
Assigned to SAC, McConnell AFB, Wichita KS,
B-47 Flight Training. |
| April 1959 |
55th Strat Recon Wg, Forbes AFB, KS, Operational Recon
RB-47H
(3000 flying hrs. plus), CC, IP, .Stand Eval |
| April 1966 |
55th Strat Recon Wg, Offutt AFB NE, via Castle AFB; EC, KC RC-135,
Global Recon, (3000 hrs plus). Positions;
IP/Stan Eval (Chief Recon
Branch), and Wing DCOT. |
| Oct 1970 |
Shemya Air Force Station, Alaska, Commander, Det 1, Sixth
Strategic Wing (SAC).Shemya Air Station
... .Cobra Ball
Operations |
| Nov 1971 |
55th Strat Recon Wg, Offutt AFB; 55 FMS/CC, 2ACCS/CC, Wg
ADCO, and Wg DCO. |
| Dec 1973 |
Sixth Strategic Wing,
Eielson AFB, Alaska; Vice Commander and Commander.
|
| Sept 1976 |
Torrejon Air Base, Spain, Commander, 98th Strategic Wing
(SAC). This Wing had been selected to deactivate, would served as it's retiring
official. |
| Nov 1976 |
Zaragoza Air Base,
Spain, to put together and Commanded Det 2, 306th Strategic Wing
(SAC). |
| Sep 1979 |
Dyess Air Force Base, Texas ,12th Air Division Executive
Officer. |
| July 1981 |
Retired from
active duty as Colonel, 38 years of military service (active and
inactive), more than 10,000 flying hours. |
Now married to the former Marsha LaSalle, and as a
couple claim interest in a total of seven children; Don with five
daughters, Jennifer, Constance, Penny, Ruth, and Julie, and Marsha with son
Bill and daughter Amy.
Lesson learned: "War is Hell, but it beats the
crap out of Kansas dry farming".
Videmus Omnia
dgrif sends
RB-47H "Silver
King" A converted B-47 bomber that was used by 55th
Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) to gather
electronic intelligence world wide from 1955 until it was retired in 1967. That
pod under the right wing is the "Silver King" modification. You can barely see
me in the pilots seat throught the canopy. This photo was taken by the boom
operator in the tanker, somewhere between Japan and Shemya, on return from a
110 day TDY project at Yokota AB, Japna in 1964.
|
The 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group
was created in 1947 at McDill Field, Florida and in 1948 moved to Topeka AFB,
Kansas and became part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. Further
information on the men and women of the "Fightin' Fifty Fifth" can be
found on the 55th Recon Wing
Association page on the Web. |
 |
|
Send comments to me at dgrif@citlink.net. |
