Harold R. Welborn.
The following was written by Harold and I will leave it intact.
I was a Korean Vet by time in service, but I never served in Korea. I joined the
Air Force 6/4/1954 and was honorably discharged six months early 12/3/1957 after
3 1/2 years. I was let out six months early because I was going to college.
I had basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX then went to Scott AFB at
Belleville, Ill for nine months of Airborne Radio School. From Scott I was sent
to England AFB in Alexandria, LA. I arrived at England AFB about the end of July
in 1955 and learned right away that we were being deployed to Europe as a NATO
commitment for 6 or more months. When we arrived in Chaumont France we had 24 F-86
Sabre jet fighter bombers to keep in the air to protect Europe. They weren't in
real good shape, but a few days later we had all 24 in the air for a fly over the
base during a parade we were in to welcome us to France. We stayed in Europe for
seven months; while there we had our planes to two French bases and 6 weeks in
Germany to relieve another squadron so they could all go back to the States for the
holidays. In 1955 Europe was still recovering from the WWII only 10 years before.
The French communists wanted us out. The Germans already loved us. In Munich
Germany there was rubble still all over town from our bombing. The main train
station had several holes in the roof over the incoming trains from bombing, but
they were shaping up. We got to see a few Nazi concentration camps which were
about as they were at the end of the war.
When our tour was over in April, we were ordered to bring all of the old F-86s home
for the Air National Guard. That was interesting. The fighters could only fly
about 500 miles at one hop. We stopped in Scotland; Iceland; Greenland; Newfoundland;
and Maine. Those of us in maintenance were in three large transport planes with men and
spare parts. Some stops we worked all night to have them ready the next morning for the
pilots to depart on time. We set an Air Force record for time in moving 24 planes
at once between Europe and the US. The deployment to Europe was the highlight of
my hitch.
After that I was sent to 12-15 air bases near Army Forts, so we could participate
in Army maneuvers providing close air support for Army ground troops. When we
returned to the states we received new F-100 Fighter Bombers which were capable of
delivering Nuclear weapons where they were necessary. For the Army support we only
used 500 lb bombs, napalm, rockets and machine guns.
I didn't want to reenlist, as I had college plans by then, but it was a great 3 1/2
years and I earned the Education GI Bill which was a real help in getting me through
college. I have always been proud of my service to my country and thankful both
for the experiences and the benefits I received.
Harold Welborn
ps Jerry - This is a bit wordy, but it is a great part of my life. I was fun,
exciting, and educational.
