Uncle Bill and
Tove
Photos
God I Love Em
Collage By Uncle Bill
"Bomber" &
"Tiger"
Born Dec 23, 1931 in Seattle Washington where I was raised and
attended school except for two years of high school in Vancouver British Columbia. I
joined the United States Air Force in April 1949. The following day as I was preparing to
depart home on my great adventure in life, Seattle was rocked by the most intense
earthquake ever experienced in the city's history. Indeed a fine send-off for this young
fellow. After Basic Training, I attended Engineering Drafting School at Ft Belvoir,
Virginia (the Air Force was still using Army schools in those days. My first permanent
assignment was Fairfield-Suisun AFB, California. In early 1950 my entire Squadron was
transferred to Weaver AFB, Rapid City, South Dakota. (later changed to Rapid City AFB,
Weaver, South Dakota == then ultimately changed to Ellsworth AFB in honor of fallen
General Ellsworth.) While in South Dakota I crossed trained into the Photography
Field. In 1954 I shipped out to England --transportation furnished by USN Troop Ship, a
mere ten days across the North Atlantic in the middle of February. While in England,
besides getting to extensively photograph General Curtis E. LeMay, I met and married Tove
Hansen. I brought my bride to America in 1957 to my new duty station Travis AFB,
California. It really looked familiar, I guess 'cause it was formerly called
Fairfield-Suisun AFB. After a few short months the USAF offered my the choice, get out or
retrain. Needless to say I packed up my pregnant bride and high-tailed it to Lowry AFB
Colorado where I enjoyed six months of Bomb Navigation School training. With new bride,
new baby daughter, and new career, all in hand, went back to California, this time to
Mather AFB. After three years of Flightline Duty, decided I would try my hand at teaching.
So, in January 1961, we all returned to Lowry AFB where I taught Bomb-Nav System until in
1963 I was faced with either retraining into F4C Fire Control Systems or finding something
else to do. I found it. PME School. They needed instructors. After 36 weeks of school, I
got to teach my first class the day after I graduated. In 1965 we went to Naha AB Okinawa,
worked in PMEL except for last year when I became the QA Inspector (PMEL) for the 51st
Fighter Interceptor Wing. (If you ain't bored yet, that's your problem) Transferred in Dec
68 to McGuire AFB,NJ. Then in Sep 70, returned to Lowry AFB as an instructor. Retired from
USAF in July 1972, returned to PME School as Civilian Instructor in 73, stayed until Jan
80 when we pulled up stakes and headed for Berlin Germany. Worked in Tempelhof PMEL until
July 85. Got a job with the US Army at TMDE, Ft Bragg, North Carolina. WOW Retired from
Civil Service in September 1994. Now reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Enjoy playing
golf with my wife and other friends and also enjoy woodworking. I have actually made a few
things worth having. At this point, I must say, if it wasn't for my old buddy Ernie
Huffine, I wouldn't be pounding this keyboard. Don't fret Ernie, I've enjoyed it !
Our
Daughter Andree's web site
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