sfa summer/fall 2015 newsletter

Article Page Article Page

President’s Corner 2 In Memoriam 12-14

The Last F-117 Delivery 3-5 F-117 Archive 15

Operation Desert Shield 6-11 Join The SFA 16

Volume 12 Issue 2

Summer / Fall 2015

Nig

hth

aw

ks

Inside This Issue

Stealth Fighter Association Newsletter

I apologize for not getting the Summer edition of the newsletter published in a time-

ly fashion. Life seems to get in the way. I started to publish in early August, but I

realized there were a couple of significant anniversaries for the F-117 this summer

and thought that I would combine the Summer and Fall issues into one newsletter to

cover these important events. Twenty-five years ago in June, the last F-117 was de-

livered to the Air Force. Take a look at Ben Rich’s comments from July 12,

1990. Also, just two months later in August 1990, the F-117 was deployed to Saudi

Arabia and Operation Desert shield began. This was arguably the biggest event to

happen for many of us during our careers. It involved every single member of the

Nighthawk Team. I’ve included excerpts from the “History of the 37th Fighter Wing

5 Oct 1989 – 31 Dec 1991 volume I” written by SMSgt Vince Breslin and ‘Special

Study 37FW/HO-90-1’ compiled by SMSgt (Ret) Harold Myers, and Revised by

SMSgt Vince Breslin. In this issue, I’ll only cover events from the Summer and ear-

ly Fall of 1990. In the next newsletter, I’ll revisit additional history of Operation De-

sert Shield. I hope you enjoy reminiscing as much as I do. If any of you out there

have stories from Desert Shield or Desert Storm, send them to me in an email and

I’ll get them in one of the upcoming issues of the newsletter.

Editor—Greg Meland

SFA Board of Directors

2012-2017

Andy Papp, President

Lou Gum, Vice President

Mary Burris, Secretary/Treasurer

Kent Burns, Board Member

Greg Meland, Board Member

Nighthawk Newsletter Team Editor: Greg Meland

Web Site: Dave Walker Graphics: Dave Walker

Newsletter: [email protected] Contact us

F-117 Stealth Fighter Association PO Box 151196

Ft Worth, TX 76108-1196

Web: www.f117sfa.org Info: [email protected]

Vice President’s Corner

V O L U M E 1 2 I SS U E 2

We Need Your Help to Grow!

SFA's goal is simple: ensure that our history is preserved, our stories are told, and what we (the Stealth

Team) did for national defense. We need to honor the men and women that play a vital role in making the

F-117 a successful important national program. Our history basically started with a concept in the 1970's,

Have Blue, first flight of a F-117A in 1981, IOC 1983, Panama 1989, Gulf war 1991, and many other oper-

ations the 117 performed over its life time, to its retirement in 2008. It's important that the many civilians,

contractors, airmen and officers, that formed the Stealth team/workforce are recognized for what we did for

national security. SFA has a small membership base, but we're looking to build the members by our next

reunion in the June 2017. This doesn't happen without each of your support, help the SFA strengthen its

membership, so we can ensure that our history is preserved, our stories are told, and recognition is given to

a remarkable team! Please encourage your friends, and co-workers (civilian, military, or contractor) to join

the association that made history in the United States Air Force. New members can join online by visiting

the SFA website. (www.f117sfa.org)

Lou Gum

Vice President

Stealth Fighter Association

25 Years Ago...


The Last F-117 Delivery

Twenty-Five years ago the last F-117A (88-0843) was delivered to the US Air Force. A ceremony was held

at Lockheed’s facility in Palmdale, CA on July 12, 1990.

Remarks of Ben R. Rich

F-117A final Delivery Ceremony

12 July 1990

General Dugan, General Cranston, Colonel Tolin, Colonel McGuire, ladies and gentlemen. Today is a very

special day, for as we turn this last F-117A over to the Air Force, we celebrate the completion of the produc-

tion phase of a unique aircraft program.

It’s not often that one has the opportunity to develop and field an aircraft that represents a true technological

breakthrough. And the F-117 is just that…the world’s first very low observable fighter aircraft. It certainly

is an odd looking flying machine…all black, flat surfaces, highly swept wing and V-tail, and grids over the

inlets. Yet it is a sterling example of what American ingenuity and hard work can create in response to a

critical need.

In the 1970’s, the Soviet Union had begun developing and deploying new early warning radars, surface-to-

air missiles, and fighter aircraft. These new systems posed a major threat to our conventional fighter and

25 Years Ago...


bomber forces. At the same time, technology breakthroughs in very low observables were emerging which

offered the potential to counter the menacing threat buildup. And working together, the Defense Department,

Air Force and Lockheed structured the F-117 program to capitalize on these breakthroughs by rapidly devel-

oping and fielding an operational stealth fighter. The result is the F-117A stealth fighter…an aircraft with

dramatically reduced signatures which can avoid detection, penetrate heavily defended air space, and attack

critical targets with extreme accuracy.

Prior to the program go-ahead,

five dedicated air staff officers

reporting to General Al Slay,

clearly defined a set of top level

requirements for the F-117 weap-

on system. Then, a system pro-

gram office with a minimum

number of people was established

at the Aeronautical Systems Divi-

sion, under direction of the late

General Dave Englund (then a

Colonel). Similarly, a small

Lockheed team was also estab-

lished under the leadership of

Norm Nelson.

The F-117 SPO and Lockheed Program Office were supported by other organizations and groups whose ef-

forts were crucial to the program. These include the Air Force Office of Special Investigations which devel-

oped and implemented effective security procedures for the program. The Air Force Logistics Command’s

Sacramento Air Logistics Center which provided secure, specialized logistics support including supply sup-

port. And the Tactical Air Command which worked closely with Lockheed and the SPO to initially define

operational requirements and later establish a secure, full operational and maintenance capability at the To-

nopah Test Range Airfield.

Also, working closely with the SPO and Lockheed as full partners, were contractors such as General Electric,

Honeywell, Airesearch, and many others. And today, we are honored to have representatives from 31 F-117

subcontractors with us.

Working together, this F-117A team established streamlined management methods with clear lines of com-

munication and regularly scheduled meetings, but with a minimum amount of formal reporting. An appropri-

ate amount of oversight was provided, but the team was not overburdened. We created a non-adversarial,

problem solving environment built on trust and commitment. Together, we guided the program through de-

velopment and production and into operational service while maintaining the highest standards of program

security.

As a result, the F-117A was developed and fielded in record time for modern fighter aircraft. Only 31 months

after go-ahead, on June 18, 1981, Lockheed test pilot, Hal Farley, flew the F-117 for the first time. And with

concurrent development and production, initial operational capability was achieved only 28 months later, in

Continued from Page 3

25 Years Ago...


October 1983. In other words, the operating unit, the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, was ready to go to battle

only 5 years after the program go-ahead. That’s roughly half the time of conventional aircraft procurement

programs. And here we are today, roughly 9 years after program start, delivering the last of 59 production

aircraft.

But not only was the F-117 done quickly, it was done at low cost. At the same time we applied breakthrough

stealth technology, we used proven components from other aircraft to reduce cost and risk – General Electric

F404 engines, F-16 flight control computers, F-18 cockpit displays, and many others. Total Air Force devel-

opment cost to date is very low compared to other modern day fighters – less than $2 billion. And the aver-

age unit flyaway cost for the 59 production aircraft is only $42.6 million including all government furnished

equipment – very favorable compared to other fighters.

We built the F-117 at two a season, 8 airplanes per year, and achieved a 78 percent learning curve. The total

production program, by the way, was fixed price and we did not lose any money. In addition, the Skunk

Works guaranteed range, radar cross section, and bombing accuracy. And thanks to the hard work of many of

you, we met all our guarantees.

But the bottom line has been the outstanding performance of the F-117 in service with the 37th Tactical fighter

Wing. Their highly motivated pilots and crewmen have set new standards for fighter readiness, reliability,

maintainability and safety. The unit has consistently received superior ratings in operational readiness inspec-

tions. They won the TAC commander’s award for top performance in aircraft maintenance, and they have the

best safety record of any modern jet fighter.

The F-117A program has been a tremendous team accomplishment, and many of you here today are the rea-

son for the program’s success. It’s been your personal commitment and hard work, for years in total secrecy,

that made it happen. And now that the veil of secrecy has been lifted, it is gratifying to see that the outstand-

ing accomplishments of the F-117 team are being recognized publicly.

Just recently, Norm Nelson, Alan Brown and Dick Cantrell were selected to receive the American Institute of

Aeronautics and Astronautics Design Award for their accomplishments on the F-117A. And finally, the Air

Force/Lockheed development team was recently awarded the 1989 Collier Trophy for the greatest achieve-

ment in aeronautics or astronautics.

And so today, we complete a chapter in the F-117A story with the delivery of the final aircraft. But in many

ways it is still just the beginning. The 37th is now at full strength and just beginning to be fully utilized as a

high leverage, integral unit with the Tactical Air Command. And we are keeping the F-117A at the technolo-

gy forefront through a weapon system improvement program currently underway. These and future upgrades

will ensure the F-117 remains effective well into the 21st century. The F-117A has set the benchmark for low

observable technology. All future aircraft will incorporate some level of this technology. The nation’s in-

vestment in this highly successful program has been a defense dividend that has yielded a peace dividend for

all of us which will continue for many years to come.

I thank you all for a job well done – you have given the Lockheed Skunk Works another kudo in tradi-

tion of the U-2 and the SR-71. Let the nation know we are ready to do it again.


25 Years Ago...


Chronology of Events

OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

Special Study 37FW/HO-91-1

Compiled by Harold P. Myers, SMSgt (Ret), Historian

Revised and Edited by Vincent C. Breslin, SMSgt, USAF Historian 9 Jan 1992

August 1990

17 Aug At 1000 hours, Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr., assumed command over the

37th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) from Col Anthony J. Tolin. At 1400

hours, the wing received its deployment orders o Saudi Arabia.

18 Aug The 37 TFW began processing people and cargo for deployment to

Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD.

19 Aug Twenty one F-117A Stealth Fighters from the 415th Tactical Fighter

Squadron (TFS) deployed to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, completing

their first leg to Saudi Arabia.

20 Aug The first C-5 touched down at King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Ara-

bia, with Colonel Whitley and Lt Col Ralph W. Getchell III, 415 TFS Com-

mander, on board. They were officially greeted by Brig Gen Abdulaziz Bin

Khalid Al Sudairi, Base Commander, and Col Faisal Eurwailli, Flying Wing

Commander.

21 Aug Eighteen

37 TFW F-117As

arrived from

Langley Air Force

Base, Virginia,

at King Khalid

Air Base, Saudi

Arabia.

23 Aug The 415

TFS launched

eight orientation

sorties with the

Saudis. The host

wing used four F-

5s, three F-15s,

and one Tornado

to chase 37 TFW

aircraft.

25 Years Ago...


26 Aug The.F-117A assumed alert duty for the first time in its history.

September 1990

4 Sep Maj Guy C. Fowl, the deployed Deputy Commander for Maintenance, in-

itiated Shade Tree Aircraft Repair (STAR) procedures to repair broken

line replaceable units (or vionics boxes). This was another F-117A first.

12 Sep Gen Michael J. Dugan, the Air Force Chief of Staff, visited the

wing at King Khalid.

22 Sep Two C-141s brought the 37 TFW’s avionics maintenance vans from To-

nopah Test Range, Nevada, to King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

23 Sep Colonel Whitley issued Special Order #1 to assign all previously

attached personnel to the wing for the duration of Operation DESERT

SHIELD.

25 Sep General Norman Schwarzkopf, US Central Command Commander, visited

the 37 TFW (Team Stealth) at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia.


25 Years Ago...


OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

History of the 37th FW 5 Oct 1989 – 31 Dec 1991 Volume I

By Vincent C. Breslin, SMSgt, USAF

Historian

22 May 1992

Leadership and Tasking

On 2 August 1990, Iraq

invaded the Emirate of

Kuwait in Southwest

Asia. More than

100,000 Iraqi troops

overran Kuwait City,

quickly took possession

of Kuwait’s oil fields,

and pushed south to the

Saudi Arabian bor-

der. Within a week,

the Iraqi invasion

force numbered

170,000. On 8 August,

the United Nations (UN)

Security Council unani-

mously demanded the im-

mediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait. Iraq’s

Saddam Hussein ignored that order and began massing additional troops at

the Turkish border on 9 August. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both fearing a

possible invasion by Iraq, (requested) UN forces to set up defensive po-

sitions in their homelands.

On 7 August 1990, President Bush ordered US ground and air forces to Sau-

di Arabia as part of the UN Coalition Force. Operation DESERT SHIELD had

begun. F-15s deployed from Langley AFB, Virginia, to Saudi Arabia and

the USS Saratoga battle group left Norfolk, Virginia, on the same day for

the Persian Gulf.

Earlier, on 3 August 1990, the 37th TFW Commander, Colonel Tolin, termi-

nated local exercise FAST JOG 90-05 prematurely to prepare for (the) DE-

SERT SHIELD deployment tasking. He directed his Deputy Commander for Re-

source Management to keep war readiness support kits (WRSK) already pack-

aged for FAST JOG simulated CHECKERED FLAG overseas deployment) ready for

immediate use.

Col Alton C. Whitley, Jr. assumed command over the 37th TFW on 17 Aug 1990

from Colonel Tolin. A former Stealth Fighter pilot with the 4450 TG and

25 Years Ago...


a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, Colonel Whitley’s assignment as com-

mander came only hours before the arrival of wing deployment orders to

Saudi Arabia for Operation DESERT SHIELD. Upon deployment notification,

Colonel Whitley convened the 37 TFW

battlestaff to begin processing people,

cargo, and aircraft to an unsurveyed

location in Saudi Arabia.

Mission Support

Upon arrival of the 37 TFW initial ca-

dre support element at King Khalid AB

on 20 August 1990, organization com-

manders and staff agency chiefs took

quick action to establish support func-

tion, services, and provision. Within

a day, members of the deployed aircraft

maintenance unit (AMU) had set up house

on the flightline, broken out the WRSK

and aerospace ground equipment (AGE),

and marshalled the F-117As to their

hangars. Thirty hours after the last

Stealth Fighter landed, 17 of 18 air-

craft had been regenerated to full mis-

sion capable status.

Meanwhile, a 37th Medical Squadron trau-

ma team had set up a rudimentary clinic

and had treated their first pa-

tient. By 23 August, the 37th Security

Police Squadron (SPS) had established a

security operations center, absorbed a 44-man airbase ground defense

flight from the 554th SPS at nellis AFB, and manned a security perimeter

for the wing’s area of operations. The Deputy Commander for Operations

had established a three-man mini-command post for Stealth operations

within the Saudi war room. And the wing’s resource management team had

initiated contracts for general purpose vehicles, compacts, mini-buses,

bottled water, food, trash collection, and fuel.

Through the end of the year, the support infrastructure of the 37 FW con-

tinued to grow. By early December wing strength had grown from 500 to

900 personnel. A significant portion of that strength constituted the

combat support element (later designated 37 Combat Supprt Group Provi-

sional (CSGP)). The combat support element represented a conglomeration

of many units, bases, and commands. The organization was not built from

standard unit type codes (UTCs), nor did its members come wholly from the


25 Years Ago...


ranks of the 37 FW. Rather, it evolved in bits and pieces. The SPS

alone had policeman from nine different units, eight bases, and four ma-

jor commands.

Persian Gulf operations entailed the first large scale mobilization of

Stealth resources – assets previously employed only on a small package

9four to ten aircraft), short term (two to five days) exercise and con-

tingency basis. To support the new concept of operations, Col Whitley

instituted around-the-clock work schedules both at Tonopah and in Saudi

Arabia. Production rates sky-rocketed in practically every aspect of

unit operation. Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO)

teams (security, medical, and personnel specialists) processed more than

900 people through deployment mobility work centers while achieving 100

percent strength accountability of deployed forces. Wing legal special-

ists prepared 912 Last Will and Testaments and 823 Powers of Attor-

ney. The communications squadron transmitted more than 99,000 AUTODIN

messages. Base supply built, issued, and inventoried more than 1,300 mo-

bility bags while stocking 47 WRSK pallets. Air freight teams shipped

nearly 900 tons of cargo and ground support equipment aboard 40 cargo

aircraft. The comptroller division managed 1,250 personnel travel vouch-

ers and nearly 23,000 military pay transactions. Aircraft maintenance

units (AMUs) built-up and furnished 2,142 tons of precision guided muni-

tions in support of more than 1,200 combat sorties and 6,900 flying

hours. In a corporate sense, this was TEAM STEALTH at its very best.

Lessons Learned

Over the course of Operation DESERT SHIELD, 37 TFW deputy commanders,

squadron commanders, and staff agency chiefs identified a wide variety of

lessons learned which they later used to modify unit contingency and mo-

bility plans and develop more appropriate deployment packages. They also

furnished their findings to Headquarters CENTAF in the expectation that

the more generic of these could be used, in conjunction with lessons

learned by other wings, to improve overall Air Force operational con-

cepts.

The 37 TFW ADVON arrived only two hours before the rest of the package

airlift. The ADVON was responsible for ensuring the deployment base was

prepared for the remainder of the aviation package. Specific tasks in-

cluded setting up in-processing lines, coordinating billeting and mess-

ing, and determining the location of work centers.

1. Unless the ADVON arrives far enough in advance to accomplish these tasks, personnel and equipment in the main body will not be

effectively employed immediately after arrival. The decision on

ADVON flow is made by higher headquarters (TAC and theater


25 Years Ago...


staffs). The ADVON should arrive at least 24 hours in advance of

the rest of the aviation package. Wing commanders must emphasize

this issue with the TAC Battle Staff as soon as the unit’s de-

ployability posture is increased.

Weather Squadron personnel deployed with the 37 TFW had some, but not

enough, training on the climatology of the deployed area of opera-

tions. This illustrated the need to increase training requirements for

areas other than the primary taskings of the wing to support a 37 TFW

world-wide mobility commitment.

Please see the original document for citations and references. Opera-

tion DESERT STORM will be covered in the next two newsletters.


In Memoriam


Fallen Nighthawks

In this issue I wanted to again pay tribute to our fellow Nighthawks who have “gone west”. I know that the list is not com-

plete, so if any of you out there have other names of folks who worked in the F-117 program and have passed away, please

forward their names and organization or position with the program.

Last Name First Name Prefix Bandit No Date of Death Notes

Abrams Richard Mr. 8/11/1994 Lockheed Flight Test Director

Aldridge Mike

Allen James BGen 158 8/23/1998 4450th Tac Gp CC 1982-1984

Allen Clyde 9/7/2002

Arnold Gary 9/21/2013 LMCO Engineering

Baker William SMS 7/20/2012 4450th TG 1980 - 1987 CRS, AGE Branch Chief

Barton Charles 5/29/2004

Baso Gus MSgt 7/1/1996

Bohanan Larry 12/1/2010 Lockheed Logistics Director 1979-1986

Boland Bruce 7/5/1995

Bollinger George 7/12/2006 Lockheed Flight Safety Engineer

Borjon Dick

Bouchard Gene Dr 5/7/2001

Bowman Medford 173 7/15/1985

Broline Leonard Col 313 2/1/1996

Bruggeman Henry SMS 2/23/2013

Bulat Tony LtCol 1/1/2010

Burgland Shirley Item Manager, SM-ALC/QL

Callison Barry Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL

Campbell William MSgt 7/23/2011

4450th TG 1981 - 1990 CRS, AGE branch Shop Chief

Cantrell Coy Mr. 8/28/2004 Aircraft Designer - LMCO

Carter James 12/25/2003

Castle Donna Secretary, SM-ALC/QL

Cooley David 122 3/25/2009

Corcoran Micky 4/7/2014 Blue Room - McClellan AFB mid 90s

Cornell Donald Lt Col 100 8/27/2008

Coyle William Flight Test analysis engineer

Creech Wilbur Gen 8/26/2003 TAC/CC 1985-1987

Dean Greg Lt Col 459 5/21/2015

Fasulkey Roger 6/30/2006

Ferguson Dave Lt Col 8/10/2011

Fisher Tom

Frierson Allen Lt Col 177 7/24/2006

Gerard Richard Col 8/12/1998

Grey Charles Warehouseman, SM-ALC/QL

Hall Charles Avionics flight test manager

In Memoriam



Harris Mike Col 167 2/10/2013

Hastings Michael Flight & Maintenance manuals manager

Helms Ruth MSgt 11/17/2010 A-7s and Baja Scorpian - 1981 to 1989

Heranimous Mary Jo Item Manager, SM-ALC/QL

Jackson Steve SM-ALC/QL

James Charles SM-ALC/QL

Jaspers Greg Col 121 10/5/2008

Johnson Clarence 12/21/1990 VP ADP

Kelly Gary Col 10/15/2006

Levens Kenneth Capt 461 5/10/1995

Macy Len 1/24/2014

McAvoy Benton 5/14/2004

McCaslin Ray Mr. 2/26/2015

McCloud David Lt Gen 201 7/26/1998 4450th Tac Cp/ADO 1985-1987

Moore Daryl SM-ALC/QL

Moschgat Robert

Mulhare Ross Maj 198 7/11/1986

Murray Thomas CMS 11/12/2004 F-117 program 1979 - 1984

Nance Charles MSgt 8/4/2012 F-117 program 1979 to 1980

Nelson Norm 8/22/2003 Lockheed Skunk Works VP Engineering

Odekerken Joseph 3/17/1996 LMCO Field Service

Okamoto Tad Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL

Park William 3/17/1996 Lockheed Test Pilot (Have Blue)

Parkerson Jackie SMS 4/26/1997 F-117 program 1984 - 1988

Pickering Herbert Col 10/23/2011

Rich Ben 1/5/1995

VP-Gen Mgr Lockheed Skunk Works 1975-1990

Riedenaur Robert Lt Col 103 4/23/2007 Lockheed Test Pilot

Riefler Louis Capt 166

Rosebrock Douglas 11/24/2005 Tech Writer - LMCO

Seekings John Mr. 8/3/2013

Sheridan John 4/17/2010

Lockheed Chief engineer 1982-1985, F-117 Program Mgr 1985-1988

Short Alice Mrs. Security Specialist, Directorate of special-ized Management, McClellan AFB, CA

Showalter Carolyn Warehouse, SM-ALC/QL

Skinner William Mr. 4/29/2003

Stewart Michael Maj 231 10/14/1987

Tarrant Kevin Lt Col 335

Tolin Anthony BGen 251 6/22/2005

TTR - 1987 - 17 Aug 90 (4450th Vice CC, CC, 37th FW CC)

Tweed Jay MSgt 8/28/2013

Vollmoeller Phillip CMSgt 2/1/2007

Wall Robert Flight operations

In Memoriam



Wardell Graham Grp Capt 282 6/6/1999

Watson Paul 106

York Tom Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL

Zavala Art Equipment Specialist, SM-ALC/QL

Special Notice

Calling all F-117 program Clemson University graduates! AFROTC Det 770 is creating a plaque for

display at the University that lists Clemson alumni that were affiliated with the F-117. If you were or

know someone who was in the F-117 program and graduated from Clemson University—contact Mi-

chael ‘Cookie’ Cook at: [email protected]

F-117 Archives Special Edition


25 Years Ago this Year

Jan 19 - Aircraft 79-780 was delivered to TTR to be used as an Aircraft Battle Damage Repair trainer.

Mar 8 - The new composite rudder was installed on its first production aircraft – 88-0841.

Apr 21 - The F-117 was publically unveiled during a fly-in and display on the Nellis flightline. Aircraft 80

-0790 and 84-0824 were put on public display for the first time.

May 11 - Ben Rich and the Lockheed/Air Force team were awarded the 1989 Collier Trophy for outstand-

ing achievement in aviation.

Jun 1 - The total F-117 fleet flying hours reached 40,000 hours.

Jun 18 - The 415th TFS deployed six aircraft to England AFB, LA in the first publicly acknowledged F-

117 deployment.

Jun 21 - Configuration Update 5 (CU-5) was started with aircraft 82-0805.

Jun 27 - Aircraft 88-0843, the last production aircraft, was delivered to the Air Force. A formal ceremony

was held two weeks later at Lockheed’s Palmdale facility.

Aug 1 - F-117 total fleet sorties reached 30,000.

Aug 18 - The 415th TFS deployed to Saudi Arabia at the start of Operation DESERT SHIELD.

Aug 28 - The F3 IRADS modification was given the go-ahead.

Sep 1 - Aircraft 81-0798 completed the first 1200 hour maintenance inspection for the F-117.

Sep 21 - The Platy enhancement mod was completed for the fleet (acft 86-0838).

Oct 1 - Lockheed began transferring F-117 tooling from Burbank to their Palmdale facility.

Oct 3 - Gen Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, escorted Gen Mikhail Moiseyev, First

Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Union on a static tour of several

aircraft that included the F-117 at Ellsworth AFB, SD.

Oct 25 - Configuration Update 4 (CU-4) (acft 81-10796) was completed.

Nov 1 - Total F-117 fleet hours reached 45,000 hours.

Nov 27 - The first Offensive Capability Improvement Program (OCIP) mod was completed (82-0805).

Nov 29 - The 416th TFS/AMU deployed 18 aircraft to Operation DESERT SHIELD joining the 415th at

Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia.

http://www.f117sfa.org

Web Site Info

Join The Stealth Fighter Association

For those folks reading this

Newsletter who are not current

members of the SFA, membership is

open to all personnel, civilian or

military, who at some time in their

career were associated with the F-117

Stealth Fighter Aircraft program.

Additional info is available on the

SFA web site, and hard copies of this

newsletter are available for mailing to

interested folks. Please ask a member

or drop a line to:

Stealth Fighter Association PO Box 151196

Ft Worth, TX 76108-1196


Stealth Fighter Association Mission

Statement

The Stealth Fighter Association is an

affiliation of individuals brought to-

gether by the common bond of asso-

ciation with the world’s first stealth

fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-117,

produced by the Lockheed Martin

Skunk Works for the United States

Air Force. Our mission is to preserve

the memory of our struggles to attain

a stealth combat capability second to

none, maintain the legacy of the F-

117 “Nighthawk,” maintain the

bonds of brother and sisterhood be-

tween those who contributed to make

the awesome combat capability of

stealth a reality, and act as a govern-

ing board to oversee the planning and

execution of periodic reunions at ei-

ther five or ten year cycles.

We’re still in the process of updating our web site.. If anyone of you out there have experience and

would like to volunteer to help out, please let me know via email ([email protected]). By the next

newsletter we hope to have everything up and running. Let us know if you would like see anything

particular on the web site.

You can reach us at: [email protected]

sfa summer/fall 2015 newsletter

Documents