Zone of the Interior (ZI) Field Trip - Summer 1965

The remaining words in each name are from my original slide-tray organization scheme.

As is apparent, some of the slides are not exposed very well, and I can make no excuse for the poor composition in others. But I hope they are 'good enough' to allow trips down memory lane.

Recollections about the dates of the ZI:

I recall that the class was split for most of the summer, and we 'swapped' with each other at different bases as we worked our way from the west to the east. I also recall that we overlapped for a short time at Cannon AFB for the air power demo.

I was in 15th Squadron, and we started by flying to Long Beach for our USN orientation. We flew on C-124 Globemasters (which were affectionately called "Old Shakey" by their crews.) Our aircraft had engine trouble, and we diverted into Albuquerque for a few hours while repairs were made.

After spending a few nights on board the USS Samuel N Moore (DD-247, nicknamed the "Rammin' Sammy"), we flew up to Vandenberg for space and missile orientation. (We learned later that our classmates who were on the seaplane tender had the best cruise-to Catalina Island!) From there we flew to Hamilton for Air Defense Command orientation. (That included a 'day trip' to Stead AFB in a C-123 vomit-inducing flight. What fun to fly over the Sierra Nevada in the middle of the summer.)

Our group then went to Hill and then on to Cannon for the airpower demo. (Stayed in the dormitories of Eastern NM University at Portales, about 45 minutes south of Cannon.)

We then flew to Ft Benning for our Army orientation, then up to Wright-Patterson for the Logistics Command orientation. (That's where I got a ride in the C-135 zero-gee "vomit comet".)

Our group ended its tour at Westover AFB in New England. I finally got my 'operational' orientation ride on a BUF. (I envied my classmates who got F-101 and F-100 rides earlier in the summer.)

My most persistent memories about the ZI:

1. Everyone at every base wanted to show us their computers. We were very bored, but later, being a project officer for visiting USAFA cadets, I empathized with the problem our hosts had to entertain a bunch of 18 year olds for 3 or 4 solid days.

2a. Firepower demo at Cannon was awesome. Reinforced my desire to become a fighter pilot.

2b. Riding along as our blue AF bus raced another down a two lane country road as we returned from the firepower demo.

3. Formal dances at every base. Mess dress (particularly the dress shirt) took a beating. We started trying to get at the END of the line in hopes they would run out of women.

4a. Navy cruise confirmed my choice to 'go Air Force'.

4b. The Rammin' Sammy lived up to its name: As we were docking at the end of the cruise, the ship crushed a small launch that was tied up to the quay, knocked down a couple of piles, and punched at least one hole in the hull above the water line. Now THAT was impressive. (I wonder if the captain kept command of the ship.)

5. Army firepower demo was also impressive. But I still was happy to be in the AF.

6. Sharing the excitement of the engineers at Hill who were celebrating the first BUF mission in Viet Nam to drop iron bombs-using their modifications.

7a. Hearing the tires squeal on the BUFs and tankers as they rounded the corner to taxi onto the runway during a MITO (minimum interval takeoff) exercise. They didn't take off, but just taxied onto and down the runway. (I think that was called a Coco Exercise? I think the crews called it an elephant walk.)

7b. Watching 3 BUFs and 3 tankers actually perform a MITO. Watching one of the tankers get caught in jet wash and exceed 45 degrees of bank when really close to the ground. I bet the crew was just as excited as I was.

8. Overdosing on chocolate milk at the various AF mess halls. Didn't actually weigh myself, but I bet we gained 15 pounds that summer.

9. Feeling relief when the marathon ZI field trip was finally over.

Jim Terry