Looking for gouge? Ask your Stupid Questions about Naval Aviation here (Part 1)

[Flash]

This is more of a stupid question about the military in general; can a sitting member of Congress serve in the reserves?

Yes, there are least three sitting members who are serving right now:

Representative Steven Buyer (USAR Colonel)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Buyer

Senator Lindsay Graham (USAFR JAG Colonel)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham

Representative Mark Steven Kirk (USNR CDR)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kirk

 

[Catmando]

Ever hear of this guy ... ???

He even won a Silver Star just for ridin' and breathin' ... on a flight that "may" have turned back before the target area (and enemy resistance) was reached ....

Was he a Congressman? Looks very familiar, but can't place him.

Here are the congressmen I could find with a Silver Star:


Henry Bellmon, Governor and Senator from Oklahoma
Charles E. Bennett, Congressman from Florida, 1949-93
Max Cleland, US Senator from Georgia, 1997-2003
Duke Cunningham, Congressman from California, 1991-2005
Sam Ervin, US Senator from North Carolina, 1954-74
Howell Heflin, US Senator from Alabama, 1979-97
Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th US President, 1963-69
Sam Johnson, Congressman, Texas 3rd
John Kerry, US Senator from Massachusetts
John McCain, US Senator from Arizona
Pete McCloskey, Congressman from California, 1967-83
James H. Webb, US Senator from Virginia
Chalmers P. Wylie, Congressman from Ohio, 1967-93

 

[HeyJoe]

Was he a Congressman? Looks very familiar, but can't place him.

Here are the congressmen I could find with a Silver Star:


Henry Bellmon, Governor and Senator from Oklahoma
Charles E. Bennett, Congressman from Florida, 1949-93
Max Cleland, US Senator from Georgia, 1997-2003
Duke Cunningham, Congressman from California, 1991-2005
Sam Ervin, US Senator from North Carolina, 1954-74
Howell Heflin, US Senator from Alabama, 1979-97
Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th US President, 1963-69
Sam Johnson, Congressman, Texas 3rd
John Kerry, US Senator from Massachusetts
John McCain, US Senator from Arizona
Pete McCloskey, Congressman from California, 1967-83
James H. Webb, US Senator from Virginia
Chalmers P. Wylie, Congressman from Ohio, 1967-93

As I recall, LBJ did fly on raid against a Japanese base (Lae) in New Guinea and he was lucky that rising star and one of three high scoring Japanese aces based there, Saburo Sakai didn't encounter his aircraft and single it out for special attention. I seem to recall it was a USAAF B-26 in which he was an observer (he got the Silver Star for being an observer and his own biographer admits nobody else on board was recognized and the aircraft turned back prior to target with generator trouble).

 

[Xtndr50boom]

I seem to recall it was a USAAF B-26 in which he was an observer (he got the Silver Star for being an observer and his own biographer admits nobody else on board was recognized and the aircraft turned back prior to target with generator trouble).

It's good to know the current AF decs folks have historical precedence for their idiotic policies :icon_roll

 

[phrogdriver]

This is more of a stupid question about the military in general; can a sitting member of Congress serve in the reserves?

To name a couple I can think of:

I believe Lindsay Graham, R-SC, is a reserve USAF JAG.

Strom Thurmond, R-SC, became a MajGen in the Army Reserve while serving in Congress. I'd be willing to bet his promotion boards went pretty easy on him, though he did make LtCol during WWII.

 

[Flash]

To name a couple I can think of:

I believe Lindsay Graham, R-SC, is a reserve USAF JAG.

Really?! You don't say.......

Senator Lindsay Graham (USAFR JAG Colonel)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham

Strom Thurmond, R-SC, became a MajGen in the Army Reserve while serving in Congress. I'd be willing to bet his promotion boards went pretty easy on him, though he did make LtCol during WWII.

He rode a glider in with the 82nd on D-Day.

http://www.army.mil/leaders/USA/speeches/20020916.html

http://www.strom.clemson.edu/strom/bio.html

 

[GroundPounder]

Ever hear of this guy ... ???

He even won a Silver Star just for ridin' and breathin' ... on a flight that "may" have turned back before the target area (and enemy resistance) was reached ....

*EDIT* ... and while NOT a trained, checked-out, functioning crewmember !!!

It just goes to show that any of you can accomplish the same ...

Is this a GREAT COUNTRY ... or what ???

I met his grandson on a Det. at Ft. Rucker, had no idea who he was until the company commander started ragging him about how F'ed up his granddaddy was. When our det was up, I left in my POV, 2LT Nugent had the family King Air whisk in and take him away.

All in all he was a good guy, I don't think that had it not been pointed out he would have mentioned his connection.

 

[HeyJoe]

Question is, regular "F" model Superhornets can be configured to the tanker role? Wasn't this role for the "G" model Growlers or what? I wasn't even aware that the "F" models could be configured that way.

And so can the E model so the "Master Race" can join in the fun...5 Wet, baby! over the ramp

080519-N-4995K-217 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 comes in for a landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) at the start of the 2008 deployment for the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea Kennedy (Released)

 

[squeeze]

And so can the E model so the "Master Race" can join in the fun...5 Wet, baby! over the ramp

080519-N-4995K-217 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 comes in for a landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) at the start of the 2008 deployment for the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea Kennedy (Released)

Better still....

 

[DanMa1156]

Thanks for the E/F/G refueling questions... definitely a little confusion going on there on my part. Thanks again guys!

 

[DanMa1156]

I thought this was a cool little piece of Naval Aviation.

What are the wires I see strung along? MOD SQUAD feel free to dump this threadjack to the stupid questions thread.

 

[A4sForever]

What are the wires I see strung along? MOD SQUAD feel free to dump this threadjack to the stupid questions thread.

You mean the "bridle" attaching method for catapults ... ??

Old school, prior to current nose-tow link (towbar) ....

Aircraft catapults

 

[HeyJoe]

You mean the "bridle" attaching method for catapults ... ??

Old school, prior to current nose-tow link (towbar) ....

Aircraft catapults

For your viewing pleasure..split into separate thread or posts would "disappear" earlier into this thread.

 

[Single Seat]

What's the drink of choice for the naval aviator? The AF has 'weed', what's yalls?

Whatever the USAF Wives are buying us.

 

[A4sForever]

What's the drink of choice for the naval aviator? The AF has 'weed', what's yalls?

No one size "drink of choice" fits all situations for the Naval Aviator ... it depends where you are in the world, what the WX's like, how you're feelin', and who you're with ...

Bob & weave; keep your head on a swivel and stay flexible. That's the Navy way ...