Senior Pilot and Command pilot ratings

To all:

You know, after reading most of this stuff about who did more, or who
was best, or whether fighter jocks were better than multi-engine pukes,
I got these thoughts:

Most of my USAF and subsequent contractor flying career was in single
place aircraft (or trainers with me in the back seat). I always thought
that this was the easy job. I didn't have to coordinate my decisions
with anyone else in my aircraft (I never flew an aircraft with a WSO).
My decision was final. I was in total control of the situation. I lived
or died on my call, and (except for instructing, or in formation) didn't
have to worry about anyone's ass but mine.

I believe that, because of the USAF selection process, the best pilots
mostly get assigned to fighters. That's a good thing. But I'll tell you
what: I have nothing but respect for the many-engine guys (and gals) who
have to put up with crew coordination and whatever else makes good
things happen to big airplanes. This is a big job.

I don't understand their job. But my hat is off to them.

Jim Thomas

I believe that, because of the USAF selection process, the best pilots
mostly get assigned to fighters.

Depends. from 1987 (I think?) until 1997, UPT grads picked their own
assignments. I watched the #1 guy in a class take a C-20. In addition, from
1990-1994 there was the dreaded "banked pilot". Literally hundereds of
guys/gals got "banked" fighter assignments when they finished at the bottom of
their class, because top grads were taking the immediate flying jobs, which
often included bombers and heavies. Now, the requalification process weeded out
many of these "lower grad" fighter pilots, but not all.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"

"BUFDRVR" wrote

... I watched the #1 guy in a class take a C-20.

Smart man. His Pa probably told him about the "cattle" regimes of
SAC alert, and TAC mobility, and he was smart to pick an organization
that knows how to treat aircrew like mature adult men: MAC

Subject: Senior Pilot and Command pilot ratings
From: "Gene Storey"
Date: 9/6/03 11:38 AM Pacific

he was smart to pick an organization
that knows how to treat aircrew like mature adult men: MAC

Our aircrew averaged 19 years old. (grin)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

On Sat, 06 Sep 2003 18:38:13 GMT, Gene Storey wrote:

Smart man. His Pa probably told him about the "cattle" regimes of
SAC alert, and TAC mobility, and he was smart to pick an organization
that knows how to treat aircrew like mature adult men: MAC

SAC? TAC? MAC? Who dat?

-Jeff B. (who got out in '94)
yeff at erols dot com