2005 4080th SRW Reunion, left to right: Jerry Fogel, Al Defilipis, Horace Tanner, B.C. Fowler, Jim Manis and Bob Ingram.
Jimmy D. Manis.
We were at McCoy AFB, Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. When a U-2 pilot landed, he was instructed to remain at the end of the runway while we installed covers on all the windows. On one memorable day, Mobile Control had stopped its van next to the U-2 on the ground while the cameraman raced to install the covers. The cameraman was near the main gear when the Tower called to see if it had cleared the runway. They had another bird on approach. Mobile Control responded to the Tower to let the bird on approach “go ahead.” A series of mixed messages unfolded about that time. Seeing the scrambling cameraman trying to get away from the U-2 where he had installed the window covers, Mobile Control shouted to the pilot of that aircraft, “Not Clear.” The aircraft on approach heard “Not Clear” which he thought was meant for him. He was told to abort his landing. In his haste to pull up and go around, he almost clipped another U-2 in the pattern. What a close call that was!
While I was at Edwards North Base in 1960, the US trained Taiwanese pilots to fly the U-2. The Taiwanese pilots were housed in mobile homes on the base. They were not permitted to leave the base. On a training flight over Canada, an excited Taiwanese pilot called back to base that he had experienced a mechanical problem. There were a number of remote landing sites that had been used for training flights such as this one. The pilot was directed to the nearest remote runway and a KC-135 took off to locate and recover the U-2. North Base was unable to contact anyone at the remote site tower. The pilot landed his U-2, disconnected himself and walked to the nearby tower building. Seeing this most unusual sight appear at his tower so frightened the operator that he raced out of the building, jumped in his car and sped away to town. The KC-135 landed, repaired the U-2 and everyone took off. The next day, the local newspaper headlines read “Martian landed, area secured by Air Force.”
William L. Ming
New Braunfels, Texas
Wife: Virginia
I supported the U-2 program from the time I joined the 4080th SRW at Turner AFB, Georgia, in 1956, following the unit to Laughlin AFB, Texas, through my assignment at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam in 1962. My job at Laughlin was the Assistant Officer in Charge, Intelligence Photographic Evaluation.
The OIC of our operation was Major Harry Oglesby who was later replaced by Lt. Col. Frick. Our team included Captain Carothers and Captain Glen Furbish, and our enlisted staff included Technical Sergeant (TSgt.) Joe Franklin, SSgt. Walter E. Davis and Airmen Green and Reid.
William Ming receiving an award from Col Bratton, 1958.
I never got used to going to the base in the morning and then during the day being instructed to go home and pack my gear to go TDY. I would phone my wife to start packing for me. I rushed home, finished packing, rushed back to the base, boarded a KC-135 and departed for an unspecified period. England or Alaska were my most frequent destinations.
The TDY to Alaska was the best. The mess hall treated us as if we were royalty. Anything we wanted, we received. Once a week, the Officers’ Club served King Crab, all we could eat for $1.25!
There was a nice side benefit of going to Alaska. The U-2s would come up to Eilson AFB configured for their mission. When they were to return to Laughlin, they were “light.” We would load the empty bays with frozen King Crab which would stay frozen all the way to Laughlin. When the U-2 was about an hour out, Base Operations called the wives and simply said, “Mrs. Ming, will you come out to Base Ops and pick up a package?” She would pick up her frozen crab and happily head for home.
This was an exciting time and we were working with a classified aircraft. Challenges abound. The camaraderie was great and we knew we were gathering intelligence for a purpose.
Loomis L. (Robbie) Robertson
Oxford, Mississippi
When I reported for duty to the 4080th Wing Lab in April 1958, I was one totally confused and rather unhappy airman. I was “hand-picked” by my former supervisor to go to Laughlin AFB, Texas. The only thing he told me was I would be working in a “Weather” organization. That didn't make any sense because I didn't know anything about predicting weather. I was very happy with the 70th Recon Tech Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. I was asked to volunteer, but since I didn't want to leave, and I didn't find going to a weather outfit very exciting, I refused to volunteer. Well, you can guess the rest of the story. The Air Force was kind, however, and since my wife was six months pregnant, she was allowed to stay in Little Rock and she was given an additional 90 days to recuperate. My son was born on January 14, 1958. To the day I was on my way to Laughlin exactly 90 days later.
I arrived at Laughlin and I was told that I couldn't go to work because I would have to have additional clearances. That was confusing because I already had a TOP SECRET clearance. In the meantime I would be working on the Tower just below the Air Traffic controllers photographing with a motion picture camera all the takeoffs and landings of two types of aircraft. One of the aircraft was a B-57D, but the other didn't have a name. I was just told to be on the lookout for something that slightly resembled a glider. The Major doing the briefing told me how important the job was, but I still wasn't excited. He also told me they had never had a crash on takeoff or landing, but he said, “If they do and you don't get a record of it on film, you might as well jump off the Tower, because you've had it.” That got my attention, but then I thought, “How difficult could this be?” and for the most part forgot the matter. I was still trying to figure out how “weather” factored into it.
As it turned out, it didn't take long for things to get exciting. I reported for duty the first morning at my makeshift office one floor beneath the Tower room. I saw a B-57 starting its roll, so I panned it until it was airborne. With one eye on the runway and the other on the sky in the direction of approach that morning, I turned the camera off and relaxed. Later the B-57 came home; I caught him as he broke the horizon and panned him until he almost stopped. Then I caught a glimpse of this weird-looking apparatus on approach, and I thought, “Yep, that's got to be the glider.” I caught him in the same area as I did the B-57 and panned him until he was safe on the ground and had completed his roll, I thought. I reached over and picked up my cigarette and was feeling pretty good about the whole picture taking thing when all of a sudden I looked at the runway and this weird thing was lying on its side! I just about had the “big one” as I vividly remembered what the Major said about missing a crash. I thought before jumping off the Tower, “Let me check with the controllers and see if they can tell me what happened.”
I rushed inside the Tower room and asked them, “What just happened?” First they looked confused, and then I pointed to the “thing” lying on its side. In unison all of them started to laugh. They explained about the “thing” not having any wheels under the wings and they let me know that was normal. They even mentioned something about “pogo sticks,” but I didn't know what they were talking about. I was happy to know that I had not missed anything. Of course, I wondered if this thing that flew was somehow connected to this weather outfit.
Three months later I got the clearances I needed to work the job and was given a tour of the Wing Lab. I knew what was going on; it was exciting and everything was new. I had never seen any of the equipment and never heard about the film. Even with the newly granted clearances, I was told not to ask too many questions. I finally understood and I couldn't thank my former supervisor enough for handpicking and volunteering me for this obviously challenging job. I was told, “Don't ever mention the word ‘photo’ in the same breath as the U-2.” As I look back over the years, it seems that I was told something to that effect on countless occasions.
I never did anything with the program that I didn't find both rewarding and challenging. There was plenty of excitement that came packaged with every assignment. It seemed to me that “professionals” just came out of the woodwork. One super person w
ould leave and be replaced by another equally proficient professional. I can truly say that I have been blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to work with the U-2 program and its myriad personnel.
Like most of my friends, I did not like being separated from the family on some of the long TDYs. I firmly believed what I was doing made a difference, so I gladly made the sacrifice. My wife didn't like the TDY's either, but she still raised the family and supported me 100 percent. Hats off to our officer cadre who did an excellent job of instilling the importance of the Wing mission to all the troops.
I still maintain contact with several of the old troops, and many of the officers from the program. Tony Bevacqua and Pat Halloran are just a couple of the dear friends that I've known for years. The camaraderie with this organization was unequalled with any of my other units.
Joseph (Rooster) Robinson
Tucson, Arizona
Wife: Barbara
I was assigned to the Nephographic Shop of the 4080th SRW at Laughlin AFB in April 1959 and the equipment at this duty station was new to me. Before Laughlin I was with a recon wing at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. I needed to have a Top Secret security clearance with complete background investigation. (That meant some investigator would be knocking on doors all over my hometown.) I was a stranger in the NEPHO Shop for a while. I was allowed to work on the RB-57 aircraft assigned to the unit until my clearance approval came through.
Joseph “Rooster” Robinson with trophy awarded for Airman of the Month.
Once my clearance was approved, I was busy learning the ins and outs of the new photographic configurations flown on the U-2. My first TDY with the U-2 program was in 1962. I received a call about midnight instructing me to report to duty immediately and to bring all my mobility gear in preparation for a short excursion. I boarded a C-123 transport with other members of my unit for a mission at an unknown destination. Our instructions were not to ask questions, do as we were told on a need to know basis, which was actually very little. I was at Homestead AFB, Florida for three days before I knew where I was and what our mission was. I was there in support of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
It was a sad day in my life when one of the pilots from our wing, Major Anderson, was shot down while photographing over Cuba. That was the second time I was in the area when a U-2 was lost. In 1960 I was TDY at Incirlik AB, Adana, Turkey with the RB-57s when Gary Powers was shot down and captured over Russia—another sad day.
The thing I remember most about the Homestead TDY was the day President Kennedy came to visit. All of the aircraft were on static display, the U-2 parked among them waiting for the President's arrival. Our commander, Colonel DesPortes, had to briefly leave the area but he said he would return soon. He gave me explicit instructions that absolutely no one was allowed to view the inside of the cockpit until he returned.
Shortly after Colonel DesPortes’ departure, a staff car drove up with the most generals I had ever seen. They said they wanted to look into the cockpit of the U-2. There I stood, an Airman First Class, telling a group of generals that I had instructions from my commander that no one, including the President, was to look into the cockpit until he returned. Fortunately, Colonel DesPortes wasn't gone long, but it seemed a lifetime. When he returned, the Colonel congratulated me in front of the group of generals for standing my ground and following his instructions.
The planes were readied to depart Homestead after viewing of the aircraft on display. Right then a young Major passed by and made a comment that the C-124 aircraft that he flew could beat the U-2 off the ground on takeoff. At that time the big lumbering Douglas C-124 Globemaster II was the largest transport in the aircraft inventory. Getting that fully loaded aircraft off the ground took all available runway. The brash comment was overheard by one of the U-2 pilots and the challenge was on. The U-2 pilot accepted the challenge and told the Globemaster pilot to stick around and see how quickly the U-2 would be off the ground. The pilot of the U-2 instructed the crew chief to remove all the fuel from the wing tanks and get the bird ready for a max takeoff. Word spread. The U-2 was going to put on a show and that is just what we witnessed. The ground crew hand launched the aircraft shortly after rolling a few hundred feet down the runway. The pilot pulled up, sped toward the heavens and went completely out of sight. It was a beautiful. Several guys there found it hard to believe what they had seen that day. The C-124 pilot stared with surprise as the U-2 disappeared above the clouds only seconds after liftoff. That C-124 pilot was probably grateful he had not bet a lot of cash on his aircraft.
Joseph Robinson standing fifth from right with his unit.
I had always enjoyed sports and I played on several teams at Laughlin. Sports passed the time because there wasn't much for a single airman to do off duty. On a TDY to Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas I joined the basketball team. One of the Carswell players made a comment that I ran up and down the court like a proud rooster. The following year I was on another TDY and was unable to participate in the game against Carswell. They asked about the “Rooster” but the Laughlin team didn't know who they referred to until a photo was produced and I was then identified. From then on everyone started calling me Rooster and the name stuck. Some people I worked with actually thought that was my real name. To this day, some of the guys from the old days still call me Rooster.
I had a great 26-year military career, several years in the 4080th and the 100th. I traveled all over the world with the U-2 group, sometimes not even knowing where I was. I always managed to meet people and made a lot of lifelong friends. As a result of those friendships, I could get almost anything I needed to get a job done. I could get a piece of equipment up and running or a case of steaks for a cookout at a TDY location. It's who you know. People asked how I was always able to come through, but I kept a tight lip about my connections as I did about my job. For me it was always important to maintain trust and confidence from the people I worked with.
I often found it difficult not being able to tell my wife and kids about my job in the Air Force. All they knew was that I worked around the U-2. When folks asked about my job, I would jokingly reply, “If I tell you what my job is, I'll have to kill you.” That usually put a stop to further questions.
The people of the 4080th were a very special group. Our normal situation at Laughlin found us typically understaffed when half of our unit was away on TDY. A routine day could change quickly and we had to prepare for another TDY. The camaraderie and professionalism in the 4080th were unequalled in other units and I am proud to have served with these men.
Charlie Rogers
Montgomery, Alabama
Wife: Myrtle
I was fresh out of basic training and I arrived at the 4080th SRW at Laughlin AFB when Brigadier General DesPortes headed the organization. My first assignment was in A & E with SFERICS and camera NEPHO. One of my memories during that time was the quality of the leadership; I considered this leadership to be the absolute best. Two of our young airmen and I were summoned to General DesPortes’ office to receive an award. The General, being from North Carolina, learned that I was also from the South and he offered good naturedly to “translate” whenever I needed help with the language. We both smiled.
I was married with a young family living in Del Rio. Stretching my airman's pay was always a challenge. For a time I worked nights washing dishes at the Officers’ Club and walked the seven miles to my house in Del Rio when the club closed.
I was in the Air Force 30 years and consider it some of the best years of my life and my time with the 4080th a highlight.
Gene Stoddard
Schenectady, New York
Wife: Virginia
As an enlisted photographer, I did get to see a little more of the total operation than the average aircraft mechanic. I covered a variety of official events, newsworthy items and routine base photo duties.
I joined the Air Force as a 17-year-old high school dropout in November 1959. After four weeks basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, I wen
t by train to Lowry AFB, Colorado. At Lowry I attended the Still Photography School and in June 1960 I arrived at Laughlin AFB assigned to the Base Photo Lab.
The Base Photo Lab NCOIC was Master Sergeant Eric McGough, a no-nonsense Georgia native with a thick southern drawl; next in rank was SSgt Jack Dempsey Lyons from Florida. Both were later reassigned to the Wing Photo Lab, as were most of the airmen there at the time. The base lab was the place to be while awaiting TOP SECRET clearances required for work at the Wing Photo Lab.
Others I recall at Laughlin were Airman First Class (A1C) Mike Bevz, A1C Ernie Libertore and the remainder, like me, were junior airmen in training. Some of those in the group were Alfred Robertson, William Duette, Jimmie Hendricks, Larry Ames, Paul Sharp, and Gustavo DeLa Garza. Some who joined the lab later remained after Air Training Command took over support functions. TSgt “Nick” Nickerson did join us at the Wing Photo Lab, but Cecil Dean, Eugene Monaghan and ex-Marine Richard Thrun remained at the Base Lab along with Bevz and Libertore.
Remembering the Dragon Lady: The U-2 Spy Plane: Memoirs of the Men Who Made the Legend Page 18
