Alvin
Aronovsky by Gene Rossel
In
1972, Al Aronovsky was a Lt Col (an old one) with the Comm Sq at Torrejon AB,
Spain and was my boss one minute and right after I became boss since he parked
in the Vice Commander's (VC) slot and had a few drinks. I was called up and notified
that I was the new boss of the section.
It
was a funny story since the Commander (CC) & VC had their parking slots right
next to the chow hall. The young GIs would get off early in the morning and use
the CC & VC reserved parking slots. When they came in, the GI's cars were
still there. They would park behind them and the GIs would have to come to their
office for a dressing down to move their cars. Then the GIs started pulling the
reserved parking signs out of the ground and now they didn't have a chance since
there were no reserved signs there. The CC had the signs put in concrete with
a metal rod. the GIs then sawed them off. This went on for a little while until
the fun died out and the Sq lost interest in watching the circus everyday. Aronovsky
came later to park in their slots sort of DUI.
Aronovsky
was an EWO at Takhli and probably was a Major. He didn't have a staff job but
was a flying crew member. In 1972, he had 29 years in service and liked vodka.
I always liked him but he was a funny guy at times. I would like to contact him
again and relive his memorable minutes with the famous Colonels in the Comm Sq.
Of course he may be dead now since he would be at least 80 years old.
Clifford
A. (Polly) Parrott The B-66 aircraft program
took care of our six children for 20 years. I finally ended my career at Douglas
(McDonnell-Douglas), Long Beach, CA in 1984 after 30 years of service. I headed
up Government/Military Marketing from '72 thru '84. It was a good job and gave
me the good fortune to service the military. I see that some you guys made Colonel
and even General. You guys deserved it.
For
those of you who know Ed Nooney at Sanders Associates, he retired in New Hampshire.
I heard from him when we lived in Vermont. He was older than me and probably went
over the side by now. We were in the Marine Corp together and were involved with
ECM when we were always told we really meant EMC... Oh well. I was stationed at
Brookley AFB, Warner-Robins and also Tulsa.
My
best job was going with Air Force crews (Shaw & 10th TRW ) on delivery flights
of modified aircraft from Tulsa to France/England. I finally ended up with 2000
plus hours and "She" never hurt me. Looking forward to seeing many of
you in Nashville.
On 5-13-02 I had heart bypass
(X 5) surgery and am on the mend. I'm OK. Take care of yourselves and thanks for
your work to keep the old gang together.
I am not known by many of the
B-66 pilots as I trained on-the-job at Yokota AB in Japan and flew the bird there
for 2 1/2 years ending when we completed high-flighting the birds to the grave
yard in AZ. After a great year of flying the B-57 with weapons at Johnson AB in
Japan, we were sent to Stewart AFB in Newburgh, NY. We volunteered for France
after only 1 1/2 years because the TDY in this ECM B-57 bird was 2 weeks each
month. So we spent 3 1/2 years in France between Toul Rosieres and Chambley AB.
Then, 80 missions north in Viet Nam from Thailand.
A
year before retirement, I had a Vision in the form of a dream showing me roller-skating.
Six months after I retired in Mar 73, we opened what experts claimed was the largest
and most attractive skating facility in the US. After almost 28 years, we sold
it to our son. So, rather than being semi-retarded, we are now fully retarded--my
name for retired. We currently have a Cessna P210N to keep life interesting.
I was stationed at RAF Alconbury
during the years of 1960-64 during which time I flew in the RB-66C and the EB-66
as a navigator. I was in the 30TRS for two years and Wing Stan Eval for two years.
I was fortunate to have flown in Royal Flush(Day) in 1961 and again at night in
1962. I would love to have those days back again. First operational assignment,
few rules in the air, crews that competed but enjoyed each other's company and
last but not least London was only 60 miles away.
