Hamfist Over Hanoi: Wolfpack on the Prowl (Hamfist Trilogy Part 3) by Nolly G. E

Author:Nolly, G. E. [Nolly, G. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

the squadron for a short debriefing, and then we were done for the day.

When I left the briefing room, the Captain from the OSI was waiting to see me. I figured he might have information about my stolen Browning.

I was wrong.

39

April 13, 1972

The Captain from the OSI was there to interview me regarding my being charged with the military crime of Missing Movement.

Apparently, the Sergeant at the Scheduling Office at Travis had dropped the ball, and left my name on the flight manifest for my original Port Call from Travis to Ubon. When I didn't show up for the flight, the Passenger Service Department issued an All Points Bulletin for me. They thought I was a deserter, while I was flying combat missions!

I showed the OSI Captain the copies of my Port Call cancellation, and he said he'd take care of everything. One thing I'd learned at the Academy, and I learned it well, was to hold onto every piece of paper with my name on it.

“Even if it's just a short note,” The Sergeant at Graduation Out-processing had advised me, “if your name is on it, hold onto it forever. Some day you'll thank me.”

I said a silent, “Thank you, Sarge.”

I flew several more triple-turns to Bien Hoa over the next several days, and then took a combat check ride.

The check ride was simply a normal combat mission, with a WSO in the back seat, and the check pilot flying on my wing. It was great to be leading the flight, something I'd done only a few times in training, and may not get to do for quite a while, since only the most experienced pilots would upgrade to Flight Lead.

My bombs were great, and the check pilot said I did a good job. Based on my bombs, I had expected him to say I did an outstanding job, but no such luck.

“Your bombs were excellent, Hamfist,” he said, “but you need to put more effort into thinking about your wingman when you lead. You had me down-sun during most of the flight to the target, when you should have put me up-sun. And when you made turns, your roll-ins were not very smooth.”

I could see I had a lot to learn.

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