After SSgt Robinson ruptured his sinuses and was grounded, I was appointed as Stan Eval FM and trained and qualified several of the other FM’s. During Functional Check Flights I was allowed to take the controls and actually learned how to fly. I was never all that good but I could put the thing on the ground should both pilots end up DNIF… (Drunk Not Interested in Flying!)
Many exciting missions later (including the Teton Dam breaking) and a couple of hard landings, I separated from the Air Force 27 March 1978. I moved my family back to my home town of Big Bear Lake, Ca. where we bought into my fathers’ cabinet shop. With the economy floundering we sold out to my brother and we moved back to Idaho in July 1983. I landed a job with in Civil Engineering at Mountain Home AFB. Although I have had a few different jobs on the base, I have stayed with Civil Service and will retire with 32 years on October 27, 2011… My 56th birthday.
Photo provided by:
SMSgt. Mike Curtis, Retired
Allen K. Wormsbecker
Photo provided by:
Al & Kara Wormsbecker
At the age of 17, I enlisted in the Air Force in March 1974. After attending Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX I attended Technical School at Sheppard AFB. I arrived at Mountain Home AFB in July ’74 as a mechanic. That first tool box was way cool.
I was selected for duty as a Flight Mechanic (FM) in the spring of ’76. My fist mission was to Owyhee, NV for a car accident victim. We landed in the parking lot after dark. The PJ (“Skinny” Curtis) went inside the clinic to get the survivor ready for transport. As we lifted off, Skinny was busy with the patient but very aware of his surroundings. He advised the Pilot (Capt Steve Clark) over the intercom, “there is a mountain in front of us, break left….” We continued on the current heading. Again Skinny spoke (louder this time) “there is a mountain in front of us, break left….” We remained wings level on the same heading. Now SSgt Curtis is angry and yells at the pilot to break left. Just as we entered the left turn I noticed the lights of Twin Falls just over the horizon. We were able to claim another save for Det 22.
Wormsbecker Biography