Photo History: Summer Camps

Annual Training Summer Camps

AT meant moving the Company to the field for camping - Army style

Summer camps were the highlight of our flying year. They brought together all the sections of the unit performing the duties we'd be expected to do if on active duty.

Our annual training sites ranged from Fort Lewis, Yakima Firing Center, Boise Orchard Range, Hunter-Liggett in California, the National Training Center in California, and the most interesting of all, our participation in 1978 when the unit deployed to Germany for REFORGR or Return the Force to Germany. Each summer camp was an adventure and many stories could be told of our exploites.

Yakima 1982 Annual Training

“GAS, GAS, GAS” Yeah, Yeah, Yeah... Bob Geis, Peck Nixon, Michael Sloane, Mike Jones, Yakima AT 1982

Boise AT 1977, Gowen Field

We need this guy's name.

Maintenance Team, 1977 AT

Some of our aircraft maintenance crew at Gowen Field, Boise AT.

Jim Tasakos and Tina, Boise AT 1977

Field exercise, perimeter defense Boise AT

Our summer camp this year was one to remember. It is the only time in the Army as a Warrant Officer that I pitched a 2-man pup tent and slept in it.

An Atomic Bomb Simulator going off

Lt George Rippee was in charge of pyrotechnic simulators for our FTX. In some catalog he noticed we could order this 55-gallon drum explosive device that was supposed to simulate a batlefield tactical nuclear weapon going off. Of course we just had to get one for the exercise. With great anticipation, we all watched as he set the thing off. It did not disappoint.

Stu Dreghorn working on Gowen Field Ramp

1979 Summer Camp Yakima Firing Center

George Rippee became our pyrotechnics expert after his famous A-Bomb simulator explosion at the 1977 summer camp in Boise.

1979 Yakima Firing Center Cobra Attack

This year we played the part of the bad guys or OPFOR, Opposition Force. We didn't play by the rules and had fun embarrasing the 'good guys.' A great story: While flying one of our Chinooks at the firing center we spotted a Cobra sneaking down a canyon. He obviously didn't see us. So I decided to go after him. We caught up with the Cobra and snuck up behind him. We announced our presence on his tail over the guard frequency informing him we had just shot his ass down. Pretty humiliating to be shot down by a big ugly cargo helicopter. He abruptly pulled up and flew out of the canyon. Score a kill for the Hookers!

Chow line in the Field

Boise 1977 annual training.

Setting Artillery Targets

CW2 Larne Gabrial carries a car body to the impact area for Range Control at the Yakima Firing Center. We tried setting an old school bus in the target area, but lost the load when the bumper tore loose where we lifted it.