AFSC: 32550A
Automatic Flight Control Systems Specialist (Fighters) - The 'A' shredout
was fighters and the 'B' shredout was for the 'heavies'

Assignment: 432 Avionics Maintenance Squadron (AMS)
Udorn RTAFB
Nov 70 - Nov 71

At Udorn I worked both flightline and in-shop maintaining the autopilot and
compass systems for the F/RF-4s and C-130s. Our work included checking out
the operation of the autopilot side of hydraulic actuators on the F-4s, so
we were sometimes the bane of the hydro shop, especially with the horizontal
stab actuator (that droopy thing at the back of the plane, eh?) It was a
bitch to get to, so hydro shop was usually not too happy with us when we
found a bad one, and we would usually have a fight to prove it was bad, as
THEIR end of it (manual inputs) would be working OK.

The majority of our work, as I recall, was with the Phantom. On the
flightline side, it was usually just R&R (remove and replace), although we
did have the capability to tweak our autopilot computer on the aircraft and
make minor adjustments. It was in the shop that most of our work took place,
trying to repair the bad component we removed from the aircraft. And, of
course, the most pressure came when we removed a component from a bird that
was scheduled to fly, and there were no replacements in supply. So, whether
or not we could repair the malfunctioning part became a high priority.
Fortunately, during my year there, I remember no time when we had to launch
ALL our birds at the same time, and there was always at least one 'hanger
queen' that we could cannibalize parts off of.

OK..... hope this isn't too much info..... cut and paste as you wish,
obviously. And yes, you can use my name.... in vain or any other
way....hehehe.

Have attached two pix.... one at work at dispatch board, other off-duty
outside of barracks (yes, I was in NICE 3-story barracks, not a hootch....
well, it wasn't GREAT, no air, open bay but divided into 10 man rooms using
the wall lockers)

Cheers,
bob

Bob didn't always work hard (Ed)