|
|
|
|
|
(click on the items below to view complete information)
|
|
|
|
Lee Corbin H-3 Supply Mission KEF to Hofn
|
|
|
Podunk Control
July 1964
Air defense operations at H-3 in 1964 were simple. There were three weapons controllers
assigned to H-3. George Bowers was the Operations officer. Charlie Wilson and I were the other two
assigned controllers. I believe in theory this gave us three people to cover the three shifts. Our call sign
was Podunk control. We operated our of what Charlie and I referred to as the world's darkest dark room.
My recollection is of two surveillance scopes and two control scopes located on a mid-level dais. The top
level provided space for a battle commander position along with a technician to manage activities. Down
front we had a vertical plotting board but I don't recall it ever being in use. Normally we provided forward
tell of significant aircraft activity to Ink spot control at H-l from one of the surveillance positions. When
needed we provided control to fighters from the control scopes. I don't recall the nomenclature of the
scopes, but they were about 15 inches in diameter and had a cursor to measure range and bearing.
Things got real busy for our simple operation one summer morning in July 64. NATO was
running a naval exercise in the north Atlantic called Teamwork. Several capital ships from the U.S. and
allied nations were transiting the Faroe straits between the United Kingdom and Iceland. Soviet Long
Range Aviation along with Soviet naval Aviation were quite interested in the operation and flooded the
exercise area with intelligence gathering aircraft such as the Bear delta and the then new Bison. Several
Badger series aircraft were also in the area.
The Iceland Defense Force was responsible for detecting and identifying all aircraft entering the
Icelandic Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Soviet aircraft were penetrating the ADIZ with
regularity. Charlie called me very early this particular morning and asked me to come up to operations.
George was on leave so Charlie and I were it as far as available weapons controllers were concerned.
When I arrived Charlie had a flight of two F-I02's on combat air patrol (CAP) just east ofH-l. Two more
were coming airborne for my control out ofKeflavik enroute for CAP. Over the ensuing ten to twelve
hours, the 5ib Fighter Interceptor Squadron launched what I remember to be on the order oftwenty to
twenty-five missions. This was a significant effort. As I recall they had a very small squadron of either
twelve or sixteen deuces. So they had to launch and turn lots of fighters armed with 2.75 folding fin aerial
rockets (FF AR'S) that day. It was a long haul for a single engine, subsonic fighter to get out east of
Iceland. Ketlavik was bearing 291 at 201 nautical miles from our radar site at H-3. From there they had to
go another fifty to 125 miles out east ofH-l to engage the Soviet Reconnaissance aircraft. Our small force
of radar operators was also maxed out. Practically every operator that we had worked around the clock
during the exercise. Major J.C. Youngblood was the site commander. He manned the battle staff position
continuously.
My first intercept that day was on a Bear Delta as I recall. Charlie and I were both recently
promoted First Lieutenants with maybe one hundred intercepts total experience between us, all of which
were ofthe training variety. Needless to say I was somewhat excited and I suspect Charlie was also. It
seems that the exercise went on within our limited radar coverage for more than one, perhaps as many as
three days. During that period we recorded many intercepts versus our Cold War adversary. At the end of
the exercise period I had over one hundred intercepts versus Soviet aircraft. I suspect Charlie had a similar
or higher total. We finished the exercise with a great deal of satisfaction that we had performed our Cold
War mission effectively.
Submitted by Howard Sewell
Colonel USAF, RETIRED
H-3 1964 and H-l 1974
|
|
|
An item from THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, Friday, March 17, 2006, written by Krista Mahr of the Associated Press may interest you. I admire the effort you are making to continue associating with other individuals who shared in the Iceland Defense.
On my arrival at H-3 in June, l957 my first vision was a lot of brick rubble laying around and there were 'concrete floors' still visible. It seems that when the Germans invaded Poland in l939, the Brits invaded Iceland. Better for us to have the British there than the Germans. On the
H-3 site, the British built a submarine base, which enabled refueling, repair, and crew rest half way across the Atlantic.
Later, US troops replaced the British in the "salvation of Iceland" or the "conquerors of Iceland", depending upon your view point. When this occurred, the British blew up all the building, petro sites, etc. I must say that I kind of admire the Brits for this action. They were in tough straits and they were not leaving anything for any other nation, friend or foe.
As for me, I spent one year at H-3 June '57 to June '58. The Icelandic's wanted the US to depart. And we began trying to learn what that meant to us.
Essentially, we went into "lock down". No one, officer or civilian or non-com went outside the gate as a single. An officer had to accompany anyone with off site duty. This only required duty involved the weekly drive to Hofn, taking a unstable boat across to an island where the Gooney Bird landed, pick up the incoming fresh vegetables, mail, and movies. The officer who did this each week was referred to as the "Official Greeter". This duty went to the officer who had been in Iceland the longest. I became eligible and performed this duty for about the last two months of my tour in Iceland.
So that I can keep a bit humor in this e-mail, I will tell you that on one occasion I departed back toward HE-3 before the Gooney Bird was airborne.
For whatever reason, my CO was going out on that aircraft. Something went wrong and the aircraft could not get airborne. My CO was a good chap about this, but the rest of the squadron teased me raw. You can be certain that I never again left for the return to H-3 until I could not see the aircraft any more.
We stayed in Iceland most likely because in the fall of l957, the Russians launched their Sputnik. Space became the new frontier! The Mohawks must have allowed themselves to rethink US departure. We are still there, 49 years later for me. I gave a year of my life for Iceland, never learned a word of their language, never enter an Icelandic home or church, never heard or saw any sense of gratitude. In that year the foundation for the height finder radar was completed. Then enough dirt was scratched to cover up the foundation, Pictures I saw at the '50th reunion show that the additional bubble was eventually erected. One of the jobs I was offered, just before retirement was CO of H-3, I retired.
Now on to the newspaper article, Lower Headline... NATO DEFENSE ALLIANCE.
Larger Headline....U.S. to cut military role in Iceland. By Krista Mahr, Associated Press.
Quoting: "Reykjavik Iceland -- The United States, which has long provided Iceland with it only military force, has decided to withdraw most of its service members and all of its fighter jets and helicopters from the country later this year, the ambassador said yesterday.
"Iceland's government, which recently had offered to pay some of the cost of defense to try to keep US forces here, said it regretted the decision.
"U.S. Ambassador Carol van Voorst said she and Nicholas Burns, the U.S.
undersecretary of state, had told Prime Minister Haldor Asgrimsson and Foreign Minister Geir Haarde of the unilateral decision on Wednesday.
"But Washington also said it would honor its 1951 agreement with Iceland requiring the United States, under the auspices of NATO to provide this country's defense. U.S. and Icelandic officials were to hold talks about how that will be done, Van Voorst said.
"Icelandic authorities regret this decision by the Unites States government, ' Haarde said in a statement Wednesday'.
"In it, he informed Icelanders that the four U.S. jet fighters and several U.S. helicopters used in search-and-rescue missions would leave by the end of September.
"Van Voorst said she understood Iceland's disappointment, even though it never has had its own military and is a peaceful country with no known enemies. Given the war on terrorism, she said, all countries face the same risk.
"But she said Iceland was encouraged by the U.S. promise to remain committed to its defense agreement.
"As we have for half of a century , we will stand with Iceland on any threats that arise, she said.
"Neither side was publicly discussing options. But the United States could keep a small number of service members at it U.S. Naval Air Station in Keflavik on a rotating basis and have U.S. fighters stationed in Britain be on call to defend Iceland, NATO warplanes in Europe could play a role.
"The air station has about 1.200 U.S. service members. When their families are included, the total is about 3,000
"During the Cold War, the station in Keflavik played a key role for U.S.
security, allowing surveillance planes to hunt for Soviet aircraft and submarines.
"Without U.S. warplanes, Iceland would be left with a small Coast Guard, which has two unarmed helicopters and an airplane." End quote and article.
Make note of "dependants" in Iceland! Not in our day!
While you have the clout of a large number of men who served at these sites [15,000?if you could find the all, why not lobby for an Icelandic Service Medal?
MAY GOOD FORTUNE AND HEALTH CONTINUE TO WALK WITH YOU.
Joseph T. White
H-3 '57-58
|
|
|
Model of a Russian "Fishing" boat which was anchored offshore from H-3 during October 1967. The only thing they were "fishing" for was electronic intelligence about the H-3 Radars and radios. The diorama model was constructed by Dave
|
|
|
Drivers License and NCO Club Card
|
|
|
Introduction to the series of documents provided by Dave Alcorn. H-3, 1963
|
|
|
Multi-page document introducing the reader to H-3 (Comprehansive Listing of H-3's facilities)
|
|
|
Slightly risque cartoon about someone just back from "The Rock"
|
|
|
Coloring picture countdown calendar
|
|
|
Receipt for some refreshments
|
|
|
Rock Registry Form
|
|
|
Good Conduct Medals awarded to H-3 Airmen.
|
|
|
Welcome Home "letter" to give people some idea of what to expect from someone returning from "The Rock".
|
|
|
Orders assigning Dave Alcorn to H-3
|
|
|
H-3 set as NORS (Not Operationally Ready Supply) free record in spite of one of the longest supply lines in the entire Air Force.
|
|
|
One of the most desired pieces of paper you could ever get at Hofn.
Your "Bless" certificate was only given to you when you had completed your assignment.
|
|
|
There were many jobs which had to be on a small site so orders were cut assigning these jobs to various Officers and NCO's.
|
|
|
This card would let you in to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world
|
|
|
1966 AF Times Article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
