TAN SON NHUT --- The 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron here recently became the first resonnaissance squadron in Seventh Air Force to have its own photo- graphic processing and interpretation facility (PPIF).

PPIF personnel develop film from RF-101 Voodoo reconnsissance aircraft which fly missions over the Republic of Vietnam.

The new facility decreases time it takes vital reconnaissance information to reach U.S. Army units in the field and higher headquarters.  It now takes approximately 30 minutes, from the time the aircraft lands unitil the film comes under the magnifying glasses of the photo interpreters.

"By the time I remove my flying gear, have a cup of coffee and a cigarette," commented one of the reconnaissance pilots, "the mission film is ready for interpretation.  This is a great improvement over the previous system."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held along with the arrival of the initial combat footage to be processed by the unit.  Attending the ceremony were Col. James E. Smith, deputy commander for operations, 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing; Lt. Col. Kirby A. Bernich, 45th TRS commander; and Capt. Hiliary A. Hewett, officer-in-charge of PPIF.

NCO Thinks Fast, Prevents Accident

TAN SON NHUT --- SMSgt. Jerry C. Miller, an air traffic controller with the 1876th Communications Squadron here, recently received an aircraft save award.

Aircraft save awards are presented by the Air Force Communications Service to members whose actions result in the prevention of a possible aircraft accident.

A C-119 Flying Box car with five persons aboard was approximately a quarter of a mile from the end of the runway on final approach when Sergeant Miller, control tower advisor, noticed the two-engined aircraft was excessively low and its landing gear was still in the "up" position.

Sergeant Miller quickly issued instructions to the pilot to circle and make another approach. As the instructions were issued, the aircraft lost power in one engine and veered towards the approach path of the adjacent runway.

Noting that another aircraft, a Boeing 707, was making an instrument landing approach on this runway, Sergeant Miller instructed the pilot of the 707 to circle the field to allow the C-119 to make an emergency landing.

The 707 made a successful circling maneuver and the C-119 landed without further incident.

Chief Controller Wins Degree

TAN SON NHUT --- Maj. William L. Adams, 616th Military airlift Support Squadron's Airlift Command Post chief controller here, was recently awarded a master's degree in aero-space operations management from the University of Southern California.

The diploma was presented to his wife because he could not attend graduation ceremonies at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Completion of degree requirements after arriving here made him elgible for the diploma.

He received a bachelor of science degree in economics and was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Nebraska in 1953.

After he was commissioned completed pilot training at Goodfellow AFB, Tex., and Vance AFB, Okla. He was then assigned to Dover AFB, Del., as a Military Airlift Command C-124 Globemaster Pilot for seven years.

He earned his master of education degree in night school at the University of Virginia in 1966 while teaching in the AFROTC program there.

Totem Pole Provides
Chief's Extra Incentive

TAN SON NHUT --- Detachment 1, 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron recently started a crew chief incentive program.

The aim of this program is to instill a greater sense of pride in its crew chiefs by recognizing and rewarding superior accomplishment.

Each crew chief and his aircraft are analyzed in several different areas. The most significant area is the percentage of scheduled missions flown, for which points are awarded.

Points are tabulated monthly and the top 10 RF-101 Voodoo aircraft are arranged in order on the 45th TRS Voodoo nedicine man totem pole.

Additional points are awarded to crew Chiefs whose aircraft fly unscheduled or extra sorties, return from missions with no discrepancies or exceed 50 flying hours a month. Completeness and accuracy of aircraft maintenance forms is also taken into consideration for extra points.

The two crew chiefs, one day shift and one night shift whose aircraft make the top of the pole are recognized at commander's call, presented an award and given a three-day pass.

Automatic Digital Newwork
Comm Unit Uses AUTODIN

TAN SON NHUT --- Men of the 1876th Communications Squadron here describe the Air Force's new Automatic digital network (AUTODIN) as a "sophisticated gal who will do big things for you if you meet her exacting requirements."

It is the job of 13 men on each work shift at the base communications center to prepare a tape or a set of computer cards for each of the hundreds of completed messge forms received at the center each day.

The AUTODIN computer here reads these tapes or cards faster than six operators can prepare them and instantly sends the information by land line or microwave radio to an automatic switching center located elsewhere in the Republic of Vietnam.

At the switching center another computer receives messages from all over Vietnam and sorts them out according to where they are going.  It then sends them over communications lines to points within Southeast Asia or to communications centers around the world.

Exacting requirement of the AUTODIN system include precise preparation of the tapes or cards.   One error will cause a reject by the switching center computer.

Rejects are carefully monitored.  Air Force Communications Service requires an explanation if the rejection rate should rise above five percent.  Since May, when a strict training program went into effect, the 1876th CS has steadily lowered its rejection rate.

The lower rejection rate has allowed the communications center to reduce the handling time of flash precedence messages by half.  Time taken to handle priority and routine messages has been reduced by more that 50 per cent.  Such time savings have the direct relult of increasing the effectiveness of the 60 organizations the communications squadron serves here.

According to Lt. Col. John T. Randerson, 1876th CS commander, the savings are a direct result of communications service supervisory personnel looking for new ways to improve squadron performance.

Stops at 7th AF
RAAF Chaplain Tours RVN

TAN SON NHUT --- Principal Air Chaplain (Brigadier) Erskine Sweetman of the Royal Australian Air Force recently visited Chaplain (Col.) Benjamin J. Shinn, Seventh Air Force staff chaplain.

Chaplain Sweetman met the 7th AF chaplain in the staff chaplain's office here during a tour of RAAF units throughout the Republic of Vietnam.  Traveling with Chaplain Sweetman was Chaplain (Squadron Leader) Stan Ford, RAAF Anglican chaplain at Phan Rang AB.   Chaplain Sweetman is also Anglican.

The three clergymen compared religious programs during the brief visit.  Chaplain Sweetman emphasized his chaplains work closely with U.S. Air Force chaplains at bases where RAAF airmen are stationed.

"We don't have a large group of chaplains in the Republic," he said (there are two)> "Most of our men are Anglican.  Chaplain Ford is our Anglican chaplain. The other is Roman Catholic.  For our other airmen we offer interdenominational services, but many of our men attend services regularly at USAF Chapels," concluded Chaplain Sweetman.

The air chaplain, stationed in Melbourne, arrived in Vietnam in, late September.   Chaplain Ford's home is Amberley.

Sergeant Wins Emblem Contest

TAN SON NHUT --- Winner of the recent 460th field Maintenance Squadron's emblem contest is SSgt. Gregory Featherston.  Sergeant Featherston is assigned to the 460th Egress Shop which maintains the seat ejection systems in the RF-4 Phantom.

The winning selection was announced by Col. Eugene Bartolich, 460th FMS commander, who originally started the contest for an emblem to represent the squadron.

According to Sergeant Featherston, his entry was created with simplicity in mind.   He used bold lines and only a few colors to contribute to an easily recognizable patch. The crossed wrench and screwdriver on the patch represent the tools used by squadron personnel to perform maintenance on aircraft and aerospace equipment.  An aircraft replica depicts the product of this maintenance.

Also a cogwheel encircled aircraft and tools symbolize the squadron's unity, each cog representing one of the many shops or functions working together to accomplish their mission.

All those symbols are set against a deep blue circle, symbolizing the squadron's position in relation to the entire Air Force.  The words above and below the circle, "460th FMS" and "Professionals" designate the squadron and describe the men assigned.

When asked how he came up with his design, Sergeant Featherston replied, "I wanted to design an emblem which would reflect the sense of belonging and pride which is clearly evident amont the members of the squadron.  At the same time, I wanted to emphasize the importance of the squadron's mission and the excellence of its personnel."

Sergeant Featherston, who has been stationed here since September 1967, stated he has long felt the 460th FMS should have something to represent the unit and its men.  "All the other squadrons in the wing had their own patches, and I was happy to see we too would soon have an emblem to claim as our own."

General Sees 460th

TAN SON NHUT --- Brig. Gen. Nyung Hi Lee, director of operations, Republic of Korea Forces in the Republic of Vietnam, recently toured the 460th Tactical reconnaissance Wing.

Aircrew members briefed General Lee on wing Operations and he inspected an RF-4 and an RF-101 aircraft. Mission planning, in-flight procedures, target acquisition and the various sensor systems were discussed. He also toured the 460th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron and the 16th Photo Processing and Interpretation Facility.

Korean field forces in the Republic Of Vietnam rely on reconnaissance data provided by the 460th TRW, which is the only U.S. Air Force reconnaissance wing based in the Republic of Vietnam.

Stop Policemen 7-0
Tan Son Nhut 'Big Red' Scores Again

By SSgt Bob Brown
TAN SON NHUT --- The 1876th Communications Squadron 'Big Red' flag grid squad recked up its third consecutive victory here in as many games, slipping by previously unbeaten 377th Security Police Squadron 7-0.

Quarterback Earl Shook spotted tight-end Lon Howard alone in the end zone and flipped him a 10-yard pass to post the lone score with less that 10 minutes gone in the first half. A pass from Shook to split-end Tom Wilder added the extra point.  The TD was set up by a 40-yard pass from Shook to wilder placing the ball on the Security Police 10-yard line.

The policemen halted another Big Red scoring drive taking a pass interception of their own five yard line with less that three minutes remaining in the half.

The policemen's biggest drive came in the last two minutes of the contest.   Quarterback Ray Nelson's pinpoint passing and a critical 15-yard penalty gain put the police team on the big Red 10-yard line.  The action ended there.

A determined Big Red defense, headed by lineman Ron Cottom and Don Hoefner, and defensive backs Wil Tisby and Art Chambers kept the policemen in their own territory most of the game.   Shook led the offensive attack with 10 pass completions on 18 attempts for a total of 150 yeards.