We went from Kingsley Field in either late 1970 or early 1971 with four 106s to fly against the F-4s of VX-4 on some type of dogfighting evaluation (we mere techs weren't privy to the exact nature of this evaluation) and were there for a week. I was under the impression then, and have no reason to believe otherwise, that the 106 had flight characteristics very similar to one of the new Migs at the time and that's the reason the aircraft was chosen. I do recall the elation of the pilots following all the flights due to the way the '6's performed. What I don't remember is that the aircraft didn't have the full orange tail as it had in the 456th and the 460th at Oxnard and am curious when it was changed.

That's my dad's jet!

The 106 at Hamilton was my first operational assignment (1972 - 1974). This photo reminds me of the day we were doing the same thing, over Golden Gate. I was in the slot when right over the bridge, heading east, a big red warning light on the canopy bow started flashing! Hydraulic Failure! I simply backed out, said good-by, and turned a wide, long base to land. The gear came down normally.
MER

I spent about a third of my life in this alert facility (Jul 73 - Oct 74).

At that time, there was a major issue for me -- life insurance! I could not be happy with coverage that cost me twice as much as other flying officers. Here's why: Because I flew a single-engine fighter, I had to pay a 2X price for life insurance. But every day I sat on alert, I watched KC-135s, with the old, water-injected engines, use up all but the last few bricks of the 12,000 ft runway to strain to get airborne. Here is the rub. If my F-106 engine failed, I could either eject, of so a flameout landing. Either way, I walk away. BUT, for the 135, if any engine failed on takeoff, then the entire crew likely dies - - and the 135 has FOUR TIMES the number of engines, thus 4X the probability of an engine failure!

Mickey Rountree

That was my Dad I lost him a little over a year ago and he talked about this a lot.

That was my Dad I lost him a little over a year ago and he talked about this a lot.

Walda was stunningly gorgeous! And just as nice as she was beautiful. I remember that they had so much trouble with men coming to sit in her office - and never leave - that they cut a few inches off the front legs of the bench so that visitors would find themselves slipping forward, be uncomfortable and leave. She was also the secret weapon whenever we had an MEI or ORI team come to visit. They'd meet Walda, she'd smile and they'd just melt. And forget the things they intended to write up. Amazing person.

Walda was stunningly gorgeous! And just as nice as she was beautiful. I remember that they had so much trouble with men coming to sit in her office - and never leave - that they cut a few inches off the front legs of the bench so that visitors would find themselves slipping forward, be uncomfortable and leave. She was also the secret weapon whenever we had an MEI or ORI team come to visit. They'd meet Walda, she'd smile and they'd just melt. And forget the things they intended to write up. Amazing person.

Walda was stunningly gorgeous! And just as nice as she was beautiful. I remember that they had so much trouble with men coming to sit in her office - and never leave - that they cut a few inches off the front legs of the bench so that visitors would find themselves slipping forward, be uncomfortable and leave. She was also the secret weapon whenever we had an MEI or ORI team come to visit. They'd meet Walda, she'd smile and they'd just melt. And forget the things they intended to write up. Amazing person.

Walda was stunningly gorgeous! And just as nice as she was beautiful. I remember that they had so much trouble with men coming to sit in her office - and never leave - that they cut a few inches off the front legs of the bench so that visitors would find themselves slipping forward, be uncomfortable and leave. She was also the secret weapon whenever we had an MEI or ORI team come to visit. They'd meet Walda, she'd smile and they'd just melt. And forget the things they intended to write up. Amazing person.