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I recall the arrival at Mildenhall with my wife and three sons after an extremely long day. I had driven from N C to New York, dropped off the car for shipment and then waited for the flight. Arrived early in the day, went to report in and meet a few of the Personnel folks. Finally hit the bed for some much needed rest, best I recall about 7 p.m. Awoke at 10 oclock and it was broad daylight. Since I could see it was daylight Never seen daylight at 10 p.m. so I thought Oh my God, this is a good start, overslept the first day and missed my inprocessing. Finally found out it was 10 p.m. This was approximately Aug 72.
We lived in RAF Feltwell during our stay in England. I recall Feltwell was an old air base with many narrow roads and bunkers where the family and I delighted in riding our bikes many many times.
Since I was not on flying status while at Mildenhall I was not really concerned with the flying mission at that time only with completing my responsibilities in the Personnel World. While in Personnel I saw so many names it is difficult to recall which were which. A couple of the Personnel officers was a Capt Archacki (I think now deceased) and Capt Vizzone (Whose brother I had also worked with many years earlier in Spain, the brother was also a Captain at that time but by then a LTC) and a MSgt Chapman.
At the time I was there I was assigned to the 513th. The 3AF commander was also assigned there. If I recall the primary missions was the Military Airlift Wing. All I recall about the assignment was lots of long hours and hard work on the part of the Personnel folks and certainly missing was the "fanfare" I had been accustomed to as a "combat crew". Those poor folks worked their ass off and hardly if ever even got a pat on the back, mostly a kick in the ass.
Being an avid hunter I was at first very excited about the hunting prospects. Ringneck pheasants were abundant but permission to hunt was non existent. I was just beginning to get to know enough locals to begin receiving invitations to hunt when I finally received PCS orders once again to Spain. I recall that occurrance quite vividly. They had a vacancy in Personnel at Torrejon AB Spain. I visited Hq USAFE and in Personnel language "wired my assignment" to Spain. Returned to await notification of the assignment. When it came the Director of Personnel protested my loss vehemently, couldn't give up such a dedicated and hard working Personnel man, so he had another individual assigned (and I will not mention names) who he would be glad to release for the assignment. Haha! Of course that did not suit me. Bottom line, I lost that assignment, thanks to my dedication to the job and my Director of Personnel. Some months later I did eventually gain an assignment to Spain, departing in Jul 74.
Recall most vividly of all, the beautiful flowers in the Mildenhall area, the rich, fertile land and lush gardens the locals had and we often stopped on the way home and purchased fresh veggies from one of the landowners. Also recall many visits to Bury St. Edmunds and other towns and the many antique shops.
I had apprehensions upon
learning I was to be assigned to Mildenhall, cold
weather, rain, black ice etc etc but I have to admit
it was an enjoyable place, especially the country
itself.