Category Archives: USAF

Laying Low

Posted on Sun, 21 September 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     Not that I’ve been posting a lot lately, but I’m going to be mostly offline for the next 7-10 days.  We’re getting ready for one of those "Major muscle movements" that occurs every 18-36 months in the life of … Continue reading →

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Returned To Base

Posted on Sat, 28 June 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     I’ve done a reverse MacArthur.  I have returned from the Philippines.       As it happened, I rolled home and straight into an exercise! I’d like to say I swapped my ‘Battle Rattle’ for a chemical defense ensemble, but rather … Continue reading →

Posted in "Downrange", F-16 Operations, USAF | 1 Comment

The Best Thing About This Tour

Posted on Tue, 22 April 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     The best thing about this deployment was meeting this guy:                    . . . At least according to him! You know how these young folks can be brash sometimes.      You’re doing … Continue reading →

Posted in "Downrange", USAF | 3 Comments

Battle Rattle

Posted on Mon, 07 April 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     I’ve found it nearly completely unnecessary to wear this stuff in the current theater.  The primary danger is from pickpockets.        I can’t believe I traded in a G-suit for kevlar! Update 11 Apr 2008:  Due to popular … Continue reading →

Posted in "Downrange", Military Affairs, USAF | 3 Comments

Shouldering the Load Together

Posted on Sun, 09 March 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     From a long way off, I had a very small hand in a very small way in some of this. 

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AFA Article About Aging Aircraft

Posted on Fri, 22 February 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     The Air Force Association put out an interesting article relating the age of various USAF airframes to popular culture historical events.  It’s kind of a twist on that e-mail that one university puts out each year to the … Continue reading →

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Blue Sky Hawaii

Posted on Mon, 11 February 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     I’m blogging from Waikiki beach again.  I’m here for a short TDY to Hickam AFB to see the folks at PACAF.  You know, the sky in Hawaii just seems to be a slightly different shade of blue than anywhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia/Pacific, Travel, United States, USAF | Comments Off on Blue Sky Hawaii

February “RAP-up”

Posted on Wed, 06 February 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     Today was a superb day! Scrappy, Pitch, Scooter, and I were going to double-turn ACM sorties.  The original plan was to try to play "ACM Baseball," with Scrappy and Pitch "batting" first sortie and Scooter and I "batting" second.  … Continue reading →

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Tuesday Two-fer

Posted on Tue, 05 February 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     Today Drago, Motor, Sox, and I flew a pit-and-go pair of ACM sorties.  Drago and Boat flew Blue first sortie, Sox and I flew Blue on the second.  We had a great time on both sides (so to say).  … Continue reading →

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Friday Flying

Posted on Fri, 01 February 2008 by Chris Penningroth

     Today’s mission was to be a medium altitude surface attack tactics flight.  Rost would lead our four-ship while Drago led a second four-ship against a pair of actual Red Air and a bunch of simulated SAMs.  It was a … Continue reading →

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