Warbird Information Exchange

This story ran yesterday in our local rag........
Oregon Air National Guard names fighter jet 'City of Salem'

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Air National Guard has named one of its F-15 fighter jets the "City of Salem."
Displaying an emblem showing an artist's rendition of the state Capitol, the fighter will be based in Portland and is expected to be in the air several times each month to patrol of the West Coast.
The name "Salem," derived from Arabic and Hebrew words for peace, drew mixed responses.
"There is something magical about seeing something so powerful and yet so gentle as it sits there in the hangar, knowing they have named it after the city of Salem, the city of peace," Salem City Councilor Dan Clem said.
But activist Peter Bergel, director of Oregon PeaceWorks in Salem, said he has a problem associating Salem, or any city, with what he calls "an instrument of war."
Naming the jet was part of the "Cities of Honor" program for the Oregon Air National Guard. Salem is one of 20 cities in Oregon and southwest Washington the Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing will recognize by placing a logo on the nose of an F-15.
The program coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Air Force and the Oregon Guard's transition to a newer F-15 series.
Maj. Misti Mazzia, a Guard spokeswoman, said Salem was an obvious choice to have a jet named in its honor because it's home to the Oregon Military Department.
The other cities to be honored by the 142nd Fighter Wing will include Woodburn, Corvallis, McMinnville, Newberg, Wilsonville, Portland, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Hood River, Astoria, Tillamook, Pendleton, Bend, Vancouver, Wash. and Battle Ground, Wash.

My letter to the editor
I agree with Mr.Peter Bergel, director of Oregon PeaceWorks who is so offended "an instrument of war." carrying the name of our fair city. To ease Mr. Bergel's mind I think that the whole program should be scrapped and the F-15s instead be painted the old fashioned way. With naked ladies!
Jack Cook

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Don't touch my junk!!

Way to go, Jack ! Hope they print it .

That's easy!



http://www.bradmesser.com/

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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That's Right Jack "Buck Neked Ladies" Right On!

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tracers work both ways

I recall a WW II figher called "Salem Representative", I think it may have been a P-51 or Jug and the pilot was Jack? Hoffer. I am only working from memory, may have the details wrong.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

"Kid" Hoffer, P-51.

pretty ballsy jack, i admire your wit & telling it like it is!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

That's a 335th FS jet (88-1695) at Seymour Johnson AFB in spring '02...right after they got back from Operation Anaconda.

hmm... nose art for that one?



...and I bet nobody in that town will object to its name being used!

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Would be marvelous if some of our leaders in this country had the balls and brevity that you have Jack! Atta boy

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

I got a call from the paper to verified I actually wrote
that letter to the editor. The lady said they're going to
publish my little note.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Your memory is good Bill. Except the name of Hofer's P-51B
refers to Salem, Missouri.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Keep us updated Jack. I want to hear what happens.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

I'm a bit fed up with political correctness, here's another vote for the naked ladies!
B

Back when the B-25 Yellow Rose was uncovered, we always had one person come up and say that it was wrong to have to her topless. But the line to have your picture taken holding her up was a lot longer. In Santa Maria, CA, we had a couple come up and ask if they could take a picture on the other side and we had to stay on our side, dang, it would have been a real photo finish.....

Lynn