1954th AACS Squadron

Air Force BBS

Legacy Messages - 1995-1999

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ARTHUR WALSH wrote on December 19, 2023

Send Email To ARTHUR WALSH

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City and State: TUCSON AZ

Unit: 1980-4 AACS SQ

Service or Relationship: USAF

Comments: Looking for history of the 1980-4 AACS Sq. at Wethersfield RAF Station
from 1952 to 1955

Keywords: Ground Control Approach (GCA) MPN-1 and CPN-4 radar units.

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Bob Wilson wrote on November 18, 2016

Email Update Needed

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City and State: COLONIAL HTS VA

Unit: 1954TH AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: would like to hear from anyone who was at johnson afb 1956-1958 my nickname was flash.call or text me anytime, better hurry, im 80 this year. i was at sampson afb sept 54 till dec. then to cheyenne and then the pentagon, and the to johnson jan of 56.

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David Pittle wrote on April 28, 2016

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SAN RAFAEL CA

Unit: 1954TH AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Catching up on my own history. I maintained both air and air-ground equipment, but my last 15 months at JAB was spent underground at the ATC center doing maintenance and teaching electronics.
I loved my time at JAB and the many friends I knew. I also fell in love with Japan. Went back there to go to university. Got my third stripe after inventing a gadget that reduced teletype down-time. My USAF experience was a totally positive one.
Went back a few years ago and saw the JASDF Izuma base that now is. There is a park in the area where my quonset hut quarters were.

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Herbert Wachsman wrote on June 28, 2015

Send Email To HERBERT WACHSMAN

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City and State: LILBURN GA

Unit: 1954-5 AACS DET. KISARAZU AB

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Served at Kisarazu from Dec 1952 - Nov 1954 , then returned to Sewart AFB, TN.

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Lawrence Lund wrote on March 1, 2014

Send Email To LAWRENCE LUND

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City and State: BRENTWOOD NY

Unit: 1954-6 AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I served in the United States Air Force from January 9, 1953 to December 5, 1956 (4 year tour) as an Air Traffic Control Specialist.
I am a Korean War Veteran and earned the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal.
I had Basic training Samson Air Force Base located in upstate New York.
I then had AACS (Airways and Air Communications Service) training, at Keesler AFB in Biloxi Mississippi April - July 1953
My first duty assignment was as an Air Traffic Controller in the 1954-6 AACS Detachment, Johnson AFB Japan at the Tokyo Air Route Traffic Control Center where I served for 2 years.
Returning to the US, I was assigned to the 2017th AACS Squadron, McGuire AFB New Jersey RAPCON (radar approach control). While at McGuire AFB I earned my GED and took some college.

I got married in 1956 in my wifes home town of Trenton NJ, and when my tour of duty was over I was discharged from the Air Force on December 5, 1956. A this time (March 2014) we have 6 kids, 14 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren.

In December of 1957 I was hired by the CAA (Civil Aeronautics Administration) US Government now the (Federal Aviation Administration). I became an Air Traffic Control Specialist in the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center. In October of 1961 I became a Data Systems Specialist at the NYARTCC. The job entailed writing testing and maintaining the Air Traffic Control system program. The computer at that time was a Univac file 1, made by the Sperry Rand Corporation.

I was an Air Traffic Controller and Data Systems Coordinator for the FAA for 32 years 8 months and retired in 1986.

I worked for Northrop/Grumman as a Senior Software Engineer after retirement from the FAA. This is the same job I did for the FAA before they contracted it out. On May 14, 2003 I retired from Northrop/Grumman after 17 Years. Actually it was a reduction in staff and they asked for volunteers to be laid off and they would get severance pay and then be able to go on unemployment. I jumped at it! At the time, I was only working 3 days a week anyway.

Two of my sons are also Air Traffic Controller's. Steve is a controller at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center on Long Island and Larry Jr. was a controller at the New York Tracon with a couple of stints in Hawaii. Larry had a tragic accident in May of 2005 while stationed in Hawaii. He suffered severe brain damage and is on disability retirement from the FAA. We flew him back to the mainland and he is presently in a nursing facility receiving therapy.

My oldest grandson Steve graduated college (2004) at the Community College of Beaver County PA. finishing the Air Traffic Controller course. He was an electrician awaiting employment. He got picked up by the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center and went to the Oklahoma training facility. (7/27/2009) and is presently an Air Traffic Control Specialist at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center.

His brother Russell joined the Air Force in 2006 and became an Air Traffic Controller. He went to the same school I did in Biloxi Mississippi over 50 years later. He was discharged in December of 2012 after completing 6 years with a tour in Iraq. He just got picked up by the FAA and will be going to the training facility in Oklahoma shortly (March 2014). He will be going to the New York Tracon.

Another grandson Joseph finished the Community College of Beaver County PA air traffic control school and has been picked up by the FAA and is in training in Oklahoma as an Air Traffic Controller probably for Teteboro Tower.

Another Grandson Tyler has finished the Air Traffic Controller course at the Community College of Beaver County PA. The dynasty continues.

Keywords: Larry Lund, Tokyo Center,

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Mark Cato wrote on November 7, 2013

Send Email To MARK CATO

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Working on AACS flight Check history. Looking for pictures and
stories of AACS ATC facilities, navaids, radar, flight check
aircraft, etc.

Keywords: AACS, flight check, air traffic control, ATC, radar, navaids,
flight check aircraft

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Virginia Dale wrote on April 12, 2013

Send Email To VIRGINIA DALE

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City and State: MEDWAY MA

Unit: 1954TH AACS

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I lived in Japan off base from 1958 to august 1961. Would love
to

hear from anyone from Shinden village . Fond memories

Keywords: Johnson Air force base tHE GREEN STORE OUTSIDE THE mAIN NGATE

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Bruce Walton wrote on December 28, 2011

Deceased

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City and State: NORTHAMPTON MA

Unit: 1954 AND 1954-1 AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Would love to hear from any one there 1952 to 1954

Keywords: Yokota Control Tower maintenance
Tokyo Control Radio Maintenance

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Joe Gutierrez wrote on December 11, 2011

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LA MESA CA

Unit: 2354TH SQUADON

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments:

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Joseph Hawkins wrote on August 17, 2011

Send Email To JOSEPH HAWKINS

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City and State: BODEGA BAY CA

Unit: 1954 AACS SQN, !932 AACS DET.?

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I sailed to Japan on the troopship "General A. E.
Anderson" in March 1952. I was originally assigned to
Yokota AFB and then reassigned to Haneda AFB
approximately June 1952, where I stayed until January
1955. I married Miyako Koinuma in November 1954.

Keywords: Friends: Bill Gray, Cornelius Carroll, Richard Czerniac,
Bill Anderson 

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Don Bohler wrote on July 13, 2011

Email Update Needed

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City and State: MONUMENT CO

Unit: 1954-3 AIR - AIRWAY COMMUNICATIONS SQDRN

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Would be great to hear from some of my fellow controllers during those times. Don Bohler, S/SGT

Keywords: Haneda Tower, Tokyo, Japan, Air Force Controller July 1953 to January 1955 

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Clarence Pannell wrote on March 29, 2011

Send Email To CLARENCE PANNELL

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City and State: PEMBERTON NJ

Unit: 1954 AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Looking for airmen who worked in the Mole Hill 57-61.

Keywords: flip Jeep

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Valerie Williamson wrote on March 21, 2011

Send Email To VALERIE WILLIAMSON

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City and State: COMMERCE CITY CO

Unit: 1954TH AACS SQ.

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: We are trying to find information about Clarance Defriece who was stationed at the Bakado Transmitter Site in 1957. Photos or any information is greatly appreciated. Clarance was my Great Uncle's son who joined the Airforce and never contacted his sister again, she tried to find him before she died, she is gone now, but her children continue to look for him or his children. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Bert Bagley wrote on March 5, 2011

Send Email To BERT BAGLEY

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City and State:

Unit: 1954TH AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: also was tdy to taegu in 1955. workedd on matcom mountain.

Keywords: i was stationed at johnson afb from june 1953 to june 1957. spent 2 yr at sakado machi transmitter site.

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Bob Huck wrote on December 22, 2010

Send Email To BOB HUCK

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City and State: IN

Unit: 1954-1 AACS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: We operated the Yokota Control tower and GCA during 1952-1954 period. Would like to correspond before we are gone!

Keywords: Yokota control tower and GCA 1952-1954
Peter Workman, Joe Bek, John Rohrbaugh (?), Willie T. Sanders, Jim McCarty, Urb Baca, Bob Bargainier (?)

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James Michael Tessitore wrote on October 18, 2010

Send Email To JAMES MICHAEL TESSITORE

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City and State: SALEM MA

Unit: 1962 AACS JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I am trying to locate other members of my 1962 aacs squardon from the Air Force Unit. I was an air traffic
controller in Japan.

Kadena Air Force Base Okanowa, Japan

Keywords: 1962aacs Johnson Airforce Base Japan

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Susan Supper wrote on July 13, 2009

Send Email To SUSAN SUPPER

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I don't know anyone is interested but I have a photo of 11 men posed in front of the 1954th AACS Squadron sign at Johnson Air force base. I would be happy to share it with you via Email. My father is in the photo.

Keywords: 1954th AACS Squadron Johnson Airforce Base photo

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Henry Broer wrote on June 1, 2009

Send Email To HENRY BROER

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments:

Keywords: I served at Johnson from 8/1953 for 2 years as a radar maintenance airman for Tokyo Radar located on the other side of the runway. We were responsible for air traffic control for military and civilian aircraft arriving at Oshima island and being directed to various fields in the Tokyo area. T/Sgt Meskill was the NCO in charge. I have lots of good memories of the duty there, esp opportunities to visit Tokyo and other places. It was a good time to be there as the military still ran many facilities including those in the city...e.g. the Ernie Pyle movie theater.

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James Daley wrote on August 28, 2008

Send Email To JAMES DALEY

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City and State: COLCHESTER VT

Unit: 1954 AACS TOKYO ARTCC JOHNSON AFB

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I was glad top see some details on the 1954 AACS because I had forgotton the SQ number.

Several of us left Naha, Okinawa in mid-enlistment to go to Tokyo ARTCC at Johnson AFB. (1954-56)

At OKI we were tower-gca and at Tokyo center we controlled overhead traffic from Wake Island to southern Japan.

There was another center at Fukuoka.

Learned a great Japanese tongue-twister one time:
tokyo-tokio-kyo-kyar-kyo-kyu

Try that three times!

Keywords: Jim Daley

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Thomas Suffern wrote on July 2, 2008

Send Email To THOMAS SUFFERN

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Looking for anyone who knew my father. Thomas E. Suffern A/2C. I know he was in Japan to start as an Apprentice Control Tower Operator based on a letter I found which is a Job title and Major Responsibilities. The letter was Approved by Robert W. Watts. I also have a picture of him and my uncle taken at the Tokyo Mess in 1952.

Keywords: 1954th AACS Squadron
Detachment 1954-3

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Joseph Lobis wrote on May 16, 2006

Send Email To JOSEPH LOBIS

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City and State:

Unit: 1954 AACS SQ

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I was station at Johnson AB from 1959 to 1962 working ground radio maintenance with the 1954 AACS. The barracks were on the right side down from the main gate. Also the 1st MOB was close by. Wonderful assignment and was there when they downsized the base. We became Det 1 2127 Comm Sq detached from Yakota.

Keywords: 1954 AACS

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Jack Carter SR. wrote on January 9, 2006

Send Email To JACK CARTER

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City and State: WHITEHOUSE TX

Unit: 1973RD AACS K-9, ALSO 1954AACS , JOHNSON AFB JAP

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: would like to contact any of you ole AACS guys who was at any of the bases and sqdns listed above.
The years would be in Japan during 49, 50, and 51 Korea when AIK88 radio communications was in a tent,
everything was in a tent;;;
also anyony of you ole key punders at AIF2/AIF20 Johnson AFB, Japan.

also. any of u ole 46th com, Barksdale AFB 53/54

Keywords: would like to QSO with:
Bishop, Arnette, Bohata, King, Jabin,

a few at K9

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Kimberily Ann Rich Blumn wrote on January 5, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea

Comments:

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Don Bohler wrote on March 23, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State: MONUMENT CO

Unit: 1954-3 AACS SQDRN, HANEDA AFB, JAPAN

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea

Comments: Just looking for fellow controllers stationed at Haneda AFB, Japan during the period of 6/1953 to 1/1955. Sgt. Robert Shotliff,deceased, was Tower Chief during most of that time. Don Bohler

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Yumiko Waki wrote on April 14, 2002

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments: My father, John Casana was in Air force camp in Kokura Japan around the year of 1952-1957.
I was born in Kokura, and was with my father until 1957. He left for U.S. from Komaki Air force camp in Japan. My mother had been keeping in touch with him for some years, but a letter in ten days become once a month, once three months ..then we lost our addresses each other and long time had pssed. But I found my father's relatives on Internet in 1999. Unfortunately my father has been dead for ten years, but I was so happy because all the relatives of my father accepted me heartfully. Since then we have keeping a good relationship each other. I'm going to U.S as a participant of Exchang Japan program. I would be very happy to meet someone who was a friend of John Casadona, my father.

Keywords: 1952-1957 Kokura Japan Airforce camp

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