456th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

456th SETS RECORD

By Lt. Colonel John C. Marcotte, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Last Commanding Officer of the 456th. F.I.S.

On August 11, 1967 the 456th Fighter Interceptor Squadron sets ADC and US Air Force Records with 106 Missions in 6 Hours with only 18 aircraft.

Below is a letter from Lt. Colonel John C. Marcotte, U.S. Air Force (Retired), Last Commanding Officer of the 456th. Fighjter Interceptor Squadron, Castle AFB, CA.

"Now I really can't remember just who thought up the idea of flying 106 missions in 6 hours but it sure sounded like a good idea to me. Since the birds were going in for the modification of the IR System and the installation of the In-flight Refueling it sounded so logical that I gave some serious consideration to it. Six weeks with nothing to fly and all that time on our hands just begged for some sort of outstanding event to take place. I remember talking it over with Bob Colgan and Bunchy Plowden.

Pat Gillespie, Buckey, Russ Greenberg, Bob Velle and Dale Chance. They were enthusiastic about the idea so I went to the maintenance shack ( Hell I lived there about half the time) and ran it up the flag pole. Most of the guys saluted and there were very few negative comments.

We decided to start at 06:00 and progress from there with a call off time of 10:00 if it looked as if we couldn't make the target. Even the orderly room was in on it. They carried sandwiches and drinks too the flight line and made them selves useful wherever they could. The hardest part of the operation was deciding who would fly the T-33 as target, which took 4 crews ,since there was to be no time to switch targets and a constant stream of 106's would be airborne.

Merced Sun Aug 12, 1967: "We finally solved that by using B A Hansen in one and Bud Gresham in the other. This left the flight line a little short of officers but I had every confidence in our maintenance chaps. That was one decision that I never lived to regret. Servicing was complete and timely and cheerfully executed.

"Probably the one thing that I over looked was the development of the radar film and the grading of it. Poor Chuck Masuga and Bob Plowden did not get thru with the chore until 14:00.

"I never did go to NORAD or DIVISION or for that matter to the Sector. I figured that they would find 1,000 reasons why it couldn't be accomplished. So on my own we just pressed ahead. At about 11:40 the 106th mission landed, I think it was Peachy Keene, ( who damn near broke the sound barrier turning initial ) I decided to spread the news a little.

Maintenance came up with 4 birds and we took to the skies bound for Hamilton AFB. However once there the tower denied us a low pass so all we could do was wave a little at them.

I was fortunate enough to command the 433rd squadron in South East Asia and we flew a total of 746 combat sorties in 30 days but the feeling of accomplishment I had the day of the 106 missions was never challenged. To give a little perspective to this WE ONLY LOST ONE BIRD in the 3 years that I was there.

That says a HELL of a lot for the quality of the maintenance guys that slaved and sweated and produced a quality product

THERE WERE NO GROUND OR AIR ABORTS AND NO MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS! "WELL DONE YOU FINE AND GORGEOUS TROOPS!"

106 Missions

456th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

106 Missions in 6 Hrs with 18 F-106s

456th SETS RECORD