Truckin on

Dedicated to the Men and Women

of
AF Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Past, Present, and Future

1 Jul 2015

Special Points of Interest:

Maintaining vehicles that move the

mission: PG 1 - 2

Maintaining the vehicles that move

the mission

Women In Trucking: PG 3

By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz,

U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
Published June 01, 2015

Inside this issue:

Contributor: Randy Livermore, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

Vehicle Operator Joins Tops in

Blue

PG 4

Breaking Defense: Boeings

Phantom Works

PG 5 - 6

Defense News: US SOCOM

PG 6

Yokota Airman Living a Dream

PG 7

Government Fleet: USPS

Drone Vehicle

PG 8

Auto Fleet: Cybersecurity

PG 8

Misawa Ushers In New Era

PG 9

NASAs SEV

PG 10

The Human Hoist

PG 10

Holmes Wrecker

PG 11

Snuffys Corner

PG 12
Senior Airman Jacob drives a holding pin in place on a lift cylinder on a 60,000-pound aircraft
loader during maintenance at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 24, 2015. The
holding pin keeps the lift cylinder in place and allows it to lower and raise the aircraft loader. Jacob
is a material handling equipment mechanic assigned to the expeditionary logistics readiness
squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

To keep the mission moving, a handful of dedicated Airmen who specialize in

maintaining material handling equipment from the expeditionary logistics readiness
squadron are ready to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty working on some
of the largest equipment in the Air Forces arsenal.
We take care of all the maintenance for the air transportation operations center
(ATOC), which includes anything used to load and unload equipment and people
around the area of responsibility, said Staff Sgt. Jason, the NCO in charge of
material handling equipment.
We do it all, from repairs, adjustments and overhauls, including replacing major
assemblies and sub-assemblies like power and drivetrains.
Continued on PG 2

Disclaimer: Truckin On is an unofficial newsletter published every month in the interest of serving Air Force active duty, civilian and retired vehicle operations
and maintenance personnel. Articles submitted by its contributors are not to be considered official statements by the U.S. Air Force.

Maintaining the vehicles that move the

mission

Staff Sgt. Jason and Senior Airman Jacob position an adverse terrain forklift vehicle underneath a 60,000-pound aircraft loader during maintenance at an
undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 24, 2015. The forklift was used to relieve weight off of the lift cylinder. Jason is the NCO in charge of
material handling equipment and Jacob is a MHE mechanic. Both are assigned to the expeditionary logistics readiness squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Material handling equipment comes in all shapes and sizes,

which include 60,000 and 25,000 aircraft cargo loaders, adverse
terrain forklifts and standard forklifts, and personnel moving
vehicles like buses.

We try to limit it to one vehicle down at a time, so (ATOC) are

able to continue their mission. In order to keep these giant
assets operational they work as a team to expedite the process.

Its this equipment that enables a continuous flow of cargo and

personnel for missions associated with Operation Inherent
Resolve. Its a prime example of how the Air Force is able to
achieve one of its distinct capabilities -- rapid global mobility.

We try to take care of the most crucial thing first and then
prioritize the rest, Jason said. Some projects take three people
to work on, other times were able to split the workload and
tackle several jobs. The vehicles were working with are big and
heavy, so we usually need more than one person on one job.

The ops tempo affects our mission; it makes it difficult to pull a

vehicle out of rotation to work on it, said Senior Airman Jacob.
These vehicles are critical; if they arent running it could delay
missions which affect other people in the area of responsibility.

The hydraulic fluid, oil, and sweat arent just scars on their
uniforms from the grueling work these Airmen do every day; its
badge of honor and their commitment to something bigger than
themselves.

Keeping those assets readily available is challenging, especially All the ammo, bombs and other assets moving around theater,
as operations continue against Islamic State of Iraq and the were helping all that happen, Jacob said. Working outside in
Levant.
the heat makes it 10 times harder, but being out here you can
We do as much preventative maintenance as possible to keep see the impact; what we are doing is directly affecting OIR. It
the vehicles in good operating order, Jason said. These gives me a sense of pride.
vehicles are used every day, so its important to keep them (Central Command editors note: Due to safety and security
running.
reasons, last names and unit designators were removed.)
2

Editors Note: We contacted Women In Trucking, Incorporated

(WIT) and asked if we could feature their organization in Truckin
On. Ellen Voie CAE, President/CEO, replied that they would be
honored to have an article about WIT in our newsletter.
Rather than tell you about this unique company, however, I will let
WIT speak for themselves in terms of their history, what theyre
about, and their mission.

WIT History

Ellen Voie
President/CEO

Ellen Voie founded the organization and

developed the board of directors and the
structure of the program. Currently there
are over 2,500 members that include
corporate entities (carriers and industry
affiliates), industry professionals, drivers,
and students. Membership is not limited
to women, as approximately sixteen
percent of members are men who
support the goals of the program.

Part of the mission of Women In Trucking is to address

obstacles that might keep women from entering the industry.
One of the first questions often asked is, What are these
obstacles?
While there are numerous things that might limit the number of
women who consider careers in trucking, the most crucial one
is about image. From the outside, we dont appear to be very
female focused.

Read more at: http://womenintrucking.org/. Click on

the About Us tab and What is WIT.
Mission
Women In Trucking was established to encourage the
employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their
accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women
working in the trucking industry.

Although the trucking industry has made great strides to

accommodate women, there are still obstacles that might
cause some to avoid this career opportunity, and others who
choose to leave. As carriers advertise automated
transmissions, air ride seats, drop and hook freight, and
regional runs, the industry becomes more attractive for female
drivers as well as their male counterparts.
Outside of the truck, our focus is to bring more women into
leadership roles to create a more diverse environment and to Conference & Expo
tap into unrealized potential. We represent women who design
the trucks, own the trucks, sell the trucks, fix the trucks and A Unique Environment
Join your transportation, logistics, and supply chain peers at
drive the trucks!
the inaugural Accelerate! Conference & Expo, sponsored by
In our short history, Women In Trucking has accomplished a
the Women in Trucking Association. Learn about critical
great deal since the association was formed (March 2007). In
transportation issues and trends, along with perspectives of
2012 Women In Trucking Association was recognized by the
the positive impact women can have on the industry. Network
White House as a Transportation Innovator Champion of
with your peers. Build business in this intimate, integrated
Change!
conference and exhibition setting. And, move transportation
What is WIT
forward!

WIT addresses obstacles to encourage

women to enter careers in the trucking
industry

Learn more about this upcoming conference/expo and register

at: http://womenintrucking.org/conference-expo/

Vehicle Operator Joins

Langley Airman tours with Tops in Blue
Story by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle - 4/29/2015
FORT EUSTIS, Va. - A child sits on the kitchen floor banging
pots and pans with various cooking utensils creating music to
his ears. Little did he know, this intimate, tableside performance
was only the initial indication of lifelong passion for music.
That child, now U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, a
vehicle operator assigned to the 633rd Logistics Readiness
Squadron, followed his musical desire and went on to play an
instrument in his high school marching band, but decided to put
his first love on hold to serve his country.
Roberts always had aspirations to see the world, so once he
settled into Air Force life, he looked into special duty
assignments that would fulfill his ambitions while maintaining his
commitment to the defend of the nation.
The minimal knowledge Roberts had of the Tops in Blue tour
group was enough to intrigue him so much he submitted an
application to the all-Airman performance group that would take
him away from his job for more than nine months, to drive their
tour buses and be close to what he loves, music.
For the next few weeks, Roberts persistently checked his email
in anticipation of an acceptance to travel with the group.
Once I found out I was accepted, I was ecstatic, he said.
Knowing I was going to get the opportunity to travel was one of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, 633rd Logistics Readiness
Squadron Vehicle Operations vehicle operator, took part in the most
the best feelings in the world.
Shortly after receiving his acceptance, Roberts traveled to Joint
Base San Antonio, Texas, and trained not only in his job of
driving the tour buses, but also learning how to work a sound
board. It meant having to adjust to more than 13-hour workdays
and new responsibilities. Despite the amount of hard work
Roberts and the rest of the tour group had put into training, they
were ready to begin visiting bases all over the world, like Aviano
Air Base, Italy, and Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

recent Tops in Blue tour as a bus driver and an audio technician. Roberts
said this was the experience of a lifetime, creating lasting memories and
friends. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle/
Released)

We were constantly reminded that none of what we did was

ever for us. We were there for them. After every show in the
desert, we would walk around and thank everyone for coming
and pass out small gifts we brought, and I never saw a
frowning face in the crowd, said Roberts. Being able to bring
With a mission to promote community relations, support joy and smiling faces to those in harms way during the time
recruiting efforts and serve as ambassadors for the United they probably missed home the most was humbling to say the
States of America and the Air Force, Roberts felt the Tops in least.
Blue team opened his eyes to the importance of always acting Now back to operating vehicles, Roberts said he tries to find
with the Air Force core values in mind.
productive things to do with his new active work ethic, such as
The people on the tour will mold you into a better Airman. We
held ourselves and each other to a high standard, he said. As
ambassadors for the U.S. Air Force and also the United States,
we were supposed to be the best of the best and make sure we
looked the part.

working on personal music, finding extra tasks to complete at

work and volunteering with the community.

I hope to take what I learned while on tour and continue to put

it toward my life now, said Roberts. I will always remember
the people I met and the memories I made along the way. It
Throughout his time touring with the expeditionary ensemble, was an experience I will never want to forget, and hope to
Roberts saw that even small acts of kindness and appreciation, experience again.
like handing out candy during the holidays, brought smiles to
people defending their country while far away from home and
COURTESY OF:
family.
4

Contributor: Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

Boeings Phantom Works Tries Its Hand at Trucks

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on June 01, 2015
Boeing - Phantom Badger Combat Support Vehicle for Special Forces

Our customer came to us, our customer asked for this, [and] on
our own dime we designed and built the first Phantom Badger
according to our customers specifications, said Kim
McCamon, the retired Army colonel who heads the project for
Boeing. While not a special operator herself, McCamon spent
almost a decade doing logistics for Army Special Operations
Command at Fort Bragg.
Now Boeing is exploring a Big Army competition, the Ultra-Light
Combat Vehicle, which would equip not small special ops units
but the 82nd Airborne Division and potentially other light infantry
units as well. I say exploring because Boeing was much more
cautious than the other ULCV contenders Ive talked to.

The people that built the X-37 unmanned spaceplane and the
X-51 Mach five missile now want to bring you an
ultra-lightweight truck. Can brains this big think that small?
The beautifully named Phantom Badger vehicle looks a little out
of place alongside other products of Boeings famous Phantom
Works division. In fact, Boeing itself looks a little out of place
compared to the other competitors for the Armys Ultra-Light
Combat Vehicle, which include scrappy startups like Vyper
Adamas and mid-sized truck makers like Polaris.

We havent made the determination that were going to pursue

the ULCV, McCamon told me. Its going to depend on what
the Armys requirements are and what the business case is for
Boeing. The Phantom Badger participated in both a ULCV
demo last year and an expeditionary warfare event this year at
Fort Benning. And Boeing has responded to the Armys
Request For Information (RFI) on ULCV but until the formal
Request For Proposals (RFP) comes out, the final requirements
could change.

Even General Dynamics, the other traditional defense

contractor in the race, found a small-business partner whose
existing Flyer vehicle is the basis for its ULCV entry. Boeing has
a small-biz teammate as well, North Carolinas MSI, best known
for its work with NASCAR and off-road racing.

Boeing Phantom Badger

Phantom Badger will require some modification to meet one of

the requirements that is already fixed: a curb weight of 4,500
pounds. (Thats the vehicle without cargo or passengers, but a
full tank of gas and generally ready to go). Its close to 4,500,
McCamon said. We believe we can meet the requirement.
Despite its weight, the Badger is actually one of the slimmest
competitors. The Army only requires the ULCV to fit inside a
But Boeing came up with the design. In fact, the Badger was CH-47 Chinook helicopter, but Badger was designed in the first
born when undisclosed elements of Special Operations place to fit in the much tighter quarters of a V-22 Osprey
Command specifically sought out Phantom Works to design a tilt-rotor.
vehicle that could fit inside the V-22 which (perhaps not
coincidentally) Boeing helps build.
Continued on PG 6
Boeings Phantom Badger can fit inside a V-22 tilt-rotor.

Contributor: Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

(Continued from PG 5)

Boeings Phantom Works Tries Its Hand at Trucks

The price paid to fit on the V-22, however, is a much narrower
vehicle: a maximum of 60 inches wide. (By contrast, General
Dynamicss ULCV offering is the Flyer-72, a foot wider). Does
that long, thin body increase the risk of rollover?

Related Article

DefenseNews

A GANNETT COMPANY

US SOCOM Evaluates Vehicle for Osprey

We realize that could be a challenge with the narrow body,

By Joe Gould May 19, 2015
[but] theres some intellectual property on our vehicle that
allows us to be more stable, McCamon said. (She wouldnt
disclose the proprietary secret sauce for stability). We are able
to take a significant side slope without rollover again, exact
figures are proprietary and if it does roll over, were certified
at 150 percent of the vehicle weight, so all the passengers
would be protected. To prove that performance, besides the
specific demonstrations for the Army, the Badgers done 5,000
miles at the Nevada Automotive Test Center.
The vehicles shock absorbers vital to cross-country
performance are a proprietary design by Boeings partner
MSI. Other than that, however, all of our major components are
commercial off-the-shelf items, McCamon told me. Thats an
Army objective for ULCV and something that dramatically
simplifies maintenance, the former logistician emphasized: If
something breaks on a Badger, she said, they can go to
AutoZone or Pep Boys or any auto store and pick up a part.
Thats very different from a space plane but sometimes
simplicity is the best kind of sophistication.

A Malian soldier takes a defensive position while a US Air Force Special Operations
Command CV-22 Osprey departs a landing zone in Bamako, Mali, as part of a drill
for Exercise Flintlock. (Photo: US Air Force)

See story at: CV-22 Osprey Vehicle

USAA survey: Ford F-150 flying high with Air

Force vets

Mike W. Thomas
Reporter- San Antonio Business Journal

The Ford F-150 pickup truck is the most popular vehicle among
active-duty and former Air Force members, according to a Ford Motor Co. photo
recent study by USAA.
U.S. Air Force vets prefer the Ford F-150 to all others, a USAA
The Toyota Camry was the second most popular vehicle, survey shows.
followed by the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V and Honda Civic.
The Ford F-150 was also popular with the other military
branches while the second place vehicle varied.
The Toyota Camry was also the second favorite of the Army,
while Navy vets preferred the Honda Accord and Marine Corps
veterans went with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as their second
pick.
The Coast Guard veterans favored the Toyota Tacoma.

Following is the list of most favored vehicles in all branches of

the military, according to USAA.
1. Ford F-150

6. Honda CR-V

2. Toyota Camry

7. Hyundai Sonata

3. Honda Accord

8. Nissan Altima

4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500

9. Ford Fusion

5. Honda Civic

10. Jeep Wrangler

6

Yokota Airman Living a Dream

Fixing things: A childhood dream
By Airman 1st Class David C. Danford, 374th Airlift Wing
Public Affairs / Published May 11, 2015

"The thing I look forward to the most when I wake up in the

morning is coming to work and there's a hard job--something
that's going to make me think, make my gears turn,"
Higginbotham said. "Once I overcome that challenge, if it ever
comes up again, with a snap of my fingers I'll know how to fix it."
Working alongside a staff of highly experienced local national
mechanics, Higginbotham has performed maintenance on a
variety of vehicles, his favorite being the Humvee due to its
maintenance difficulty. Despite the language barrier, he has
learned from and developed bonds of friendship and respect
with his Japanese coworkers over a shared passion for vehicle
maintenance.
"I love working with them, most of these guys are over 50 years
old and have so much experience working with these vehicles,"
Higginbotham said about his mentors. "It's awesome, especially
for our new Airmen, to get the opportunity to learn from these
masters."

Senior Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th Logistics Readiness

Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman, places jack stands under a
government vehicle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2015. Stands are
placed to ensure the safety of the mechanics working on vehicles.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class David C. Danford)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- In a compound hidden

away from prying eyes, the men and women of the 374th
Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance shop don
their blue mechanics overalls and work to ensure that Yokota's
wheels on the ground can keep their birds in the sky.
Whether it's maintenance for emergency services conveyance
or buses for bilateral tours or vehicles on the flightline, they
bring technical expertise vital to mission success.
To some people, the blue overalls and Air Force boots covered
in grease and oil stains are just another uniform, but to Senior
Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th LRS vehicle
maintenance journeyman, they are a source of pride
symbolizing the accomplishment of a lifelong dream.

Senior Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th Logistics Readiness

Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman, positions a jack under a
government vehicle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2015. The truck
was brought into the vehicle maintenance shop to assess the front
brakes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class David C. Danford)

"Vehicles have been a hobby for me since I was a little kid," Higginbotham said that while completing the mission in a timely
Higginbotham said. "I get to do something I love for a job so it's manner is important, showing pride in your work and an attention to detail is vital.
like I can do my hobby all day long."
At five years old, Higginbotham helped his father work on his
first car, a Malibu drag car, and was allowed to work solo by age
ten. After a successful career as a professional mechanic in the
civilian sector, Higginbotham enlisted in the Air Force looking for
new challenges at the age of 23.

"You've got to get the vehicle out, but you also want to deliver a
quality product," Higginbotham said. "You don't want to just
throw something together, throw it out the door and have it
come back the next day. That's not what we do at vehicle
maintenance, that's not who we are."

The Air Force gave him the opportunity to broaden his skillset Higginbotham said he plans to continue working on vehicles for
working with military vehicles while stationed in countries across many years to come.
the world like Japan.
Note: See two additional photos at: Fixing Things.
7

managing public sector

vehicles & equipment

USPS Considering Drone Delivery Vehicle

May 13, 2015, by Paul Clinton

The Workhorse Group with its electric truck and a drone

delivery system is among the 15 companies qualified by the
U.S. Postal Service as potential suppliers of its next-generation
delivery vehicle.
Whether the USPS will embrace innovative technology that's
poised to disrupt the "last mile" of traditional package delivery
remains an open question, but Workhorse CEO Steve Burns
believes an order for 180,000 vehicles that could reach $6.3
billion could play into his favor. The USPS has said it's seeking
a vehicle that will serve for two decades.
"When youve got a deal that big, its a chance to leapfrog" other
delivery methods, Burns said. "Thats a big enough bounty
where innovation can happen. It's going to cause a quantum
leap."
See full story at: USPS

The Car and Truck Fleet and Leasing

Management Magazine

House Committee Probing Auto Cybersecurity

While threats to vehicle

technology currently appear
June 01, 2015
isolated and disparate, as the
Members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce technology becomes more
Committee last week sent letters to 17 automakers, prevalent, so too will the risks
requesting information about the auto industrys measures to associated with it.
address cybersecurity challenges as vehicles become more
Threats and vulnerabilities in
connected.
vehicle systems may be
The May 28 letters express concerns about the potential for inevitable, but we cannot
hackers to assume control of vehicle systems over the allow this to undermine the
Internet. The letters also urge the industry and the National potential benefits of these
UPTON
Highway Traffic Safety Administration to work together to technologies.
develop strategies to mitigate any growing risks.
The letters to automakers and NHTSA pose a series of
Committee members also sent a letter to NHTSA questions and request responses by June 11. Rep. Fred
Administrator Mark R. Rosekind, asking for details about the Upton (R-Mich.) chairs the House Energy and Commerce
agencys means for evaluating, testing and monitoring Committee.
potential cyber vulnerabilities.
See full story at: Cybersecurity
Connected cars and advancements in vehicle technology
present a tremendous opportunity for economic innovation,
consumer convenience, and public health and safety, the
letters state. These benefits, however, depend on consumer
confidence in the safety and reliability of these technologies.
8

Misawa unveils new refueling system

by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The system, which was previously approved by Angelella

during his time as the 35th Fighter Wing commander from
2005-2007, was first used in February 2015. Angelella was
able to see it come into fruition in front of a crowd of Airmen
involved with the hydrant system.
Compared to an R-11, the R-12s can continually fill an aircraft
without stopping, said Schmidt.
Comparable to pumps at a gas station, hydrants were placed at
strategic parking stations on the flight line, bypassing the need
to ferry the fuel in trucks. Because of the efficiency created by
this system, Misawa is now able to serve as a high-volume and
high-speed pit stop for transport aircraft moving people and
cargo through the Pacific theater.

U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class David Works, 35th Logistics Readiness
Squadron fuels distribution operator, hooks up a fuel hose to the newly
installed Type III hydrant system at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 11,
2015. Misawa hosted a ceremony recognizing the installation of the new
system, which feeds fuel to aircraft from an underground tank. (U.S. Air
Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek VanHorn/Released)

5/12/2015 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- After a two-year

process, the installation of a Type III hydrant system was
officially recognized during a ribbon cutting ceremony here May
11. The system upgrade allows R-12 fuel servicing vehicles to
refuel aircraft at Misawa via an underground constant pressure
fuel system that transfers fuel directly from an underground
tank to the aircraft -- a massive improvement from the previous
system.

An R-12 fuel servicing truck approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker to

conduct aircraft refueling at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2015. The
R-12 vehicles hook up to a newly installed Type III hydrant system and
feeds fuel from underground tanks straight into the aircraft.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek VanHorn)

Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force "We're now able to support heavier aircraft so they don't have
commander, conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony alongside to fly to other bases," Schmidt added.
base leadership to unveil the new system.
Additionally, the new system saves both time and manpower
Before the construction of the Type III hydrant system was because it only requires one Airman to refuel aircraft in almost
completed, the aircraft refueling process here involved driving one-third of the time, whereas the previous system required up
four to six R-11 fuel servicing vehicles back and forth from fuel to four Airmen and took up to four hours to refuel.
tanks to the aircraft. It was time consuming and largely
"Despite personnel and budget cuts, we'll still be able to refuel
inefficient for operational demands.
five to seven big airplanes with half the people and probably
"The R-11s can only issue so much fuel before they have to be half the time," said Angelella. "The money and efficiency to be
disconnected and replaced with another vehicle," said Staff able to do our contingency missions will really pay off."
Sgt. Derek Schmidt, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron field
Note: See three additional photos at: Misawa.
hydrant supervisor. Since only a handful of R-11 trucks are
kept on base, Misawa's ability to refuel aircraft was limited by
the number of trucks and the time needed to drive back and
forth to refill them. For 70 years, this was the only way Misawa
refueled aircraft.

NASAs Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV)

Editors Comments: I saw this vehicle on an episode of
the Travel Channels Extreme RVs a few weeks ago
and thought it would make an interesting feature.
My first permanent duty assignment was Patrick AFB
during the Apollo program in the 1960s. Exciting times.
In 1971 I was touring Kennedy Space Center with my
wife and saw astronauts John Young and Charles Duke
training on the lunar rover, or moon buggy.
It paled in comparison to this SEV, both functionally
and in cost. The price tag for the lunar rover was
$38,000,000 and the SEV is priced at $100,000,000, but
perhaps not a bad deal when considering inflation.
After I retired from active duty, I was privileged to work
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy
Space Center for 8 years, so I have a long association.
This is my salute to the transporters who support the
space program.then and now.

NASAs SEV
(click the arrow to activate video)

See more articles and videos on this vehicle at the

following websites:

NASA.Gov

Smithsonian Channel

NASAs Lunar RV

The Human Hoist...

SR. ENGINEERING PRESENTS

HUMAN HOIST

Website: http://www.humanhoist.com/home.html
Contributor: Reade Holbaur, WS-12 (Ret/2T3)
The Human Hoist was originally designed for mechanics. It is
a mechanical, robotic, fully automated adjustable chair. It is
powered by an 18 volt rechargeable battery, and has a
hydraulic and spring torsion powered frame.

Human Hoist Video

The chair is uniquely designed for lifting and lowering, as well

as reclining.
The frame sits on 3 castor wheels for full mobility. It was
originally designed for mechanics as they work on vehicles but
may have many applications.
Watch the video in the bottom right column for a demo of
the Human Hoist.

10

Editors Comments: As operators and mechanics, we all

know the importance of a wrecker. Whether its employed
as a trail vehicle in a convoy, used to remove a disabled
vehicle from the flightline, or simply for day-to-day recovery
operations, its an essential asset.

As for Holmes, he began making his tow truckscalled Holmes

Wreckersfull time, selling them to repair shops. It didnt take
long for towing to become an industry all its own.
Source: Why Didnt I think of That?

However, do you know the interesting story behind the

wrecker?
The reason I chose to feature Holmes over Jerr-Dan or
some other manufacturer is because Holmes built the first
wrecker.
The information in this article comes from several sources
which I will reference next to each paragraph along with the
website.
It was 1916 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mechanic Ernest
Holmes got a call from his old
Business School professor, John
Wiley. Wiley and his son had been
A modified 1913 Locomobile, one of the first tow trucks Holmes made.
driving when their Model T veered
off the road and was flipped upside RED BALL EXPRESS WRECKER
down in a creek bed. Holmes came
A Diamond T chassis
to help. It took him eight hours and
and a Holmes W45
six men to retrieve the car from the
twin-boom wrecker were
creek bed.
matched to create this
Ernest Holmes
workhorse of Patton's
Red Ball Express, a
Holmes decided there had to be a better solution, and he was
wrecker rated to pull 15
determined to find it.
tons.
He modified a 1913 Cadillac, adding a crane and pulley
This Red Ball Express
system. The idea was that this modified vehicle could rescue
Wrecker was designated
other distressed vehicles and tow them to a mechanics shop
as the Diamond-T 969A 4-ton 6x6 wrecker.
for repair.
It didnt work. Holmes needed something to stabilize the tow See full story by Jim Buck Sorrenti - AT Field Editor - at:
truck. He added a pair of outriggers to brace the tow truck Tow Industry Week/American Towman Magazine
while it was lifting and pulling other vehicles. This time, it
worked, and the first tow truck was born.
MORE INTERESTING WEBSITES
Holmes did more than invent a product. He invented an
industry. Consider the brilliance of the tow truck: a way to
capture customer business by capturing the vehicle.
Mechanics could fish distressed vehicles from danger and
bring them to their shop. There they could work on these
captive vehicles without any interference from competitors. The
tow truck gave any mechanic or garage a competitive
advantage over those who would just sit and wait for
customers to come by.

Hell on the Highway Facts

International Towing & Recovery Museum
Recovery Vehicles History

11

Snuffys Corner
Breaking Red!

K-car Catastrophe.

by John Fig Newton, Col, USAF (Ret)

by David A. Burger, MSgt (Ret/2T3)

The Snuffy flightline driving story in your April newsletter I was in charge of the GP Shop at Howard AFB, Panama
reminded me of my own. Heres a Lt. Figleus von Neutronium when one of my workers (Mr. Snuffy) came to me with a
(aka, Snuffy) story:
problem he was having with a car on the dyno.
I was VOO at my first duty station, Carswell AFB, Ft Worth,
TX, 1974-76. It was a busy base. How busy? We had 3 B-52
line squadrons, 3 KC-135 squadrons, and a Combat Crew
Training Squadron of each. We could not land an aircraft and
park it unless another one was moved first.

He told me that after backing the car onto the dyno and
releasing the dyno brakes, the car would come right off the
dyno.

We went to the dyno room; then I asked Mr. Snuffy how he

was going to do a dyno test on a front wheel drive,
I got a call from the Security Police investigations NCOIC, TSgt
Plymouth K-car?
Wages, as I recall, about a flight line accident involving a
step-van. The Maintenance driver pulled up under the rear wing, RIP Mr. Snuffy.
jumped out, ran to chock the B-52, and then started doing
Lesson Learned
post-flight stuff with the crew.
About 30 minutes later, he came out and looked for his van. It by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
wasnt there. He had apparently left it running and didnt chock
it, or he left it in reverse (auto) and thought he had gotten park;
it backed itself around the tail of the B-52 in an arc and hit the
back side of the wing on the OTHER side of the plane.

The article on the previous page about wreckers took me back

to my days at Clark Air Base following the eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo. Transportation was charged with the daunting task of
moving thousands of abandoned POVs, scattered throughout
So, off we go to investigate. As the VOO, I was constantly the base, to the flightline area. It was far more than we could
yelling at my drivers about breaking red on the flightline and possibly handle ourselves, so our first thought upon receiving
not going through the entry control points, line badge or the order was to contract it.
not. Here I am, in the back of a strata blue police car, with two Yours truly, SMSgt Snuffy, went to contracting and explained
skycops in the front, on the way to the accident site. All of a what we needed and why. No problem; all I had to do was write
sudden, TSgt Wages pulls a right and cuts diagonally across the a statement of work (SOW), give it to contracting, and they
parking area going to the accident spot.
would put it out for bid.
I screamed, What are you doing??? He said, Dont worry
about it; its an SP investigation and we have clearance. We
get to the site and are surveying, interviewing, etc., when all of
the sudden were surrounded with M-16s aimed at our heads,
and they didnt want to have any discussion about it.

Well, how hard could it be to write a SOW for wrecker service?

I just needed to specify type of service, dates, where the work
was to be performed, what was required, work hours, etc.

They handcuffed us, and put us in the back of a pickup and

drove us slowly down the flightline, out onto the main base, and
to the lock-up. Heres Figgie, a TSgt and a SSgt with our hands
behind our heads being paraded. When we got to the lock-up
they put us in a detention area and the Trans Sq First Sergeant
had to come sign for my release.

truck with no doors. The boom was mounted on the flatbed at

an angle and it was equipped with a block and tackle. One guy
drove the truck and another, wearing rubber flip-flops, rode on
the flatbed. When they arrived at the scene, the guy on the
flatbed would hop off, hook the vehicle, and manually lift it with
the block and tackle.

The type of vehicle needed for this service was obvious, right?
So, I simply described it as a wrecker. What else do you need to
After being spread eagled across the hood of the police car, know? I was expecting maybe a 5-ton wrecker with a hydraulic
(115 in the shade, and on a blue car that had been patrolling boom, lift attachments, etc. Thats NOT what we got.
the flightline all day) I had what I thought were 3 rd degree burns. The company showed up with a vintage 1940s model, flatbed

When I got back to Ops, it seemed like the day shift and night As archaic as their operation was, however, it worked. All the
shift guys coming on were all lined up to greet me, and they cars were moved. On the other hand, I learned not to assume
never let me forget it. :>)
anything when writing a SOW.
12