Memories of the

Rhein Main Air Force Base 1951-54

Memories: 12th TCS-Billy Lashley

Billy Lashley: 1953




After basic training at Sampson AFB, NY   and A&E School at Sheppard AFB, TX, I arrived at the 12th TCS in April 1953, an A/3C, barely 18 years old, with everything I owned in 1 duffel bag and 1 AWOL bag. I left the 12th TCS in April 1957, a S/SGT, with a wife, 2 kids and my 1000 lb. limit of household goods.

I went to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH until April 1960 then on north to Elmendorf AFB, AK until May 1963. I then went to Tinker AFB, OK. In August 1963, back to Wright-Patt until July 1968 then   on to Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN for my year of "fun in the sun" and travel to "exotic places". Back to WPAFB in June 1969 until November 1972 when I landed at Gunter AFB, AL, where I retired in 1974, as a SMSGT, with the same wife,4 kids and lots of stuff.

After retiring I was the Regional Marketing Manager for a national health   care services corp until retiring from there in   1989. I then owned an antique shop until I completely retired in 1998. That's what I'm doing now "retiring".

There are many memories of the 12 TCS, some good and some not so good. I'll just share a couple of funny things.

Carl Houdek and I went on flying status at the same time and as we were the "new guys" we naturally got the worst flights, namely the cargo run to Chateauroux AB,France every other day. Carl would go and RON one day and I would go the next. As some of you will remember that wasn't the French Riveria, and we knew we didn't even get clean sheets at the transient barracks. Carl got some kind of skin "crud" and they gave him that purple stuff they gave you for everything and one trip I was there the night after him and sure enough my sheets had purple stains and our suspisions were confirmed

Another thing I laugh about even now was one time we were on one of those "joint exercises" with the Army, down in Italy, where we slept in the aircraft and all that good stuff. Col Churchill was my pilot and you might remember he was short, fat and bald. We had bought some honeydew melons from the locals and late one night after a lot of "cheap" wine, (was there any other kind), we decided we wanted some melon and I went into the airplane and fumbling around in the dark, I got hold of something round, slick, and white. Unforturately it wasn't a honeydew, it was Col Churchill's head. He didn't think it was as funny as the rest of   us and he never let me forget it.

I could go on for pages but old "war stories" tend to get boring after a while, but I'll say that my time in the 12 TCS was very memorable and I enjoyed the reunion in l998 and am looking forward to 2000.

Bill Lashley and Carl Hudek-Sept. 1999
"Two old C-119 flight mechanics"

Bill Lashley
SMS,USAF (Ret)


Email-PAPALASH@webtv.net




PS-My first crew chief was Sgt Thomas "Frog" Cezault and he really taught me how to clean landing gear, wipe down props and pull chocks.