I worked the 7p to 7a shift the whole time I was at Kadena. When we first arrived it was 6 days on, one off. As we got better and more efficient we changed to 5 on, 1 off, then 4 on 1 off and finally 3 on, 1 off. But it was really a 14 hour day when working because the bus that picked us up to go to work only ran once per hour so we left the barracks at 1800 and arrived back at 0800.

Watching the SR-71s kick in the afterburners during their take off roll at night was awe inspiring. Only thing more fun was the dual Buick 401 V8 engines (later replaced by Chevy 454 V8s) start carts for the SR's engines. Engines were stock, but un-muffled.

Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 12/17/2022 3:06 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12
'52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.