Oklahoma Lobster Run

As a Vance ’38 IP, we were occasionally encouraged to hone our skills with another IP. They referred to this as a FOT for Follow On Training. I know different bases called these sorties by different names but were basically the same mission. Here, Lieutenant, you two take this airplane and go practice… Many times, these were formation flights, requal rides where the other aircraft had a student getting a re-check or training, and sometimes they were single ship or formation cross country’s. This particular weekend a buddy, Ralph (Balz) Balzi, and I decided to stretch the legs a bit and head up to Pease AFB, New Hampshire in search of lobsters. We heard tell of a fellow called Sam the Lobster Man who could fix us up with frozen live lobsters for a reasonable price. So, we started planning. One thing we would need for this trip was a travel pod. Now at that time there were only 2 travel pods available at Vance. One was the Wing Commander’s, and the other was held in reserve by the chief of the maintenance post dock. They actually had 3 but one had been over g’d by a nameless DO on another cross country and had a crack in one of the only two mounting holes on the pod. They were only held on the aircraft by 2 AN3 bolts (3/16”) which fastened the pylon to the underside of the fuselage. When the pod was mounted the T38 was limited to 4 g’s symmetrical and 3 rolling if memory serves. I remember this limit because we almost launched our underwear into downtown Vancouver during an arrival pass and pull up at Abottsford AB bringing a ’38 in for an airshow static display in 1979. That was close. I went over to the Post Dock and spoke with the Chief. When sufficient groveling was accomplished, the Chief agreed to bolt a pod on our bird. The cost, two lobsters. Agreed. Then the word filtered uphill and later that day my office got a call from the wing secretary. She stated that it would be “real nice” if two additional lobsters were to find their way to wing headquarters. Of course, it would be a pleasure… Planning accomplished, pod bolted on, off we went. One hop to Wright Patterson in Dayton, OH, Friday afternoon. AF Museum Saturday morning. Coordinated with base ops for our expected quick turn gas and go for Sunday. No problem, they said. PPR for Pease as they still had B52’s but allowed transient aircraft. Arrived and parked the jet in the transient ramp and walked into base ops. Asked about Sam. The Sgt pointed to the pay phone. Above the phone on the wall was a sticky note which said Sam the Lobster Man, and his phone number. I called and he immediately answered. I said I was at Pease and wanted lobsters. He asked, what kind of aircraft? T-38. He asked, seat kit or travel pod? I had to smile. Definitely called the right guy. He said, you can put 2 boxes of 24, pound and a halfers (his words), total of 48. How many do you want? I said 48 of course. They were less than $1.50 per pound back then and we had cash. I asked, where do we pick them up. He asked our departure time. He then said that he had a flightline pass and would deliver them to our airplane the next morning just before engine start. Amazing. Sure enough, Sam drove up in front of our jet the next morning and opened the tailgate on his green Chevy station wagon. He walked up to the pod, unfastened the side latches and slid open the drawer. He loaded the two boxes which fit perfectly in the pod like they were made for it. He explained that he had boxes made to fit everything from an F4 to a T33. We received our lobster briefing from him describing how the lobsters were frozen but will be fine and will come back to life when they warm up. They were packed with dry ice in insulated boxes. I paid Sam the cash, and we launched for Wright Pat. The quick stop went without a hitch, and we were back at Vance by Sunday, mid-afternoon. By then, the student cross country’s were returning and there were several crews talking with the SOF. When we checked in he greeted us with a puzzled look and a few questions about how we wrangled a travel pod for a FOT cross country, and what the heck was in those boxes. So, Ralph and I opened one of the boxes and pulled out two of the lobsters which were starting to move around. Yes, a lobster can be frozen and still be alive. Somewhere I have a picture of the day we conducted lobster races on the SOF desk, but I cannot find it. So, Ralph and I delivered the lobster (blackmail) payments to maintenance and the Wing duty officer (who was waiting for them) and divvied up the remaining lobsters to take home. As they were all starting to come back to life, I put them in our bathtub, which my wife remembers to this day and did not appreciate, and I started calling neighbors. There were several lobster boils on our block that evening. This website has awakened so many memories of those days jetting around in this eager craft. I’m sure many of us still can’t believe we were so fortunate as to fly and teach in the White Rocket.