The Day Dad Had to Turn the Four-Ship Around
Story Credit: Craig Richardson
My Dad was a Jolly Green helicopter pilot in Vietnam. After a tour in Germany, he was transferred to fixed wing. 37 and 38 IP at Vance 72-76.
One summer, my Mom had gone to CA since her Dad (my Grandpa) was ill. Dad had cross country flights planned, so we had someone to take care of us (we lived in base housing 1264 Hurst). As soon as Dad heads for the flightline, I get on my mini bike and head for the park. While I'm there, I see a girl from my elementary school class riding her bike. So, of course, I give chase. She speeds home and I go back to terrorizing the park.
Soon the Security Police show up and haul me in. Guess she dimed me out to her Dad who was a LTC at the time. Arrested (detained) at age 9 or 10!
Sitting in the police shed, they kept asking me where my parents are. "Mom is in CA for a week and Dad (Major Richardson) is flying cross country to Cannon AFB in a four ship T-38 flight". "But we have Mrs Whoever (don't remember) who is watching us…." They said it had to be an actual parent.
So I sat in the police shed for what seemed all day. Then, I heard a familiar car sound, my Dad's 71 Fiat convertible….whoops, he is supposed to be headed to Cannon…..
Suddenly, there is Dad filling up the entire doorway, in flight suit and looking pissed. I walk to the car, knowing this is probably my end. Silently we drive home. Dad reaches behind him and tosses my mini bike in the front yard and says "I will see you tomorrow".
Well, he came back the next day and didn't say anything. Ever. I figured at some point he was going to remember it and that would be my demise.
In 1988, I transferred from Air Force Enlisted to the Army so I could fly (didn't have a degree yet and Army didn't care). At my graduation (UH-60 Blackhawks), Dad asked if I remembered the incident at Vance. Of course I do, and now you are going to punish me?
"We'll now that you are a pilot, you will understand the embarrassment of flying a four ship formation, get a call from ATC with a discrete frequency to call them on. Find out your delinquent son is terrorizing the base. All four jets had to turn around and return to Vance so I could take you home."
We laughed about it. Dad was pretty cool. Lost him in 2024. Up until the end he loved talking aviation (I retired in 2004 and fly HEMS now).
Dad loved going to Cannon because they had a snack bar at the flight line that supposedly had good enchiladas…..
Took Dad from the nursing home to the space museum in Hutchinson KS. As I pushed his wheelchair in, his eyes lit up and he proclaimed "I flew that jet!". They have a T-38 inverted suspended in the lobby.
Good times. Miss Dad every day.
