Category Archives: 43 TFS

Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Posted on April 2, 2019 by

At one time, there was a belief among some aviators that there is “no lift” at night, therefore night flight was not possible. Clearly this is not true, and is regarded as a joke among flyers, but it does reflect … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, American History, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Vietnam War | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Suck it Up

Posted on January 31, 2019 by

I was complaining on line about the cold today, it was 4 degrees when I got up.  A former F4 jock suggested I Suck it Up.  Hadn’t heard that in many years and I replied to him, “Yeah no Puss … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force lingo, American History, F-4 Phantom II, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo | Tagged | 8 Comments

Say Hello to the New Guys

Posted on January 7, 2019 by

Recently I watched Band of Brothers.  One episode centered on new men entering Easy Company as replacements after D Day. The men are welcomed with less than enthusiasm and are not sure what to make of it. And I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, Air Force lingo, Alaskan Air Command, American History, Band of Brothers, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Fighter pilot slang, Thailand, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB | 2 Comments

A Picture worth many words

Posted on September 20, 2018 by

  I have been looking at this picture a lot this week. I posted it to several F4 facebook groups.   It shows me standing in front of an F4C parked on the ramp at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, Alaska, American History, Arizona, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saftety Supplements

Posted on February 18, 2018 by

Yes there was an Air Force safety supplement to everything, here is the one to   HIGH  FLIGHT Air Force Supplement 1 OH, I HAVE SLIPPED THE SURLY BONDS OF EARTH (Surly bond slipping will be performed only by two … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, American History, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Fighter pilot slang | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Speech Given at the First Annual Veterans Dinner at Finger Lakes Community College

Posted on November 11, 2017 by

Remarks by  Lt Col John E. Norvell (USAF Ret.)  November 10, 2017 President Nye, Dr. Pierce, ladies and gentleman and members of the College community,  thank you for inviting me to speak tonight. As a former history professor I routinely … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, American History, Bolling AFB, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Family History, Fighter Aircraft, Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, New York State History, Norvell Family History, Ontario Co, Thailand, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans, Vietnam War | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The First Time I flew the F4

Posted on September 18, 2017 by

In the fall of 1972, I arrived at Luke AFB to upgrade to the backseat of the F4. I had come to this point late in life, 28 and a captain, having been a ground pounder (non-rated or non-flying officer) … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Air Force, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, American History, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Luke AFB, SEA | Tagged , | 7 Comments