Category Archives: Alaska

Of Fireworks and other things

Posted on June 30, 2017 by

There is no way around it. The 4th of July makes me think of fireworks. When we were small there were always fireworks in Fair Haven, a town located on Lake Ontario about 8 miles away. We lived on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska, Cambodia bombing 1973, F-4 Phantom II, Family History, Holidays, U Dorn RTAFB | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Long Ago, In a Galaxy far far away…

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

Over the last few months, since I visited the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio and sat in the cockpit of an F4 again, the Phantom II has been almost continually on my mind. And as I thought about all those … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, American History, Anchorage, Arizona, Cambodia bombing 1973, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Fighter pilot slang | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Halloween House

Posted on October 18, 2016 by

When I was small my father carved a large Jack O’Lantern for me. It was a very special bonding moment. One that I will always remember.  Perhaps that is why I have always liked Halloween. It started out innocently enough. … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Force, Alaska, American History, Anchorage Alaska, Halloween, Hauntings, Holidays, Norvell Family History, NY, NY History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moose Recce and other Alaskan sports

Posted on August 25, 2016 by

My wife was a big cross county skier when we lived in Alaska. Luckily Anchorage had an extensive series of trails.  So every winter, she and a friend would load the dogs — hers a Malamute, ours a Samoyed– into … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, Alaskan glaciers, American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Arctic Survival

Posted on February 13, 2016 by

The cold air rushing down from Canada today, its about -3F as I write this, reminds me of when I attended Arctic Survival School in Alaska. From 1974-1978, I flew air intercept missions in the F4 Phantom II out of … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, Alaskan glaciers, American History, F-4 Phantom II, F4 emergency, F4 Phantom II, Fighter Aircraft, Norvell Family History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ice Fog

Posted on November 27, 2015 by

The transition to winter here in the North East made me think of our time in Alaska. When we lived in Anchorage, winter came early, nearly always at the end of September.  It was then that there appeared what the … Continue reading →

Posted in 43 TFS, Air Force, Alaska, Alaskan Air Command, American History, Anchorage, Anchorage Alaska | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Flame Motel and other horrors

Posted on October 27, 2015 by

During my 23 years in the Air Force, I moved 9 times. Most moves were uneventful, but every now and then… In 1973 as we traveled across Texas it was late at night when we finally stopped.  It was almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Force, Alaska, American History, Norvell Family History, Texas | Tagged , | Leave a comment