53rd Fighter Squadron, May 1949 by Bill Baley

From MemoryArchive

Who: Bill Baley
What: Flying with the 53rd Fighter Squadron
When: May 1949
Where: Aircraft carriers

I joined the 53rd Fighter Squadron at Fürstenfeldbruck in May 1949 as assistant crew chief on F-80B-1-LO 45-8661, nicknamed "MOX NIX" (that's "No Sweat" im deutche). It was one of the 36th's F-80s that were loaded onto an aircraft carrier in Panama and sailed to Prestwick, Scotland, where the jets were offloaded and made ready for the flight to "Fursty."

The Skyblazers acrobatic team was born when a group of 22nd FBS pilots began doing coordinated aerobatics with the F-80s over the field at Fürstenfeldbruck. I believe they started later in 1949 than May. Two members of the original team were twin captains named Bill and Buck Patillo. (DCG: Both Pattillos had entered the Army as privates in World War II for flight training. Bill, however, was shot down over Germany and remained a POW until 1945. Buck served with 8th Air Force in England.) They were later transferred from "Fursty" to the States and I believe were at Luke AFB where they were involved in the formation of another aerobatic team which eventually became the famous Thunderbirds. A good friend of mine was assigned to the 22nd FBS and was crew chief on one of the original Skyblazer planes. They were all over Europe -- including the East Bloc countries -- and they were a fantastic group, although accidents still happened. My friend eventually completed flight training and retired as a "full bird" colonel.

The 36th FBW received its first F-84Es at Fürstenfeldbruck in September, 1950. When we received those F-84s, they were restricted to only normal flight conditions and I thought the Skyblazer team was going to go bonkers before the restrictions were lifted in about 60 days.

The American forces in Europe had undergone a drastic austerity plan in early spring of 1950. Our squadron was reduced by 50% and pilots without a college degree were grounded regardless of experience. In June 1950, the Korean war started and we were in Europe at half strength (I was crewing two F-80s by myself!). The US government took immediate action, and by September, 1950, when the F84s arrived I had one plane to care for and two assistants. Another note of possible interest: the F-84s were flown to "Fursty" from an airbus in Texas. The flight was led by Col Schilling, and it was the first mass crossing of the Atlantic by American jet fighters.

Still another "first" for the 36th Wing: we had a 2nd Lt in the 53rd FS who was the first to eject from a jet aircraft over Europe. He had already survived an engine flameout on a short final at Fursty in an F-80. This man was only a 2nd Lt, but with more flying time than anyone in the squadron (including the commanding officer, a bird colonel!) -- at age 15 he had run away from his Pennsylvania home, enlisted in the Canadian AF, and flew combat missions with them in Europe (DCG: Spitfires? Hurricanes?).

Thanks again for that fine history of the 36th and keep up the good work. I formed some very strong bonds during the time I was there and still communicate with some of my best buddies after more than 45 years.

Co-opted from Personal Recollections and War Stories