Everyone takes the limits of their own vision for the limits of the world.
-- Schopenhauer --
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This post will be of interest mainly to my sister. I'm posting here rather than writing her an email so I can keep the links handy for myself, too.
A while ago another blogger mentioned the "Endless Mountains" in northeastern Pennsylvania. I was in high school in that area when the contest was run to name the mountains (which are not mountains at all, but an eroded plateau). I searched the internet to see if I could get any information on why that was the winning entry (we all thought it was a stupid and arrogant choice), but the contest isn't mentioned anywhere.
However, I did stumble on a lot of info on the 648th Radar Squadron, Benton AFS. Seems like a lot of alumni of the base want to remember the place - unbelievable, but true.
(For those reading this who are not my sister and don't already know, the base was on top of Red Rock mountain, next door to Ricketts Glen State Park, in a deserted and man-forsaken section of northeastern Pennsylvania. That's where I lived through high school. It's isolated with a capital "I", with some of the worst weather anywhere. We actually had an Independence Day picnic cancelled one year because it snowed.)
What I've found:
Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_Air_Force_Station.
Unit page (sorta like "classmates.com"), 20 members, plus me - I joined so I could see the roster and read the notes. Nobody there I remember. There's an email address in the notes for some guy who is looking for information on commanders, history, etc. http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=712468. If you have info, Sister, maybe you could contact him?
Wilkes Barre "Times Leader" article on the history. http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/BentonAFSPAlookingback.html
The most interesting pages: http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Benton+AFS,+PA
Has links to photos (snork! I've got better ones! Maybe if I can locate them, I'll send them.) and all kinds of info, including a roster of 80 people who had been stationed there (including email addresses for most). 80 isn't many, considering that at any one time there were at least 200 men stationed there, and they rotated in and out every two to four years for twenty-five years. The list does not include:
Lt. Burchard (on whom I had the worst crush)
Sgt Joe Prevost
Sgt Giddens
Sgt Obie Philpot
Maj Warren Munson
Airman Tom Nichols
Our father, who was head radar honcho and commander for most of that period! He was the first radar officer when the base opened in 1951, and was off and on associated with the base for the next umpteen years, including as commander. But nobody remembers him?**
There are a lot more missing whose names I can't recall, but if I saw them on the list I'd recognize the names. There's a button for adding names, but I hesitate to add any because I'm not sure of dates, first names, functions, ranks, and so on. I think people have been adding themselves and their friends.
By the way, I'm pretty sure it was Daddy who designed that early emblem with the bat. The really ugly one that embarrassingly displays no understanding whatsoever of a bat's anatomy.
So, Sister, do you remember anyone else who was there and is not on the list? Are there any on the list you'd like to contact? Know a guy named Dave Schwartz whose father was stationed there (his email can be found at http://www.radomes.org/museum/guestbook.php?guestfile=2005/guest200507.txt)?
I also found this bit of special interest at http://www.ufoinfo.com/filer/1999/ff9936.shtml. It's a bit more detailed than the item you, Sister, had sent me about the same topic. Since few people follow links, I'm incorporating it verbatim:
You do know that Daddy had been working on Project Blue Book during that period he was at Wright-Patterson?PENNSYLVANIA ABDUCTION FROM AIR FORCE BASE
BENTON AIR FORCE STATION --I retired from the Air Force in 1990 as a Chief Master Sergeant. I was on the SAC Nuclear Disablement Team for many years. We would respond to any incidents/accidents or problems with nuclear weapons. I know of an incident that occurred on March 5, 1965, at Benton Air Force Station, Red Rock, Pennsylvania. Benton was part of the Air Defense Command Interior Radar Defense Zone. Two radar technicians (one being my brother) were repairing the height finder radar antenna located northeast of the 648th Radar Squadron site. An "object" described by my brother as being a small saucer shaped object landed nearby. The two technicians decided to investigate. As they approached the saucer, a beam of light came out and struck both technicians. That was the last they could remember, and they failed to report to their command post. Air Policeman went to search for the two technicians, but they could not be found. All their tools and equipment were located near the antenna they were fixing. The Pennsylvania State Police were alerted and a search of the area began. Sixteen hours later, a state trooper found the two technicians walking on Route 487 about 10 miles from the site south of Lopez. The two technicians seemed dazed and were transported to a hospital in Williamsport. They were examined and found to be dehydrated and confused. No alcohol or drugs were found in their system. They were later transferred to an Air Force Hospital at Stewart AFB, NY. Trace amounts of alpha radiation were found on their clothing and strange marks were discovered on their necks.
Special Agents from the Office of Special Investigations interviewed the technicians. They related their story up to the point of the beam of light. They could not remember anything after that. A psychiatrist wrote in the report that each technician experienced something they could not fully explain! They both spent two weeks in the hospital and were released back to their unit. My brother was reexamined at the Air Force Psychiatric Center, Sheppard AFB, TX in 1966. During a session with an Air Force psychiatrist, the doctor asked him if he thought he was abducted by extraterrestrial visitors! That was the first time anyone ever mentioned a UFO connection to my brother. My brother thought the Air Force knew. He told me years after the incident, he had nightmares about creatures poking instruments into his eyes, ears, and mouth. My brother served out his tour and was honorably discharged. He went onto college and worked for Boeing Aircraft Corporation until he retired in 1994. He won't speak about the incident. Thanks to CMSgt. Walter.
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**Actually, I did meet someone once who did remember Daddy. When Jay and I went to Daughter's graduation from Penn State, we stayed at a B&B in Bellefonte. The host asked where we were from, and when I said I had grown up on Red Rock, we learned that we both had been there at the same time. He'd been an airman. When I told him who my father was, his face darkened, and he said, "I hope you don't mind, but I have to say, your father was a tough SOB. A royal bastard." I said, "Yeah. I know. I can show you scars."
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12 comments:
my dad was based there in 1961, and would like to know where folks are like Bitterman, Munson, Symcheski - from Philpot
Amazing! I adored Obie, Jr. I can't put personal identifying info in this blog, but if you send me a note at SilkenDrum at yahoo dot com, identifying yourself, I can tell you about Bitterman and Munson. Most of all, I want to know what the Philpots are all doing. I lost contact when Obie died.
Stationed there in 1964-65. Dated girls from Benton HS and from Messacordia College. Saw Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs in Wilkes-Barre. Great time, but mostly lonely for enlisted like me. We formed a drill time just to have something to do. When the body's kept coming from Viet Nam, our drill team would escort the cascades to church and grave site. Usually, after the grave site, we would all (big bus) go back to the VFW for beer and hot dogs. Thank God I did not need to drive.
I got transferred to Clark AFB in the PI in 1966. But I'll never forget the dame and swimming and laying in the green grass on a hot summer day. One of the families I knew was the Crawford’s; He was a postman in Benton.
Anyway, All I really remember was the good times.
Bob Mossing - You mention the Crawford family in Benton. Did you know Joyce Crawford? She was a friend of mine. Before the houses were built on the base, we lived off and on in Benton, and I went to elementary school and eighth grade with Joyce. You mention a drill team. Bitterman's retirement ceremonies were on the base in, I believe, 1965, and there was a drill team. Were you on it?
Al Reed, stationed there from Nov. 1968 - Aug. 1971.
Lee Onis White (my paternal grandfather) was stationed there 1950-1954. I never knew he served; he died in 1996, I joined the AF in 2002 and learned in 2005 that he was AF as well.... very weird my family didn’t think to mention it. I want to learn more. Rumor is he worked with code talkers?
It seems I've made comment here before, but I don't recall. Anyhow, I was stationed at P-30 from 1961 to March of 1964, at which time I separated from active duty. I worked in radar Maintenance and dearly remember Obie Philpot!
MSgt Graham was NCOIC when I arrived, and Obie was also an E7, and I always felt he would have been a better NCOIC. Everybody loved Obie!
When I first arrived at Benton, it was right after leaving Tech School in Mississippi. Still had 6 months of OJT to complete before becoming a 5 level. Obie was a big help in getting that 5 level rating. He was everything an NCOIC should be and should have been. While some of the guys went to gap-filler maintenance, I stayed in the height-section and became a crew chief. I worked closely with SSgt Cozad until we suddenly became inundated with a bunch of 3 levels from Biloxi. It stopped being fun then. I remember that sad day when Obie had to "retire". I never did get the full jest of that crock, other than it seemed like Obie got the shaft. Yes, it was a very sad day! It was just one of those times the AF crapped in their mess kit.
I was stationed at P-30 from 1961 to 1964 in Radar Maintenance. Due to an on-going investigation that I was involved in, I was sent to perform gate guard duty until the investigation was over, about a week or so later, I think. Beings I was an "extra" the PM gave me mids to 0800 shifts. It was mostly very boring except for one night around 0300 or so. It had snowed earlier in the day that left a fresh layer of snow on the open field just outside the gate on the opposite side of the road from the housing area. I usually have my radio on, tuned to WLS in Chicago. I was listening to some music when I heard a noise that sounded like a "thud" coming from behind the guard shack. There ain't supposed to be anyone around there, especially in the wee hours of the morning. I grabbed the M2 carbine that is left there for the gate guard with 10 rounds of ball and went out behind the guard shack. There it was! I couldn't tell if it was male or female, but it was the smallest thing I had ever seen with three legs and four arms. Strangest creature ever! Scared the bee-jeepers outa me. I rushed back in the shack and called CQ to report what was outside the shack, and he said he was on his way down. When he came to the shack, he shook me to wake me up. Damn! That was the most realistic dream I have ever had! He gave me hell and told me to stay awake~~~in case they come back!
I am trying to find out any information about deaths that happened at the site while it was the Air Force base. I currently work at Red Rock Job Corps and it seems a shadow was seen on camera recently opening and slamming a door shut at what is currently our security building. We were told of a death of a cook by heart attack I was told in the cafeteria and believe he is still there as well. Any information would be appreciated.
I was stationed there from June 1961 to March 1964. During that time I knew of no unusual deaths. Our commander during that time (hell, I don't remember his name now) was killed in an auto accident in Wilkes Barre---didn't have his seat belt fastened---and he was a "stickler" for that. However, there was a rumor that someone from the site had been abducted by some alien entity. I never heard who it might have been, but the story was quickly dispelled as "merely a rumor". Since then I understand that indeed, someone was___some 58 or so many years since. I know there were some very strange lights---and sights both on the towers and around the towers---as I had seen some of them myself. Benton AFS was a strange place. More than once I freckled my DVDs on my way out to and up the tower steps to enter the tower to concuct some testing. I often entered the tower with every hair standing straight up, not knowing who would be in there to "greet me".
My wife reminded me why Obie Philpot retired. It was because of that Canadian 5BX program the USAF adopted, that required every Airman to be able to perform satisfactorily five basic exercises within a certain time limit. It was tough enough for the ones my age to do it and pass. Those Obie's age and older were in trouble unless they were kissing the right asses. I often wondered how many officers could pass the tests---including the "ole man". Never heard or found out the results of that BS.
Then the AF wonders why they have a retention problem???? (smack, smack)
r4adaray - I'm surprised you ask about the alien abduction. Go back up (above) to my original post and you will find a detailed report of that incident. It's the long indented part.
As to Sgt. Philpot, I'm not convinced it was a physical test that led to his retirement, since I know of at least five others who would not have passed the test (like Sgt. Giddens, the cook, for example). Obie Jr., his son, told me why he retired. It DID have indirectly to do with his health, but not a physical teat thing.
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