COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Monday, September 18, 2006

Happy 59th Birthday U.S.A.F.




Happy Birthday Air Force, Fifty-Nine Years!

On this day, September 18, 1947 the National Security Act of 1947 created the United States Air Force.
Air Force Song - by LtCol Robert Crawford
Music: Full Song with Vocals (Real Media, 1.9 MB) - Two Verses Only (RealMedia, 670 KB) - Bridge Only (RealMedia, 421 KB)
- Verse 1 -
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder ,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
- Verse 2 -
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
(God only knew then!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
- Bridge: "A Toast to the Host" -
Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky ,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast the U.S. Air Force!
- Verse 3 -
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue!
(Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men, guarding our nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Notes: Crawford didn't write "Hey!"; he actually wrote "SHOUT!" without specifying the word to be shouted. Wherever they appear, the words "U.S. Air Force" have been changed from the original "Army Air Corps." Words in parentheses are spoken, not sung.

12 comments:

  1. Rufus put on your glasses pal, this is the Elephant Bar not the Elephant Bra!

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  2. "That" is a southerenism from a *long* time ago. Granny used it on the younguns apologies, when she felt sorry for having fussed at us.

    "Sorry, Granny, I didn't mean to walk so close to your new couch."

    "Aw, shuckins, honey, it's alright. NOW GO CUT ME A SWITCH!"

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  3. If that pic doesn't draw out Habu, get ready to pull off one of his dog tags and put it between his top two incisors. Tack the other above the bar.

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  4. I threw another one for sentimental reasons. Army Air Corps, 8th AF, 93th Bomber Group, 409 Squadron, O-bitch-U-airy Mary. 25 missions over Germany, Air Medal, three bronze clusters.

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    Replies
    1. hey there, my cousin's granddad passed away very recently. We've been looking for more info on this plane and its missions. The info I've been getting in my research is conflicting so I am reaching out to anyone who may know more. Could we exchange info and speak more about this plane and crew?

      Consolidated B-24 Libetator "The o-bitch-u-airy Mary", s/n was 42-50485. She flew with the 409th Bomb Squadron, 93 Bomb Group, 28th Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division based out of Hardwick (or so I'm told).

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  5. Brief History of the 93rd:

    http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/
    history.htm

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  6. The 93rd went on to become a B-52 outfit. Three B-52Bs of the 93rd Bomb Wing departed Castle Air Force Base, Calif., for their record-setting round-the-world flight in 1957. The three on the top picture are they.

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  7. my dad was 384th BG, 2164. I've read much about 93rd.

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