Intro comments by the Editor, P Kelly. JJ has shared many of his experiences with us, and here are two more. The first story is when JJ was a USAF crewmember on a Reconnaisance Airplane (RF-4) in Vietnam, taking photos of bomb damage, and potential targets on the ground. After the service, JJ became very active in the glider community, and continues to participate in all facets of our sport. This second story relates to gliding and soaring. I have given THE BIRD twice from the cockpit, in my flying career. The first time was at DaNang, Vietnam. We had a working agreement with the Marines, they would give us chow, refuel the ship and download film and then reload the cameras. This was done when the photo-recon work we had just accomplished was requested by the Marines, usually something around Kayson or the DMZ. We would reciprocate when the RF-4's the Marines were flying had a target down our way (Saigon). On this particular day, the ground crew downloaded the film and we headed for the chow-hall. Upon our return, we found our RF-4 had foot prints painted across one wing, up and over the fuselage and down the other wing. I looked at the Corporal Crew Chief and said, "This means war." He replied, "Sir, that's what your guys did to one of our ships last time it got refueled at Tan San Nute." They even stenciled a great big PIG right over our Squadron insignia." We cranked up, The Corporal gave a snappy salute, and my pilot returned it. As we started to move, I flipped them all THE BIRD. The Corporal was laughing so hard he fell down. I think I made his day. The second time I had occasion to use the bird was in a regional contest flown out of Bishop. The task that day was something like, Tonopah, Mina, Hawthorne, Basalt and return. Difficult day, some never got going and others landed at Mina and Hawthorne. I got past those turnpoints and actually carried the ship the last 10 miles into Basalt. Arriving there 700 feet above the ground, I did a real stupid thing, I turned my back on Basalt and headed for Montgomery Pass about three miles away. I just barely made the it, I was right down there with the truckers climbing out of the Owens Valley heading east on Highway 6. Got about 1500 feet of instant altitude once I flew out of the pass and into the valley. My problems weren't over though, I still had to fly about ten miles to get around the corner on the Whites and get some of the westerly slope lift that was being offered up that day. Made it and flew the remaining 35 miles to Bishop in mild slope lift at about 1000 feet above the ground. Landed straight in and as I rolled through the intersection, I spotted our CD, Gary Kemp. He was standing by the side of the runway hoping some of us would make it back and not make his overcall look so bad. As I passed, I flipped him THE BIRD. The Big Mormon didn't return my salute, but he was laughing pretty hard. JJ Sinclair ------------------------------------ About the Author: 
JJ Sinclair retired from the Air Force in 1974 after 22 years of service.
He flew as crew member on:
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