Willow Run Reservists On Annual Active Duty

Willow Run Reservists On Annual Active Duty

(Special to The News)

SELFRIDGE FIELD, Mt. Clemens—Some 100 officers and enlisted men, members of the new Air Force Reserve Squadron based at Willow Run Airport, are here-for their annual, two weeks of intensive active duty training.

Joining with other reserve units of the 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing are members of Washtenaw-Wayne counties’ 472nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron. The active training, begun Sunday, will continue through Aug. 26. In all, there are about 130 officers and 435 enlisted men of the 439th undergoing the annual active duty stint at the Selfridge Air Force base here.

Training of the AF reservists, is being concentrated on aerial gunnery and the current changeover from F-80 to F-84-type jet aircraft for all three wing squadrons.

Included in the 100 members of the 472nd are 14 men from the Washtenaw county area. They include Capt. Daniel K. Faber of 1450 University Terrace and Lt. Donald J. Keune of 418 E. Huron St., 2nd Lt. John P. Wenzeiberger of 3519 Carolyn St., A/B Robert Huger of 255 Crest Ave. and A/B Glenn J. Steinman of 2553 W. Liberty Rd., all in Ann Arbor; Lt. R. C. Newcomb of 1791 Washtenaw Rd., Lt. James Sutton of 2499 E. Michigan Ave. and T/Sgt. Gordon L. Yeck of 720 Don’s Dr., all in Ypsilanti township; S/Sgt. John G. Kovacs of 1459 Metcalfs Ct., Willow Village; A/B Sidney J. Hopkins and A/B Larry R. Kaufman of Whitmore Lake; M/Sgt. Dorris E. Berger and T/Sgt. John Jurinic of Belleville and A/3c G. Vern Diedrick of Plymouth.

Recently Activated

The 472nd was activated at Willow Run early this year. It is composed of reserve commissioned officers who are rated pilots, plus veterans of the Air Force and other branches of military service. Ultimately, the squadron will number about 400 enlisted men and officers.

The unit is headquartered in the former Packard Hangar building on the east side of Willow Run Airport. It is operated by a permanent complement of about 30 regular officers and enlisted men, plus civilian employees.

With the exception of the current two-week training period AF activity of the reservists confined to Saturdays and Sundays, when the “weekend warriors” of the 472nd arrive at Willow Run from a three-state area for both ground and air training.

For the two-day weekend of training each month, the reservists are paid for four days at the regular base-pay rate according to their rank. Pilots also receive extra flight pay for flying. During the annual summer encampment here, they receive regular Air Force wages — earning while they’re learning.

Operations Duplicated

All of the 472nd’s planes, personnel and equipment was moved here within 24 hours last weekend as part of the active training. All operations normal at Willow Run the rest of the year have been set up and/or duplicated here by reservists.

At present, the Washtenaw-Wayne unit has some 15 F-80s and F-84s, plus T-33 jet trainers. Eventually, the squadron will be assigned 25 jet fighter-bombers plus trainers and other supporting aircraft.

The parent 439th wing activated the 472nd squadron at Willow Run in February to spread out the reserve groups and to offer reserve Air Force training for former military men living in Washtenaw county, western Wayne county and surrounding areas. Several travel from as far away as Indianapolis, Ind., and Dayton, O., to participate in the Willow Run training.

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AIR RESERVISTS TRAIN: The 472nd Fighter-Bomber Reserve Squadron based at Willow Run Airport is currently undergoing two weeks of active duty training at Selfridge Air Force Base near Mt. Clemens. Here, mechanics of the reserve unit attend a classroom session dealing with the jet engines of the F-84 planes which the squadron flies. Some 100 enlisted men and officers of the 472nd are currently taking the active training, together with two other reserve units of the parent 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

WASHTENAW PILOTS CONFER: These four Reserve jet pilots, all members of the 472nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron at Willow Run, take time out during their two-week summer training period to confer with Maj. Philip G. Kuhn (left) of Wyandotte, World War II flying ace who is reserve commander of the 472nd. The pilots are (left to right, on ground) Lt. John P. Wenzelberger of Ann Arbor, Lt. R. C. Newcomb of Ypsilanti township and Lt. Donald J. Keune of Ann Arbor. Standing on a ladder by an F-84 jet is Lt. James Sutton, also of Ypsilanti township.