So, flying was supposed to be the forte, but while in Europe, what did the Romans do? And I’m wrapping up Chapter 3 to get to some good stuff: Combat! Anyway, here goes:
On the work front, even though the United States was in a Cold War, the squadron practiced WW II tactics using conventional weapons while nuclear power, and the threat of using it was entertained. Inflight refueling was becoming vogue, but not ready for real-world application. Although, once perfected, it was going to be the game changer. So, Col. Schilling worked fulltime on the probe and drogue system. But what better way to perfect a fighter and pilot’s range than stretching limits. On June 14, a flight of F-84s took the longest over water, non-refuel flight at the time, led by Schilling. Chico partook, going to Stavanger, Norway, and returning. All over open water, lasting more than three hours.
Then, when the time to return stateside approached, a three-month extension allowed wives to visit. Intrigued with going, Maria sailed over on the Queen Mary. Chico and another pilot (Dave Fellows) rented apartments at 15 Truro Road in Ramsgate, County of Kent. The units were furnished, the heat source a fireplace. Settled in, Chico and Maria made friends with an English girl named Toni Berry. She taught them the ropes of English life. World War II was distant, yet things were still in disarray with ration cards for eggs and butter being normal. And when time permitted, they traveled the countryside. One getaway was to Paris, France: “Dave’s wife [June] and Maria went to England, and we lived in the same house. We didn’t have cars. We contracted with a taxi driver to pick us up every morning (Dave and I) and take us back to the base. He then picked us up at night and brought us back home. There’s a long explanation of a boat trip; I can remember as if it was yesterday.
June was leaning out of her second story window when we were leaving for work. Kitty was at the door. We told them, call the boat train people and make reservations. While on base we couldn’t call off, we had to send a telegram, so we told the wives to call. And they said, ‘Naw, it will be alright.’ The taxi driver said, ‘I would suggest you make reservations.’ They said ‘okay.’” - Roland X. Solis
Now, the details. The cabbie drove the foursome to Dover, where they caught the train to Paris. It was part of a service started in 1936, called the “train ferry.” Originating in London with a termination point in Paris, vice versa on return. Except, the only thing stopping a direct route was the English Channel. Roughly 350 miles long with a varying width of 150 miles at the widest point and twenty-one at the narrowest. When the train arrived in Dover, it was loaded onto the ferry portion of the trip and crossed the channel.
The morning of the adventure’s start, Chico and Dave went to work. When the cabbie picked them up, both wives were to make reservations. The train had sleeper cars, and it was a night crossing. In the excitement, the two women went preparing. They packed, talked, and romanticized Paris highlights while neither made reservations. The cabbie returned Chico and Dave, picking up the wives. When they arrived in Dover, they went to purchase passage and acquire sleeper cars. Much to their chagrin, nothing room-wise was available.
Then June, standing at the ship’s rails, became vocal: “David, I don’t want to sit here all night. David, I want some place to sleep.” With no beds, it was going to be a long night with no rest. Some crew members overheard. For a price, they’d surrender their quarters, and all could sleep. The deal made, they headed below deck to crew quarters with tiny rooms and even smaller bunks. To Maria’s annoyance, their door was not secure. When the ship rolled, the door creaked. Being in a strange environment with engines running just above her head, she requested Chico climb into her bunk. The conditions made for a long night. When the ferry arrived, everybody was exhausted, yet excited, and ready.
In Paris, they toured the Eiffel Tower, Champs d’Elysees, and the Louvre with its display of the Mona Lisa. Later, they then enjoyed Paris nightspots on this two-day foray. Now, Murphy’s Law can manifest at inopportune times. Let’s say a white-feathered hat versus a fur and seventy-five bucks spent on said hat kept one husband from speaking to his wife. Then, a bottle of Champagne and a very happy French woman entering a club everyone was leaving kept the other wife from speaking to her husband. Throw in a ton of sleep deprivation emotion and add nothing else that night.
Understandably, the remainder of the trip was quiet. The next day, the foursome boarded the train for the return trip, and the only sounds heard were the rhythmic click of steel wheels connecting with rail joints and the occasional whistle. The guys returned to flying while the clock ticked away. After the three months passed, the squadron returned to Turner. By July 2, 1951, Chico was back flying locals. But in February 1952, two ships (F-84s) TDY’d (temporary duty) to Ramey AFB: “I went to Puerto Rico for fighter attacks against bombers coming back from their long missions (B-36s). We stayed by the pool, and when they needed us, they’d call down. We’d run out to the airplane and go fly, do our thing, come back and go back to the pool.” - Roland X. Solis
Pilots were also picked to entrain to Farmingdale, New York, receiving new F-84s to replace older models. The Air Force, though, wanted to send Chico to Monterrey, California for language school. Upon completion, he’d transfer to South America as a military advisor. Chico thought nope, thinking he would become a “gear raising mechanism in a C-45.”
Stationed at Turner, he’d been through two commanders. And each time something negative happened, fate intervened—GCAs, church, and two wings. Well, the time presented for an OER, covering January 21st through April 20, 1952, including another squadron commander, his third. Now, there are no OERs with Young or Booty, so this first one was career important. (I underlined words for emphasis):
Lt. Solis is a dependable officer. He is very immature and in the past has been inclined to rash and impetuous acts. However, during the period of this report, he has improved immensely. He has performed his duties in an excellent manner and has shown initiative and resourcefulness during two TDY missions. He is a very aggressive fighter pilot and has been transferred to Korea at his own request as a combat jet fighter pilot. — Charles W. Lenfest/Lieutenant Colonel
Volunteer? … for combat! Chico wanted to make the service his career. The problem. He habitually got in his own way and needed to turn things around. Even though Korea was a pilot attrition war, combat would look good on his record. Especially if he survived. The game changer could wipe out the previous “damn its.” In the OER, Lenfest used immature, impetuous, and rash, triple negatives, but Chico was also put in for a promotion on March 20, 1952:
Lieutenant Solis is a loyal, conscientious officer who strives continually to do his utmost in any task or duty assigned. He is very courteous, polite and shows proper respect for senior officers. He is exceptionally neat in both military and civilian attire. His morals and character are above reproach. This officer definitely meets the standards required of an Air Force Officer and is fully qualified to attain the rank of first lieutenant. Subject officer completed eighteen months commissioned service 4 February 1952 and is filling the TO and E position of first lieutenant, jet fighter pilot. - Charles W. Lenfest/Lieutenant Colonel
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Well, when Schilling made his historic in-flight refueling mission from Manston, it was September 1950. He paved the way to incorporate air refueling into the lexicon of the fighter-pilot world. At Turner, the wing was selected to fly the next progression, making it a mainstay moving planes from one location to another.
In July 1952, with the mission name being Fox Peter One, flights departed Turner, culminating in Misawa, Japan. The gaggle of F-84s refueled over Texas and the Pacific with the remainder of flights island-hopping, covering more than ten thousand miles. Had Chico not volunteered for Korea, he would have participated. Instead, like Disneyland used to be, he went for his “E” ticket ride.
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Most of us have never been in combat, yet fighter-pilot bravado relished the thought. Some survived, completing tours, while many came home in caskets or remain listed as MIA or KIA. Their families have no idea what happened to them. Others did what they could before giving up their wings, heading back to a world forever changed because of their time spent in Hell. Those who lost loved ones in Korea picked up the pieces, moved on, starting over, wondering what it was all about. Was the cost even worth the price of admission?