FIREDAWGS! HEROES FROM THE PAST: A CONCISE U.S. AIR FORCE FIRE PROTECTION HISTORY
AS A PROUD FORMER U.S. AIR FORCE (USAF) FIREFIGHTER…
…I am curious about something. Where did my military occupational specialty (MOS) originate, and what kind of history is out there on the Air Force Firedawgs.
Not much. Sure, there are a few yawn inspiring “official” organizational histories and five or six “general” links to shared background information, but something is missing. The human aspect. So let this be a first step or attempt to shine a spotlight on my USAF Firedawg brothers and attempt to illuminate what preceded today’s USAF Fire Protection force.
PRE-1947 FIREDAWGS
Information here is scant at best. It seems that individual unit histories carefully recorded fires and associated damage but neglected to add any meat and potatoes information on anything else of interest about the fire protection units of the Army. Yes, I said Army.
During the years of world war II (1941-44), installation fire protection fell under the organization of the U.S. Army Air Force. A single person, The Fire Marshall, bore responsibility for organizing and maintaining the firefighting section on the air base. By the end of the second world war, concerns about sensitive intelligence matters began the push of fire protection toward re-organization. More on that later. (Ballard)
In 1942 the Rescue Crew came into being. Much like today, the elite four man crew of a “Rescue” vehicle, earn their place by passing exams, certifications, and demonstrating competency. Our Rescue crews were all certified Emergency Medical Technicians, and were first in on anything medical related. I can still remember our Rescue Crew members from my service at both RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Lakenheath. They had a certain swagger, but rightly so. When stuff went south, they were at the tip of the spear. (Ballard)
A year later in 1943, the first Army Air Forces School conducted training at Geiger Field in Washington state, then in February 1944, another school was opened at Buckley Field in Denver, Colorado.
AFTER WORLD WAR TWO
By the end of 1944, a new sheriff was in town. That sheriff? The intelligence officer from the Oklahoma City Air Service Technical Command (OCASTC). Basically, the installation commander was top dog, below him, the intelligence officer oversaw the operations and activities of the Provost Marshall (a selected USAF officer) who held rank over the Fire Chief. Sounds dry and unexciting, however, the point being, that the job of fire protection on USAF installations now overlapped so that firefighters were going into places out of necessity, and that required high security clearances. (Ballard)
Exposure to aircraft, facilities, equipment, and just about anything that is part of an active military installation, signaled the need for an intelligence officer over-watch. According to one source, “the ongoing program of research and development for technical ways to resolve the problem of cockpit fires in aircraft…and the presence of some classified equipment in the cockpits of aircraft of some of the aircraft used by the U.S. Army Air Force…” made such security related changes necessary. (Ballard)
Even today, every U.S. Air Force Firefighter passes an extensive federal background check and receives a Top Secret clearance. I received one in 1992, and during my Air Force years we were entrusted with “all-access” to base facilities and aircraft, enabling us to respond to and protect all property and life on our Air Force base.
Then in 1947 changes took place. Big changes. The National Security Act of 1947 became law on 26 July 1947. What was it? Basically, an official declaration “to provide three military departments: the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. “To provide for their coordination and unified direction under civilian control and to provide for the effective strategic direction and operation of the armed forces under unified control. To coordinate national security matters, the act established the National Security Council (NSC), the Central Intelligence Agency under the NSC, and the National Security Resources Board.”
Why is this important? This is the time that the United States Air Force was established within the Department of the Air Force. “The Army Air Forces (and the Army Air Corps and the Air Force Combat Command) would be transferred to the Air Force, and the agencies themselves would cease to exist. Under the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff, was to exercise command over the new service.” Under this Act, U.S. Air Force Fire Protection fell under the command of the Base Commander, Air Installation Officer, and was on even keel with other installation departments like operations, administration, accounting, supply, etc. It’s still this way today.
LOWRY AIR FORCE BASE FIRE ACADEMY OPENS IT’S DOORS
As the leaves dropped in the fall of 1947, the USAF opened its own fire school on Lowery Air Force Base (AFB), Colorado. Chief W. Jasper Patterson pioneered the new training program. As primary instructor, he worked wonders with the then tiny budget. (Courchene)
Utilizing former aircraft engine test cell buildings, Patterson and his teaching cadre ran a two part fire academy. They cleared the old facilities of everything and created classrooms, a bunk room, and office space.
The climate could be stark and training hard. One instructor recalled that, “We went to work at 4 a.m. and stoked the coal furnaces so classrooms would be heated before students arrived for class. And then, they’d stand around and moan and groan about this being the worst place in the world for a fire school. While they complained, instructors worked outside in the cold and snow repairing leaks to the tunnel line of the Class 155 crash truck. It was in those times that we relied on the class leaders to keep a semblance of order.” (Courchene)
LOU GARLAND TAKES CHANUTE AFB IN HAND
Then, 17 years later, the moving trucks arrived yet again. Lowry training was transferred to my old Alma mater, Chanute AFB, outside Rantoul, Illinois. Early in 1965, Warrant Officer Lou Garland took over school command, and went to work immediately.
Morale, a constant challenge, increased with solid training and excellent instruction. It also increased when students were shown that the instructors really cared about there training.
Always hands on, either Lou would sometimes himself welcome students to the supervisory course and or the technical services courses. “Oftentimes, the students knew the instructors, and they renewed friendships. The passing rate for students was 95 percent. The school offered students remedial training after classes.” (Courchene)
Other factors improved training at Chanute. Courses were re-organized and improved, instructors were improved, federal and state fire training curriculum’s were utilized. Garland also formulated a three prong attack.
Three sections of training were offered at Chanute. Basic, Advanced, and Supplemental. These groupings included the basic, advanced, and special supplemental courses. “The three instructional groups were responsible for academic and proficiency training, while the curricula development section was responsible for writing and publishing Career Development Courses (CDCs).” (Courchene)
The Basic Firefighter course took two months, and consisted of five blocks of training. Publications, structural fire-fighting techniques, vehicle operations, and aircraft crash rescue and fire fighting.
The advanced courses were divided into two distinct sections. “These included five-level or specialist courses and a seven-level section focusing on management training and advanced skills.” (Courchene)
The reputation of Chanute’s fire academy took off. It became world renown (and still is at Goodfellow AFB). Politicians, military officers, foreign dignitaries all became smitten with the outstanding world class military fire protection training Chanute offered. Foreign “dignitaries all visited the school for briefings and tours…Its instructional staff was unparalleled for its knowledge and professionalism, and they interfaced with the National Fire Protection Association, Underwriter’s Laboratories, Factory Mutual, and other military services on a daily bases.” (Courchene)
Throughout the post world war two era, numerous milestones were continually achieved out of necessity. Unique squadrons were formed, all tasked with providing emergency response capabilities worldwide. USAF Fire Departments respond to all USAF Base emergencies, to include structural, crash and rescue, hazmat, and medical. When not saving and protecting base assets and personnel, along with their families, they are educating and preventing.
Fire Inspections are carried out in every facility and or area, while comprehensive fire prevention training is delivered to Air Force personnel. Over the years, the scope of USAF Fire Department responsibilities has expanded to include hazardous materials handling, emergency medical services, and even search and rescue operations. Eglin AFB is just one such example with its current tremendous amphibious, coastal rescue capability.
1960’S & THOSE THAT MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
The job of the USAF Firefighter has always been a dangerous one. On May, 15, 1952, a B-47 Stratojet caught fire. The base Fire Chief and firefighters responded quickly. Upon arrival they bravely inched their way into the flames, dousing the fuselage in firefighting foam. As the fire seemed defeated, and the smoke cleared, everything looked good to go. Then the engine exploded.
In that tragic event, four were killed, base Fire Chief P.E. Ralls, Airman Second Class Joseph Palagonia, Airman Third Class Jacob Lang, and Airman Third Class Wayne Hower were all killed. Eighteen others were injured.
In the same year, on Ramsey AFB, Puerto Rico, one firefighter went down in USAF firefighter lore. One Firefighter Morris Edison was partaking in a happy Sunday parade when the base shook as a B-36 heavy bomber exploded. He immediately dashed to the station, threw on his bunker gear over his uniform, and joined his brother firefighters at the scene. (Courchene)
Several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide and thousands of gallons of protein foam were applied to the blaze. Fire fighters were exposed to extreme danger, and several received burn injuries. Rapid evacuation saved nearby B-36s.
By the 1960’s, more changes occurred as technology evolved. New aircraft and weapons necessitated advanced training, new doctrines, new procedures, and more education to provide at the Chanute AFB fire school. New fire vehicles like the P-2 and P-4, also began arriving on USAF installations and with upgraded speed, power, and fire fighting capabilities, enhanced the effectiveness of every USAF fire department. I actually first rode tail inside a P-2 on my first shift and response at RAF Upper Heyford in 1992.
In 1964, Fire Chief Louis F. Garland (the name given to the current Goodfellow AFB Firefighting academy), became a premier fire training officer. He wrote and honed the fire protection standards for fire protection training and career enhancement. In the fall of 1967 he made news by holding a demonstration which, was actually made into a training film. He took I can only presume a shell of a massive disused B-52 bomber, put it on an inactive runway and set it on fire. (Courchene)
Then he sent in several fire vehicles at once. Numerous crash trucks “attacked the 10,000-gallon blaze. A large team of Air Force movie-makers and eventually camera crews from the nation’s three national TV networks set up and shot the event. The concept was called “Mass Application.” and it was enjoyed around the world.” (Courchene)
1970’s TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS AND A WAR IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
The 1970s ushered in more advancements along with the formation of new unit identification. Training improved, ideas evolved, technical training manuals became standardized and improved under the guidance of Oklahoma State University (OSU). Along with educational standards, fresh distinctive USAF Fire Protection badges were authorized for fire and emergency services personnel. (Courchene)
Then came the Vietnam war, which saw the creation of a unique type if emergency response tactic. Remote access and emergency response in the regions of south east Asia, presented quite a problem. As a solution, PEDRO units were created named after a small helicopter that was utilized to respond quickly to very hostile and remote backdrops.
PEDRO was the moniker given to the small but agile helicopter, the HH-43B “Huskie.” This small craft was the result of a two year study by the Air Force. Made by Kaman Aircraft Corporation, it proved it’s weigh in gold.
Most remote bases had two HH-43B’s. They made the remote accessible, the confined spaces tolerable, rescues successful. They were not restricted by roads, or ground conditions, and were assigned special air crew and firefighters to work with and depend upon for theirs and others lives.
At Maron Air Base (AB), Spain, the HH was a workhorse. According to one author, between 1960 and 1964, Moron had the highest F-104 accident rate in the Air Force. “Between Spaniards crashing F-86s and our pilots crashing F-104s, the “chopper” crew had lots of “air time,” operating at on- and off-base crashes. The fire chief felt comfort knowing he had the capability to reach downed aircraft in minimum time and have the fire fighting and rescue personnel on site before motorized equipment could arrive.” (Courchene)
Who made up a PEDRO crew? Regular USAF firefighters, along with specially trained rescue personnel. Arriving on scene first, PEDRO teams sprang into action with a two pronged attack. While special rescue team cleared a path to the cockpit and made their way to rescue any air crew, the “regular” firefighters extinguished any fire.
PEDRO fire fighters carried an “A571XX’ Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), slightly different from the AFSC of the conventional firefighter (19). The “A” was added to signify airborne’ firefighters.” (Courchene)
Other heroes emerged during the Vietnam conflict. At around midnight, on July 15, 1967, Da Nang Air Base erupted into chaos as up to 83 enemy rockets stuck the base. Fires began everywhere on base. Both the barracks and flight-line were a blaze.
It was hell on earth. Fuel cells exploded, bombs went off, ten aircraft were decimated, 40 were damaged, 13 barracks were completely flattened, and 8 service members were killed and 175 wounded. (Courchene)
Among the dead were five USAF Fire Protection firefighters. While bravely responding to a fire, a 500lb bomb slung under the wing of a F-4 Phantom exploded killing 6 Firedawgs.
The fallen firefighters were as follows. Airman 1st Class (A1C) Stephen John Berg, Airman 2nd Class (A2C) Charles Ray Humble, A1C Ronald Felton Pool, A2C Charles Dwight Ward, and A2C Charles Boss all list their lives that hot night in south east Asia. One other airman, A1C James Foster Brooks, died from his wounds one month later. (Courchene)
Tragedy wasn’t confined to Vietnam. In 1971, a F-100 Sabre Jet crashed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Due to technical issues, Captain Richard C. Ames fought to control his incoming jet to no avail. Out of control, he hit the ground, side swiped a farm house, then plowed through a sugar beet field only to destroy the perimeter fence and come to a stop on top of a 200,000-gallon underground fuel hydrant system. (Courchene)
Base Fire Chief, Clarence T. Flannagan arrived on scene and his crews quickly went into action. A P-2 crash truck drowned the aircraft in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) and extinguished the fire in minutes. “The unexpected crash preempted a planned fire training demonstration for several British Fire Brigades using AFFF. ‘You Yanks really know how to put on a demonstration,’ a British fire officer remarked.” (Courchene)
COLD WAR AND NFPA
Then came the 1980’s, the cold war, and serious standardization. Air Force Fire Protection standards were put under a microscope and compared to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
It was clear that the Air Force standard was far superior. So, the USAF took into consideration cost effectiveness, operational risk, and more, and decided to take NFPA standards and adopted them as the official USAF crash fire rescue standards. My favorite crash and rescue vehicle to operate, the P-19, also came on scene in the 1980s along with improved lighter and smaller self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). (Moore)
1990’S MY ERA
The 1990s was my era. I served from 1992-1996. USAF firefighters served with distinction during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. During this conflict, 1992 – Operations Desert Shield/Storm. In only two months at King Khalid Military City, USAF fire personnel responded to 1,076 emergencies and logged 4,120.5 hours. (Moore)
Other locations were served by USAF fire personnel. Mogadishu, Somalia, the Balkans, Kosovo and many more. I served for 6 months in central America. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were always on the deployment vacation list. Serbia and Bosnia was another cherished destination. Wherever the USAF has aircraft, assets and personnel, the USAF Fire Department will be there, ever vigilant, ever ready.
In 1994 a new award was developed. The Firefighter of the Year Award began to be bestowed upon one military and one civilian firefighter who worked with the USAF. (Moore)
After I was discharged in 1996, and through the 2000s, many more conflicts and locations have been served by USAF Fire Protection. Afghanistan and Iraq are the major two, but numerous other smaller conflicts and locations have also been frequented by USAF Firedawgs.
THE CLOSEST FAMILY OF SOME OF THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS IN THE WORLD
Approximately 9,200 USAF Firefighters are assigned to USAF bases worldwide. Everyday these men and women protect property and lives. They respond to any type of fire on base and assist surrounding areas when needed. This includes, building, aircraft, automobile, dumpsters, forest, fuel spill, and hazmat emergencies. The USAF Firedawgs also attend to medical emergencies and perform rescue operations. I addition, they implement fire safety, inspection and education.
Their world is particularly hazardous. Why? A USAF base is like a small city. And needs fire coverage on every inch, which unlike most civilian fire departments, have the added job hazards such as thousands of pounds of jet fuel and various hazardous materials, tons of explosive ordinance, millions of dollars’ worth of military aircraft, and the lives of all assigned military personnel and their families. It’s taking care of a small U.S. city times ten.
I’m extremely proud of my service a s a USAF Firedawg, and the memories live with me forever. As most former USAF Firedawgs, I can still see the faces, remember the laughs, the personalities, the emergency responses, the bases, the aircraft, the crash trucks, the deployments, and in many cases like mine, the foreign country (I was in the United Kingdom) and its unique culture. Anyone who was at RAF Upper Heyford, knows it means when I talk about Fish N Chips, footy on the telly, the NCO Club, the post office, Banbury, Bicester, the pubs, and Oxfordshire.
A SPECIAL BREED
And like a real family, the USAF Fire Protection clan are a close knit bunch. Even other sections of the USAF consider the occupational specialty or the “Firedawgs” a special breed of our own. Numerous times civil engineering officers other personnel would use any excuse just to hang out for a short time with us during some “down” time at our fire station. The Security Forces members would “check in” especially on cold winter nights. We considered them our flightline brothers and sisters.
We had fun. We played pranks on each other. We argued. We had no mercy for any quirks or weaknesses of our fellow firefighters, almost nothing was out of bounds for fellow firefighter humor. However, we were the first to help each other, personally or professionally, we worked, trained, cooked, lived, worked out, and played together on 24 hour shifts. We were bothers and sisters, and god forbid anyone say anything bad about our colleagues or do them wrong. We had each other’s backs in a way that a civilian would not understand.
I can assure you, at least in my time of service 1992-96, we were a family. We absolutely would have literally run into a burning building to help our brothers and sisters in blue, or their family members, without question. We would have carried them out of the flames or die trying. We also were ready to risk our lives for anyone, military or otherwise, who called us for assistance. When we responded to fires, spills, car accidents, in-flight emergencies, munitions incidents, and other life threatening emergencies, we relished the opportunity to act to save lives and property, proudly, and without hesitation.
I hope this gave you a concise and interesting short but important history of U.S. Air Force Fire Protection, it’s brave and patriotic members, past and present, and gives some food for thought for those who are considering becoming part of what I arguably believe, is the closest family of the best trained and high caliber firefighters in the entire world.
See you at the next Roll Call.
Shift dismissed!
SOURCES/CITATION
- https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3464445/more-than-courage-enlisted-firefighters
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Fire_Protection
- Pioneers with Intent: Memoirs of an Air Force Fire Fighter, Douglas E. Courchene, History Office Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency Tyndall AFB, Florida, July 2003 Electronic Edition Published June 2006. https://firedawg.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Pioneers-with-Intent-Memoirs-of-an-Air-Force-Fire-Fighter.pdf
- https://www.firetrucks-atwar.com/v.html
- Joe G. Ballard, AN ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY OF AIR FORCE FIRE PROTECTION THESIS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1987.
- SMSgt Damean Moore, A Brief History of Air Force Fire & Emergency Services: “Why” We Are Civil Engineers Who Happen to Fight Fire – https://firedawg.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Brief-History-of-Air-Force-FESv7.pdf