Andrew Smith
1.9K posts

Andrew Smith
@Gunner442Smith
All opinions are my own. Likes and re-tweets do not imply endorsement.
USA Katılım Ocak 2012
3.4K Takip Edilen431 Takipçiler

@Jalopnik The generation that saved the Corvette as a performance marque- and curb stomped Porsche in the process. Criminally underrated generation.
English

David Bowie’s Tesla entrance in The Prestige (2006) is instant scene-stealer. Pure legendary presence.
cinesthetic.@TheCinesthetic
What is the best character introduction you've ever seen in a movie?
English

Wake up. You should go and see the Wizard of Oz. He may give you a brain…
Hakeem Jeffries@RepJeffries
Regime change is coming to the United States Congress in November.
English
Andrew Smith retweetledi

@AiCLayneStaley Alice In Chains hands down. Nirvana was ok…
English
Andrew Smith retweetledi

@boomers_ass Lots of time walking the stone in the AAPA and TAA at Barksdale-SAC/ 2nd Security Police.
English

This KC-135 scramble video hit me right in the nostalgia.
At twenty years old, I pulled Alert at Loring AFB starting in 1989 (KC-135s and B-52s on the ramp) about once every three weeks—unless I was TDY. The stories created on Alert are epic (and I've told a few of them here on X.)
We’d start on a Wednesday, pull 7 days of Alert, and get off the following Wednesday. Then we got C2 (“See-Squared”)—the rest of Wednesday plus Thursday and Friday off. Throw in the weekend and it was the perfect window to drive back to Long Island to see the folks without burning any leave time.
During exercises we’d often get a little heads-up. Responding to a Klaxon turned into an extreme driving sport. The farther away you were (within limits), the faster you got to drive back—so if we knew one was coming, we’d head to the most distant place we were allowed: the BX, Squadron, Movie Theatre, Gym, or the Auto Hobby Shop (my favorite). Longer drive = higher top speed when the horns went off.
But at Loring you didn’t even have to go anywhere. The path from the Alert Facility to the Cage (where the aircraft were parked) went straight over the active runway—which just happens to be crowned. When you hit that crown doing over 80 mph, one of those big ol’ Alert trucks could literally get airborne. It was quite a sight to see 6 or 7 of them flying while everyone scrambled.
Loring winters were brutally cold, and that added a ton of complications you don’t see in this video. The trucks had windshield covers and heaters to fight the frost. Engines had huge heavy covers that had to come off. All the while you’re freezing your butt off… none of this pretty blue sky and pleasant temperature stuff going on in my day!
I tried explaining Alert duty to my parents. I couldn’t tell them everything, of course, but I could talk about the broad strokes. Honestly, I don’t think they really believed me — especially the part about possibly having to sacrifice myself so a bomber could complete its mission. They just didn’t have the perspective to wrap their heads around it.
It was odd being on the very last Alert tour in September 1991. For 34 straight years, tankers at nearly every base sat Alert 24/7/365… and then one day, it was simply over. We pulled our gear off the aircraft, maintenance moved the birds back to normal parking spots, and that was it. No fanfare, no ceremony — it was just… done.
I still question whether that was a wise decision or not even today.
Photo: One of my squadron navs leaving the main entrance of the Alert Facility with all his pubs and a smile! (Jan 1990)

Francisco Cunha@OnDisasters
Scramble, scramble! USAF KC-135 crew on a practice drill to get airborne ASAP (and a note to my meal team six followers who say women can´t serve... note who´s the Captain running the show here) 📹alyssemilitary01
English

@SGTWipper1Each In America… WW1. Grandfather 1st Gen German American. US Army.
English


Field grade officers in the field when they say they enjoy simple black coffee:
sun.@neutra1space
Coffee lovers need this, super useful!😍
English

@DrewForecast The “ Rancocas Creek bubble “ held. Some light rain and thunder.
English

@TheCinesthetic The Beretta 92 was a co-star in the LW series.
English
Andrew Smith retweetledi

We’re going find out just how many terrorists Biden and Democrats let in in the coming weeks.
R A W S A L E R T S@rawsalerts
🚨#BREAKING: Multiple emergency crews are on the scene of a mass stabbing with shots fired on I-495 near Washington, D.C. At least four people have been stabbed on the Beltway, and the suspect has been taken down.
English



















