The 1974 Strategic Air Command Aircraft Combat Competition was held at Barksdale AFB, La. from Nov.9 thru Nov.15. Since July 1974, the 380th Bomb Wing had been busy preparing for the competition and had chosen the "Apple" as its theme. The "Apple" was chosen as a logical way of promoting Plattsburgh and the surrounding area because of the significant impact that it and the related industry had on the North Country. Included in the total theme development were among things; the designation of the wing's FB-111A competition aircraft as "Apple One" and the painting of a large red apple on the side of the aircraft, apple patches for the crew and maintenance team uniforms, the construction of a rustic apple shed which was dismantled and reassembled in the space provided for the 380th at Barksdale AFB and finally, apples and cider which was given away at Bomb Comp to promote this part of the country.

Each wing represented at the competition had been alloted an amount of space in which to set up a booth designed to promote their particular base and area of the country. The project officer in charge of developing and constructing the booth was Major Dale Wolfe. Capt. Paul Davis, Capt. Bryan Bennett and Lt. Bob Stambaugh also spent countless hours in developing the 380th's entry. The booth was constructed as a rustic apple shed. Also in evidence during the competition and an item of extreme interest for many, was the 528th and 529th Bomb Squadron's car. The car was a 1963 Lincoln Continental donated by a Mr. Frank Stanley from Plattsburgh.

The primary FB-111 crew was S-23; Maj. Donald F. Allan, pilot and Maj. Paul B. Bragdon, radar navigator. Back up crew for the competition was E-29; Maj. Ross A. McLean, pilot and Maj. Michael S. Venglik, radar navigator. The primary KC-135 crew was S-104; Capt. Gary E. Masilko, pilot; Lt. Don Siegel, co-pilot; Lt. Richard J. Giba, co-pilot; Maj. Arthur G. Gaetjens, navigator and TSgt. Paul R. Page, boom operator. The back up crew was E-156; Capt. Russell W. Denis, pilot; Lt. Alan W. McElroy, co-pilot, Lt. Don Gerard, navigator and TSgt. Limous E. Walker, boom operator. Each wing represented at Barksdale did fly two bomber and two tanker sorties. The first sortie for the 380th's crews originated at Plattsburgh while the second sortie was flown out of Barksdale. Each bomber sortie included pinpoint navigation and simulated high and low bombing. Each tanker sortie encompassed a precision radar termination exercise, basic night celestial navigation leg and an orbit exercise.

Numerous staff and maintenance personnel accompanied the crews to the competition. Staff personnel attending were Col. Earl T. O'Loughlin, Lt.Col. Robert Reynolds, Lt.Col John Hatch and Maj. Jerry Mulvlill. Capt. John M. Davis was the maintenance officer. Four crew chiefs were chosen to accompany the FB-111A and KC-135 entries in the Bomb Comp. The two crew chiefs for the FB-111A were SSgt. Walter J. Tomasik and Sgt. John R. Schlegel. For the KC-135, the crew chiefs were SSgt. James J. Hall and Sgt. Dennis C. Hamel. Maintenance personnel included MSgt. Paul E. Caperton, TSgt. Clifford W. VanHorn, TSgt. Charles A.Beckenthal, SSgt. Raymond C. Babcock Jr., TSgt. James E. Kangas, SSgt. Charles F. McCoy, SSgt. Henry B. Huffmaster, SSgt. Eugene R. George Jr., Sgt. David Waterworth, Sgt. Reginald Mack, TSgt. Robert F. Horan, SSgt. Jose R. Lopez, Sgt. Robert F. Donley, SSgt. Efrain Rosario, Sgt. Robert F. Jerabek, SSgt. Frank M. Gumbus, Sgt. Reginald Mack, SSgt. John E. Buell.

"Apple One" and "Spirit of the North Country" teamed to win the coveted Fairchild Trophy on Thursday, November 14, 1974. The Spirit of the North Country, PAFB's KC-135 in the competition scored 377 points out of a possible 600 on their last mission to clinch the trophy and beat Mather AFB to become the "Best of the Best". Plattsburgh's FB-111A also won the Best Mission Trophy for F/FB-111, the Crew Bombing Trophy and the Bombing Trophy for the 380th Bomb Wing.

The 380th led the competition for the Fairchild Trophy from the very beginning and steadily increased its lead until it clinched it on Thursday morning. Plattsburgh went into the last round with a 206 points lead over Mather AFB. After the first round of competition, Plattsburgh held a slim four point lead over the second place Fairchild AFB (92nd BW) for the Fairchild Trophy and increased that lead to 206 points. Plattsburgh won the Best Mission Trophy by 10 points over the 27th TFW from Cannon AFB, 1,159 to 1,149. The 509th Bomb Wing finished third with 1,123 and the 366th TFW finished fourth with 1,039 points.

Plattsburgh also won the Bombing Trophy with 1,932 points, beating second place Pease AFB (1,855), Mather AFB (1,810) and fourth place, RAF Scampton (1,783).

Combat Crew January 1975 Issue.