Posted by: livelovethinkexist | July 22, 2009
Photos – Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA – 1987-1989 (Set Five – The 455th FTS and My Squadron Art)
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The 455th FTS hired a professional painter to paint the squadron’s patch on the right “long side” of the squadron’s building at Mather AFB, CA.
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The professional painter did a very good job of accurately reproducing our squadron’s patch; his patch is shown here on the right.
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Here’s a closer look at the professional’s rendition of our 455th Flying Training Squadron’s patch.
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Here is a close up of his patch; he did a fine job and matched our patch’s details exactly.
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Afterwards, I asked permission to paint our patch over the entry doors into the squadron, and permission was granted.
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I had painted a lot of squadron patches previously; both at Homestead AFB, FL, and Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
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This patch is about seven feet across and I abbreviated our squadron’s name to “455th FTS;” and in the process I used my mountain climbing ropes, tied off on the roof, to stay safe and not fall off the ladder by accident while painting.
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I helped design the squadron’s new floorplan for the building’s renovation work that was done after we moved into the building, and I also helped paint a classroom in a camouflage paint scheme.
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This is probably the only “455th FTS” version of our patch that was ever made; and it was all done freehand with a string, a pencil and a yardstick.
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After finishing painting the squadron’s patch, I designed and painted a T-37 mural at our squadron’s “Ops Duty Desk;” which was the very heart of the squadron’s flying operations.
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The mural was of a four ship rejoin to fingertip formation, prior to taking the flight up initial; but I only painted three “Tweets,” and you have to imagine yourself as the flight lead looking back over your left shoulder at the rejoin to your left wing.
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“Tweets 3 and 4″ continue the rejoin to the formation’s left side; the mural was my last artwork project that I ever attempted, and allowed me plenty of artistic license in the process. (I’m only my own house painter these days…)
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I had a couple of guys volunteer to help finish up the edges of the blue sky background; as this was a big project to complete.
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The blue sky background is graduated in shades of blue; darker at the bottom and lighter at the top.
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Here’s an unobstructed view from the mural’s right side; all of our pilots checked out at the “Ops Duty Desk” prior to flying and back in after returning from their training sorties.
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Crews received their aircraft’s tail number, latest updates, NOTAM changes and weather information from the “Duty Officer” here at the Ops Desk.
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Here’s another look from the left side of the mural; the “Ops Duty Desk” was the very hub and heart of the squadron.
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The mural was painted directly onto the pony wall; so I have no idea what happened to it when Mather AFB closed, and other organizations later took over the property.
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Here’s “number 3″ on the left side beginning the rejoin to fingertip, with “number 4″ trailing behind him on the far outside of the formation.
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I put as much detail into the main T-37 “Tweet” as I could; as well as the two smaller T-37′s in the mural.
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Here’s “number 4″ just beginning the rejoin on the far left side to “number 3′s” left wing; I first came up with the design concept, and now attempt to “construct” a real world scenario that makes sense for it to have actually happened! :)
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A close-up view of “number 4;” the flaw is in the photograph at this high resolution – the pictures have been in a photo album for 27 years now!
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Mark,
We are standing up the 455 FTS at NAS Pensacola on 2 Oct 09. Do you have any info that you can pass on (i.e. Sq name, motto, history, etc.) Look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
Mike
By: MIchael Love on August 30, 2009
at 10:14 pm
Mike,
It’s excellent to see the Air Force bring back the great squadrons from the past and keep the traditions alive. I was able to find two Wikipedia articles on the 455th Flying Training Squadron: One is on the 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing, which later became the 323rd Flying Training Wing at Mather AFB, mentions the 455th FTS. There is one paragraph that describes Mather AFB as it was set up during my time there. The other Wikipedia article is on Mather Air Force Base History – which contains similar information. I would think that the Air Force Historian’s Office would give you all that you need to know. Contact the Air Force Public Affairs office and they should be able to make all the introductions for you to who you need to talk to. I think the Air Force gives the new squadron commander the squadron memorabilia that was stored when the squadron was deactivated. In my day we deactivated a lot of squadrons, and all of the memorabilia was packed and sent to the Air Force for storage. Good luck – and keep me posted on your progress. I’ll also send you an email under separate cover. The 455th FTS had the greatest scarf design as well!
Cheers,
Mark
By: livelovethinkexist on August 31, 2009
at 6:30 am