Misc | Iceland-Radar-Sites

Miscellaneous Items

This page is simply for things related to the Iceland located USAF Radar sites that don't fit well into the other areas. They include newspaper coverage and other assorted things.

News article about Rockville in 1983 on the 30th year
Not sure of which newspaper it was published in but maybe it was the AF Times. Submitted by Clyde Mahaffee.

We set a NORS Free record at H-3 in 1968. This was in spite of having one of the longest supply lines in all the Air Force. There is a bit of history to reveal how we did it.

Roger Broder Wins Outstanding Airman Award

The CIC did get to Iceland one time. President Reagan in Iceland for meeting with the Soviet leader. Submitted by Carter Rowlette H-1 86-87

Navy Military Drivers License for driving on main base at Keflavik. Had to complete course taught by Icelandic to drive

This is of interest because the pilot and owner of this P-51 Mustang is Gen. Bill Anders (USAF Ret) who in 1958-59 flew F-89 Interceptors and would do a Bubble Check at times over H-4. He later became an Astronaut before becoming a General.

Here is where many of the H-3 veterans may have started that long road that took them, eventually, to Iceland. After 40+ years ""Kotch" " just had to visit Keesler. Don't think they let him on base though as the Air Force had already made that mistake once. Submitted by Robert "Kotch" Kotchenreuther. H-1 62-63

Dogs were very good "Morale Officers" in Iceland. "George" did his duty at Kef.
He was the dog that was the mascot of the 57 FIS at Keflavik.

"Visiting the memories" when the AF was leaving Iceland Top Row: Roy Shelly, Larry Spooner, Ken Nall, Bob Somos, Bob Wofford, Tom Walton, Nick Najarian, Ron McIntosh and William Chick. Bottom Row: Clayton Thompson and others (?)

Iceland Vet Larry Robins and his son Maj. Mark Robins USAF and his mother visiting Iceland

Watching The Last Transmission From H-1 on July 12 2006. The attendees are standing L-R 932nd ACS OPS SUPV MSGT Jon Hazard, SMSGT Larry Robin USAF (Ret) H-1 Ira Majo (H-4) Mike Mangone (H-4). Seated L-R Reed Thomas (H-4) MSGT Wm. Chick USAF (RET) H-2 and ?

This is a copy of the last transmission given from H-1 by MSGT Jon Hazard.

Fact or Fiction or a mix of both?

A Faraway Land

We stood on guard in a faraway land

Of mountains, ice and dark black sand

We searched the skies both day and night

Looking from the ground to enormous heights

Far from friends, relatives and family

We did our duty being brave and manly

From the days when there was no sun

And the days when the stars away did run

Many were the friends we did make

And many memories we did take

In the beautiful and desolate land of fire and ice

Where we all made our personal sacrifice

The Russians planes they did come

And our radars continued to hum

Tracking them both day and night

When they tried to stay out of sight

Far from those we protected from the fight

While our interceptors away took flight

Our power house and cooks did keep us fed

As we looked for that bomber from the Reds

We searched both high and low

No matter how hard the winds did blow

Volcanoes, glaciers, ice and snow

At us the Iceland winds did throw

Then one night as year’s end drew near

What on our radar scopes should appear

But a strange new track, with a distinct northern veer

Closer it approached, its mission still unclear

Was this some new Russian Bear bomber trick?

Its mission became clear when the radio did click

And the voice said “I am jolly old St. Nick

I come to wish you a very merry Christmas and a peaceful night”

Were his words as he drifted out of sight.

Now we gather to memories preserve

Of all of those of us who once did serve

To let those who might never know

And let their knowledge of history grow.