SR-71 Blackbird
Tom Risch’s Story
As a child in Dayton, Ohio I remember my dad, an Army Corp veteran of WWII, taking me to a spot outside Wright Patterson AFB where we could watch the planes take off and land.
Growing up just east of Celina, Ohio I remember watching the vapor trails of the jets and watching and listening to the round engine airplanes flying over.
Most of these were military aircraft and my small boys imagination took me to exciting places.
In 1968 I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained as an aircraft mechanic at Wichita Falls, Texas, recips over two engines. Crawling all over KC-97 was like going to Disneyland. I was then stationed at Charleston AFB, SC on C-124’s. I crewed the last C-124 Charleston had and cheered as it shook it’s way off the ground heading for an ANG base. What an airplane! When standing out in front with head sets on for an engine run up you had to pick a spot where the vibrations from those #4 engine while in fight was an experience to remember.
From there I was sent TDY to Eglin AFB, FI. To be cross trained to single engine recips. Specifically, the A1 Skyraider, but also got up close and personal with the T-28. I was issued orders for NKP, Thailand, expecting to be crewing a Sandy. Upon arrival I was told I was attached to Crash Recovery/Aero Repair. I spent 367 days inside and outside A1’s, A-26’s, C-47’s, C-123’s CH-53’s, HH-53’s, O-1’s, O-2’s and even had the opportunity to work on the occasional OV-10 and F-4C. I got as close to the C-123, C-119 and C-130 gunships that slipped in and out, as I could, lot’s of security! I also was in and out of Laos, the Plain of Jars (Plaine des Jarres) and many Air America Lima Sites. We would recover the A1 when it bellied in, get the gear down, hook it up to a flying crane and carry it to a Lima site where we would put it back together so it could be flown back to NKP. Sometimes, unfortunately, we brought back in pieces. A very special time of my life.
After NKP, it was back to the good ol’ USA, Travis AFB, Ca. I was again cross trained! This time jets over two. I was assigned to C-141 configuration. I spent my last 18 months in the USAF inside the 141 and watching the “new”, “amazing”, C5A Galaxy lumber in and out of Travis.
For the past 18 years I have been the Mercer County Veterans Service Officer here in Ohio. My job is to obtain VA benefits, from medical care to compensation, for my country veterans. Through the years I have put together a large collection of “trench art” and 36 military aircraft models. 26 of these are from your company. I have found that you offer the best quality, packing, prices and fastest shipping available. When you order a new model and know you will have it in a few days as opposed to a few weeks you guys can’t be beat. Friendly people and good service works! When a veteran walks into my office and stops mid way and mid sentence and stares at my planes I know we will have a conversation that starts with “I remember that plane”. My collection has been an invaluable source of history lessons for me. The WWII vet who recalls those beautiful fighters and bombers, the source of history lessons for me. The WWII vet who recalls those beautiful fighters and bombers, the Korean and Vietnam vet who relates the welcome site and sound of the air support. The tears and the memories, priceless!
My collection has been shown on the front page of our local newspaper and provided “tours” for many children and veteran. The pleasure I get is immeasurable. There are still many more that I will eventually add to my collection. Thanks for being there!