So a bit of a walk down memory lane here. That's great; us old farts love that stuff.
Here's some of that, a bit more mundane than shooting down satellites but a little history nonetheless.
In the early 50's I was an Air Force brat (Father was AAF during the war) stationed at Langley AFB (Field) and used to lay out off the approach end of the runway with the aircraft landing overhead, I think they were F-80’s and F-86’s. We were however somewhat influenced by the fact that we used to run around every week in the cloud of fumes coming out of the DDT jeep not quite understanding why it was so much fun.
In 1953 my father was transferred to England and a few months later “the dependents” were to follow. So in the early summer of 53 it was time and my Mother and the kids were to fly over. We flew from McGuire AFB NJ to Blackbush England in what I’m pretty sure was a C-54 (MATS). They entire flight took 24 hrs. 17 in the air with stops at Gander and Shannon for breakfast and dinner. Arriving in Blackbush in a severe storm. The aircraft was basically full of women and kids with all the guys waiting on the ground. Later my Dad said they were scared to death, we were brought in on a GCA with the approach piped down to all the guys waiting in the terminal.
We were to stay in London until we found a house. London was a madhouse, I heard at some point they were getting a new Queen, I thought it happened all the time.
Returned to the States in 58 going to some new base called Vandenberg and spent the next 3 yrs watching missiles blow up (one piece as big as a car came right through the NCO Club roof), we used to sneak out near the Pads on our motor scooters (which we could drive at 14, talk about fun). We did get caught a couple of times but hangin out with the Base Commanders and Provost Marshals sons helped a bit.
Even saw some Snarks and Bomarc’s. Well enough; just some old stuff.