55th Wing welcomes former linguists and intelligence flyers

  • Published
  • By David R. Hopper
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Two distinguished groups of veterans came together here April 27 to celebrate their past and observe the current capabilities of today's intelligence community.

The two groups named Doggers and Prop Wash Gang, are made up of linguists and intelligence flyers, a mirror image of the current makeup of the 55th Wing.

The Prop Wash Gang is exclusively for intelligence gathering flyers and their families.

"Anyone who flew on one of the intelligence aircraft can join the Prop Wash Gang," said George Montague, Prop Wash Gang member. "We have a private group on the internet and anyone who was a flyer can join the group."

The Doggers consist of Vietnamese linguists and their families.

"As things change or stay the same it is wonderful to have this [group] of folks who have been in the U.S. Air Force security service," said Joel Ware IV, Prop Wash Gang and Dogger member

The two groups consisting of approximately 50 veterans toured the 97th Intelligence Squadron, an RC-135 Rivet Joint and enjoyed a bar-b-que where they swapped stories and shared their experience with Offutt's intelligence community.

"It's nice having both groups together," Ware said. "We share these amazing stories so that we can understand what we all went through."

The stories of these veterans and their experiences range from comical to tragic, but one man's story topped them all.

"I have a unique story," said Danny Russell, Prop Wash Gang member. "I was shot down twice in the same day and lived to tell the tale."

Although Russell lived to tell the story, he was one of only four from the aircraft that survived.

"I lost a very dear buddy, who was in my seat when we crashed," Russell said.

Russell went on to explain that when he went back to the aircraft looking for survivors, a rescue helicopter picked up the other three survivors. After not finding any other survivors at the crash site, he boarded a different helicopter and on their way back, the helicopter was shot down.

"It's my mission to tell our story, this is not only my story - it's our story," Russell said.

The two groups met and celebrated on the weekend before the 37th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.

"I want to make sure the 58,000 names on the [Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.] are never forgotten," Russell said.

Even though the visit from these distinguished veterans only lasted about five hours, they can rest assured that their story will definitely not be forgotten as the Airmen of the 55th Wing remember these silent warriors.

"These two groups stand to remind current and previous members of the reconnaissance community that they're part of a proud heritage of professionals carrying out classified missions in secrecy without need for fanfare," said Master Sgt. Christopher Regan, 55th Operations Group superintendant.

Individuals who would like to become members of the Prop Wash Gang should visit their website at http://www.propwashgang.org/ for more information.

For those who would like to become part of the Doggers, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/USAFDoggers/ for more information.