(5) Connally AFB, Waco, TX
The airport opened May 5, 1942 as Waco Army Air Field and was the headquarters Army Air Force Central Instructors' School during World War II. It was deactivated after the war in 1945 but was reactivated in 1948 as a pilot training base under the Air Training Command. It was named for Colonel James T. Connally who had been killed in Japan in 1945. The airport was initially called Connally Air Force Base but the name evolved to also include his first name.

In 1951, pilot training was discontinued and replaced with academic and flight training for navigators, radar operators, and bombardiers, with particular emphasis for those officers slated for eventual assignment to Strategic Air Command's B-36 Peacemaker and its ever-increasing fleet of B-47 Stratojets.

Pilot training returned in 1953 and a T-33 advanced flying school operated in addition to navigator training in B-25s.

(6) December, 1956 Graduation; F-89; Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA (click to navigate to larger image)

December, 1956: This is my graduation class from F-89 training. Included with graduating pilots and radar observers (RO's) are our instructor pilots and RO's. Lyndon Sheldon is in the back row, sixth from the right. Ford Ruthling is in the back row, fourth from the left Pete Skinner is in the back row, first from the right Bill Anders is in the front row, fourth from the right

(7) 1957; Presque Isle; ME. Radar observer in F89 Interceptor aircraft 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group (click to navigate to larger image)

D Flight is in front of F-89D Fighter Interceptor aircraft (all 1st Lieutenants) Lyndon Sheldon is in front row, second from the right Ford Ruthling is in the back row, second from the left

75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) (1956-1959) The Tiger Shark Emblem of the 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) was based at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. The emblem shows the shark firing rockets. I was a Radar Observer (RO) in the 75th FIS from December, 1956 to May, 1959. We flew F-89 D's and H's for the Air Defense Command. The mission of the Air Defense Command, of which the 75th FIS was a part, was to protect our nation from air attacks by Soviet bombers. We kept two airplanes and crews on five-minute alert at all times. If the surveillance radars detected an unknown aircraft, an F-89 would be scrambled out of the Alert Hangar, to be airborne in five minutes or less. The Air Defense Command had about 100 Fighter Interceptor Squadrons based around the United States during the Cold War.

(9) Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory (1961-1964) Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA for scientist, other work. Geodetic research officer. Working at Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and technology program; and provide warfighting capabilities to United States air, space, and cyberspace forces.[1] It controls the entire Air Force science and technology research budget which was $2.4 billion in 2006.

(10) 1966: Photo below taken at New Hanover County Airport Wilmington, NC; Dispersal Operating Base detailed from Charleston AFB, Charleston, SC. Radar intercept officer in F101B aircraft. 444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Washington Air Defense Sector (click to navigate to larger image)

New Hanover County Airport; Wilmington, North Carolina left to right: Colonel Bill Myers, 444th Commander; Major Charlie Collins, Dispersal Operating Base Commander; Captain Jack Sikes; Captain Lyn Sheldon, Major Bob Goad We had just flown two F-101B's into the New Hanover County Airport at Wilminton, NC. It was Opening Day for our new Dispersal Operating Base where we would have F-101B aircraft on one-hour alert in addition to having two 101's on five-minute alert at Charleston.

444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1964-1967) The 444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina and was equipped with F-101B Fighter Interceptor Aircraft. This was my most fun assignment. Most of the aviators were Southern boys, which made it a very friendly squadron. It seemed like almost everyone was a Captain in his early 30's. We had great base housing and lived two blocks from the Officers' swimming pool.

(11) AC-119K Stinger Gunship Personal comments by Lyndon Sheldon... The AC-119K Stinger gunships were based at Phan Rang Air Base and Phu Cat Air Base, both in Vietnam. A third detachment was based at Udorn in Thailand. The mission of the Phan Rang gunships was close air support for U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, and Australian Army troops in South Vietnam. The other two detachments had the truck destruction mission in Laos. The truck destruction mission was much more dangerous due to the threat of anti-aircraft fire. In South Vietnam, the threat to close air support was only small arms fire, but the truck destruction job was easier -- if it moves, shoot it. The danger in supporting troops was shooting the wrong people. We always flew at night, adding another degree of difficulty. When the navigator radioed his contact on the ground, he always asked which positions could be marked. The ranges of situations were: (1) Both good guys' and bad guys' positions can be marked. (2) One of the positions can be marked, but not both. (3)Neither position can be marked. I was based at Phan Rang and was an Instructor Navigator. All of the instructional missions were also regular combat missions. The newly arrived crews had several combat missions while learning "in country" procedures.

(13) Geodetic Survey Squadron (GSS) (1976-1980) First formed in 1959 at Orlando AFB, FL to provide for the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile force, GSS today (February, 1980) is located at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY. The squadron has permanent party detachments at Patrick AFB, FL, the White Sands Missile Range near Holloman AFB, NM, and Vandenberg AFB, CA. Since 1972, the GSS has received orders from the Defense Mapping Agency in Washington, D.C. which also controls the Defense Mapping School at Fort Belvoir, VA where each military service sends its novices to study surveying, but geodetic surveyors do not make maps or help build anything. "There is a lot of mystery about what we do," admitted Colonel Lyndon L. Sheldon, the GSS Commander who holds a master's degree in geodetic science from Ohio State University. Less than one percent is for mapping. We primarily support weapon systems like intercontinental ballistic missiles because knowing their exact geodetic position is critical to their targeting. Basically, we provide geodetic positioning data worldwide to anyone in the Defense Department and to other agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

(14) Headquarters, Air Defense Command (ADC) and North American Aie Defense Command (NORAD) (1967-1969; 1970-1976; and 1980-1981) I had three assignments in Colorado Springs with Headquarters, Air Defense Command (ADC) and North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Over the years, Air Defense Command became Aerospace Defense Command, and North American Air Defense Command became North American Aerospace Defense Command. The 1970-1976 period represents the best assignment in my 27-year career. I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel while in the same office. My work was concerned with Missile and Space Defense Plans.

(16) Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels offers frozen home-delivered meals for older persons who are unable to leave their home to shop or prepare nutritious meals. The meals are prepared with the special dietary needs of seniors in mind and are adaptable to a variety of special diets. Complete nutritional information is available upon request. Meals on Wheels is a national organization. In Seattle, The Mobile Market is a home-delivered grocery service for homebound elders. A number of staple items including canned fruits and vegetables, canned dinners, soups, rice, noodles, beans and fresh milk, cheese and bread items are available for eligible persons within the Seattle City limits who find it difficult to shop for groceries. Eligible persons who live outside Seattle City limits may order liquid supplements like Ensure.