History | georgereagan

On 25 July 1964, President Johnson revealed the existence of a new Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

On 7 August 1964, the "Tonkin Gulf Resolution" was passed by the U.S. Congress in response to two alleged minor naval skirmishes off the coast of North Vietnam between U.S. destroyers and North Vietnamese torpedo boats. It authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Southeast Asia without declaring war. Rapid escalation of military involvement followed with retaliatory air strikes, Good Morning Vietnam.

On 16 October 1964, the People's Republic of China exploded its first atomic bomb (Code Name 596) with a yield of 22 kilotons.

On 3 February 1965, at 7:01pm local, Shemya experienced a major earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale and a 35' tsunami that followed. Damage was limited to cracks in the runway.

On 17 January 1966, a B-52G loaded with four Mk28 hydrogen bombs collided with a KC-135A tanker during mid-air refueling off the coast of Spain. Both airplanes were destroyed and seven crewmembers were killed. Three of the four bombs landed near a small fishing village named "Palomares". The fourth bomb landed in the Mediterranean Sea. All bombs were recovered. Click Here for details.

On 16 May 1966, Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party of China, launched the "Cultural Revolution".

On 28 September 1966, Lisa Ann (RC-135E #62-4137) starts operating from Shemya for the very first time.
In January 1967, Wanda Belle (RC-135S, #59-1491) was renamed Rivet Ball, Lisa Ann (RC-135E, #62-4137) was renamed Rivet Amber and three RC-135Ds (#60-0356, #60-0357, #60-0362) named Office Boy were renamed Rivet Brass.
On 25 March 1967, the 4157th SW was replaced by the 6th SW and its assigned squadron the 24th SRS.
On 8 June 1967, the USS Liberty, an intelligence ship in international waters, was attacked by Israeli fighter planes and torpedo boats during the "Six-Day War" between Israel and neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The combined attack killed 34 crewmembers and wounded 171 out of a crew of 297. It was the worst loss of US Navy personnel from hostile action since World War II.
On 17 June 1967, China successfully exploded its first hydrogen bomb (Test No. 6) over the Lop Nur nuclear test site after being dropped from an H-6 medium bomber in western China. It had an explosive yield 150 times the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during WWII.
On 21 June 1967, a 5-6 magnitude earthquake struck Fairbanks, AK early in the morning. The epicenter was under the base hospital at Fort Wainwright. Everyone was evacuated from the hospital including my newborn son, Kingdon J. Hawes.
In August 1967, Fairbanks, AK barely survived the worst flood in 100 years.
On 21 January 1968, two years after the "Palomares" accident, a B-52G from Plattsburgh AFB carrying four Mk28 hydrogen bombs crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay near Thule AFB in Greenland that resulted in widespread radioactive contamination and the end of "Operation Chrome Dome". Click Here for details.
On 23 January 1968, the USS Pueblo was captured by North Korea.
On 12 March 1968, an Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) drilling crew discovered oil at the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field on Alaska's North Slope. The new field contained more than 25 billion barrels of oil, making it the largest in North America and the 18th largest in the world.
On 4 April 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
On 5 June 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after addressing his supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Senator Kennedy was a strong Democratic candidate for President of the United States.
On 21 June 1968, Shemya Air Force Station was re-designated an Air Force Base.
On 4 October 1968, eleven years to the day after the launch of Sputnik-1, Team-2 Ravens with Rivet Ball (RC-135S, #59-1491) and crew successfully captured the first photographic evidence of a Soviet ICBM test with three Multiple Reentry Vehicles (MRVs).
On 19 October 1968, the Soviet Union deployed its first ICBM (8K69) capable of fractional orbit, aka Fractional Orbit Bombardment System (FOBS).
On 18 December 1968, Team-2 Ravens with Rivet Ball (RC-135S, #59-1491) and crew successfully captured the second photographic evidence of a Soviet MRV (3- RVs).
On 31 December 1968, Shemya's beloved dog named "Boozer" was put to sleep after suffering from old age.
On 1 January 1969, Boozer was buried next to the "Shemya Plug" with full military honors.

Clicke Here for Boozer's Page
On 13 January 1969, Rivet Ball (RC-135S, #59-1491) hydroplaned off the end of runway 28 on Shemya. The aircraft was destroyed beyond repair. Fortunately, the aircracft didn't catch fire and no one was seriously injured. It was however, a sad ending for a great aircraft with a very important mission. Her replacement was named "Cobra Ball".
On 5 June 1969, Rivet Amber (RC-135E, #62-4137) with 19 souls aboard vanished over the Bering Sea while flying enroute from Shemya to Eielson AFB, AK. This was a tragic event that haunts many of us even today.

George & Rita Reagan

On 25 July 1964, President Johnson revealed the existence of a new Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

On 16 October 1964, the People's Republic of China exploded its first atomic bomb (Code Name 596) with a yield of 22 kilotons.

On 3 February 1965, at 7:01pm local, Shemya experienced a major earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale and a 35' tsunami that followed. Damage was limited to cracks in the runway.

On 16 May 1966, Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party of China, launched the "Cultural Revolution".

On 28 September 1966, Lisa Ann (RC-135E #62-4137) starts operating from Shemya for the very first time.

In January 1967, Wanda Belle (RC-135S, #59-1491) was renamed Rivet Ball, Lisa Ann (RC-135E, #62-4137) was renamed Rivet Amber and three RC-135Ds (#60-0356, #60-0357, #60-0362) named Office Boy were renamed Rivet Brass.

On 25 March 1967, the 4157th SW was replaced by the 6th SW and its assigned squadron the 24th SRS.

On 17 June 1967, China successfully exploded its first hydrogen bomb (Test No. 6) over the Lop Nur nuclear test site after being dropped from an H-6 medium bomber in western China. It had an explosive yield 150 times the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during WWII.

On 21 June 1967, a 5-6 magnitude earthquake struck Fairbanks, AK early in the morning. The epicenter was under the base hospital at Fort Wainwright. Everyone was evacuated from the hospital including my newborn son, Kingdon J. Hawes.

In August 1967, Fairbanks, AK barely survived the worst flood in 100 years.

On 23 January 1968, the USS Pueblo was captured by North Korea.

On 12 March 1968, an Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) drilling crew discovered oil at the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field on Alaska's North Slope. The new field contained more than 25 billion barrels of oil, making it the largest in North America and the 18th largest in the world.

On 4 April 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

On 5 June 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after addressing his supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Senator Kennedy was a strong Democratic candidate for President of the United States.

On 21 June 1968, Shemya Air Force Station was re-designated an Air Force Base.

On 4 October 1968, eleven years to the day after the launch of Sputnik-1, Team-2 Ravens with Rivet Ball (RC-135S, #59-1491) and crew successfully captured the first photographic evidence of a Soviet ICBM test with three Multiple Reentry Vehicles (MRVs).

On 19 October 1968, the Soviet Union deployed its first ICBM (8K69) capable of fractional orbit, aka Fractional Orbit Bombardment System (FOBS).

On 18 December 1968, Team-2 Ravens with Rivet Ball (RC-135S, #59-1491) and crew successfully captured the second photographic evidence of a Soviet MRV (3- RVs).

On 31 December 1968, Shemya's beloved dog named "Boozer" was put to sleep after suffering from old age.

On 1 January 1969, Boozer was buried next to the "Shemya Plug" with full military honors. Clicke Here for Boozer's Page

On 5 June 1969, Rivet Amber (RC-135E, #62-4137) with 19 souls aboard vanished over the Bering Sea while flying enroute from Shemya to Eielson AFB, AK. This was a tragic event that haunts many of us even today.

On 1 January 1969, Boozer was buried next to the "Shemya Plug" with full military honors.

Clicke Here for Boozer's Page