On July 19, 1960, the National Guard Bureau officially announced the 154th Fighter Interceptor Group (154 FIG) was converting to Convair F-102A Delta Daggers. The first Deuces arrived in Hawaii by ship on December 5, 1960.
A contractor, Land Air Inc., handled de-cocooning and processing of the aircraft. They began delivery of ready birds to the Group commencing in January 1961. The first acceptance flight was a TF-102 on January 21, 1961. Colonel Jack D. Blanchard (Air Force Senior Advisor) was the pilot, and Brig Gen Valentine A. Siefermann was in the other seat.
By March 1961, the 154 FIG received fifty percent of the assigned Deuces. This triggered off the 120 day period to become Operationally Ready in the new aircraft.
In May 1961, the F-102As replaced the North American F-86L Sabre Interceptors on status at the Alert Facility. The phased-out Sabre Interceptors went to Hickam AFB for salvage.
The following video shows the ceremony when the Deuces went on status at the alert facility. The 1352nd Photo Squadron, Det No. 3 filmed the event. The video is in the National Archives.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today.
Today we feature the June 1989 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* 154th Composite Group back from Combat Sage at Clark AB
* Sentry Tigre in full swing
* Check Six – 199th Fighter Squadron
* Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association news
* CAMS News & Views
* 154th Civil Engineering Squadron news
* Born to Run
Nine pilots were put through a concentrated training program and became qualified as Alert Ready. The 199th Fighter Squadron went on 24 hour active air defense alert at 0001 October 23, 1958. The dedication of a new double-hangar and crew shelter was held the day before. Five-minute active air defense Alert, on a 24 hour basis, has continued ever since.
As seen in the photograph above, the nine 199th Fighter Squadron pilots were (L-R) James “Spike” Dykes, Charles “Chuck” Johnston, Donald Giddings, Harold “Big Daddy” Nagai, Paul “Aimoku” Duvauchelle, Padraic “Paddy” Evans, (either Donald Walker or Jon Parrish), Marlin Little, and Kurt Johnston.
These pilots were the heart of the squadron and more continued into the Convair F-102A Delta Dagger era.
Related Retiree News post: Sunset of the Old Alert Pad
The Hawai‘i State Department of Defense once held their Awards and Retirement luncheons twice a year. These luncheons recognized retiring Federal and state employees. Current employees who achieved 10, 20, 30 or more years of longevity received service awards. Luncheons were held at the Hale Koa Hotel.
This photograph shows Glenda Buis, Joseph Kaaikaula and Keith Lee at the September 9, 2011 luncheon. Glenda was part of the support team at the 154th Mission Support Group and later at the 154th Wing. Joe was the superintendent at the 154th Civil Engineering Squadron for many years. Keith served in various positions in the 154th Maintenance Group over his years of service.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as a monthly newsletter today.
Today we feature the June 1997 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* 154th Wing participates in Top Dollar Exercise 97
* 1st Annual 154th Wing Goodwill Fishing tournament
* Promotions: including Malcom Chun
* Quality News
* Old photos. to be given away
* CINCPAC looking for Guardmembers for active duty tours
From the Task and Purpose website
For civilians like myself, listening to service members can sometimes sound like hearing a different language. I’m not alone though: even members of different branches, jobs, or units sometimes have trouble understanding each other through all the different acronyms, initials, and buzzwords for everything from a tank to a toilet. That’s why last month, Task & Purpose published a guide to Air Force lingo for the rest of us, but unfortunately, I left a few useful terms out that deserved a mention. In the purple spirit of joint operations, below is part two on how to speak ‘Air Force’ for dummies. We’re coming for you Duolingo!
From the Frolic Hawaii website
Dean Mishima admits he’s feeling bittersweet as he prepares to serve his last drive-in meals on July 10: “That’s my passion. I love to cook, talk to people, take care of the community.”
Mishima has been elevating the Windward O‘ahu plate lunch scene since the summer of 2006, when he opened a 24-seat mom-and-pop place in Kāne‘ohe. He fixed each plate to order, earning a reputation for Island comfort food with a chef’s flair—complete with a swirl of vegetable garnish—even after a move down the road to a place four times larger. This cook-and-talk story combo gained him devoted diners from across the country eager to dig into local-style specialties of ‘ahi cakes ($18.50), tender broiled teri beef steak ($21.95), and an ever-changing array of umami-rich soups, fresh fish and dessert specials. People still trek across the island to pick up those ‘ahi cakes—lightly cooked patties filled with chunks of fresh ‘ahi.
The State Department of Defense hosted a retirement party for Darryll Wong. Darryll served as the Adjutant General during Governor Neil Abercrombie’s tenure. The part was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village with several hundred guests.
Among these guests were (L-R) were Michael “Inch” Compton, Dr. Richard and Lynn Ando, and Courtney Vares-Lum.
From the Images of Old Hawaii website
Since contact, various flags have flown over Hawai‘i.
The first “official” Hawai‘i flag was adopted in 1845, however prior to that various flags flew at various times.
All of the flags were hand-made back then; so, there might have been rather large variations in appearance.
Even in the late-Monarchy period, the appearance of flags varied a lot. Likewise, there is a possibility that some observers were wrong in what they saw and reported.
Visitors to Hawai’i pre-1845 reported different types of flags flying, including varying numbers of stripes, sometimes 7 or 9, for example. Observers also reported the colors of the stripes in different orders.
Arthur “Joe” Logan was promoted to brigadier general on December 15, 2015. The ceremony was held at Washington Place. Governor David Ige pinned Joe and administered the oath.
There were many current and retired Guardmembers present. Among the many attendees were (L-R): William “Rusty” Spray, Bruce Oliveira, and Gervin Miyamoto. Great individuals!
The Air National Guard established a Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) position in each state headquarters in 1978. The position title changed to Command Chief in the 1990s. In the same period, the design of the chief master sergeant rank insignia changed.
The state SEA’s in this April 1984 picture above are the second or third State SEA’s for their respective states since the ANG established the position in 1978. Hawaii’s SEA, CMSgt George Ah Chong, is front row, third from the right.
CMSgt Bernie Carbon, ANG Senior Enlisted Advisor #3 (front row, second from the left). Also in the picture is TSgt Donna Fuller the ANG SEA Administrative Assistant and CMSgt Lynn Alexander, ANG SEA #2 (front row, first on the right). The ANG (NGB) is now on their 13th SEA / Command Chief – CMSgt Maurice L. Williams
Unfortunately, some states have forgotten the early pioneers in the position and started with the change in title.
In the Hawaii Air National Guard, these Chief Master Sergeants served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor / Command Chief over the years.
Harry Awana (passed)
George Ah Chong
George Sato (passed)
Arthur Lee (passed)
Delbert Dandurant (passed)
Stanley Gomes
Kent Billings
Denise Jelinski-Hall
Robert Lee III
* Rob was double hatted when he became the Hawaii National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader
William Parker
Alvin Fritz
Zandra Fox
Denise Jelinski-Hall went on to become the Senior Enlisted Advisor to General Craig McKinley, the Chief, National Guard Bureau.
Shade from the corrugated metal roofs that protects both maintainers and the F-22 fighter aircraft flown by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force’s 19th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 8, 2022. Staff
From the Air Force Magazine website
Just behind the F-22 maintenance shop at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, a tall chain-link fence blocks access to a lengthy roadway leading to 13 sunshades, each standing more than 30 feet high.
Their corrugated metal roofs protect both maintainers and the F-22 fighter aircraft flown by the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron and the Air Force’s 19th Fighter Squadron.
For a dozen years, thousands of Hawaiian maintainers have supported, and hundreds of pilots have flown, the fifth-generation aircraft from Hickam’s strategic Pacific location. But in recent months, a tinge of sadness and uncertainty has radiated through the F-22 support team and pilots as Air Force leaders called for the retirement of 33 of the 186 F-22s in the fleet to make way for investments in next-generation fighters.
The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today.
Today we feature the June 1964 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:
* Liberty passes – really!
* Employer’s Day
* 154th Fighter Group organization
* Commissary and Exchanges privileges during Summer Camp
* Officer retirements and transfers
* HANG Awards
* Operation Big Switch
Retiree News is sad to report the passing of Lester Nagamine He passed in early June.
Lester was a Traditional Guardmember who served his Guard career in the medical unit.
Chaplain Robert Nagamine is his brother.
Thanks to Stanley Sato for sharing this information with Retiree News.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to Lester’s family and friends.
Retiree News 