Biographical Notes re Richard J. (Dick) Sniker, Chapter # 1, Military Introductions


Biographical Notes re Richard J. (Dick) Sniker
	CHAPTER # 1 MILITARY INTRODUCTIONS In late June 1954 our B-29 touched down on the runway at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base ending a nine-month tour of duty with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan. Our crew of twelve, commanded by Lt. Stone had been assembled in the spring of 1953 at Randolph AFB Texas. Together we had successfully finished B-29 transition and combat crew training, plus survival training at Stead AFB near Reno, Nevada. In the process, the individuals more or less randomly selected twelve months previously had evolved into a cohesive unit that functioned together as a team.
I had enlisted in the Air Force in March 1952 with the vague expectation that I might join the Pilot Cadet Program once I had finished basic training. Lacking a college education I qualified for Cadets by completing a series of examinations and was patiently waiting for class assignment. Evidently there was a greater than expected influx of qualified applicants for the program. A number of us waiting for class assignment were recalled to take the depth perception portion of the eye exam over again. One after another we all failed the second examination. Our group consensus at the time was that due to the influx of candidates for the Cadet Program that some elimination of individuals was necessary. Poor depth perception is not a correctable eye problem, therefore an easy method for the Air Force to eliminate the excess applicants. It is more than a bit ironic that my reassignment for training was as an aerial gunner, which required passing the same examination. Needless to say, this time I passed with flying colors and was soon on my way to Lowry AFB for the training program. (Much later as a civilian, I earned a Commercial Pilots License and for a number of years flew my own aircraft on business and personal recreational trips).

		Airman Richard J. Sniker, USAF Basic Training, April, 1952
May of 1952 found me enrolled in the Turret Mechanic class which was the prerequisite for B-26, B-29 and B-50 gunnery school also conducted at Lowry. My course work was completed by mid-March 1953. After a long anticipated leave of nearly four weeks I arrived at Randolph AFB, Texas for the next phase of aircrew training. The next fourteen months are well documented under this web site as Recollections of a B-29 Crew in Japan, however a few personal thoughts are probably in order.
End of Chapter 1 Click below to select a destination Introduction — This Story Table of Contents — This Story Chapters 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 Biographies Index Home