The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Service Reflections of MSgt David Manchester, U.S. Air Force (1966-1986)

Service Reflections of MSgt David Manchester, U.S. Air Force (1966-1986)

Just before I graduated from high school, at 17 years old, I was home. It was just Mom and me, and she said to me, “I think you need to call the ‘recruiter’ and enlist in the Air Force. Since my Dad served in the Army Air Forces during WWII, there was no other choice but to join the Air Force. Mom knew that the best thing for me was to get away from home, and we could not afford college tuition, so this was the logical step.

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Distinguished Military Unit: 56th Fighter Group By A3C Michael Bell

Distinguished Military Unit: 56th Fighter Group By A3C Michael Bell

This storied unit, “Zemke’s Wolfpack,” by itself is represented on Air Force TWS with sixty-four registered members. However, its history with, currently, sixty-eight other numerically associated air and ground units (e.g. Wing, Supply, Medical, etc.) includes hundreds more airmen under and bearing the original insignia right up to the present time with 56th OG. A summary of its full parent lineage, not including subordinate squadrons, would include: AAC 56th Pursuit group 1940-41, then the AAF 56th FG itself until 1946, redesignated 56th Fighter Interceptor Group 1950-52, 56th Fighter Group (Air Defense) 1955-1961, 56th Tactical Fighter Group 1985-1991, and 56th Operations Group 1991- present.

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