You gotta' see this, located at Henderson, NV, United States!Posted on 08/08/2012 2:32:16 AM PDT by Yosemitest
You gotta' see this, located at Henderson, NV, United States!
The payoff with the alleged USAF "Saucer" is the outlandishly oversized fin and the lack of any evidence of power sources (Vanna, can you give me an intake?)...and I love those ridiculous multiwheel landing gear! Imagine the fun of designing those things to retract efficiently into that thin section wing..
F-86 Sabre.
Yes, I have actually. There used to be fights between Habu and Mongoose.
I spent 3 years on the island in the mid-60’s and I also saw the Habu vs. Mongoose battle it out. Poor Habu always lost.
One year at the Kadena Carnival the old Okinawan guy that was running the match got bitten and died right before our very eyes. Needless to say, my days of exploring the local caves came to an abrupt halt.
Thanks for the memories.
I’ll bet there are few here that know the origin of that moniker.
I do. I was a pre-teen Army brat in the mid-sixties, and lived just south of Kadena for some years. I once caught a baby Habu and tried to pickle it in rubbing alcohol. You wouldn't believe the stink when I opened that jar a year later .. LOL
Sounds like you and I were on Okinawa in the same time period. We were there from late ‘63 to late ‘66. I used to love watching the Habu versus mongoose cage matches. Never saw a handler get bit, though. That must have been horrifying.
I spent a lot of time exploring caves myself. Did you ever get into that limestone cave the Army tried to seal up (again and again)? I’m trying to remember the name of the area where it was located, but sheesh, that was 46 years ago.
I still have great memories of the place. Didn’t want to leave when we were called back stateside.
I was there as a brat also at Kadena 59-62, I just sent an email to Panamax re: my extensive forays in the boonies exploring creeks, gullies, caves, revetments, etc. I was later stationed there as a buck sergeant in 69-71 but my exploring was confined mostly to the Koza strip outside gate 2 ;)
Well, pleased to meet you, fellow Oki.
My younger brother had the same experience as you did. He returned to Okinawa after joining the Marine Corps. I think he spent about two years there. He hated the place the second time around.
Me, I’ve got nothing but great childhood memories. Like you, I spent a lot of time exploring the caves, jungles, gorges, beaches, etc. It was a fantastic playground for a young boy.
I didn’t want to leave either. The best times a kid could ever dream of could be had on Okinawa. We also lived south of Kadena near the beach. Our “house” was nothing more than a flat-top concrete box with shudders that covered the windows during the Typhoons.
I would move back there in a minute and live as a native, but far too many grandkids and family here to relocate.
I think the cave you are thinking of was called Gokosenna or something like that? Like you said, it been a long time. I never got into that one. Guess it was huge and went on for miles underground.
We’d see the Habu when exploring and they weren’t afraid to chase you. You’re lucky you didn’t get bitten.
Thanks for allowing me to re-live the best part of my youth.
We lived in one of those flat top concrete boxes too, but it had four bedrooms and central air. First time in my life I'd ever lived in a house that nice.
Our house was in the Army officer's housing area we called, "Plaza". All of the big military honchos lived up there. It was at the top of a small mountain. There was a spot at the Officer's Club where you could see the East China Sea and the Pacific in the same field of view. I absolutely loved living there.
There was one string of houses at one end of that neighborhood where the top brass of the island lived. Mostly, we kids knew better than to venture in there, but one day, my brothers and I just couldn't resist exploring the palatial grounds of the commanding General's place.
We thought we were being as stealthy as Special Forces troops in a jungle, but as we were creeping through the woods behind the big house, an old gent sitting on the patio stood up and said, "Hey! You boys! Get over here!"
We were well conditioned to obey authoritative adults, so we all came out and trudged across the big yard to the patio. There this old guy stood, with arms akimbo, looking at us with a hardened scowl. It was the commanding General himself. OMG!
We all stood there with our heads hanging down, and he asked with a booming voice, "Where do you boys live?" Being the eldest, I looked up and said, "We live right down the street, Sir." He asked for my dad's name and rank, and I gave it to him, thinking, "Oh no - we're gonna get our dad in trouble."
He paused, then let a crinkly smile form on his lips. He then said, "Have a seat, boys. Want some lemonade?" You probably could have floated a balloon with our collective relief. We sat and talked with the General for what seemed like a really long time. When we were done, he told us we had his special permission to come play in his yard anytime we wanted, but that we were to keep it "top secret."
Wish I could remember his name. I ought to ask my dad. I'm sure he'd remember it. Matter of fact, I need to tell him the story. I don't think I ever did.
Enjoy reading about the real stuff..the flying saucer stuff is fun but should be left to Forbidden Planet or This Island Earth and that other '50s genre.
Ah yes - from what I read about it, it could almost takeoff and land vertically. The Grumann XF5U was the attempt to turn that design into a shipboard fighter. It was overcome by prop and transmission headaches and then by the emergence of jet engines and the Japanese surrender. Really wish they had flown it just once but they only taxiid it around and then scrapped ir. Dang shame they didn’t at least preserve it.
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