Welcome to Fastbuck's web page
I am Herman R. "Buck" Seibert and I live in Kentucky.
I was a Jet Engine Mechanic in the U.S. Air Force from 1962-1966. A member of the first
Air Force unit to be equipped the F4 Phantom II, the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing,
I can proudly call myself a Phantom Phixer.
I had 8 weeks of Basic Training at Lackland AFB in 1962. I was in Flight 454 in 1st phase (5 weeks) and Flight 452-55 in 2nd phase (3 weeks). I then attended Jet Engine Mechanic tech school at Amarillo AFB, Texas. My class number was 04072A which meant the class started on 4 July 1962 and it was day class (A) (we started class at 0600 and ended at noon) . I received the Honor Graduate Award and the AFSC (Air Force Skill Code) of 43230 Jet Engine Mechanic. I received orders for MacDill AFB, Florida and arrived there in Oct 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was attached to the 15th TAC Fighter Wing working on F-84F aircraft until I was called upon to help the 4453rd activate. For several weeks 3 airmen and myself were "Gophers" for our future Commander Col Frank K. Everest and 1st Sergeant Haynes.
In January 1963, I went TDY to Miramir NAS, CA for 4 weeks of F-4 Power Plant School. Sometime after, my AFSC was changed to J43250 the J being the identifier for the F-4 Phantom.
Here is a photograph taken in the barracks at MacDill. I am about 120 pounds lighter here and about 50 years younger. Thats me wearing nothing but a smile and a towel. Must have just gotten out of the shower. On the left is Jim Reidnour who was a fire control specialist (worked on the aircraft radar system) In the middle is Hans George Wurfel III. He was a weapons specialist. Wurf went on to be a gunner on a gunship and was decorated for his heroic action in SVN. It looks like Jim has a deck of cards in his hand. We probably were going to play a game of Hearts.
Because it was so hot in those old WWII open bay barracks without air conditioning, we often lounged around
in our underwear. This is Wurf and I again.
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This is the AC-119 crash that Wurf survived. I don't know where I found this story about the
crash so I don't know who to credit it to. But it is too important not to share.
"The heavy demand for AC-119K support of ground operations and
interdiction of the enemy's dry-season supply effort contributed to some early
losses. The first occurred on February 19, 1970, when a Stinger crashed short of
the Da Nang runway while returning from a combat mission. The final approach had
gone normally until the landing gear and flaps went down about two miles out at
500-600 -foot altitude. A sudden power loss in the jet and reciprocationg
engines on the left side, apparently due to fuel starvation, prevented the pilot
from maintaining either directional control or altitude. The crash demolished
the aircraft but the crewmembers escaped with only minor injuries. Another
Ac-119K was nearly lost when a 37mm round shattered the nose section as the
aircraft worked a few miles north of Ban Bak, Laos."
Here is one of my favorite places at MacDill.Well, except when I was on KP.... The Chow Hall. 
This was an auxillary Mess Hall used by the 4453rd and STRIKE COMMAND. There was another, larger Mess Hall
several blocks away.
My good friend Bill Boushelle a member of the 4453rd. A picture of Bill and his 65 Malibu. Bill still lives in Tucson.
Here are pictures of more of my Air Force Friends.
Carmine Gallo
Jim Dundon Dec 14, 1945 - Dec 4, 2007 Rest in Peace Old Friend 
Jim Dundon and me in the Arizona desert Southeast of Tucson at a place called Johnson's Ranch.
That's my 1960 Mercury.
Another of the original maintenance men of the 4453rd was Monroe Smith. He was a Weapons Mechanic like
Wurf. Monroe is now retired from the Air National Guard in Tucson. Here is a 2003 picture of him beneath the
wing of an F-16. Monroe still lives in Tucson.
And here is Monroe a long time ago in Basic TrainingHere you see Monroe Smith, Hans Wurfel and myself at the 2009 PhanCon at Holloman AFB, NM. We were early
members of the 4453rd maintenance team. Monroe and Hans (Wurf) were Weapons Mechanics.
The F4C was originally called the F-110A Spectre
This aircraft, serial number 62-12199, was the first (and I believe,only) F110A. Ordered by the Air Force on March 30,1962, it made its maiden flight on May 27,1963 by that time it had been redesignated F-4C. This aircraft crashed on Dec 6, 1967 in St. Louis. I believe it was used for factory tests.
The Navy called the Phantom the F4H. In September 1962, Congress redesignated all aircraft so that all branches of the service would use the same designation. The F-110 became the F-4C. At first, we were equipped with Navy F-4B's because the "C" models would not be ready for delivery until late in 1963. We used Navy maintenance manuals and tooling. Maintenance troops were sent to Navy schools. I went to J79 engine school at Miramar Naval Air Station.
Imagine our surprise when we found the following drawing on one of the first pages of the Navy Flight manual. Col. Everest had it enlarged and it hung behind his desk for quite a while. It may be difficult to view with some browsers, it shows two Air Force F-4's attempting to land on a carrier. The Captain has left the ship on his skiff and the crew is jumping overboard. Classic humor in uniform! I always wondered if this drawing was inserted only in the manuals we received, or was in all the manuals including those issued to the Navy. I would like to thank George Gagnon of Spokane, WA, it was his idea to add this drawing. The original was in black and white.
I found this colorized version somewhere on the web. Hope I don't get in trouble for using it.
photo by Doug Mathews
63-7416 on a wet runway probably at MacDill
On May 22, 1964, the first F-4C was lost. The aircraft was S/N 63-7416 and it crashed at the Avon Park
bombing range in central Florida. Killed in the crash were Capt. Joseph J. Onate and
Capt. William F. Buhrman. I assisted in the accident investigation helping to disassemble
and inspect the engines from the aircraft.
In Sept. 2001 I had a very interesting phone conversation with the son of Capt. Onate.
Joe Jr. was only 3 1/2 when his father was killed and was interested in all I could remember
of the incident. Joe, God bless your father for giving his life for our country and thank you
for your own service to our country. Recently, I also was contacted by Rhonda Haven, the daughter of Capt.
William F. Buhrman and had several interesting conversations. I was able to put her in contact with Joe Onate
Jr. This was the first time she had ever spoken to anyone in Capt. Onate's family.
The photo is from Airman Magazine.
I believe it was sometime in 1963 that GE recognized the 4453rd Engine Shop for our program to prevent FOD(foreign object damage).
We spent many hours walking the ramp and taxi ways looking for objects that could be injested into the intakes. The GE Tech Reps threw a party for us and took a photo that was later published on the cover of GE's Jet Service News.
I could remember seeing the magazine but didn't save a copy. As luck would have it, I took a job as a Tech Writer at GE Aircraft Engines in 1982. While there, I learned that the Jet Service News was published out of that office and they had a photograph file of all the photos used over the years. I located the editor of the magazine and asked if the picture of the 4453rd engine shop was in the files. I gave him the approximate time period and he said he would check. A while later he showed up at my desk with the original photograph that was taken in 1963. He gave it to me and here it is.
All of the faces are familiar to me, many of the names are not.
If you recognize anyone please let me know. The civilians were GE Tech Reps. The officers on the left are Lt.
Col. Menaker the Chief of Maintenance and Captain Petzen the maintenance officer.
That is me again, sitting in the second row, 3rd from the left. Next to me are Staff Sergeant Carpenter and Airman Dever.
In 1964, the 4453rd moved to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona
When some of the Phantoms left MacDill for the trip to DM, this happened.
4453rd F-4s on the ramp at Davis-Monthan AFB
I spent several months at DM in the J33 Section of the engine shop.
This photograph was taken sometime in 1965. I am standing 3rd from the left between TSgt Bossler and
Airman Starlin T. Washington.
It was with great regret that I learned of the passing of TSGT Harvey Bossler early in 2002. Everyone that
worked for and with TSGT Bossler respected him and miss him greatly.Some of us called him "Daddy B"
because he and his wife took care of us like we were their own.
Personnel from left to right
Back Row
A3C Jenkins, TSgt Harvey Bossler, A1C Buck Seibert, A2C Starlin T. Washington,
A2C Mark Lappen, A2C Carmine Gallo, A2C Tuuri
Front Row
Ssgt Groves, A3C Cavanaugh, A3C Morris, A1C Denton, A3C Jim Dundon,
Ssgt Denver Johnson
A couple of the 4453rd's T-33s at Davis-Monthan. I had many adventures and mis-adventures while working on
these aircraft.
We didn't have a test cell for the J33 engines. The engines would be installed in the aircraft
and the tail section would be left off as in the aircraft in the photo. We would run the engine
through it's test, taking care of any leaks or other problems before the tail section was reinstalled.
We changed the engines right out on the ramp using a crane.
President John F. Kennedy visited MacDill on November 18th. Our F4's were in the flyover at the funeral of the President a few days later.
Cliff Larrabee took these photos.
Al Guay took the photo above
This is the General Electric J79 in an engine transportation dolly outside the DM engine shop.
Two of these powered the F4's. It is a tough engine and has lots of power and versatility.
It also powered the F104 and the B58 among others.
For 33 years I worked for GE Aircraft Engines where I worked as a Test Operations Specialist,
a Technical Writer and an Evaluation Engineering Specialist. I retired in Dec 2001.
Here is a link to the GE HomePage. Hope you find something interesting. GE Aircraft Engines Homepage
Steve Ritchie F-4 Ace and Buck Seibert at Phancon 06 at Panama City, Florida
photo by Diane Seibert
If you are interested in the F-4, please consider a membership in
The F4 Phantom Society
Here is a great link that Tom Pirtle told me about. You can check to see if your favorite
Phantom is on display somewhere. Click here to find your Phantom
Here is a great link you will want to visit often. The 12th TFW was one of our sister outfits
at MacDill.
They were the first combat unit in the Air Force to receive F4's. Our other sister outfit was
the 15th TFW.
The 12th TAC Fighter Wing Homepage
Another great Phantom link. All you old "Phixers" should read
Ode to the PHANTOM
I met you many years ago,
You were quite young then...........I too.
Known round the world,
Your name instilled fear, respect
To all of those who knew.
Many places, many times
We showed 'em what we could do.
I touched your skin, your soul, felt your heart pound
I saw you ease, fearless, into the beckoning blue.
I watched you when you returned, sometimes I cried.
Each time one of you was lost
Part of me also died.
Gray, I am now, you too
Our prime has past, many teens anew.
I've known all your kids,
from B to G, the RF too.
I've shined your guns, and armed your tanks,
Loaded your TERS and MERS.
AIM 9s and 88s adorned your wings
I remember those times we flew
Thirty years now, we won't quit,
Tomorrow brings something new
Always another mission, a unique task,
For us old farts to do!
written by
MSgt Robert F. Clinton
1991
The Phantom's Lair
Be prepared, it may bring a tear to your eye. MSgt. Clinton has done a great job with this
This is a tribute to another member of the 4453rd. Tom Pirtle had a beautiful page with lots
of graphics.
Tom joined the 4453rd about a year after I left so he had more first hand info on the F-4D's.
He also was at Cam Ranh Bay for most of 1966. Tom passed away on 13 Jun 2010. He is missed.
And if you want to know just about everything there is to know about the F4 Phantom II, this is the place.
An unbelievable amount of information is located here. It is a very large file.
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/
or go here........ http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1963.html
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/f4/index.htm
This link will take you to the wild blue yonder. The Air Force Association.
This little guy is called the Spook. He is the mascot for the F4 Phantom and has been around since
the beginning. A special salute to those who built, maintained and flew this great aircraft.
Animation by Buck Seibert
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Hope the site has been of interest
You can E-Mail me easily just by clicking here: buckseibert@twc.com
Thanks for stopping by. Please check back occasionally as changes are being made frequently.
Created by Buck Seibert on Sept 9,1996 Last updated on Jul 24, 2016
opyright © 1998 Buck Seibert. All rights reserved.