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Retired Chief Master Sgt. Victor Hugo, former 446th Military Air
Wing command chief, started out his Air Force career in 1951 by
attending basic military training at what was then Lackland Air
Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
In 1951, being three years
young, the United States Air Force didn't have a standard issue Air
Force uniform for its Airmen. So Hugo and his fellow trainees
marched day after day in issued brown army pants, army shoes,
short-cut “Ike” jacket and a class-A hat.
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Left - Retired Chief Master Sgt. Victor Hugo, former 446th Military Air Wing command chief, retired in 1992 at the age of 60 the oldest age one is allowed to serve while enlisted in the reserves. Hugo served as the 446th MAW Command Chief from 1988 to 1992. Right - Retired Chief Master Sgt. Victor Hugo, former 446th Military Air Wing command chief, started out his Air Force career in 1951 by attending basic military training at what was then Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio; Texas. "At the time, we didn't even have an official Air Force uniform," said Hugo. "We were still transitioning from the Army Air Corps to the United States Air Force." Hugo is seen here in his former Air Force uniform. (Image of Chief Master Sgt. Victor Hugo created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force courtesy photos)
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“At the time, we didn't even have an official Air Force
uniform,” said Hugo. “We were still transitioning from the
Army Air Corps to the United States Air Force.”
After
basic training, Hugo completed six months of technical
training for aircraft engine mechanics at the New England
Aircraft School of Industrial Technology, a contract school
for the Air Force located next to Logan International
Airport in Boston. The Air Force training schools were so
full during this time that Airmen had to be sent to contract
schools.
According to Hugo, while contracted to the New England
Aircraft School of Industrial Technology and not having a
set uniform, the Air Force didn't want Airmen to be in
public wearing the army-style gear issued at basic training,
so they were provided civilian clothes.
After
graduating from technical school, Hugo and his classmates
attended six-and-a-half months of follow-on training,
learning about the new electrical systems of the B-36
Peacemaker and awaiting arrival at Fairchild Air Force Base,
Wash.
“When we graduated we were really looking
forward to getting to an Air Force base,” said Hugo. “We
were stationed at Fairchild, and it was just like going
home.”
Once at Fairchild, Hugo was assigned to the
92nd Bomb Wing's 92nd Field Maintenance Squadron where he
until March of 1955.
Fairchild was memorable for Hugo
not only as his first base but also for another reason.
“I met my wife while I was stationed at Fairchild,” he
said. “61 years later, I still have the same lady.”
After the end of his enlistment at Fairchild, Hugo joined
the reserves and cross-trained into the load master career
field. In 1958, while Hugo was stationed at Paine Field,
near Everett Wash., he was involved in a plane crash.
Less than 30 seconds after take-off, the propeller from
the right engine of their C-119 Flying Boxcar dismounted
from the engine and sliced through the back of the cockpit.
The pilot, performing in flight-emergency procedures, turned
the aircraft to make an emergency landing.
Unsure if
the plane was going to stop before reaching the end of the
runway, Hugo was ordered to jump out the back of the plane
once it slowed to around five miles per hour.
“I was
thinking about the plane crashing and burning,” said Hugo.
“So I looked out there and said ‘gosh we must be going 5
miles an hour,'”
Hugo jumped.
In reality the
plane was going about 45 miles per hour when he jumped, yet
he walked away with only scratches and torn clothes. Being
cleared by the flight doctor, he remained active in the
reserves for eight more years.
In 1965 his reserve
squadron was told if they signed their re-enlistment papers
they would be sent to England in 90 days.
Many of the
Airmen in the squadron decided to get out, including Hugo,
who did not return to the military service for a decade.
During his military hiatus, he returned to aircraft
maintenance working on planes for Boeing. Instead of working
on the familiar B-36 Peacemaker, his prior maintenance
experience was put to use on the B-52 Stratofortress. During
this time he attended Seattle University and earned a
bachelor's degree in commercial science.
Ten years
after again re-enlisting in the reserves in 1975, Hugo
became the NCO in-charge of the 86th Aerial Port Squadron at
McChord AFB. In 1986, he became the senior enlisted advisor
for the 446th Military Air Wing/Associate, and in 1988, he
became Command Chief of the 446th MAW.
During
meetings with fellow command chiefs, he always pushed the
importance of the Air Force Reserves.
“My favorite
topic is ‘don't play down the reserves,'” said Hugo. “As a
reservist the missions we do are the same as active duty
they have the same criteria, training, hours and
qualifications.”
Hugo served as the 446th MAW Command
Chief until retiring in 1992 at the age of 60 the oldest age
one is allowed to serve while enlisted in the reserves.
By U.S. Air Force Airman Sean Campbell
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
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