6515th OMS - Edwards AFB 1960s
I, Lowell Maybrier, arrived at Edwards Air Force Base on May 1962 assigned to the 6515th Field Maintenance Squadron.
Shortly afterwards it became the 6515th OMS (Organizational Maintenance Squadron).
I was in the the helicopter section. We had a helicopter test section and the normal helicopter base support section.
They also flew photo and film missions on take off and lands for all test aircraft.
We also flew support for for all X-15 drops. We always had three out of four CH-21 on stand by in Utah,
Nevada and Edwards in case there was a problem and the X-15 didn't light.
Also the 6515th had a fixed wing section. They had one C-54, one T-29 and one U-3A.
I flew on the C-54 home and back one Christmas leave.
Almost twelve hours in the air to Wright/Patterson AFB, OH. A very long ride.
When I arrived at Edwards there were four H-21, one UH-1A and one H-43. The Huey and the 43 were being tested. The UH-1A, B, D and F were tested while I was there. About 1964 we got the CH-3C to test. Also we were given six Army H-13 for some reason. Eventually the pilots crashed all of them playing around. No one was hurt.
When I arrived at Edwards there were four H-21, one UH-1A and one H-43. The Huey and the 43 were being tested. The UH-1A, B, D and F were tested while I was there. About 1964 we got the CH-3C to test. Also we were given six Army H-13 for some reason. Eventually the pilots crashed all of them playing around. No one was hurt.
US Air Force H-19B Chickasaw (redesignated later UH-19B)
US Air Force H-21B Workhorse (redesignated later HH-21B)
There is a small building just past the ground power equipment area. It is the test operations center building. Out in front of the building on the flight line is a H-21. Everyday we had one on standby. We met many test pilots there including Chuck Yeager. The hangar past test ops is the first hangar the 6515th was in. By 1965 we had moved down the line to the last hangar next to base operations. Three different hangars.
Summer 1965, US Army Boeing Vertol 107 YHC-1A at Bishop airport in a weekend display
Big brother US Army Boeing Vertol 114 JCH-47A Chinook was also present
This is the Chinook I was assigned to in June 1963. It was the seventh built and the third one to fly. Everyday was an exciting day. Something always broke. I'm lucky to have survived the experience.
US Air Force UH-1F Huey at Bishop in a weekend display.
US Air Force CH-3C
