Bio: Grabon, S.Sgt. Frank L. (Monthly Award – Dec 1965)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Grabon, Radetsky, Powell, Klesert

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 02 Jun 1966

S.Sgt. Frank L. Grabon, 11th Organizational Maintenance Sq., Altus AFB, has been named Maintenance Man of the Moth for December 1965, for the 819th Strategic Aerospace Division, and the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing, it was announced this weekend.

Sergeant Grabon received a $25 savings bond, a certificate of achievement from the 11th SAM, a lapel pin and letters of congratulations for his outstanding achievements.

In a letter to Col. Harold A. Radetsky, wing commander, Brig. Gen. Kenneth R. Powell, commander of the 819th SAD, said "Please express my personal congratulations to Sergeant Grabon for his having earned recognition as the 819th SAD's outstanding maintenance main of the month.

"Dedicated maintenance personnel of his caliber is the foundation upon which successful wings are built."

Information from the 11th OMS revealed that there are many reasons for the recognition Sergeant Grabon received. One of the reasons is that his B-52 aircraft, while at the Oklahoma City Air Material Area, was the best that had been there in quite some time. It was according to maintenance officials at OCAMA, the best aircraft from this base that they had worked on. They contributed it outstanding condition to the top notch maintenance put into this aircraft by Sergeant Grabon.

However, it is not just a "lucky" aircraft that enable the sergeant to draw much praise. Last December, while he was crewing another B-52 Strato Fortress, he and his ground crew prepared the aircraft so well that it landed 11 hours later with only two write ups.

A letter of appreciation to Sergeant Grabon from Maj. William M. Klesert, commander of the aircraft said: "This fine showing is mainly due to the efforts of one of SAC's finest crew chiefs, Sergeant Grabon."

Sergeant Grabon has been instrumental in reorganizing the flight crew – ground crew relations by proposing the implementing of the WWII head salute from crew chief to aircraft commander upon mission rollout.

"Altus ARB is fortunate to have a maintenance man like Sergeant Grabon, and it is evident that he has contributed a great deal to the mission of this Wing in a way that can never really be measured," said Lt. Col. Edward S. Prunko, Commander, 11th OMS.