Historians help keep record of 'Attack, Rescue, Protect' mission, AF heritage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Every day since Sept. 18, 1947, the official day the Air Force became a separate military department, Airmen's accomplishments have made history, both during peacetime and war.

The 23rd Wing historians, Raymond Heard and Tyrone Scott, are responsible for keeping a thorough record of military events and accomplishments that make up Moody's proud heritage and varied history.

"Preserving Air Force heritage is a big deal because what we did in our past influences what we do now," said Mr. Heard. "All bases have history and Moody is no exception; the lineage of the Flying Tigers is great. It started as an all-volunteer force and we are carrying on their great mission."

To help keep track of not only the mission but also everyday operations, Mr. Heard and Mr. Scott produce a thorough annual report that portrays a day-by-day picture of operations here.

"Our number one priority is to write the annual history for the wing," said Mr. Heard. "The next most important thing we deal with is requests for information which can be made by anyone from a commander to a pilot stationed here in 1992 who wants to know how many sorties he flew."

Three copies of each annual history report are made: one stays on base, one is stored at the major command level and one is stored at the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

"The reports are usually classified, but it depends on the sensitivity of the mission," said Mr. Heard. "If there's even one classified or sensitive document in a history, the whole volume is classified. The history volumes can only be viewed by individuals who have a proper security clearance and a need to know."

One individual who is able to view the classified information because of their position is the base commander.

"The availability of these reports for review for these histories can be one of the biggest benefits for a commander," said Mr. Heard. "It's useful to have them in case a certain problem arises that has happened in the past.

"It's a valuable tool when a commander can refer back to how prior issues were solved," he added. "If a lot of time and effort was spent on something in the past and it was successfully resolved, chances are it will pay off reading how it was done."

One previous commander truly believes in the importance of lessons learned through history.

"It's important for us to have a sense of history because it helps us adapt when needed," said retired Maj. Gen. John Folkerts, who was the 347th Rescue Wing commander from 2001 to 2003. "Over my 34-year career in the Air Force, the changes I saw concerning everything from performance report submissions to aircraft developments were just amazing."

When he joined the Air Force in 1974, performance reports were produced using triplicate paper on typewriters, now they are done electronically. The A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft was also introduced only a year later.

In addition to progress he witnessed in the military, he also noticed specific changes at Moody.

"The changes that have happened on this base in the past decade are astounding, especially considering our many resources that have gone to support deployments," Mr. Folkerts said. "It's more change than is even seen in a typical corporate environment over the same amount of time.

"With the type of business we're in, change is inevitable and printed history can give us a clear picture of how we adapted in the past," he added. "It's up to our present Airmen to make use with what resources and tools they have to successfully adapt and complete the mission."