My years at the 603 rd will always be special. Arriving there as an eighteen year old kid, I got to travel and see thirteen different countries in Western Europe . My military job assigned me to ‘Bravo Crew' in radar operations where I was a plotter and radar scope operator and later becoming a control technician. After leaving the Air Force, I returned to my home town of Limestone, New York, and worked in an electronics factory for two years before going to college full time. Upon graduating, I moved to Alaska and have been here for the past thirty-four years. I lived in Anchorage working in the wholesale and retail grocery business for several years. In 1983, I went to work for a local bakery that produces and distributes Wonder Bread, retiring from there in May of 2000. After retirement, my wife Sandy and I moved to our weekend/summer home on Alaska 's Kenai River which is 140 miles south of Anchorage . We have a son and daughter that are grown and living in Anchorage . As of this date, we have no grandchildren.

The main reason I chose to live in Alaska is my passion for hunting and fishing. I have hunted almost all of the big game animals that the state has to offer and in 1977 went on an African Safari, bringing back twelve trophies. I sometimes joke that my taxidermist put two kids through Harvard Law School on what I have paid him over the years. I don't hunt much any more but do lots of fishing. The river we live on has world class salmon and trout fishing. We are often overwhelmed with company who are always glad to see us but who ironically only seem to show up during the peak fishing season.

Sandy and I took up golf after retirement and really enjoy the game. I also collect antique firearms and have even learned to do restoration work on some of them. We travel quite a bit and usually try to leave our cold winters for a few weeks in warmer climates.

In the year 2000, my old friend Vern Setchell from the 603 rd and I took on the task of putting together a squadron reunion. Two and a half years later, our searching and work paid off when we had the first 603 rd ACW Squadron Reunion in Denver , Colorado . A great time was had by all who attended and old friendships were renewed and new friendships created. The main purpose of this website is to keep our old squadron mates together and attract more ‘Langerkopfers' to future reunions.

My best wishes to everyone and I hope to see you on the web and at the next reunion in 2005.

Tom BaileyPO Box 996
Sterling , Alaska 99672
Phone: 907-260-3725
e-mail happybytheriver@att.net