352nd TAC Fighter Squardon '69-'70

I was also stationed here as a crew chief on the "lead sleds". The only time I was injured my entire tour was falling off the cockpit ladder in an emergency. I was in the cockpit of a '100 starting it up for a avionics check. I got fuel but no ignition on first attempt. My ground personnel gave me a clear to attempt start two. What he failed to notice was the unburned fuel coming out of the tail cone. This time I got ignition. Needless to say, this ignited the fuel in the tail cone, which in turn ignited the fuel that had spilled out underneath the aircraft. The aircraft was fully loaded. Again, needless to say I proceeded out of the cockpit at a rather brisk pace, caught my foot in one of the ladder rungs and ended up landing on my shoulder after about a six foot fall. We got the extinguishers just outside the revetment going and called the fire department. Let me tell you, my adrenaline was pumping attempting to extinguish that fire underneath a fully loaded '100. Fortunately everything turned out OK (with the exception of an awful lot of paperwork afterwards). Other things I remember: going to the beach with an armed escort to swim in that jellyfish infested water: The S.O.S at the mess hall (I actually enjoyed it): The water tank dunks for those close to going home: the 6PM to 6AM night shift (or was it the 7 to 7?): drag racing the tow vehicles on the flight line (anyone remember what they were called?): the alert hanger at the end of the runway (good food): the red tracers at night from the "Puffs": fights with Army personnel at the bars: wwwaaayyy too much beer!.