Blowing Smoke - The Lt. Langer Story

Paul Johnson
Misawa 62-64, 74-77, 81-85

It must have been in the mid 70s when a new flight commander came upon the scene. Lt. Langer (I believe his first name was Bernard). After being jeeped in and certified, he took over the flight.

I am not sure how I should say it … but … Lt. Langer was not the most authoritative officer I have known, but a good guy and well intentioned. Flight commanders coming off a mid on Monday mornings would have to conduct a staff meeting with all the Hill brass and some from main base, too.

Lt. Langer’s first time was coming up after our last mid. On the first mid, he gathered several of us fishbowl types together and candidly asked what he could do to give himself a more of a dignified presence at the staff meeting. I suggested a pipe. He loved the idea.

Second mid, he appears with a very large General MacArthur corncob! The next mids were spent teaching the loading and maintenance of said pipe. Finally the end of the last mid arrives and we wish the Lt. well as we make our way out of the gig to a rollcall.

Time passes … First daywatch … I arrive early as usual and am greeted by the mid flight commander whose first words were "Who gave the Lt. a pipe?" I fessed up.

Then I hear about the staff meeting. Lt. Langer was sitting at the conference table among all the brass, puffing his pipe, waiting to be introduced for his part of the briefing. He is introduced and, as he stood to take his position at the podium, he thought it best to remove his pipe. Except, in his anxiety, he forgot to unclench his teeth and pulled the bowl completely off the stem!

MY flight commander, at the podium, pipe stem in mouth and smoldering corn cob in hand.

Saaaaalute!!