Uncertainty–a word which was intertwined in many parts of the job of the Charleston AFB C-130 navigator, circa 1965. It was also what made the job interesting, annoying, challenging, rewarding, and sometimes a little scary.

Where am I going? When will I get back? Both uncertain for several airlift missions. One of my favorites was the Chataeuroux Extension. You knew when you left Charleston, your first crew rest was gonna be Chataeuroux, France. You were pretty sure your next stop would be Incirlik, Turkey, a major airlift hub for the middle east. After that it was a literal grab bag. You went wherever the Command Post in Incirlik wanted to send you. You were bringing high priority supplies and equipment to our folks deployed there.
Some examples: The Turkey Trot (Incirlik- Diyarbakir, Trabzon, Samsun, Yalova, Eshkeshir, Incirlik). BTW all missions ended back at Incirlik.
A quick flight to Beirut, Lebanon and/or Cairo, Egypt. Further on to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. Yet further east to Asmara or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. , a quick stop in Teheran, Iran (remember it’s 1965). Or further east to Karachi, Pakistan. You found out when you reported to the Command Post to plan your mission.
When you returned to Incirlik, you were not sure you wouldn’t draw another eastward mission. I picked up a second sortie several times. Generally, I was back home within a month.
Again, it made the job exciting, but I started annoying my wife and family with the cliche “ Flexibility is the key to Air Power” during that phase of our Air Force life.