90-year-old retiree saw Air Force history unfold Published Feb. 18, 2009 By Airman 1st Class David Salanitri 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- When retired Master Sgt. Dave Costine recalls the historic moment when the Army Air Corps. became the United States Air Force in 1947, one could only hope that their memory would be as sharp as his at 90 years old. The Keesler Retiree Activities Office specialist witnessed something truly historical -- being in the Army Air Corps as it became the Air Force after the signing of the National Defense Act of 1947. "I was part of the aircrew that flew the orders of the National Defense Act to be signed by Truman. We flew there as Army Air Corps. and flew back as Air Force," said Mr. Costine. Mr. Costine joined the Army Air Corps. in 1937 at the age of 19. He started his journey in the military when he signed up in the civilian military training corps. He trained during the summer months and went to high school the rest of the year. After high school Mr. Costine decided he wanted to pursue a military career and joined the service. "I talked to our company major at Ft. Meade, where I was training during the summer, about joining the Army and becoming an infantry man, but he wouldn't let me join that career field," said Mr. Costine. "I was enlisting during the depression and was one of the few who got the chance to complete high school, so he pushed me to the Air Corps." Mr. Costine started his military career as a company clerk doing administrative duties, but he cross-trained after two years to become an aerial mechanic, which is now known as a flight engineer. "Back then, the term cross-training carried a different meaning then it does today," explained the Syracuse, N.Y. native. There was no schooling; the career field would be learned on the job." Mr. Costine worked on the B-17 and B-24 bombers during his first assignment as an aerial mechanic in Panama. During World War II, Mr. Costine found himself supporting the flying mission in China, Burma and India. "I would do everything from starting the engine, maintaining the power to the engines and repairing the instrument panel," said Mr. Costine. After the war, Mr Costine separated from the Army Air Corps and went to work for TWA aircraft in Delaware where he created the flight engineer career field. Mr. Costine enjoyed what he was doing, but missed the military. "The longer I was working as a civilian, the less money I was making," he recalled. "Everyone was returning from the war, and many folks had seniority over me. A friend of mine that I served with in New York suggested that I go to the other side of the airport and talk to the Air Corps guys." That's all it took for Mr. Costine to rejoin the military. He went back to the same career field, but his squadron now had a special mission. Mr. Costine was the flight engineer for President Truman, President Roosevelt and many other distinguished visitors. "It was a great job getting to be part of that," said the veteran as he quoted off the plane's tail number and model. After 21½ years of military service, Mr. Costine retired as a master sergeant, but wasn't done with the military quite yet. He's been volunteering with the base's retiree activities office for the past two years. "I felt like I was away from the military too long, and I missed being around it. It was a pain having to learn the new terms and phrases, but I like what I do," he concluded.