Vol. 33 No. 3
November 2015
The Devil's Own
Grim Reapers!
The Magazine of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association
OUR HERITAGE - 13th Aero Squadron, 14 June 1917
www.13thbombsquadron.com
1421
ood
G
a
And wind!
Tail
2015 13th Bomb Squadron Association Reunion
Branson, Missouri
November 2015
The President’s Corner
WOW! What a great
passable; but I think everyone had fun—and that’s what
we came for; so overall, it, too, was a success.
reunion in Branson. Wish
more of you had been there!
The Branson Radisson did a
superb job—their staff was
excellent, their treatment of
us was superb and their rates
were not much more than a
Holiday Inn, if any.
On other important matters I need your help. First,
is reunion attendance—which is becoming a major
problem. Here’s why: Not including the ten Whiteman
13th B-2 members and spouses, who came for only
the Friday night banquet, just 23 active members
attended. That number is insufficient to get good hotel
and other venue rates; and it’s not a healthy enough
number to sustain annual reunions. Although for the
past few years a large amount of work has been done
by the commercial reunion company that we have used,
there still remained substantial work to be done by the
officers of the organization (with the largest part being
done by Bob Parks). For the San Diego reunion, which
is scheduled for 5-9 Oct, 2016, (mark your calendars),
we will not have the full support of Armed Forces
Reunions; thus, the Association will need to do more of
the planning and execution tasks ourselves. Volunteers
from the San Diego/southern California area will be
especially welcomed.
Following the banquet on
Friday night we had two
great presentations: The
keynote, by Brigadier General Paul Tibbets IV, the
commander of the 509thBomb Wing at Whiteman
AFB, MO, brought us up to date on the 509th Bomb
Wing commitments and the role it plays in both current
operations and strategic deterrence, mixed with some
real time and sometimes funny experiences. He told
us of his close relationship with his grandfather who
piloted the B-29, Enola Gay, that dropped the first
atomic bomb on Japan. He said his grandfather always
felt that he was just following orders during that historic
mission that brought about the end of WWII. He
also assured us of his commitment to the 2017 100th
anniversary reunion of the 13th, and the importance of
sustaining the squadron’s historical significance through
the association. Thank you again General Tibbets for
your presence and your leadership.
Charley Brown
Second, as you read the financial report later in this
issue, you will see that we have had to repeatedly rely
on our savings to meet operational expenses—the most
serious of which involves our magazine and reunion
expenses. Over the past ten years or so, our membership,
and the commensurate donations, have steadily
decreased. Since we do not have dues, we depend on
donations to cover all of our expenses; and we are in
The second presentation, delivered by our fellow
a downhill glideslope in that regard. Although we ask
member, Col. (USAF Ret) Jim Humphries, told the
story of the extensively modified 13th Bomb Squadron’s for only $35.00 per year, many of our readers have not
been contributing anything. (Bob Parks can give you the
B-57Bs that became the B-57G. He traced its early
development, though the operational test and evaluation exact numbers if you’re interested.) Therefore, starting
with this issue there will be a donation form printed
at Eglin and MacDill, the step-by-step deployment
herein. Hopefully, those of you who are able to do so
of the eleven operational jets from MacDill AFB to
will make a contribution now. We need your financial
Ubon RTAB, along with its operational successes and
support.
limitations while attacking the logistics train of North
Vietnam along the trails of Laos. If anyone would like to
As you will see in the minutes of the general
have a copy of his complete presentation, let me know;
membership meeting, we have elected Bill Hamann as
and with Jim’s approval and a few of your bucks, I’ll
Treasurer. He replaces Roger Bauman who has done a
make a copy and send it to you.
fine job as our Treasurer serving for the past four and
The two major Las Vegas-type shows—that many of us one half years. Thank you Roger, for your sustained
superior performance; and thank you Bill for standing
attended—were outstanding. The boat cruise and show
up when we badly needed someone to stand up. (Which
were pretty good—and our own Bob Koehne and his
wife, Carole, made the show much better! Although the brings to mind: If any of you would like to serve the
cruise part was mostly in the dark, and the food was just Association in an official capacity, please let me know.
We need new officers every year; and simply asking
2
November 2015
the current staff to commit to another term is not the
answer.) Bill has also volunteered to serve as Locator,
replacing Bob Parks who has served in that capacity for
the last eight years. Few members of this Association
have contributed so much to our success, and we all
salute Bob for his dedication and sterling performance
in this critical job, while continuing to serve as Second
Vice President.
13th Bomb Squadron Assoc. 2016
Reunion Notice.
A toast of thanks to those who came to Branson, a
fervent wish to see more of you in San Diego, and my
sincere gratitude to all who made it happen.
Our next reunion will take place in San Diego, CA, from
5-9 October 2016. Please let Bob Parks know if you are
planning to attend. (this not a final commitment; only an
indication that will be used by your reunion planners to
ensure that our accommodations meet all requirements.)
Name:________________________________________
Address:______________________________________
City:_____________________State_____Zip:________
_____ Yes, I plan to attend and will have _____ other
people with me.
_____ No, I can’t come this year but am interested in
future reunions
Please clip out or copy and send this notice to: CMSG
(USAF Ret) Bob Parks, 3219 Tavern Oaks, San Antonio,
TX 78247-3080 or email Bob at: [email protected]
The INVADER is the official newsletter of the 13th Bomb
Squadron Association, a Non-profit organization. The INVADER
is published three times yearly for the benefit of the Association
members. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily
those of the Association or of the Department of the Air Force.
13TH BOMB SQUADRON
ASSOCIATION DONATION FORM
*Members of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association must maintain
contact with the Association or “after two years of not
communicating with the association, a member will no longer
receive the INVADER or the Directory”.
Editor: Don Henderson
254 Freeport Road
New Kensington, PA 15068-5421
Tel: (412) 417-6667
e-mail: [email protected]
Henderson Graphic Design & Illustration
www.HendersonGDI.com
NAME:_______________________________________
ADDRESS:____________________________________
CITY:_________________STATE_____ZIP_________
DONATION AMOUNT
❏ $35.00 ❏ $50.00 ❏ $75.00❏ $100.00 ❏ Other
If other, Please specify amount: $______
Please Make Check Payable to the
13th Bomb Squadron Association
and Mail To:
Col (Ret) Bill Hamann,
2950 SE Ocean Blvd, Apt 124-2, Stuart, FL 34996-3551
To help with the cost of producing and mailing the
Invader. Here is my most generous contribution to the
13th Bomb Squadron Association.
The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft
of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917.
©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015
Cover photo: Our cover features the distinct nose of a B-57G. The chin fairing was
a huge drag bucket! The sensors it contained included a low light level TV, plus
the laser designator and a forward-looking infrared sensor In the nose cone was
the forward-looking radar (which was supposed to have a moving target indicator –
but didn't). The sensors were integrated with doppler navigation and computerized
bombing system. All of this was operated by the navigator/systems operator in the
back cockpit. On a bomb run, his computer drove the pilot’s course indicator for
steering, and a time to go bar. The computer knew the ballistics, and released the
bomb with the pilot’s consent, at precisely the right moment.
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November 2015
Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association
Charles J. (Charley) Brown
905 Holbrook Circle
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547-6733
[email protected]
President
1st Vice
President/
Robert R. (Bob) Koehne
23332 SE 225th St.
Maple Valley, WA
98038
[email protected]
2nd Vice
President
James R. (Bob) Parks
3219 Tavern Oaks St.
San Antonio, TX, 78247
[email protected]
Secretary
Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey
6980 Olympic View Ct.
Silverdale, WA 98383
[email protected]
Treasurer
Bill Hamman
2950 SE Ocean Blvd.
Apt 43-6
Stuart, FL 34996-3512
[email protected]
Member at
Large WWII
Member at
Large Vietnam
Locator Data
Manager
Edward D. (Ed) Connor, Jr.
1217 Earnestine St.
McLean, VA 22101-2646
[email protected]
Member at
Large Korea
Ron Silvia
20 Green Lane
Assonet, MA 02702-1410
[email protected]
Member at
Large GWOT
4
Ron Jarrett
10349 416th Avenue
Britton, SD 57430-5005
[email protected]
Major Bradley R. Nadolny
13th Bomb Squadron,
Whiteman AFB, MO
bradleynadolny@gmail.
com
November 2015
A Good Tail Wind
By Jim Humphries, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
to. During a bombing halt, a demilitarized zone (the
DMZ) was set up between North and South Vietnam.
Enemy trucks couldn’t cross the DMZ, so they just
went around it into neighboring Laos every night.
You’ll recognize that network of roads and waterways
as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
The requirement for night attack aviation was
recognized almost as soon as aircraft were employed
in war. But it was long in coming then suddenly, as
technology developed, there was more than one way
to do this. The AC-130 gunships, for example, used
sensors and guns to do the job. But tonight, I’m going
to tell you about another first generation weapon
system that met that requirement successfully in the
early Seventies - the B-57G.
The Air Force had been experimenting with delivery
of laser-guided bombs for quite some time. The
beginnings of that were F-4s operating out of Ubon
before we got there. The laser designator would be
in one of the Phantoms, while other planes in the
formation would carry the bombs. The obvious next
step was to put the laser designator, the computer and
the bombs in the same airframe coupled with see-inthe-dark sensors. That first integration in a B-57 was
called Tropic Moon III, and was the genesis of the
B-57G model that we took to war in 1970.
B-57G #898
This was Jim Humphries presentation to the 13th
Bomb Squadron Association at the reunion in
Branson, MO. September 16 - 20, 2015
I’m honored to tell the story of the Ubon, Thailand,
deployment of the 13th Bomb Squadron during the
Vietnam war.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
Our mission was night interdiction of enemy trucks
carrying war material along the dark jungle trails of
Laos. But night interdiction was easier said than done.
A spokesman for Westinghouse, who designed and
integrated this capability into our airplane, addressed
the problem in 1969 with this quote: “While our
tactical aviation can sweep the enemy clear of the
roads by day, this same enemy is able to move and
re-supply almost as well by night because we are
unable to seek out and destroy him consistently and
effectively.” Here was the reality he was referring
Here’s the G-Model in her war paint at Ubon Royal
Thai Air Force Base, close to the border of Laos.
This is one of eleven airplanes that we ferried across
the Pacific forty-five years ago. The Canberra was a
logical choice to receive the night bombing system for
armed reconnaissance along the trail. The airplane was
fast. It could carry an effective bomb load, and had
enough endurance to remain on station for a couple
of hours. It also had room for a sensor operator in the
back cockpit. I became very proud of our airplane in
due time.
5
cont. on page 6
November 2015
I’ve met association members who served tours in
Vietnam in the B-57 in an earlier deployment of the
13th Bomb Squadron. When that unit and the 8th were
stood down, sixteen of their B-57B airplanes were
modified into the G-Model. Then, as the airplanes
were nearing completion, the 13th Bomb Squadron
was re-activated at MacDill AFB, Florida in January
1969 with Lt Col Paul Pitt as squadron commander.
As the squadron formed, we waited at MacDill for
our airplanes to come from the Martin Company
and Westinghouse (who had jointly developed the
G-Model).
588 in Revetment.
The first time I saw the airplane, I was shocked at the
crudeness of the external modifications. Electronically,
the sensor integration was impressive. But the external
fairings and air scoops simply weren’t properly
streamlined.
Jim Pickles, Crew Chief of #588.
Lt Col Paul Pitt
Here’s Colonel Pitt and Oscar on his blue Jeep at
Ubon. He was a popular man, and led the unit through
its start-up and initial deployment and the first year of
combat operations in Thailand.
Charley Brown & Staff
This is Jim Pickles , a popular crew chief with his
airplane, #588. Jim was the member of the Ubon unit
who gathered us all back together again years after
we had gone our separate ways, and lost track of each
other. Sadly, Jim passed away August 19th. I want to
honor him tonight.
The Chin Fairing,
You can see what we were concerned about on our
first look at the mod. This chin fairing was a huge
drag bucket! The sensors it contained included a low
light level TV, plus the laser designator and a forwardlooking infrared sensor
In the nose cone was the forward-looking radar (which
was supposed to have a moving target indicator – but
didn’t). The sensors were integrated with a doppler
navigation and computerized bombing system .
L/R: Fritz Huber, Jim Humphries, Chuck Strain, Ed Buschette &
Charley Brown
And here are his able ops officer, lead navigator and
flight leaders. And that’s our association president,
Charley Brown on the right with his banana.
6
November 2015
flying with the speed brakes open. Until that flight,
I hadn’t thought much about how we would get the
airplanes to Southeast Asia. I didn’t know then how
far we had to fly, and I didn’t yet know how far this
airplane could fly. And that’s much of the rest of the
story.
Meanwhile, our navigators had already been busy
finding a suitable route half-way around the world to
Ubon. It was decided to island-hop across the Pacific.
The over-water distances were staggering. From
San Francisco to Hawaii was way too far, like 2,300
nautical miles.
All of this was operated by the navigator/systems
operator in the back cockpit. On a bomb run, his
computer drove the pilot’s course indicator for
steering, and a time to go bar. The computer knew
the ballistics, and released the bomb with the pilot’s
consent, at precisely the right moment.
MacDill to Adak
The route they chose took us across the United States
and up the coast of Canada to Elmendorf, Alaska, and
on out to Adak. From there we would set out across
the Pacific for Midway Island. Adak Naval Air Station
was way out in the Aleutian Island chain. And, from
Adak to Midway was 1421 nautical miles due south
over open ocean -- the longest of the over-water legs.
The flight manual maximum range of the G-Model
was less than 1100 miles, way short of getting to
Midway. And, the airplane had no air refueling
capability, so we were in a quandary. It was looking
like we simply couldn’t get to the war at all!
We took some of the airplanes to Eglin AFB for
category testing of the sensors and the bombing
system. When that got underway, we were in for more
surprises. Flying over the bombing ranges at night,
our navigators weren’t seeing what they hoped to see
on their scopes. Unlighted targets were practically
invisible. We were blessed to have experienced SAC
navigators who could pick up targets that many
couldn’t see at all. But on some really dark nights,
even they had difficulty finding the targets.
Horns of Ignorance
The air scoops were primitive shapes that you
wouldn’t expect to find on a jet aircraft. I called them
"Horns of Ignorance!"
Frontal view of the airplane.
It was obvious that the drag of the chin fairings and air
scoops would slow the airplanes and drastically reduce
their range and endurance. This was borne out on my
first flight in the g-model. There was a steady roar like
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November 2015
One target was a remote-controlled half-track which
drove around a race track course in the dark. In a
desperate effort to help qualify the airplane, the
ground team, at least once, put a hot hibachi pot in
the half track, and the infrared sensor jumped right on
it. It was beginning to look like the sensors would be
marginal at best in the dark nights of laos.
Meanwhile, we still had to find a way to get across
that much ocean.
A Ferry Tank
data using a slide rule and a team of helpers to crunch
numbers. Dan Pipkins was helping with the data
reduction. One day I sent him to the weather station to
get a Skew T/log P Diagram.
A ferry tank in the bomb bay was standard procedure
for long flights. Here’s a ferry tank installed on a
bomb bay door. It held 3562 lbs. of jet fuel.
But even with all the fuel we could carry, Midway
was still way beyond our reach. We looked at many
ways to extend the ferry range. There were five more
overwater stretches beyond Midway, though none
quite as far as that first leg. So we embarked on
a do-it-yourself test program flying standard, uninstrumented squadron airplanes evaluating ideas for
range improvement.
Range Improvement Ideas
• Minimize taxi fuel: Tow planes to end of runway
• Climb at optimal climb speed schedule
• Level-off above Flight Manual service ceiling
• Cruise at optimal cruise speed
• Cruise-climb from level-off till start of descent
• Descend with speed brakes closed
• Reconfigure B-57G for ferry flights
- Remove 2100 lbs. of sensors & electronics
- Remove and cover over high-drag scoops
• Utilize JP-5 Navy jet fuel when available
• Pray for tailwinds!!!
We climbed at an optimal mach schedule (260 kias/0.6
m), leveled off at 35,500 feet, well above the flight
manual service ceiling. We cruise-climbed at 0.6 m
as fuel burned off, and descended from 42,700 feet
at mach 0.6/300 kias with speed brakes retracted.
Then, after each test flight, we reduced the flight test
A Skew T/log P Diagram
Danny went, wondering if I was sending him on a
snipe hunt. But he came back with a chart like this
which let us adjust the test data to standard day
conditions.
There was no safe way that we could fly the cross
country test missions to dry tanks. But there was
a clever theoretical way, called the Breguet range
equation, to extrapolate flight test range data to dry
tanks. We used that handy formula to predict our
ultimate range. We were making progress, but our
range still wasn’t far enough.
Well, now what? Our planes were just too heavy!!
Then somebody suggested that we could remove
the sensors for the ferry flights. That would be a
maintenance nightmare, but we had to do it. Our
maintenance team lightened the planes by removing
from each airplane over a ton of sensors and
electronics - 2100 pounds, not needed for the ocean
crossing. Sure enough, that was the magic key that
gave us just enough range to get there. Whoever said
that getting there was half the fun, never tried getting
there in a B-57G!
We sent our home-grown test results up the chain
of command to TAC headquarters, claiming that we
could fly our stripped-down planes the 1421 nautical
miles from Adak to Midway, with a twenty-five
minute fuel reserve on arrival. Back came the order:
“Deploy the squadron!”
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November 2015
Contemplating the Ocean Crossing.
But one night we did lose an airplane. Colonel Pitt
and his back seater, Colonel Buschette, went down
over Laos after a mid-air collision with an unlighted
forward air control plane. They ejected, spent an
anxious night in the jungle, and the next morning
were rescued and recovered uninjured. So we lost an
airplane, but not a single crew member.
B-57G #929 Tail View.
The last days before the squadron deployed were
anxious for all of us. My wife, Marsha, woke me
one night in a panic. She said,. “I dreamed I saw you
floating around in the ocean in a little yellow life
raft!” I told her that didn’t worry me nearly as much
as seeing my squadron commander floating around in
a little yellow life raft!
One thing we could do while we waited for the
deployment date was to pray for tailwinds. I asked
my mother to pray for tailwinds for our ocean
crossing. She began calling her friends all across the
state of South Carolina, asking them to "pray for
tailwinds". I don’t think she knew what tailwinds
were, but she told them, “Jim said it was urgent!”
and pray they did.
Then we received an unexpected heavenly assurance
from a devout lady named Grace Georgelin, a friend
of one of our pilots, Dave Hanlon. Dave was such a
fine man that we nick-named him, “Clean Dave.”
Shame on us! Grace Georgelin was formerly a Dutch
paratrooper nurse, a powerful Christian lady whom
Dave had asked to uphold us in prayer. Well Grace
prayed for the safety of the squadron, and later she
told Dave that she had a vision of our airplanes
escorted by a flight of angels all the way across the
Pacific. She was told that we would get across safely,
and that during combat operations, the squadron
wouldn’t lose a single man. And we didn’t!
Pitt/Buschette
An important operational decision was to assign air
crews to the same airplane tail number on all eleven
legs of the entire ferry mission. That paid off in many
ways, for example: my tip tank low level caution light
came on shortly after takeoff on the first leg of the trip,
leaving MacDill. Not a problem flying over land! The
light proved to be lying, and all of the tip tank fuel
was available on every leg. So, a week later, when the
tip light came on after takeoff from Adak, it wasn’t a
showstopper, requiring an abort, as it would have been
if a different crew had been aboard.
Finally, the wait at MacDill was over, and on the
morning of the deployment from Florida, we checked
the weather enroute to Oklahoma City: Whoa! We had
tailwinds to Oke City! I thought, “Not yet, Lord!” .
“We don’t need them till Adak!”
Planes Taxiing Out at MacDill
And with that good forecast, we launched the
squadron of eleven airplanes from MacDill on
September 15th, 1970.
9
November 2015
B-57G Climbing Out After Takeoff
Here’s one of the planes climbing out toward
Oklahoma City. We made it to Oklahoma City the first
day. The next day, we flew on to Mountain Home,
Idaho, and into Canada at Comox. A day later, we
landed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Then we flew out
the Aleutian Chain to Adak, to prepare for the first
ocean leg. Remember the prayers for tailwinds? Well,
so far we had tailwinds on every leg all the way to
Adak!
Adak, Alaska
The over-water half of the trip was to Thailand: from
Adak to Midway, to Wake, to Guam, Okinawa, Clark
and Ubon. The Adak weatherman had given us an iffy
forecast for light tailwinds.
Climbing Out in Formation
We took off and joined up and climbed out. I was
pleased to see one of my wingmen in position, looking
good. But a little while later, he dropped back and
took this photo.
Photo from Darrell Van Citter’s Plane
I call that “loose trail formation.” My plane is out
ahead at the tip of the contrail in the gun sight! He
wasn’t worried. He had his own navigator in his back
seat! An hour after takeoff, one of the navs in our
flight called to advise that his doppler radar showed
headwinds, and that we might consider turning back.
I was counting on tailwinds, and we continued on,
delaying the go-no go decision till reaching the point
of no return. Meanwhile, our support team at midway
had launched a C-135 coming toward us. On initial
contact, we were told to “expect 100-knot tailwinds”
all the rest of the way into Midway. And we had
them, thank God, landing with more fuel than we ever
expected!
Adak was a dreary, wind-swept, cold and wet place,
not as pretty as this picture. But it was a God-send,
just where it needed to be. Years later, I was telling
this story when a man spoke up and said that when he
was stationed at Shemya, farther out on the Aleutian
chain, they went to Adak for R&R!
There were other good ideas as we prepared to launch
the first flight of planes out of Adak to Midway, with
Col. Pitt leading. The airplanes were towed to the
end of the runway to save taxi fuel and at Col. Pitt’s
suggestion, the tanks were filled with Navy JP-5
fuel, which had a few more BTU’s per pound than
Air Force JP-4. Then, just before takeoff, the tanks
were topped, and the pilots hit the start switches, and
the first planes rolled down the runway heading for
Midway. Four hours later word came that they had all
made it. And the next day my flight followed.
10
November 2015
Midway Island
The Next Leg, Midway to Wake.
Midway was just a dot in the ocean when we first
sighted it. Here’s a close view of the airfield. A
beautiful sight!!
The White Sand Beach at Midway
At Midway, we were truly in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean. The next leg was southwest to Wake Island.
Here’s the chart again, and a photo of what Wake
looked like from the cockpit.
Guam
The white sands of Midway! Just look at that beach!
Bill, Dan and Doug
This is Bill Atterberry, Dan Pipkins and Doug Kosan.
When I look at this picture, I think, “We were soldiers
once, and young,” to quote a book title by Lt. Gen Hal
Moore (Ret).
The rest of the deployment route would include five
more long over-water legs.
Guam was the next stop, with Anderson AFB on
the cliffs of ahead. From Guam we flew to Kadena,
Okinawa, then to Clark in the Philippines, and finally
into Southeast Asia.
I flew the last leg from Clark to Ubon with Dan
Pipkins on my wing. As we approached the coast of
Vietnam, Danny called that his engines had rolled
back a few percent, and he couldn’t maintain altitude.
I throttled back and we descended together for a few
thousand feet. But then his power was restored, and
we went on to Ubon and landed safely – the last two
planes of the squadron to arrive.
Ubon (under construction)
This is a photo of the Ubon Air Base when it was
under construction. It looked a lot better by the time
we got there.
That night, I wrote a brief letter to my wife, Marsha,
letting her know that we had arrived at Ubon. You can
sense the emotion when I wrote, “We’re here safely
after 11,533 miles of thunderstorms, and fog and ice
11
cont. on page 22
November 2015
12
November 2015
13
November 2015
13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015
Roger & Pam Bauman
Charlie & Linda Breitzke
Ann Marie & Charley Brown
Bob & MaryAnn Butterfield
Susan & Tighe Carvey
Nancy & Dave Clark
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November 2015
13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015
Bud Compton & Natalie Lee
Warren & Kay Crane
Robert & Rachel Deerwester
PB & Lou Dover
Becca & Dustin Duke
Bill & Ellen Hamann
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November 2015
13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015
Jim & Marsha Humphries
Elmer Jackson
Ron Jarrett
Betty & Don Kasson
Bob & Carole Koehne
Rob & Beth Makros
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November 2015
13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015
Donald & Virginia Meeks
Elmer & Grace Nelson
Myrtle & Bob Parks
Jo Ann & Dan Pipkins
Diane & Ron Silvia
Morgan Hildebrand, Mathew Burrows, Lauren Venturini
17
November 2015
13th Bomb Squadron Association Board of Directors Meeting
Branson, Missouri • September 17, 2015
Members present: Pres. C. J. “Charley” Brown; Sec. Tighe Carvey; Treas.
Roger Bauman; 1st VP Bob Koehne; Locator/2nd VP Bob Parks; Vietnam Rep.
Ron Silva; Korea Rep Ron Jarrett.
M: Bob Parks
S: Roger Bauman
Passed unanimously
The meeting was called to order at 2:25PM
2. Advisory Committee: The Association bylaws require that the President
appoint an advisory committee. Accordingly, President Brown appointed
Bob Butterfield, Roger Bauman, and Ron Jarrett as members of the advisory
committee.
Motion to approve President Brown’s appointments to the advisory committee.
M: Tighe Carvey
S: Bob Koehne
Passed unanimously
President Brown determined that a Quorum was present
1.The minutes of the 2014 (Providence, R.I.) BOD meeting were presented for
comments and approval. There were no comments.
A motion was made to accept the minutes as published in the Invader.
M: Roger Bauman
S: Ron Jarrett
Passed unanimously
2. Treasurer’s Report:
Roger Bauman presented the Treasurer’s Report for discussion and approval.
Roger pointed out that Reunion expenses were unusually high because the
association had to pay for unused seats on the large busses that were chartered
in Providence. With better management, that expense should not appear in the
future. Also, the Radison Hotel in Branson, MO (2015 reunion site) required
a $500 deposit. The $2400 increase in Invader expenses is due to paying for
one extra issue of the magazine and for travel expenses for the Invader editor.
An extraordinary expense of $1600 results from letting our 501 C-3 lapse.
Attorney’s fees amounted to $750, with the rest going to settle the previous
years’ federal taxes.
Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.
M: Tighe Carvey
S: Bob Koehne
Passed unanimously
Charley thanked Roger for his several years of service as the Association’s
Treasurer.
3. Locators Report:
Bob Parks presented the Locator’s Report. He announced that 3 new members
registered during the year, but we are seeing increasing attrition as older WW2
and Korea members pass away. We now have 504 Active members plus 56
categorized as honorary/friends/associates.
Motion to accept the Locator’s Report.
M: Tighe Carvey
S: Roger Bauman
Passed unamiously
Old Business: None
New Business:
1. Memorabilia: Former Association Historian Charlie Hinton has three
footlockers containing memorabilia from the time the 13th Bomb Squadron
was in Korea. He has been in communication with the Air Force Museum and
reached the conclusion that the Museum will not accept the material unless they
receive a complete inventory first. Such an inventory would require exceptional
effort, so President Brown requested authorization to have the footlockers
shipped to him for evaluation.
Motion to authorize President Brown to have the 3 footlockers shipped to his
home.
3. Finance Committee. The Association bylaws require that the President appoint
a finance committee. Accordingly, President Brown appointed Roger Bauman,
Bob Koehne, Ron Silvia as members of the finance committee.
Motion to approve Presidents Brown’s appointments to the finance committee.
M: Tighe Carvey
S: Ron Jarrett
Passed Unanimously
4. Permanent Reunion Committee: This committee has not been fully staffed
in the past because the Association has hired the services of a private company
to plan the details of the reunions once we have selected a time and location.
Those firms are no longer interested in contracting with us because our reunion
attendance has shrunk to the point that it is no longer profitable for them.
Members of this committee are not appointed by the President, rather they earn
their membership through nomination/vote of the general membership.
Motion to table this activity until the general membership on September 19,
2015.
M: Charley Brown
S: Tighe Carvey
Passed unanimously
5. Historian: The Association bylaws require that the President appoint a
Historian. Don Henderson has agreed to act as Historian. Accordingly, the
President appointed Don Henderson as Historian.
Motion to accept President Brown’s appointment for Historian.
M: Roger Bauman
S: Tighe Carvey
Passed unanimously
6. Haberdasher. President Brown has observed that there are several different
people dealing in Association related items, i.e. hats tee, shirts, jackets, patches,
etc. He would like to see one person, acting as a central point of contact for
anyone wishing to purchase any of these items.
Motion to table until the General Membership meeting.
M: Ron Silvia
S: Roger Bauman
Passed unanimously
7. Copyrighting. Don Henderson noted that the Association Logos, emblems,
patch artwork and similar items are not currently copyrighted. After a lengthy
discussion, Don Henderson volunteered to investigate the costs and effort
required to create a copyright, and he will report his findings to President Brown.
18
cont. on page 19
November 2015
Open Item.
8. Changes to the Articles of Association: President Brown proposed the
following changes.
A. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 2, first sentence. “ The term of all other
members of the Executive Board shall be two years or until a successor has been
elected and qualified.” Remove the words “and qualified”.
B. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 4, First sentence …”(or until his successor
shall have been elected and shall have qualified)”. Remove the words “and shall
have qualified”.
C. Article VI, Section 3, first sentence, which reads in part “…either personally
or by mail, addressed to the member at the address given in the records of
the Association”, change to read “ either personally, by mail, by email, or by
publication in The Invader,”
D. Article VI, Section 4, first sentence, as reads in part “Twenty (20) active
members..” replace with “Thirteen (13) active members, or if that number cannot
be met, 50 percent of the active members present at the meeting plus one”
E. Article VIII, second sentence, which reads in part “to an organization which
qualifies as a tax exempt organization under the provision of IRS rules.” Replace
with the words “to the Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation
and to the Disabled American Veterans in equal amounts”.
Motion to present the Articles of Association to the General Membership, as
proposed.
M: Tighe Carvey
S: Bob Koehne
Passed unanimously
9. Reducing Reunion Cost. Shorten reunions by one day. Find less expensive
venues that still have the few amenities we require.
10. Bob Butterfield commented that he has been contacted by a group restoring
a non-flyable A-26, tail number 4435092, that they believe flew with the 13th
Bomb Squadron in Okinawa during WWII and Japan during the Korean War.
They are requesting any available information about the history of the aircraft
and also contact information for parts. Bob requested that we bring up this
request for information at the General Membership meeting.
11. Bob Parks noted that the color guard for our reunion banquet is from a local
Vietnam Veterans of America unit. He requested approval for a $100 donation
to the VVA chapter 913. Also President Brown requested that we buy a $100
brick for the Vietnam Memorial located on the campus of the College of the
Ozarks in Branson.
Motion to approve these expenditures.
M: Ron Jarrett
S: Ron Silvia
Passed unanimously
12. Ron Silvia noted that this week represents the 10th anniversary of the
passing of a Korean War 13 Bomb Squadron gunner, Lucien Thomas. Ron
suggested that this anniversary be mentioned at the General Membership
meeting. No action required.
There being no further business, the Board of Directors Meeting was adjourned
at 4:45PM
13th Bomb Squadron Association General Membership Meeting
Branson, Missouri • September 19, 2015
The meeting was called to order by President C. J. “Charley” Brown at 9:00AM.
President Brown noted that 20 members were present and the requirements for a
quorum had been met.
The minutes of the 2014 meeting held in Warwick, Rhode Island were published
in the Invader.
Motion to accept without reading: Ron Jarett
Second: Charlie Breitzke
Passed: Unanimous
Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer, Roger Bauman, reported that the Association's finances remained
sound, however, as in the past, the trend is continuing that receipts are down and
slowing while most expenses remain about the same. There were no expenses
this past year for distribution of the directory which runs about $3000. That
expense will return next year unless there is a change to the every-other-year
publication schedule. Also, there are no reunion expenses so far this year. Last
year there were over $3000 in reunion expenses resulting from being billed
for the unused seats on the large charter busses used for travel to Newport
and Providence, R. I. for reunion activities. The Invader continues to be the
Association’s largest expense. For the last three issues the costs were: Nov.
$2020 (the November 2014 issue was paid in 2015) ; Mar. $1922; and Jul.
$1856. The editor of The Invader, Don Henderson, said that there might be some
savings possible by going to a less expensive printing process. President Brown
asked him to pursue that. Discussion included a suggestion that we poll all active
members who automatically receive The Invader to see who might be willing to
receive the magazine in digital form, reducing the number of hard copies printed.
Bank charges and fees had an extraordinary $1600 charge this year resulting
from the lapse in our 501 C-3 status. The charges resulted from attorney fees and
from the difference in taxes. The Treasurer is making personal contributions to
fully offset those charges. The Treasurer estimated that the reduction in savings
this year resulting from the reduction in income will be approximately $4000.
Motion to accept the treasurers Report: Bob Parks
Second: Roy Compton
Passed: Unanimous
Locator’s Report:
Bob Parks presented the Locator’s Report. He announced that 3 new members
registered during the year, but we are seeing increasing attrition as older
WW2 and Korea members pass away. We now have 504 Active members
plus 56 categorized as honorary/friends/associates. There is an annual loss of
membership that ranges between 50 and 75 members. New members will not
be registering in the numbers we have seen in the past because there was a 28
year period when he 13th Bomb Squadron was not active. Bob noted that he
spends a great deal of his time updating addresses and contact information when
mailings are returned as undeliverable. He requested that all members keep the
Association in mind when they move.
Motion to Accept Locator’s Report: Roger Bauman
Second: Bill Hammond
Passed: Unanimous
Old Business:
1. Charlie Hinton is in possession of three footlockers
full of information pertaining to the 13th Bomb Squadron during the Korean
War. These footlockers will be shipped to President Brown. There is more
information in the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors.
2. The 2016 reunion will be in San Diego, CA from Oct 5 to Oct 9 2016. It
will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Hotel Circle. Activity details and schedule
19
cont. on page 20
November 2015
13th Bomb Squadron Association General Membership Meeting
September 19, 2015
information has not been determined, but will be published in the Invader.
President Brown reminded the members that the 2017 reunion will be at
Whiteman AFB Jun14 through Jun 19 2017, and will commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the Squadron.
3. Bob Butterfield briefed the members on the Association’s website and his
efforts to edit and upload information and pictures from the Ubon 1970-1972
yearbook which is on display in the hospitality suite. He asked anyone who
might be interested in helping with the website to contact him after the meeting.
4. President Brown asked if anyone would be willing to take either the Reunion
Planning responsibilities or the Locator duties from Bob Parks. Bill Hamann
expressed willingness to work as Locator and was thereby appointed by
President Brown to assume those duties.
New Business:
1. Election of Officers:
A. 1st Vice President: Elmer Nelson nominated Bob Koehne as 1st Vice
President. There were no other nominations. President Brown called for a vote.
Bob Koehne was elected by acclimation.
B. Treasurer: Roger Bauman nominated Wilfred (Bill) Hamann to fill the one
year remaining in the treasurer’s term.
Motion to close the nominations: Ron Jarrett
Second: Don Kasson
Passed Unanimously
Bill Hamann was elected by unanimous consent.
C. WW-II Representative: Bud Compton nominated Ed Connor to be the WW-II
Representative.
Motion to close the nominations: Don Kasson
Second: Ron Jarrett
Ed Connor was elected by unanimous consent
D. Post Korea/Vietnam Representative: Charlie Brietzke nominated Ron Silvia
to be the Post Korea/Vietnam Representative.
Motion to close the nominations: Ole Nelson
Second: Don Kasson
Ron Silvia was elected by unanimous consent.
2. Changes to the Articles of Association: President Brown noted that the Board
of Directors, in the meeting on Thursday Sep. 17, 2015, unanimously voted to
present the following bylaw changes to the General Membership for a vote.
A. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 2, first sentence. “The term of all other
members of the Executive Board shall be two years or until a successor has been
elected and qualified.” Remove the words “and qualified”.
B. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 4, First sentence …”(or until his successor
shall have been elected and shall have qualified)”. Remove the words “and shall
have qualified”.
C. Article VI, Section 3, first sentence, which reads in part “…either personally
or by mail, addressed to the member at the address given in the records of
the Association”, change to read “either personally, by mail, by email, or by
publication in The Invader,”
D. Article VI, Section 4, first sentence, as reads in part “Twenty (20) active
members.” replace with “Thirteen (13) active members, or if that number cannot
be met, 50 percent of the active members present at the meeting plus one”
E. Article VIII, second sentence, which reads in part “to an organization which
qualifies as a tax exempt organization under the provision of IRS rules.” Replace
with the words “to the Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation,
and to the Disabled American Veterans in equal amounts”.
Motion to accept the proposed changes as presented: Tighe Carvey
Second: Bill Hamann
Passed: Unanimously
3. President Brown reported to the membership that he has appointed Don
Henderson to be the Association Historian.
4. President Brown asked for input from the membership on how to reduce
the cost of future reunions in order to attract greater participation. Suggestions
included shortening the official schedule from 4 to 3 days, and finding
smaller venues that charge lower rates. Also, every community has a Visitors/
Convention group willing to assist. President Brown offered all members of the
Board of Directors as assistants to help Bob Parks with the arrangements.
5. Haberdasher: President Brown has observed that there are several different
people dealing in Association related items, i.e. hats tee, shirts, jackets, patches,
etc. He would like to see one person, acting as a central point of contact for
anyone wishing to purchase any of these items. There were no volunteers from
the general membership. We will continue as in the past..
6. Bob Butterfield commented that he has been contacted by the Weisbrod
Museum in Pueblo, CO. They are restoring a non-flyable A-26, tail number
4435092, that they believe flew with the 13th Bomb Squadron in Okinawa during
WWII and Japan during the Korean War. They are requesting any available
information about the history of the aircraft and also contact information
for parts. Bob asked Ron Jarrett to be the single point of contact for passing
information between members of the Association and the Museum.
7. Bob Butterfield commented on the recent passing of Dave Regan. Dave was
a regular attendee at reunions and official activities that involved the 13th Bomb
Squadron and the Association. Bob presented a card for members to sign that
will be presented to Dave Regan’s son.
8. Ron Silvia noted that this week represents the 10th anniversary of the passing
of a Korean War 13th Bomb Squadron gunner, Lucien Thomas. Ron commented
that Lucian was a “world-class Gunner” and was one of the Air Force’s most
decorated enlisted men of his time. Ron also noted the passing Jim Pickles,
another B-57 era Association active member. President Brown asked that Ron
write a memorial for both Lucian Thomas and Jim Pickles that can be published
in the Invader.
9. President Brown reported that General Tibbits will hold 65 rooms for
Association members who will be attending the reunion in 2017. The General is
fully supportive of the 100 year anniversary observance and has already asked
the Missouri National Guard to avoid those dates when scheduling their Unit
Training Activities.
10. President Brown notified the members that he has appointed an advisory
committee comprising Bob Butterfield, Roger Bauman, and Ron Jarrett. He has
also appointed a finance committee comprising Roger Bauman, Bob Koehne,
and Ron Silvia.
There being no further business President Brown called for a motion to adjourn
the meeting. Ron Jarrett moved for adjournment. President Brown adjourned the
meeting at 11:05 AM.
20
cont. on page 21
November 2015
13th Bomb Squadron Association Treasurer's Report
September 2015
1/1/2014.1 Through 12/31/2014
INCOME
Sales
Contributions
Interest Income
Other Income
Total Inflows
EXPENSES
Purchases Hats Pins Etc.
Contribution Expense
Directory Expense
Directory Postage
Historian
Invader
Bank fees & Charges
Locator Expense
Memorabilia
Memorial
Presidents Funds
Reunion Expense
Treasurer Expense
Web site Development
TOTAL OUT FLOWS
OVERALL TOTAL
Account Balances
As of 12/31/2014
USAA CHECKING
USAA SAVINGS
Total Bank Accounts
$271.14
$12,807.00
$75.42
$0.00
$13,153.56
$184.79
$712.85
$2,946.06
$0.00
$0.00
$5,992.30
$105.00
$227.08
$0.00
$0.00
$984.23
$3,707.39
$0.00
$562.50
$15,422.20
($2,268.64)
$938.83
$27,272.34
$28,211.17
1/1/2015 through 9/5/2015
INCOME
Sales
Contributions
Interest Income
Other Income
$170.00
$12,156.00
$45.24
$0.00
$12,371.24
EXPENSES
Purchases Hats Pins Etc.
Contribution Letters
Directory Expense
Directory Postage
Historian
Invader
Bank fees & Charges
Locator Expense
Memorabilia
Memorial
Presidents Funds
Reunion Expense
Treasurer Expense
Web site Development
TOTAL OUT FLOWS
OVERALL TOTAL
Account Balances
As of 9/5/2015
USAA CHECKING
USAA SAVINGS
Total Bank Accounts
$256.00
$721.31
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$8,395.96
$1,624.49
$127.69
$80.00
$0.00
$863.46
$0.00
$0.00
$881.25
$12,950.16
($578.92)
$2,360.71
$24,317.58
$26,678.29
Deaths Not Previously Reported
As of November 2015
Rest In Peace
Richard L. Flagg
October 26, 2014
Nav-Bomb 1958-60
Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr.
February 4, 2015
Pilot 1951-52
Robert E. Parker
February 10, 2015
Pilot 1972
Anders E. Benander
November 25, 2014
Navigator 1951
William J. Lucas
October 24, 2014
Pilot 1965
William C. Dawson
October 20, 2014
Personal Equipment 1950-51
Charles E. Bartels
June 30, 2014
Pilot 1950
Donald G. Bunch
March 21, 2010
Gunner 1950-51
Kenneth H. High
January 23, 2015
Pilot 1953-54
Edward J. Silva
November 18, 2014
Line Chief 1948-51
21
Dempsey D. Bankus
November 20, 2014
Engineer/Gunner 1949-50
Marion A. Wise
December 31, 2014
Gunner 1950-51
Charles D. Stroehl
February 14, 2014
Crew Chief 1968-70
Maurice A. January
April 28, 2013
Pilot 1944-46
John R. Power
May 2, 2013
Navigator 1951
November 2015
The Red Penny Hootch.
and winds and rain and cold -- and more ocean than
I ever saw; and everything on the airplanes failed
except the few things that could have put us in the
water. So, it’s a real miracle. . . Just grateful, grateful
to be here.”
And would you believe that we had tailwinds all the
way to Ubon! When we told that story on arrival
at Ubon, I heard that the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing
commander had his weather people check to see if it
was true, and it was!
A week later, I got a letter from my mother, “Can
we stop praying for tailwinds yet?” I wrote her back,
“Mom, your prayers messed up every weatherman’s
forecasts in the world for three weeks!! Praise the
Lord! You can stop praying for tailwinds now!”
Ubon Was A Fine Base
The hootch was our crew-built squadron bar and a
place to hang out near our quarters. It was later named
“The Red Penny Hootch” in honor of Major Bob
Penny who lost his life in a stateside B-57 crash after
completing his tour with us.
Party Suit - Jim
These party suits were in vogue during the Vietnam
War, and we all had one made for social events (in the
squadron color, red, of course!)
Cinc Hootch 1: Ralph Bowen.
These were our crew quarters. A pleasant surprise!
The bicycles were our primary mode of transportation.
13th Bomb Squadron Operations Building
This was the 13th Squadron Ops Building.
Pretty soon, the guys built a hootch,
Ralph Bowen was “Cinc Hootch I” when it was
completed. He’s wearing a flying suit on the left and a
party suit in the right picture
Now, it was time to start
thinking about our war mission...
Continued next issue.
22
November 2015
The Hot SEAT
Editor’s Comments
Hold the Legacy. It was great seeing all of you at Branson.
The entertainment was top notch and the weather was awesome!
Branson and the Ozarks are fascinating as well as beautiful with lots
to see and do. Shane and I feel like we are with family when we are
with all of you and we appreciate the friendship and hospitality you
all extend to us at the reunions.
I really enjoyed catching up with my good friend, General Paul W.
Tibbets IV and meeting his Reaper entourage, including Rob & Beth
Makros - talk about keeping the Reaper legacy! I'm thinking there
is a future article for the Invader. It was also nice to meet Morgan
Hildebrand who I had corresponded with when we did the article
about ORB getting his name on Spirit of Mississippi.
Paul's speech, focused on "Holding the Legacy". This is something
we can all relate to. We all deal with legacies, some legacies more
ominous than others as Paul explained in regards to his famous
grandfather and the 509th. I knew it before his speech, but after
hearing him talk, I am more convinced than ever that the 509th Bomb
Wing is in very good and capable hands. Paul Tibbets not only holds
the legacy, he understands the responsibility of what that legacy
holds.
Jim Humphries drove home the legacy of the B-57G. The B-57G
was a unique aircraft, but no more unique than the men who flew
them. They overcame incredible obstacles just to get the aircraft to
the war zone and into the fight to stem the flow of supplies being
moved down the Ho Chi Min Trail.
Regarding 1421, we all learned
the significance of those numbers
and how the "G-Men" of the 13th
Bomb Squadron accomplished
the impossible with hard work,
determination and faith, not to
mention the Divine Intervention of a
good tailwind!
The Reaper legacy for today's airmen
carries all the weight of history, the
Don Henderson, Editor
commitment to mission, pride and
faith that are all a part of that powerful legacy that is the 13th Bomb
Squadron. The 13th Bomb Squadron Association has set a standard
for them to follow and as this organization continues to evolve, it will
be their responsibility to hold the Reaper Legacy long after all of you
are gone. The Reapers at Whiteman have big shoes to fill, but I know
they will not let us down.
Speaking of big shoes... It appears that I have been entrusted with a
new duty within the 13th Bomb Squadron Association. Aside from
my duties as Editor of the Invader, The 13th Board of Directors has
asked me to take on the duty of "Historian". These are incredibly big
shoes for me to fill. Charlie Hinton did an amazing job maintaining
the history, traditions and legacy. He scanned your precious photos
and slides, your papers, your orders, your stories and memories. I'm
not sure that I am equal to the task, but I will give it my best shot and
do all I can to maintain and respect the history,
the traditions and most of all to "Hold the Legacy"
of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.
My book: “KOREA A Short Time in a Small War”
has made me feel good by its acceptance and good reviews. As a non-author, I
had a lot of uneasy feelings as to the worth of the book. I have received some
great feedback from strangers and from the reviews posted on Amazon that
it is a book worth reading... A reviewer for the USAF Navigators/Observers
Association said it ought to be on every aviator’s book shelf, and it was nicely
reviewed in the British magazine FLYPAST. For your own firsthand knowledge
about the book go to “Amazon.com” on your computer, search for the title as
above, click on the title, and scroll down to the near bottom of the page on the left
side.
I am offering readers of this ad a chance to cut Amazon’s profit out of the picture,
avoid sales tax, and get a personalized to you, signed copy of the book.
The book was initially priced at $24.99 and Amazon has discounted the price to $19.74, plus the sales tax
in your state plus $4 shipping – about$ 24.90 to your door. Buy a signed copy from me direct, including
shipping, for $17. ($13 per book plus $4 shipping) After my cost from Amazon plus shipping to me I will
make about 3 bucks.
If you were a Korean War Vet with the 13th it will give your kids & grandkids some insight into what
you did or helped do in the War. It will make a really nice Christmas gift for the grand kids. Offer ends
December 31, 2015
You know that without our participation in that war the dynamic democracy in South Korea would be black
like North Korea is today
Send check or money order for $17 to Charles Hinton, 585 Teakwood Ave, Satellite Beach, FL 32937.
23
13th Bomb Squadron Association
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
West Press
85726
Bob Parks
3219 Tavern Oaks St.
San Antonio, TX 78247-3080
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
David Cain with Flash Photo Group Photography has been taking military group photos as well as other type groups for
over 33 years in Branson, Missouri which has the largest number of military reunions in the nation. As a military veteran
himself, he enjoys meeting and greeting those special people who have served their country.