Vol. 35 No. 3
Elaine Shepard The Whole 9 Yards.
Winter 2017
Summer 2017
modern 767-400 flight deck, and, of course, many modifications. As a retired Boeing 767 flight training instructor, I regret not being able to participate in training the first USAF KC-46 crews. For the history buffs in the association, I might recommend a couple of recent books, not that I’m promoting book sales, but the USAF Chief of Staff and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, maintain a professional reading list of twenty books, so I think I’m OK. Both books have 2016 copyrights. “The A-26/B-26 Invader in Action” should be of interest to our Korean era members. It mentions the 13th several times, and features a picture of Lt. Col. Rob Fortney’s B-26, “The 7th Chadwick”, a different shot than the one on the back cover of the winter 2016 “Invader”. Those wanting to be up to date with the squadron’s latest aircraft may enjoy “A Pictorial History of the B-2A Spirit”. I will bring both books to the next reunion. The Viet Nam era members may want to check out NASA’s website to learn about their three WB-57s, perhaps the last Canberra’s flying? Two of the WB’s were very active in documenting the solar eclipse last summer. Just search “nasa wb-57s”, and a number of links will pop up. That will save you from typing the very long official address. All that information is public domain, so it may be copied. Bill Hamann sent me an October 31 financial report so we could better compare year to year finances, since our reunions are usually in the fall, instead of June. Looking back on four years of financial reports, I agree with Bill that we are in pretty good shape overall. Our reunion did cost a little over $1900 more than we took in, but some reduction in other expenses pretty well compensate for that. Also, donations are robust at $15,254. So, I plan on working with Charlie Breitzke to publish a new directory in 2018. More in the next issue, but until then, keep the 2018 reunion, October 21-24 in Savannah, in mind. Should you wish to check out our hotel, it will be the Hampton Inn on Oglethorpe Street. Reaper Pride, Regards, Bob
Bob Koehne
President's Corner The epic 2017 reunion, celebrating the 13th Bomb Squadron’s 100th anniversary is well behind us, and the holidays are upon us as I sit down to write comments for this winter issue of the Invader. While we are justifiably proud of our squadron’s long history, it is interesting to note that a total of 65 squadrons celebrated their 100th anniversary this year. The December issue of Air Force Magazine has a two page spread of the patches of all of the units. Over all that time, many squadrons were inactivated, and reactivated, like our 13th, sometimes several times, and names were changed to reflect a change in mission. For example there are six air refueling squadrons listed. Well, the first air to air refueling did not take place until 1923, and in 1929, an early member of the 13th, Major Carl Spaatz, later, the first chief of staff of the new, independent Air Force, participated in a record setting refueling event, 43 contacts to keep a Douglas C-2A, the “Question Mark” flying for six days. Fast forward to 2017, and our squadron’s B-2’s at Whiteman Air Force base are flying the longest bombing missions ever flown, 30 to 40+ hours duration, with numerous refuelings. Next year, the Air Force will begin receiving the new KC-46 refuelers from Boeing. They are based on the commercial 767-200 airframe, with the more 2
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SAVE THE DATE!
Special Note to Readers Please note, proper protocol to reporting the passing of a member of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, contact Bob Parks, bob-parks@satx.rr.com Contacting Bob will ensure that your friend or loved one will be listed and honored on our Memomiam page. I am always looking for articles for the INVADER. If you are able to scan photos, they must be scanned at high resolution, 300 dpi or better. They can be burned to CD, DVD, or put onto a thumb drive. If you can't scan your photos, I can scan them, mail photo to the address below. Please include your return address and pack them safely. Please include captions for the photos where you can. If you can type the article in Microsoft Word, that would be great, if not, send typed copies of your manuscript and we will retype it on the computer. I can't guarantee that every article will make it into the next issue, but I will try and do my best to get them in the INVADER.
Hi Ya’ll. Just sittin’ on the porch ponderin’ plans for our 2018 Reunion in Savannah, Georgia on October 21-24, 2018. Current plans include a reunion filled with old fashioned Southern hospitality. Agenda is sure to feature an exciting visit to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, charming city tours, and the possibility of an evening riverboat dinner.
The best part, we all know, isn’t what we see and do – it’s the time we have to visit together, renew friendships and reminisce of those days when we proudly served as members of one of the greatest flying squadrons in history! 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. *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: Don@HendersonGDI.com Henderson Graphic Design & Illustration www.HendersonGDI.com
Hotel arrangements have been made with the Hampton Inn, 603 Oglethorpe Ave (in the historic area). The hotel offers the best overall lodging, dining, and meeting rooms. Once all arrangements are confirmed, you will be able to book your reservations directly with the hotel. However, for now -- please block the 2018 reunion dates on your calendars!! Additional information and registration forms will be included in the March Invader.
The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015
Best wishes to all for a blessed holiday season.
Cover photo: Actress, model, Pin-Up Girl, author, and journalist Elaine Shepard was the "Whole 9 See ya'll in Savannah! Yards"! See the feature article on Page 8 as we dig a little deeper into the life and times of the author of Bob Parks the book, The DOOM Pussy. 3
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Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association Robert R. (Bob) Koehne 23332 SE 225th St. Maple Valley, WA 98038 csrrk@comcast.net
1st Vice President/
Ron Silvia 20 Green Lane Assonet, MA 02702-1410 finefiftynine@charter.net
2nd Vice President
James R. (Bob) Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX, 78247 bob-parks@satx.rr.com
Secretary
Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey 6980 Olympic View Ct. Silverdale, WA 98383 tcarvey@gmail.com
Treasurer
Bill Hamman 2950 SE Ocean Blvd. Apt 124-2 Stuart, FL 34996-3512 LNME95@gmail.com
President
Member at Large WWII
Member at Large Vietnam
Locator Data Manager
Edward D. (Ed) Connor, Jr. 1217 Earnestine St. McLean, VA 22101-2646 ravenfive5@verizon.net
Dave Clark 19 Skona Lake Alpha, IL 61413-9137 davidclark@winco.net
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Charlie Breitzke 8 Hobkirk Drive Bella Vista, AR 72715-3404 charlin2@cox.net
Member at Large Korea
Ron Jarrett 10349 416th Avenue Britton, SD 57430-5005 rjarrett@brittonsd.com
Member at Large GWOT
Capt Nicholas Anderson, “Wolf � 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO andernic@gmail.com
Summer 2017
Letters & e-mail to the Editor
successful and our reunions and articles in the “Invader” featured current Squadron operations as well as past Squadron history. Reunions were usually blessed with a B-1 display and attendance by active Squadron members. In 2004,USAF announced a drawdown of the B-1 fleet and B-1 operations were to be centralized at Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD. As part of this move, the 13th Bomb Squadron was de-activated. This news was met with concern by the Base and Abilene local and Congressional representatives, all of whom contacted the Association to assist in their efforts to deter the movement from Abilene. This resulted in my letter to General John P. Jumper, then the Chief of Staff, of the USAF and the eventual decision to not deactivate the 13th Bomb Squadron. Because of the Squadron’s history, the Historical Office of the Air Force, acknowledged the 13th as the most distinguished bombardment squadron in the USAF. I was given the opportunity to recommend whether the 13th should next be assigned to B-52 or B-2 operations, I suggested the B-2. In 2005, Whiteman AFB became the new home for the 13th Bomb Squadron. Now 12 years later, we still face a decreasing membership. The active squadron and the Association have maintained a strong, supportive relationship. When Bob Butterfield was Association President, he directed an analysis of what the future would hold for the Association. Its future is still at risk and what actions, if any might alter the situation. Possibly, now is time, after the 100th Anniversary to begin planning for the next 100 years! Regards, and Reaper Pride, Perry R. Nuhn, Colonel USAF (Ret)
With the 13th’s 100th Anniversary behind us, it might be useful to recall some past events that precede the reunion at Whiteman AFB. The 13th Aero Squadron was established 14 June 1917. Our history is clearly noted on the two Association websites. Since 1917, the 13th has been on active duty most of that time. Prior to 1984, the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, as we know it, did not exist. There was a 13th Bomb Squadron Association formed after WWII, but only those who had served in WWII were eligible. On 6 October 1984, a few Korean War Veterans met and organized an Association composed primarily of those who had served during the Korean War. This later expanded to include all who served and currently serving in the 13th Bomb Squadron. This expansion has also includes family members. In 2000, I was elected Association President replacing, Charley Hinton, we had over 1000 members, mostly veterans of Korea with a growing group of post-Korea, B-26 and B-57, and Vietnam veterans. The Association had not had an active component since Vietnam, when it was announced that the Squadron was being re-activated as a B-1 Squadron at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas. Bill Cowan (AKA "Old Rotten Bill") was our host for Reunion 2000 in Abilene as we celebrated the reactivation of the 13th at Dyess AFB. We welcomed this activation, but without new members, the Association would fade away. An effort was made to establish a strong relationship between the Association and the active Squadron. This was
Left: Randy Jones on top and Chuck Morris on back. Right: Vern Stocker at the wheel of Bomber 3. Note the B-57 image. Editor's Note: During the 13th Bomb Squadron's 100th Anniversary Reunion in June, I had the chance to look through John DeCillo's Vietnam photo album. Something that caught my eye was a photo of an International Harvester Metro Van. I asked John if he could scan a few pics of Bomber 3 and send them to me. The International Harvester Metro Van was produced in the United States from 1938 until 1975 and sold internationally. The drive train was originally based on the 1937-40 D-Series
trucks. One of the first models built was sold to the Czechoslovakian Army, but was destroyed by the German Army during WWII. These versatile mass-produced vehicles were commonly used for milk and bakery delivery, thus the term "Bread Truck". They were also used as ambulances, mobile offices, radio transmitters and vans. The Metro was manufactured in 1/2, 3/4 and 1-ton versions that allowed the driver to stand or sit while driving the vehicle.
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The DOOM Pussy By Bob Galbreath
The DOOM Club, Officer's Open Mess, Danang AB, Vietnam
down in that raid; none were B-57s. Shortly thereafter, the USAF began an air campaign in North Vietnam called Rolling Thunder and one in Laos called Steel Tiger. B-57 aircraft were tasked specifically for night operations in these areas. Special tactics were developed and crews were trained specifically for these extremely hazardous night missions. On April 1st, 1965 the 8th Squadron conducted the first night B-57 attack under Steel Tiger at Tchepone Ford in Laos and three weeks later Fritz Huber, Dick Ryan, Jim Greene and Tim Cockburn of the 13th made the first B-57 Rolling Thunder night attack near Vinh. These missions were flown with two aircraft taking turns dropping flares for each other. Night missions in North Vietnam and Laos were extremely hazardous due not only to antiaircraft fire and missiles, but also the possibility of collision between aircraft as well as uncharted, mountainous terrain. And, although the B-57 was originally named Night Intruder by its maker Martin, the B-57B & C used in Vietnam had no special night operations equipment other than the eyes of the crew. Four 13th crew members were killed during this time period flying, what came to be called, Doom Pussy missions.
There are many legends within the history of the 13th Bomb Squadron. Oscar, being the most legendary dating back to WWI, left us with lots of unanswered questions about his origins, and then there is Chadwick from WWII. Both of these have been written about within these pages over the years, but during the Vietnam War, another legend appeared that even became a book by actress-turned-journalist Elaine Shepard. Published in 1967, the book "The Doom Pussy" was a semi-fictional account of the air war in Vietnam, but for the real story behind the DOOM Pussy, we are fortunate to have Bob Galbreath to tell us the tale.... I Have Flown Into the Jaws Of The Cat Of Death... First Combat in Vietnam The 13th Bomb Squadron flew its first combat mission of the Vietnam War on February 19, 1965 when Squadron Commander Howard O’Neil and Chief Navigator Frank “Smash” Chandler led a mission attacking a Viet Cong troop concentration southwest of Saigon in South Vietnam. It was a day mission and there was no return-fire from the VC. A few days later came the first mission into North Vietnam. On March 2nd, over 100 US and VNAF aircraft, including a formation of 16 B-57s with crews from both the 13th and 8th Squadrons, attacked the Xom Bang Ammunition Depot and barracks near Than Hoa. Six aircraft were shot 6
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visit the DOOM Pussy tonight.” Thus the germ of the concept of a Doom Pussy patch came into being. The Doom Pussy Patch Bob Galbreath, a navigator in the 13th at the time who was the designer of the original patch, remembers it this way: “We kicked around many ideas for the patch. With the word ‘pussy’ in the name, many of the ideas were, of course, out of the question even with the anything-goes attitude about uniforms that prevailed in Vietnam at that time. One idea, developed over many rounds of the Bien Hoa officer’s club’s signature cocktail, The original DOOM Pussy patch with Trong Mieng Cua Con Diesel & Juice, was for the patch to include the Men Cua Tham Phan as designed by Bob Galbreath. words "Into the Mouth of the Cat of Doom" in The origin of the Doom Pussy English. One night I remember was when a group of us including Smash Chandler, Art Jepson and Because of the special hazards involved, the some others started talking about maybe the motto crews flying these missions at the bar in Bien should be in Latin because it would be more Hoa kicked around the idea of a special patch “classy.” Then someone - my recollection is that for themselves. A problem here was the fact it was Art, but perhaps it was someone else -- had that Rolling Thunder and Steel Tiger were both classified Top Secret and could not be printed on a the idea that the motto should be in Vietnamese. patch. So the patch idea slipped into limbo. Meanwhile, the planners in Saigon decided to add two additional aircraft to each formation; a C-130 to drop the flares and an EF-10B to jam the enemy’s anti-aircraft fire control system. They also increased the B-57 formation to three aircraft. All this additional hardware vastly complicated the need for coordination, so it was decided to hold a briefing before each mission at the nearest US air base to the target area: Danang. The briefings for these “enhanced” missions were followed by a stop for dinner at the officer’s club, The Danang Officer’s Open Mess (DOOM). In that club, behind the bar, there was a not-very attractive coffee mug with a poorly conceived, but Some time passed while I was looking for someone to translate those words when the ramp recognizable, cat face on it. Someone among that explosion at Bien Hoa took place on 16 May, initial cadre of flyers, perhaps rattled in thought about the night to come, christened that cat image ‘65. Twenty-seven people were killed that day including Art and that pushed me to move ahead “the DOOM Pussy.” with the patch because he had been so enthusiastic A few days later in the hootch at Bien Hoa, about it. someone was asked why he was in the rack in After Bien Hoa blew up, we were living in the the afternoon and, unable to say, “I’m taking a Dust-Off barracks at Tan Son Nhut where I nap because I have a Rolling Thunder mission designed most of the patch. As conceived by tonight;” he said, conspiratorially, “I’m going to 7
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The DOOM Pussy Continued from Page 7
Danang, several crews were on the way to the flight line one day in the crew bus and we were discussing the need for an additional order of patches. Among the group was a VNAF [Vietnamese Air Force] pilot, Captain Lan, whom I had flown with during his B-57 training at Clark. He told us that he didn't think the motto on the patch said what we thought it said. That evening at the club (the DOOM club of course) I discussed it with Lan. He said, although the concept was complex in Vietnamese culture, he felt that “tham phan” really meant “destiny” and that doom would probably be “dinh mang”. The second DOOM Pussy patch with Trong Mieng Cua Con Cua “Destiny” was not quite what we had in mind Dinh Mang by Bob Galbreath in 1964. when we conceived the emblem, so my next order for patches included “dinh mang” in place that group around the Bien Hoa bar, the patch of ‘tham phan”. [Postscript: Google today offers was to have a wry tone in contrast to the macho several Vietnamese translations for “doom”; braggadocio that is the theme of many military neither dinh mang nor tham phan are among them. patches because: As Captain Lan suggested, it’s complex.] • The missions were very scary. The patch was copied over and over for the rest of • Skill was no guarantee of success. • The Cat had swallowed many good men already the war by many people who had no connection with Rolling Thunder or Steel Tiger or even and we may be next. any idea what a “Canberra Night Fighter” was. The patches were to be for B-57 air crew only Somewhere along the line a strip saying, “The and flying one Doom Pussy mission was the only Doom Pussy”, was added to the bottom of the requirement for wearing the patch. patch. This was never a part of the original design. I was due to rotate back to Clark Air Base soon, Recently I have had some inquiries from patch so I rushed to finish the design and, in desperation, collectors about the original Doom Pussy patch. asked one of our Vietnamese laundry girls to The first batch of 50 patches was made in June translate the words of the motto for me. The 1965. These had the “original” motto. There were patch I created with her help is a horizontal 100 in the second batch which had the “corrected” oval containing a yellow-faced, green-eyed cat motto and were made circa November ‘65. There with a patch over one eye about to swallow a were only 150 patches made from the original art B57 aircraft. Wrapped around the bottom of the work. All the patches made after December 1965 patch is the motto “TRONG MIENG CUA CON were copied from one of the originals or copied MEO CUA THAM PHAN” and at the top of the from a copy. If you have a patch with the motto patch the legend, “THE CANBERRA NIGHT ending in “DINH MANG”, and you got it before FIGHTERS.” November 1965, then you probably have one of The next day I took the design to the tailor shop the original 50 patches. Counterfeits do exist. I knew in Saigon called Cheap Charlie's and A 40th Anniversary patch was created in 2005 ordered about fifty patches. from new artwork. It includes additional text Later, in November or December of ‘65, after under the motto saying, “THE DOOM PUSSY B-57 operations had permanently moved to 1965 - 2005”. 8
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Elaine Shepard
By Stella Zoric from her blog “Those Obscure Objects of Desire”
college, and money became even tighter after her parents divorced in the mid 1920s, but by that time, Elaine had decided to make her own luck. She started taking tap dancing lessons, and paid for them by doing housework for her tap teacher. After she graduated from high school, she decided against a dancing career, opting to become a secretary. She had to mortgage her piano to pay the $40 down payment for the course. She attended and graduated from McKeendre College in Lebanon, Illinois and became a capable typist. Interested in drama from her earliest days, she was active in the college’s drama department. After graduating from business college, Elaine started to work as a typist, but soon hit a slump and lost her job. Just at that time her mother, who suffered from serious respiratory problems, was ordered by her doctor to move to a less harsh climate than the one in Illinois. They packed their bags, and by sheer chance, decided to move to San Diego. Elaine and her mom arrived there with nothing but 86¢ in their pockets. That same day, Elaine wormed her way into a steady job – while having breakfast in a restaurant, she saw that the proprietor wore a pin from the same order that her mother belonged to (what order? I have no idea!), but she used the connection to get a job behind the counter. A very active woman, Elaine was soon juggling two jobs working behind the counter and as a ticket seller at a nearby cinema. She saw Star Struck not long after, and started to seriously contemplate an acting career, but that was still a dream too far away at the moment. Only patience and some willpower were required, as Elaine was closer than she ever knew! She started modeling to earn more money, and won a day trip to Agua Caliente, where she won about $170 at the gambling tables and mailed it to her mother right away.
An original press release photo of Elaine Shepard from 1967 for the release of her book, The DOOM Pussy.
The text for this article is from the blog “Those Obscure Objects of Desire” by Stela Zoric with additional text, comments and photos from Larry Judge of Olney, Illinois, Elaine Shepard's hometown.
While working in the theater, she was noticed by an agent who sent her to model in Palm Springs. While modeling in Palm Springs, she caught the eye of Mrs. Milton Bren, wife of a noted movie producer. Impressed by Elaine’s beauty, charm and grace, she told her to contact her husband. Soon, Elaine landed in Hollywood and, due to her dancing background, started appearing as a member of the chorus for the studios, but never did any movies. It wasn’t until she met choreographer Hermes Pan that she finally got in front of the camera.
EARLY LIFE Elaine Elizabeth Shepard was born on April 2, 1913 in Olney, Illinois, to Thomas J. and Bernice Shepard. Thomas was a widower when he married Bernice, and brought three children into the marriage – Mable, Burl and Thomas Jr. Her younger brother Elbert would be born in 1917. Elaine was an imaginative, active, endearing child who always had big plans for herself.
MOVIE CAREER Elaine had a three part career in Hollywood – one from 1936 until 1938, 1940, and from 1943 until 1945. She made
The Shepards did not have enough money to send Elaine to
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Summer 2017 her last movie in 1951, but it was a solo effort after several years of retirement, so I did not count it as a stage. Elaine’s first role was a lead in the Darkest Africa serial, the very first made by Republic studios, which would become a prolific serial movie maker in the decade to come. What to say? While acting in serials is in no way the top of the world for an actor, it’s better than acting in western serials… Anyway, Darkest Africa is a decent example – fast-moving and action-packed, with a good lead (Clyde Beatty) and adequate support (Elaine is the love interest). The special effects are remarkable considering the year it was made and it’s not a bad effort, all in all. Elaine could have done much worse for her official debut. I Cover Chinatown was a very minor movie that proved that the right director could make something out of nothing. The story is thin and the actors only mediocre, but director Norman Foster (and main actor, but less talented as actor than as a director) rises above these restrictions to produce a nice comedy/drama with horror touches. It was clear by this time that Elaine, despite her beauty, was not an actress who set the camera aflame. She was adequate enough, but that was hardly enough to warrant anyone cinematic immortality. She didn’t have that extra something, that pizzazz that made great Hollywood stars. Too bad… Then Elaine did what I always dread when first looking at an actress’ filmography – she starred in a low-budget Western! Two of them to be exact… Law of the Ranger and The Fighting Texan. As always, the less said about these movies, the better… Elaine next had a minor role in Topper, a hilarious Cary Grant comedy about a couple of crazy wheeling ghosts who decide to stir their stuffy friend out of his comfort
zone. The real strength of the movie is Constance Bennett however – her career was on the wane by 1937, but Connie was a stunning woman and an enchanting actress. Not a great actress, mind you, but she had something going for her. She was unusually graceful but also hardcore – like a fairy that will smack you over the head. So great… However, Elaine’s acting career was on the downside by then. She appeared in Night‘n Gales and Our Gang shorts, where she played Darla’s mother. As you know, nobody ever watched the grown ups in those movies. It was regular work, but not anything that will catapult you anywhere. Then came a promising movie, Professor Beware, the comeback vehicle for Harold Lloyd. Lloyd plays an archaeologist who falls for the daughter of a tycoon and finds himself fighting the forces of Wall Street and fate itself to get the young lady. Lloyd’s character is trying to fight an apparent curse from the tomb that he opened. I understand the situation Lloyd was in when he made this movie, as a major 1920s star, the expectations were VERY high (almost astronomical) and this movie, while a decent effort with some good moments, didn’t quite measure up to it. Yes, the movie was cursed way before it even hit the theaters. Elaine’s role was so minuscule that she wouldn’t have profited from it even if the movie were a smash, but this only cemented her already shaky status in Hollywood. The most damaged party was the pretty young leading actress, Phyllis Welch, who never made another movie after this one. Elaine squeezed only one more minor role in There Goes My Heart. At a first glance, it is an It Happened One Night rip off, with the same story – but behind the facade, it’s a silly comedy with a superb cast. Frederic March has been a long time favorite of mine, and can do no wrong in my eyes. Virginia Bruce, not a typical screwball movie heroine, is pretty decent. The laughs go to Patsy Kelly and the rest of the supporting cast is excellent (Claude Gillingwater, Eugene Palette, Arthur Lake, Alan Mowbray). For a light, funny watch, I recommended it! After that, Elaine went to New York City and was discovered again, this time signing with RKO Pictures. She appeared in only one movie – You Can’t Fool Your Wife. A pedestrian comedy, nothing out of the ordinary, even boring, with a lot of mix ups and that’s about it… Charming leads (Lucille Ball and James Ellison) can sometimes save the movie – but not this one! With this, Elaine again gave up movie work… Only to return in Hollywood in 1943!
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Summer 2017 Her first movie this time around was The Falcon in Danger, the sixth in the series and second with Tom Conway as the hero. The movie actually had a pretty good plot. This taken from IMDB: “A small airplane comes in to land at an airport but it drifts off course and crashes. The police investigate but find the plane empty – totally empty. The plane was meant to have a couple of wealthy industrialists on board as well as a shipment of money. When the daughter of one of the men (Nancy Palmer) gets a ransom note she goes to Tom Lawrence for help, but nothing else measures up.” The actors are all B-class, the interplay between Elaine and the other femme fatale, played by Jean Brooks, is lacking to put it mildly, and last but not least, Falcon’s fiancée, played by Amelita Ward, is one of the worst characters. Seven Days Ashore is one hot mess of a movie – the movie officially stars Art Carney and Wally Brown. It is supposed to be a straight comedy with the duo in the leads, but in the end, more screen time is given to Elaine and Gordon Oliver, who play a straight romance movie. Then we have Marcy McGuire, the songstress, who plays like it’s a straight musical. Too much of everything but not in a good way. Forgettable movie in the end. Elaine finally appeared in something of value – Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a very good war movie with a great cast (not all equally talented, but famous nonetheless): Van Johnson, Robert Walker, Spencer Tracy, Robert Mitchum, Phyllis Thaxter and so on… Elaine had a small role in Ziegfeld Follies, a musical famous enough that I don’t really need to write anything about it. No plot, good music and dancing, great production values, and that’s about it. Elaine put a stop on her career for the third time, and only appeared in one more movie – Fiamme Sulla Laguna, a forgotten Italian drama. And then, she’s gone (from the movies of course)! PRIVATE LIFE In Late October 1936, it was announced that Elaine would wed Terry Hunt, studio director, on Thanksgiving. The two were introduced by Frederic March, who was to be best man. The two did not wed in November 1936, but
continued their engagement. However, it was a very shortlived engagement (or an overly long one, depends how you see it), as by October 1937, they were broken up and both dating other people (Elaine was seen with Marc Connelly around town). Then they did marry in late 1937. Ups and downs, ups and downs… Their marriage seemed to be more of the same In April 1939, Elaine was robbed of most of her jewelry by an unknown assailant. She is the 9th actress I’ve profiled who was robbed in that era, I suspect there was a gang of thieves operating in Hollywood during the late 1930s and 40s. In early 1938, Elaine decided to try her luck in New York again and forgo her acting career, even refusing a contract with Republic Studios. Sounds a bit daffy, as most models go the other route, but let’s think about it – signing with Republic studios meant you were to play female leads in Z-class Westerns. BAD! Elaine shrewdly knew what was coming for her if she said yes to the contract, and knowing very well that she could make more money modeling, went east. Elaine seemed to enjoy the work very much, and was known as one of the most versatile models around. She could impersonate Hedy Lamarr, Carole Lombard, and Joan Bennett like it’s nobody’s business. She was titled as “the perfect model” of 1939 by a group of esteemed photographers. However, when better studios started calling (namely RKO), she jumped at the chance to return to Hollywood and acting. Elaine had a wisdom tooth removed around this time and for a few days after, she could not be photographed as her jaw was constantly “out of focus”. Elaine dated a Chicago attorney before returning to Hollywood, then ditched him to date Greg Bautzer. One attorney for another, but I guess Elaine knew that Bautzer dated every good looking girl in Hollywood, and she was just one of many. She and Greg actually lasted for a few months, which is a pretty good track record for dating the notorious Lothario (she made the rounds for her birthday in April 1940 with him, although her estranged husband Terry bought her a fur coat!). Around this time, Elaine disclosed the secret of her perfect figure to the press – she did the hot water shaker – first she drank two glasses of water, then stood on her head and shook her body. Whoa Nelly!
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Summer 2017 Elaine separated from her husband Terry Hunt who started dating Patricia Morrison. They finally divorced in May 1940. By then, Hunt operated his own sports club. He and Patricia never did get to the altar. Of course, the divorce had its ups and downs, will they or won’t they. For a time in early 1941, Elaine was ready to return to her former groom, but was also dating Saul Rosenblatt, who owned a chicken farm. She and Terry continued to date for some time after the divorce was made final. I find this very perplexing, but I guess that two people can enjoy each other’s company occasionally, but are just not cut out to be married?
were wed! Unfortunately, the couple had only a few days together, as George was sent overseas to fight, and Elaine was summoned back to Hollywood to resume her career. In the absence of her husband, Elaine was very active in the war effort, touring the country with her co-star Charles Ruggles and selling thousands of dollars worth of war bonds. In May 1944, Elaine had barely seen her husband for more than 5 days and was hoping he would return home soon. Sadly, her mother was just then struck by a car somewhere in Hollywood, and Elaine nursed her to health. In the meantime, Hartman got a Soldier’s Medal for rescuing his comrades from a burning tank, and met with Paulette Goddard in Spain, where he gave Paulette his Wings so she could give them to Elaine.
In August 1942, she was on the cover of Cosmopolitan, wearing Noel Vincent's pilot wings. Oh dear, who knows what happened there… By July, she was dating Bob Ritchie, once the heart of Jeanette McDonald… In December, she raised men’s pulses by wearing a nude colored chiffon gown to a Broadway premiere. However, by February she was in the hospital, about to have a major operation, but I couldn’t find more information about it… In May 1942, Elaine announced her engagement to Pierre Huss, International Wars Service Correspondent. Huss was in Tunisia, North Africa at the moment, and asked her to marry him via cable. She cabled a positive answer back to him. Pierre wired her $1000 to buy herself an engagement ring. Elaine spent the entire sum on war bonds. Around this time, Elaine returned to Hollywood yet again and was constantly in the papers. She gave some tips of how to take care of your eyebrows: First she uses cold cream, rubs a lot into her eyebrows, brushed them every which way and then, after removing as much as much cream as she can with a tissue, she bathes the brows with hot water – as hot as she can take it. Then she takes out the tweezers and removes the errant hairs with no problem at all! Now, what exactly happened to Huss remains a mystery, but Elaine married George F. Hartman in a surprise ceremony in Marfa, Texas, on October 4, 1943. She came to Marfa in September to sell war bonds, and the two met – and were stunned to remember that his brother was Elaine’s childhood sweetheart back in Illinois, but they had not seen each other for years! Poof, and a month later, they
In 1945, George returned home from the war, and he and Elaine established a solid marriage, moving to Mobile, Alabama, where he was stationed. Opting to work in the world of aviation, George became an adviser to companies specializing in air travel all around the world and in 1949, was posted as a Turkish Airlines Adviser. George and Elaine were living in Istanbul. Elaine hopped to Rome once in a while to make a movie (she also did the Billie Dawn role in Born Yesterday on stage in Rome) or go shopping. She was a champion bridge player, spoke some French, Italian and Turkish, and visited Orson Welles in Venice when he was playing Othello there. She later said about her experiences living in Istanbul: “It was delightful living in Istanbul. The city is a lovely combination of old and new – modern buildings and those that go back centuries; cobblestone streets and modern highways. Our house was built in 1946 so Colonel Hartman and I had the same conveniences as we have here in New York. There was no servant problem., Constantine settled that. Of Greek, Italian and Turkish descent, he is a chef by profession but he did everything at out house. The only drawback was that while he spoke Russian Greek and Turkish he spoke no English. So we were forced to learn some Turkish. I finally acquired enough to get along at home and in the city. I also learned enough Italian to get by with fellow workers in the pictures.” By 1951 they were home, Elaine had a health scare – she went to the Red Cross to donate blood, but when the doctors saw her blood, she was immediately transferred to a hospital, where a tumor was discovered and operated on.
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Summer 2017 She managed to recuperate pretty quickly. By 1953, the couple had settled in Washington, and were very active on the social circuits. Elaine was known for her parties (she even had a party with wild animals) and wrote a column, dealing with the Washington social scene, for the local newspapers. Elaine and George separated in 1957, but lingered on and off. They even flew as a couple to the South Pole in late 1957 (imagine when Elaine canceled her lunch plans with Tedi Thurman, she told him, “Sorry, can’t come, gotta fly to the South Pole!” Can’t imagine how Tedi felt). Unfortunately, the South Pole reunion with George didn’t work out and they divorced in 1958. Also in 1958, Elaine dated Aly Khan! Elaine continued working as a freelance writer, and fought tooth and nail to get commissions usually reserved for men. She also dabbled in masculine past times – she became a truly proficient poker player and won big money in some tournaments (she played with the biggies at Jack Hurdle’s apartments, among others). In 1959, she was the only female correspondent (working for Women’s New Service) who traveled with President Eisenhower when he toured 11 countries. She also became quite chummy with Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady. Elaine was especially impressed by India and President Nehru, whom she had the honor of seeing with his“cap off”. She also dated Khrishna Menon while in India. Later, she visited the Congo. By late 1951, she was home again and started dating publisher George Little. Elaine was very much in love with a fellow correspondent, Russian Count Constantine Zernekau. She lived for some time in Paris, where she interviewed a large number of notables, among them Juraj Ganarin (and continued to date Zernekau). In 1962, after 18 months of writing, Elaine’s book, “Forgive us our Press Passes”, was published. She was a hit with the readers, and the book was deemed a witty and sparkling read. Here is what Kirkus Reviews said of the book: “Though forgiveness may be in order on the title, Elaine Shepard is a woman who has really been places and seen things. She reports on them with the verve of a young girl, perception of an inveterate news hawk, and the wit of a high-priced comedy writer.” For only a few years, she has lived in the “methodical havoc” of the international correspondent, as a reporter for North American Newspaper Alliance and
Women’s News Service syndicates (“when Rosy — my editor — handed me my accreditation. I vowed that if I interviewed the devil himself, I’d stick to the facts”). She arrived in this “honorable and coveted position” via Hollywood, Broadway, John Robert Powers’ agency, diplomatic hostessing in major world capitals (as the former wife of an Air Force officer) and TV in Washington (Rosy “did not share some people’s opinion that all actresses have the IQ of a marble”). Her book covers trips with the Eisenhower entourage, interviews with Castro and Gagarin, press conferences with Patrice Lumumba, and a short tour of duty in Russia (“modern buildings can best be described as Soviet Gothic or Early Halloween”). Her material is thoughtful, interesting, and very, very funny. Elaine continued her journalistic career. She was posted for a time in Haiti when Papa Doc Duvalier took over the reins of the country. In 1965, she was sent to cover the Vietnam War. In 1967, her second book, about her experience in Vietnam, called “The Doom Pussy”, was published. Here is a review: “The Doom Pussy crouches in wait for American pilots when they fly their missions over North Vietnam. Elaine Shepard has been there and seen the Pussy. She has brought back a bouncy recall of the men in the air and on the ground, whether flying into the jaws of the terrible cat or tearing shirts afterwards to let off steam.” She came to know Smash, beseeched and sought after by the passionate Mercy Belle back in the States, and Nails, who beseeched and sought after her. She joined in their revels and their raids, moves from ribaldry and revelry at R&R (rest and recreation) periods to the tense and trying moments of combat. “The sharpest Negro pilot in Vietnam” died in her arms after they had been shot down and picked up; she saw Dickey Chapelle “crumpled on her right side in the weeds and dirt like a broken doll.” From
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cont. on page 16
Summer 2017
Photo of Dickey Chapelle receiving the last rites, 4 November 1965. Chapelle the first woman photojournalist killed in Vietnam. Photo by Henri Huet, AP. Huet himself was later killed covering the war on 10 February 1971 when the Army chopper he was on was shot down in Laos during Operation Lam Son 719.
such experiences, it is hard to be neutral, and she closes her book with George Washington’s words: “If we desire to secure peace, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” This is a book about the flyboys, held aloft by admiration for their courage and understanding of their off-duty flings. It has glamor and guts, and may well hit a market no other Vietnam book has: the ladies.
City. Her long adventure had ended at age 85. Editors Note: Elaine Shepard was a pistol. She had a restless spirit that craved adventure. With her many marriages and affairs, she seemed to live her life on the edge and was always looking for the next adventure. With the book “The DOOM Pussy”, she had taken her adventurous nature to a new level, both personally and journalistically, but she didn't stop there and went on to write “The DOOM Pussy II” to correct some inaccuracies and to give credit to some who were missed in the first book. My connection to Elaine Shepard is secondhand, but early on in my work for the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, I came to know about the DOOM Pussy and Elaine Shepard and found the whole story intriguing. What got this story started was the press release photo I purchased at the beginning of this article. This is by no means a definitive history of Elaine Shepard and is only the beginning of the “whole 9 yards” that was her life. In the process of editing this article, I got to correspond with Stella Zoric and explore her blog “Those Obscure Objects of Desire”.
Also interesting to note, Elaine was first and foremost a woman who liked to shop – when she was in Vietnam, she cashed more than $40,000 worth of money orders, and had to have her visa and passport revoked since cashing that much money violated military rules. Vietnam ended up being Elaine’s last big journalistic adventure. After Vietnam, Elaine dated some prominent men of that era, including former ambassador Henry Taylor and Washington Redskins owner, George Preston Marshall (the former husband of Corinne Griffith). She remarried following her split from Hartmann.
Through Stella, I got to talk to and correspond with Larry Judge of Olney, Illinois. Larry has been researching Elaine Shepard’s family and her time growing up in Olney and sharing information with Stella. Larry's ultimate goal is to write an accurate biographical sketch of this amazing and incredibly complex woman, and to raise local awareness of Elaine Shepard in her hometown of Olney, as unfortunately most current residents have never heard of her.
In the world of journalism, Elaine had a long standing feud with fellow journalist Dorothy Killgallen. Dorothy wrote a blind item about a female reporter who slept with Clark Gable to get an interview (the girl in question was Elaine of course), and later another blind item, when Elaine traveled around with the Eisenhower entourage (as the only woman). Dorothy Killgallen accused them of having wild orgies on the plane. Elaine sued Dorothy for slander, but Dorothy walked off victorious. Some of it must have been true?
Any Reapers who knew Elaine Shepard, please contact Larry, he'd enjoy hearing from you: Larry Judge, 816 E. North Ave. Olney,IL. 62450 Phone (618) 388.2222, email: lj5313@frontier.com To check out Stella's Blog, Those Obscure Objects of Desire, go to: https://obscureactresses.wordpress.com/
Elaine retired from active correspondent duty in the early 1970s, and slowly slipped off the newspaper radar. She moved to New York City for good and lived the rest of her days there. Elaine Shepard died on September 6, 1998, in New York
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Summer 2017
The Whole 9 Yards Origins of an Expression
“The Whole 9 Yards” as seen in front of a Douglas B-26 Invader during the Korean War. Photo by Harry Galpin. We’ve all heard the expression, “The Whole 9 Yards”, but what does it mean? The whole nine yards is a colloquial American phrase to mean “everything”. The origin of the phrase is unknown, but there are lots of theories. One thing’s for certain, the expression has been around for a long time and there is no doubting its meaning. It’s possible that it is a variation on the “whole ball of wax” and part of a family of expressions that all mean the same thing, like “the whole enchilada”, “the whole shooting match”, and “the whole shebang”. The number nine could be related to the expression “dressing to the nines” . I always thought it had some reference to American football, but was told by a crew chief on a P-51 Mustang that it had to do with belted 50 cal. ammunition being 9 yards long.
Use of the phrase, regardless of its origins, doesn't seem to have fallen out of favor despite its longevity, even among younger generations who wouldn’t have any connection to its original use. The term must have been popular during the Vietnam War because Elaine Shepard used it in her book, The DOOM Pussy (1967). She wrote, “Slipping out of the knot was expensive, but Smash was eventually able to untangle what he called ‘the whole nine yards’.” The origins of the phrase may never be uncovered, but because of Elaine Shepard and The DOOM Pussy it will always be a part of 13th Bomb Squadron lore and forever entangled in the squadron’s history. So the next time you hear the expression, “the whole nine yards”, you can take some Reaper pride in its use.
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Summer 2017
The SPAD S.XII The Cannon SPAD
Capt Charles Biddle 's SPAD S.XII, No. 0. In a previous issue, we mentioned about the innovations that Pappy Gunn had incorporated into the stolen B-25s in WWII, namely mounting a cannon in the nose. He claimed to have traded a case of whiskey to some Marines for the cannon. This was actually nothing new, because a 37mm cannon had been added to a SPAD fighter in WWI! The SPAD S.XII was inspired by French ace Georges Guynemer, who proposed that a single-seat fighter be designed to carry a 37mm cannon. The SPAD S.XII would use the new 12 shot, 37mm cannon, built by Puteaux along with the Hispano-Suiza engine geared to allow the gun to fire through the propeller shaft. The SPAD S.XII also carried a single synchronized, 7.7mm Vickers machine gun mounted on the starboard side. To accommodate the 37mm cannon the SPAD airframe had to be lengthened, the wingspan and wing area increased, the wingtips rounded and the wings a slight forward stagger. The geared output propshaft engine and the hollow propeller shaft for the cannon and to power the heavier airframe, the 180hp Hispano-Suiza engine was replaced by the geared 220hp model 8Cb which gave the SPAD S.XII a clockwise propeller rotation. Test flown by Guynemer, the early production models of the SPAD S.XII were successful after some initial problems with the reduction gear between engine and propeller. Other aces also had success with the new model. However, deliveries were slow, the SPAD VII and later SPAD XIII
taking top priority. Of 300 SPAD S.XIIs ordered, estimates are that only 20 were ever produced. Average pilots found the SPAD S.XII difficult to master and the cannon hard to aim and fire. Manual reloading was also an issue. The cockpit would fill with smoke after firing the cannon and the breech mechanism protruded into the cockpit, preventing the use of a conventional stick. The control setup reverted to a split setup on either side of the pilot. The small number of aircraft produced were issued only to the most skilled pilots. They were distributed one or two per squadron. Few were delivered to combat units, only 8 S.XII aircraft were recorded in use in April 1918 and again in October; this is in contrasted to the thousands of SPAD VIIs and SPAD XIIIs in service. Single examples for testing were delivered to the Royal Flying Corps and one to the Aviation Section of the American Expeditionary Force, with the AEF's 13th Aero Squadron receiving the aircraft, which was intended to go to David Putnam, but when Putnam was killed, the SPAD S.XII was given to Capt. Charles Biddle, commander of the 13th Aero Squadron, and numbered "0". It's not know if any of Capt Biddle's victories were done using the S.XII, but Biddle mentioned in a letter home that it was a "new machine of a special type mounting a most murderous weapon of a gun", he went on to say "this special gun is difficult to use, but if a shot ever hits a Hun, he might as well say his prayers".
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Summer 2017
This is the 13th Aero Squadron at the end of WWI in 1918. Starting with the back row: 1) Lt. Herbert J. Simon with walking stick, 2) Lt. Hank Stovall, 3) Lt. John Seerley, 4) Lt. Murray Guthrie, 5) Lt. Dickinson Este CO of the 13th Aero Squadron, 6) Lt. James McAteer 7) Lt. Leighton Brewer, 8) Lt. Steve Avery, 9) Lt. Art Billard, 10) Dr. William Worthington (Medical Officer), 11) Lt. Sidney Gross. Middle row: 12) Lt. Mayo Hadden, 13) Lt. James McFadden, 14) Lt. Frank Hays, 15) Lt. Patrick Logan, 16) Lt. Dave Howe, 17) Lt. Curtis Presley. Front row: 18) Lt. Norman J. Bond, 19) Lt. Austin A. Barmore, 20) Lt. Charles Luethi, 21) Harold Bartron, 22) Lt. Thomas Ewing, 23) Lt. Merwin Barnthouse, 25) Lt. H.H. Bennett. *Other known pilots with the 13th Aero Squadron at the end of the war: Lt. William P. Smith, Lt. Clyde Barton, Lt. Milborn Bishop, Lt. John Harrington. All these men were listed as 13th Aero Squadron pilots and discharged December 1, 1918.
Editor's Note: One of the things I love about history is that no stone goes untouched, somebody always knows something and they are willing to share. We received this informative email from William Jeanes. Gentlemen, This is tardy, but contains information that should not be lost. Sorry for my disorganization. The photo of the original squadron that ran in the Spring 2017 Invader also appeared in an article I did years ago for Over the Front Magazine. (The photo also ran in OTF many years before that.) My piece named more squadron members than had ever been identified before. I am now able to complete the IDs in your version and add a name that was probably missed during the production process. The man in the front row between Norman Bond and Charles Luethi is Austin A. Barmore. The mystery man with the walking stick, I had suspected for years to be Herbert J. Simon. That turns out to be
correct. Barmore I identified through a relative and confirmed with a Hobart College annual (he was captain of the football team). Simon died in a 1918 crash that would have occurred only a day or two after the photo was taken perhaps hours afterward. His death was well covered in the San Francisco Chronicle and other Bay Area papers... with clear head shots. Now for the missing man. In the back row, the man on Capt. Este's left, between him and Leighton Brewer, is James McAteer from Ft. Smith, Arkansas. As the late Paul Harvey might have said, "Now we know the rest of the story". On another topic, if I can find the time, I'll send some corrections to the history as printed in the issue. Most are typos (personal for personnel, e.g.) but some are factual. Guion Armstrong's middle name was in fact Guion and not Guyon. Nothing major, but worth doing. With kind regards, William Jeanes
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Summer 2017
NASA's WB-57 Canberras Performance and Capabilities
WB-57 High Altitude Research Aircraft
Aircraft Ceiling: Well in Excess of 60,000 ft. Maximum Flight Duration: Approximately 6.5 hours Range Approximately 2.500 miles Max Gross Weight: 63,000 pounds Maximum Payload Weight: 6,000 pounds Wing Surface Area: 2,000 Square feet Engine Thrust: 15,500 pounds per TF-33 engine True Air Speed at 60,000+ feet -410 knots (Max. Mach .8) Max. True Air Speed at Sea Level: 190 knots Minimum Runway Dimensions: 7,000 ft. x 150 ft. (sea level) Maximum Crosswind Component: 15 knots Air to Ground Communications: UHF, VHF, HF, & SAT Phone Payload Power Options: 110V 400Hz 3 Phase 110V 60Hz Single Phase 28VDC
For additional information, contact: WB-57 Program Office Mail Code CC4 NASA Johnson Space Center 2101 NASA Parkway Houston, TX 77058 Phone: 281-244-9034 Fax: 281-224-9883 E-mail: nasa-wb57@nasa.gov http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/
Group photo of NASA's three WB-57 aircraft together with AOD and WB-57 support personnel. Photo Date: November 19, 2015. Location: Ellington Field - Tarmac. Photographer: Robert Markowitz.
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Summer 2017
NASA's WB-57 aircraft flying in formation over San Jaquinto Monument. Photographed from a Navy T-6 aircraft. Photo Date: November 19, 2015. Photographer: Robert Markowitz. For more information, please visit: https://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/
Program Overview
The NOAA PALMS (Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry) instrument in the nose cone.
NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) operates two WB-57 aircraft out of Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The WB-57 is a mid-wing, long-range aircraft capable of operation for extended periods of time from sea level to altitudes well in excess of 60,000 feet. Two crew members are positioned at separate tandem stations in the forward section of the fuselage. The pilot station contains all the essential equipment for flying the aircraft while the sensor operator station contains both navigational equipment and controls for the operation of the payloads that are located throughout the aircraft. The WB-57 can fly for approximately 6.5 hours and has a range of approximately 2,500 miles.
The University of Colorado CORE (Chlorine Oxides in Rocket Exhaust) instruments in a three-foot unpressurized pallet.
The Harvard University Water Vapor Instrument in the left wing pod Below: The crew members of the WB-57.
Payload Integration Locations
The WB-57 aircraft can carry up to 6,000 lbs. of payload. Typical payload integration locations are detailed above. The WB-57 employes a pallet system in the main fuselage area. The pallet system consists of interchangeable pallet modules. Pressurized and unpressurized pallets are available. The Pallet system will carry a total of 4,000 lbs. including pallet weight. Lighter payloads can also be carried in the aft fuselage, tail cone, wing pods, wing hatches, and /or the nose cone.
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Summer 2017
Katherine Stinson (February 14, 1891 – July 8, 1977) was a pioneering American aviator who set flying records for distance, endurance, and aerobatic maneuvers. She taught flying at her family's aviation school. Katherine Stinson was born on February 14, 1891, in Fort Payne, Alabama. She was the fourth woman in the United States to obtain a pilot's certificate, which she earned on 24 July 1912, at the age of 21, while residing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Initially, she planned to get her certificate and use money she earned from exhibition flying to pay for her music lessons. However, she found she liked flying so much that she gave up her piano career and decided to become an aviator. In January 1911, Stinson went to St. Louis to take flight lessons from Tony Jannus who only allowed her to fly as a passenger. She then took flying lessons from the well-known aviator Max Lillie, a pilot for the Wright Brothers, who initially refused to teach her because she was female. But she persuaded him to give her a trial lesson. She was so good that she flew alone after only four hours of instruction. A year after receiving her certificate, she began exhibition flying. On the exhibition circuit, she was known as the “Flying Schoolgirl”. Katherine Stinson tried to tell newspaper reporters she was actually 21, not 16, but they refused to believe her. After she received her certificate, Stinson and her family moved to San Antonio, Texas, an area with an ideal climate for flying. There she and her sister, Marjorie, began giving flying instruction at her family's aviation school in Texas. On July 18, 1915, Stinson became the first woman to perform a loop, at Cicero Field in Chicago, Illinois, and went on to perform this feat some 500 times without a single accident. She also was one of the first women authorized to carry airmail for the United States. During
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World War I, Stinson flew a Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny” and a Curtiss Stinson-Special (a single seat version of the JN aircraft built to her specifications) for fundraising tours for the American Red Cross. During exhibition flights in Canada, Stinson set Canadian distance and endurance records, and, in 1918, made the second air mail flight in Canada between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. On December 11, 1917, Katherine Stinson flew 606 miles from San Diego to San Francisco, setting a new American non-stop distance record. The Stinson School closed in 1917, and Katherine became an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in Europe. In 1918, she flew non-stop from Chicago to Binghamton, New York. In Europe during the Great War, she contracted influenza, which damaged her lungs, making her susceptible to tuberculosis. In 1920, she retired from aviation. In 1927, she married airman Miguel Antonio Otero, Jr., son of the former territorial governor of New Mexico. She worked as an architect for many years in Santa Fe, New Mexico.She died in 1977 at the age of 86. Stinson's flying inspired her brothers to form the Stinson Aircraft Company. All of her stunt flying was done in aircraft using the Wright control system, which uses two side-mounted levers for pitch and roll, with top mounted controls for throttle and yaw. An early Laird biplane looped by Stinson is on display at the Henry Ford Museum. A replica of her 1918 Curtiss Stinson-Special is on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton. The second oldest general aviation airport in the United States, Stinson Municipal Airport (KSSF) in San Antonio, Texas, was named in the Stinson family's honor. A middle school in northwest San Antonio, TX, Katherine Stinson Middle School, was named in her honor. (Wikipedia)
Summer 2017
The Hot SEAT Editor's Comments
Each issue of the INVADER offers me new challenges. Time is always a factor, but finding content for the 24 pages is the biggest challenge. Somehow it all came together. The feature in this issue on the DOOM Pussy has been in the making for a while, but other things kept pushing it back. I don't know how many of you know this, but I collect wire service photos, mostly related to Eddie Adams, who took that fateful execution photo on a Saigon street during the Tet Offensive in 1968. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for that troubling photo and his fate, as well as those in the photo, was sealed. Like it or not, it became a part of who he was and part of his legacy that he would never escape. That photo would dog him the rest of his life. Why the interest in Eddie Adams? Eddie was from New Kensington, PA where I live. He worked for the local paper right out of high school before joining the Marine Corps and serving as a combat photographer in the Korean War.
reach, but wire service photos, those sent over wire from one location like Vietnam to be printed out at a newspaper back home, are surprisingly affordable and fun to collect. Each photo is a copy and includes a typed caption and byline. They come up Don Henderson, Editor for auction from time to time as newspapers divest of their old archives and I try to buy the ones that interest me, some relating to Eddie and the circle of photographers around him at AP. Photographers like my friend Nick Ut, who took the Napalm Girl photo in 1972 and his older brother Huynh Thanh My, who Nick affectionately called "7". Huynh Thanh My was killed while covering the war for AP. Nick himself was wounded 3 times while covering the war and just recently retired from the AP after a 50 year career.
While collecting wire service photos, I occasionally find photos like the press release photo of Elaine Shepard. Most people wouldn't know who she was or why she is forever part After the war, he worked for several newspapers, of the legacy of the 13th Bomb Squadron, but each with bigger and bigger circulations before because of her book The DOOM Pussy, she is eventually ending up with the Associated Press. forever linked to the Grim Reapers. There may AP sent him to Vietnam. The book Eddie Adams, be members of the Association who knew her Vietnam is a powerful volume of black and white or knew of her, and if you did and would like photos published by his widow Alyssa many years to share your stories, please do. But then again, after his death from ALS. some things that happened in Vietnam stayed in I could never afford actual photos taken by Eddie Vietnam and maybe that is for the better. I hope that the article from the blog Those Obscure Adams, his fame put his photos way out of my Objects of Desire will tell you a little bit about who Elaine Shepard was; actress, Pin-Up girl, journalist and author. I was glad that Bob Galbreath was willing to share his recollections about the genesis of the DOOM Pussy patch that later became the name of Elaine Shepard's book. The Vietnam War changed everyone, especially those of you who served there. Please, if you have stories to tell, write them down and share them as well as your photos. A photo is worth a thousand words. Happy New Year Reapers! 23
13th Bomb Squadron Association Bob Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX 78247-3080 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Here is to the next 100 years Grim Reapers! Happy New Year!
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