Vol. 31 No. 2
July 2013
ORB
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
July 2013
President’s Corner
The Reno reunion is
about the first test flights, and then flying the first combat ordnance delivery with the new technology that the G-model took to the Vietnam War. The systems worked almost 100% of the time, and these successes in Southeast Asia lead the way to the accuracy and pinpoint bombing achieved by our aircraft over the last forty-plus years.
only three months away, so if you haven’t sent in your reservation, now is the time. It will be a fun vacation in a popular resort town, at a firstclass hotel, for only $79 a night. Red Shirt night will be at Harrah’s nationally acclaimed historic Car Bob Butterfield Museum, and General Chuck Yeager has been invited to join us for this 13th Reunion in 2013, he dates are Monday through Friday, Sept. 16-20. See pages 18-21 to sign up.
It is always a great day going to Whiteman. Another exciting part of the visit was seeing the enthusiasm shown for the Association by the active squadron members. (Or, it may be the quality of our war stories that could be somewhat enhanced over time.) Eighteen
May 10th was a special day for our Association! To honor Bill (ORB) Cowen, the 13th Bomb Squadron put his name on the B-2 squadron flagship, “Spirit of Mississippi,” in remembrance of his diligence in helping reactivate the 13th Bomb Squadron in 2000. This historic moment in 2013 added to the heritage of the squadron that we have all have put our hearts and souls into over the years. We can take great pride in sharing this tribute to our deceased Association brother, and to ourselves, for our roles in this honor. REAPER PRIDE.
cont. on page 3
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
During a May 10th visit to Whiteman, a shadowbox of Australian memorabilia was presented to the Squadron as a gift from Aussie, John Jewell, who has supported our Association and the memory and history of the 13th Bomb Squadron.
The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2013
Visiting Whiteman with Bob Parks and me, was B-57G Reaper Charley Brown. After the shadowbox presentation and during the squadron roll call, Charley was asked
Our cover photo features ORB on the 13th Bomb Squadron flagship, Spirit of Spirit of Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)
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July 2013 “President’s Corner” cont. from page 3
The Association website: www. 13thbombsquadron.com is being updated, and should be completed when you receive this month’s Invader. Check it out and let me know your comments. We are trying to make this enjoyable viewing and are adding new material at each update.
more Reapers signed up for membership in the Air Force’s finest association bringing the total of new members to 30 over the past two years. Included in this number is S/Sgt. Leah Simpson, the squadron's security manager. She has the honor of being in the squadron longer than anyone else, having served a tour at Dyess AFB before transferring to Whiteman. Congratulations Sergeant Simpson. New membership is so important for us and necessary to sustain our organization on into the second one hundred years of squadron existence! WELCOME, WELCOME. We want everyone to feel the excitement and pride that we feel in being a Grim Reaper. Once again we are looking ahead to 2015 and a location in the central part of the U.S. for another reunion. (Next year we will be at Providence, RI, October 1-5, 2014). At Reno, this September, we will select another city to follow Providence. In the past 14 years we have enjoyed get-togethers at the central areas of Abilene, Nashville, St Louis, Kansas City, Dayton, and San Antonio. Armed Forces Reunions has suggested Mobile, Milwaukee, and Branson, Missouri, as good reunion cities for 2015. If you have any other suggestions, send them in to Jerry Dorwart, our Reunion Planner, and/or bring them to the General Membership Meeting at Reno with your supporting ideas for those locations. We will vote to select one at the meeting.
It is sad to report the passing of Reaper, Don Marquardt, B-26 crew chief in Korea 1953-54. Don was responsible for the assembly of the Invader aircraft at Hill AFB Utah that wears the colors of the 13th Bomb Squadron. Don spent four years on the project which honors Korean War veterans and all those who flew and maintained the B-26. Don died on Memorial Day, May 27th. Our Reaper hats are off to Don Henderson for his excellent first edition (Vol. 31; #1) of the March 2013 Invader. As you saw with Don’s centerfold and article of Reaper Hobey Baker, we are going to be treated with many more wonderful magazines from our new Editor. Thanks, Don!
A special thanks to Bill Britz for procuring the hats and patches that John Fortier has been sending out to our members. If you need a hat or patch, just give John a call, or send him an email. His number is: (310) 540-2596, or email: john_fortier@msn.com.
See you all at Reno. Reaper Pride, Bob 3
July 2013
Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association President
1st Vice President/ Association Historian
Secretary
Member at Large WWII
Member at Large GWAT
Robert L. (Bob) Butterfield 7912 Madison Plantation Way Fredericksburg, VA 22407 rl.butterfield@hotmail.com
Charles W. (Chrly) Hinton 585 Teakwood Ave. Satellite Beach, FL 32937 chinton@cfl.rr.com
2nd Vice President
Gerald E. (Jerry) Dorwart 1849 Ramsgate Ct. Ft. Collins, CO 80524 gedorwart@comcast.net
www.13thbombsquadron.org
Treasurer
Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey 6980 Olympic View Ct. Silverdale, WA 98383 tcarvey@wavecable.com
Member at Large Korea
Edward D. (Ed) Connor Jr. 1217 Earnestine St. McLean, VA 22101-2646 ravenfive5@verizon.net
Member at Large Vietnam
Karl J. (Buck) Shawhan 4014 Buccaneer Blvd. Plattsmouth, NE 68048 shawhan9@gmail.com
James R.(Bob) Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX, 78247 bob-parks@satx.rr.com
Association Locator Data Manager
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Roger A. Bauman 5664 S. Basalt Ave. Boise, ID 83716-9007 rbauman@cableone.net
Roy L. (Bud) Compton 2021 158th Street NW Marysville, WA 98271 budcomp13@frontier.com
Norris O. Olson 3620 Belmont Rd. Grand Forks, ND 58201 norriso1@gra.midco.net
July 2013
Letters to Editor Hello Don,
Here are a few letters to Charlie Hinton about the passing and accomplishments of Roy Marquardt
I did see that you are the INVADER editor now, but I've fallen off the mailing list, so please send/email me a copy. The new sq cc of the 13th is Lt Col Jeff "Opie" Schreiner--tell him I sent you. He should be able to provide INVADER inputs. I'll look into putting ORB on the squadron flagship-we have a 13th event in May--see below--I was looking into getting the flagship stenciled with ORB at that time, if able. Talk to ya soon, Tom THOMAS A. BUSSIERE Brigadier General, USAF Commander
Roy Marquardt, Korean War Veteran, Master Aircraft Mechanic and Crew Chief, Super Handyman
Don, ORB is now the pilot on the current 13 BS Flagship Tail 82-1071. I plan to leave him on there with me until my change of command next summer.
Charlie,
I spoke with you this morning about my father Roy Marquardt. The obituary web site is www.standard.net
Still working something for Stag. v/r, Jeff Schreiner
His obituary was in May 30, 2013 's paper. The web site for dad's plane is http://roysa26invader.wordpress.com I would like to get 8 copies of the Invader magazine of the one you are putting my dad in. Could you please call me and let me know when it will be out. I do not use this computer very often so I never read my emails. So please call me and let me know how much money to send you for the copies of the magazine. Thanks for being so nice to my dad. He loved your magazine and all of you. It was his life, the planes, the Korean War and all you wonderful people.
ORB on 13th Bomb Squadron flagship, B-2, 21071, Spirit of Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)
Thank you again, Sheri Marquardt Freeman 5
cont. on page 6
July 2013
Letters to Editor Roy E. Marquardt’s Passing I am sad to announce that my step-father, Roy E. Marquardt, passed away today, Memorial Day, May 27, 2013.
Roy had been suffering for some time with various medical issues and died at home under the care of his wife, Lucy Marquardt. I think it is fitting that he left us on the day when we remember and honor those who died while serving our country. Roy’s military and civilian service to our country puts him in a special category of people who answered the call to fight for freedom, not just for Americans, but for people everywhere. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless his soul and may he rest in peace forever in the infinite light and love of God.
Roy Marquardt and Al McNamee presenting framed painting of "Douglas B-26 Invader over Mount Fuji" for installation in the Invader Suite of the Hopson House, the VIP quarters.
Joseph E. McClellan (stepson) Charlie, Roy Marquardt did real good for the 13th at Ogden. He and Al McNamee presented the framed painting "Douglas B-26 Invader over Mount Fuji" to the commander, Ogden Air Materiel Area for installation in the Invader Suite of the Hopson House, the VIP quarters. Because of that presentation and installation, the general stated he wanted the Weapon System picture/photograph for each Distinguished Visitors' Quarters suite. I stayed at the Hopson House suites before the installation and I sent the painting to Al to have it presented. Now those paintings/photos are in place in each suite, all beautifully framed. The 13th Bomb Squadron Association was responsible for this, and Roy and Al executed it. I won the painting at the '95 reunion in DC hosted by Bob and Wren Ennis and you, Charlie, put it in your car and brought it home to me.
Detail of framed painting of "Douglas B-26 Invader over Mount Fuji".
Roy's volunteer work at Hill Aerospace Museum which provided inspiration for an awesome project when several large crates containing the cannibalized remains of a Douglas A26B arrived at the museum. It was the aircraft he knew well from his days in Korea and he was charged with its restoration. The remarkable story of the renovation can be found on page 10 of this issue.
The B-26s Invaders we got at K-8 had been through the maintenance process at Ogden. Don Mathews 6
July 2013 In 1942, John Jewell met 13th Bomb Squadron Airmen in his home in Townsville, Australia, a community near the Charters Towers Airfield. John was the young son of an Australian family that befriended American airmen training and flying combat missions from Australia against the Japanese invasion of the Southwest Pacific. John remembers these men and their valor in helping to prevent an invasion of his country and has honored their service with several pieces of RAAF memorabilia that would serve as a military souvenir of the 13th participation in WW II. Mounted in a shadowbox, these items were presented to the 13th commander on May 10th. Earlier on this day, the squadron honored deceased Reaper, Bill (ORB) Cowen. a WW II and Korean War veteran who campaigned tirelessly to resurrect the 13th from retirement to active duty with a B-1 squadron at Dyess AFB, TX. ORB's name was placed along side the squadron commander's on the squadron B-2 flagship in his memory.
Reapers Past, Present Celebrate Heritage
By Morgan Hildebrand, 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, MO
Here, retired Tech. Sgt. Bill "ORB" Cowan's name was added alongside our commander's, Lt. Col. Jeffery Schreiner, in honor of his contributions to the 13th. Cowan was instrumental in ensuring the 13th BS returned to active status in 2000.
For nearly 100 years, the 13th Bomb Squadron has flown in combat: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Global War on Terror. On May 10, our unit hosted three former "Reapers" during the annual heritage day for the presentation of a shadow box to the unit.
The day closed with Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere joining the entire unit at the squadron heritage room for a formal presentation of the shadow box and a few more stories from Butterfield.
The day was packed with storytelling: the sort of stories you never expect to hear face-to -face. The words were not to inform, but to remember, and each story had a special meaning as it was told. The pride in each man as he told his stories along with his desire to see what had become of the 13th BS, since his own service, was overwhelming.
An important day for all Reapers, I was honored to participate and be part of all the events. The standout moment for me was when I arrived that morning to greet our visitors and one of the first questions asked of me was, "Did you ever think you would be standing here as a part of history?"
The three distinguished guests from the 13th Bomb Squadron Association each served well over their 20 year marks and individually made their own impacts on Reaper history. Retired Col. Robert L. Butterfield, president of the association, retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Parks, locator and data manager; and retired Col. Charles J. Brown, each had their own stories to tell.
It was the aforementioned retired Colonel Brown asking, and I was in awe from that moment on. Then, just before I left for the day, I was stopped by our guests and reminded that I may have only been with the 13th BS since December, but I will be a Reaper for the rest of my life.
The squadron, now proudly residing at Whiteman Air Force Base, originated June 14, 1917, in Texas. The shadowbox the men presented held a Royal Australian Air Force flight cap and emblem and patches, symbols of remembrance for the time the 13th BS flew with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.
"Just when the Numerical Mother gave birth to the original 'wee Thirteen' is something we can't discuss, but a modern birthday which we shall never forget is that of a cactus-born squadron on an early June day-and when the christening came no one complained that the number was Thirteen. From then on, it was just a 'hobby,' a kind of self-inflicted task of ours to disprove the somewhat ancient belief that this number was anything but a good one, and we proudly believe we succeeded!"
To show appreciation to our guests, two of our own outstanding pilots, Capt. Charles Goetz and Capt. Marcus Antonini, led a very personal base tour which included time in the B-2 Spirit simulator as well as a look in the flight deck of the squadron's flagship jet, the Spirit of Mississippi.
That is the opening to a piece of 13th Bomb Squadron Reaper history written by Lt Earl F. Richards and S.M. Avery, original WW I Reapers.
A touching moment, and one that likely stands out for all Reapers, was the unveiling of the name added on the front landing gear door of the Spirit of Mississippi.
(Editors Note: Lt Earl Richards designed the first Oscar) 7
July 2013
SOME WORDS ABOUT BILL COWAN Bill Cowan has died. We take special note of his passing because of his dedication to the 13th Association through his volunteer work on important projects, his boosting of the squadron’s history resulting in its re-activation in 2000, his contributions to the INVADER, and touching upon the directness of the personality of “Old Rotten Bill” (ORB).
well. He tended his little store instead of taking part in many of the reunion activities. He managed his emporium until his health prevented him from further reunion attendance. In November 1995, Bill sent a personal letter and Oscar patch to USAF Chief of Staff General Fogleman extolling the combat record of the 13th Bomb Squadron. It was two and a half pages and almost too long to read. He wrote, “Let’s see if we might delete one of the ‘Mess Kit Repair units’ and put our ‘Oscar’ back on a combat aircraft and back into action. I can with no reservations, state that the unit that receives the honor of carrying that logo will almost certainly be in the forefront in esprit de corps and readiness to lead.”
In one of life’s coincidences, I came across one of Bill Cowan’s writings while teaching AFROTC at St. Olaf College in the late 1950s. Bill had been given a small column in the Air Force Times, and the Oscar logo accompanying the column caught my eye. I am a saver and collector (OK – Hoarder) and I cut out the column and tucked it away. I came across the clipping many years after the Association was formed and noted that it had been written by Bill Cowan.
In an unusually timely response, six days later General Fogleman responded to Bill thanking him for the patch and saying, “I understand your concern regarding the 13th Bomb Squadron heritage and have asked the Air Force Historical Research Agency to review your request... As soon as I have an input from the historians you will be hearing from me again.”
Bill attended the first formal reunion in Cocoa Beach in 1985 and had perfect attendance though 2001. His contribution to the Association is notable, not only by the perfect attendance record while he was in good health but by the quality of his contribution to us in those 17 years. Some few years after joining the Association he was elected to the office of 1st Vice President.
Two months later, not having heard from General Fogleman, Bill wrote again with further historical material about the 13th Aero Squadron, saying, “I sincerely hope that by this time the Air Force Historical Research Agency has been able to substantiate our claim that the 13th should be favorably considered for reactivation in the near future.” Six months later, he sent Fogleman another letter. “This is a follow up to your letter dated 17 November 1995 wherein you indicated that the matter had been forwarded to the Air Force Historical Research Agency for review. Be assured that the membership of the 13th are anxiously awaiting input from that agency with great
In November of 1991, responding to a request from some wives, Bill Cowan volunteered to design and order 144 tee shirts commemorating the squadron Association. The tee shirts were available at the Charleston Reunion in 1992. That was the beginning of “Oscar's Emporium” that the Korean era members will remember so well. Over the years Cowan’s “emporium” expanded to include patches, Oscar-themed jewelry, B-26 tie clips, Oscar lapel pins, a source for red jackets, Oscar or B-26-themed children's clothing, and things that I don’t remember at the moment. At the end of every reunion, he held drawings for inventory items that weren’t selling 8
July 2013
anticipation.” (Of course the membership didn’t know anything about Bill’s goal.) He then made an invitation to the General to attend the upcoming reunion in Las Vegas in October ‘96.
of reunion details. We had a member who lived in Abilene, but he was involved with working for the Red Cross and unavailable to handle the reunion organization. (I should note that I was the President during this period.)
In mid-August of 1996, General Fogleman sent Bill a response that included these two paragraphs.
If you do enough things you will eventually make a mistake. Well knowing of Bill’s interest in a successful reunion and his previous trips to Dyess, I sent him an email and said, “I guess you are my man in Abilene”. Then I met “Old Rotten Bill” who sent me a scathing email back saying many things, of which one line said, “I AM NOT YOUR MAN IN ABILENE”.
“Thank you for your most recent letter regarding the 13th Bomb Squadron. We’ve continued to review the heritage of this especially notable unit, and as you indicated, it is one of the most decorated squadrons in our Air Force and deserving of recognition. The Air Force has not forgotten the proud heritage of the 13th Bomb Squadron, and I am pleased to inform you that it will be reactivated in the future as part of Air Combat Command. We will ensure your organization is notified when this will occur.”
My memory is gone in regards to any communication with Bill during the next time period. I have a copy of a letter with Bill’s signature in which he identifies himself and Ralph Kunhoff as being co-chairs of the reunion. The Board minutes show that a member of the board who was an attorney brought up the subject of a budget limit. I told Bill to use whatever funds he needed to make it a go. I am not about to lose my man in Abilene.
Bill notified us of the future reactivation of the 13th Bomb Squadron that fall at the Las Vegas reunion to a standing ovation from the attendees. Bill’s personal story of his quest is printed in the November 1996 issue of the INVADER
The reunion was a success and the most expensive ever. After we had all adjourned, I went up to Bill’s room and told him what a good job he had done. We talked a bit and hugged and I left. Later his wife Anita told me that was the closest to an apology she had ever seen from Bill.
In August of ‘98, the INVADER carried an article that a new B-1B bomber training squadron would be activated to be stationed at Dyess AFB Texas. The 13th wasn’t mentioned, but it was to be a new squadron at some future time. We were notified of the 13th reactivation at Dyess sometime prior to the 1999 reunion in Orlando. Bill made a couple of unofficial visits to Dyess before the Orlando reunion. CM Sgt Mike White and Col. Douglas Raaburg attended the October ‘99 reunion in Orlando and briefed us in detail about the new squadron and its airplane. The Board made the decision to not hold the next reunion in Dayton, OH and instead hold the reunion in Texas during the period of the activation of the new squadron.
Bill had a heart of gold but you had to reach it. Sometime later I took to calling him (GOB) for “Good Old Bill”. Bill spoke directly. When you talked to him you learned exactly how he felt. No wishy washy around. Sometimes the hard truth is difficult to take and sometimes when you get excited and talk too quickly you can make a mistake. If you don’t know Bill – or sometimes even if you do – you can get the feeling he is a rotten SOB, so Bill carried that right up front. To me he was “Good Old Bill”, a hard worker for the Association, doing more than his share of the work, and a Grim Reaper who took great pride in his service with the 13th in Korea, and my friend “Good Old Bill”.
Now you know that the 2nd Vice President is in charge of reunions. Ralph Kunhoff, 2nd VP, lived in Vancouver. Dyess is in Abilene, TX and that is located way out on the other side of nowhere. You may remember that in those days the members of the Association did all the planning and arranging
Charles Hinton 9
July 2013
B-26 RESTORATION STORY By Roy E. Marquardt
I acquired this B-26 from the Air Force, who acquired it from the U.S Marshals Office in California after being confiscated by the Marshals from a group trying to fly marijuana into the U.S. The B-26 was modified with windows and doors and loaded with nose radar. The plane was dismantled in California and transported piece by piece to Hill Air Force Base in Utah to be reassembled under the auspices of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation. The Foundation operates the Air Museum in a permanent structure just inside the Roy City gate of HAFB.
unceremoniously on a cement pad located in an empty field dubbed “The North Forty.” The other parts were unloaded among the weeds for at least two years before any activity began toward the restoration.
Once at Hill, the fuselage and wings were deposited
TAIL SURFACES: The tail surfaces were our first step. These are held on with 3/8” bolts; four each for the vertical fin and four each for the horizontal fin. The fabric covering the rudder and elevator was in very bad condition, so we replaced it with light sheet metal. 10
cont. on page 11
July 2013
WINGS:
The wings were next. The HAFB shop provided a big crane and a skilled operator to lift the wings in place. It was quite an operation. Each wing is built around two spars. Each spar has two 3” diameter sleeves secured by a big cast washer with a ¾” bolt, amounting to four each per wing to secure the attachment. Then they lifted the whole aircraft and extended the landing gear and locked them down — very good — a job well done.
the procedure was very demanding. The gun barrels were very hard to cut. We had to manufacture brackets to hold the guns. This task was made even more difficult by the fact that access to the spar was very limited.
ENGINES:
The wing-tips were missing because On-Mark replaced them with wing-tip fuel tanks which were not suitable for the B-26 B & C models. (On-Mark is a company which modifies, converts, and restores military aircraft. On-Mark replaced the wingtips on the B-26 B & C models with wing-tip fuel tanks for civilian use. All On-Mark aircraft used the wing-tip fuel tanks, even the B-26 K models which were used in combat.) The HAFB shop could not make the wing-tips out of metal because each side had a dual radius bend. That would require a molding block for each wing tip which the museum decided would be too costly, especially for one-time use. I then decided to try to make them out of wood. But that too was abandoned because it was very difficult, time-consuming, and not especially costeffective. Things were pretty much at a stand-still at this point and I moved on. WING GUNS:
Now I had another dilemma. This phase presented a number of challenges because the On-Mark front spar had no provision for guns. I needed to install three guns in each wing. In order to place the guns in the proper location, they had to be cut to a specific length that would fit against the front of the forward wing spar. Each step of
We had to put the crane to use again to install both engines, each of which is hung with six 5/8” bolts. Resting on pallets in the “North Forty” for such a long time had taken a heavy toll. All the oil had drained out and both engines were frozen up so props could not be properly aligned. The props which had been sent to us did not fit our engines. They actually belonged to the B-26K aircraft which has different series engines with larger prop shafts. The museum said they could not locate the correct props. I seriously questioned that since these particular props were used on so many aircraft. I made a trip on my own to Wright-Patterson AFB and after a couple days visiting with a number of people, I met Paul Lake. He took me to the warehouse where the props were stored and together we searched for, and located, two sets (2 ea.) of serviceable props. 11
cont. on page 14
July 2013
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)
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RB -
July 2013
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Š13th Bomb Squadron Association, all rights reserved.
July 2013
The gun turret had been removed in the civilian conversion of the plane. I designed and built the top gun turret to original specifications using wood, wire screen, and lots of sandpaper. It was a painstaking job but turned out to be a very nice looking finished turret on which I mounted two 50 caliber gun barrels.
Lake was pleased when I told him we had the “K” model props because they were assembling a B-26K for display and needed those props. Lake wondered how we got them; he thought it might have been a mix-up at Travis AFB. At any rate, we contacted the museum people at Hill and negotiated a trade. Once again the direct approach produced results in a very short time.
I had to manufacture a radio mast that fit just behind the pilot’s canopy, wire it to the top vertical fin then down to the fuselage behind the gunner’s compartment. The rear entry steps were then removed and the big rear passenger door closed off.
We had been at this for four years at this point. Cleaning and detailing was a major process, but eventually the rust was removed and parts, crank case, spark plugs and push rod covers, were painted as part of the detailing. Once again it had the appearance of a serviceable aircraft.
It was time now to replace the nose section but once again we were faced with a problem. The 8-gun nose was my preference, but the one we had was so badly corroded it was beyond our expertise and funds to repair. A six-gun nose was available on site and I went for it. All I had to do was manufacture gun mounts and install the guns which I did.
FUSELAGE:
CANOPY:
We removed the long nose section to discover some property of the previous owners, a few marijuana leaves which were summarily destroyed. While the nose section was off, I removed the right hand side control column, rudder pedals, and part of the instrument panel, including the flight instruments used by the right seat pilot. The cockpit now looks like an authentic B-26, B or C model. A rear door and approximately ten side windows were installed by On-Mark. After removing everything, door, steps, and windows, I covered the areas with sheet metal. I opened up the original entrance ladder access on the right side of the cockpit and built a workable retractable ladder which is left in the down position. Now the hand holds and steps are also usable if needed.
The aircraft was moved to “The Fighter Gallery” even though the canopy still had the same jerry-rigged sheet metal on top and glass only on the sides as it did when it first came to us. The pilots must have had very limited visibility. At the time of the military to civilian conversion, it is possible they could not find the glass. It took several years before we finally located a Plexiglas canopy in China Lake, California. It was shipped to my home in a huge crate. We took it out to the Museum and replaced the fake with the Plexiglas canopy. Now the aircraft looks like the real thing.
The Pitot tube on this aircraft was located on the left side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit. I had to replace this tube several times in the six years the plane was parked outside. Apparently, it was just the right height off the ground for kids and some adults to hang on to, swing on, or just pull on. 14
cont. on page 15
July 2013
TIRES:
cut fins and welded them on. Four pointed (armor piercing) and four regular warheads came from parts of a B-26 which was flying air shows along the west coast. I made the remaining rockets from wood blocks turned to size and shape and covered with innumerable coats of paint. MOVE TO THE FIGHTER GALLERY:
The Museum replaced all three tires with new ones which are now filled with a foam material as directed by the Wright-Patterson Museum people to prevent the tires from going flat. The project was nearing completion and I was back to the problem of obtaining the authentic wing tips required for this aircraft. I discussed the situation with Jack Price, Heritage Foundation Officer. He said he would try again to purchase the wing tips. Lo and behold! Three months later I had two wing tips, somewhat costly I understand, but I had them. This whole process that we had struggled with for three years was solved in three months by Jack Price! ROCKETS:
The weather really took a toll on this plane for the six years it was outside. It collected all kinds of dirt and debris, including a bird’s nest. Thanks to General Marc Reynolds, the aircraft was moved inside and placed in the “Fighter Gallery.” We got it all cleaned up and I redetailed the engines. Later on, I built four bombs, each using PVC pipe for the body, wood blocks, turned down and shaped with a lathe, for the nose and tail. I had a machinist fabricate four each of the M163 Nose Fuzes according to T.O. 1A-26A-34-1-1. I designed and manufactured fins out of sheet metal, assembled and painted the bombs and installed them on the aircraft which, at that time, was in the Fighter Gallery.
No rockets were available from any source so I had to make them. I designed the fourteen rockets using photos and T.O. B-26-4s to make them as authentic as possible. No place in the State of Utah had the right diameter and thickness of material I needed to build the rockets. Again the project seemed hopeless, but one Salt Lake City company continued the search and found some steel tubing in China Lake, California. They ordered the material and cut it to the length I needed. My son, John, 15
July 2013
McLean veteran has a colorful story to share by Gregg MacDonald Staff writer, Fairfax County Times
“I couldn’t be a pilot because I was colorblind,” he said. “But I became a radio gunner.”
After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of World War II a year later, Connor was shipped out to the Pacific on a 26-day boat ride that eventually landed in Brisbane, Australia. “Pearl Harbor had just happened, and I spent that Christmas at sea,” he remembers.
Shamus Ian Fatzinger/Fairfax County Times
Air Force Veteran Ed Connor, a 90-year-old McLean resident, says he has been shot at in four different wars.
He will say it, and then smile quietly as you scratch your head trying to figure out how that’s possible. “The fourth one was the Cold War,” he will finally answer. “It wasn’t as cold as you might think.” Born in 1922 in Los Angeles, Connor moved to Florida as an infant, and it was there that he witnessed the death of his mother at age 4 in a bizarre car mishap. My father was driving and we were all in the car,” he said of the incident that occurred 86 years ago. “We were taking a sharp turn when the passenger door flew open and my mother fell out. I remember her last words to my father as she fell;‘Take care of the kids!” and then she was gone.”
Ed Connor at Charters Towers
Connor was eventually dispatched to New Guinea, where he was awarded the Silver Star as part of the 13th Bomb Squadron of the U.S. Air Corps.
With his father traveling in the U.S. Navy, his grandparents in Inverness, FL, just north of Tampa, raised Connor.
On May 10, 1942, Connor was aboard a B-25 bomber high above the New Guinea jungle approaching a Japanese target when the aircraft’s engines both went out.
From there, it was a short trip to Jacksonville, where he used to take trips to watch the New York Yankees in spring training. “I got to meet Babe Ruth there.” he said. “That was really something.”
He says the pilots were eventually able to restart them, but the mission had been compromised and the plane had dropped so much in altitude that the crew was unsure if it could cross back over a large mountain range to safety without giving away its position. “After discussing the problem, the crew decided not to bail out,” he said. “The New Guinea jungle was so dense that you might get hung up in
Originally planning to attend the University of Florida, Connor instead enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps., the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force in 1940 at age 18.
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July 2013
trees and never make it to the ground. Even if you did, that jungle was full of cannibal tribes and you could end up as someone’s exotic dinner.”
Connor said the crew jettisoned everything it could, including ammunition, to lighten the plane as it then attempted to cross over the Owen Stanley Mountains. “We made it across, but we had been followed, and we were attacked by two Japanese Zeros as we tried to land. I was able to shoot one down and drive off the other. For this I was awarded the Silver Star.” Connor said New Guinea in the 1940s was like another world, one that will probably never exist again. “Bananas grew wild there in abundance,” he said. “One day I was out with a couple of guys and we decided to bring some back to the barracks. We saw a particularly nice batch up in a big tree and I proceeded to climb up there and started cutting them down. It was then that a whole group of terrifying native warriors, all wearing war paint, walked up. It turned out that we were in their tribal leader’s personal banana grove. The chief himself then walked up, looking more fierce than any of them and began looking at us up in the tree.”
outside temperature was minus 51 degrees, so to keep our pilots from freezing to death we wrapped them up in blankets and every member of our 17man crew took turns stuffing the hole with their own backs while wearing a parachute. We couldn’t descend to warmer air because we would then be an easy target for anti-aircraft fire, It was so cold that each man could only take about five minutes in the hole, but with the team effort, we managed to successfully finish our mission and then return to base.”
After his 22-year Air Force service, USAF Major Connor joined the Central Intelligence Agency and flew missions in Laos with Air America. Following his missions leading up to the Vietnam War, he continued working for the CIA for a total of 12 years. He then embarked upon another 15-year career with the Corvus Group, supplying advance communications equipment for U.S. Presidential convoys. Today, Connor enjoys telling about his life to the younger generation, often speaking at local schools and other events. “Edward has never has met a stranger,” said his wife, Sarah. “He always meets friends, regardless of their age.”
According to Connor, it took offering his leather bomber jacket, his .45 pistol and all its ammunition to be able to get out of the situation with his skin. “But we did get to keep all the bananas we cut down,” he said. Connor flew a total of 67 combat missions against the Japanese from New Guinea, including a bombing mission during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in 1942, for which he received an Air Medal. He then became a communications officer in the U.S. Air Force and flew an additional 16 missions against North Korea during the Korean conflict with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. “On one of those missions, we were flying a reconaissance mission up and down the Yalu river, which divides North and South Korea, looking for night flyers,” he remembers. “We were flying at about 30,000 feet when an anti-aircraft round knocked out part of the nose of our plane, creating a huge hole where icy cold air was coming in. The 17
Shamus Ian Fatzinger/Fairfax County Times
July 2013 13th BOMB SQUADRON ACTIVITY REGISTRATION FORM Listed below are all registration, tour, and meal costs for the reunion. Please enter how many people will be participating in each event and total the amount. Send that amount payable to ARMED FORCES REUNIONS, INC. in the form of check or money order. Your cancelled check will serve as your confirmation. Returned checks will be charged a $20 fee. You may also register online and pay by credit card at www.afr-reg.com/13bs2013 (3%convenience fee applied to cc charge). All registration forms and payments must be received by mail on or before August 16, 2013. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis. We suggest you make a copy of this form before mailing. Please do not staple or tape your payment to this form.
Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. 322 Madison Mews Norfolk, VA 23510 ATTN: 13th BOMB SQDN
OFFICE USE ONLY Check # _________ Date Received _________ Inputted _________ Nametag Completed _____
CUT-OFF DATE IS 8/16/13 TOURS WEDNESDAY – CARSON CITY / VIRGINIA CITY THURSDAY – LADIES’ TOUR TO WILBUR D. MAY CENTER REGISTRATION PACKAGE COST IS $_205 Includes Monday Buffet Dinner, Tuesday “Red Shirt Night – Dinner at the National Automobile Museum, Thursday Banquet, Friday Breakfast, and Registration Fee. Please select your Thursday Banquet entrée below Grilled Sirloin Steak Grilled Salmon Total amount due to Armed Forces Reunions, Inc.
Price per
# of people
Total
$ 42 $ 32
$ $
$ 205/pkg $ 205/pkg
$ $ $
PLEASE PRINT NAME AS YOU WANT IT TO APPEAR ON YOUR NAMETAG: FIRST _____________________________________ LAST ___________________________________
st
1 REUNION? YES NO
SPOUSE NAME (IF ATTENDING)_____________________________________________ VET’S EMAIL___________________________ GUEST NAMES__________________________________________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY, ST, ZIP_____________________________________________________________PH. NUMBER (______)_______-____________ DISABILITY/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS__________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Sleeping room requirements must be conveyed by attendee directly with hotel) MUST YOU BE LIFTED HYDRAULICALLY ONTO THE BUS WHILE SEATED IN YOUR WHEELCHAIR IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN BUS TRIPS? YES NO (PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY). EMERGENCY CONTACT________________________________________ PH. NUMBER (_____)_____-________ For refunds and cancellations please refer to our policies outlined at the bottom of the reunion program. CANCELLATIONS WILL ONLY BE TAKEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:00am-5:00pm EASTERN TIME (excluding holidays). Call (757) 625-6401 to cancel reunion activities and obtain a cancellation code. Refunds processed 4-6 weeks after reunion.
Register online and pay by credit card at www.afr-reg.com/13bs2013
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July 2013 GRAND SIERRA RESORT – RENO, NV The Grand Sierra Resort is located at 2500 East 2nd Street, Reno, NV 89595. The hotel is approximately 1.5 miles away from the Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO). Please call the hotel directly for accurate driving directions. The hotel is set in a 145-acre resort setting and offers the largest casino in Northern Nevada. The Grand Sierra Resort provides an outdoor pool and a health club that includes fitness equipment, a sauna, steam rooms, and a whirlpool tub. For the recreation enthusiast, the hotel also features an Arcade with 9000 sq ft Laser Tag, Bowling Alley, Ultimate Rush, 2 Movie Theaters, Driving Range, Go Karts, and Miniature Golf. Each guest room includes free wireless internet access or wired internet (for a fee), iron with ironing board, and hairdryer. The hotel rooms on floors 4-27 are all non-smoking rooms. The hotel offers handicapped accessible and smoking rooms, which are based on availability. Please request these special accommodations when making your reservation. Parking is complimentary to all hotel guests. Check-in is at 3:00pm and check-out is at 11:00am. There are 17 restaurants, lounges, and cafés ready to serves guests: 2nd Street Express, Cantina, Elements Buffet, Café Sierra, Charlie Palmer Steak, Briscola, Rim, Crystal Lounge, Escalator Bar, Mustangs, WET, Johnny Rockets, Port of Subs, The Reserve, Round Table Pizza, Starbucks, and The Beach at Grand Sierra Resort. 24 hour room service is also available. The Grand Sierra offers a courtesy shuttle to and from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Departing from the hotel, the shuttle leaves the hotel on the hour and half hour, daily between 5:00am and 11:30pm. Departing from the airport, the shuttle leaves from the exit located at the far end of baggage claim every 15 and 45 minutes past the hour daily between 5:15am and 11:45pm. The shuttle is able to carry approximately fifteen passengers. You may want to consider other transportation services, as space is limited on courtesy services. The Grand Sierra Resort has parking space available for guests with RV’s. For full hook-ups The RV Park at Grand Sierra Resort offers great rates with laundry facilities, shower/restroom facilities, and access to the hotel’s facilities. Check-in is at 1:00pm and check-out is at 11:00am. Please contact the office at (775)-789-2147 or (800)-258-7366 for more information and reservations. Should you need to rent a wheelchair for the reunion, ScootAround rents both manual and power wheel chairs by the day and week. Please call their toll free number at (888) 441-7575 for details. Vendors, Schedules, and Prices are subject to change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUT HERE AND MAIL TO THE HOTEL -----------------------------------------------------------------------
13th BOMB SQUADRON ASSOCIATION REUNION – HOTEL RESERVATION FORM REUNION DATES: SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2013
NAME __________________________________________________ SHARING ROOM W/ __________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________ ZIP___________________ TEL. NUMBER (_________) ___________________________ EMAIL ___________________________________ ARRIVAL DATE__________________ APPROX. TIME __________________ DEP. DATE __________________ ______# OF ROOMS NEEDED ______# OF PEOPLE IN ROOM _____HANDICAP ACCESS ______SMOKING ______NON-SMOKING ______KING BED ______2 DOUBLE BEDS In the event room type requested is not available, nearest room type will be assigned. RATE: $79 + tax (currently 13%) Single/Double. $20/night for extra person(s) in room. CUT-OFF DATE: 08/16/13. Reservations received after this date will be processed on space & rate availability. CANCELLATION POLICY: Deposit is refundable if reservation is cancelled 2 days prior to your arrival day. Adjustments to departure date after check-in, resulting in a shortened length of stay, will result in a $50 fee unless departure due to illness or family emergency. All reservations must be guaranteed by credit card or first night's deposit including tax, enclosed. ______AMEX ______DINERS ______VISA ______MASTER CARD ______DISCOVER CREDIT CARD NUMBER_______________________________________________ EXP. DATE_______________ SIGNATURE (regardless of payment method) _______________________________________________________
MAIL TO: GRAND SIERRA RESORT * 2500 EAST 2ND STREET * RENO, NV 89595 Or Call (800) 501-2651 (775) 789-2000 and request room for “AFRI13” room block
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July 2013
13th BOMB SQUADRON SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2013 GRAND SIERRA RESORT – RENO, NV Monday, September 16 Hospitality Room Open 2:00pm - 5:00pm Reunion Registration open 5:30pm Cash Bar Buffet Dinner 6:00pm Buffet Dinner 8:00pm - 10:00pm Board Meeting
4:00pm 6:00pm -
9:00am -
Tuesday, September 17 Hospitality Room Open Free day to explore Reno, on your own 5:30pm Reunion Registration continues 9:15pm “RED SHIRT NIGHT” – DINNER AT THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM (description follows) Wednesday, September 18 Hospitality Room Open 3:00pm CARSON CITY / VIRGINIA CITY (description follows) Dinner and evening on your own
Thursday, September 19 Hospitality Room Open 9:00am - 11:00am Business Meeting 9:00am - 11:30am LADIES’ TOUR –WILBUR D. MAY CENTER (description follows) 6:00pm Cash Bar 7:00pm Banquet is served. 8:00am -
Friday, September 20 9:30am Farewell Breakfast
Register online and pay by credit card at www.afr-reg.com/13bs2013 CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY FOR ARMED FORCES REUNIONS, INC.
For attendees canceling reunion activities prior to the cut-off date, Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. (AFR) shall process a full refund less the non-refundable AFR registration fee ($10 per person). Attendees canceling reunion activities after the cut-off date will be refunded to the fullest extent that AFR’s vendor commitments and guarantees will allow, less the non-refundable AFR registration fee. Cancellations will only be taken Monday through Friday from 9:00am until 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time, excluding holidays. Please call (757) 625-6401 to cancel reunion activities and obtain a cancellation code. Refunds processed 4-6 weeks after reunion. Canceling your hotel reservation does not cancel your reunion activities.
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July 2013
TOUR DESCRIPTIONS DINNER AT THE NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM Tuesday, September 17 Spend the evening at the National Automobile Museum, a tribute to Bill Harrah. Discover a century of automobiles: more than 220 antique, vintage, classic, special interest and one-of-a-kind wonders. The cars of the stars, as well as the exhibits in the Changing Exhibits Gallery will dazzle you. After touring the museum, join your group for an Italian Buffet dinner including Caesar Salad, Lasagna, Tortellini, vegetables, bread, desserts, and beverages. The bus will make two trips to transport everyone to and from the museum. This trip requires a minimum of eighty people. 6:00pm board bus, 9:15pm back at the hotel Cost included in your reunion package CARSON CITY / VIRGINIA CITY Wednesday, September 18 Begin a tour of Carson City, Nevada’s state capital, and Virginia City, a thriving ghost town. In Carson City, drive by some of its historic homes and buildings, before stopping at the Nevada State Museum. Virginia City is the gaudiest, headiest boomtown of the Old West and where Mark Twain cut his literary teeth. Miraculously, the town looks much the same as it did in the 1860’s, from the wobbly saloons built on stilts to the well-trodden boardwalks of the main street. Visit old mansions, quaint shops, churches, and museums. Lunch is on your own at one of several local restaurants. 9:00am board bus, 3:00pm back at hotel $42/Person includes bus, guide, and admission. Lunch on your own. WILBUR D. MAY CENTER Thursday, September 19 Enjoy the morning at Rancho San Rafael Park, home of the Wilbur D. May Center. The center serves as a legacy to this long-time resident of Reno. Born in 1898, Wilbur May was the third son of David May, founder of the May Department Stores. He was well loved by many because of his generosity to the community, especially its children. In the Botanical Garden, take a stroll along the pathway that winds past a garden that’s a favorite perch of native songbirds. The Wilbur D. May Museum is a ranch-style building designed to resemble his residence. Each room showcases a part of his life, from a composer to a pilot, to a big game hunter, and more. The museum gallery is a treasure of priceless antiques and collectibles from the 1920’s and 30’s. . 9:00am board bus, 11:30am back at hotel $32/Person includes bus, guide, and admission.
Drive and Guide gratuities are not included in the tour prices. Please plan to be at the bus boarding area at least five minutes prior to the scheduled time. All trips require a minimum of thirty five people, unless otherwise stated.
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July 2013
Deaths Not Previously Reported As of July 2013
Roy E. Marquardt May 27, 2013 Crew Chief, 1953-54
Francis A. Atkins October 19, 2012 Navigator, 1951-52
William D. (Bill) Griffin June 7, 2013 MSgt., A & E Mech., 1951-52
Rest In Peace Stephen Kozloski February 9, 2008 Radio-Gunner, 1941-43
William A. Cowan March 22, 2013 Gunner, 1950-51
William A. Gardner February 2, 2008 Pilot, 1952-53
Harold E. Pfeiffer Oct 19, 2008 Navigator, 1953
Kenneth L. James March 7, 2012 Flight Chief, 1967-68
Carl D. Price, Jr. January 27, 2008 Armament NCOIC, 1952-53
Edsel Erickson July 17, 2008 HQ, 1952-53
Dr. John L. Phipps November 28, 2012 Navigator, 1953-54
James T. Borrell July 22, 2006 Flt. Engineer, 1953-54
Rolla M. Bishop February 21, 2008 Bombardier, 1949-50
Louis C. Sabato, Jr. November 18, 2011 Gunner, 1952
Ronald J. Swientek January 30, 2006 Crew Chief, 1955
Charles B. Kopelman November 29, 2006 Gunner, 1951-52
George Hornick, Jr. January 18, 2002 Navigator, 1950-51 Herman P. Ritter, Jr. July 26, 2008 Acft Mechanic, 1954-55 Donald K. Boeder July 16, 2008 Crew Chief, 1950-52
Joyce B. Hester September 5, 2012 Pilot, 1970-71 J. William Ingeman, Jr. December 16, 2012 Pilot, 1953-54 Roy A. Johlke August 3, 2012 Radio Shop, 1952-53 22
Eugene C. Rhodes June 16, 2010 Crew Chief, 1951
Francis L. Walp November 1, 2006 Navigator, 1951 Kenneth W. Danton September 19, 2006 Navigator, 1953 Edward G. Haynes June 9, 2006 Acft Mechanic, 1940-43
July 2013
The Hot SeaT Editor’s Comments
Well, it looks like I survived my first issue at the helm of the INVADER. This is not the easiest job, but I have to say it sure is one of the most interesting. Where else can you rub elbows with some of America's bravest & best? In this issue we remember two significant Reapers, Bill Cowan and Roy Marquardt, one who insured the future and one who insured the past of the 13th Bomb Squadron. Through my association with this organization, I have met folks who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the Global War on Terror. When I attended my first 13th Bomb Squadron reunion in Nashville, Tennessee (that should be a song), I not only had the pleasure of meeting Charlie Hinton face-to-face for the first time, but I also had the pleasure of meeting Lucien "Stag" Thomas, Jim Braly, Perry Nunn, Bill Ricketts, Bob Butterfield and many others.
dad for the weekend, and it was a bit of a canonball run down I-70, I-71 and I-65 through Hendersonville into Nashville! I kind of felt like a old moonshiner with a hot load of "Shine" as we raced through West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to get there Don Henderson, Editor in time for the bus trip to Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage. Well, due to the time zone change, we actually made it with a hour to spare and were able to check-in, decompress a bit, and spend some time at the 13th's hospitality room!
Not knowing anybody except Chrly, and then only knowing him via email and phone, we meet up with Chrly and his lovely wife Lois and we became fast friends! Chrly introduced us to everybody in the Reaper's hospitality room; one of the guys we met was a gregarious Texan with the handle "Old Rotten Bill". He had a big smile, a hardy handshake and a great laugh. He was obviously somebody who Not being a military guy, but having grown up in a loved life and had a good time. I took an instant military family, you have all made me feel a part of liking to ORB and the rest of the Reapers, as they your family and I will always look back on that first made me feel like one of the family. reunion as the beginning of something great. The 13th has given me great friendships, great stories, great history and on occasions, great sadness. This is one of those sad times. One thing about making friends, sometimes you lose them. It is the rhythm of time, and part of the plan, but if we can look back on the ones who have passed before us with good memories, the impressions they left and the strong bonds they made will last beyond our lifetimes. On hearing of Bill Cowan's passing, I decided to dedicate this issue of the INVADER to the man we have all affectionately come to know as "Old Rotten Bill". Everybody knows how ORB convinced the USAF to reactivate the squadron, so I won't get into that, but I met Bill Cowan at my first 13th Bomb Squadron reunion and I have to say, he left an impression. As mentioned last issue, I have been doing artwork for Chrly and the Association since 2000. In 2001 Chrly invited me to the Nashville reunion. My wife and I drove down from Pittsburgh, not realizing that Nashville was in the CTZ. We got a late start, due to dropping the kids off with my mom and
At the banquet dinner the next day I crossed paths with ORB again as I passed the first "Historic Aircraft of the 13th Squadron" to ORB who was going to take it back to Texas and present it to the Reapers at Dyess! This photo records that exchange. ORB and I had been friends ever since. From time to time, I'd get an email and a story, and of course his articles in the INVADER. ORB was always somebody that I looked for and talked to at the reunions and somebody I'm going to miss. RIP ORB. 23
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