Invader Nov 2014 vol 32 No. 3

Vol. 32 No. 3

November 2014

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

! d n a l s I e d o h R m o r f s g n i Greet 13th Bomb Squadron Association 2014 Reunion Issue

November 2014

The New President’s Corner Hello, and welcome to

this trend. I also see that we need to focus on increased attendance at our reunions. In my view, this issue is also related to money—our reunions have gotten too expensive for many of our retired members, and we must find ways to lower these costs. And yes, I have some ideas about this issue that I will be bringing to the officers and the members as time permits.

this issue of the Invader from beautiful Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Ann Marie and I have lived here since 1972, when we were first married, and think it’s the ideal place to live—sort of “not too big and not too small.” For those who Charley Brown have not served at Eglin, Hurlburt or Duke, we’re located on the “Emerald Coast” (so called due to the green color of our coastal waters) about 45 miles East of Pensacola; which as many of you know is “the cradle” of Naval Aviation. We also brag about our beautiful, snow white beaches that exist only in this part of the United States (they consist of tiny quartz crystals that have washed down from the Appalachian Mountains, and squeak when you walk on them). If you have never been here, you owe it to yourself to visit someday.

In closing, I have asked our past president, Bob Butterfield to offer any final thoughts that may help bring into focus our future as an organization, and to summarize the special events that took place in Providence.

Reaper pride, Charley

It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as your newly elected president. However, it is also going to be a challenge for several reasons. First is that I’m following in very large footsteps imprinted

by Bob Butterfield; and ‘though I do not expect to ever fill them completely, the challenges that we face as an organization are sufficient to keep me busy, and I expect to rely on Bob’s knowledge and experience to guide us toward the future. I also expect to rely on the other officers and members who serve with me as your board of directors, all but one of whom attended the Providence reunion.

ey l r a Ch

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

We are facing several issues with which we— your board of nine elected officials—must deal; issues that threaten the very existence of the association. The first of these is membership.

As one of the few SEA 13th members I have taken it upon myself, with Bob Park’s assistance, to recruit as many of the old “Ubonites” as possible during the next two years. Secondly, we must stop and reverse the gradual decrease that is now occurring in our financial state. And again, increasing membership is key to reversing

The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2014

Cover photo: Ron Silvia with his beautiful "Reaper Red" 1959 Buick Invicta at 13th Bomb Squadron Association reunion in Warwick, Rhode Island.

2

November 2014

The Past President’s Corner

Leaves were turning as

we gathered at the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings in Warwick, Rhode Island, for the 2014 Reaper Reunion.

It was a first-class hotel, and they provided us with first-class food and service as we enjoyed the 30th gathering of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.

Korean and Vietnam Era Bob Butterfield members attended as well as our senior WW II member, Ed Connor, who gave us a memorable speech on Banquet night. Unfortunately the active duty Reapers were otherwise committed, but were disappointed not to be able to help us celebrate; however, they are planning to join us next year at Branson, Missouri, 16-20 September 2015.

An emotional moment occurred as our tour guide directed us to the head of the line of other visitors also waiting to enter. Passing them, in our red hats and red shirts, all those waiting began applauding and thanking us for our service. It was a very special moment, and we felt honored by their gesture. In addition to seeing a spectacular home, we learned that William K. Vanderbilt was also the financial backer of the Lafayette Escadrille in France in 1916. American pilots flew in this French squadron at that time, since the United States had not yet declared war; however, in 1918 the Americans were transferred to U.S. squadrons—some of whom flew in the 13th Aero Squadron.

The hospitality room was alive with 13th banners and memorabilia, and members enjoyed a first-class bar and snacks. The highlight of special items on display was Reaper RX, a three-hundred photo history of the 13th Bomb Squadron from its beginning. Scott Lindley devoted untold hours and dollars collecting pictures and emblems that go back to 1917, including the first known picture of the 13th Aero Squadron.

All eras are represented, with individual and combat photos tracing the military history of Oscar and the planes he flew with for the last 97 years. Reaper RX is a great tribute to the men and women who gave their all to help keep our country free. Thank you Scott—for this priceless donation to the 13th Bomb Squadron.

Following the Marble House visit, we lunched on our own, where some of us enjoyed the “clam chowdah” at the Black Pearl Tavern. Our tour continued with a drive through the historic district where residents of yesteryear must have enjoyed an incredibly lavish life style along the beautiful coast of Rhode Island. One handsome home was the location for the filming of the movie "The Great Gatsby.”

Ron Silvia presented the Association with a 5 x 8 foot banner of the 50th Anniversary of the United States Air Force. A third donation was made by Ed Connor who has written a book entitled, Raven Five - An Airman's Story. This autobiography tells of Ed's early career in B-25s in WW II, and his electronic warfare missions as Raven Five in an RB-50 during the Korean War, and continues until he retired in 1963 and joined the CIA—which will be his next book.

Two excellent tours were included in our New England visit. The first was a tour in Newport, Rhode Island, to Marble House—the Vanderbilt mansion built at the end of the nineteenth century.

3

cont. on page 5

November 2014

Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association Charles J. (Charley) Brown 905 Holbrook Circle Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547-6733 charley6272@yahoo.com

President

1st Vice President/

Secretary

Member at Large WWII

Member at Large Vietnam

2nd Vice President

Robert R. (Bob) Koehne 23332 SE 225th St. Maple Valley, WA 98038 csrrk@comcast.net

Locator Data Manager

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 GWOT

Ron Silvia 20 Green Lane Assonet, MA 02702-1410 finefiftynine@verizon.net

4

James R. (Bob) Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX, 78247 bob-parks@satx.rr.com

Roger A. Bauman 5664 S. Basalt Ave. Boise, ID 83716-9007 rbauman@cableone.net

Ron Jarrett 10349 416th Avenue Britton, SD 57430-5005 rjarrett@brittonsd.com

Karl J. (Buck) Shawhan 4014 Buccaneer Blvd.

Plattsmouth, NE 68048 shawhan9@gmail.com

November 2014

As I mentioned, Ed Connor was our guest speaker for Banquet night—he gave us his an interesting and humorous account of what life had been like for an 18-year old starting on combat missions in the B-25 as a radio operator/gunner against the Japanese in New Guinea and the Pacific Theater. After one mission, Ed received a Silver Star for shooting down an attacking Zero fighter, which saved his crew and their disabled aircraft. At the end of his talk, he received a standing ovation from us all.

In our Business Meeting, 1st Vice Pres Charley Brown was elected the new Association President.

He is an excellent choice, and we can be proud to have him as our new leader. Taking Charley’s place as 1st Vice Pres is our Vietnam Era representative Bob Koehne. Taking Bob's place as Vietnam Era representative is Ron Silvia. Our new Korean Era Rep is Ron Jarrett who is taking Bud Compton's place. Bud is stepping down after being the Editor of the Invader for four years, and serving as the Korean Era Rep. Congratulations to Charley, Bob and Ron in their new positions, and to continuing Board Members, Bob Parks, 2nd Vice Pres and Locator (as well as Organizer of this reunion); Roger Bauman our Treasurer; Tighe Carvey our Secretary; Ed Connor our WW II Rep; and to Buck Shawhan our GWOT Rep, for providing us with your continuing efforts to make us a strong, productive Association.

We also want to thank Editor Don Henderson for his outstanding work on the Invader, and thank Don and his son Shane Henderson for taking the portraits of reunion attendees. Their support is invaluable.

Our second tour took us to Boston, Massachusetts, where we visited the USS Constitution, the fiftygun warship that was commissioned in 1797. The crew at that time exceeded four hundred men and it took eight-to-fourteen men to handle each gun during firing. The crew quarters consisted of eighty hammocks. When I asked the guide how that worked out, he said they had bunked in shifts, working twenty hours and sleeping four hours.

I am proud to have served the members of this Association for the last four-and-a-half years, and to have had your support as I tried to carry on the Association's traditions--those of the oldest and best active duty squadron in the U.S. Air Force. I will continue to support our Association, and plan to help Charley with whatever I can. MaryAnn and I look forward to seeing you all in 2015 at our Branson reunion!

We had lunch in the bustling Quincy Market, and proceeded on a well-guided tour of downtown Boston, including visits to the Old North Church, the Boston Common, the finish line of the Boston Marathon—where the terrorist bombing took place in 2013—and other historic locations.

Our Mystery Dinner Theater—Red Shirt Night was fun, with several Association members performing roles in the Who Dunnit Trial of a man accused of ending his wife's lover's life. We do have some real thespians in our organization, and it was very entertaining to see how that progressed. The restaurant provided an excellent dinner, and Don Kasson won the raffle for “dinner tickets for four” at the Longhorn Steak House the next night.

Lastly, in three years—2017—we will be celebrating our 100th year of flying—let’s all work toward making it the Centennial of the Century.

Reaper Pride!

Bob Butterfield 5

November 2014

KOREA: A Short Time in a Small War

By Charles Hinton

Charlie Hinton has written a book about his tour in Korea during the war. He has allowed us to print some excerpts from the book in the INVADER. Charlie served in Korea from December 1951 until the end of June 1952. If you served there during that time frame it will give your children and grandchildren a look at how life was for you during the war. Charlie has 48 pictures in the book. Pictures of people he flew with, people he knew who were lost, mission stories, maps, pictures of the Quaksan curve and Kangye, his mission stories and life in the 13th Bomb Squadron. You might even need a copy of the book for each of your grandchildren. The story below picks up on April 3rd, 1952.

Slocum, “Henry Stoner”, myself and a WW II retread whose name I forget.

We had other issues as well. The WW II guy had flown a combat tour in Europe in the big war and he had dentures. He said if he went down and became a POW he would starve if he lost his dentures.

At the end of WW II the officers were given a Certificate of Separation, which was not the same as a discharge. They had a Reserve Commission and could be recalled at the “pleasure” of the President. I knew all about that, being in the Reserves and being called out of college for the 2nd time.

While I was at Miho on Thursday, April 3rd, the 13th lost a hard-nose airplane and crew of Pilot Lt James A. Van Fleet, Navigator Lt John McAllaster and Gunner Ralph Phelps. Area of loss was a crash near Haeju, NK In the evening while I was at MIHO, I had plenty of time to think deep thoughts about where I was and what I was doing.

I put some thoughts down in the diary.

“3 April, 1952” Guess I have reconciled myself to death. Have been very worried about dying but don’t seem to mind it now. If I live and get home OK I can enjoy life. If I die then I won’t enjoy Then there was the issue of life but I won’t lose anything either.

Lt. James Van Fleet.

When I’m dead I’ll have nothing to General James Van Fleet was the lose since nothing will exist for me. It Commander of the 8th Army.- the top is much harder to live than die anyway general in Korea. His son was a 1st Lt and so those still living have it toughest.

Pilot and assigned to what we believed People will be sorry very briefly and was the premier “Tiger” squadron in then think of other things. Some may Korea. Obviously I am talking about grieve longer and then forget me. Even the 13th. It is tough to be a general’s my family will go on and soon I will Charlie Hinton at 10 Downing Street at K-8 son. If you are an ordinary guy, people be just a memory. Someone else will marry “that special girl” and my children will never be born. will say, “He ain’t the officer his father was.” and if you are good and get recognized for being good people will say, I am most afraid of those few terrifying instants when you “He made it because of who is dad is.” Lt Van Fleet was look death in the eye and know you cannot escape. I have new in the squadron and had talked around the bar about no fear of that explosion that instantly destroys you, since what he was going to do. My memory may be faulty here, you have no time for thoughts – which brings fear. When it but my recollection is that Van Fleet had his two dollar rides comes I want most of all to face it as a man. Death itself is a and then his combat checkout. My memory is that on his certainty – we only have the power to regulate the time and first flight alone, the night he went down, the weather was place – and sometimes not that. The toughest thing is to die bad and it was marginal flying weather. He checked in with alone. Most of all I want my loved ones to know that I died Dentist over Pt. Oboe and was not heard from again. When courageously. the weather is bad a black mountain sticking up through the Several navigators gathered in the north east bedroom of clouds looks like a hole in the clouds. Whatever happened, our quarters Saturday evening to discuss the 13th losses and it was his first mission and he and his crew were lost. other issues. There was no nefarious plan. Three of us lived KORWALD reports that he crashed near Haeju, NK which in the house and the other two were visiting. Navigators is the first moment of entering North Korea Gould had gone down with Newton last Sunday and then Then there was the communications issue in the cockpit.

Navigators are at the mercy of the pilots. Well, gunners

McAllaster had gone down with Van Fleet on Thursday.

Among the gathered navigators were Paul Yeoman, Donn

6

November 2014 had crossed into North Korea at Haeju and some 15 minutes or so over NK one of the engines developed an oil pressure fluctuation. Braly feathered the engine and turned around to return to K-14 at Seoul. He salvoed the bombs and we landed at K-14 with a combat mission to our credit. When you go into enemy territory you get credit for a mission.

are too, for that matter. There isn’t any democracy in the cockpit and the pilot has the controls and the rest of us are just along for the ride. Well, some pilots talked things over but he had the final vote.

I need to talk about Henry “Stoner” who was one of our group that night. I can do this because in an early issue of the Association newsletter there is an article written by pilot LeRoy Bain about Henry “Stoner”. Bain said that Henry “Stoner” was the bravest man in Korea – or words to that effect. Henry “Stoner” was afraid.

Well, we were all afraid, but “Stoner” talked about being afraid constantly.

Yet, despite being deathly afraid, Henry “Stoner” flew all his missions, which was the point of Bain’s article. Brave people go out and do their job when they are afraid. Being afraid wasn’t all of Henry “Stoner’s problems. He had a personality that rubbed many the wrong ways.

“Stoner” told us about his pilot. He was assigned to a crazy man. “Stoner” was certain he was going to be killed, and while he talked huge tears ran down his cheeks. Your heart just had to go out to him because we all knew of pilots that were reckless, didn’t listen to advice from their navigators and flew into situations like they just didn’t have good sense. Henry “Stoner” said his pilot was Jim Braly.

We spent the day at K-14 and brought the same airplane back to K-8 with no repair. Mechanics at K-14 couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I didn’t say anything about it and neither did Braly. When we got back I heard that one of my upper classmates in Nav School, name of Butler, had a big scare last night. I walked down to the 90th to look at his airplane. The entire glass nose had been blown off. In the glass-nosed airplanes they had a LORAN set installed on the right side of the compartment. A 20 mm shell had come into the compartment and hit the LORAN set; that stopped the shell before it went through Butler’s skull. I didn’t talk to Butler and don’t know if he rode back sitting out in the breeze or was he able to crawl back through the tunnel to the pilots cockpit Two days later I am on the schedule again with Braly. The diary says,

(Skipping ahead to April 7th)

“#27 in Z with Braly and Swancutt to Rail Cuts at P-3 and reccy P-4. Hit 3 times at airfield south of Kujang by .30s. Found TWO trains at Sunan and attacked one. Only damaged it slightly. Couldn’t release our bombs. Accurate fire at reservoir. Landed at K-14 for gas. Arrived home at 0930.

Donn Slocum was interviewed by Ray Anastos about Slocum’s mission with Lt. “Richardson” last Saturday.

The gunner was Earl Brooks. Richardson did some barrel rolls coming back from the mission. Brooks was out of his seat cleaning up the shell casings when the maneuver happened and Richardson didn’t forewarn either Slocum or Brooks about the impending roll. Later he did it a second time. Brooks was thoroughly pissed about it and turned Richardson in. Properly performed, barrel rolls are not dangerous but they are prohibited in the dash -1 manual.

Maintenance people inspected the airplane and wing panels are loose and the wing spar warped. Richardson is in deep trouble. The airplane has been junked. [Author’s note – check appendix for details]

Down at the bottom of the page it reads, “May not live to get home but have enough excitement for a normal life. Don’t know how we got through the flack at the reservoir."

The problem in dropping the bombs went to the history of the aircraft. The Air Force was running out of B-26s and sent out a call to send most to Korea. During the aircraft’s service with various units the bombing system had been modified and it wasn’t enough to know the system. You had to know the system in the aircraft you were flying. By mid-1952 most of the airplanes were standardized. Each type of bomb had a minimum release altitude to enable the plane to avoid being

The next day I check the schedule and I will be flying in a glass nosed airplane with Navigator James Shepherd on his 4th mission. Jim Braly is pilot. Yes, that Jim Braly. If you are in the game you play the hand you are dealt.

It was a short mission. We were on our way to Purple 11,

7

cont. on page 14

November 2014

Lt. Col. Lionel Alderman, USAF (Ret.) April 15, 1922 - July 19, 2014

Destruction of the Han River railroad bridges, Seoul.

After Korea, Lionel served in various assignments from Sembach AB, Germany to Offutt AFB, NE. He retired in 1964 as a Lt. Col. Just before his retirement, he led the analysis team for Lucky Dragon based at Clark AB. After retirement, Lionel worked several defense contractor jobs, helping develop very high resolution photo equipment for the U-2, SR-71, and Apollo space programs. He left behind a wife of 68 years, two sons (both of whom served in the USAF), and four grandchildren (two of whom served or are currently serving in the USAF).

Lionel Alderman joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 and initially served as a Sergeant at Lowry Field, Colorado as a photo recce instructor.

Entering the aviation cadet program shortly after, he initially attended pilot training, then navigator training. He ended WW II in the Philippines and Japan. He left the service for a short while, rejoining shortly before the Korean War. He was on a troop ship bound for the 5th AF in Japan when the Korean War began and his orders changed to the 13th Bomb Squadron. Lionel spent the next year-and-a-half as a navigator flying bombing missions over North Korea.

Editor's Note: I'd like to thank Stephen Alderman for taking the time to share some of his father's photos with us. I'd also like to extend our deepest condolences to the Alderman family. One of the hardest things for me since taking over as editor of the INVADER is the Memoriam page. Since becoming associated with the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, I have noted the passing of so many great people who served with the Reapers, they were all quality people who not only made a difference to the 13th Bomb Squadron, but they went on to make a difference beyond the squadron. After reading the above, I was struck with the thought that this was a life well lived and that his service to our country inspire his sons and grandchildren to do the same, that is a powerful legacy that you can be very proud of. R.I.P. Lionel Alderman.

Please also note, if you have a story to tell about your experience while with the 13th, or if you are the relative of a deceased member of the 13th Bomb Squadron and you want to share some memories and photos, please contact me and I will do my best to include it in a future issue of the INVADER.

8

November 2014

Lionel Alderman in 1951.

"Yoke", The 6th Chadwick, # 44-34364.

Wonsan, Operation Fireball, 5th AF working with the US Navy to blockade Wonsan Harbor.

9

cont. on page 10

November 2014

Lt. Col. Lionel Alderman, USAF (Ret.) April 15, 1922 - July 19, 2014

Comedian Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell, USO tour photo. Bob Hope's distinctive ski slope nose is clearly evident.

A flight of 13th Bomb Squadron B-26 Invaders.

Lionel Alderman (right) and a Beechcraft C-45.

"Operation Firefly" was flare-dropping missions carried out through most of the Korean War. Flares would be dropped and planes would attack by the lights of the flares.

Al Jolson and his pianist during a USO visit.

10

November 2014

- Minutes -

13th Bomb Squadron Association • Board of Directors Meeting Warwick, Rhode Island Members present: Pres. Bob Butterfield; Sec. Tighe Carvey; Treas. Roger Bauman; 2nd VP, Locator Bob Parks; 1st VP Charley Brown; Vietnam Rep. Bob Koehne; WWII Rep. Ed Conner.

The meeting was called to order at 19:50 1. The minutes of the 2013 (Reno) BOD meeting were presented for comments and approval. There were no comments.

A motion was made to accept the minutes as published in the Invader.

M: Charley Brown S: Roger Bauman Passed unanimously 2. Treasurer’s Report: Roger Bauman presented the Treasurer’s Report for discussion and approval. Roger noted that contributions are decreasing at about $1000 per year, and that if spending continues at the current rate we will eat into savings within the year. The Invader is expensive to produce but everyone acknowledged that the magazine is instrumental in maintaining interest and membership in the Association. It was agreed that we should not reduce the quality or frequency of the Invader.

Bob Parks discussed the costs associated with mailing contribution/registration cards and also noted the considerable cost of return postage for undeliverable directories. Several suggestions were made covering possible ways to reduce postage expenses. Bob Parks will evaluate and implement.

A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report M: Tighe Carvey S: Bob Parks Passed unanimously 3. Locators Report: Bob Parks presented the Locator’s Report. He announced that there was an overall increase of 6 members and we now have 625 members with 54 of them categorized as honorary/friends. The Board discussed the proposal made at the general meeting in 2013 that we simplify the membership categories. The proposal as published in the Invader

• October 1, 2014

would change the membership categories to two: “Active” and “Honorary.” The Board determined that the proposed change to the Articles of Association would not adequately address the requirement to identify members who were actually assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron and to distinguish them from members of the public who may wish to become members. The Board decided that when the issue is presented to the general membership for a vote, they would urge a “No” vote so that the articles will remain unchanged, with three membership categories: Active, Associate, and Honorary. There was further discussion about consolidating the E-mail addresses into the general roster and Bob said that he should be able to do that in the next edition.

Motion to accept the Locator’s Report.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Roger Bauman Passed unanimously Old Business: None New Business: 1. President Bob Butterfield noted that the terms are expiring for the offices of President, Treasurer, Korea rep., and WWII rep. At the General Membership meeting we will request nominations and vote to fill the vacancies.

2. President Butterfield noted that the reunion organizer has offered Albuquerque, NM, Portland, OR, and San Diego, CA as potential sites for the 2016 reunion. One of those sites will be selected at the General Membership meeting.

3. President Butterfield also mentioned that he is corresponding with active Air Force Officials to determine if there will be any formal recognition of the 100th anniversary of the commencement of military flying operations and/or the “Standup” of the 13th Areo Squadron which will occur in 2017. The objective is to attempt to coordinate the association’s 2017 reunion with appropriate official activities if there will be any. Thus far there has been no response.

There being no further business, the Board of Directors Meeting was adjourned at 22:00 11

cont. on page 19

November 2014

12

November 2014

(U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Bryan Crane)

13

November 2014

KOREA: A Short Time in a Small War

cont. from page 7

By Charles Hinton

damaged by its own blast.

John Harris tells a good story about learning the system. By the way – John learned to fly combat with On the Job Training (OJT) like me. The first time he fired the guns on the B-26 was on his first mission.

When he found a target he never searched for some reason not to attack it. He was doing the job that we came over to do. I flew the preponderance of my remaining missions with Jim and I felt we did an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Including the $75 allotment for the new my take home pay in Korea was about $225 monthly.

Later, on an early bombing attack, he had gone way too low when he toggled off a big bomb, and then he waited “for the explosion to blow my ass out of the Jim Braly, Stan Brown and Bill Petree sky.” Nothing happened and he turned the aircraft around to see what he had dropped and saw it was a parachute flare.

(The 50th mission is a “milk run” Skipping to page 162)

So we worked the route. The moon is full. There are no clouds and the ground is level. It is a B-26 night Intruder crews dream. We found a couple of On mission #27 above at the reservoir we were stooging intact buildings alongside the road and Jim said they looked around east of Pyong-yang at 7,500 feet and some anti-aircraft like factories to him. It took two glide bombing passes to get fire hosed up our way. I casually announced to Jim, "No them. From my perch in the nose, hung over the bombsight, sweat on the flack. They only have a range of 6,000 feet." As I have a perfect view of the road. I see us pass over a truck I said this I HEARD (that's right, I said HEARD) above the and I tell Jim about the truck and he says, “I saw him. I’ll do slipstream and engine noise, the shells pass inches over the a 90 and a 270 and we’ll be back over him in 4 minutes.” We canopy with a 'whit...whit.. whit.whit.whit.whit. I'd forgotten came back down the road and he was gone. We made several to add in the height of the hills in that area. more passes on the road and he had disappeared. Then I saw him. Smart truck driver. He was parked in the shade of a The weather was good with a nice moon so we could get tree made possible by the bright moon. We came back and down low and look for trains. We found two trains in the vicinity of Sunan. We strafed one and shot it up good with no he was gone again. Later we found another truck and didn’t apparent results. There are a lot of essential military supplies get him either. The diary says we saw two trucks but I don’t that don’t burn – like uniforms and food stuffs and weapons. remember the other one. I don’t remember dropping any While Jim is trying to figure out the bomb release system the bombs on the smokestack. We went home. other train disappeared. There is a railroad tunnel some 2 or 3 I am FIGMO !!!!!! miles north of Sunan so it probably made the tunnel.

I am eligible to go home as soon as the orders come through I continued to be on the schedule with other pilots but I also flew with Braly. I don’t have a date on this, but at some point Jim stopped me on the street and asked if I would go on the schedule as his regular navigator. He said he felt we worked well together in the cockpit. I agreed. He told me about his regular navigator, a fellow named Henry “Stoner”. Stoner is always pulling my arm and shouting “pull up.” “Pull up” “Pull up”. When he keeps distracting me I’m gonna crash the airplane.” I felt Jim listened to me better than anyone else I had flown with. And he was a really good pilot. When Jim climbed inbound to an area he went to 7,500 feet and pegged the altitude at 7,500 and the airspeed at 285. It was like the needles were nailed to the instrument. They didn’t waver.

with my assignment back in the States. I have one last detail and that is to get my replacement checked out in the A & D job. I work all day Saturday, the 7th, getting Dougherty checked out on the job. I am sitting on top of the world.

Tomorrow I go on R & R to Tokyo for 5 days of relaxation. I am not only FIGMO, I am done!

This was a typical R&R except our hotel was awful. It took the better part of two days getting checked in to something worthy of my status. I met lots of people at the club who were pilot cadets with me before I washed out of pilot training. On the last day of my R&R I met some people from the 13th just arriving for their vacation. They told me the news...

14

cont. on page 15

November 2014 Jim Braly and his crew did not return from their mission last night and are listed as MIA. June 1952 Part B SHOOTDOWN OF JIM BRALY’S CREW Friday – 13th –My R&R is over and I am flying back to K-8. I can’t think of anything that could be unluckier on this 13th that could top Jim’s unlucky day on the eleventh.

I wondered who his navigator was. I console myself that none of my private thoughts that Braly was one of my three selections of “most likely to go down” list. It wasn’t my fault. I mulled over some of the stupid things I had let Braly do during my missions with him. Over staying our time on the route until the sun came up was stupid. It was stupid to think it was sport to shoot out the searchlights. I should have remembered that searchlights and no flack was a warning that night fighters were chasing us. We had been in North Korea in the early morning light 3 times – or was it four? It was really, really dumb to go “way up north where nobody ever goes”. Had we gone down there would be no choppers flying in to rescue us. It was an invitation to trouble to try to work a route beneath cumulus clouds when you don’t know how high the terrain is. It was also stupid to come home over Manchuria instead of North Korea. And that would have been me in the right seat of our shiny new airplane if Doorbacker hadn’t sent me sight-seeing north of Chinampo.

If not for Doorbacker’s gift I would have been in line for Braly’s unlucky flight. Maybe it wasn’t unlucky. Maybe it was Braly being Braly again.

Editor's Note: I want to thank Charlie for giving me the chance to read this book, it is an enjoyable and fascinating read. I've always enjoyed Charlie Hinton's writing style, he has an honest and cynical wit that reads between the lines of life and fate. “I may not live to get through this but I have had enough excitement for a life time”, indeed. I highly recommend this book!

(For the rest of the story, you'll have to buy the book! See below for details.)

DISCLAIMER: Responsibility for the facts and views set forth in this article lies entirely with the author. The content has not been verified, and neither the INVADER nor the 13th Bomb Squadron Association shall be held responsible for any information contained herein.

I also want to encourage all of you to write down your experiences and share them here in the INVADER!

It’s winter above North Korea. Your airplane has been hit, and the pilot is unable to feather the prop.

You are going down. The other three crewmen are discussing when to jump. The new untrained 2nd lieutenant navigator in the right seat with a borrowed and ill-fitting parachute knows he will likely fall out of the chute when it opens.

This isn’t an action movie. It’s what real people experienced as aviators during the Korean War, spending countless missions flying through the dark, risking life and limb to navigate the mountains and valleys of enemy terrain.

For veteran navigator Charles W. Hinton, his time in the war was short, but the memories of what he and his squadron accomplished will last a lifetime. Pulled from navigation school straight into a tour of duty, he had no previous training to speak of and learned to fly combat in a B-26 attack while literally in the line of fire.

Korea: A Short Time in a Small War is a firsthand account of Hinton’s six months of experience during this tumultuous period in history, along with the stories of a diverse collection of friends and foes he interacted with along the way. Charlie's book is available on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/kry6ltu

15

November 2014

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2014

Roger & Pam Bauman

Jannis & Ed Bessemer

Ann Marie & Charley Brown

MaryAnn & Bob Butterfield

Susan & Tighe Carvey

Dave & Nancy Clark 16

November 2014

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2014

Ed & Sarah Connor

Lou & PB Dover

Ed Foley

Don & Shane Henderson

Elmer Jackson

Ron Jarrett 17

cont. on page 18

November 2014

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2014

Betty & Don Kasson

Bob & Carole Koehne

Ritamarie & Perry Nuhn

Myrtle & Bob Parks

Mary & Carl Renner

Ron & Diane Silvia 18

November 2014

13th Bomb Squadron Association General Membership Meeting Crown Plaza Hotel, Warwick Rhode Island October 1-5, 2014

Treasurer's Report INCOME (Spending and Income 2013)

INCOME (Spending and Income YTD 2014)

Coin Sales.................................................................. $25.00 Contributions...................................................... $16,935.26 Hats & Patches......................................................... $245.88 Interest Income........................................................... $54.41

Coin Sales.......................................................................N/A Contributions...................................................... $12,608.00 Hats & Patches................................................................N/A Interest Income................................................................N/A

Total Inflows....................................................... $17,260.55

Total Inflows....................................................... $21,608.00

EXPENSES

EXPENSES

Coin Expense............................................................... $0.00 Contribution Letters................................................. $780.57 Directory Expense........................................................ $0.00 Hats & Patches......................................................... $428.50 Historian ...................................................................... $0.00 Invader ............................................................... $11,727.05 Invader Office Expense................................................ $0.00 Locator Expense....................................................... $223.20 Memorabilia................................................................. $0.00 Memorial ..................................................................... $0.00 Presidents Funds................................................... $1,260.67 Reunion Expense..................................................... $551.20 Treasurer Expense........................................................ $0.00 Web site Development.......................................... $2,363.75 Transfer to Savings ............................................ $8,000.00

Coin Expense............................................................... $0.00 Contribution Expense................................................... $0.00 Directory Expense................................................. $2,946.06 Hats & Patches......................................................... $184.79 Historian....................................................................... $0.00 Invader.................................................................. $6,706.15 Invader Office Expense................................................ $0.00 Locator Expense....................................................... $822.10 Memorabilia................................................................. $0.00 Memorial...................................................................... $0.00 Presidents Funds.......................................................... $0.00 Reunion Expense..................................................... $500.00 Treasurer Expense........................................................ $0.00 Web site Development............................................. $300.25 TOTAL OUT FLOWS........................................ $11,459.10

TOTAL OUT FLOWS........................................ $17,334.94 OVERALL TOTAL.............................................. $1,148.90 OVERALL TOTAL................................................... $74.39 Account Balances CHECKING BALANCE...................................... $1,124.03 SAVINGS BALANCE....................................... $30,196.92

CHECKING BALANCE...................................... $2,211.78 SAVINGS BALANCE....................................... $30,254.05 TOTAL CASH ASSETS...................................... 32,465.83

19

cont. on page 20

November 2014

- Minutes -

13th Bomb Squadron Association • General Membership Meeting Warwick, Rhode Island The meeting was called to order by President Bob Butterfield at 9:00 AM The minutes of the previous meeting in Reno, NV were published in the Invader.

Motion to accept without reading: Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Passed unanimously Secretary’s Report: The Secretary, Tighe Carvey, read the minutes of the 2014 Board of Directors Meeting. A copy of those minutes is attached. The Secretary reported that he had received a request to include on the agenda a discussion on declining numbers of members at our annual reunions.

Motion to accept: Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Passed unanimously Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer, Roger Bauman, reported that contributions continue to decline and he does not expect them to grow significantly. Within the year, he expects to have to use some funds from savings to cover expenses. Bob Parks mentioned that each copy of the Invader that is returned by USPS as undeliverable cost the Association $4.10.

He is working to reduce the number of copies returned. There was a discussion covering several ways to reduce expenses, including reducing the frequency or quality of the Invader and the Membership Directory. The general consensus was that we should not take drastic measures at this time.

Motion to accept: Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Passed unanimously Locator’s Report: The Locator, Bob Parks, reported a net gain of 6 new members during the year. We now have 625 members, total, with 54 of those categorized as

• October 4, 2014

Honorary/Friends. Bob is working to move the Friends category into the Associate category. The members discussed recruitment/outreach to Dyess and to the 509th Wing. Charlie Hinton observed that active flyers are not active reunion attendees.

Generally, the demographic for reunion attendees are retired from the military and retired from other work as well. There was a lengthy period of inactivity for the 13th Bomb Squadron following Vietnam and continuing until the assignment to B-1s at Dyess AFB. Those currently attending reunions are from the Vietnam era and earlier.

Those members flying B-1’s and B-2’s will not become reunion attendees for another 15 years or so. Charlie surmised that we should probably not have high expectations of boosting reunion attendance in the near future. President Butterfield said that he is maintaining good relations with the current 13BS members at Whiteman AFB and he expects they will have a good showing next year at Branson, MO. Motion to accept: Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Passed unanimously Old Business: At the Association’s General Membership Meeting in 2013 there was a proposal to alter the Articles of Association so as to reduce the number of membership categories to “Active” and “Honorary”. The Board of Directors has decided that this proposal is ill advised. President Butterfield requested that a member make a motion to alter the Articles and that we vote “Nay”.

Motion to alter the Articles to reduce the membership categories to “Active” and “Honorary”:Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Rejected unanimously 20

November 2014

New Business: 1. President Butterfield called for nominations for the Offices of President, Treasurer, Korea Representative, and WWII Representative. The following persons were nominated for the offices and accepted the nominations: President: Charley Brown Treasurer: Roger Bauman (Roger noted that he intends to resign after one more year in office) Korea Representative: Ronald Jarrett WWII Representative: Edward Connor Additionally, since Charlie Brown was vacating 1st VP, and Bob Koehne agreed to serve as 1st VP, Ron Silva agreed to replace Bob Koehne as Vietnam Era Representative. Nominations were made for each of these offices.

Since the offices were uncontested, the slate was presented to the membership for approval and the slate was approved unanimously.

2. President Butterfield presented the sites recommended for the 2016 reunion: Albuquerque, NM; Portland, OR; and San Diego, CA. During the discussion it became apparent that San Diego was a considerable favorite, so the President requested a motion to approve San Diego.

Motion to approve San Diego, CA as the site for the 2016 reunion: Perry Nunn Second: Carl Renner Approved unanimously

The meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 10:20 The Executive Session was called to order by President Charley Brown at 10:30 Members Present: President: Charlie Brown 1st Vice President: Bob Koehne 2nd Vice President: Bob Parks Secretary: Tighe Carvey Treasurer: Roger Bauman WWII Rep.: Ed Connor Korea Rep.: Ron Jarrett Vietnam Rep.: Ron Silva Member Absent: GWOT/Modern Era Rep.: Buck Shawhan The purpose of the executive session was to discuss the disposition of the Association memorabilia. Following a thorough discussion of the issue, the President requested a motion.

Motion to direct Charlie Hinton to transfer the memorabilia in his possession to the National Museum of the Air Force: Tighe Carvey Second: Ed Connor Yea: 6 Nay: 2 Motion Passed There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55.

3. Charlie Hinton announced that he had not shipped the Association memorabilia to Whiteman AFB as approved at our meeting last year. He said that much of the material was not appropriate for that setting, rather it was mostly documentation, including orders and unit reports. Furthermore, he said he had been in contact with officials at the National Museum of the Air Force at Dayton, OH and they were interested in accepting the material as long as its transfer was approved by the Association, and that the approval was included in Association minutes. The President decided that the matter was appropriate for action in executive session.

13th Bomb Squadron Assoc. Hats & Patches please contact John Fortier at (310) 540-2596 or john_fortier@msn.com or write to him at 713 South Broadway Street Redondo Beach, CA 90277 21

November 2014

Deaths Not Previously Reported As of November 2014

Rest In Peace Lionel Alderman July 19, 2014 Navigator 1950-51

Frank Coles September 7, 2009 Airframe Repair 1952-53

James N. Gardner July 8, 2014 Gunner 1951-52

Harold L. Harris June 8, 2008 Aircraft Mech 1955-57

Omer L. Stone August 24, 2013 Gunner 1952 William B. Petree May 12, 2008 Navigator 1952

John J. Rogers October 31, 2008 Crew Chief 1960 Joseph M. Cooleen April 15, 2014 Gunner 1953 Bernard G. Kaltman May 26, 2012 Navigator 1954-55

Joseph Yost December 28, 2008 Engineer 1953 Albert O. Moore May 27, 2014 Admin 1952-53 Edward J. Silva November 2014 Line Chief 1948-51

Troy Thompson, Jr. July 8, 2008 Navigator 1950-51

I'll Fly Away

By Albert E. Brumley

Some bright morning when this life is over I'll fly away To that home on God's celestial shore I'll fly away I'll fly away, oh glory I'll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone I'll fly away Oh how glad and happy when we meet I'll fly away When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away I'll fly away oh glory I'll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away

22

Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away To a land where joys will never end I'll fly away I'll fly away oh glory I'll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I'll fly away I'll fly away

November 2014

The Hot SEAT It

Editor’s Comments

was great seeing everybody at the reunion!

Everything was very enjoyable, especially the tours.

Warwick, Newport, Providence and Boston were definitely impressive. We were truly walking in the footsteps of the Sons of Liberty, American History and Freedom. The USS Constitution, the Old North Church... I had read about them, but I had never visited them, so this was a great experience.

I've been watching a TV series called "Turn, Washington's Spies" on AMC and often think about what it must have been like. Seeing the countryside in New England, you get a feeling for what these American revolutionaries were up against. To underline that fact, on the way home, Shane suggested we stop at the Groton Memorial at Fort Griswold, just a few minutes off I-95 in Connecticut.

outnumbered and outgunned, suffered heavy losses and

was forced to surrender.

Confusion at the time of the surrender caused some of the Connecticut Militia to continue fighting and that resulted in the murder of many of the rebel prisoners Don Henderson, Editor including Lt. Col William Ledyard who was slain by a British officer with his own sword just after surrendering. Jonathan Rathbun described the cold-blooded murder of Colonel Ledyard with his own sword by the British officer: "The wretch who murdered Lt Col Ledyard, exclaimed, as he came near, 'Who commands this fort?' Ledyard handsomely replied, 'I did, but you do now', at the same moment handing him his sword, which the unfeeling villain buried in his breast! Oh, the hellish spite and madness of a man that will murder a reasonable and noble-hearted officer, in the act of submitting and surrendering!"

There is a small marker at the spot where Lt. Col. William Ledyard was murdered. Some accounts claim that British Captain George Beckwith killed Colonel Ledyard, while others claim it was Captain Stephen Bromfield, who assumed command after Major Montgomery was killed. Sergeant Stephen Hempstead, a member of the Connecticut Militia, recalled the bloody scene in the aftermath of the surrender: "Never was a scene of more brutal wanton carnage witnessed than now took place.

The enemy [British Regulars] were still firing upon The full weight and seriousness of the American us, until they discovered they were in danger of Revolution come to light here. The monument being blown up..." was erected in 1830 to commemorate American troops who were massacred by the British after the Captain Rufus Avery of the Connecticut Militia believed the attack was called off due to the chance surrender of Fort Griswold. that further musket fire might set off the fort's The Battle of Groton Heights took place on powder magazine. "I believe there was not less September 6, 1781. Although it's now a peaceful than five or six hundred men of the enemy on the state park overlooking the Thames River and the parade in the fort. They killed and wounded nearly town of New London, in 1781 it was the scene of a every man in the fort as quick as they could." Ten bloody battle between about 120-160 Connecticut members of the Avery family were killed and 3 Militia led by Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard wounded at the Battle of Groton Heights and the at Fort Griswold and 800 British regulars who had defense of Fort Griswold. just sacked New London and led by the traitor General Benedict Arnold and Lieutenant Colonel It's hard to comprehend standing on the hill above Fort Griswold that such a bloody scene took place Edmund Eyre. there, it was a somber reminder The Connecticut Militia gave the Brits a good fight, that our Freedom isn't free, it was killing 48 and wounding 145. The militia however, paid for in blood.

23

13th Bomb Squadron Association Bob Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX 78247-3080 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

An old New Haven Railrod Caboose in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID West Press 85726