Invader vol 34 issue 1 2016 lrz

Vol. 34 No. 1

Spring 2016

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

Blakely Smith's B-57 Photo Album

Spring 2016

The President’s Corner

A late Happy New Year

ask that each one of you who is reading my comments: STOP READING; and GO right now to the “Association Donation Form”on Page 5, and if you have not already done so, fill it out with your “most generous” donation amount, write a check for that amount payable to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association, and mail it to Bill Hamann at 2950 SE Ocean Blvd, Apt 124-2, Stuart, FL 34996-3551. [We ask for at least $35.00 per year, but many of our readers have not been contributing anything. (Bob Parks can give you the exact numbers if you’re interested.) Therefore, this and each future issue will contain a donation form to help make it easier to make a contribution.] We need your financial support.

fellow Reapers. In this issue I want to talk to you a bit about the Association’s finances (see the financial report in the November 2015 issue) and brief you on several other matters of importance and/or interest.

But first, here’s a trip report: In December 2015, Bob Parks, Charlie Breitzke and I visited the 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) at Whiteman. Although the unit is a standalone organization, it provides all Organizational Level maintenance on the 13th BS fleet of B-2 aircraft, and its members thus are Reapers and eligible for membership in the Association. We were welcomed with open arms and were provided an all day tour of the maintenance facilities and their occupants. During our tour we were able to speak with one full shift and part of another, and I personally met and talked with about 100 of these fine maintainers. Almost to a person they were proud to be Reapers, they were interested in Association history and its plans for the future, and they were honored that we took the time to come visit. (Talk about being honored, the three of us were walking on air when we left because of their enthusiasm and the respect that they showed to each of us. And, I even got to perform a reenlistment for one of them as he signed on for six more years— Wow!). I think we will get many new members as a result of this visit. And now, to the rest of my remarks: Charley Brown

I welcome your comments at charley6272@yahoo.com. (“charley” with “ey” not “ie.”)

Reunion Attendance: I feel personally responsible when attendance at our annual reunions falls short of hopes and expectations. The Board also feels this way. Thus, we are working diligently to improve this situation.

However, it is also up to you to help us. Here are some ideas we’re working on that may help you help us plan and execute reunions, and that may attract your attention and attendance.

Choice of Venue: For the past several years we have rotated venues (Eastern, Central and Western U.S.) and selected from a list provided by our reunion company.

After the 2016 San Diego reunion (see reservation form herein) we will no longer use this outside company to plan our venues and execute our reunions. We are going to try and do them ourselves (thus lowering costs by about $3,500. [We will need to decide on a 2018 venue at San Diego, so be thinking of locations (Eastern U.S. preferred)].

Association Finances: As shown in the referenced financial report the contributions that you made for each of the past two years are insufficient to cover all annual expenses. Thus, your board is looking at ways to reduce expenses, add members, and/or increase donations. Obviously, reducing Invader costs is a way to reduce expenses. However, that would mean reducing the number of issues/year, decreasing the number of mailed issues (by offering electronic copies, by sending issues only to those who express (on their annual donation form) the desire to continue to receive them, or by reducing the number of pages per issue from the current 24 to either 20 or 16 (since magazine pages are printed side-to-side and front-to-back, each printed page becomes four pages when folded in the middle).

To make this work effectively, we need about five volunteers to help Bob Parks with both planning and executing reunion events (including the manual labor involved in buying food, drinks and other supplies; setting up, maintaining and restoring the hospitality and meeting rooms; and/or packing, unpacking and repacking 13th memorabilia, etc.). Bob Gerstle has already accepted the “Bar Czar” position for San Diego; but this position and the others (events, hospitality, publicity, Etc...) are still open. Hopefully, we can get one or two Reapers who live in selected vicinities to help. Again, please contact me with your thoughts and volunteer status.

Choice of Frequency: I heard a suggestion that we go

In conjunction with reducing expenses we sincerely 2

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to an every-other-year frequency versus every year.

However, an opposing view is that Reaper “community interest” would wane with reunions two years apart.

Please give me your thoughts.

and Jim Humphries, have reviewed and sorted their contents (which will be distributed to the 13th BS at Whiteman, to the Museum of the USAF at Dayton, to the individual(s) referenced (or their heirs) or will be shredded. This issue is now closed.

Reunion Food and Drink Donations: Another organization to which I belong asks for donations for the hospitality room when they send out (or invite via the Web) reservation requests. Since 1998, when the first request was sent, the response has been such that the organization received several hundred dollars more than their incurred expenses each reunion. The total overage in the reunion account now equals almost $5,000.00.

I think we should strongly consider this idea. What do you think?

It’s Time to Lawyer-Up: Last year we had to hire a lawyer to help us with an issue with the IRS. Although the cost of said lawyer is being reimbursed to the Association, I think we need to have legal services available to us on some kind of pro-bono or no-cost basis. So, I’m asking you, the members, if you are an attorney willing to volunteer your time, or if you know an attorney who will provide free services, please let me know now or in San Diego.

Charlie Hinton’s Memorabilia: I have received Charlie’s Warm regards to all, footlockers and, along with Bob Parks, Bob Butterfield

13th Bomb Squadron Association 2016 Reunion Notice.

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.

Our next reunion will take place in San Diego, CA, from 5-9 October 2016. Please let Bob Parks know if you are planning to attend. (this not a final commitment; only an indication that will be used by your reunion planners to ensure that our accommodations meet all requirements.)

*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

Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ City:_____________________State_____Zip:________

The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015

_____ Yes, I plan to attend and will have _____ other

people with me. _____ No, I can’t come this year but am interested in

future reunions

Cover photo: Our cover features Crew Chief A/2c Blakely Smith in the cockpit of a B-57B at Johnson Air Base, Japan.

See more of his photos from Johnson AB, Kunsan AB and Misawa AB starting on page 14. If any of you have photos and stories to share, please contact, Don@HendersonGDI.com and we'll try to get them in the next INVADER.

Please clip out or copy and send this notice to: CMSG (USAF Ret) Bob Parks, 3219 Tavern Oaks, San Antonio, TX 78247-3080 or e-mail Bob at: bob-parks@satx.rr.com

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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

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

2nd Vice President Locator Data Manager

Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey 6980 Olympic View Ct. Silverdale, WA 98383 tcarvey@gmail.com

Treasurer Locator Data Manager

Edward D. (Ed) Connor, Jr. 1217 Earnestine St. McLean, VA 22101-2646 ravenfive5@verizon.net

Member at Large Korea

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

Member at Large GWOT

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

Bill Hamman 2950 SE Ocean Blvd.

Apt 43-6 Stuart, FL 34996-3512 inme95@gmail.com

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

Major Bradley R. Nadolny 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO bradleynadolny@gmail.com

Spring 2016

Letters & e-mails to the Editor

13TH BOMB SQUADRON

Jim Humphries' account of getting the B-57G aircraft to Royal Ubon Air Base makes me glad that I became a member of the Grim Reapers, AFTER the aircraft I flew in over Laos arrived there. I think I would have been more afraid of the transport problem than I was of the missions I flew during the war.

I'm looking forward to continuation of Jim's history of 13th Bomb Squadron B-57G activity in your next issue.

Keep up your good work! I note both Jim Humphries and Ron Silvia, contemporaries of my tour attended the reunion.

Regards to both.

Murk Markel

ASSOCIATION DONATION FORM NAME:_______________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________ CITY:_________________STATE_____ZIP_________

DONATION AMOUNT ❏ $35.00 ❏ $50.00 ❏ $75.00❏ $100.00 ❏ Other If other, Please specify amount: $______ Please Make Check Payable to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association and Mail To: Col (Ret) Bill Hamann, 2950 SE Ocean Blvd, Apt 124-2, Stuart, FL 34996-3551

Thanks Murk! See page 6 of this issue for the rest of the B-57G story by Jim Humphries.

To help with the cost of producing and mailing the Invader. Here is my most generous contribution to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association.

My book: “KOREA A Short Time in a Small War”

has made me feel good by its acceptance and good reviews. As a non-author, I had a lot of uneasy feelings as to the worth of the book. I have received some great feedback from strangers and from the reviews posted on Amazon that it is a book worth reading... A reviewer for the USAF Navigators/Observers Association said it ought to be on every aviator’s book shelf, and it was nicely reviewed in the British magazine FLYPAST. For your own firsthand knowledge about the book go to “Amazon.com” on your computer, search for the title as above, click on the title, and scroll down to the near bottom of the page on the left side.

I am offering readers of this ad a chance to cut Amazon’s profit out of the picture, avoid sales tax, and get a personalized to you, signed copy of the book.

The book was initially priced at $24.99 and Amazon has discounted the price to $19.74, plus the sales tax in your state plus $4 shipping – about$ 24.90 to your door. Buy a signed copy from me direct, including shipping, for $17. ($13 per book plus $4 shipping) After my cost from Amazon plus shipping to me I will make about 3 bucks.

If you were a Korean War Vet with the 13th it will give your kids & grand kids some insight into what you did or helped do in the War. It will make a really nice gift for the grand kids.

You know that without our participation in that war the dynamic democracy in South Korea would be black like North Korea is today Send check or money order for $17 to Charles Hinton, 585 Teakwood Ave, Satellite Beach, FL 32937.

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A Good Tail Wind, Continued

By Jim Humphries, Colonel, USAF (Retired)

Let’s look at the crew stations.

In the November issue of the Invader, Jim Humphries told the story of how the G-Men got the B-57G to the war zone. We continue with Jim's presentation to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association at the reunion in Branson, MO. Now, it was time to start thinking about our war mission... Getting P.E.

Front cockpit.

This is the front cockpit showing the gun sight that you saw earlier. It was left in the airplane, but wasn’t used on the G-Model.

As soon as the sensors were re-installed in the aircraft, we began our first combat sorties over Laos. All our missions were at night, flying single-ship sorties along the trail. Each mission began with an intel briefing, then a stop at the personal equipment shop to get our helmets and gear.

Rear cockpit Here’s my Navigator, Doug Kosan, putting the back cockpit in order.

Our personal equipment sergeant was Tom Miller.

As we left his shop, he would always give us a parting, “good luck, and good hunting!” But he told me one night, “you know. The United States Air Force is the only military organization in the world where the enlisted men send the officers out to war!”

The systems operator’s scope.

This was the primary scope the Navigators used to detect and attack vehicle traffic along the trail.

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M36 incendiary bombs These are M36 bombs. The M36 was an area weapon, a cluster bomb that opened in the air, spreading a large field of fire on the ground around the target. A forward air controller called us one night saying, “that’s the most beautiful ordnance on the trail! It lit up everything! Including us!

B-57G on station Here’s a B-57G on patrol with a target sighted and bomb doors open, and a pair of laser-guided bombs under the wings. A typical mission was about two hours. Enemy trucks drove along the trail mostly by starlight. Occasionally a truck would be driving with convoy lights, making an easy target. Nearly always, trucks traveled singly and widely-spaced. We flew at 4500 feet, staying above the Karst formations, and out of range of small arms fire. Anti-aircraft batteries were in place all along the trail. Mostly 37mm and 57 mm. Since we flew with all exterior lights out, we presumed ourselves to be invisible from the ground.

Now if you think stealth is good, wait till you see invisible! This is “invisible!”

Bombs in bomb bay on model airplane We carried four of those internally in the bomb bay as shown on this model bomber.

We were directed into our sectors by an airborne command post C-130, call sign, “Moonbeam” or “Alleycat. Our F-4’s regularly dropped strings of sensors along the trail to detect the sounds of truck traffic, and radio it to a central agency, task force alpha. It wasn’t uncommon on arrival in our sector to get advisories of movers somewhere near, and we’d be off to a running start.

Our mission ordnance was four M36 incendiary cluster bombs carried internally, plus a pair of laserguided MK 82, five hundred-pound bombs. Let me show you these unique weapons.

M36 incendiary bombs in the bomb bay Here are two m36s on the partially-open bomb bay door.

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Bombs away!

Dropping a pair of M36s along the trail. The gunners often laid low as we flew over them the first time, not wanting to expose themselves. Then they’d open up after a bomb exploded nearby, and the sky would be full of tracers all over the place. A second pass wasn’t conducive to longevity.

Cover painting of B-57G on target This is pretty much what it was like when one of these laser-guided bombs hit the target, #578 was actually one of our birds.

Bomb damage assessment was difficult with the M36.

But on the contrary, BDA was obvious with the laserguided bombs.

Mk-82 500 lb. Laser-guided bomb on a wing pylon.

This was our real ace-in-the-hole : a pair of laserguided bombs.

LGB hitting an army truck.

The accuracy was so keen that it was a case of one bomb, one truck!

I’ve never heard the total count of confirmed truck kills by our squadron. I was told that my crew was credited with 146 trucks destroyed. If you multiply that by two years of combat operations , and again by ten airplanes, a total of 3,000 trucks would be a reasonable estimate. The B-57 booklet quoted an air force source saying, “[the B-57G] made a significant contribution to the war effort and played an important part in disrupting the flow of supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.” I believe that, even though it sounds like a PR release. But then the pamphlet made a dumb comment that said, “these modified aircraft cost millions of dollars, and since their targets were

The tracker on the nose of the bomb.

This is the smart end of the bomb that tracked the laser.

For obvious reasons, there are no photographs of our dropping a laser-guided bomb at night. We were up there all by ourselves, and it was pitch black dark! The closest thing I can show you is a painting on the cover of a Squadron/Signal Publications No. 77 on the B-57.

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Spring 2016 relatively cheap trucks, the planes were not considered cost effective, even though they were relatively successful.” I wanted to shout, “ hey, we weren’t bombing empty trucks!”

My S.E.A. Journal.

I kept a journal through much of my tour, and, years later, most of this talk came from that source.

On the night that I returned to the States from Bangkok on a chartered jet airliner, I wrote in my journal these thoughts, quote: “Memories are flashing through my mind... It has been a year without compare. And God, who orders men’s lives and directs their footsteps, has blessed me beyond measure. It is with deep gratitude that I close this journal with a heartfelt “Praise the Lord!”

I wrote a post script to close the journal. This is what it said: “I have learned the meaning of Gill Robb Wilson’s sage words that ‘God who loves the brave, is alone with the brave.’ The fearsome and lonely black skies of Laos brought that truth into sharp focus. I have a new appreciation for his wonderful definition of air power as ‘God in your guts, good men at your back, wings that stay on, and tally ho!’ And tonight, streaking homeward on magnificent wings, I share again his conclusion that the most precious wings of all are the wings that bear one home – to that one place in all the earth that the heart has never left.”

Champagne flight And then, one night, for me, the war was over. This was my Champagne Flight after a final combat mission. Dave hung a banner on the pitot boom that read, “101 missions, Praise the Lord!”

The war might have been over for me, but still, the war went on. After a year of combat operations, the squadron changed leadership,

First reunion of 13th bomb squadron, Ubon group Here’s the first reunion of the Ubon group five years ago.

Tonight, it’s good to be together again with my other family-- our 13th Bomb Squadron comradesin-arms. I look forward to many more occasions with all of you.

-Jim Humphries

Change of Command Lieutenant Colonel Ed Matthews took command from Colonel Pitt. The replacement crews kept the squadron flying for a second year, returning to the states in 1972. I need to tell you in passing, that the rules of engagement were exasperating for all air crews in Southeast Asia. One lieutenant remarked, “we’re winning badly today!”

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The Last Flight of Oboe

By Stan "Rice Paddy" Brown from an article in Popular Science

Jim Braly, Stan Brown and Lt. W.B. Petree its twin .50 calibers and fight off any ground fire as we left the strike area. I don't know if I did this on this night because it seemed as if we blew up. The noise was awful, seeming to come from all around me. The smell of fluids, smoke and dust were over powering. I couldn't see a thing.

As I hung from my parachute on that night in 1952, watching the silver plane disappear over the ridge of the mountain, my thoughts were "Goodbye Jim." It was a bright and clear, moon lit night. In front of me and to my right, floated the navigator, Lt. Petree. His chute was white and clear hanging there, as if suspended in time. We were quite close so I hollered at him, "Are you OK?" He answered, "Fine, but it doesn't look like as if Jim made it.

After a while Jim's voice came over my headset and asked if I was OK? I assured him I was. He told me that we were in bad shape and we would have to bail out. We had lost an engine and the hydraulics were not working. I wanted out real bad at that time. Looking forward of me I could see liquids sloshing around on the inside of the bomb bay doors. I told Jim to open the doors as that was my escape route from the gunner's compartment.

"No" I agreed, I never saw his chute."

I had been the first out of our shot-up plane and would have seen him had he got out. We were over a small island just off North Korea. Jim Braly had nursed our B-26 many miles from where it had been shot up from nose to tail. We had been caught in a nasty flak trap.

Jim says, "I can't. The hydraulics are out. You will have to go out the side door".

We had attacked a row of lights on one of the many roads headed south. Our job was to stop any traffic that was supplying the Chinese and North Korean troops. Make no mistake about it; we were in a war with both. Had not the Chinese not been there, it wouldn't have been much of a war.

I said "Jim, there ain't no side door on this plane."

"Oh shit." He responds.

I told him, "There are some paint marks on the side where the door is supposed to be and an axe next to the marks". I told Jim I would try to chop my way out.

After spotting the lights, Jim pulled around and lined us up with the lights. They didn't look right to Petree or me. We were at about 5,000 feet and Jim said he was going to hit them fast and hard. Nosing the plane over, he opened up the bomb bays as he made the dive on the lights. We must have been hitting 400 mph as we reached the lights. Then all Hell broke loose.

That was a joke. Every time I hit the skin the axe bounced back with a dangerous force. "Jim, I guess I'm stuck." I told him.

Jim came back with, "I will not leave you in the plane.

I'm going to try to make it to the Yellow Sea and set it in water."

Well, to tell you the truth, that didn't set to well with me, as I had heard that the B-26 didn't land too well in the water

Jim had closed the bomb bays just as the bombs left the plane. Usually I would swing my lower turret around with

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Spring 2016 and would probably kill us all. We were losing altitude at a slow, but steady rate.

I was trapped. Later I talked to a friend of mine who was in a B-26 flying cover for us, a gunner by the name of Cooper. He said he just sat there and cried, knowing I was surely dead.

We hit the North Korean coastline with

Tail section of Oboe that Stan Brown had to negotiate in order to escape from the stricken aircraft.

guns and stood there. They were trying to talk to us in Korean, which I understood, having worked with a crew of them for six months while I was with the 8th Bomb Squadron. I was assigned to the 8th Squadron upon arriving in Korea. The crew I had come over with was shot down and captured with another gunner on board.

The 8th had too many gunners waiting to get their missions in, so I was bumped and after six months, I transferred to the 13th Squadron.

an island coming up in the distance. I made up my mind that I wasn't going down in this plane trapped in the rear.

I called Jim and told him I had decided to try to go out the top hatch. He told me "No way", as it had never been done.

Anyone going out the top hatch would hit the tail and be killed. I said, "I'm leaving." And disconnected my mike, but I still had my head set on.

The Koreans took us down to the radar site. On arriving there, we asked about Jim Braly, but were told that he must have gone down with the plane. Later they told us his body had washed up on the beach. After hearing that, Petree and I were feeling bad about being alive, but that feeling didn't last long, come morning a guy ran into the radar hut shouting that they had found Braly and he was still alive!

(Editor's note: The United Nations held the island of Chodo, just west of Chinnampo where a radar site was located. Reese Black was the pilot of the B-26 that gunner Cooper was on and was assisting Braly in locating Chodo.)

What great news! We couldn't wait till they brought him up to the radar site. He was limping, but OK. He had bailed out so low that he barely had time enough time for his chute to open before hitting the ground. It was a great reunion. They put us in a chopper and flew us down to the beach where a DC-3 landed to fly us to Seoul.

Jim said he would give me a couple of minutes, but I was already on my way. Unhooking my mike and seat belt, I reached up and pulled the latch holding down the entry hatch over my head. The wind caught it and it disappeared.

I stood up in my seat looking around with my head in the slipstream. Our speed by then was almost at a stall. Just behind the hatch hole was a torpedo shaped radio antenna and behind that was the vertical stabilizer. Its leading edge was quite thin and came almost to the antenna .

I reached out and grabbed the antenna and pulled myself from the gunner's compartment. I swung around in the slipstream, looked down, and saw the leading edge of the fin below me. I grabbed at it and held on until I was parallel to the slipstream, hanging on to the tail for a while, and then I let go.

I pulled the "D" ring on my chute and another miracle happened. It opened, and there I was just swinging, watching our plane in front of me when another chute opened. I knew it was Petree, as it had come from the right side of the plane. We floated down together and even landed in the same tree. We both just hung there for a bit, getting our wind back when I noticed , down in the valley, a string of lights coming up towards us.

We didn't know if this was North Korean Territory. We both dropped out of our chutes to the ground, scared to Hell, we were. I pulled out my .45, as did Petree. By now they were almost on us. They were shouting in bad English and Korean that they were friends.

Well, we had no choice by that time, so we put up our

I think of our plane sitting at the bottom of the Yellow Sea. It was still in shinning aluminum finish, not having gotten its black paint job yet. Braly had our names painted on the nose including Charles Hinton's, who was supposed to be our navigator. Hinton would have been our navigator for this mission had he not had other duties assigned to him that night.

To me, Jim Braly was a James Dean like character, always pushing things to the limit while flying over North Korea, a real Tiger and a great pilot. He could tell you some stories too, like our trip to Manchuria or the night we shot up that MIG base across the Yalu...

(Editor's note: Sadly Jim Braly is no longer with us, but his legend lives on both in this story and in stories in Charles Hinton's book. See page 5 to order A Short Time in a Small War by Charlie Hinton.)

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13th Bomb Squadron Photo Album The INVADER has always featured the photos of those who served in the squadron.

Your photos are the glue that hold the stories and history of the squadron together. While attending the Branson Reunion, Blakely Smith paid a visit and shared his photo album with me. Blakely was a crew chief at Johnson AB and Kunsan AB at the very beginning of the 13th Bomb Squadron's "Jet Age" with the B-57. A slice of 13th history with the B-57 after Korea and before the Vietnam War.

"V", B-57B s/n 53-3978 at Johnson AB, Japan. This is my plane, we are getting her ready for another flight. The guys to the right with the trailer are waiting to load bombs. Aircraft in background is B-57Bs/n 53-3919 of the 90th BS. The 3rd Bomb Wing consisted of the 13th, 8th and 90th Bomb Squadrons.

Fill'r up!

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13th Bomb Squadron sign..

Johnson Air Base, Japan.

(Right Photo) This is me reaching up for the pilot's crash helmet. The pilot is Lt Col Marcus H. Worde, Commander of the 13th . He picked my plane to fly in the bombing competition.

Fueling a B-57B.

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ROK Air Force F-86F s/n 2937 at Kunsan AB, Korea

USAF C-130A s/n 55-0036 at Kunsan AB, Korea.

USAF C-130A s/n 55-0036 at Kunsan AB, Korea.

USAF C-124, plane I flew to Misawa on.

"K", B-57B s/n 53-3902, USAF 13th BS.

"N", B-57B s/n 53-3893 USAF 13th Bomb Squadron.

Editors note: #3902 was written off 13 September 1963 in Japan.

Editors note: #3893 was destroyed in a ground explosion at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam on 16 May 1965.

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30 May 1958, Kunsan, Korea. A/2c Blakely Smith.

30 May 1958, Kunsan, Korea. Capt Stanfield front seat, A/2c Blakely Smith back seat

A/2c Blakely Smith and "N", B-57B s/n 53-3893 that he worked on while at Misawa, Japan.

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Past meets present: The 13th Bomb Squadron

By Senior Airman Keenan Berry 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Brown also shared some of his background and knowledge regarding the 509th Bomb Wing (BW) history.

1/14/2016 - Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. -Three U.S. Air Force veterans visited Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to help solidify the bond shared between the brothers and sisters of their past unit, the 13th Bomb Squadron (BS). The veterans spoke with different Airmen in the 13th, learning about their current mission as well as sharing stories about their days assigned to the unit.

"I was stationed at Pease Air Force Base, N.H., in the late 1950s and early 1960s," said Brown. "We had two wings and one of them was the 509th BW. The Enola Gay was a part of the 509th when it dropped the atomic bombs on Japan, so the wing has a tremendous legacy to be proud of."

During the visit, Charlie Brown, the 13th BS Association president; Bob Parks, the 13th BS Association vice president; and Charlie Breitzke, a 13th BS Association volunteer; educated currents members of the 13th about the association to help carry on the heritage of the historic squadron.

"This association has been around for a long time and is dedicated to the history and traditions of the 13th BS," said Breitzke. "The squadron was inactive for a lengthy amount of time, making it difficult to further the heritage."

According to Breitzke, the squadron was inactive from 1973 to 2000 because many of the members passed away.

He also noted that the squadron's heritage is a significant piece of the Air Force legacy and shouldn't be forgotten.

The value of the visit was found in having the ability to inform Airmen of the unit's lineage and educate them on how the association upholds that very legacy.

The veterans were proud to share their piece of the 13th's legacy with the young Airmen, discussing the aircraft from their time in comparison to today's aircraft.

The Airmen of the 13th BS were enlightened with the importance of their heritage, learning the stories of the very men who helped write it.

"It was interesting learning about the 13th BS's lineage," said Senior Airman Richard Apodaca, a 13th BS aviation resource manager. "I am honored to be a part of a squadron that's has so much rich history to inherit."

The Airmen were motivated to continue to uphold the legacy for the ones so served before them. The veterans also expressed their fulfillment and joy regarding their visit.

"I always enjoy a visit to an Air Force organization no matter where it's located," said Brown. "Every one of these Airmen out here is important and significant to the mission and they all contribute to the history of the Air Force in a big way. I've enjoyed my visit very much." cont. on page 19

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Deaths Not Previously Reported As of March 2016 James Dale Teasley

March 1, 2015 Communications 1958-60 Richard Bojanowski December 21, 2015 Navigator 1953-54 David H. Regan July 16, 2015 Pilot 1965-66 Richard R. Oliver March 31, 2015 Flight Engineer 1953

Rest In Peace William C. Faubert September 2, 2015 Crew Chief 1959-61 Harrison Lobdell Jr. July 30, 2014 Pilot 1949-51 Carl H. Kraus February 11, 2014 Engineer 1952-53 James E. Pickles, Jr August 20, 2015 Crew Chief 1969-71

Stanley P. Morrison November 11, 2015 Crew Chief 1949-52 Calvin J. Bradley March 23, 2015 Navigator 1951 Diehl F. Pickett January 13, 2015 Gunner 1953 Brian T. Parker March 2, 2016 Navigator 1960-64

To report the passing of 13th Bomb Squadron members, please contact: James R. (Bob) Parks, 3219 Tavern Oaks St., San Antonio, TX, 78247 or email bob-parks@satx.rr.com

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 20

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

Spring 2016

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2016 13th BOMB SQUADRON ACTIVITY REGISTRATION FORM – OCTOBER 5-9, 2016 Listed below are all of the registration, tour and meal costs for the San Diego reunion. Please enter how many people will be participating in each event and total the amount. Send that amount payable to 13th Bomb Squadron Association in the form of check or money order. A receipt will be mailed to your return address. All registration forms and payments must be received by August 31, 2016. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis. Please do not staple or tape your payment to this form.

13th Bomb Squadron Association Attn: Bob Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St San Antonio, TX 78247 TOURS Thursday, 10/6, USS Midway and Seal Training Base Tours Friday, 10/7: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour REGISTRATION PACKAGE COST IS $175 Includes Wednesday Buffet, Thursday “Red Shirt Night”, Hotel Breakfast Buffet Each Morning, Saturday Banquet.

Please select your Saturday Banquet Entrée below: London Broil Lemon Caper Chicken Baked Mahi Mahi Portobello Mushroom Ravioli Please select your Harbor Cruise Dinner entrée below: Beef Short Ribs Rosemary Roasted Chicken Atlantic Salmon Contribution to 13th Bomb Squadron Association Total amount due:

Price Per

# of people

Total

$48.00 $36.00

$175/pkg $175/pkg $175/pkg $175/pkg

PLEASE PRINT NAME AS YOU WANT IT TO APPEAR ON YOUR NAME TAG: FIRST _______________________ LAST _______________________ 1st REUNION YES___ NO ___ SPOUSE NAME (IF ATTENDING) ________________________________________________________ GUEST NAMES ______________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________ CITY _______________________ STATE _______ ZIP ____________________________________ PH. NUMBER (_____) _____-_________ EMAIL ADDRESS ___________________________________ DISABILITY/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS ___________________________________________________ MUST YOU BE LIFTED HYDAULICALLY ONTO THE BUS WHILE SEATED IN YOUR WHEELCHAIR IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN BUS TRIPS? _____YES _____ NO (PLEASE NOTE AVAILABITY CANNOT GAURANTEED) EMERGENCY CONTACT ___________________________________

PH. NUMBER (______) ______-_________

For refunds and/or cancelations please refer to the policy outlined at the bottom of the reunion program page.

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13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2016 13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2016 Spring 2016

TOUR DESCRIPTIONS USS MIDWAY/SEAL TRAINING BASE TOUR

Thursday, October 6 Spend the morning exploring the USS Midway Museum, located along the Navy Pier in downtown San Diego featuring the longest-serving U.S. Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century.

Enjoy a self-guided audio tour of 60 different locations on the carrier, from the engine compartments to the control tower; and family-friendly activities including listening to real pilot conversations during Desert Storm. Enjoy Lunch on your own and get back on the bus at 1:00 PM to do a drive thru tour of the Navy Seal Training base.

9:00am board bus, 3:30pm back at hotel $48/Person includes bus and admission. Lunch on your own.

San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

Thursday, October 6 Experience the crisp, clear glory of a San Diego evening from the comfort of a comfortable and spacious yacht. You will be greeted with a boarding glass of chilled champagne. Sit down to a delicious three-course dinner, made on board by our chefs from local, seasonal ingredients and served by our award-winning stewards. And then head out to the deck for a spin on the dance floor or stroll the decks under the stars. Enjoy breathtaking views of San Diegoʼs most famous sights, including the Coronado Bay Bridge, the Star of India, the North Island Naval station and the USS Midway aircraft carrier.

5:45pm board bus, 10:30pm back at hotel Cost included in registration package

San Diego Hop on/Hop off Tour

Friday, October 7 Enjoy a day on your own by taking the San Diego Hop On/Hop Off Trolley tour, a two hour tour of San Diego. Old Town Trolley will chauffeur show you around Californiaʼs second largest city, where blue skies, exciting attractions and 70 miles of beaches come together to create a vacationerʼs paradise. Hop aboard the Old Town trolleys and youʼll experience a delightful combination of transportation and entertainment. Old Town Trolley allows you to explore San Diego at your own pace as you hop on and off at your favorite stops. For those who do not want to spend the complete day out, the hotel will pick you up at the Old Town ticket office whenever youʼre ready to return to the hotel.

9:00 board trolley, 5:30pm back at hotel $36/Person. Lunch on your own.

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Spring 2016

The Hot SEAT Editor’s Comments

Proper Protocol Since taking over as editor of the INVADER in 2013, I have received many phone calls and e-mails reporting the passing of a member of the 13th Bomb Squadron. On several occasions I for one reason or another, between my graphic design business, working at the Frick Art Museum, and running the New Kensington Camera Club I neglected to include some names in the "In Memoriam" column.

I apologize for this and will try to do better in the future. Listing the passing of a member of the 13th Bomb Squadron is important and I do make every effort to acknowledge a member's passing and their service. In an effort to keep this important information from slipping through the cracks an to streamline the process, the proper protocol for reporting the passing of a member to the Association is to send the information directly to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association's Locator, Bob Parks, his contact info is:

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

I also want to thank Blakely Smith for sharing his B-57 photo album with us.

Next, I apologize for how lateness this issue, it was a perfect storm of problems, first, lots of work at Henderson GDI (a good Don Henderson, Editor thing) and a lot going on with the New Kensington Camera Club, the New Kensington Arts Center, and Eddie Adams Day 2016, all have been keeping busy. But in the middle of all that, the worst and most difficult problem was with my computer. One morning, the graphics card decided to give up the ghost and we were down for several weeks. The nice thing, if there can be a nice thing when it comes to computer problems was that I didn't lose anything, no files were damaged, but I did lose the use of the computer for several weeks.

The graphics card as well as the second internal hard drive had Issues. Apple covered everything and repaired it for free! Getting caught up after 2 weeks without my main computer put me very far behind, I tried to do all I could on my back up computer, but unfortunately this issue of the INVADER was on the computer that went down. Again, I'm sorry, so I'm calling the March issue the Spring Issue.

You can continue to e-mail or call me, but as a backup so that nothing slips through the cracks, always inform Bob Parks first, thank you.

On the other hand, if you have anything for the INVADER that you would like to share, articles, photos, comments, please feel free send them to me and I'll do my best to get them into the INVADER and get you published!

I want to thank Jim Humphries again for sharing his presentation from the 2015 Reunion in Branson and for allowing me to use his presentation as an article in the INVADER for all of you who were unable to attend. You all are living history and hearing the story of B-57G from somebody who had been there, done that and lived to tell about it makes a big difference in learning about the B-57G. It was most informative and shed light on this significant point in the history of the 13th Bomb Squadron.

Last, it is with a heavy heart that I note the passing of Brian Parker. I met Brian and Fran Parker at a 13th reunion years ago. We became fast friends and I corresponded with Brian often over the years. I designed Brian's 4th Air Commando Squadron coin to commemorate his service in Vietnam. I feel very fortunate to have known you Brian. Rest in peace my friend. My prayers and deepest sympathy go out to the Parker family.

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13th Bomb Squadron Association

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

Bob Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX 78247-3080 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

B2 Spirit of Kitty Hawk at Whiteman AFB during the 13th Bomb Squadron Association visit with 13th AMU (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keenan Berry).