Vol. 37 No. 1
Spring 2019
2019 Reunion Information
13th Attack Squadron
The Origins of an Attack Squadron
Spring 2019 and including some comments from a few fellow Reapers who knew Dean at Clark. Dean’s wife, Kathryn, also a very close friend, has relocated to her home state of Texas, and her address will be in the new directory. There will be a friends and family gathering for Dean in his home town of La Porte City, IA, at 5pm, May 24th at the golf club where Dean played in his youth. Dennis and Susan Nielsen, along with Carole and I, will be attending, where I will read the comments that several of you wrote about flying with Dean at Clark. As you saw in the winter Invader, we have a new section, “The Whiteman Reaper Report”, featuring the latest squadron happenings. After the Savannah reunion, Fletch appointed Anthony “Tony” J. Roop to provide Don Henderson with news about the active squadron so our association members can read about them in our publication. I think this will be a good addition to the Invader. Welcome aboard Tony. Speaking of squadron news, Fletch will be leaving soon. I don’t know what his new assignment will be yet, but another Reaper (unnamed as we go to press) will become Bob Koehne the new squadron commander at 1313 hours, Friday, May 31st. Presiding over the ceremony will be another Reaper, Colonel Jeffrey J. Schreiner, “Opie”, former commander of the 13th, 2012-2014, who will be the new 509th Wing It is with a heavy heart that I begin my comments for this Commander by then. We already have some association issue. Just about the time the winter Invader went to the members committed to attending, but the more the better. printers, my good friend, and fellow Reaper, Dean Kruse So, if any of you think you can make it, I encourage early passed away, December 10th. Dean and I were crewed reservations as it is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. together in the B-57 the entire two years we spent at Clark We will have news about the change of command in the Air Base, 1965-1967. Even after we both went to wing summer Invader. standardization we continued to fly together. I always felt privileged to be Dean’s back seater, and I respected Also, I recently acquired a new book, copyright 2018, that him for being such a good pilot and mentor. Some years some of you might be interested in, the “Images of America” later we discovered that we were both at Greenville AFB, series “ Whiteman Air Force Base” by a retired USAF Lt. Mississippi at the same time, 1956, when he was going Colonel. It is a comprehensive history of the base, dating through pilot training and I was in ROTC summer camp back to 1942 when it was Sedalia Army Air Field and trained glider pilots for WWII. The foreword is written by Reaper, where I got my dollar ride in a T-33. Brig. General Paul W. Tibbets IV. After Clark, we kept in touch through the years. After his Air Force years, Dean, always an avid golfer, ran several I want to thank Lois Hinton for donating to our association high end country clubs and a private men’s club which Charley’s very nice, framed poster that Don Henderson happened to be in the same town where my folks lived, so created of all the aircraft the 13th has flown. She was very we got to see each other on visits. We ended up retiring pleased to learn that it would soon be on the wall of the only about 100 miles apart in Washington state. We would active squadron at Whiteman. And thanks to Don Mathews talk often and never seemed to run out of old war stories. for picking up the poster, making the arrangements to have He had to deal with several health issues in his later years it packaged, all assembled, so the squadron could just and would sometimes come here to Seattle for care. But, unwrap it and hang it, then shipped to the base, donating no matter what, he was always of good spirits and good the considerable cost to the association. Thanks Don. heart. Dean had a pretty tough time through almost all of In this issue, you will find all the information you need 2018, but never let on that it was getting him down. In for attending the 2019 reunion in Boise, September 18fact, we talked only two days before he passed, and he 22. Bob and Myrtle Parks, with assistance from Roger and was of the same good spirits. As usual, for the better part Pam Bauman, have come up with a great agenda that I think of the hour of our conversation we talked about aviation, you will find interesting. Look it over and you will see why including making no flap approaches. I miss him very there are many reasons for attending, other than all the great much. May he rest in peace. I’m attaching a couple photos, fellowship we enjoy with our Reaper family. 2
President’s Corner
Spring 2019 Starting with Charlie Brown’s suggestion a few years ago, Bob and Myrtle have really tried to minimize costs for attending our reunions. But, it has been an uphill battle. Hotel rates have greatly increased the last few years, and they typically won’t budge much, if at all, for our group reservations. They have also learned to charge extra for more and more things such as parking. Both Savannah and
Boise have about the highest room rates to date. We get a little reprieve in 2020 where Bob Parks has already signed a contract for our reunion in San Antonio, September 29 to October 4, for those of you who really plan a long way in the future. But before that, let’s all show up in Boise and make it another great reunion. Reaper Pride,
Remembering Dean Kruse
“Although he was a very experienced pilot, Dean’s “Back to how we did it in Nam?
previous assignments were primarily strategic and not tactical flying as was the case for many new pilots in the 13th Bomb Squadron during the early part of the Vietnam War in 1965. But in Dean’s case he quickly developed excellent dive bombing and strafing techniques. Many of our missions were flown single ship, but on four occasions I was in the same formation which Dean lead along with his navigator Bob Koehne who was with him on almost all of his missions. After the last pass of these four missions, the forward air controllers reported major damage to the targets we attacked. And I know this was also true on so many more missions he flew which were both day and night diving bombing and strafing including the most difficult Doom Pussy and Rolling Thunder attacks often under heavy enemy fire. Dean was an outstanding pilot, a fine man and my good friend, and I will miss him.
I have always wondered how pilots from SAC could be sent out to fly combat in a tactical dive bomber with NO previous tactical gunnery training that took an average of six months? It is with that thought in mind that our outfit in the 13 Bomb had people like Dean to ready new flyers to pick up a new stick for completely different flying planes with guns plus bombs with no real bomb sight! Couple that with squadron leaders that were not really TAC Fighter orientated and some had to find a way to train and fight at the same time. Dean somehow had it figured out how to overcome the lack of training provided for new and in short time. One cool flight leader! I flew with him both as leader and wing man and he had that rare fun to be with companion to be with if the going got tough. We will miss him - I am not ashamed of my wet eyes knowing he had to go.” Bill Madison “Bob, I’m very sad to hear about Dean’s passing. He was a real class act.” Bob Galbreath
God Bless Dean Kruse.” Bob Butterfield 3
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Officers of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association Robert R. (Bob) Koehne 23332 SE 225th St. Maple Valley, WA 98038
1st Vice President/
Ron Silvia 20 Green Lane Assonet, MA 02702-1410
2nd Vice President
James R. (Bob) Parks 3219 Tavern Oaks St. San Antonio, TX, 78247
Secretary
Edward T. (Tighe) Carvey 6980 Olympic View Ct. Silverdale, WA 98383
Treasurer
Bill Hamann 2950 SE Ocean Blvd. Apt 124-2 Stuart, FL 34996-3512
President
Member at Large WWII
Member at Large Vietnam
Locator Data Manager
Edward D. (Ed) Connor, Jr. 1217 Earnestine St. McLean, VA 22101-2646
Member at Large Korea
Member at Large GWOT
Dave Clark 19 Skona Lake Alpha, IL 61413-9137
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Charlie Breitzke 8 Hobkirk Drive Bella Vista, AR 72715-3404
Ron Jarrett 10349 416th Avenue Britton, SD 57430-5005
Major Nicholas Anderson, “Wolf ” 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO
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Col. Billy A. McLeod
others. Highlights of his career include two years in 5th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theatre (SWPA) under General Douglas Colonel Billy A. MacArthur during WWII in New Guinea and the (Mac) McLeod, Sr., Philippines; personal pilot for four star General USAF (Retired) age 95, died in Springfield, Jacob L. Devers (2 years) and four star General VA. on 6 May, 2017. Mark Clark (1 year) 1947-51; 86th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer 1954-55 at RAF Colonel McLeod was Sculthorpe; Base Operations Officer Langley born November 12, AFB, VA 405th Fighter Wing; 499th Bomb 1921 in Pensacola, Squadron Commander 1956-58; Staff Officer FL. He was the son in the Air Staff, Hg USAF at the Pentagon of Daniel Hunter 1959-63; Commander 13th Bomb Squadron McLeod and Lillian Yokota, Japan, Clark Air Base, Philippines Irene Lea McLeod, 1963-64; Deputy Commander Operation (DCO) both deceased. He served his country for thirty 405th Fighter Wing, Clark Air Base 1964-66; years, first in the US Army Air Corps for five Commander USAF Instructor Pilot School (PIT) years and then twenty five years in the US Air Perrin AFB,TX 1967-69; Commander 3650th Force. He served during three wars (four if Pilot Training Wing at Columbus Air Base, counting the cold war) and flew combat missions Columbus, MS 1969-71. At Columbus AFB his in WWII and Vietnam. job included overseeing the conversion of the Base from its former Strategic Air Command His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bomber mission to the Undergraduate Pilot Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 OLC, Asian Pacific Theatre Ribbon, Presidential Training mission. The conversion included preparations to accept several hundred Unit Citation, American Defense Service Instructors, a student load of 430 newly Medal, WWII Victory Medal and numerous commissioned officers to be trained as pilots, the
Col. Billy A. McLeod, (right), Commander, 13th Bomb Squadron at Clark Air Base in April 1964. He is greeted by the 13th Air Force CO M/Gen Maddux (left). The 8th and 13th Bomb Squadrons were transferred from Japan to provide military support in Southeast Asia prior to the war in South Vietnam which was initiated four months later in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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years of “The Friendly City,” they recognized the need to be near family in 2003 and moved into Greenspring Retirement Facility in Northern Virginia to be near their oldest son, Larry, and family. His Beloved wife, Bonnie, died in 2008. Colonel McLeod is survived by three sons, Larry P. McLeod and wife Jill, of Alexandria, Virginia, Dan Ross McLeod of Austin, TX and Billy Ames McLeod, Jr. and wife Christine of Denver, CO. ; grandchildren Melissa Sasse, Melanie Brown, Megan Elise McLeod, Caroline Mae McLeod and Carson Patrick McLeod; and, four great grandchildren, Elizabeth Cornelia Sasse, Katherine Alexandra Sasse, Augustine Breckinridge Sasse and William Paul Brown.
Col. Billy A. McLeod (retired) and his son Larry were guests at the 68th U.S. Air Force birthday party on September 24, 2015.
building of a new 8,000 foot T-38 runway and 5,000 foot taxiway, three new 600 bed capacity Bachelor Officer’s Quarters, a data processing facility and expanding the Officer’s Club. Mac and his wife, Bonnie Ross McLeod enjoyed their tour of duty at CAFB so much they decided to come back to live in Columbus after retiring from the service. He retired at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX and moved back to Columbus, MS. in October, 1971. While in Columbus, he was an active member of First United Methodist Church serving on almost every committee. Mac began a second career as the Director of the United Campaign in Lowndes County and increased giving by ten times over previous goals in just 3 years. After enjoying thirty two
A memorial service for Billy McLeod was held in the Greenspring Chapel on June 8, 2017.
Billy McLeod with his son Larry and Martin B-57B Canberra #521499 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, 15 October 2007.
B-2 Pilots of 13th Bomb Squadron from Whiteman AFB with Billy McLeod at the dedication of the Vietnam era 13th Bomb Squadron plaque at National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, 15 October 2007
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Clarence A. Brodie I am trying to find information and a photo of my Great Uncle Clarence A. Brodie, KIA in France in 1918. Any help or direction you could give would be greatly appreciated. I would be happy to share what I have if you are interested. Sincerely, Terrance Brodie Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Leighton Brewer’s epic poem “Riders of the Sky” that mentions “Big” Steve Brodie: ‘Say, who’s the ace of all the aces now that Richthofen is dead – Bishop or Fonck or Nungesser?’ ‘I’ll tell you,’ said Stu Elliott, ‘The Ace of Spades: he is the ace of aces; The little fellow with the long thin blade; The one that in the end will get you all.’ And casualty lists lengthened: Guyon gone, Blown into bits by Archie; Big Steve Brodie Burnt up in battle, Jerry Stivers missing, Though Muray Guthrie fought with seven Fokkers Alone in Boche-land far, but could not save His comrade.
First Lieutenant Clarence A. Brodie, U.S. Army, 13th Aero Squadron Entered the Service from Kansas, Died October 1, 1918. Buried in Plot B, Row 35, Grave 20 at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France.
This from the “History of the 13th Aero Squadron” written by 1st Lt. Earl F. Richards and 1st Lt. Stephen M. Avery “Near Andvance the patrol was surprised by 8 or 9 Fokkers and a very bad situation resulted. Two of the Huns jumped on “Big Steve” Brodie and shot him down before he could dive away. Murray pulled around in a chandelle and shot one of the Fokkers down, but it was too late to save Steve.” Information & photos, courtesy of Find A Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55960708/ clarence-alexander-brodie If anyone would have any additional information, please contact Terrance Brodie at: tfbrodie1@yahoo.com 7
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Invader Historical Foundation By Johnathan Clayborn
B-26 Invaders of the 3rd Bomb Group lined up at Clark Air Field in 1945. Photo courtesy United States Air Force.
Hello, Reapers! Don Henderson was kind enough to ask me to write a short piece about a project that I’m working on - one that I could use your help with.
which I’ve been able to definitively corroborate with photos. One story he told me was that they were on a night raid to bomb some train depot to smithereens and were flying through some cloud cover. All of sudden, the plane started This whole thing started with my Grandfather, taking heavy flak and accurate AA fire from the Freddie Carroll. Fred was a Reaper in the 50’s ground. My grandfather looked out the window during the Korean War. He was a gunner who and could see the running flew mostly with pilot Emil lights still on, making the Pindzola and Navigator clouds glow. He shouted Roy Compton. Due to some at Emil to turn the lights interesting turns of events in off. After the mission, they life, I didn’t get to meet discovered a number of holes my grandfather until 2005. in the plane rather close to During that initial visit, he where my grandfather sat, regaled me with tales of and he stood on the back and some of his missions flying hugged the tail, thanking the in Invaders for the 13th. plane for being a good girl I was enamored. Despite and bringing them home, being something of a plane promising he wouldn’t let nut from a young age and them abuse her like that spending much of my youth again. My grandfather was a on Air Force bases, the funny man, so it was always Freddie Carroll on the tail of “R” Invader had skipped my kind of difficult to tease out notice. Sadly, my grandfather how much of dialogue was real and how much of passed away in 2011 and my time to get to know it was a joke - but I have no doubt that the main him was short-lived. details of the stories he told were true. He told me a half-dozen tales of his adventures, Records from that time are difficult to come by. and over the years I grow fearful that I might be One of the things I do remember pretty clearly misremembering some of the details, only a few 8
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was that he often talked about “his plane”, which was called the Assam Dragon. He couldn’t recall the tail letter or number. It wasn’t really his plane, but rather the one that he and his crew flew the most frequently and he liked the most. He told me about how a different crew took this plane out on a mission and was shot down in it. I had wanted to make him a model of this plane before he died and wanted to see if I could find a picture of the nose art so that I could make it accurate. That decision turned into something that I had never imagined.
histories and copies of most of the Invader Individual Aircraft Record Cards, but sadly these cards don’t include any of the Korean or Vietnam Invaders. I’ve been transferring my notes into a website built upon the Wikipedia platform so that I can easily cross-reference information and make sense of everything www.InvaderHistoricalFoundation. com. That’s where the help I need comes in. Despite my continual, exhaustive search, I am sure there is more information that I am missing - stuff that may not be online. I Author’s grandfather, Fred Carroll in VFW cap. hope to find at least one photo During my search for the of every single Invader ever elusive nose art, I began learning a lot about built all 2,503 of them. So far, I have photos the impressive plane that was the A-26 Invader, that positively identify 589 of them, but I am as well as the impressive people who flew and crewed them. I started gathering notes and photos, sure there are more. I’ve also been gathering war stories from Invader crews, and photos of Invader first dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of them. I had the idea to take all my information and crews (including ground crew and administration personnel). My hope is that people will be able to put it on a website, to found an Online Museum search through my database by the plane’s serial dedicated to the Invader and the people who crewed them - The Invader Historical Foundation. number, the plane’s name, or by the squadron which flew the plane, and see everything I know If I hadn’t heard about this plane before, I was about that plane, including which people flew in quite certain that others might not know about it and what became of those people. I’ve been it either. I worried that parts of history might be forgotten or lost to the ages, and that was something starting with those personnel that were KIA or MIA because there is more information available I decided not to let happen if I could help it. to me. But, that’s where you can help. If you have Over the next few years, I scoured every corner any old photos of Invaders or personnel that were of the internet looking for websites, stories, photo part of squadrons that flew Invaders, personal galleries - any information at all that I could histories, war stories, or any information of that find on Invaders and Invader crews. I purchased sort, and you are willing to share that information almost every book written about Invaders that for this endeavor, please send them my way at I could find (including one written in Japanese InvaderHistoricalFoundation@gmail.com. You that I can’t even read). I acquired copies of don’t have to send your original photos, a scanned pilot manuals, engineering manuals, and at image will work just fine! You can also find the some expense, a complete copy of every official Invader Historical Foundation on Facebook. If technical schematic for every part in the Invader you know someone who can access historical produced by Douglas. I have several original archives, please point them my way as well. photos from the 40s and 50s, a handful of patches, Who knew that a simple quest to find a photo and some parts of actual Invaders, including a few would lead to a nearly decade-long obsession? fuel gauges and an Invader pilot’s yoke. I even I’ve managed to find more than 3,500 different have an old Invader loading calculator slide-rule. photos of Invaders, including many shots of the I also convinced the fine folks at the US Air Force same plane at different points throughout the Historical Research Agency to send me some unit 9
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years. But still, never the photo that started it all. Maybe one day I’ll find it. But in the meantime, I want to do my part to honor the legacy and courage of the Invader squadrons.
1948-1950, including some old inspection photos from the unit’s Monthly Summaries.
I’ve included but a small sample of my Invader photos that relate to the 13th Bomb Squadron. In 1945, the 13th received 4 Invaders for combat trials. Those Invaders were serial numbers 4139116 through 41-39119. I have photos of 3 of those 4 planes while they were in the Pacific. I’ve also included a number of old photos spanning the interwar Occupation of Japan from
I’ve also included a photographic history of the 13th plane, Point. It is shown as part of the 386th Bomb Group during WWII in a mission over Belgium. When, newly assigned to the 13th with a flat-top and Point on the tail. The Point had the original 6-gun nose, then she got the glass-nose, then with the newer-style clam-shell canopy. She was ultimately converted to a TB-26 and lost in a crash during a training accident in Japan shortly after the Korean War ended.
43-22343 Over Belgium. Early ‘45. Richard H. Denison.
43-22343 Flat top, 6 gun nose, Iwakuni ‘51. Kostohryz
13th B.S. Inspection. Feb ‘48. Yokota AB. Lt. Col. J.P. Crocker. Maj. C.H. Gross. Cpt. A. Warfied. Cpt. P.L. Thomas (hidden). MSgt. L.W. Garner. USAFHRA.
13th B.S. Inspection. Mar ‘48. Yokota AB. Unknown Plane Tail Letter D. Cpt. Mendrop. SSgt. Ellis. SSgt. McCreedy. Cpl. Kozbiel. USAFHRA.
13th B.S. Inspection. Mar ‘48. Yokota AB. Unknown Plane. 1st Lt. Bates. Cpl. Bellflower. Cpl. Hawkins. Pfc. Williams. USAFHRA
13th B.S. Inspection. Feb ‘48. Yokota AB. Cpt. C.L. Martindale (in cap) reporting to Lt. Col. Crocker. Maj. Gross on right. USAFHRA.
13th B.S. Inspection. Mar ‘48. Yokota AB. Unknown Plane. 1st Lt. Mueller. TSgt. Bunten. Sgt. Drury. Cpl. Ellis. Pfc. Bay. Cpl. Phillips. Pvt. Schlink. USAFHRA
13th B.S. Inspection. Mar ‘48. Yokota AB. Unknown Plane. Cpt. Jahnke. SSgt. Gisin. Sgt. Williams. Sgt. Carr. USAFHRA
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Shrikes & Reapers
The Origins of an Attack Squadron After the Great War in March of 1919, the 13th Aero Surveillance Group along with the 8th, 12th and 90th Aero Squadrons. In August of 1919, troops from Squadron was deactivated. Mitchell Field were transferred to the 104th at Kelly The 104th Aero Squadron was organized on August Field to bring the 104th up to squadron strength, 25, 1917 at Kelly Field. During WWI, the 104th was flying surplus Dayton-Wright DH-4 aircraft. an Observation/Reconnaissance Squadron flying the French-built Salmson 2A2 observation aircraft. The As part of the Army Surveillance Group, the 104th flew reconnaissance missions, directing Allied 104th was put into service along the border with Mexico due to the revolution and unrest that was artillery and pinpointing German troop movements endangering American citizens. The squadron was divided into three flights, HQ Flight, Flight A (both at Fort Bliss), and Flight B at Post Field, Oklahoma. Flight B was moved to Marfa Field, Texas in November 1920 to patrol the Big Bend area of the Texas-Mexico border.
Salmson 2A2
along the Western Front. Because of work by the 104th and other reconnaissance aircraft, the Allies gained important information on German activities and allowed Allied artillery to more accurately target the Germans. Aerial observation was constantly taking photos of German positions and giving the Allied infantry an eye in the sky. In April of 1919, the 104th returned to the United States and became part of U.S. Army Air Service in 1921. In May of 1919, after arriving at Roosevelt Field, most men of the 104th were discharged, making the 104th a squadron in name only, with just one officer and an enlisted man. About mid-May, the 104th was moved to Fort Bliss, Texas and assigned to the Army
Dayton-Wright DH-4. Photo courtesy of Scott Lindley
On March 14, 1921, as part of the permanent Army Air Service, the 104th Surveillance Squadron was redesignated the 13th Squadron. In May of 1921, flights along the border were ended and all flights ordered to Langley Field, Virginia. On July 2, the squadron was reassembled at Kelly Field and on January 25, 1923, the squadron was redesignated the 13th Attack Squadron.
Dayton-Wright XB-1. Photo courtesy of Scott Lindley
The new mission of the 13th Attack Squadron was to test a series of new aircraft and determine their suitability and durability as attack aircraft. Aircraft tested were the Dayton-Wright XB1A, an observation aircraft to be used for aerial photography, bombing and liaison, and the Boeing GAX, a ground attack tri-plane. In 1923, 13th Attack Squadron again flew the Dayton-Wright DH-4, performing aerial 11
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Centerfold
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Shrikes & Reapers
The origins of an Attack Squadron continued...
Boeing GAX. Photo courtesy of Scott Lindley
demonstrations and formation flying, along with normal training. However, due to budget reductions, the squadron was inactivated on June 27, 1924. After the squadron’s inactivation from the active forces, the 13th was designated as a Regular Army Inactive squadron. It was only partially manned with reserve officers and remained designated as the 13th Attack Squadron. On February 28, 1927, the 13th was allotted to the Eighth Corps Area and organized with reserve personnel. In May of 1928, the squadron conducted summer training at Fort Crockett, Texas with other units of the 3rd Attack Group.
Curtiss A-8 Shrike at Barksdale Field. Photo courtesy of Scott Lindley
and later to the Curtiss A-12 “Shrike” ground attack aircraft. The Curtiss A-12 Shrike was the United States Army Air Corps’ second monoplane groundattack aircraft, and its main attack aircraft through most of the 1930’s. It was based on the A-8, but had a radial engine instead of the A-8’s inline, watercooled engine, as well as other changes.
Curtiss A-12 Shrike at Barksdale Field. Photo courtesy of the United States Air Force Museum.
Curtiss A-3B. Photo courtesy of the United States Air Force Museum
On November 1, 1929, the 13th Attack Squadron returned to active status and again joined the 3rd Attack Group at Langley Field, Virginia. Then two weeks later, the 13th returned to Fort Crockett. From 1929 to 1934, the squadron flew several different Curtiss aircraft, starting with the A-3 and then converting to the newer Curtiss A-8 “Shrike”
In February of 1935, the 13th Attack Squadron moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On October 16, 1936, the War Department reconstituted the WWI 13th Aero Squadron and it was consolidated with the 13th Attack Squadron, forming a single squadron of two separate origins and combining the history and traditions of both squadrons. The 13th Attack Squadron designation was retained for the consolidated unit. In 1936, the squadron received the Northrop A-17 ground attack aircraft. The Reapers continued flying A-17’s through 1939. On September 15, 1939, the squadron became the 13th Bombardment Squadron (Light), while its parent became the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light). Douglas B-18 Bolo 14
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insignia and instrumentation. The 3rd Group had a number of people, namely Pappy Gunn, who were eager for action. When command got permission to take possession of the Dutch B-25’s, these men were ferried to Brisbane and flew the B-25’s back to Charters Towers.
Northrop A-17. Photo courtesy of Boswell Collection
medium bombers were gained about this same time, but some Martin B-12’s were also flown in the 1939-1941 period as the 13th developed into a proficient bombardment squadron. The 3rd Bomb Group moved to Savannah Army Airfield, Georgia in October 1940, and in 1941 they received Douglas A-20A Havoc ground attack aircraft to replace their obsolescent B-18’s and B-12’s. One of the Dutch B-25’s in possession of the 13th Attack Squadron. Photo courtesy of Jack Heyn.
B-18 Bolo medium bomber. Photo courtesy of Scott Lindley
At the outbreak of WWII on December 7, 1941, the 13th Attack Squadron began an accelerated training program and was engaged in anti-submarine patrols searching for German U-boats along the Atlantic Coast. Most ranking officers and experienced men from the unit were pulled and assigned overseas to train other units. Because of this, the squadron was left without personnel or aircraft. In January 1942, when the squadron arrived in Australia as part of the 3rd Bomb Group they were still without aircraft. In early April, a group of B-25’s consigned to the Dutch were standing idle at Brisbane. The Dutch had been overrun by the Japanese in the East Indies and these B-25’s never entered into combat. They were still equipped with 650 gal. bomb bay ferrying tanks for the flight to Australia. They had Dutch
The 13th Attack Squadron flew the B-25’s on the first missions out of Port Moresby against the Japanese, particularly against Gasmata, around the first week of April. The 13th Attack Squadron, known by then as the Devil’s Own Grim Reapers, used those planes, and later A-20’s, to attack bridges, transports, airfields, troop installations, seaplanes, docks, warehouses and enemy targets. By the end of the war, the 13th Attack Squadron had earned four Distinguished Unit Citations for actions over the Philippines, Papua and New Guinea, as well as the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. From the end of World War II to 1950, the 13th Attack Squadron remained in Japan as part of the Army of Occupation and were the first to see action in the Korean War.
A-20 Havoc. Photo courtesy of Jack Heyn.
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Showcasing 6 Female Whiteman AFB Pilots
Lt. Col. Nicola C. Polidor, pilot, 509th Bomb Wing
Capt. Jennifer Crum, pilot, 13th Bomb Squadron
Capt. Sarah Kociuba, pilot, 393rd Bomb Squadron
Capt. Lauren Kram, pilot, 13th Bomb Squadron
1st Lt. Lacey Orians, pilot, 13th Bomb Squadron
Capt. Lauren Kolod, pilot, 393rd Bomb Squadron
Whiteman Air Force Base has the most female pilots at one time than it’s ever had. For the first time in history, the 509th Bomb Wing has six female aviators. In recognition of International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8, 2019, we asked them to share their thoughts and experiences. Check out the video at www.Facebook.com/WhitemanAirForceBase. International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The firstInternational Women’s Day gathering was in 1911 and supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. This year’s theme is Balance for Better. Learn more at: www.internationalwomensday.com Lt. Col. Nicola Polidor, 509th Bomb Wing “What I would like to pass onto my daughter is that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to, much like my mother taught me. My children see both of their parents put on flight suits every day and go to work. I want them to grow up in a world where that is normal and that they can accomplish whatever they strive for.” Capt. Lauren Kram, 13th Bomb Squadron “When a lot of people think of what being in the military or being a pilot is, they usually think of boys or men, but there are a lot of women in the
military, in aviation. A lot of my friends are female pilots. It doesn’t matter really the gender, as long as you want to do it. You go through the training and you earn it like everyone else.” Capt. Jennifer Crum, 13th Bomb Squadron “I was inspired to become a pilot at the Air Force Academy where I first flew in a glider. I later became a civilian pilot, where my husband taught me how to fly. I caught the flying bug and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of flying is that initial takeoff when you feel the jet lift away from the pavement for the first time. It’s a feeling that you can’t replicate anywhere else.” Capt. Sarah Kociuba, 393rd Bomb Squadron “One of the coolest flights I’ve ever had, I got to take the B-2 out to Wake Island to do a hot-pit refuel. That was pretty neat. Using all the skills I’ve learned up until now, doing a pretty cool approach, landing there, getting the fuel and taking back off. Just taking a quick look back down at the island in the waves before I kept going.” 1st Lt. Lacey Orians, 13th Bomb Squadron “As a female in a male-operated and maledominated career field, it is important for females to keep pushing those boundaries and to continue to try to break into things that usually aren’t encouraged or expected of women, to make it more equal and more achievable for everyone.” U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Kayla White 20
Spring 2019
Deaths Not Previously Reported As of Spring 2019
Rest In Peace Roger W. Sturm October 11, 2018 Gunner, 1952
Lyle E. Stoelk March 22, 2018 Flight Eng, 1952-53
Billy A. McLeod May 6, 2017 Squadron CO, 1963-64
Jack W. Smith 2016 Radio Mech, 1949-52
Carl V. Flexer December 21, 2018 Prop Mech, 1953-54
Donald J. Butler August 10, 2017 Radio Mech, 1952-53
William R. Laughlin October 3, 2018 Navigator, 1951
Frederick L. Kolovrat March 26, 2019 Radar Rep Tech, 1954-56
Curtis F. Shuman May 16, 2017 Gunner, 1952-53
Richard D. Vitters February 3, 2018 Aircraft Mech, 1958-59
Dean Kruse December 10, 2018 Pilot 1965-67
Albert M. Andre January 20, 2019 Gunner, 1951-52
George W. Juno December 19, 2018 Gunner, 1952 Richard A. Mackie April 1, 2017 Wpns Mx Sup, 1969
Please send your memories of Dean Kruse by May 15th to be shared at the May 24th memorial for Dean in La Porte City, Iowa to this address: Kathryn and Anita Kruse 2455 Dunstan Rd #513 Houston, TX 77005 or email to: anitakruse@sbcglobal.net 21
Spring 2019
Locator’s Radar Are you on our Radar? I received the following request, and if anyone can help Charlie Breitzke, Locator with information or memorabilia, please contact Mr. Wilkins. “My Uncle Danforth Earl Wilkins was shot down May 23rd, 1942 near New Guinea. He was the flight engineer. I’ve since learned he was captured and executed along with Captain Keel at Rabaul. Remains were never found. Do you have patches, coins, etc. that you can share? I have 2 brothers as well. All 3 of my sons have served in the USAF as well, and my youngest son is in USAF boot camp as we speak. He already has the Grim Reapers story and would like more info.” Paul Danforth Wilkins 972-562-5981 Allen, TX pwilkins54@yahoo.com
etc.) changes, please let me know, either at my email address below, or through the website. info@13thbombsquadron.net If (when?) you find that there’s something wrong with your entry, and you would like it noted in the Invader, let me know, and I’ll publish the change here.
Note to all members... Post office notices or returned Invaders are messy for me and an expense for the association. For those of you who don’t get an issue of the Invader, for whatever reason, remember that it’s also available on the website. https://13thbombsquadron.net/
Please contact Charlie Breitzke at info@13thbombsquadron.net
For the B-57G folks... There is a group that holds reunions for anyone stationed at Ubon. Their website is https://ubonreunion.org/.
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.
Seeking Info...
*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
Does anyone have any information about Lt. Ernest (Max) Adler? He was a navigator in Korea, declared MIA in October of 1951 (with pilot Ray Olcott and bombardier Robert Andrews) and KIA in February of 1954. His great-nephew, Mark Stewart, is interested in hearing anything about Max. If you can help, please contact Mark at: (email) vrtx66@icloud.com or (phone) 928-592-8322.
The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015
Note to all members... We’re planning to put out a new association directory this summer. If any of your personal or contact information (address, phone, email,
Cover photo: The headquarters of the 13th Attack Squadron, Barksdale Field, Louisiana. 22
Spring 2019
The Hot SEAT
come up with a pizza. He traded some contraband he smuggled out of Korea Editor’s Comments with a cook in the ship’s 2019 started off on a sad note. My dad’s friend, Thomas Patrick McNamara, passed away. “Mac” mess! They sat out on deck and ate the pizza. Over the and my dad became friends during basic training years, Mac kept in touch at Aberdeen Proving Ground. They were both with my dad, and whenever street smart kids from the Rust Belt. Mac was from Cincinnati and my dad was from Pittsburgh. his travels brought him to Pittsburgh, they always They were both assigned to the 58th Ordnance Don Henderson, Editor Ammo Co. When they arrived in Korea, Mac was got together. Several years stationed at Inchon while my dad was at Siheung. ago, my dad had open heart surgery to replace his Mac ended up driving a Duck, transporting ammo aortic valve and a 9” section of his aorta. This was from supply ships through a maze of scuttled ships his second operation in 14 years to correct and repair an aorta dissection. This is a very serious in Inchon Harbor to trains destined for Siheung, the largest ammo dump in the world. Siheung was operation. Not wanting to take anything away from the brilliant surgical team at UPMC headed a WWII-era Japanese ammo dump. At Siheung, by Dr. Bartley Griffith, to whom I am eternally my dad had a contingent of KATUSA soldiers grateful for saving my dad’s life, but there may assigned to him to transport ammo by truck from have been other factors at play. A few days after the railhead to the ammo dump, and then back to the surgery when Dad be transported by rail had stabilized, he was to forward ASP’s. My moved from the ICU dad would volunteer to CCU. While he was from time to time sleeping one day, my to accompany the mom and our family ammo trains to the went to the cafeteria forward ASP near for lunch. When we Cheorwon where got back, there was my uncle was with a guy in the room the 92nd Armored talking to Dad. The Field Artillery. Then room had a brightness he’d take the empty about it and Dad trains back to Inchon seemed brighter too. where he’d meet up Thomas Patrick McNamara and his Duck at Inchon. Because the North Koreans had with Mac. Mac made mined and scuttled ships in Inchon Harbor, Amphibious Trucks better known as Ducks It was Mac! He was in Pittsburgh for a men’s used to bring supplies and ammo into Inchon, from there the ammo was loaded on a few trips to the 58th were train cars and shipped by rail to forward ASPs. Christian conference Ord. Ammo Co. too. and looked my dad up. Little did he know at the One time while he was there, he climbed up a time that it would take him to the Cardiac Care smokestack near the railhead, but decided that it Unit of the University of Pittsburgh Medical wasn’t a good idea to expose himself to enemy fire. Mac had experience with that when sabotage Center in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Oakland was suspected by Communist infiltrators in a huge neighborhood. Anyone who knows Pittsburgh, knows that this is not an easy city to get around, explosion at the Inchon ammo dump. When they but here was Mac standing in the hospital room were shipped home, dad and Mac were on the talking with my dad! I don’t know how Mac troop ship together and Mac had already made found out my dad was there, but I’m sure there some connections with the crew. One day, Mac was some divine intervention that brought him to asked my dad besides my mom, what he missed see his old buddy. I’ll never forget that. most back in the States? My dad’s answer was RIP Mac. pizza! Wouldn’t you know it, Mac was able to 23
13th Bomb Squadron Association Charlie Breitzke 8 Hobkirk Drive Bella Vista, AR 72715-3404 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
B-2 Spirit Hawaiian reflection A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in support of the U.S. Strategic Command’s Bomber Task Force deployment is parked on the flightline Sept. 26, 2018. The B-2 is a multi-role bomber with a wingspan of 172 feet capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Danielle Quilla)