Invader vol 33 issue 2 2015 lrz

Vol. 33 No. 3

November 2015

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

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ood G a And wind!

Tail

2015 13th Bomb Squadron Association Reunion Branson, Missouri

November 2015

The President’s Corner WOW! What a great

passable; but I think everyone had fun—and that’s what we came for; so overall, it, too, was a success.

reunion in Branson. Wish more of you had been there!

The Branson Radisson did a superb job—their staff was excellent, their treatment of us was superb and their rates were not much more than a Holiday Inn, if any.

On other important matters I need your help. First, is reunion attendance—which is becoming a major problem. Here’s why: Not including the ten Whiteman 13th B-2 members and spouses, who came for only the Friday night banquet, just 23 active members attended. That number is insufficient to get good hotel and other venue rates; and it’s not a healthy enough number to sustain annual reunions. Although for the past few years a large amount of work has been done by the commercial reunion company that we have used, there still remained substantial work to be done by the officers of the organization (with the largest part being done by Bob Parks). For the San Diego reunion, which is scheduled for 5-9 Oct, 2016, (mark your calendars), we will not have the full support of Armed Forces Reunions; thus, the Association will need to do more of the planning and execution tasks ourselves. Volunteers from the San Diego/southern California area will be especially welcomed.

Following the banquet on Friday night we had two great presentations: The keynote, by Brigadier General Paul Tibbets IV, the commander of the 509thBomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, MO, brought us up to date on the 509th Bomb Wing commitments and the role it plays in both current operations and strategic deterrence, mixed with some real time and sometimes funny experiences. He told us of his close relationship with his grandfather who piloted the B-29, Enola Gay, that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan. He said his grandfather always felt that he was just following orders during that historic mission that brought about the end of WWII. He also assured us of his commitment to the 2017 100th anniversary reunion of the 13th, and the importance of sustaining the squadron’s historical significance through the association. Thank you again General Tibbets for your presence and your leadership.

Charley Brown

Second, as you read the financial report later in this issue, you will see that we have had to repeatedly rely on our savings to meet operational expenses—the most serious of which involves our magazine and reunion expenses. Over the past ten years or so, our membership, and the commensurate donations, have steadily decreased. Since we do not have dues, we depend on donations to cover all of our expenses; and we are in The second presentation, delivered by our fellow a downhill glideslope in that regard. Although we ask member, Col. (USAF Ret) Jim Humphries, told the story of the extensively modified 13th Bomb Squadron’s for only $35.00 per year, many of our readers have not been contributing anything. (Bob Parks can give you the B-57Bs that became the B-57G. He traced its early development, though the operational test and evaluation exact numbers if you’re interested.) Therefore, starting with this issue there will be a donation form printed at Eglin and MacDill, the step-by-step deployment herein. Hopefully, those of you who are able to do so of the eleven operational jets from MacDill AFB to will make a contribution now. We need your financial Ubon RTAB, along with its operational successes and support. limitations while attacking the logistics train of North Vietnam along the trails of Laos. If anyone would like to As you will see in the minutes of the general have a copy of his complete presentation, let me know; membership meeting, we have elected Bill Hamann as and with Jim’s approval and a few of your bucks, I’ll Treasurer. He replaces Roger Bauman who has done a make a copy and send it to you. fine job as our Treasurer serving for the past four and The two major Las Vegas-type shows—that many of us one half years. Thank you Roger, for your sustained superior performance; and thank you Bill for standing attended—were outstanding. The boat cruise and show up when we badly needed someone to stand up. (Which were pretty good—and our own Bob Koehne and his wife, Carole, made the show much better! Although the brings to mind: If any of you would like to serve the cruise part was mostly in the dark, and the food was just Association in an official capacity, please let me know.

We need new officers every year; and simply asking 2

November 2015

the current staff to commit to another term is not the answer.) Bill has also volunteered to serve as Locator, replacing Bob Parks who has served in that capacity for the last eight years. Few members of this Association have contributed so much to our success, and we all salute Bob for his dedication and sterling performance in this critical job, while continuing to serve as Second Vice President.

13th Bomb Squadron Assoc. 2016 Reunion Notice.

A toast of thanks to those who came to Branson, a fervent wish to see more of you in San Diego, and my sincere gratitude to all who made it happen.

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.)

Name:________________________________________ Address:______________________________________ City:_____________________State_____Zip:________ _____ 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 Please clip out or copy and send this notice to: CMSG (USAF Ret) Bob Parks, 3219 Tavern Oaks, San Antonio, TX 78247-3080 or email Bob at: bob-parks@satx.rr.com

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.

13TH BOMB SQUADRON

ASSOCIATION DONATION FORM

*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_________

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

The INVADER masthead displays the principal combat aircraft of the 13th Squadron since its initial activation in 1917. ©13th Bomb Squadron Association 2015 Cover photo: Our cover features the distinct nose of a B-57G. The chin fairing was a huge drag bucket! The sensors it contained included a low light level TV, plus the laser designator and a forward-looking infrared sensor In the nose cone was the forward-looking radar (which was supposed to have a moving target indicator – but didn't). The sensors were integrated with doppler navigation and computerized bombing system. All of this was operated by the navigator/systems operator in the back cockpit. On a bomb run, his computer drove the pilot’s course indicator for steering, and a time to go bar. The computer knew the ballistics, and released the bomb with the pilot’s consent, at precisely the right moment.

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November 2015

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/

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

2nd Vice President

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

Secretary

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

Treasurer

Bill Hamman 2950 SE Ocean Blvd.

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

Member at Large WWII

Member at Large Vietnam

Locator Data Manager

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

Member at Large Korea

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

Member at Large GWOT

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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

November 2015

A Good Tail Wind

By Jim Humphries, Colonel, USAF (Retired)

This was Jim Humphries presentation to the 13th Bomb Squadron Association at the reunion in Branson, MO. September 16 - 20, 2015

to. During a bombing halt, a demilitarized zone (the DMZ) was set up between North and South Vietnam.

Enemy trucks couldn’t cross the DMZ, so they just went around it into neighboring Laos every night.

You’ll recognize that network of roads and waterways as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The requirement for night attack aviation was recognized almost as soon as aircraft were employed in war. But it was long in coming then suddenly, as technology developed, there was more than one way to do this. The AC-130 gunships, for example, used sensors and guns to do the job. But tonight, I’m going to tell you about another first generation weapon system that met that requirement successfully in the early Seventies - the B-57G. The Air Force had been experimenting with delivery of laser-guided bombs for quite some time. The beginnings of that were F-4s operating out of Ubon before we got there. The laser designator would be in one of the Phantoms, while other planes in the formation would carry the bombs. The obvious next step was to put the laser designator, the computer and the bombs in the same airframe coupled with see-inthe-dark sensors. That first integration in a B-57 was called Tropic Moon III, and was the genesis of the B-57G model that we took to war in 1970.

B-57G #898

I’m honored to tell the story of the Ubon, Thailand, deployment of the 13th Bomb Squadron during the Vietnam war.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail Our mission was night interdiction of enemy trucks carrying war material along the dark jungle trails of Laos. But night interdiction was easier said than done.

A spokesman for Westinghouse, who designed and integrated this capability into our airplane, addressed the problem in 1969 with this quote: “While our tactical aviation can sweep the enemy clear of the roads by day, this same enemy is able to move and re-supply almost as well by night because we are unable to seek out and destroy him consistently and effectively.” Here was the reality he was referring

Here’s the G-Model in her war paint at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, close to the border of Laos.

This is one of eleven airplanes that we ferried across the Pacific forty-five years ago. The Canberra was a logical choice to receive the night bombing system for armed reconnaissance along the trail. The airplane was fast. It could carry an effective bomb load, and had enough endurance to remain on station for a couple of hours. It also had room for a sensor operator in the back cockpit. I became very proud of our airplane in due time.

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cont. on page 6

November 2015 I’ve met association members who served tours in Vietnam in the B-57 in an earlier deployment of the 13th Bomb Squadron. When that unit and the 8th were stood down, sixteen of their B-57B airplanes were modified into the G-Model. Then, as the airplanes were nearing completion, the 13th Bomb Squadron was re-activated at MacDill AFB, Florida in January 1969 with Lt Col Paul Pitt as squadron commander.

As the squadron formed, we waited at MacDill for our airplanes to come from the Martin Company and Westinghouse (who had jointly developed the G-Model).

588 in Revetment.

The first time I saw the airplane, I was shocked at the crudeness of the external modifications. Electronically, the sensor integration was impressive. But the external fairings and air scoops simply weren’t properly streamlined.

Jim Pickles, Crew Chief of #588.

Lt Col Paul Pitt Here’s Colonel Pitt and Oscar on his blue Jeep at Ubon. He was a popular man, and led the unit through its start-up and initial deployment and the first year of combat operations in Thailand.

Charley Brown & Staff This is Jim Pickles , a popular crew chief with his airplane, #588. Jim was the member of the Ubon unit who gathered us all back together again years after we had gone our separate ways, and lost track of each other. Sadly, Jim passed away August 19th. I want to honor him tonight.

The Chin Fairing, You can see what we were concerned about on our first look at the mod. This chin fairing was a huge drag bucket! The sensors it contained included a low light level TV, plus the laser designator and a forwardlooking infrared sensor In the nose cone was the forward-looking radar (which was supposed to have a moving target indicator – but didn’t). The sensors were integrated with a doppler navigation and computerized bombing system .

L/R: Fritz Huber, Jim Humphries, Chuck Strain, Ed Buschette & Charley Brown

And here are his able ops officer, lead navigator and flight leaders. And that’s our association president, Charley Brown on the right with his banana.

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November 2015 flying with the speed brakes open. Until that flight, I hadn’t thought much about how we would get the airplanes to Southeast Asia. I didn’t know then how far we had to fly, and I didn’t yet know how far this airplane could fly. And that’s much of the rest of the story.

Meanwhile, our navigators had already been busy finding a suitable route half-way around the world to Ubon. It was decided to island-hop across the Pacific.

The over-water distances were staggering. From San Francisco to Hawaii was way too far, like 2,300 nautical miles.

All of this was operated by the navigator/systems operator in the back cockpit. On a bomb run, his computer drove the pilot’s course indicator for steering, and a time to go bar. The computer knew the ballistics, and released the bomb with the pilot’s consent, at precisely the right moment.

MacDill to Adak The route they chose took us across the United States and up the coast of Canada to Elmendorf, Alaska, and on out to Adak. From there we would set out across the Pacific for Midway Island. Adak Naval Air Station was way out in the Aleutian Island chain. And, from Adak to Midway was 1421 nautical miles due south over open ocean -- the longest of the over-water legs.

The flight manual maximum range of the G-Model was less than 1100 miles, way short of getting to Midway. And, the airplane had no air refueling capability, so we were in a quandary. It was looking like we simply couldn’t get to the war at all!

We took some of the airplanes to Eglin AFB for category testing of the sensors and the bombing system. When that got underway, we were in for more surprises. Flying over the bombing ranges at night, our navigators weren’t seeing what they hoped to see on their scopes. Unlighted targets were practically invisible. We were blessed to have experienced SAC navigators who could pick up targets that many couldn’t see at all. But on some really dark nights, even they had difficulty finding the targets.

Horns of Ignorance The air scoops were primitive shapes that you wouldn’t expect to find on a jet aircraft. I called them "Horns of Ignorance!"

Frontal view of the airplane.

It was obvious that the drag of the chin fairings and air scoops would slow the airplanes and drastically reduce their range and endurance. This was borne out on my first flight in the g-model. There was a steady roar like 7

November 2015 One target was a remote-controlled half-track which drove around a race track course in the dark. In a desperate effort to help qualify the airplane, the ground team, at least once, put a hot hibachi pot in the half track, and the infrared sensor jumped right on it. It was beginning to look like the sensors would be marginal at best in the dark nights of laos.

Meanwhile, we still had to find a way to get across that much ocean.

A Ferry Tank

data using a slide rule and a team of helpers to crunch numbers. Dan Pipkins was helping with the data reduction. One day I sent him to the weather station to get a Skew T/log P Diagram.

A ferry tank in the bomb bay was standard procedure for long flights. Here’s a ferry tank installed on a bomb bay door. It held 3562 lbs. of jet fuel.

But even with all the fuel we could carry, Midway was still way beyond our reach. We looked at many ways to extend the ferry range. There were five more overwater stretches beyond Midway, though none quite as far as that first leg. So we embarked on a do-it-yourself test program flying standard, uninstrumented squadron airplanes evaluating ideas for range improvement.

Range Improvement Ideas • Minimize taxi fuel: Tow planes to end of runway • Climb at optimal climb speed schedule • Level-off above Flight Manual service ceiling • Cruise at optimal cruise speed • Cruise-climb from level-off till start of descent • Descend with speed brakes closed • Reconfigure B-57G for ferry flights - Remove 2100 lbs. of sensors & electronics - Remove and cover over high-drag scoops • Utilize JP-5 Navy jet fuel when available • Pray for tailwinds!!!

We climbed at an optimal mach schedule (260 kias/0.6 m), leveled off at 35,500 feet, well above the flight manual service ceiling. We cruise-climbed at 0.6 m as fuel burned off, and descended from 42,700 feet at mach 0.6/300 kias with speed brakes retracted.

Then, after each test flight, we reduced the flight test

A Skew T/log P Diagram Danny went, wondering if I was sending him on a snipe hunt. But he came back with a chart like this which let us adjust the test data to standard day conditions.

There was no safe way that we could fly the cross country test missions to dry tanks. But there was a clever theoretical way, called the Breguet range equation, to extrapolate flight test range data to dry tanks. We used that handy formula to predict our ultimate range. We were making progress, but our range still wasn’t far enough.

Well, now what? Our planes were just too heavy!!

Then somebody suggested that we could remove the sensors for the ferry flights. That would be a maintenance nightmare, but we had to do it. Our maintenance team lightened the planes by removing from each airplane over a ton of sensors and electronics - 2100 pounds, not needed for the ocean crossing. Sure enough, that was the magic key that gave us just enough range to get there. Whoever said that getting there was half the fun, never tried getting there in a B-57G! We sent our home-grown test results up the chain of command to TAC headquarters, claiming that we could fly our stripped-down planes the 1421 nautical miles from Adak to Midway, with a twenty-five minute fuel reserve on arrival. Back came the order: “Deploy the squadron!”

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November 2015 Contemplating the Ocean Crossing.

But one night we did lose an airplane. Colonel Pitt and his back seater, Colonel Buschette, went down over Laos after a mid-air collision with an unlighted forward air control plane. They ejected, spent an anxious night in the jungle, and the next morning were rescued and recovered uninjured. So we lost an airplane, but not a single crew member.

B-57G #929 Tail View.

The last days before the squadron deployed were anxious for all of us. My wife, Marsha, woke me one night in a panic. She said,. “I dreamed I saw you floating around in the ocean in a little yellow life raft!” I told her that didn’t worry me nearly as much as seeing my squadron commander floating around in a little yellow life raft!

One thing we could do while we waited for the deployment date was to pray for tailwinds. I asked my mother to pray for tailwinds for our ocean crossing. She began calling her friends all across the state of South Carolina, asking them to "pray for tailwinds". I don’t think she knew what tailwinds were, but she told them, “Jim said it was urgent!” and pray they did.

Then we received an unexpected heavenly assurance from a devout lady named Grace Georgelin, a friend of one of our pilots, Dave Hanlon. Dave was such a fine man that we nick-named him, “Clean Dave.”

Shame on us! Grace Georgelin was formerly a Dutch paratrooper nurse, a powerful Christian lady whom Dave had asked to uphold us in prayer. Well Grace prayed for the safety of the squadron, and later she told Dave that she had a vision of our airplanes escorted by a flight of angels all the way across the Pacific. She was told that we would get across safely, and that during combat operations, the squadron wouldn’t lose a single man. And we didn’t!

Pitt/Buschette

An important operational decision was to assign air crews to the same airplane tail number on all eleven legs of the entire ferry mission. That paid off in many ways, for example: my tip tank low level caution light came on shortly after takeoff on the first leg of the trip, leaving MacDill. Not a problem flying over land! The light proved to be lying, and all of the tip tank fuel was available on every leg. So, a week later, when the tip light came on after takeoff from Adak, it wasn’t a showstopper, requiring an abort, as it would have been if a different crew had been aboard.

Finally, the wait at MacDill was over, and on the morning of the deployment from Florida, we checked the weather enroute to Oklahoma City: Whoa! We had tailwinds to Oke City! I thought, “Not yet, Lord!” .

“We don’t need them till Adak!”

Planes Taxiing Out at MacDill

And with that good forecast, we launched the squadron of eleven airplanes from MacDill on September 15th, 1970.

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November 2015 B-57G Climbing Out After Takeoff

Here’s one of the planes climbing out toward Oklahoma City. We made it to Oklahoma City the first day. The next day, we flew on to Mountain Home, Idaho, and into Canada at Comox. A day later, we landed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Then we flew out the Aleutian Chain to Adak, to prepare for the first ocean leg. Remember the prayers for tailwinds? Well, so far we had tailwinds on every leg all the way to Adak!

Adak, Alaska

The over-water half of the trip was to Thailand: from Adak to Midway, to Wake, to Guam, Okinawa, Clark and Ubon. The Adak weatherman had given us an iffy forecast for light tailwinds.

Climbing Out in Formation

We took off and joined up and climbed out. I was pleased to see one of my wingmen in position, looking good. But a little while later, he dropped back and took this photo.

Photo from Darrell Van Citter’s Plane I call that “loose trail formation.” My plane is out ahead at the tip of the contrail in the gun sight! He wasn’t worried. He had his own navigator in his back seat! An hour after takeoff, one of the navs in our flight called to advise that his doppler radar showed headwinds, and that we might consider turning back.

I was counting on tailwinds, and we continued on, delaying the go-no go decision till reaching the point of no return. Meanwhile, our support team at midway had launched a C-135 coming toward us. On initial contact, we were told to “expect 100-knot tailwinds” all the rest of the way into Midway. And we had them, thank God, landing with more fuel than we ever expected!

Adak was a dreary, wind-swept, cold and wet place, not as pretty as this picture. But it was a God-send, just where it needed to be. Years later, I was telling this story when a man spoke up and said that when he was stationed at Shemya, farther out on the Aleutian chain, they went to Adak for R&R! There were other good ideas as we prepared to launch the first flight of planes out of Adak to Midway, with Col. Pitt leading. The airplanes were towed to the end of the runway to save taxi fuel and at Col. Pitt’s suggestion, the tanks were filled with Navy JP-5 fuel, which had a few more BTU’s per pound than Air Force JP-4. Then, just before takeoff, the tanks were topped, and the pilots hit the start switches, and the first planes rolled down the runway heading for Midway. Four hours later word came that they had all made it. And the next day my flight followed.

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November 2015 Midway Island

The Next Leg, Midway to Wake.

Midway was just a dot in the ocean when we first sighted it. Here’s a close view of the airfield. A beautiful sight!!

The White Sand Beach at Midway

At Midway, we were truly in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The next leg was southwest to Wake Island.

Here’s the chart again, and a photo of what Wake looked like from the cockpit.

Guam

The white sands of Midway! Just look at that beach!

Bill, Dan and Doug

This is Bill Atterberry, Dan Pipkins and Doug Kosan.

When I look at this picture, I think, “We were soldiers once, and young,” to quote a book title by Lt. Gen Hal Moore (Ret).

The rest of the deployment route would include five more long over-water legs.

Guam was the next stop, with Anderson AFB on the cliffs of ahead. From Guam we flew to Kadena, Okinawa, then to Clark in the Philippines, and finally into Southeast Asia.

I flew the last leg from Clark to Ubon with Dan Pipkins on my wing. As we approached the coast of Vietnam, Danny called that his engines had rolled back a few percent, and he couldn’t maintain altitude.

I throttled back and we descended together for a few thousand feet. But then his power was restored, and we went on to Ubon and landed safely – the last two planes of the squadron to arrive.

Ubon (under construction) This is a photo of the Ubon Air Base when it was under construction. It looked a lot better by the time we got there.

That night, I wrote a brief letter to my wife, Marsha, letting her know that we had arrived at Ubon. You can sense the emotion when I wrote, “We’re here safely after 11,533 miles of thunderstorms, and fog and ice 11

cont. on page 22

November 2015

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November 2015

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November 2015

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015

Roger & Pam Bauman

Charlie & Linda Breitzke

Ann Marie & Charley Brown

Bob & MaryAnn Butterfield

Susan & Tighe Carvey

Nancy & Dave Clark 14

November 2015

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015

Bud Compton & Natalie Lee

Warren & Kay Crane

Robert & Rachel Deerwester

PB & Lou Dover

Becca & Dustin Duke

Bill & Ellen Hamann 15

November 2015

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015

Jim & Marsha Humphries

Elmer Jackson

Ron Jarrett

Betty & Don Kasson

Bob & Carole Koehne

Rob & Beth Makros 16

November 2015

13th BOMB SQUADRON REUNION 2015

Donald & Virginia Meeks

Elmer & Grace Nelson

Myrtle & Bob Parks

Jo Ann & Dan Pipkins

Diane & Ron Silvia

Morgan Hildebrand, Mathew Burrows, Lauren Venturini 17

November 2015

13th Bomb Squadron Association Board of Directors Meeting Branson, Missouri • September 17, 2015

Members present: Pres. C. J. “Charley” Brown; Sec. Tighe Carvey; Treas.

Roger Bauman; 1st VP Bob Koehne; Locator/2nd VP Bob Parks; Vietnam Rep. Ron Silva; Korea Rep Ron Jarrett.

M: Bob Parks S: Roger Bauman Passed unanimously

The meeting was called to order at 2:25PM

2. Advisory Committee: The Association bylaws require that the President appoint an advisory committee. Accordingly, President Brown appointed Bob Butterfield, Roger Bauman, and Ron Jarrett as members of the advisory committee.

Motion to approve President Brown’s appointments to the advisory committee.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Bob Koehne Passed unanimously

President Brown determined that a Quorum was present 1.The minutes of the 2014 (Providence, R.I.) 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: Roger Bauman S: Ron Jarrett Passed unanimously 2. Treasurer’s Report: Roger Bauman presented the Treasurer’s Report for discussion and approval.

Roger pointed out that Reunion expenses were unusually high because the association had to pay for unused seats on the large busses that were chartered in Providence. With better management, that expense should not appear in the future. Also, the Radison Hotel in Branson, MO (2015 reunion site) required a $500 deposit. The $2400 increase in Invader expenses is due to paying for one extra issue of the magazine and for travel expenses for the Invader editor.

An extraordinary expense of $1600 results from letting our 501 C-3 lapse.

Attorney’s fees amounted to $750, with the rest going to settle the previous years’ federal taxes.

Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Bob Koehne Passed unanimously Charley thanked Roger for his several years of service as the Association’s Treasurer.

3. Locators Report: Bob Parks presented the Locator’s Report. He announced that 3 new members registered during the year, but we are seeing increasing attrition as older WW2 and Korea members pass away. We now have 504 Active members plus 56 categorized as honorary/friends/associates.

Motion to accept the Locator’s Report.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Roger Bauman Passed unamiously Old Business: None New Business: 1. Memorabilia: Former Association Historian Charlie Hinton has three footlockers containing memorabilia from the time the 13th Bomb Squadron was in Korea. He has been in communication with the Air Force Museum and reached the conclusion that the Museum will not accept the material unless they receive a complete inventory first. Such an inventory would require exceptional effort, so President Brown requested authorization to have the footlockers shipped to him for evaluation.

Motion to authorize President Brown to have the 3 footlockers shipped to his home.

3. Finance Committee. The Association bylaws require that the President appoint a finance committee. Accordingly, President Brown appointed Roger Bauman, Bob Koehne, Ron Silvia as members of the finance committee.

Motion to approve Presidents Brown’s appointments to the finance committee.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Ron Jarrett Passed Unanimously 4. Permanent Reunion Committee: This committee has not been fully staffed in the past because the Association has hired the services of a private company to plan the details of the reunions once we have selected a time and location.

Those firms are no longer interested in contracting with us because our reunion attendance has shrunk to the point that it is no longer profitable for them.

Members of this committee are not appointed by the President, rather they earn their membership through nomination/vote of the general membership.

Motion to table this activity until the general membership on September 19, 2015.

M: Charley Brown S: Tighe Carvey Passed unanimously 5. Historian: The Association bylaws require that the President appoint a Historian. Don Henderson has agreed to act as Historian. Accordingly, the President appointed Don Henderson as Historian.

Motion to accept President Brown’s appointment for Historian.

M: Roger Bauman S: Tighe Carvey Passed unanimously 6. Haberdasher. President Brown has observed that there are several different people dealing in Association related items, i.e. hats tee, shirts, jackets, patches, etc. He would like to see one person, acting as a central point of contact for anyone wishing to purchase any of these items.

Motion to table until the General Membership meeting.

M: Ron Silvia S: Roger Bauman Passed unanimously 7. Copyrighting. Don Henderson noted that the Association Logos, emblems, patch artwork and similar items are not currently copyrighted. After a lengthy discussion, Don Henderson volunteered to investigate the costs and effort required to create a copyright, and he will report his findings to President Brown.

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cont. on page 19

November 2015 Open Item.

8. Changes to the Articles of Association: President Brown proposed the following changes.

A. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 2, first sentence. “ The term of all other members of the Executive Board shall be two years or until a successor has been elected and qualified.” Remove the words “and qualified”.

B. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 4, First sentence …”(or until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified)”. Remove the words “and shall have qualified”.

C. Article VI, Section 3, first sentence, which reads in part “…either personally or by mail, addressed to the member at the address given in the records of the Association”, change to read “ either personally, by mail, by email, or by publication in The Invader,” D. Article VI, Section 4, first sentence, as reads in part “Twenty (20) active members..” replace with “Thirteen (13) active members, or if that number cannot be met, 50 percent of the active members present at the meeting plus one” E. Article VIII, second sentence, which reads in part “to an organization which qualifies as a tax exempt organization under the provision of IRS rules.” Replace with the words “to the Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation and to the Disabled American Veterans in equal amounts”.

Motion to present the Articles of Association to the General Membership, as proposed.

M: Tighe Carvey S: Bob Koehne Passed unanimously

9. Reducing Reunion Cost. Shorten reunions by one day. Find less expensive venues that still have the few amenities we require.

10. Bob Butterfield commented that he has been contacted by a group restoring a non-flyable A-26, tail number 4435092, that they believe flew with the 13th Bomb Squadron in Okinawa during WWII and Japan during the Korean War. They are requesting any available information about the history of the aircraft and also contact information for parts. Bob requested that we bring up this request for information at the General Membership meeting.

11. Bob Parks noted that the color guard for our reunion banquet is from a local Vietnam Veterans of America unit. He requested approval for a $100 donation to the VVA chapter 913. Also President Brown requested that we buy a $100 brick for the Vietnam Memorial located on the campus of the College of the Ozarks in Branson.

Motion to approve these expenditures.

M: Ron Jarrett S: Ron Silvia Passed unanimously 12. Ron Silvia noted that this week represents the 10th anniversary of the passing of a Korean War 13 Bomb Squadron gunner, Lucien Thomas. Ron suggested that this anniversary be mentioned at the General Membership meeting. No action required.

There being no further business, the Board of Directors Meeting was adjourned at 4:45PM

13th Bomb Squadron Association General Membership Meeting Branson, Missouri • September 19, 2015

The meeting was called to order by President C. J. “Charley” Brown at 9:00AM. President Brown noted that 20 members were present and the requirements for a quorum had been met.

The minutes of the 2014 meeting held in Warwick, Rhode Island were published in the Invader.

Motion to accept without reading: Ron Jarett Second: Charlie Breitzke Passed: Unanimous Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer, Roger Bauman, reported that the Association's finances remained sound, however, as in the past, the trend is continuing that receipts are down and slowing while most expenses remain about the same. There were no expenses this past year for distribution of the directory which runs about $3000. That expense will return next year unless there is a change to the every-other-year publication schedule. Also, there are no reunion expenses so far this year. Last year there were over $3000 in reunion expenses resulting from being billed for the unused seats on the large charter busses used for travel to Newport and Providence, R. I. for reunion activities. The Invader continues to be the Association’s largest expense. For the last three issues the costs were: Nov. $2020 (the November 2014 issue was paid in 2015) ; Mar. $1922; and Jul. $1856. The editor of The Invader, Don Henderson, said that there might be some savings possible by going to a less expensive printing process. President Brown asked him to pursue that. Discussion included a suggestion that we poll all active members who automatically receive The Invader to see who might be willing to receive the magazine in digital form, reducing the number of hard copies printed.

Bank charges and fees had an extraordinary $1600 charge this year resulting from the lapse in our 501 C-3 status. The charges resulted from attorney fees and

from the difference in taxes. The Treasurer is making personal contributions to fully offset those charges. The Treasurer estimated that the reduction in savings this year resulting from the reduction in income will be approximately $4000.

Motion to accept the treasurers Report: Bob Parks Second: Roy Compton Passed: Unanimous Locator’s Report: Bob Parks presented the Locator’s Report. He announced that 3 new members registered during the year, but we are seeing increasing attrition as older WW2 and Korea members pass away. We now have 504 Active members plus 56 categorized as honorary/friends/associates. There is an annual loss of membership that ranges between 50 and 75 members. New members will not be registering in the numbers we have seen in the past because there was a 28 year period when he 13th Bomb Squadron was not active. Bob noted that he spends a great deal of his time updating addresses and contact information when mailings are returned as undeliverable. He requested that all members keep the Association in mind when they move.

Motion to Accept Locator’s Report: Roger Bauman Second: Bill Hammond Passed: Unanimous Old Business: 1. Charlie Hinton is in possession of three footlockers full of information pertaining to the 13th Bomb Squadron during the Korean War. These footlockers will be shipped to President Brown. There is more information in the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors.

2. The 2016 reunion will be in San Diego, CA from Oct 5 to Oct 9 2016. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Hotel Circle. Activity details and schedule

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November 2015

13th Bomb Squadron Association General Membership Meeting September 19, 2015

information has not been determined, but will be published in the Invader.

President Brown reminded the members that the 2017 reunion will be at Whiteman AFB Jun14 through Jun 19 2017, and will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Squadron.

3. Bob Butterfield briefed the members on the Association’s website and his efforts to edit and upload information and pictures from the Ubon 1970-1972 yearbook which is on display in the hospitality suite. He asked anyone who might be interested in helping with the website to contact him after the meeting.

4. President Brown asked if anyone would be willing to take either the Reunion Planning responsibilities or the Locator duties from Bob Parks. Bill Hamann expressed willingness to work as Locator and was thereby appointed by President Brown to assume those duties.

New Business: 1. Election of Officers: A. 1st Vice President: Elmer Nelson nominated Bob Koehne as 1st Vice President. There were no other nominations. President Brown called for a vote.

Bob Koehne was elected by acclimation.

B. Treasurer: Roger Bauman nominated Wilfred (Bill) Hamann to fill the one year remaining in the treasurer’s term.

Motion to close the nominations: Ron Jarrett Second: Don Kasson Passed Unanimously Bill Hamann was elected by unanimous consent.

C. WW-II Representative: Bud Compton nominated Ed Connor to be the WW-II Representative.

Motion to close the nominations: Don Kasson Second: Ron Jarrett Ed Connor was elected by unanimous consent D. Post Korea/Vietnam Representative: Charlie Brietzke nominated Ron Silvia to be the Post Korea/Vietnam Representative.

Motion to close the nominations: Ole Nelson Second: Don Kasson Ron Silvia was elected by unanimous consent.

2. Changes to the Articles of Association: President Brown noted that the Board of Directors, in the meeting on Thursday Sep. 17, 2015, unanimously voted to present the following bylaw changes to the General Membership for a vote.

A. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 2, first sentence. “The term of all other members of the Executive Board shall be two years or until a successor has been elected and qualified.” Remove the words “and qualified”.

B. Article V, Section A, Paragraph 4, First sentence …”(or until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified)”. Remove the words “and shall have qualified”.

C. Article VI, Section 3, first sentence, which reads in part “…either personally or by mail, addressed to the member at the address given in the records of the Association”, change to read “either personally, by mail, by email, or by publication in The Invader,” D. Article VI, Section 4, first sentence, as reads in part “Twenty (20) active members.” replace with “Thirteen (13) active members, or if that number cannot be met, 50 percent of the active members present at the meeting plus one” E. Article VIII, second sentence, which reads in part “to an organization which

qualifies as a tax exempt organization under the provision of IRS rules.” Replace with the words “to the Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation, and to the Disabled American Veterans in equal amounts”.

Motion to accept the proposed changes as presented: Tighe Carvey Second: Bill Hamann Passed: Unanimously 3. President Brown reported to the membership that he has appointed Don Henderson to be the Association Historian.

4. President Brown asked for input from the membership on how to reduce the cost of future reunions in order to attract greater participation. Suggestions included shortening the official schedule from 4 to 3 days, and finding smaller venues that charge lower rates. Also, every community has a Visitors/ Convention group willing to assist. President Brown offered all members of the Board of Directors as assistants to help Bob Parks with the arrangements.

5. Haberdasher: President Brown has observed that there are several different people dealing in Association related items, i.e. hats tee, shirts, jackets, patches, etc. He would like to see one person, acting as a central point of contact for anyone wishing to purchase any of these items. There were no volunteers from the general membership. We will continue as in the past..

6. Bob Butterfield commented that he has been contacted by the Weisbrod Museum in Pueblo, CO. They are restoring a non-flyable A-26, tail number 4435092, that they believe flew with the 13th Bomb Squadron in Okinawa during WWII and Japan during the Korean War. They are requesting any available information about the history of the aircraft and also contact information for parts. Bob asked Ron Jarrett to be the single point of contact for passing information between members of the Association and the Museum.

7. Bob Butterfield commented on the recent passing of Dave Regan. Dave was a regular attendee at reunions and official activities that involved the 13th Bomb Squadron and the Association. Bob presented a card for members to sign that will be presented to Dave Regan’s son.

8. Ron Silvia noted that this week represents the 10th anniversary of the passing of a Korean War 13th Bomb Squadron gunner, Lucien Thomas. Ron commented that Lucian was a “world-class Gunner” and was one of the Air Force’s most decorated enlisted men of his time. Ron also noted the passing Jim Pickles, another B-57 era Association active member. President Brown asked that Ron write a memorial for both Lucian Thomas and Jim Pickles that can be published in the Invader.

9. President Brown reported that General Tibbits will hold 65 rooms for Association members who will be attending the reunion in 2017. The General is fully supportive of the 100 year anniversary observance and has already asked the Missouri National Guard to avoid those dates when scheduling their Unit Training Activities.

10. President Brown notified the members that he has appointed an advisory committee comprising Bob Butterfield, Roger Bauman, and Ron Jarrett. He has also appointed a finance committee comprising Roger Bauman, Bob Koehne, and Ron Silvia.

There being no further business President Brown called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ron Jarrett moved for adjournment. President Brown adjourned the meeting at 11:05 AM.

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November 2015

13th Bomb Squadron Association Treasurer's Report September 2015

1/1/2014.1 Through 12/31/2014 1/1/2015 through 9/5/2015 INCOME INCOME Sales $271.14 Sales Contributions $12,807.00 Contributions Interest Income $75.42 Interest Income Other Income $0.00 Other Income Total Inflows $13,153.56 EXPENSES EXPENSES Purchases Hats Pins Etc. $184.79 Purchases Hats Pins Etc. Contribution Expense $712.85 Contribution Letters Directory Expense $2,946.06 Directory Expense Directory Postage $0.00 Directory Postage Historian $0.00 Historian Invader $5,992.30 Invader Bank fees & Charges $105.00 Bank fees & Charges Locator Expense $227.08 Locator Expense Memorabilia $0.00 Memorabilia Memorial $0.00 Memorial Presidents Funds $984.23 Presidents Funds Reunion Expense $3,707.39 Reunion Expense Treasurer Expense $0.00 Treasurer Expense Web site Development $562.50 Web site Development TOTAL OUT FLOWS $15,422.20 TOTAL OUT FLOWS OVERALL TOTAL ($2,268.64) OVERALL TOTAL

Account Balances Account Balances

As of 12/31/2014 As of 9/5/2015

USAA CHECKING $938.83 USAA CHECKING

USAA SAVINGS $27,272.34 USAA SAVINGS

Total Bank Accounts $28,211.17 Total Bank Accounts

$170.00 $12,156.00 $45.24 $0.00 $12,371.24 $256.00 $721.31 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $8,395.96 $1,624.49 $127.69 $80.00 $0.00 $863.46 $0.00 $0.00 $881.25 $12,950.16 ($578.92) $2,360.71 $24,317.58 $26,678.29

Deaths Not Previously Reported As of November 2015

Rest In Peace Richard L. Flagg October 26, 2014 Nav-Bomb 1958-60 Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr. February 4, 2015 Pilot 1951-52 Robert E. Parker February 10, 2015 Pilot 1972 Anders E. Benander November 25, 2014 Navigator 1951 William J. Lucas October 24, 2014 Pilot 1965

William C. Dawson October 20, 2014 Personal Equipment 1950-51 Charles E. Bartels June 30, 2014 Pilot 1950 Donald G. Bunch March 21, 2010 Gunner 1950-51 Kenneth H. High January 23, 2015 Pilot 1953-54 Edward J. Silva November 18, 2014 Line Chief 1948-51 21

Dempsey D. Bankus November 20, 2014 Engineer/Gunner 1949-50 Marion A. Wise December 31, 2014 Gunner 1950-51 Charles D. Stroehl February 14, 2014 Crew Chief 1968-70 Maurice A. January April 28, 2013 Pilot 1944-46 John R. Power May 2, 2013 Navigator 1951

November 2015 The Red Penny Hootch.

and winds and rain and cold -- and more ocean than I ever saw; and everything on the airplanes failed except the few things that could have put us in the water. So, it’s a real miracle. . . Just grateful, grateful to be here.”

And would you believe that we had tailwinds all the way to Ubon! When we told that story on arrival at Ubon, I heard that the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing commander had his weather people check to see if it was true, and it was!

A week later, I got a letter from my mother, “Can we stop praying for tailwinds yet?” I wrote her back, “Mom, your prayers messed up every weatherman’s forecasts in the world for three weeks!! Praise the Lord! You can stop praying for tailwinds now!”

Ubon Was A Fine Base

The hootch was our crew-built squadron bar and a place to hang out near our quarters. It was later named “The Red Penny Hootch” in honor of Major Bob Penny who lost his life in a stateside B-57 crash after completing his tour with us.

Party Suit - Jim

These party suits were in vogue during the Vietnam War, and we all had one made for social events (in the squadron color, red, of course!)

Cinc Hootch 1: Ralph Bowen.

These were our crew quarters. A pleasant surprise!

The bicycles were our primary mode of transportation.

13th Bomb Squadron Operations Building

This was the 13th Squadron Ops Building.

Pretty soon, the guys built a hootch,

Ralph Bowen was “Cinc Hootch I” when it was completed. He’s wearing a flying suit on the left and a party suit in the right picture Now, it was time to start thinking about our war mission...

Continued next issue.

22

November 2015

The Hot SEAT Hold the Legacy. It was great seeing all of you at Branson.

moved down the Ho Chi Min Trail.

Regarding 1421, we all learned the significance of those numbers and how the "G-Men" of the 13th Bomb Squadron accomplished the impossible with hard work, determination and faith, not to mention the Divine Intervention of a good tailwind!

I really enjoyed catching up with my good friend, General Paul W. Tibbets IV and meeting his Reaper entourage, including Rob & Beth Makros - talk about keeping the Reaper legacy! I'm thinking there is a future article for the Invader. It was also nice to meet Morgan Hildebrand who I had corresponded with when we did the article about ORB getting his name on Spirit of Mississippi.

The Reaper legacy for today's airmen carries all the weight of history, the Don Henderson, Editor commitment to mission, pride and faith that are all a part of that powerful legacy that is the 13th Bomb Squadron. The 13th Bomb Squadron Association has set a standard for them to follow and as this organization continues to evolve, it will be their responsibility to hold the Reaper Legacy long after all of you are gone. The Reapers at Whiteman have big shoes to fill, but I know they will not let us down.

Editor’s Comments

The entertainment was top notch and the weather was awesome!

Branson and the Ozarks are fascinating as well as beautiful with lots to see and do. Shane and I feel like we are with family when we are with all of you and we appreciate the friendship and hospitality you all extend to us at the reunions.

Paul's speech, focused on "Holding the Legacy". This is something we can all relate to. We all deal with legacies, some legacies more ominous than others as Paul explained in regards to his famous grandfather and the 509th. I knew it before his speech, but after hearing him talk, I am more convinced than ever that the 509th Bomb Wing is in very good and capable hands. Paul Tibbets not only holds the legacy, he understands the responsibility of what that legacy holds.

Jim Humphries drove home the legacy of the B-57G. The B-57G was a unique aircraft, but no more unique than the men who flew them. They overcame incredible obstacles just to get the aircraft to the war zone and into the fight to stem the flow of supplies being

Speaking of big shoes... It appears that I have been entrusted with a new duty within the 13th Bomb Squadron Association. Aside from my duties as Editor of the Invader, The 13th Board of Directors has asked me to take on the duty of "Historian". These are incredibly big shoes for me to fill. Charlie Hinton did an amazing job maintaining the history, traditions and legacy. He scanned your precious photos and slides, your papers, your orders, your stories and memories. I'm not sure that I am equal to the task, but I will give it my best shot and do all I can to maintain and respect the history, the traditions and most of all to "Hold the Legacy" of 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 & grandkids some insight into what you did or helped do in the War. It will make a really nice Christmas gift for the grand kids. Offer ends December 31, 2015 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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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

David Cain with Flash Photo Group Photography has been taking military group photos as well as other type groups for over 33 years in Branson, Missouri which has the largest number of military reunions in the nation. As a military veteran himself, he enjoys meeting and greeting those special people who have served their country.