SCANNER VOL XXI NO.2

On 12 April we had our quarterly meeting of your officers and Board members. Everybody showed up, even all those "appointed" people, like Editor of the Scanner, Historian, Chaplain, Parliamentarian, etc. Most everybody had a say and nobody said much, NOT EVEN BUGS WARNER!!! It was a real good meeting. We have enough money to keep us afloat, enough gossip to put out a Scanner, enough members to hold a reunion in 2001 and not too much work for anyone.

There was a sad note, however DICK GEORGE noted that some members did not renew for 2000. Too bad. We will miss them but they will miss us more as we are a nice bunch of people, aren't we? In your visits to the old folk's home and other such places, if you run across any of those delinquents, tell them to get with the program. It's not just that we could use their dues money to buy more freebies for Reunion 2000, we want them to join us and learn the secret to looking young. "If you want to look young, hang around with old people."

Over the past year, we have won some and lost some. I don't believe the gains can be attributed to anything but the significance of being a member. The losses can be for various reasons, some of which are listed in the Last Flight list section of the SCANNER. Others, however, are the result of procrastination or pure forgetfulness, a trait many of us acquire in the Golden Years (?). There are 68 delinquent from the 1999 roles. This lack of response to my cajoling and threats that something awful in the nuclear or biological arena will happen to the non-dues payers has reduced the active roll to 818 warriors, 289 who are Life Members. These delinquent representatives of national power will be reminded one more time before moving to the salvage area for old knights. Remember, there is power in strength and we don't want to get shot down for $10.00.

There is a benefactor in the Association who has been extremely gracious to some of our members. Major James E. Willis, Jr., a former pilot in the 436th Bomb Squadron and an Aggie graduate, has endowed eleven Life Memberships. (For those who don't know, Aggie refers to Texas A & M.). A committee appointed by your President - Fred Keish, not Bill Clinton - selected the recipients and they were approved by the Board of Officers. The lucky guys are Orval Bennett, Luther H. Carroll, Gorden D. Chandler, Harold E. Conant, Dudley D. Gardner, Nelson N. Hall, P. Ben Raia, EIroy A. Melberg, George M. Steger, Theiston L. Steele, and William R. Weaver. Each individual has been notified via the medium of a Special Order. It looks real official and is for real. We are grateful to Jim Willis for his interest in our organization and his kindness shown the selectees.

I have some changes or additions to e-mail addresses. With so many to keep up with, my fingers on the keyboard sometimes won't keep up with what I am reading. In a few cases I know they didn't. When you do hunt-n-peck typing it happens real often and the spell checker is of no use. Mail still comes back from Richard Lewis and Jack Rivers so I don't know how to correct them. Send your corrections to: dgeorge36@aol.com .

Most of you are aware of the tornado that hit our fair city on March 28. It was a reminder of the Labor Day storm that hit Carswell in 1952. The Monticello area and north and east of the 7th Street Montgomery Ward building received a lot of damage. Moving eastward it did severe damage to much of the downtown area. High rise buildings lost most of their glass. For the newer "glass buildings," which have become so popular, the damage was awesome. Some of these are still off limits to their occupants. Material was sucked out of the broken windows and many files, pictures, etc. ended up in Arlington. I sent the following website addresses to most of you with a computer but may have missed a few. If you would check these, you may get some idea of the extensive destruction here. They are www.startext.net/specials/00storms/slideshow/day2/index.htm ; and, http://home.flash.net/~jtrobert/arch.htm . The latter gives a lot of good info about buildings you may remember; but it is not necessarily about the damage.

Back in 'aught six,' when Winston 'Pappy' Rice thought he was still young enough to fly, he was encouraged to retire to save the rest of the Air Force assets from any further damage or loss. On this most auspicious occasion, a party was given at which some brave individual stood up and made a speech outlining his many accomplishments at testing the limits of AF equipment. One day 'Pappy' even proved you could drive a B-36 through the mud from the main runway to the taxiway. No one else ever tried this since most just used the paved taxiways. He even showed how to land his own private airplane in a cotton field without hurting himself. His exploits with a B-52 became legendary. It was with grateful happiness the 7th Bombardment Wing placed this warrior on retirement with instructions to not ever get within fifty yards of another USAF aircraft. 'Pappy' can't recall who wrote or made these wonderful remarks of admiration at his retirement party. If anyone out there was present at this event in September 1962 and/or knows the author, please contact his wife 'Billie' at the address in the directory.

CONFLICTS
I had a big fight with my wife today -- But I got my message across.
She came to me on her hands and knees -- She finally knows I'm the boss.
"Oh yes," says a grinning neighbor -- I saw her crawling, heard what she said:
"YOU BIG, BUMBLING, COWARDLY IDIOT -- COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT BED!!"

BUGS WARNER gave one of his best reports at the April staff meeting; we have more money than last quarter and he didn't talk too long! We are now worth $39,986.36, of which $27,703.86 is in the Members' Equity Account and $12,282.50 is in the untouchable Life Member Escrow (actually, we do touch it, we take out $5 per Lifer per year and put it in the Members' Equity Account because we don't want to end up with a bunch of money after everybody has gone to their final reunion. That way we can spend more on our local reunions.)

BUGS told us that, since we won't get any more dues until next year, we will probably have less money as time rolls on. What he didn't say is that he makes us almost 500 bucks a quarter in interest (he is either real shrewd or real crooked) and that should help to pay for printing and mailing your Scanner which also costs about $500 a quarter. It does not appear that we will become insolvent at any time in the near future.

I never could admit defeat - But now it's clear, I'm obsolete.
And when I hear the words "dot.com" - I don't know where they're coming from.
A mystery that I still don't get - Is what and where is "Internet?"
When someone said he had a mouse - I said, "Well, fumigate the house."
Am I the only living male - Who doesn't understand e-mail?
I always vote and pay my taxes - But I don't know just what a fax is.
Nor do I know quite what it means - When people go to church in jeans.
It doesn't matter what we wear - The main thing is that we are there.
Sometimes I just must tell myself - "You're old and should be on the shelf"
But, really that's not hard to bear - I'm obsolete, AND I DON'T CARE!!

(PETE BOWERS sent in the following bit of nostalgia that brings the old days hack to life.)

The wondrous sight and sound of SIX TURNING AND FOUR BURNING marks a period of military aviation that is truly unique and inimitable. I consider myself fortunate to have been a small part during most of that great period and so this brief paragraph (that I'm permitted to write) has got to be NOT about me but about US, all of US, here and those who have gone on to that great air show in the sky.

The B-36 evolved from the early '40's design spec of 10,000 miles and 10,000 pounds of bombs (Honolulu to Tokyo and back) to a vital and transitional Cold War tool which is recognized even now by some historians as a primary influence in stabilizing a world on the brink of nuclear annihilation. It is recognized too, from a technical standpoint of serving as a platform for testing and perfecting the introduction of the alternator and constant speed drive and the move from primarily visual target identification to electronic. Even though the Peacemaker's demise was cut in stone with the advent of the second generation of SAMs and the above MACH I fighters, it was "first line" long enough to accomplish its WW II mission.

From the nucleus of some of the best Bomb units from Europe and the Pacific, both air and ground, initially evolved the cadre for the 7th BG, the 1lth BG and eventually the 19th Air Division. The B-36 was a complex, intimidating and complicated piece of machinery and it required constant, superb and dedicated care and operation. To get it up and keep it up meant air and ground crews that knew what they were doing and how to get it done. Coordination and working together on the ground and in the air was what it was all about and that was evident everywhere everyday. All of US, who were there and lived it, know what a great time in Air Force history it was and what a great feeling it was to look up and see and hear the incredibly beautiful monster coming. I will always reverently thank those who let me be a part of US.

Our patrol area was from Biggs to Fairbanks, down the coast of Russia to Okinawa, then Guam, Hawaii and back to Travis AFB. Our planes could have been seen at Fairbanks.

What was the purpose of the patrols? Electronic intelligence? Were you ever intercepted by the Rooskies? Did 2827 fly that route?

Yes, we were tailed by MIGs at times, but they could not sustain the altitude we were flying for long. They knew when I locked the tail turrett on them, and they broke off. My instructions from the A/C was to fire if they committed themselves to a pass or began firing. They knew I had them on range. They could slide up beside us for a while, but they knew the A/C could turn quickly and give me a shot at them. On several occasions, I engaged in fist-shaking with them from the blister when they began flashing their signal mirrors.

We sometimes brought back n-units, too. I don't guess that is a secret. I don't think anything that happened over 40 years ago is still secret, especially since there is no longer a USSR to worry about. The RB guys probably have some good stories to tell about times in Soviet, Chinese and Korean airspace. I'd sure like to hear them.

Our mission was combat patrol, you might say. We had a full combat load on board, our primary and secondary target study accomplished, and all we needed was a message from Offit to turn in to them. I guess the Russians knew that, too. I think the patrol area was the same for our entire squadron, and maybe our wing. The other borders of Russia must have been patrolled by other squadrons, but I don't know. I think our presence kept the Russians from being too anxious to launch an attack. I hope it did, anyway.

If you sleep on it -- make it up.	If you sleep on it -- make it up.
If you eat off it -- clean it up	If you empty it -- fill it up
If you open it -- close it	If it rings -- answer it.
If it howls -- feed it.	If it cries -- love it

HELP WANTED!!!
(Ed Note: Here's a chance for you 7BW types to do something good, although, speaking as an 11-year member of the 11th BW, I can't help but wonder why anybody would want a 7BW patch.) HARVEY KIMRAY writes: I am in need of a 7th Bomb Wing patch. I have exhausted every means to obtain this patch. For some reason through the years, I have failed to hang on to my favorite emblem. I have put together a memorabilia board and this is the only item I am missing. (More ED Note: What about a picture of me?) Please write, call me collect or E-mail me if you know where I can get one. I am more than willing to pay for such an item. Thank you. HARVEY KIMRAY, PO Box 1564, Edgewood NM 87015-1564, E-mail: < hkimray727@aol.com >.

ALSO
Got an e-mail from CYNTHIA WILLIAMS < Cynthia.Williams@kyloui.ang.af.mil > asking the some help: "Does anyone in your organization have any film footage of the B-36 aircraft? I was looking for some shots at Carswell between 1954 and 1956. Also, has anyone a picture of the 98th BS, 11th BW with all the names on it like the one that was in your Aug 1998 Scanner of the 26th BS, 11th BW?"

REMEMBER WHEN
Men offered their seats to women on public transportation?
Kids respected the elderly and accepted their chastisement?
The only time you heard "race" was in the 50-yard dash?
The cop on the beat knew your name but not because he's arrested you?
It was safe for a gas station to give change after midnight?
When men wore hats - without advertising on them?
And removed them indoors,
Doctors made housecalls and took time to talk to their patients?
There was no need for electronic devices at airports or schools?
Coke was something you drank at a soda fountain, not something you snorted?
You could trust the President?

(Ed Note: In the last issue of the SCANNER I told you about finding DAN HARTLEY's Life Member bio way back in my files. Because I didn't have any more space I didn't tell you about another one, also WAY back in the files. Seems that JERRY JOHNSON was also "Missing In Action" for quite awhile. Anyway, here's the bio he wrote way back in June of 1994 !!)

GERALD A. "JERRY" JOHNSON was born November 25, 1930, near Rector, Arkansas. He joined the USAF and went through basic at Lackland in 1951. For the next 12 months he attended A&E Mechanics, Electrical and Electronics schools at Sheppard and Chanute. Next came Carswell and the B-36 where he became a member of the 1Ith Bomb Wing. He participated in many TDY's including England, North Africa and two bombing competitions at Roswell where he helped the 11th win the Fairchild Trophy in 1954. They did it again in '56 without him.

After leaving Carswell, he served with the Air Reserve and ANG, where he was commissioned in 1963. In 1968, he was off to Japan and Korea in support of the Pueblo Incident. Another choice assignment followed, with the B-58's at Little Rock. When the 58's were phased out in 1970, he attended the Avionics staff school at Lowry and then to Vietnam, serving as the 7th AF IG inspector for Avionics and Ground Communications Electronics.

Promoted to Major, he was transferred to Grissom AFB for three years as the Avionics Maintenance Squadron Commander, working with KC/EC-135's. His next two assignments continued with SAC, first at SAC headquarters IG and then in 1976, Grand Forks as 319th AMS Commander with B-52's and KC-135's.

Kadena, Japan was his next assignment in late 1978, as an Aircraft Generation Squadron Commander, involving RF-4's, F-4's and MC-130E's where one plane was lost in the Iran Rescue Attempt. He also served in the SAC wing as Maintenance Control and Quality Control Officer.

His final tour was at March AFB as the 15th AF Chief of Maintenance Management from which he retired, September 30, 1983, as a six year Lieutenant Colonel.

In between other assignments, he managed to graduate from many schools including Air Command and Staff and Air War College and with BS, MS and EDS degrees. He has served the Arkansas Public Schools as a Teacher, Principal and Superintendent, where he soon plans to retire.

He and his wife Yoshiko live near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They still have one son, Zane, in the White Hall school system, and two sons, Van and David, in college. His married children have produced three grandchildren on the ramp and one in the hangar. (The fourth grandchild arrived 6-6-94 at 3:45 PM.)

(More ED Note: It's been so long ago when JERRY wrote this that he probably has another page of bio he could add, especially with all those kids of his! Just think, he wasn't even eligible for Social Security when he wrote this and now he's been living high off the hog for over five years!!)

** WOMEN HAVE MANY FAULTS, MEN HAVE ONLY TWO,
EVERYTHING THEY SAY, EVERYTHING THEY DO. **

Oh friend, there are so many with troubled hearts today,
And each of us knows someone for whom we ought to pray.
Their problems are so varied, some graver than the rest,
But, every precious heart that aches, by JESUS, need by blessed.
Let's set some time aside, friend, today and every day,
To think about these souls in need. Oh, let us care ... and pray.

The other day I got to thinking about how we are all in the twilight time of our lives. Because of this, we have a tendency to want to just sit around and take life easy, or so the saying goes. I realize sometimes this is caused by body aches and pains, but, this is the time we should get our second wind and overcome those infirmities and just get busy.

We can do this by volunteer work at hospitals, meals on wheels, work at the base pharmacy and helping out at our churches. And even going down to the coffee shop and chewing the rag with other cronies.

You will be surprised how getting involved will help you to keep young, giving you a purpose for getting up in the morning.

Being active with young people will help you to be young, GOD was good enough to let you grow old; but, HE didn't mean that you should lay down and die; no, HE means that you should contribute your skills, intelligence and know-hows with other people. This will help them and also will give you a reason for being alive. So, let's get out in the world again and become active old-timers. You will be appreciated, and it will make you feel good, inside and out.

So, let us use the tools GOD gave us, our bodies and minds, to be part of everything that goes on in this world.

May GOD be generous and loving to each and every one of you, may HE bless you and turn the treadmills of your mind and get you going.

LAST FLIGHT
Now the laborer's task is o'er; Now the battle day is past;
Now upon the farther shore, Lands the voyager at last.
Father, in the gracious keeping,
Leave we now thy servant sleeping.

LTC RONALD A. BEAN
SSG RICHARD E. HARTZELL
Al C RICHARD A. KASKI
MSG ANDREW E. LANGLEY
SKIP widow of LTC HARLAN E. LEFLER
MAJ DOOLEY H. ROGERS
HAZEL, wife of CMS RAMER K. SHOCKLEY

SALLY ARMSTRONG sent in a nice bit of nostalgia. How many of you remember this ... or maybe were on the flight ?!!

"In DAVID McCULLOUGH'S book, "Truman", page 731, he describes PRESIDENT TRUMAN's inauguration and states, "... a giant air armada like none ever seen over Washington roared across the sky, some seven hundred planes, including transports like those supplying Berlin and five gigantic new six-motor B-36 bombers that had flown, nonstop, 2,000 miles, from Texas."

Now that was a sight to behold and there are still pictures of them flying over the capital scattered all over various places in Ft. Worth. Thanks, SALLY.

** IF YOU LAUGH A LOT, WHEN YOU GET OLDER,
YOUR WRINKLES WILL BE IN THE RIGHT PLACES