SCANNERThe official publication of the
7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association
SCANNER
The official publication of the
7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association
VOL XXI NO. 3 AUGUST, 2000
Email address: b36assn7bw@aol.com Web site: http://www.7bwb-36assn.org
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
PREZ SEZ
(FRED KEISH)
We had our usual quarterly meeting of the Board and Officers on 12 July at the Westside Café on Highway 80, just west of old Carswell. The meeting started at 8 AM, right after we had a great breakfast of bacon and eggs and all that good stuff that will make you die early but it is way to late for any of us to worry about anything like that.
The meeting consisted mostly of getting our ducks in order for our next reunion, 19-22 April 2001. I am glad to report that things are right on schedule and it looks like all you people better get your own ducks in order so you can make it there and join in the fun. Keep reading and you will find out more of what went on and what is going to happen come REUNION 2001 !!!
OVERHEARD AT THE LAST REUNION
"You haven't changed a bit. Who the hell are you?" "Why does everybody look so damn old?" "What happened to your hair? Your teeth? Your waist line?"
MONEY TALKS
(Actually, I don't like money but it quiets my nerves)
BUGS WARNER, your venerable (that's polite for "old") Treasurer and Keeper of the Cash passed out a sheet covering his financial report for the quarter and we are worth a gross of $38,716.06 of which the usual $12,282.50 is in the Life Member Escrow which we promise not to touch (until DICK GEORGE and I go to Hawaii to check it out for Reunion 2003). At first it looks like we lost about $1,270 from last quarter in spite of the fact that BUGS got us almost $500 in interest. It cost us $532 to print and mail the SCANNER (What a bargain, a much better read that any Harry Potter book) but the real reason it looks like we lost money is because BUGS has already spent over $1,600 for reunion freebies and he's only started. For such a tight wad with our money, he sure can think up lots of ways to spend it on you people who come to the reunion. He already got a "yes" vote in the meeting to provide free beer at the Welcome Dinner, Banquet and Men's lunch, not to mention free wine at the Women's Lunch and Banquet. At the rate he's going, DICK and I might have to forego that trip across the Pacific and rent a canoe to check out towns along the Trinity river (anything but DALLAS !!)
EATING HIS OWN WORDS HAS NEVER GIVEN ANYONE INDIGESTION
S E C S E Z
(Dick George)
Enclosed with this SCANNER is a change to the current association directory. All you have to do is remove the sheet, fold it and insert it at the rear of your directory. The most significant changes are the addition of Life Members, additions to the Last Flight list and a substantial number of address changes. (You guys move more than you did when you were on active duty.) If there are changes I missed, PLEASE tell me.
Note: The change sheet for the directory has been removed from the website.
There is a statement on page 52 of the directory that reads: "4. Dues are neither refundable, tax deductible, nor prorated." "Prorated" refers to the fact that regardless of when you pay your dues during the year, they will be due again on 1 January of the following year, NOT to a date later in the next year.
For those who do not have access to the internet, it may be insignificant whether or not we have a web site. But, I hope those who do a bit of computing will appreciate the work that has gone into developing a site I think will be of interest. You will find it at: http://www.7bwb-36assn.org. It is still in the development stage and has a few bugs. Your comments are solicited. It has been created by Don Pyeatt, a gentlemen with a very deep interest in the B-36 and an Honorary Member. Our last SCANNER told of a CD about the restored B-36 in Fort Worth that is available from him for viewing in your computer: B-36: Saving the Last Peacemaker . (Makes a great Christmas present for your kids and grandkids). He has a very great complete B-36 site available at: http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/B36_Home.htm which I heartily recommend you view.
There is one matter most of us seem to put off until we die. Then, it is too late. I am referring to locating a Casualty Assistance Officer to help our survivors get our affairs in order as regards our retirement, insurance and miscellaneous notifications. This has come home to me recently when several of our members died and the widows were not sure whom to contact. When Carswell AFB was active, it was easy for our locals. With no active base handy now, whom should be contacted? The following is information for those in the ZIP code areas shown since four bases - Barksdale, Dyess, Goodfellow and Sheppard - are responsible for providing retiree casualty assistance to those in the indicated ZIP code areas:
Barksdale AFB, Ph. (318) 456-5476; 706XX, 71000 - 71499, 71700 -71899, 75500 - 75999, 77600 - 77799
Dyess AFB, Ph. (915) 696-5730/3272; 76000 - 76199, 764XX - 76799, 79500 - 79699
Goodfellow AFB, Ph. (915) 654-3312/3302; 76800 - 76999, 797XX
Sheppard AFB, Ph. (940) 676-4314; 75000 - 75499, 762XX - 763XX
If you live in one of these areas I suggest you put this information with your records to make it readily available for your survivors or yourself if needed. I strongly suggest all others contact your nearest base NOW to learn where assistance will be available if necessary.
I evidently have the incorrect e-mail address for the following: John Douthitt, Stephen Hischar, Bob James, Robert Lenherr, Richard Lewis, Leon Long, James Peterson, and Ed Wheeler. Please send it to me at dgeorge36@aol.com. Your mail was returned so I must have the wrong address.
Plans are continuing to develop for the next reunion in Fort Worth 19 - 22 April 2001. If you lose this SCANNER and can't remember the dates, they are also found on page 2 of your directory. The dates will also be posted on our web site. We plan a schedule that is a bit more leisurely so the old folks can take it easier this time.
There is still a lot of debate about the future of the restored B-36 in Fort Worth and there is an on-going dialog with the Dallas city fathers. Insufficient funds have been raised to build the museum at Alliance Airport. The goal now is consolidating some area museums into one facility at DFW Airport. We'll keep you advised.
It is interesting, but not unusual, how pride in the organizations at Carswell during the B-36 days continues to manifest itself in the lives of our members. Art Merritt has made a large B-36 sticker to affix to the back of his motor home. Scott Deaver has gone so far as to have a zip code containing the numbers 436 (squadron) while across the street the address on the house is also 436. (He sent a picture to prove it.) I believe the men and women from the Carswell B-36 era have every right to their pride. It was certainly a period in all our lives to be proud of the job we did to keep the peace. Stand tall. You earned it.
IT IS BETTER TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT THAN TO LOSE YOUR PANTS
LIFE MEMBERS
Golly, here it is time to write up a SCANNER and get it in the mail by the first week of August and I still have two pages that I need to fill up. So I just got out my Life Member Bio file. As I have mentioned several times in the past, bios are printed in the order received and they do fill up a lot of space that would otherwise go to waste (or does it anyway?) DICK GEORGE keeps me supplied with a list of all Life Members and I note the date they mailed in their bio so I can print them in the order received and the date I put it in the SCANNER. Well, am I embarrassed! The oldest bio I have in file is that of KEN JOHNSON, which I got March 5, 1998. Checking out the files, my records indicate that GEORGE MIZE mailed his in Nov '97 as did BOBBY WOODARD and MARSHALL ZICKEFOOSE. I can't find their bio and I can't find any record of them being printed. Hey guys, please tell me it's not my fault and you never mailed one in and you will get right on it and mail in another real soon. I will put you at the head of the list.
But, on with the show and here's what KEN JOHNSON had to say.
Born February 14, 1931 in Cumberland, Maryland. After high school I moved to Dayton, Ohio. When the Korean War heated up I enlisted in the USAF on July 17, 1950, and was sent to Lackland AFB for basic training.
I arrived at Carswell in September 1950, was initially assigned to the 7th Food Service Sq. They said I was too dizzy to become a cook so the assigned me to the Altitude Chamber (7th Med. Gp.) where I could be legally dizzy on a daily basis. We were housed in the same building as the B-36 MTD unit, and I think we were right next door to the 26BS.
Lots of good things happened to me at Carswell. I met and married BILLIE LOUISE GEORGE on August 4, 1950, and believe it or not, we are still together. We have two sons and a daughter. Both sons have retired from the AF and my daughter works with the shuttle group at the Johnson Center in Houston.
I was reassigned to the 3rd Altitude Chamber Indoctrination Flight, Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX in February of 1952. I applied for and received an early separation from the AF on September 15, 1953.
I went back to Dayton, Ohio and tried several civilian jobs but none of them provided the challenge of an Air Force career. Having said that I reenlisted in the AF on September 14, 1954, and was subsequently assigned to the Altitude Chamber at Wright-Patterson.
In September of 1961 I was assigned to the 15th Physiological Training Flight, Kadena AB, Okinowa. In May of 1965 I was assigned to the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, San Antonio, TX, as an instructor. In February 1967 I was assigned to the Research Division of SAM. During that period we completed a great deal of research for the Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL).
I retired from active duty as a SMSgt on July 31, 1973.
Thanks to my Aair Force Training I accepted a position with the Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX on August 1, 1973. My task was to establish a functional, multi-place Hyperbaric Facility to treat diving related accidents/incidents, and for routine patient care. Retired from MBI on August 31, 1996.
In November 1996 I returned to the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology as the interim Administrator for a "couple" of months. Obviously the "couple" of months have long since past. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now that they have selected a new Chairman for the department. He should be in place by September of this year at which time I will be able to taste retirement once again. (ED note: Since this was written in 1998, KEN is now a triple-dipper-- AF retirement, Social Security and Dept of P&T. Way to go!)
And that ain't all. We got another doozy from ROSCOE CROWDER.
ROSCOE grew up in the small town of Mexico, Missouri. After graduating from high school, he served in the Missouri Army National Guard. While in the Guard he attended the US army Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia from June to December, 1951. He joined the US Air Force on 1 March 1952.
He received basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas then went into Aviation Cadet training in December 1952. Aviation Cadet training was accomplished at Harlington AFB, Texas and Mather AFB, Calif.
He received his commission in October 1953 and his Aircraft Observer Bombardier wings in March 1954. At that time he was assigned to the 492nd Bomb Sqdn, 7th Bomb Wing, Carswell AFB, Texas.
He was assigned to Major BILL HAGEN'S B-36 crew as third observer. After about 18 months on this crew he was assigned to Capt JACK CARDWELL's crew as Radar Navigator. He remained with this crew as the squadron transitioned from B-36 to B-52 aircraft in 1958. In 1959 he went with the 492nd Bomb Squadron as they transferred to Columbus AFB, Miss. There he remained on the crew until 1969 when he was assigned to the Wing Nav section of the 4258th Strat Wing at Utapao Royal Thai AFB, Thailand.
In 1970 he was assigned to Hqs, Strategic Air Command, Directorate Command Control as Chief of the Post Attack Command Control System (PACCS) Airborne Data Automation (ADA) Project. This project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using Electronic Data Processing (EDP) in the airborne environment to substantially assist the battle staff of an airborne command position in the performance of their tasks in the event of general nuclear war. The computer system was a test bed system installed in one of SAC's Airborne Command Post (LOOKING GLASS) AIRCRAFT AT Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
After working the ADA project for a couple of years, he was assigned as Chief, Airborne Division, Directorate Command Control, Hq, SAC. This division served as manager for the daily operation of the SAC Airborne Command Post and PACCS (LOOKING GLASS).
In 1974 he was assigned to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia as Deputy Commander for Maintenance with the 19th Bomb Wing, which had B-52G and KC-135 aircraft.
He retired on 1 August 1976 and, with his family, moved to Monument, Colorado. Since his retirement he has pursued his lifelong hobby of woodworking. He is also involved with the Boy Scouts with his grandson, Matt.
And then along came MARTIN GROARK. You guys really got around!
I joined the AF on 29 Oct 53 as an Aviation Cadet from Phila, PA and was commissioned on 9 Dec 54, just after my 21st birthday. Arrived Carswell AFB July 55 and was assigned as 2nd Engineer to CHARLIE WRIGHT's 1st in the 492nd Bomb Sqdn. Flew on various crews, mainly FRED KEISH's, BILL FANYO's and LEROY DUNSTAN's.
In 1959 I went back to Mather AFB to Bomb/Nav School and stayed 1 year as an Instructor. Then to Bitburg AB, Germany to AF's 1st operational missile, the Matador (some missile - it had wings! It was a T-33 with jet assisted take off from a truck flatbed.)
In 1962 I was in C-130's with the 39th Troop Carrier Sqdn at Evreaux AB, France where we spent most of our time flying mail, supplies, etc. from Athens to bases in Turkey. Rotated with squadron to Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio and was immediately back in Evreaux on 90 days TDY without the family. This was the saddest part of my career and even had me thinking of getting out.
In 1966 I went to Texas A&M to AF meteorology school and then to Udorn AB, Thailand as a weatherman/detachment commander. In 1968 I was at Kadena AB, Okinawa as Staff Weather Officer for the 4252nd Strategic Bomb Wing's B-52's.
Went to C-141's at Travis AFB, CA in '71 where I retired on 1 Nov 73 after countless trips to Vietnam via Clark AB, Philippines. Way back along the way I married NINA JO HOOVER of Italy, Texas at Carswell AFB on 8 Mar 58 and watched in awe and thanked GOD as she raised our four sons and one daughter. We now live in Citrus Heights, CA (Sacramento suburb) where I retired for good on 1 Mar97 after working 22 years at the Sacramento Post Office. We've lived here for 25 years and plan to stay for 25 more.
(ED note: When MARTIN sent this in he said he didn't think it was worth writing and hoped it wasn't too long. Hey MARTIN, sounds real good to me - and look at how well it fills up the rest of this page !!!)
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER
(BILL MINELLI)
Dear Friends in CHRIST: As your Chaplain, I would like to remind you that if you have someone in your family that is seriously ill, and you feel that prayers are needed for our brothers and sisters, please feel free to call me (ED Note: 4936 Terrace Trl, Ft. Worth, TX 76114, Ph: 1-817-626-6730) and let me know who they are and I will pray for their benefit to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who is always ready and willing to hear the prayers of HIS children to give them comfort and ease them of their pain. And if it is HIS will, HE will cure them. GOD can and does perform many miracles. All we have to do is believe and HE will come to our aid. We all are HIS children and HE loves us all. So, don't hesitate to ask for HIS help. Reach out your hands for HIS blessing and HE will heal you. HE loves us all, HIS children, and HE will come to our aid.
PRAYERS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT FEELING WELL
O, JESUS, YOU suffered and died for us; YOU understand suffering. Teach us to understand our suffering as YOU do, to bear it in union with YOU; to offer it with YOU to atone for our sins and to bring YOUR grace to souls in need. Calm our fears; increase our trust. May we gladly accept YOUR holy will and become more like YOU in trial. If it be YOUR will, restore us to health so that we may work for YOUR honor and glory and the salvation of all men. Amen.
LAST FLIGHT
Those we have held in our arms for a little while, We hold in our hearts forever.
LTC MARVIN L BECKMAN
LTC DOUGLAS H CARRUTHERS
MAJ JOHN G DODD
MSG LINWOOD L GREENHILL
CONNIE wife of MSG DORAN A LEE
SSG ANTHONY J MIRANDA
LTC RICHARD A ROWDEN JR.