Email address: b36assn7bw@aol.com      Web site: http://www.7bwb-36assn.org

Now hear this!! Our 2001 reunion is just around the corner and all the details are included somewhere inside this issue of your SCANNER. It’s up to you to pay close attention to what is written and to follow all directions closely so that you may attend this outstanding gala and share in all the righteous riotous goings-on. Failure to follow the above instructions will result in hanging chads, dimples, undercounts and all sorts of media outbursts. For your information, this is Texas, not Florida. Get with the program and get to the reunion.

(Money can’t buy happiness. That’s what shopping is for.)

I guess all of you have heard about the dismal record of the stock market and how all the "401K’s" have slid down the hill. Well, your Keeper of the Cash, BUGS WARNER, has not followed that trend and gave us a sterling financial report at the January meeting of your Board and Officers.. Because of him (and the $440 in interest he got us this past quarter) and all you dues payers for this New Year, our net worth has jumped from $38,460.99 to $42, 232.88 and is still growing!!! HOWEVER, bugs has decided to blow a big bunch of that stash on all you revelers who make it to the reunion in the form of Registration Freebies, Beer and Subsidies for all meals. Not to mention a free shuttle bus to and from the Hotel, Stock Yards and Museums. You better get here and get in on the goodies. (Not to mention the free coffee and donuts in the Memory Room Friday and Saturday morning which DICK GEORGE hornswoggled out of the hotel !!)

On second thought, our financial future may not be too rosy but I can’t think of a better way to spend it than to blow it on all us good guys and gals. Besides, BUGS always keeps a handle on things to make sure we keep enough around for the next big bash come 2003.

 The time has come for the walrus (DICK GEORGE? said), to speak of many things. Right now those things are swamped by the preparations for our Tenth Reunion. Seems like only yesterday we gathered almost 800 folks together at the then General Dynamics Recreation Area (GDRA) for a bash with our former USAF Chief of Staff, SAC and 19^th Air Division Commander General John D. Ryan. I later learned our reunion was the only one he attended after retiring. Just shows we weren’t the only ones who knew we were good. While our numbers have lessened, the pride, knowledge and esprit de corps hasn’t. So gather your buddies together and return to the scene of the greatest B-36 units that ever existed for a time of fun, frolic and nostalgia where war stories will rule the day.

The delinquency rate in the payment of dues has jumped this year for some unknown reason. There are 109 who remitted in 2000 who have not renewed. Please get your dues in. Remember, if the number on the first line of your address label is 2000 or less, you will have to include a registration fee of $10 and your dues for 2001 (Total: $20.00) with your reunion registration form.

Many of us don’t realize how fortunate we are until we learn of the misfortune of another. And, in this era of growing old, the "Golden Years" begin to get rather tarnished. I am sure there are similar stories. Case in point – Carl Hammarstrom, 7AEMS, Dock 4, APG 41 Tail Systems. After a beautiful Sunday with a visit to friends in a nearby town, he began to feel bad and by 4am his condition slowly worsened. An off-duty fireman doing some handyman work for Carl diagnosed his problem and sent him to the hospital where he sat in the ER for 12 hours. (Note: For serious medical problems – such as the stroke Carl suffered – get transported by ambulance and you may get attention quicker.) The left side of his body was paralyzed. He spent the rest of the year learning how to cope with the restricted limitations of walking, eating, talking, dressing, etc. He concluded his letter with, "I’m in pretty good shape – I could be dead or blind. But, I missed the final flight again." Count your blessings.

Our website is getting a lot of attention these days. I found this out when the server was out for about a month. Any of you computer nuts who haven’t visited it yet are sure missing a bet. A surprising number of younger folks are visiting. And, a name out of the past rose – Dewey Taliaferro. Dewey was a member of the crew of Lt Col Herman Gerick on an ill fated trip to El Paso on December 11, 1953. The flight crashed into Franklin Mountain while on approach to Biggs AFB. A daughter – Becky King – discovered the association’s web site and Last Flight List on the fiftieth anniversary date (December 11, 2000) of the crash. She wrote, "…thanks for remembering the men who died in B-36 crashes. My dad, Dewey Taliaferro, is on your list, and I just wanted to say thanks for paying him the honor…. So, thanks for remembering and for the time you put into your site. It has been good to show my children how we honor men who have served their country and given America their best." Letters like Mrs. King’s makes the site worth all the effort.

In 1950 the greatest weapon system in the world was the B-36. It could carry enough destructive power to destroy a huge city or a package small enough to thrill the heart of a mother. The parents of one of our airmen were living in San Diego and watched as a B-36 made a landing approach to Lindberg Airport on April 9, 1950. His mother recognized the aircraft as the same type on which her son worked in Fort Worth and wished he were on that plane. It was their son’s 21^st birthday. They longed to have him celebrate the day at home with them. What a surprise when their son – Cliofas Moralez – walked in to surprise his mother. How proud she was to think the world’s largest bomber had been sent to bring her son home for his birthday. I don’t know if Clio ever told her the plane had come to the Convair factory there for modification, not to bring him.

Potpourri – 1. New member – James D Wrigley.     2. Jimmy Darnell says: "It is getting winter-time. Engine chiefs need to check their passivated heat-exchanger ducts on all 4360’s."

God saw that he was getting tired and a cure was not to be.
So He put his arms around him and whispered, "Come with me".
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands laid to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

REGISTRATION (Come Share the Goodies!) 0900 – 1600 Upper Atrium

MEMORY ROOM (Please, no tall tales!) 1000 – As Rqd Ft. Worth Room

SOCIAL HOUR (Be nice, don’t ask how old) 1600 – 1900 Upper Atrium

WELCOME DINNER 1900 – 2100 Conference Center

LATE REGISTRATION (In Memory Room) 0900 – Noon

MEMORY ROOM (Coffee & Donuts, Free!) 0830 – As Rqd Ft. Worth Room

LADIES LUNCH 1200 – 1400 Venice Room

MENS LUNCH (& B-36 TOUR) 1200 – 1400 (1400 – 1600) Carswell (Lockheed)

GOLF TOURNAMENT 1400 – As Rqd. Lost Creek Golf Course

MEMORY ROOM (Coffee & Donuts, Free!) 0800 – 0900 Ft. Worth Room

MEMORIAL SERVICE 0900 – 0945 Rome Rooms

BUSINESS MEETING 1000 – 1100 " "

SHUTTLE BUS (To/From Museums/Stock Yards) 1100 – 1600 Lve Front of Hotel

SOCIAL HOUR 1700 – 1900 Upper Atrium

BANQUET 1900 – 2300 Conference Center

BREAKFAST BUFFET 0830- 1030 Ferrara Room

No Registration fee for LIFE members and those whose dues are current (number "01" or greater on first line of address label.) All others – Sponsor only -- $20 as indicated on Registration Card. Fee includes dues for 2001. Don’t sweat it. The beer, coffee & donuts and freebies are worth it!

We are all getting older and those Association members who have been stuck with making all the arrangements for this reunion will get older faster depending on the rate reservations are received.. Since the arrangers have their necks way out with the hotel and other suppliers for reunion functions, the faster you send in your reservation forms, the slower their aging process will be – and they are plenty old already.

Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Holiday Inn, Ft. Worth South. Address and phone numbers are listed on the Hotel Reservation from.

Parking at the Holiday Inn is free. However, overnight parking of RV’s is permitted ONLY for overnight guests of the hotel. There are convenient RV parking locations further south on I-35 for those who do not stay in the hotel.

Coat & tie for men and "after five" for ladies at the Saturday Banquet. For all other events, Texas Casual will be just fine.

As in the past, seating reservations should be made during Registration. Table locations, a list of attendees and Table Seating charts showing table number will be available. DO NOT make reservations at one table for yourself and friends at one table while they are doing the same at another !!! NAMES must be placed on each reservation space, not just a vertical line through the space hoping to indicate that the reservation space has been taken. In addition, put your table number to the left of your name on the "List of Attendees". While this procedure may appear more difficult than a Florida ballot, it is worth the effort to rekindle old friendships. Besides, you may be old but YOU ARE A B-36ER!

Transportation from DFW airport to the hotel can be arranged with "SUPER SHUTTLE" by giving them a call from the free phone station located in the baggage pick-up area. They will come by and pick you up but the fee is $24 Per Person, one way.

However, :BUDGET RENT A CAR" is offering discounted rental rates to attendees of the 2001 B-36 Reunion. To book reservations, call 1-800-772-3773 and give your exclusive Budget Convention Discount # "U064405". This will entitle you to weekend rates (noon Thursday until Monday) of $22 per day for Economy $23 for Compact, $24 for Intermediate, etc, etc. That means the wife rides for free! To pick up your rental, there is a "Rental Shuttle" (or something like that) space just outside baggage pickup and shuttles will pick you up there and take you to the rental lot.

On the other hand, if you have been really good, maybe you can talk a local friend to pick you up at DFW. In that case, call them.

If you arrive at Love Field in Dallas, your best bet is the rent-a-car. The fare from Love field is on the order of the National Debt.

A Reservation Form is on page 7. Fill it out and send it in, with your check, of course. Reservations will not be acknowledged. Confirmation will be by appropriate sticker on your name tag so be sure you know who you are and get your name right.

The Golf Tournament will be held at the Lost Creek Links, just off I-30 and West of Carswell. (Carswell course has been sold, is closed and is undergoing major renovation.) The event occurs after the Men’s Lunch at Carswell and transportation will be by private auto so, if you didn’t drive, get friendly with someone who did. It is "Unisex" and ladies are invited. Entry fee is $45 and includes Green Fees, shared cart, a free gift and libations on the course. Rental clubs will be available. Get your reservation in early, also on page 7.

A shuttle Bus will run from the hotel to the Museum Area and to the Stock Yards. The bus is free and will be run on Saturday, 21 April. It will leave the hotel on the hour beginning 1100, stop at the Museum Area and then arrive at the Stock Yards on the half hour from whence it will return to the Hotel. Hotel pick up will be at 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 and final return to the hotel at 1600. Remember your drop off points because that’s where the bus will be for your pick up for further trip or return to the hotel. If you miss the bus, be sure to send us a post card from wherever you end up

Good food, libations and outstanding entertainment will be the order of the day. No men are allowed except for good-looking waiters. We are looking forward to your attendance and some comments may be made about those who are not there.

Men’s Lunch will be in the Desert Storm club, old NCO club at Carswell. If you need a ride, be sure to check "yes" for bus on the Registration Form. If you drive, you MUST have a base sticker (any base) on your car.

DICK GEORGE is currently trying to make arrangements with Lockheed/Martin (old Convair) to allow busses into the factory to visit the B-36 pieces which are stored there. Everything is looking good at this time and if all goes well, we will leave for the B-36 after the Men’s Lunch, about 1400.

This is a repeat of a best seller of the last reunion. The Banquet cost is $15 and the Buffet cost is $10. However, the COMBINATION (Banquet & Breakfast Buffet) is only $20. We want to send all out-of-towners off with a full belly (even though some of them had one when they arrived.)

Shown below is a map giving the location of Holiday Inn South and its relation to DFW airport and all the major highways entering Ft. Worth. Be advised that there is major construction in downtown Ft. Worth at the intersection of I30 and I35W.

NAME TAGS TO READ:_____________________________________________________UNIT:__________

_____________________________________________________

ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________________

REGISTRATION FEES: Life and Current Member ("Life" or "01" or greater on address label) FREE!!!

Non-Current, "00" or less on Address Label. Fee includes dues for 2001. $20.00 _____________

EVENTS: Prices are per person COST X #PERSONS=

Welcome Dinner $15 _________________________

Golf tournament  45 _________________________

Ladies Lunch 14 _________________________

Mens Lunch Bus Rqd Yes___No___ 8 _________________________

Banquet 15 _________________________

Breakfast Buffet 10 _________________________

COMBINATION (Banquet & Buffet) 20 _________________________

Registration Fees and Events TOTAL ______________

NAME(S)______________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________________________

HOME COURSE;__________________________________________MILITARY? YES______NO______

I will need rental clubs: YES________NO_________RH__________LH_______

I wish to play with the following individuals:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

HOLIDAY INN FORT WORTH SOUTH

100 Alta Mesa East Blvd, Ft. Worth, TX 76134

Ph: 817-293-3088 1-800-HOLIDAY (Mention 7BW B-36 Association)

TYPE ROOM________________#ROOMS___RATE To hold room beyond 6PM it must be guaranteed

Single/King Bed, 1 or 2 persons ______ $69  by Credit Card.

Double/2 Double Beds, 2 persons $69 Credit Card Type___________________

Credit Card #______________________

Expiration Date_____________________

YOUR NAME:_________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________________________

PHONE #____________________ARRIVAL DATE___________________DEP DATE_______________

NOTE: Make phone reservations or fill our and mail card to hotel NLT 2 April 2001.

CLICK HERE FOR MAP
(Holiday Inn is at the red star between Crowley and Cedar Hill)

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