The official publication of the
7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association

XXIII NO. 4     NOV 2002

Email address: b36asn7bw@aol.com Web site: www.7bwb-36assn.org

Now, you all know a bit about Texas because you were here a long time ago for a long time and some of you are still here. But I just want to keep you up to date on what Texas is all about.

Things I know about TEXAS:

* Armadillos sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
* Roadrunners don't say "Beep Beep"
* There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Texas.
* There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Texas, plus a couple no one's seen before.
* Possums will eat anything.
* Armadillos love to dig holes under tomato plants.
* Raccoons will test your crop of melons and let you know when they are ripe.
* If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
* Nothing will kill a mesquite tree.
* There are valid reasons some people put barbed wire around their house.
* Texas has 6 seasons:
Spring, Feb 16 to April 15.
Early Summer, April 16 to July 15 ( 90: to 98:)
Hot Summer, (everyone's favorite) July 16 to Sept 10 ( 100: to 115:).
Late Summer, Sept. 11 to Oct 1 ( 90: to 98:)
Fall, Oct 2 to Dec. 1.
Winter Dec. 2 to Feb 15
* You cannot find a country road without a curve from corner to corner.
* A tractor is NOT an all-terrain vehicle. They do get stuck.
* Fire ants consider your flesh as a picnic.
* Texans really don't have an accent... you do.
* When the world ends, only cockroaches and mesquite trees will survive.
* You're used to grass being brown.
* When you live in the country, you don't have to buy a dog. City people drop them off at your gate in the middle of the night.
* The sound of coyotes howling at night only sounds good for the first couple of weeks.
* On the highway, you worry about getting hit by a buzzard, as much as getting hit by a deer.
* Fixinto is one word.
* A tank is a dirt hole in the ground that holds water for irrigation, and sometimes doubles as a swimming pool.
* The word lunch is confusing. After breakfast is dinner and then there's supper.
* Iced Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're 2.

And the most important thing......

* There's no place I'd rather be than TEXAS!

Once again, the walrus said, it’s time to speak of many things, one of which is dues. Yes, believe it or not, it is dues time for those who failed to follow my suggestion to send $10.00 instead of the new dues of $5.00. Now if you look at your label for the date in the upper left corner and find "2002" or less, please send money – $5.00 for one year or $10.00 for two. Of course, any multiple of 5’s would be appreciated. We have made it easier for our widow ladies for their dues are only $3.00. I suggest you send your dues before the end of the year so you will have it out of the way in preparation for the reunion next April and it would sure make the posting easier.

Total dues payers for 2000 and higher: 888

Non-dues payers in 2000, 2001 and 2002 186    Note: Dues were cut in half for the year 2002 and later.

Total active members: 706

Life Members: 333 (Included in total above)

Widows (active) 86 (Included in total above)

P.S. I understand the planning boys are going to assess a $20.00 registration fee on all reunion attendees who are non-current with their dues on January 31, 2003.

Reaction to my request in the last Scanner for inputs to the web site met only limited success. We have a very good one but there are a lot of you who could make it much better. One obvious area – which only you can write – is the Member Biographies section. We received a few but not near enough. Please send yours in by e-mail since our typing support lacks a lot. There are approximately 165 E-mail addresses on file and each need only send an E-mail with their autobiography. Please send your stories/autobiographies. As I said before, E-mail can be used for lots of things besides forwarding jokes.

SAVING B-36J 2827

I am beginning to wonder if saving this bird is ever going to occur. The restoration team under the great leadership of Mr. Bill R. Plumlee is continually running into a wall when trying to get a building and site to house this beautiful airplane. The Alliance Airport site is dead. Controllers of the DFW site and money keep dragging their feet and putting up barriers to the reassembly and display site acquisition. The USN has given the most hope in recent months that the plane could be placed to the west side of the main gate. Such frustration has driven most of the work force away and the delays are aging those who know how to put it back together. It appears that the only sure decision is that it must be removed from Lockheed-Martin facilities by the end of the year. When the work force and their level of expertise is in the seventy and eighty year range, their physical ability to do the job is constantly being lowered. I hope that when a site is selected there will be a limitless list of volunteers show up to reassemble this beautifully restored B-36. If we have our way, THE AIRPLANE IS GOING TO STAY IN FORT WORTH.

MONEY TALKS

(Money is the best gift. Everything else is too expensive.)

Not much new in the money department except to say we still are worth $29,271.22 which should get us over the next 4 – 5 reunions and still be able to put out the SCANNER every quarter. ‘Course your Treasurer, BUGS WARNER, has got us in the commodities market. The commodities are B-36 hats and B-36 pins ($9 for a hat and $3 for a pin including postage) and he has managed to sell a few of them. Good idea. It keeps the B-36 Association right up there!! I must mention, again, the hats go for $5 each and the pins for $2 each at the April reunion. Moral: come to the reunion and save big bucks.

We still plan to subsidize reunion events but which ones and how much will be decided at the next meeting of the Board & Officers. They decide everything, just like ENRON only they don’t rake in the big bucks. That BUGS won’t let us get by with anything. But, come next issue of the SCANNER you will all be informed of the details.

It’s been a while since we got in some Life Member Bios. Too many pictures in past issues, I guess, but they are a lot easier to read anyway than to type all these bios. However, I’ll give it another try. Here’s one sent in by CHARLES HARPER way back in November 1999 that really tells it like it was.

"I feel like I know you even though I do not. My time with the B-36 wing at Carswell was short and early, probably much before most of the persons that I read about in the SCANNER. Even though I live close to the reunion location, I have not taken the time to come to one yet. (Shame on you Charley but all will be forgiven in April) I am an architect, own my own 40 year old firm here in Wichita Falls. That keeps me very busy. Maybe some time in the future I will get to attend a reunion.

"I enlisted in the Air Force in the Summer of 1946, just before it officially became the "Air Force." I joined to "get that over with" before I went to Architecture School at Texas Tech. I lived in Bonham, north of Dallas, the Berlin Blockade had just started and most everyone thought that WW III was starting. Since I was 18, I could join for 2 years. I enlisted in June 1948 and got out in June 1950, two weeks before the Korean War started. That turned out to be one of the "luckiest" things that I have done. My time at Tech was not interrupted and I finished school 2 years before any of my contemporaries. On enlistment, I was sent to Lackland AFB, San Antonio and was transferred to Sheppard AFB here in WF about half way through basic to re-open Sheppard. I never dreamed that my adult life would be spent here. When my 13 weeks of basic was completed I was assigned to the 492nd Bombardment Squadron at Carswell. I worked in Tech Supply for the two years I was there, keeping the big birds flying. When I arrived in the late fall of 1948, the 492nd had only two planes. Since the Air Force had bought the B-36 from Consolidated, across the field, before it was totally proven, we had lots of problems. My job, among others, was to keep the Unsatisfactory Reports (UR’s) written up and sent to HQ for their use. At that time it seemed every other one was about the casting the rudder sat in and on which it turned. They were always cracking. I also remember that we had a piece of wire that looked like a 12-inch long piece of bailing wire with a small circle in one end. It had something to do with the oxygen equipment. I remember losing one of those one time and it cost me $5.00. I have a lot of good memories (now) of those days that didn’t seem so good at the time.

After my graduation from Tech and my internship in various places around Texas, I moved here to WF to start my own firm. I have been more successful than I even imagined in 1960. My life has been a miracle for a farm boy from North Texas. I have received more honors during the 40 years than I am sure I deserved and I hope that I remain very humble about them. Good luck to all of you and keep up the wonderful stories that arrive occasionally in the SCANNER.

In my years here in Wichita Falls, I have been very active locally, helping start the Squadron Adoption program shortly after moving here in the 60’s. I have told the story many times of pulling tall grass and weeds by hand to clean up the base in 1948. To show how what goes around comes around: In the 1980’s I served as Mayor of Wichita Falls and was very involved with SAFB, one of our most important assets, I traveled to Germany several times to help talk the German Air Force (Luftwafe, hard for a WWII kid to take) into siding with the USAF on SAFB as the location of the ENJJPT (Ero-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training) program (training for all the NATO fighter pilots here). We were able to secure a 20 year "contract" with the NATO countries for that program to be here in WF. We did a lot of the things for and with SAFB. In 1988, General David Forgen, Commander of the Technical Training Center, presented me with the exclusive "CONTRIBUTOR" award for my work with the center. Only three have been presented in the history of Sheppard AFB. Pretty good for a former basic trainee!!! Also, one other bit of irony. While I was here for basic training in ’48, our squadron pulled KP at least 3 times. Now, I serve as President of a Not For Profit company that employs persons with disabilities. That company has a contract with SAFB to run all the dining halls, do all the landscaping work, run the commissary and Post Office! The onetime "Corporal" is an honorary member of the SAFB Officers Club."

ED NOTE: Now that’s a rags to riches story if I ever read one.

Things worked out pretty good for TONY GARBISO as well. He now lives in Katy, Texas but he never made Mayor (maybe he did but he never told us about it) but he did alright anyway. TONY was born 10 May 1923 in Toltec, Colorado, an old mining town long since gone. He grew up in Erie Colorado. Before being drafted into the Army Air Corps, TONY worked in the Washington Coal Mine

He went to gunnery school upon entering the Air Corps and flew 65 combat missions in the ETO as a tail gunner on the B-26 Marauder. He came home in 1948 and was sent to Davis Monthan AFB. He flew in B-29’s and B-50’s. The A/C asked the crew if they thought the B-50 could live up to its name and go to 50,000 feet. The crew was willing and the plane made it.

TONY took a discharge at Davis Monthan AFB and re-enlisted at Carsell AFB, Texas in May 1949. He was assigned to the 98^th Bomb Sq. but was transferred to the 436^th Bomb Sq. It was a great assignment and TONY was on two Select crews until being grounded for medical reasons in 1956. He went into survival and was sent to Thule, Greenland (Good thing he learned how to survive!). When he returned to the states, he was sent to Clinton Sherman AFB, Oklahoma. He made his final Air Force move to Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan.

TONY retired from the Air Force in 1966 and moved to Sequin, Texas, a small town just east of San Antonio, to raise his family. We worked at Kelly AFB for 19 years and then retired again. TONY was married to the former LaRue Petry for 48 years and they had three children, one son and two daughters. TONY thanks the LORD such a great life for a coal miner.

I guess TONY’S story really tells how to get way up in the world, from the bottom of a coal mine to 50,000 feet!!!

THIS N’ THAT FROM HERE N’ THERE

Got a call from BOB BENNETT (one of us B-36ers) the other day. He is a collector of mahogany aircraft models. He found a source (Philippines?) for a mahogany B-36 with about 31" wing span for $95 fob Miami plus about $10-$20 cost for postage. Catch is, he must order at least 6 of them. Locally, a similar model retails for about $200. If anyone is interested, contact BOB at (865) 982-5699 or 402 Jackson Hills, Maryville, TN 37804-2510. BOB sent for ONE which cost him $200 and he will have it on display at the reunion for (at least six of you who would like to order one) $95 +P&H.

STACEY PARRIS is the son of KENNETH N. PARRIS. KEN was in the 11th FMS , 11BW in the mid 50’s and later, a B-52 Crew Chief. STACEY is looking for some pictures of his Dad while in the Air Force. Also, he would jump for joy if he could get his hands on a 11BW patch. It’s coming up on Christmas and this would really be the best present ever for STACEY. If anyone out there has any of these items to spare, just send them to STACEY PARRIS, 425A Miami Rd., Ladson, SC 29456. You can get more details on email, parriss@bellsouth.net

The 26th Bomb Squadron had a reunion recently and BILL DARDEN gave a TOAST TO THE FLAG. I had to share it with you.

Here’s to the RED of it—There’s not a thread of it—No, nor a shred of it—In all the spread of it,

From foot to head.

But heroes bled for it—Faced steel and lead for it—Precious blood shed for it,

Bathing it RED.

Here’s to the WHITE of it—Thrilled by the sight of it—Who knows the might of it—But feels the right of it,

Through day and night?

Womanhood’s care for it—Made manhood dare for it—Purity’s prayer for it,

Keeps it so WHITE.

Here’s to the BLUE of it—Beauteous view of it—Heavenly hue of it-- Star-spangled dew of it,

Constant and true.

Diadems gleam for it—States stand supreme for it--Liberty’s beam for it,

Brightens the BLUE.

Here’s to the whole of it—Stars stripes and pole of it—Body and soul of it—O and the roll of it,

Sun shining through.

Hearts in accord for it—Swear by the sword for it—Thanking the Lord for it,

JOE WEBER always comes up with great stories. This is one of his goodies.

I remember an incident at Rapid City AFB involving a B-36 which was at the end of the runway at midnight in a severe thunderstorm. With all 10 engines at full power and ready to take off on a training mission the AC decided to reduce power and delay take-off to see if the intense storm and heavy rain would subside

Just as power was reduced, a Frontier Airlines DC-3 came in right over the B-36 and landed just in front of it with no landing lights or radio communications. As it turned out, the DC-3 had been hit by lightning and had lost all electrical power and, seeing RCAFB’s runway lights, thought it was the Rapid City airport and landed. Needless to say, there could have easily been a disastrous "piggy-back" situation if the B-36 pilot had not reduced power and decided to hold his position.

Got this in my recent mail and am passing on for help from all you guys.

"I would like to know if you have any information about John Stanko who perished on September 15, 1949 in the B-36 crash into Lake Worth.  He was the flight engineer on our B-29 in the Pacific. Our A/C commander, Jackson S. Wallace, Col. (Ret) believes that John Stanko deserves a medal for his heroism in the crash. In the accident report Jack Wallace read that Stanko tried to rescue one of the crewmembers and in doing so lost his life.

"We have no information on any surviving relatives and if you have any information on him it might assist us in locating some relatives. Many thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter."

F. J. Bradley or brado1@nyc.rr.com or bjfentr@aol.com

605 E 82^nd St/2h

Those computer-equipped kids and grandkids will enjoy having their own copy of B-36: Saving the Last Peacemaker, Second Edition on Compact Disk. This is the story of the monumental effort to save and display the last B-36 built. Newly revised and expanded to include 408 photos and the sound of a B-36 takeoff at Carswell. Only $15.00 to our members, postage included. Clip and mail the coupon from your SCANNER to ProWeb Fort Worth, P.O. Box 24242, Fort Worth, TX 76124 with a check or money order only (no credit sales) for $15.00. Regular price is $19.95 + 3.00 S/H.  This offer is for members only! Clip the coupon from your SCANNER to order.  See THIS WEBSITE for more info.

From Deep in the Heart of Texas (Thanks, Lottie)

Oh lay my spurs upon my breast,
My rope and saddle tree.

And while the boys are lowering me to rest,
Go turn my horses free.

LTC FREDRIC G ALTMAN
CMS ROY BALL JR
LTC RICHARD F HEGEWALD
LTC WILLIAM JONES
1LT DAVID L MAHNKE
BETTY wife of SSG JIMMY J NAQUIN
LENA wife of SGT JOHN E O’ROURKE
FERN wife of MAJ KENT S RENO
CPT JULIEN B SAYLOR
LORRAINE wife of CMS LEO P SHANNON
SMS W W "BILL" SPARKMAN

‘Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist!

When I got on ths scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store, it was more like a lumber.

I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I’d never say, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt,
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt,

I said to myself, as I only can,
"You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So – away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food I like must be banished,
‘Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won’t have a cookie, not even a lick,
I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I’m hungry, I’m lonesome and life is a bore,
But isn’t that what January is for?

Unable to giggle no longer a riot.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and to all a good diet!

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