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

XXVIIII NO. 1    February 2008

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

PREZ SEZ
JACK BEDDINGFIELD

Well, we have finally settled on a firm date & place for the 2009 final reunion. The date is April 23rd to 26th, 2009. The place will be “The Radisson South Hotel" which was the "Holiday Inn South” until about three years ago. It is near the intersection of I-35 & I-20. We need to give Doug Wood a big THANK YOU for the time & effort expended to find a suitable location.

We have not decided on the activities yet. I think we will follow the usual format: Registration on Thursday with a welcome dinner Thursday night; a men’s & ladies lunch on Friday; a memorial service and business meeting on Saturday and a banquet on Saturday night. Sunday will be the farewell breakfast. All details are to be worked out. We still have a pretty good bank account, so we are considering a subsidy on meals.

SEC SEZ
DICK GEORGE

During the 1970s, there was a reunion held in Fort Worth by/for former B-36 11th Bomb Wing (11BW) members. A few attendees were former 7th Bomb Wing (7BW) people. They were no doubt gatecrashers since the gathering was primarily for 11Bwers. members. Not to be outdone, the 7BW people started a movement to have a reunion for the 7BW also.

In 1981, a reunion committee chaired by Glen Loveall assisted by John Irons, was formed to plan a reunion of all personnel assigned to Carswell AFB during the B-36 era -1948 to 1958. After a lot of diligent effort, over 800 men and women gathered for the festivities and to renew old friendships lost when the B36 era ended. Attrition due to old age has taken its toll. This issue of the SCANNER will be distributed to only 566 members. In retrospect this is somewhat amazing. Other organization like the 7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association met their demise after a very short existence.

The strength of our leadership over these 25 years and the desire of the members to continue with the esprit de corps developed at Carswell in the fifties have been evident. From our founder Glen Loveall through the present President Jack Beddingfield we have had the knowledge and guidance of a strong hand on the wheel. Three of our Presidents – Bill Hunter, Fred Keish and Thurston Mallard -have died in office. Ten others have remained involved contributing their expertise toward the success of our organization and reunions.

One of our most devoted and hard-working staff members is George Savage. As editor and writer of the SCANNER he has shown his writing and creative skills by providing our members with current info about our group. In addition his humorous writing style has brought levity and smiles to us all. As a previous editor I am fully aware of the time required to produce this document. George is to be highly complimented on his accomplishment.

Soon (April 2009) we plan to have our final reunion. The aging of our group dictates the end of our assemblies. Say what you will, we are moving into the autumn of our live. The expression, “Age is only a number and mine is unlisted,” applies only to those trying to ignore their true years. Not so around here. So, let’s plan on showing other veteran groups how it is done and shoot for a very large turnout at the sunset reunion in 2009.

Help Arrives

Health is beginning to take its toll on our staff, me included. Among the pages of my medical history is a new one - macular degeneration. The dry type. To one who holds his job as Corresponding Secretary, writing and computer skill is a must. When the disease struck me I was (am) devastated. But I found someone to help out of my dilemma. Michelle Arthur stepped forward in the typical spirit of an Air Force wife to rescue me. Thank you Michelle. Welcome aboard. ED NOTE: DICK is too generous. He has passed the same macular bit on to me. Who wants to volunteer to be Editor?

7TH BOMB WING B36 ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS

DICK GEORGE 1982-85        THURSTON MALLARD 1985-87        WARREN ARTHUR 1987-89
GEORGE SAVAGE 1989-91        GLENN LOVEALL 1991-93        FRED ZIMMERMANN 1993-95
AL LEFERINK 1995-97        WILLIE HUNTER 1997-98        FRED KEISH  1998-00
TOM REDWINE 2000-03        EARL PARKER 2003-05        FRED WENDT 2005-07
JACK BEDDINGFIELD 2007-09

MONEY TALKS
DOUG WOOD

7th Bomb Wing B36 Association Financial Statement is available to members only via the printed SCANNER.

LAST FLIGHT

February 2008

LTC WALTER DESMOND
SMS LOUIS R GREENLEAF
LTC RALPH N KUHNS
CMS JUAN O TOVAR
LTC JOE ZAGER
MARY wife of MAJ FLOYD J MORRIS JR
ROBBIE widow of LTC THOMAS “DOC” MEEKER and JAMES HARD *
BETTY widow of SMS CLARENCE SURRETT *
* Correction from last issue

AL BARTOLIC sent the following cartoon. Certainly puts things in perspective.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
(Membership open to anyone assigned to a B-36 base,
Aircrew, Ground crew, Staff, Air Base Group, etc.)

(For a printable form, CLICK HERE)

ONE-TIME DUES: $25.00 (2006 THRU 2010)

NAME:_____________________________________SPOUSE__________________________

ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________ 

HIGHEST RANK:_______B-36 BASE OF ASSGNMT_______________________________ 
            (If not Carswell, enter "Honorary Membership") 

UNIT ASSGND:____________________________________________ 

ASSGD TO B-36 BASE:

 FROM:____________________________________TO:____________________________ 

MILITARY ACTIVE DUTY FROM:___________________TO:__________________________ 

 SIGNED:_____________________________________________________________________ 

NOTE: Completion of form - and submission of $25 - entitles applicant to membership in 7BW B-36 Association until its dissolution in 2010 and receipt of the newsletter three times a year plus waiver of the Registration Fee at the 2007 and 2009 reunions to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. 

7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association Inc.

P.O. Box 330279  Fort Worth, TX  76163-0729

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