TAC Tanker Tales

Volume 10 Issue 4 June 2009

On To Our Next Adventure-“Amazing Albuquerque“ Tactical Tankers Assn., Ltd 231 King Street We have completed another busy reunion in Charleston and plans Lancaster, OH 43130 are now underway for a trip to New Mexico. Dave Scott and I met in the Officers 2008-2010 lobby of the Holiday Inn-Mt. Pleasant to discuss our activities for the reunion. President: We have a contract with Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town set for Wednes- Art Belenzon 561-733-9372 abel [email protected] day, May 19 through Saturday, May 22 with the rate of $109 once again. Vice President: It looks like the days of Nate Hill 740-653-3835 $99 group rates will be hard to [email protected] find if we want a full service ho- Secretary: tel in the right location. Our Jim Boyington 509-922-4377 [email protected] needs include a Hospitality Room and Banquet Area. Hav- Treasurer: Bo Ault 804-747-3841 ing a restaurant or free break- [email protected] fast is a plus and being able to bring in our own refreshments Historian: John Bessette 703-569-1875 is another requirement. [email protected] Dave brought loads of Legal Counsel: Joe Fur ukawa 310-217-0606 brochures and along with my [email protected] research on the internet we have plenty to do. A tentative Chaplai n: Rev. Geo Burrows 231-347-5393 agenda was compiled and [email protected] Dave will be checking out the Quarter master: transportation company we selected and working on the rates per person. Gordon Jacobson 785-969-7075 We will always stay with an —a la carte“ registration form which will be in the Editor: December newsletter. Check out their website:www.HHandR.com and click Natalie Hill 740-653-3835 the Hotel Albuquerque. [email protected] As you scan this issue you will see references to our recent gathering Board of Directors in Charleston and several articles of interest, including two continuations from Chair: Bill Wolford 802-660-9934 Tom Blake 870-588-4414 the last issue (March). We also have added to our membership roles thanks Ted Buck 618-244-2739 to Mr. Membership, Lou Chapman, who also rounded up some of the new- John Hanna 210-658-0819 Dave Scott 505-292-0223 bees to attend the Charleston reunion. Enclosed with this issue will be the latest Yellow Book. We have several new members who joined after we went to press so they won‘t be included until next year. If you recognize a name on page 2 and want to contact them, call Nate and he will give you their information. - The Editor

Pictured above is the lobby of the lovely Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town and to the left you see the colorful (trust me) ascending balloons above the new Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum.

Page 1 President’s Corner by Art Belenzon

I can’t say “Doin the Charleston” was the best reunion ever, but it sure rates right up at the top. Nat, Nate and Jake did their usual outstanding job keeping us comfortable, well fed and entertained. The Dinner Cruise and the tour of Ft. Sumter were the highlights for me. I heard nothing but accolades from those in atten- dance. Missed all of you who weren’t there and hope you’ll be able to attend when we meet in Albuquerque next year. Thanks to all of you who helped N.N.& J. with registration and the banquet. We did have an Executive Committee/Board of Directors meeting in Charleston to discuss some of the issues facing our Association. Constructing workable By-Laws and pushing forward in acquiring the KB-50J from MacDill AFB and moving it to a proper home at the Air Mobility Museum at Dover AFB were on the agenda. Vic Ventura was appointed to head up a committee that will pursue this glorious task. John Bessette continues to develop our Out Reach Program. This program will take the history of air refueling, high lighting the integral part the TAC Tankers played. The program will be presented to high school, university, college AFROTC and CAP units. All members of the TAC Tankers Assn. will be able to par- ticipate in this program as it develops. At the beginning of our Banquet, Jake Jacobson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. “God Bless Amer- ica” was sung beautifully by Shirley Wolford and the Invocation was given by Dick Hermans. I was in the 421st with Dick, but as things go I never got to know him very well. During a lull in the reunion I spoke with Dick at length. He told me his story. A story of courage and survival that brought tears to my eyes. His tale of his love for GOD and his battle to overcome adversity prompted me to ask him to give the Invocation at the Banquet. The beauty in this prayer is his love for all of us….. Lord, Please bless these old warriors,, their ladies and guests. Bless the dinner we are going to consume this evening and while we have you, please bless our brave and valiant troops, in hospitals, in foreign lands and at home. Please ride with us as we return to our homes and Lord, Please keep an eye on this great nation, keep it safe

Membership Report by Lou Chapman New Life Members Renewed Members** (those who had dropped -*Jack L. Allen, SpringHill TN-429, 431 their membership between 2001-2008) Donald L. Berge, Casa Grande AZ-421 Robert R. “Pete” Adair, Albquerque NM-431 *Charles L. Doty, Jamestown CA-421 Edmund B. Everette, Indiantlantic FL-422, *Clifford K. “Ken” Little, Murphy OR-431 622Fred J. Hagan, St. Pete, FL-622 *Paul G. Renquin, Altleboro MA-421 Jimmie L. Jay. Port Haywood VA-427 Rodger H. Running, Jackson MS-429 Ronald R. Smith, Williamsburg VA-429 *Tommie C. Suggs, Titusville FL-429 William T. Tilton, Locust Grove, GA-622, 431 New Members* Edwin A. “Tex” Arnold, Parker CO-429 Billy E. Burwell, Meridian MS-421 Tommy T. Caldwell, Alexander AR-421

Paul O. Crowder, Perry GA-427 Charles E. Hess, Etowah NC-421, 67 FMS Arthur Teneriello, Medford MA-427 Charles K. Moss, Randleman NC-427, 4505 Carroll N. Kanipe, Marion NC-429

George W. Williams, Springfield VA-431

Page 2 The Board Chairman’s Corner Secretary’s Corner by Jim “Pappy” Boyington By Bill Wolford CHARLESTON, a great destination. Architec- ture, history, fine food, flora and fauna and just plain The Charleston reunion was a smash hit in spite of fun. This recap is for those of you who were unable to the weather. We from the far north appreciated the cooler attend. Charleston is justifiably proud of it's claim as temperatures. However, we were looking forward to a little warmth. In fact, on our return, the climate in Vermont America's most historic city. seemed about the same. Rainy and chilly. A one hour trip behind a pair of mules, slowly We enjoyed very much seeing all the historical meandering though antebellum neighborhoods complete Charleston sights, especially Ft. Sumter and the tour of the with narrative descriptions of the homes and the people Yorktown—”The Fighting Lady.” The guide was excellent at who lived in them by knowledgeable guides; a visit to the Fort and brought out some points even I, a history buff, Fort Sumter, (OPENING SHOT OF THE CIVIL WAR didn’t know. Such as, how long the Confederates were able AND A first class museum); a tour of the USS Yorktown to hold out against the continuous bombardment. And the (CV10) SURVIVOR OF A KAMIKAZE ATTACK, up- Yorktown was a great experience. What a ship considering dated with an angle deck for jets in the 50's. Decommis- her battle record and age. She looks like she could still put sioned in 1970 and dedicated as a museum in 1975. The to sea and do herself and us proud. Medal of Honor Museum is located on the Hangar Deck of the USS Yorktown (namesake of the carrier lost in the To you all who missed this great reunion, you missed several great meals. The luncheon and the tour of Battle of Midway(CV5). the Magnolia Plantation was a lot of fun. Our special ban- Plus a Dinner cruise on the Spirit of Carolina quet at the hotel was well done with many great prizes given complete with live music and dancing; the Magnolia out to the guests, but the highlight for me was the Dinner Plantation (home of 11 generations since 1676) with 30 Cruise which was served in style with excellent food and very acres of gardens, a majestic mansion complete with early appropriate live music where some of us actually got up and American antiques, porcelain and quilts. Noted by danced. Charles Kuralt as "My Greatest Charleston Pleasure" no Everywhere we went we were not just expected, but small tribute. All this and a hospitality suite to enjoy the well-received and even treated with honor. I guess this company of old friends and a chance to make a couple of comes with being the senior generation. But this also re- new ones, topped off with a banquet complete with door flects all the hard work of preparation done by Nate and prizes to celebrate your good fortune. Natalie. It was wonderful to see and meet so many new peo- ple. A great time was had by all. Natalie and Nate have again exceeded all expec- tations. They have developed the skills to arrange the I hope we’ll see even a greater turn out for our an- details that make a TAC TANKER REUNION a memory nual reunion meeting in Albuquerque next year, May 19 worth sharing. Tell your friends. Be sure to put Albu- (Wed) to May 22 (Sat). querque on your calendar and encourage your Tanker friends to join you. See you there. Chaplain’s Corner By George Burrows

There is something very spe- cial about the human mem- ory. God made each of us to remember all that TAC Tank- ers has given you and I in renewing old friendships and making new ones. Thanks Nate and Natalie for all the name tags we will wear in that great place that God has prepared for our last reunion A few pics from Charleston: God bless you Left: Vivian and Carl Nandrasy of Mt. all!! Shalom Pleasant. Right: George Rose and Bobby Oliver at the Banquet. Pastor George Bottom Right: One of our tags found in the parking lot of the hotel.

Page 3 Letters Received From New Members Edwin “Tex” Arnold of Parker CO (March 2009) Spent 10 eyears in TAC and then 10 more in Tommie Suggs of Titusville FL (March 2009) SAC. Retired at Offutt AFB in 1977 with rank of After graduation from high school in 1956, he LtCol. Have been active in sports car racing since joined the AF and had basic training at Lackland, 1961 and held various position in Auto Racing Organi- Tech School at Sheppard and home base at Langley zations. Elected to the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of with the 429th 3/57-6/59with Maintenance and 6/59- Fame in 2007. Maintained Commercial Pilot status 9/60 as a reel operator. Had two years with reserves since 1961 and still fly 3-4 times a month. Currently and out in 9/62. Worked for Pratt & Whitney A/C Flor- have a Formula Continental car to drive in SCCA race ida Research and Development in West Palm Beach events. FL. Married in 1962 (47 years now) with 2 sons and 2 grandkids. Began work with Boeing at Cape Kennedy Billy Burwell of Meridian MS (March 2009) in 2/66 with the Saturn V and then to Atomic Energy Member of the 421st from 57-60 and trans- Plant in Oak Ridge TN. Retired from Florida Power ferred to ADC in Minot AFB a tactical base. Dis- and Light in 1998 and enjoying it. charged from AF in 61 and in 63 joined the Metropoli- tan Police Dept. Washington DC in Patrol Div. Crimi- Paul Crowder of Perry GA (March 2009) nal Investigation and Personal Security. In 74 retired Started on KB50s at Robins AFB with the with disability. From 75-78 traveled, got married and 427th and transferred to Langley AFB for 4 months moved to Mississippi. Back to work and retired again then to Turner ARB with the 431st, later to Biggs in 2000. with the 431st. Retired as a TSgt in Nov. 1972. Jack Allen of Spring Hill TN (May 2009 ) Tommy Caldwell of Alexander AR (March 2009) Stationed at Langley with the 429th from 1955 Left the 421st after 3 years on Oct.10th, 1960. to 58 and then to the 431st at Turner AFB, Albany GA To Shepperd AFB, taught New Boom and Hose Reel from 58 to 4/59. After discharge worked as a me- Operators. Transferred to field training at Otis AFB chanic, air conditioning, mobile home sales and real MA and after 4 1/2 yrs there. Made an effort at mov- estate. Currently retired. ing south and unable, so I got out. Sold Debit Insur- ance, ran a milk route and operated a Minnie Pearl Pete Adair of Albuquerque NM (renewed March 2009) Chicken Store. In June 1972 I enlisted in the US Retired National Nuclear Security Admin , Navy. Became an Aircraft Head Mechanic. Went to Dept. of Energy Jan. 2004. Am active volunteer with P-3 Flight Eng. School and flew them about two years. the NM Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Finally went to sea duty with an A-7 outfit. Spent a Society with restoration former ATSF Locomotive year on the USS Forrestal and retired from the Navy 2926 to operation condition. Project is about 1/2 com- in May 1978.Later worked for the Desault Falcon Jet pleted and when done will be the largest operational in Little Rock for 11 years and fully retired at age 55. steam locomotive in the country. Check it out at www.nmslr45.org. Charles Hess of Etowah NC (March 2009) Was part of the 421st and 67 FMS at Yokota from 58-60 and then to Rhein Main for 3 years. While at Travis AFB (63-65) married my wife Ursula, 47 Bits & Obits years ago and left the service in August 1965. I was with the Fairfield CA Police Department as a senior Albert Doyle Reid, born March 6, 1926 in Regency investigator, retiring in 6/92 (27 yrs). Other tasks in- TX passed away on January 7, 2009 at his home in clude a year with 49th MP Battalion Cal. Army Natl. Georgetown TX. After high school graduation in 1943, Guard, 81-98 Air Force Special Investigator…..retired he worked in an aircraft factory in California and MSgt. From 11/92-9/05 worked with the Solano joined the Army AF in ‘44 and served in WWII and the County Dist. Attorney Office as an investigator. Korean War. Doyle attended Texas A&M and received Moved to NC in 9/05. a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a naviga- tor in the 421 from 62-65. The cause of death was mul- Carroll Kanipe of Marion NC (March 2009) tiple myeloma. He is survived by wife Mary Alice, son After serving with the 421st worked as an in- Mark (Cindi), and daughters Patti (Gary), Lisa surance agent with Home Security Life from 60-73 (Russell) and Jodie (Mark). then 6 years business operating Trailways Bus Sta- tion with restaurant and news stand. From 79-95 was Bill Lackey received word that Dick Harris passed away in May at the age of 87. The cause was lethargy and field Rep for men of the World Life Ins. Soc. And cur- somnolence associated with kidney failure. rently general agent with 23 different companies.

Page 4 (different spots for the fighters & recon birds), the next one Historian’s Corner By John Bessette over the Azores, and a third one over southern France. The

429 th was to man the areas east of Langley, the 431 st with 429 th augmentation was to man the Azores areas, and the 420 th at The First CASF: Operation Double Trouble to the Middle RAF Sculthorpe UK was to cover the southern France area. East, 1958 The 622 nd at England AFB & the 427 th at Robins AFB were to cover any refueling necessary off the US East Coast for the As a 21-year-old newly commissioned — brown bar“ in the sum- mer of 1958, awaiting active duty orders to go to navigator Cannon unit‘s deployment. A problem impinging on the refuel- ing problem was that most refueling squadrons were in the training, I was thrilled to read about an amazing feat: a squad- ron of F-100s just flew nonstop from the US to Turkey in re- midst of equipping with the 6-engine KB-50J, thus adding com- sponse to the Lebanese crisis that summer. They made it 13 plexity to tanker tasking. hours after launch! Man, that was impressive! I didn‘t know The Reality œ the Fighters : At the last minute TAC Hq dis- then, of course, that I would wind up in the aircraft that made covered that the Cannon wing could not deploy œ one source that all possible, the KB-50. I also didn‘t know then (and didn‘t says — runway problems at Cannon.“ General Weyland, the know until this spring after research) how much of a TAC commander, quickly decided to switch to the 354 th at — challenge“ that first CASF was, and how near to disaster it Myrtle Beach. So they were alerted at 1310Z (0810 EDT) on came. I found the story in the histories of the 4505 th Air Refu- the 15 th . One can imagine the near-chaos that must have th rd eling Wing, 354 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW), & 363 Tacti- erupted there. As the Wing assembled, its Command Post, not- cal Reconnaissance Wing (TRW), as well as the recollections ing that only a few pilots were fully trained in air refueling, of one overstressed RF-101 pilot. Here is the tale. asked higher headquarters to ensure that there would be only two receivers per KB-50, thus avoiding problems it had discov- Background : Tactical Air Command (TAC) and USAF had ered in the little training it had received. The word came that been gradually building up the capability to deploy small pack- there would be six primary & one spare tanker for 12 receivers ages of tactical air to overseas areas using air refueling and air- in each F-100 section (there would be two sections the first lift ever since 1954, but the Composite Air Strike Force day). (CASF) concept had not been tested in a real national emer- gency. That was to change. By mid-1958 a crisis had been The first section launched, after several planning delays, at building in the Middle East, involving the Egyptian leader Ga- 2050Z (1550 EDT) and headed for the first refueling, located mal Abdel Nasser‘s inciting radical nations in the area to over- about 400 miles SE of Nova Scotia (the designated abort base throw conservative regimes there. This threatened our interests. was RCAF Greenwood there). The 429 th had launched seven Egypt and Syria joined together in the United Arab Republic tankers from Langley, but two aborted (the long runway was (UAR) and increased the pressure. The US began planning for closed for construction, precluding 5-engine KB-50J emer- problems in the area. By early July plans existed to use the US gency takeoffs). The delayed fighter takeoffs meant that the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, US Army paratroops from remaining five tankers were on station longer, further reducing Europe, and a USAF CASF from the States. A month-long the available fuel for the fighters. Add to that the fact that the exercise called Tradewind began 1 July to test the various air rendezvous and refueling took place after dark, in very bad refueling, fighter, and recon units involved. Among the tasks weather, with receiver pilots largely non-proficient in night was to qualify in air refueling the F-100 pilots of the 354 th TFW refueling, in F-100s with the straight probes (pilots couldn‘t see at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, which was just convert- their own probes), and it was a recipe for disaster. One F-100 ing from the day fighter to the fighter-bomber role. They were received only partial fuel and two none at all. These three had just backup for the CASF plan, however; the primary unit was to abort to Nova Scotia. Two just barely made it to Green- to be the F-100 wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The 429 th wood; the third one made it over land before flaming out. The AREFS at Langley began to do the training, working with the pilot ejected safely while his aircraft crashed near Yarmouth. th 354 . Disaster avoided, but not by much. But the real world intervened. The government of Lebanon The nine remaining, scattered as they were, flew on into the came under increasing pressure from the Nasserites there, and night, arriving over the Azores into more bad weather. These asked for military help from President Eisenhower. The final factors, plus inadequate fuel taken on board at the first refuel- straw was a military coup in Iraq in which the conservative ing, caused five F-100s to land at Lajes. The last four (— lucky monarchy was overthrown and the king executed. That was four,“ according to one history) refueled as planned over Or- quickly followed by Iraq‘s joining the UAR. President Eisen- ange-Caritat in southern France and proceeded on to Incirlik hower directed the services to aid Lebanon, and a CASF alert AB, Turkey, where they landed on the 16 th at about 0920Z, a was called in the late evening hours of 14 July. A CASF (to be nonstop flight of about 12 hours 30 minutes. (Note: This was named CASF Bravo) was to go œ fast. the fabled first deployment which sounded so impressive to me back then. What I (and the public) didn‘t know was that only The Plan : There were to be two squadrons of F-100;, a com- posite recon squadron of RF-101s, RB-66s, and WB-66s; and a four out of twelve made it that far that fast, and they were with- out their maintenance kits for another 36 hours, keeping them light bomber squadron of B-57s. From the air refueling per- spective, on the primary route there were to be three general air from any operational flying even if they were tasked) refueling areas: one north of Bermuda & east of Langley

Page 5 Historian ( Cont. from Page 5)The second F-100 section did- weather combined to create the conditions noted above for the n‘t launch until the next day, at 0635Z, and only with nine air- first F-100 section and the RF-101s. All 429 th crews recovered craft. The first refueling occurred basically as planned. The at Kindley after their first refuelings before launching again for second refueling over the Azores involved six tankers at follow-on waves. 15,000 ft, but went OK. Shortly thereafter the fighters received st th word that there would be no tankers available at the third refu- The 431 /429 force at Lajes coped as best they could with eling area (Orange-Caritat), and they were to land at Cha- conditions in that area, as noted above, but on at least one oc- teauroux AB, France. On the 17 th eight went on to Wheelus casion a tanker was diverted from one F-100 refueling to an AB, Libya, then to Incirlik. (Note: Concerning tankers not RF-101 in worse straits nearby. Tensions remained high as available, the 420th history states that it performed all the refu- fighters, recon, and tankers alike were aborting into Lajes. In th eling missions tasked during this CASF, so someone above the contrast, the 420 refuelings over southern France went more 420th in the operations chain must have —dropped the ball.“ or less as scheduled, except for the non-availability mentioned above, apparently not the tankers‘ fault. The third section of eight F-100s was a —make-up“ section. It th departed Myrtle Beach late on the 16th. The first refueling was Employment and Redeployment : The 429 was directed to th, satisfactory, but the second one over the Azores featured some deploy four KB-50s to the theater, and they did so on the 20 rendezvous and refueling problems, resulting in four fighters remaining overnight at Lajes and proceeding the next day via aborting into Lajes. The third refueling went OK, but aircraft Chateauroux to Incirlik. They immediately went to a one-hour problems forced the remaining four F-100s to land at European alert status. Crews remained in or close to the tankers, sleeping bases. All eight finally arrived Incirlik on the 19th. beneath their wings and later in nearby tents. The Marines had landed in Beirut, the Army had also arrived, and Navy aircraft A fourth section of eight F-100s, sent to replace some of the from the Sixth Fleet carriers flew demonstration flights over earlier fighters, departed Myrtle Beach on the 23rd at 0600Z. Lebanon. Airlift caught up with the CASF with vitally-needed The first refueling was to occur east of Kindley AFB, Ber- flyaway kits and other supplies. The 354 th F-100s flew air muda, but bad weather had separated the tankers, so the fight- defense and combat air patrols in the area, and the RF-101s and ers landed at Kindley. The next day (the 24th) at 0900Z they RB-6s provided valuable intelligence information launched and were refueled without incident about 400 miles east of Bermuda. Bad weather east of Lajes forced an unusual Once the immediate crisis eased, training flights were author- 33-minute long refueling in an orbit pattern west of Lajes. The ized beginning 7 September. Two tankers returned home and refueling over Orange-Caritat proceeded normally, and all the remaining two provided many sorties for much-needed air eight fighters arrived at Incirlik at 2030Z, over 11 hours later. refueling training to the receivers (60 for the F-100s alone). In late September those two 429 th birds were replaced by two The Reality œ the Recon Aircraft : The package was to con- from the 431 st , which eventually redeployed home in mid- sist of six RF-101s, six RB-66Bs, and three WB-66s. The RF- October as the crisis abated. Fighter and recon aircraft rede- 101s departed Shaw AFB, South Carolina, at 1700 EDT ployed at a more leisurely pace than during the deployment, (2200Z) on the 15 th . Their departure had been delayed three and required less tanker augmentation during this phase. times because of bad weather in several planned refueling ar- th eas, including one overhead Bermuda. The final launch sent Conclusion : The 354 history for this period is very detailed, them to an area 200 miles NE of Kindley. Night, bad weather, and the lessons it published concerning this CASF are very and tanker problems forced the refueling to occur at 11,000 ft, relevant. Two basic ones concerned air refueling: decidedly not optimum. However, refueling itself happened —Aerial refueling qualification of an operationally ready [receiver] OK. However, enroute after that they were told that there was pilot should be stiffened…to insure that full load, squadron mass for- no tanker support at Lajes and they were to land there. The mation day and night refuelings be given greater weight…“ next day they went on to Chaumont AB, France, and on the 18 th they arrived at Incirlik, via a stop at Wheelus. —Emphasis should be directed towards improving the reliability of the aerial refueling process. This includes the rendezvous problem, the Nine RB/WB-66s left Shaw the early morning of the 16 th . Two weather problem, the airspeed and altitude capabilities, and the reli- had refueling problems at the first refueling area and landed ability of the refueling equipment.“ Kindley, while the rest arrived at the planned staging base, A third lesson was emphasized in the 4505 th history. This was that all th Lajes. All nine left there on the 17 for Chateauroux and held participants in the CASF process needed to plan together in more there, because Incirlik was —saturated“ with aircraft by that detail for the possible contingencies. Too much had to be done —on time. They went to Wheelus on the 18 th and Incirlik on 19th. the fly“ during this CASF, causing many unnecessary problems. The Reality œ the Tankers : Early in the alert the 429 th sent These were all obvious but needed to be stated bluntly. Both five KB-50s to Lajes to augment the five 431 st tankers already were acted upon, and we did see in the next few years an in- there. The 429 th also provided the tankers for the first refueling creasing proficiency by both receivers and tankers. By the areas. The runway limits at Langley, the availability of a summer of 1960, when I showed up in the 429 th as a newly- mixed force of the earlier KB-50s & the improved KB-50Js minted navigator, I saw a professional and proficient tanker (forcing most refuelings to be at lower altitudes and airspeeds force, able to do its mission at a significantly higher level. than the J model by itself could handle), tanker aborts, the lim- Thus the 4505 th Wing‘s motto, — On Time With Plenty,“ was ited refueling training of the 354 th TFW pilots, and the awful fulfilled.

Page 6 “The Reunion” from the TAC Tanker’s He looked around at other doors for another sign but did- n’t see one. Strange, he thought, we’re locked out of the Southern Chapter Scribe—DON BILL Hospitality Room. He looked at the date on his watch His rear-end had gone numb and his left foot had just to be sure he didn’t leave on the wrong day. It hap- been asleep for the last thirty miles. He made the turn in pens. Sigh, back to the room. Maybe he would spend time through the entrance gate of the big motel and pulled up in front of the TV. to the door. He sat for a few minutes, waiting for his Hunger took the lead an hour later. He went body parts to come to life, before attempting to get out of back down to the restaurant, which could seat a hundred the car. A large SUV was parked in front of him blocking or so, and saw only five people seated around a table in most of the entranceway. A tall man with a very young, the corner. Someone called his name. He felt relief being high-maintenance female was directing the loading of a among friendly folks, recognizing one as an old comrade. number of bags on a cart. The kid, with the scraggly beard in the red motel jacket, was more interested in It might be a good reunion after all. hitting on the girl with the gleaming white teeth framed Day two, the misty rain continues. This is South by purple lipstick than what the man was saying which Carolina where the temperature is supposed to be mild, was beginning to escalate into a shouting match. the winds calm, and the rain occasional. Leaving the mo- tel on a bus that morning the temperature was in the Earl opened the car door, tested his left foot for mid fifties, the wind was bitingly cold, and the rain was feeling then stepped out, stretching his back, while turn- constant. With all of that the group headed for the water- ing toward the entrance. He had to pass the SUV and, as front to board the USS Yorktown, CV 10, an aircraft car- he did, the man looked at him saying “Are you here for rier, retired. Earl was in trouble, and he knew it. The the reunion? You look familiar. I’m Fred Bottom from cheap, flimsy jacket he received with the renewal of the Boston.” and stuck out his hand. Sports Illustrated subscription was not going to cut it but “Yes, the reunion.” Earl said shaking the offered that was the extent of his trip planning. The gift shop hand. “I come to most of them. I’m Earl. I remember you. came to his rescue. Apparently others had previously met the elements and were saved by the jacket rack at You were the navigator on our crew for awhile.” the store because they had a good supply of just-right “Earl? What was your job?” coats for spending the day on the big boat. Twenty bucks was all it cost, and could have brought a great deal more “Earl Everyman. I was a flight engineer and flew with Booker Bogart most of the time. I’m not the skinny on this day under these circumstances. The Gods smiled. kid I was then but I guess we all change some as the The boat, ship, whatever, was as expected. The years pass. You still look good though.” Earl couldn’t Navy can build anything as long as it is huge, con- help but notice the tight face-lift but he wasn’t going to structed of heavy weight steel, formed with massive comment on that. welds, and painted gray. The reunion group took over the ship, strolling, walking, resting, and as one man found, The girl walked up, avoiding the bag-loader, and sleeping peacefully up against a bulkhead. Earl was do- Fred introduced her as his grand-daughter, Philomena. ing fine while descending to the lowest level of the ship. “She’s not too happy about being here but, someone had He did not, as usual, think ahead. He had to climb back to draw the short straw. Protecting the Will you know. up. There are no elevators on decommissioned aircraft Isn’t that right, Philly?” carriers, and up means hand over foot on narrow, steep It was starting to come back. Yes, he remem- ladders. After thirty minutes on the bottom, lost in the bered Foggy Bottom, and it was obvious that the old Ivy maze of narrow, dimly lit passageways, bumping into Leaguer hadn’t changed much in the last fifty years. Earl massive motors, generators, and pumps he finally found the little yellow arrows painted on the deck, like bread knew that he had to stay clear of this couple. crumbs in the forest, leading him upward. He had Earl checked in and carried his own bags to the reached his physical limit as he broke free on the hangar room where he immediately became part of the furniture. deck, and went aft (sailor talk) for coffee at the snack He was very tired but he had to make the effort. He was- bar. His wind, legs, and determination finally returned n’t going to blow all of that advance money sitting in to normal, and he walked among the aircraft, reading the front of a motel TV. He took his shower leaning against descriptions. Then there was the TBM. Earl was not pre- the wall, letting the hot water sooth the aches, and soon pared for the size of this aircraft, the bird George Bush he was feeling whole again. After he was dressed he went dropped in the Pacific. It is huge. down to the lobby and asked where the meeting room for the Tanker reunion was located. The desk person pointed “Lunch”, everyone demanded, as the hour neared around the corner saying “There is a sign on the door. to dine in the Chiefs ward room. It was easy to get every- one in line since the mass of people was funneled into Enjoy.” one very narrow corridor eventually ending up one-on- Finding the sign, he tried the door. It was locked. one with the cook and a tray passer. (Cont. page 8)

Page 7 (Continued from page 7) The whole group fit nicely in the the house. Old, but the furniture and structure are in ward room, eating their chicken, and stuff on white linen. good condition. This visit was between the growing sea- It was an efficient naval operation at its best. And the sons for plants and flowers so the natural beauty of the food was good! place was obscured. The trolley ride took them to the ponds and lakes where alligators were seen sunning “OK Earl” he said to himself. “Let’s go to the top.” And he started the climb. The ladders began to grow nar- themselves on ramps with turtles as sidekicks. row as he went higher, and the angle moved toward verti- That evening Earl and the group took another cal, up, up, and more up. Did the Cap’n make this climb boat ride. This one was different. The boat was closed in to work every day? Earl finally reached the bridge and providing protection from the rain. A couple of guitar stalked around like Captain Blye. He sat in the old Cap- players entertained as everyone ate a good sit-down din- tains swivel chair with the torn cushion. What a chal- ner while the boat cruised around Charleston harbor. lenge it must have been to command this much boat, the Good show all around.. 3000 or more sailors, and be responsible for the safety of it all. It’s no wonder Charlton Heston didn’t make Admi- On the last morning of the reunion most of the group was back on a bus headed for the big market area ral. in downtown Charleston to spend what money they had Earl ventured on to the flight deck to visualize left on South Carolina artifacts. Earl was tired, and opted flying an aircraft off this piece of iron. The vision went to to pass on this trip, choosing to relax with a practice nap gray as the admiration waned for those Navy flyers with until the big event that evening. As the dinner hour a lot of guts, but very little brains, who used this boat as neared, Earl donned his blue funeral suit with a red a water landing pad. No, thank you. power tie, and joined the others plus a few guests which forced the crack motel staff to scramble to solve the seat- Back on the bus, all accounted for, return to the ing problem. Door prize tickets were given to those who base camp (Motel). Earl was tired, as was everyone who deserved them as the group entered the dining room, and toured the big boat, so an afternoon nap was appropriate. began the required milling-about, shaking hands, and That evening most of the group boarded busses for dinner generally being pleasant to strangers. The food was excel- downtown, but Earl went to the restaurant for a quick lent, the small talk larger than life, and the laughs abun- Reuben sandwich hoping to catch the Braves game on dant. It was a fun evening even though Earl whiffed on TV. You can’t catch something that never was. Earl al- the door prizes. No matter the problems or tribulations, most packed up and checked out when he was told that this group takes them in stride, and in the end come out this motel did not carry Braves baseball. This is the strong. Good people form binding friendships and friends South. This state led the break with the North. The At- lanta Braves are the Southern representatives of that are what it’s all about. southern tradition and this motel chose not to carry the The next morning Earl overslept a little. He was ballgames. That’s a sin, and is a reportable offense to the in the lobby when Foggy Bottom came in with a smaller baseball Gods. A grievance was in order. Payback came bag cart and no grand-daughter. “What happened to the almost immediately the next day as a major portion of girl?” Earl asked. the motel lost hot water, causing complaints from guests. “She couldn’t hack it. She was having heavy- So there! metal withdrawal pains so I sent her home. I think she Day three and another bus ride. Earl was seated went home, I can’t contact her mother. Anyway Earl, in the back of the bus, looking forward to the tour of have a good day. Write or call if you can.” He said as he downtown Charleston. He was familiar with Savannah, handed Earl a fancy engraved business card with so his favorite southern city, but this was his first trip into many numbers that they continued on the back. Charleston. Compared to Savannah there is no compari- son. Charleston is a very old city and they are proud of Earl shook his hand with a slight smile on his that. Any structure over 75 years old can NOT be torn face. “Navigators” he thought “they never change.” The down, it must be restored. Some of these buildings go fancy engraved business card fluttered from the driver back to the 1600s and they look it. As with most southern side window as Earl crossed cities, with old narrow streets, many streets are one way. the big bridge for home. Earl was trying to stay oriented but he was lost before he (Thanks to Don for this found his way out of town. humorous accounting of Next, the group traveled from downtown to one of the Charleston Reunion the oldest plantations in the country that is still occupied with his fictitious charac- by descendents of the original owners. It all began in the ters- Earl Everyman and 1600s. That’s amazing in this day and age of takeovers by Foggy Bottom.) corporate entities who try to enhance their image buying up historical properties. The group began with a tour of

Page 8 MY LAST TWO FLIGHTS ON A KB-29 (Part 2) by Aaron Godbey I then called over the intercom; —AC, this is the right scanner, over.“ —Right Scanner, the is the AC, go This is an account of my last flight on a KB29. It ahead, what is it?“ I replied, —Sir, there appears to be was the summer in 1954. I was an Air Force Flight Engi- flames coming from somewhere about the wing root and neer with the 420th Air Refueling Squadron at Alexandria flashing by my window!“ A long silence followed, to AFB (now England AFB in Alexandria LA. However, on which I replied, —AC, do you read me?“ —Yes, Right this flight I served a right scanner. My station was at the Scanner I do. Take a fire bottle and a walk around bottle right side blister, in the aft cabin of the plane. and go into the bomb bay and tell me what you see.“ —Roger, Sir, I‘m on my way.“ Our air crew was chosen to go on a mission in support of the Air Force planes that were participating in I took a walk around with a bottle of oxygen and the National Air Races. Our specific duties were to take a fire extinguisher and went into the bomb bay. Now our tanker KB29 to Langley AFB in Hampton Roads, VA, those two bomb bays were filled with two large 3,000 fill the two 3,000 gallon bomb bay tanks with a special gallon fuel tanks. I made my way into the bomb bay, and heavy jet fuel and ferry it to Sedalia AFB in Missouri. everything seemed to be normal. There were no flames in there. I made my way back to the right scanners posi- This fuel was to be used in the Air forces‘ planes tion and reported my findings to the AC. But the crack- that were in a highly contested race from California to ling was till there and the flames were still coming by my Langley in Virginia. It was believed this special fuel window. I reported the same to the AC who advised the would give the Air Force a considerable edge over the crew that we were back home now and that he had de- Navy, and thus win the coveted air race. clared an emergency and we We flew from Alexandria AFB to Langley AFB, were making a straight in ap- loaded our special cargo into the bomb bay tanks and proach to the runway. flew it to Sedalia, MO. Now, a KB29 is designed for the I looked down and saw fuel to be pumped from the bomb bay tanks out a large fire trucks and —meat wagons“ boom that sticks out of the tail of the airplane while in (ambulances) coming down the flight into a receptacle of another airplane desiring to be runway to meet us. I heard our refueled. It was not designed to off load the fuel while tires screech as we touched still on the ground. down. The crackling sound and flames now had We soon learned that we had no way to unload stopped. I thought, that‘s strange. We were met by a the fuel on the ground except through small petcocks in fireman as we deplaned. He had a plastic looking wire in the bottom of the bomb bay tanks. This meant that we his hand and holding it up he said, —Sergeant, is that your had to let the fuel trickle out into five gallon buckets and trouble?“ manually pour it five gallons at a time, into a waiting fuel We looked and the radio antenna that runs from truck that could then fuel up the racing jet planes who the top of the nose to the top of the tail section of the were on their way from California. We had to work all plane had broken off at the tail and had wrapped itself night long at this task. around the entire aircraft. The crackling sound was Can you imagine the Air Force with all its sophis- made by its beating up against the plane. The flames ticated equipment and no way to pump jet fuel from a were nothing more than the sun reflecting from it as it beat itself by my window. I was relieved, but felt like an plane on the ground, except let it trickle out? idiot. Daybreak came as we unloaded the last five gal- lons of fuel from the plane. We then reported to the tran- When we returned to our barracks, and tuned in sit barracks where we were supposed to have slept that the news on the radio. The newscaster reported on the night. Instead, we took a shower, and reported to the national air races. He said that the Air force had won the flight line for the trip back home to —Alex Air patch“ in race, but tragedy occurred to one of the jets in the race. Louisiana. It was all I could do to stay awake. This was As the pilot banked to land his winning plane, his air the third day since we left our base in Louisiana and I speed was too slow and his bank too steep. He literally fell out of the air and crashed and burned, killing the pilot had not slept one minute. instantly. What a waste! I was carefully scanning the skies from the right side of our plane when it happened. Suddenly, I heard My friend, Clifton summed it up by saying, loud crackling sounds that a large fire makes. I then saw —Godbey, some days you can‘t make a nickel for loosing it; flames were flashing by my window, we were burning, a dime!“ This was my last time to fly while in the Air I thought. I looked again to be sure. The crackling Force. A short time later I was discharged and entered sounds grew louder. college.

Page 9 TAC Tanker Tales Volume 10, Issue 4 June 2009 Tactical Tankers Association, Ltd. 231 King Street Lancaster OH 34130 Phone: 740-653-3835 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Banquet Honors and Door Prize Winners We were honored to have our Holiday Inn Sales Manager at our closing activity of the reunion. Cheryl Tobias presented Complimentary Room certificates to the four members who have been to all 11 TAC Tanker re- unions since 2000 Tucson: Jim Boyington, Al Desin, Jake Jacobson and Gary Myers. (N. & N. Hill have also been to 11) In the Door Prize Categories: Tote Bags with Nautical and Seaside Treats were won by: Bob Schleighs Don Wadsworth George Rose Jim Holbrook Art Belenzon Tom Grey Bill Wolford Charlie Vellines Dave Scott Roy Thompson Tom Wedel Al Desin Harvey Margulies Horace Furlough Special Items won by: From the Gawells: AF Pillows -Billie Taylor and Harry Hanson Wine Basket -Aaron Godbey AF Placemats/Mitt -Carl Viars and Ed Call AF Fleece Throw– Carl Nandrasy From Marilyn Reinecke: Sweet Grass Basket -Wayne Warner From the Wadsworths: Texas Cookbook—George Kirby Lighthouse Puzzle—Pug Hoover Magnolia Set—Max Gillaspie

CrossStitch Items won by: Quilt Items won by: Ship & Flags –Joe Furukawa By The Sea—Harvey Lee Southern Setting-Larry Meyer Mariner Star– Rod Schroeder Rainbow Row—Curly Wright Pirates of the Sea—Arlen Kurtis Southern Nights (Magnolia) - Pat Selfridge Rainbow Row—Bobby Oliver Nautical Symbols—John Hanna Ed.Note: While the TAC members are listed as winners, the wives will probably appreciate the prizes more. My special thanks to Betsy Lee for assisting with Registration and to the Gawells and Betsy for setting up the Banquet decorations, AND TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND ENJOYED THE REUNION (weather and all).

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