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December 1993 SOMEWHERE in the USA 50TH Anniversary Reunion Fresno, California Sept

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December 1993 SOMEWHERE in the USA 50TH Anniversary Reunion Fresno, California Sept The 461st Liberaider Vol. 10, No. 2 December 1993 SOMEWHERE IN THE USA 50TH Anniversary Reunion Fresno, California Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 1993 Frank and Millie are honored for their leadership of the Association for the past 13 years. Millie looks a little “shaken up”. Hope the wine helped. The seventh “present day” reunion of the 461st in 1943 to more than 350,000 today. Bomb Group Association (H) was held in Fresno, Tuesday, September 28, 1993 California September 30th through October 3, 1993. The primary mission of this occasion, and the 385 President Frank and co-pilot Millie O’Bannon ar- veterans in attendance, was to dedicate a memorial to rived at the Holiday Inn Centre Plaza to prepare for the 16 airmen who made the supreme sacrifice while the major units which started landing Wednesday, in training with the 461st at Hammer Field. We also September 29th. Treasurer Gail “Pete” Peterson and gathered to observe the 50th anniversary of the 461st his wife Verna were also part of the point group as Bomb Group (H) which was activated on July 1, were Marimac’s Marietta and Phil. Everyone was 1943 and trained at Hammer Field from November 1 pleased with the hotel and especially the facilities in through December 31, 1943. the Atrium. 461st Bomb Group Association people arrived Fresno and the surrounding area, including what was throughout the day. First mission was to report to Hammer Field, had changed so much in 50 years that the registration table to pick up a reunion packet and the only thing recognizable was an aircraft hanger 50th anniversary T-shirts which displayed a flight of which now serves as an Air National Guard facility. 461st Bomb Group B-24’s. The remainder of the Fresno has grown from a population of about 80,000 (Continued on page 2) PAGE 2 THE 461ST LIBERAIDER DECEMBER 1993 The 461st LIBERAIDER 461st Bombardment Group (H) hills, then up into high country with its twisting roads, tall Activated: 1 July 1943 trees and steep overlooks. We descended onto the valley Inactivated: 27 August 1945 Incorporated: 25 November 1985 floor where we joined a tour group on a tractor drawn ————————————————————————————————————– open-air tram for a picturesque trip through the valley. It CORPORATE HDQRS: 1407 W. 4th St. P.O. Box 5160, Spencer, IA 51301 ————————————————————————————————————– was a bit chilly after the 90 degree weather in Fresno but FEDERAL IRS TAX EXEMPT, Internal Revenue Code 501©(19) No. 42-1272736 we shared nice green wool blankets. Our guide kept us ————————————————————————————————————– OFFICERS appraised of all the history and beautiful features of the Frank C. O’Bannon, President, PO Box 36600, Tucson, AZ 84740-6600 Edward N. Chan, Vice-President, 1065 N. 5th St., New Hyde Park, NY 11040 park. We saw the famous Yosemite Falls and Bridal Veil G. “Pete” Peterson, Treasurer, 1407 W 4th St., P.O. Box 5160, Spencer, IA 51301 Falls (both just trickles at this time of year). We also had ————————————————————————————————————– DIRECTORS—1993-1995 a picture taking stop at Tunnel View to have the best view Leonard D. Cole Hdqrs Sqdn Rt #1 Box 495, Osage Beach, MO 65065 of El Capitan, the largest solid piece of granite in the John Young 764th Sqdn 1049 Jamaica Ct., Aurora, CO 80010 Gino Pishione 765th Sqdn 850 Temperana, Clovis, CA 93612 world. Robert V. Hayes 766th Sqdn 31 Grand St., New City, NY 10956 Denothy R. Perkins 767th Sqdn 7128 Salizar St, San Diego, CA 92111 ALTERNATE DIRECTORS We, who were scheduled to go to the dinner theater that Hdqrs Sqdn Thomas Javaruski 764th Sqdn 951 N. Railroad Ave., Staten Island, NY 10306 night, had a shortened tour and ate a delicious box lunch John A. Lewandowski 765th Sqdn 112 Mckee, Houghton Lake, MI 48629 at the Lodge with many other tourists from all over the 766th Sqdn 767th Sqdn world. Departure time was 1:15 p.m. Our trip back to ————————————————————————————————————– Fresno was uneventful except for the bus being stopped COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Memorial: Edward Izzo, 296 Huntridge Way, Winter Springs, FL 32708 by the State Patrol and the loud snores from the sleeping Membership: Ed Chan, 1065 N 5th St, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 Post Exchange: Wally Robinson, 3 E. Cardott, Ridgeway, PA 15853 461st’ers. Publicity: Looking for a volunteer! 1994 Reunion: The Marimac Corporation, 6790 E. Calle Dorado, Tucson, AZ 85715 That evening a large number of us were pleasantly enter- ————————————————————————————————————– tained at the Music Hall dinner theater where we enjoyed LIBERAIDER George D. Dickie—Editor—PO Box 615, East Sandwich, MA 02537 a 3-entrée buffet dinner. The program included several The LIBERAIDER is published twice a year on behalf of the members of the organization. Permission is granted to use articles provided source is given. numbers by a singing and dancing group. The Junior ————————————————————————————————————– Company, and the comedy Rumors by Neil Simon which was ably performed by the Good Company Players. (Continued from page 1) Most of the audience that evening were 461st people. day was spent renewing old acquaintances, reminisc- ing and watching the video tapes of World War II Those members that chose not to go to Yosemite Na- and previous reunions. tional Park had the option of going on a “taste and sam- ple tour”. All About Grapes; that’s just what it was. Headquarters and Squadron mementos were on display in Leaving the hotel at 8:30 a.m., we traveled through the reception room. Coffee and a cash bar were available. Fresno County until we came to a place called Many old memories were retold, and they get better each “Simonian Farms”, which dated back to 1901. Antique time. The most amusing was that of Art Currier of farm equipment, the largest collection in the San Joaquin Presque Isle, Maine and the 765th Bomb Squadron. He Valley, was on display along with memorabilia of yes- tried to find the store or shop in Fresno where he bought a teryear. Fruits, nuts and vegetables were on sale from dress for his wife. This was mailed to her in Maine, but it the local farms. Having been born and raised on a farm, didn’t fit so she mailed it back to Art at Hammer Field. it brought back many memories to me and a lot of us. In the meantime, he had left Fresno with the squadron for Italy. He finally received the dress in Italy four or five As we continued on our way through the valley, the months later. Art mailed the dress back to Mrs. Currier, vineyards were being harvested for raisins. Periodically and surprisingly it fit this time! He said he was careful to the bus would slow down for a better look at how the keep this information from the other fellows in his tent. process for sun-drying raisins is done. They are dried on brown paper which is laid on the ground that has been Thursday, September 30, 1993 tilted to face the sun. They are turned over during the process, then folded in a paper to continue to dry and Early breakfast was in order for the 3 busloads of then picked up for harvest. One stop at the Sun-Maid 461st’ers who left at 7:00 a.m. for the 2 ½ hour drive to raisin plant gave us more details during the showing of a Yosemite National Park. We went from city freeway through fruit orchards, grazing country to oak covered (Continued on page 3) DECEMBER 1993 THE 461ST LIBERAIDER PAGE 3 (Continued from page 2) reassembled and restored. This plane was used to carry film. We also saw how raisins are packaged for market. R-34 Reconnaissance planes (called parasites) to target We tasted raisins and candy in the gift shop. By the areas. way, the grapes grown for raisins are called “Thompson Seedless”. The Castle Museum display was very well designed, and the climate (temperature and humidity) is very favorable Lunch time found us at Wolf Lakes Park, a private for the preservation of these planes. There is a mini- family owned park. We had an excellent lunch pre- mum amount of deterioration even though they are pared by the staff. Homemade cookies too. We were stored outside. given a tour of the grounds including a lecture on al- mond trees. The only snafus of the tour were the location of the luncheon site and the lack of air conditioning in Bus Out last stop was at the Bianchi Winery. We were #204 on the return trip. given a talk on the process of wine making. We were informed about the variety of grapes that are used to Late in the afternoon the annual business meeting was make the different wines. We learned about harvesting called to order by President Frank O’Bannon. Various methods, what a wine master is (he’s not the guy who facets of the groups activities were discussed. Frank can drink the most wine), and procedures for fermenta- praised Ed Chan and Jim Hardee for their work in locat- tion and bottling. On departing, each of us received a ing former 461st personnel. Less than 900 of the 5,000 small bottle of Bianchi—California “Chardonnay”. plus troops have not been found. Ed and Jim are search- ing all the telephone directories which are available on By 4:30 we returned to our hotel, more knowledgeable computer disks. than when we left; a most enjoyable day. The chairman of the nominating committee presented Friday, October 1, 1993 the names of the current officers for re-election. Presi- dent Frank O’Bannon, Vice-President Ed Chan and Sec- Over 150 reunion visitors traveled in 4 busses to the retary/Treasurer Gail Peterson were unanimously re- Castle Air Force Museum which is located next to Cas- elected.
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