"He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help."
Abraham Lincoln
ICQ & Potpourri Mail - 2010
Informal or Partial Messages
July 16: From Jim Dove at JP3012@aol.com
Subject: Rhodes funeral at Arlington
Sorry it took so long to get back to you George. I was out of town for awhile and have been trying to get in touch with Betty Rhodes.
I just talked to their daughter Gay (the family is in Washington now). Jimmy was buried at Arlington yesterday, Thursday, 15 July. She said it was a beautiful ceremony and everything went fine.
Jim Dove
From Jim Grooms at jgrooms2@cfl.rr.com
Subject: Current events.
I thought this might make you smile ... conversation overheard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai.
Iranian Air Defense Site: "Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself."
Aircraft: "This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace."
Air Defense Site: "You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!"
Aircraft: "This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!"
Air Defense Site: ... total silence.
George L. Hance, 69, Friday, June 4, 2010
"What goes around, comes around." Finally.
A few years back, I posted a photo of our departed Donald Heying's marker at Arlington with tire marks on it (see http://www.gcwillick.com/482ndFIS/memHL/HeyingDAm.html)...and made the following comments "A little sloppy, even for Arlington's groundskeepers...It is dangerous to walk the grounds in Arlington where grass conceals deep holes left unattended. The holes I missed or fell into last year were still there this year (I only fell into one new one). I took some pictures of several...just in case someone thinks I'm lieing. The mowers are very wide and make one pass...so the grass in the holes is simply higher than the rest...from a few feet away, the holes (in the main) are not visible. Arlington is a painted lady and need not be that way. It would keep one man busy all year, every year, just rolling a cart of dirt around the cemetery filling-in. But his salary would be less than a law suit settlement. As if the government would care about that."
What I didn't tell you was that they had started trench burying in Section 59. "My GOD!" was the only thought I had. My concern was focused on error possibilities rather than method. I checked the line the next year with markers in place...looked good, but no way to confirm accuracy, and since I had set markers in cemeteries...I was very worried. Now...THATS OVER.
Associated Press Writers Anne Flaherty And Pauline Jelinek
WASHINGTON --- An Army investigation has found that potentially hundreds of remains at Arlington National Cemetery have been misidentified or misplaced, in a scandal marring the reputation of the nation's pre-eminent burial ground for its honored dead since the Civil War.
Army Secretary John McHugh announced Thursday that the cemetery's two civilian leaders would be forced to step aside, and he appointed a new chief to conduct a more thorough investigation to examine the graves and sort out the mix-up.
"I deeply apologize to the families of the honored fallen resting in that hallowed ground who may now question the care afforded to their loved ones," McHugh told a Pentagon news conference. An Army investigation was launched last year after reports of employee misconduct, first reported by the Web site Salon.com.
Led by the service's inspector general, Lt. Gen. Steven Whitcomb, the investigation found lax management of the cemetery, where employees relied on paper records to manage the dozens of burials each week and maintain the thousands of existing gravesites.
Whitcomb said at least 211 remains were identified as potentially mislabeled or misplaced and that there could be more.
"We found nothing that was intentional, criminal intent or intended sloppiness that caused this. ... But of all the things in the world, we see this as a zero defect operation," he told reporters Thursday.
Whitcomb could not say how old the mixed-up remains might be or from what conflict, saying only that the problem had been confined to three areas of the cemetery known as sections 59, 65 and 66.
Whitcomb said he did find two cases of mis-marked graves in section 60, the area for veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. He said those mistakes had been corrected.
Separately, the Army is investigating whether the cemetery's deputy superintendent, Thurman Higginbotham, made false statements to service investigators. Higginbotham, who ran the day-to-day operations at the cemetery, has been accused by former employees of creating a hostile work environment and breaking into their e-mail systems.
Higginbotham is on administrative leave, pending further review.
According to a defense official familiar with the case, who discussed the details on condition of anonymity, Higginbotham won't face criminal charges because of a lack of evidence. But, the official said, the Army will ensure he never works at the cemetery again.
Higgenbotham's boss, John Metzler, is set to retire on July 2. Service officials say he is being pushed out with a letter of reprimand that blames him for failing to rein in Higginbotham's mistakes.
Taking their place will be Kathryn Condon, a former civilian head of Army Materiel Command who as executive director will in charge of fixing any burial errors. Patrick Hallinan, a director with the Veterans Affairs Department, is temporarily being assigned as the cemetery's superintendent.
McHugh also announced the creation of an independent advisory commission that will be led by former senators and Army veterans Max Cleland and Bob Dole.
Lt. Col. Lawrence W. Conklin --- May 9, 2010
From Danno [at dannoc@gmail.com]
Subject: 482nd FIS website - May 12
I know I've looked at your site previously, but only now decided to drop you a note.
My dad was Joseph E. Carrieres (the Capt. flight leader and picture in the article on the perfect score William Tell meet). Although I was only 14 years old at the time, I remember several of the names of his fellow pilots especially Stonestreet or as he was referred to "Stoney" and Dafford Myers whose family we were close to.
The article on the bailout of Dafford ("Jump") Myers was also interesting. Jump and my dad were also subsequently stationed in Michigan flying F-106's although Jump was at I believe K.I. Sawyer AFB and my dad was at Selfridge AFB.
Jump eventually volunteered to fly A-1Es in Vietnam and obtained some notoriety in that war as the guy that crash landed and the "Medal of Honor" rescue by Bernie Fischer!
My dad died in 1992 his health not helped by the pilots of his era lifestyles. "Breakfast was a cigarette and beer." I believe Jump may have died a couple of years earlier in Montana where he retired. My dad retired in 1967 and lived in New Mexico and Arizona prior to his death.
I followed in my dad's footsteps and became an Air Force Pilot in 1972 and accumulated time in various single and dual seat aircraft including the F-4 E's and Gs. I was between wars though so never saw any actual combat time. I retired in 1989 and then flew for Northwest Airlines for 18 years.
My mom is still alive but suffers from Alzheimer disease. Must have been the 9 kids that they raised. I'll ask my brothers to see if they have or kept any memorabilia from my parents regarding those years at Seymour.
Thanks ... Daniel Carriers
REPLY: Great to hear from you. We really need a copy/scan of an USAF studio photo of your father, if at all possible.
What I remember most about Capt. Carriers was that no matter what the temperature was ... he always landed with a wet flight suit... from his neck to his butt. The tension/strain must have been very difficult for him.
From Jim Cunningham (at hematite2@bellsouth.net)
Subject: Tennessee Flooding, May 7, 2010
Did you get any of the flooding? The front seemed to go your way. We got about 6" here while others in the county got 10 to 12. Counties around Nashville got 13 to 15, and of course all they get comes thru here in the river. We had the highest water since 1937 at 20+ feet above flood stage. All of the Riverfront covered and many roads and bridges in the county covered. There was only one main street into downtown Clarksville.
Went to the small town of Kingston Springs today and found only two roads open into town. There were slabs of concrete and asphalt the size of full size pick-up trucks washed from roads and bridges. Our damage is more in the water and mud variety.
We fared well personally as we are on about the 7th highest hill in the county. We just sat back and watched it rain and the river rise and fall. If it gets to us uncle Noah will be in the ARK!
Jim Cunningham
REPLY: We're good. Lots of water, but the Ohio River system of dams turned the trick once again...held the level at about 6 to 10 feet below flood stage. Louisville is the most vulnerable city along the river's course from Pittsburg to the Mississippi and it had very minor damage (unless it was your property). Thought about you all through this one...glad you are high and dry. GCW
482nd OFFICERs with BOUNCING Emails:
Wiley A. Allgood, Robert L. Elder, Jack Jeangerard, Rocco P. MacAllister, Carlton T. Marsh, Ray A. Pilcher, Wm. Lee Ruggels, Jose E. Stuntz, Herman H. Williams, and James T. Winkler.
I can't tell what was updated but lost in the crash ... or if I was left out of the addy change loop (happens a lot). Please update ... if you are of a mind to ... thanks gentlemen (grumpy, irascible old farts is what you are ... getting there myself). GCW :)
From: Oscar P. Dockery, Lt. Col., USAF (Retired)
(at pb68dockery@embarqmail.com)
Thanks for sending this information about the 482nd. I regret that I have such poor recollection of many the people I was associated with. May God bless you and May God Bless America.
BIGELOW CRASH FINDINGS RELEASED
Star Bulletin, Apr 27, 2010
Byline: Leila Fujimori
Crash tied to control loss, speed
Big Island pilot David L. Bigelow came just 1,370 feet short
of sailing his glider to a state record-setting goal of 40,000
feet before crashing into Mauna Loa on Jan. 16, 2009.
The National Transportation Safety Board found the probable cause of the accident was the 69-year-old pilot's loss of pitch control of the single-seat Glaser-Dirks DG-400 glider and the aircraft exceeding its airspeed limit for undetermined reasons, according to an NTSB report issued Thursday.
The NTSB report said a flight control malfunction could not be ruled out due to the glider's airframe being extensively fragmented.
"The cockpit, fuselage and empennage were shattered into unrecognizable pieces," it said.
The NTSB report noted Bigelow had the glider towed into the air to 12,600 feet above mean sea level from the Waimea-Kohala Airport and released at 10:28 a.m. Bigelow's last voice transmission indicated he was at 28,000 feet, climbing at 1,000 feet a minute, and that he was going to cross over to Mauna Loa.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park rangers found a debris field of Plexiglas near the fuselage wreckage. The canopy release knob was found in the stowed position, indicating it had not been activated.
The wreckage was found on Mauna Loa's southeastern slope on a steep slope of barren lava rock, the NTSB report said.
The body of Bigelow, a retired Air Force captain who flew F-102 fighter jets in Vietnam, was found at the 7,800-foot elevation level of Mauna Loa.
Bigelow, who had been flying gliders since the late 1970s, had also flown as a commercial pilot for Continental and Aloha airlines.
The flight data recorder showed the glider climbing to 20,375 feet near Holualoa, then flying east-northeast, rising to 30,116 feet over Mauna Kea, then heading south-southwest to Mauna Loa, climbing to 36,846 feet.
The glider reached 38,630 feet, just three minutes and 12 seconds before the end of the recording, when the glider suddenly stopped its ascent and began a rapid descent that reached 24,000 feet a minute over the next 16 seconds.
The aircraft had reversed its course 180 degrees, just 56 seconds from the end of the recording, dropping almost vertically, which could be attributed to structural failure of the airframe due to very high aerodynamic loads, the NTSB report said.
The left wing was found 3.44 miles from the main wreckage, showing it likely separated from the airframe at a high altitude. Other fracture lines show the plane had been traveling at airspeeds far above the manufacturer's recommended airspeed limit. At its fastest the glider was traveling at 241 knots (277 mph), while the manual lists its red-line airspeed at 146 knots (168 mph).
Autopsy findings showed Bigelow's immediate cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries, and he had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
From: Max Boger (at mbogerc150@yahoo.com)
Apr 24, 2010 - EMail correction
George, I have a couple of corrections plus my address:
On the list of 482nd by dates of arrival ... I'm listed as an A2C. Please change rank to SSgt.
Rauseo, Anthony; his arrival date is correct but he transferred to RAF Wethersfield, England with me in Sept. 1958.
My current address is: James M. Boger, 421 Rainbow Acres Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461.
Thanks for keeping up with all of this. Take care ... James M. Boger
From: William "Bill" Gamble (at billgamble@axelhouse.com)
April 16, 2010
Will there be a 482nd reunion ever again? I understand how depressing it can be to sponsor/coordinate an event year after year and get limited support. Kind of burns one out.
Briefly, I’m retired from Pratt Whitney after 30 years as a test engineer or group supervisor thereof. Great Job. Got to work on the mechanical systems for the engines in the F16, F15, F22 and the Space Shuttle Main Engine hi pressure turbopumps. Currently living in Murphy NC. Wife and I get to travel a bit now along with both being “professional volunteers” in church, local, domestic and international events.
Try to keep me on distribution for whatever you or your successor publish.
From David A. Gill (at dgill39@att.net)
April 6, 2010
AF11360481. I was in the 482nd probably early 1960 for one year and a half. Primary work place was as a clerk in missile maintenance, Aux Air Police, missile loadling crew, and so on. It was a crackerjack of an outfit and there were many alerts. I was there when JFK was escorted to So. America. Too bad, no pictures.
I still have a F102 model of around 15 inches that I'd like to donate to someone. It has markings for the Connecticut Air National Guard. Got to run just now, but could give info later. Sorry, no good pictures at the moment. See ya.
David
Jimmy Paul Rhodes - March 26, 2010
April 4, 2010: "Just to pass on to you that Jimmy Rhodes, pilot, 482nd early years, went west Friday, March 26th, after over a year battle with lung cancer. Jimmy and I flew Mu-2's together on Air Force contract here at Tyndall AFB for about 18 years." Jim Dove (at JP3012@aol.com)
April 5, 2010: "If ever there was a guy that you could say, He was tall, dark, and handsome, it was Jimmy Rhodes." Elmer Olson (at elmerrolson@yahoo.com)
April 5, 2010: "Thanks for informing me of this. Jimmy was in the same flight that I was in at SJAFB. Dad Ingalls was the flight commander." William Piper (at billpiper@windstream.net)
482nd From: Jack Quillinan (at wife's email connieq@usit.net)
April 2, 2010
No bad news. My wife and sweetheart has the E-mail address and I'm just tacking on. I was so glad to hear from you. I tried to get to the old website and was unable to do so. I thought it was shut down.
I don't mess much with computers anymore. I spent 30 years working on mainframes with IBM. I could trace a keystroke from the keyboard, thru the adapter, to the bus, thru the logic unit to the disk, but I never understood a PC. (I'm just old and outdated.)
Thank you for keeping the site active. I will try to visit it as often as I can. (Although I hate computers.) If you need anything from me please let me know.
Jack Quillinan
Sidney A. Stayler (at baylion@sbcglobal.net)
Friday, April 2, 2010
Subject: Hi
Know what you are talking about when it comes to a hard winter. Yours was worse than ours. We had the cold but not the snow.
I am not doing too bad for an old guy (86 years) soon to be 87 ... I hope. What is good to not see is my name in red. You can just keep putting me in the green.
I do have a couple of medical problems and a slight problem with breathing. Smoked too many years before I quit about 4 years ago. But I smoked for 66 years. The other problem is my back. I was in an accident back in 1962. I got rear ended pretty good. I was driving a small olds F-85 and the guy that hit me was driving a huge Chrysler Imperial. So now I am paying for it. I would sue the guy but he is dead. He was a BG in the AF Reserve.
Glad you are hanging in. Keep up the good work on the web page. I enjoy reading about all the guys. One problem. Most of the officers and airmen in my time period are in red.
Take care and I will be looking forward to hearing from you.
Sid Stayler --- First Shirt Retired
Lee Downs (at jrdowns@nc.rr.com)
Apr 1, 2010
Last night I read everyone on the obit list. How did you find out that Richard Kerstetter had died so quickly?
Do you know why Van Daele died so young? I saw him around 1974 at Homestead, Fla. At that time, he was stationed at Dover in an F-106 squadron. I was surprised he remembered me from the 482nd. Sometime later, I heard he had retired - the next thing I heard was he had died. It would be extremely difficult for me to ask a spouse.
I really appreciate what you have done and what you are doing. You are a great writer - a way with words that hits the brain with meaning - you should write another book. The 482nd site is a book - and a damn good one, too.
Lee
[While fighting my way through letters in a current attempt to re-create the 482nd contact list, I ran into folks I hadn't heard from in a while and dropped a one-liner their way to touch base ... one follows below. GCW]
March 27, 2010
To: Sgt Arthur E. Lonmo
Subject: 482nd FIS
Blimey ... you still alive over there?
April 1, 2010
To: George C Willick
Subject: 482nd FIS
Yes! Still Kicking. How are you?
God Bless ... Art Lonmo (at artlonmo@blueyonder.co.uk)
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010
From: Roger McCumber (at rmccumber@Leupold.com)
Dept. of the Army
Regulations for Operation of Aircraft
Commencing January, 1920
1. Don't take the machine into the air unless you are satisfied it will fly.
2. Never leave the ground with the motor leaking.
3. Don't turn sharply when taxiing. Instead of turning sharp, have someone lift the tail around.
4. In taking off, look at the ground and the air.
5. Never get out of the machine with the motor running until the pilot relieving you can reach the motor controls.
6. Pilots should carry hankies in a handy place to wipe off goggles.
7. Riding on the steps, wings, or rail of the machine is prohibited.
8. In case the engine fails on takeoff, land straight ahead regardless of obstacles.
9. No machine must taxi faster than a man can walk.
10. Never run motor so that blast will blow on other machines.
11. Learn to gauge altitude, especially on landing.
12. If you see another machine near you, get out of the way.
13. No two cadets should ever ride together in the same machine.
14. Do not trust altitude instruments.
15. Before you begin a landing glide, see that no machines are under you.
16. Hedge-hopping will not be tolerated.
17. No spins on back or tail sides will be indulged in as they unnecessarily strain the machines.
18. If flying against the wind and you wish to fly with the wind, don't make a sharp turn near the ground. You may crash.
19. Motors have been known to stop during a long glide. If pilot wishes to use motor for landing, he should open the throttle.
20. Don't attempt to force the machine onto the ground with more than flying speed. The result is bounding and ricocheting.
21. Pilots will not wear spurs while flying. [Texas regulation?]
22. Do not use aeronautical gasoline in cars or motorcycles.
23. You must not take off or land closer than 50 feet to the hanger.
24. Never take a machine into the air until you are familiar with its controls and instruments.
25. If an emergency occurs while flying, land as soon as possible.
Friday, Mar 12, 2010
Ernest C. Ford died this last week of cancer in Sacramento, CA, at age 88. That likely doesn't mean anything to most of you ... "So what?" you might ask.
During WWII, Ernest C Ford had flown 91 missions by age 21. He was credited with a total of 364 combat missions during the war, as both an NCO and Officer, which is believed to be the most combat missions by a U.S. pilot during World War II. He was awarded six Distinguished Flying Crosses - including one with a V for valor - and two Air Medals. He flew another 21 missions during the Korean War and retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major in 1963 and settled in Sacramento.
His passing, especially among airmen, should not go un-noticed. GCW
Tuesday, Mar 9, 2010
From: John Nelson (at neldes@frontiernet.net)
I happened to come across your site today. If you don't have a copy in your personal collection you may be interested in the enclosed article/scans about Lt. Zembraski's ejection.
Steve Volpe and I bought scooters at the same time - I think at Sears. Say Hi to him. And does anyone know anything of Van Damron? He worked in communications.
Regards ... John Nelson
Tuesday, Mar 9, 2010
From: James Cunningham (at hematite2@bellsouth.net)
Re: Mother of the 482nd FIS
"Move the nomination closed and elected by acclamation."
Jim
Monday, Mar 8, 2010
HONORARY MOTHER of the 482nd FIS
Tollie Schaumberg
Be it known that there being no other lady worthy of this honor,
I cast a single unanimous vote for G. Richard Schaumberg's
mother, age 102, for her contributions to this web page
and for being an outstanding human being. GCW
Carroll Connett Hicks - Feb 23, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:30 AM
From: Andy De Cuzzi (at adecuzzi@charter.net)
I’m sorry to hear about the computer problems. I must be lucky. Wife has 7 and it does some crazy stuff.
I have vista and not much better. Loved XP.
Hang in there.
Andy
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 : 10 pm
From Webmaster: "Major Computer Crash"
What's past is prologue. This one came without warning several days ago and was the worse kind ... hardware failure that won't allow for "restore" or "recovery." So I picked up a new piece of equipment ... an HP running Windows 7. I strongly recommend that "Windows 7" be avoided like the Black Death unless you want to change all of your computer habits. XP was very good ... they should have left well enough alone. "7" has two redeeming features ... speed and allowing CD copies of about anything to be made on command. But it refuses to even load some of the older/trusted programs and has made it all but impossible to "short cut" anything ... Windows all but removing those words from its language and the right click of the mouse. I'm exhausted.
The webpage was unaffected but has been out on contact re email and FTP ... just established in the last half hour. This time, unlike the early January 2009 (I think) crash, a lot of supporting data was lost. Very serious damage to the hunt and the project. I'm a little old to be crying but I am anyway. Months (in some cases years) of data gone, most supporting email ... some of the 2002-to-2005 letters surviving, but the extraction process is time consuming and VERY tedious. I think this computer is my tenth machine, at least that many. I'm sure the next one will be more impossible.
Sorry, I should have seen it coming ... what with all of the 'forwards' and junk mail I receive. But its like a house fire ... no way can you be 100% ready for it. GCW
Thursday, February 18, 2010
From Tom Sutton --- RE: Don Worley - Don's Florist
I talked to Don Worley this morning, and with his permission, I am sending you this information for the website. Don has leukemia and while long term memory is pretty good, he also is having severe problems with short term memory. He appeared to be in good spirits this AM, and his wife has been able to attend to him at home, so far.
Don always gave us the table flower decorations for each reunion. I know he would welcome hearing from or receiving cards from any 482nd members. His mailing address is 641 Eagles Nest Road, Dudley, NC 28333.
Tom
Jan 30, 2010: Sincerest condolences to Col. Weatherwax.
Ruby "Joan" Weatherwax
Denver Post Jan 26, 2010: Born Aug 12, 1925 and passed away Jan 23, 2010. Joan was a faithful wife and nurturing mother who served with Waxie for 30 years in the USAF, along with a career in nursing.
Survived by Dwaine, her loving husband of 65 years; children, Michael, Philip, Robert, Nancy Hamilton; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her son Mark.
Private family services with burial at Ft. Logan National Cemetery.
Jan 26, 2010
From: James Mooring (at JIMZEBSON@aol.com)
I am James I. Mooring and was assigned to the 482d from May 63 to Oct 65 and worked as a personnel specialist in the orderly room. Without a doubt my tour with the 482d was one of the highlights during my 30 years in the Air Force. As I recall John Bell and I were the last two members of the 482d to sign out of the unit. My supervisor, Jack Bristol, introduced me to his baby sitter and we have now been married 46 years. Bill Stitcher who also worked in the orderly room, due to his position in his church, was the minister performing the marriage ceremony.
After the 482d I went on to assignments in N. Charleston, SC; Taiwan(2 tours); Lackland AFB, Tx; Chanute AFB, IL; Korea; and a couple of additional tours at Seymour Johnson. My last assignment was 4th Tac Ftr Wing Senior Enlisted Advisor. I retired as a CMSgt with 30 years of service in Feb 1991.
I now live in Snow Hill, NC which is just 20 miles from Goldsboro. I am now fully retired and spend my time both in Snow Hill and at our second home on Lake Gaston. Do a lot of traveling on my Harley too. As I reviewed all the information of the 482d web site so many memories came to mind. And after so many years I do remember so many of the fellows.
Jim
Jan 24, 2010
From: Tom Sutton
Subject: Don Clark
Donald Clark, retired Msgt 482nd Passed away Saturday Jan 23, 2009. Obit is in Goldsboro News Argus, Sunday edition, Jan 24, 2009.
MSgt Donald M Clark --- Jan 23, 2010
Jan 20, 2010
From: Tom Sutton
Subject: Spam E-mail
Hi George - Thanks for posting the spam notice on the web site. I don't know who hacked my e-mail. Hotmail shut down my e-mail address as soon as it was discovered. I changed my email address ... Tom
Ed Note: For the time being ... anyone wanting Tom's new email should send me a note requesting same and since the hacker has YOUR email address and can spoof same ... include some thought only you would know that I can ID you ... OR ... write Tom at 251 Mann Lane, Goldsboro, NC. 27530.
George C.
Jan 18, 2010
From: WEBMASTER
Subject: Spam Alert.
I received two spam emails this morning using (spoofing) Tom Sutton's (old?) email address of "tomsutton482nd@hotmail.com" ... which appears in both the FROM and TO spaces. Beware. Text follows...errors and all. George C.
"Subject: Urgent help needed
Hi,
How are you doing ? Hope all is well with you, I'm sorry that I didn't inform you about my traveling to England for a Seminar.I need a favor from you as soon as you receive this e-mail , I regret to inform you that misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept, I will like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently.
I will be needing the sum of $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.I will appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with, I will pay you back as soon as I return,I'm counting on you on this,Kindly let me know if you can be of help so I can send you my details to use when sending the money through western union.I look forward to read from you later today.
Your quick reply will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Tom."
Jan 18, 2010
From: Jim Grooms --- jgrooms2@cfl.rr.com
Subject: OLD 482nd stuff
You're right, I was the 11th to sign-in ... and the first 462 career field.
I remember Newcomb but I don't know if he was ahead of me or not.
I am doing pretty well but I do have a hip and shoulder problem that is worrisom at times. I have a couple of volunteer jobs I do to keep busy. I work at the local VA clinic one day a week and do the bank for the bartenders at the Elks lodge twice a week.
Gets me out of the house ... Jim
Jan 15, 2010
From: Lee Downs (at jrdowns@nc.rr.com)
Subject: Glad we're alive and kicking high.
Jim Granberry (who was, as I recall, an ex-drill Sgt at Lackland before jet engine school) and I came into the 482nd in April or May 1958 ... both jet engine maintenance green beans. Previously, I was a 70270, admin type, SSgt, without hope of promotion --- so I retrained into jet engine maintenance. About 2 years later, Sept or Oct '60, ADC wanted several jet engine mechs and crew-chiefs to retrain into interceptor radar maintenance. So I jumped ship and got into radar.
Then, ADC selected 6 Sgts from F-102 radar to go to F-106 radar (actually, MA-1 AWCIS --- aka Airborne Weapons Control Interceptor System or something like that). I was one of the six sent to Lowry for 19 weeks, along with TSgt George White, SSgt Verlon McLeod, SSgt Bobby Griffin, SSgt Bob Marvin, and SSgt Larry Martin. I was re-assigned to Langley AFB and stayed there 6 years...then went to Homestead AFB, FL for 7 years.
A lot of F-106 radar troops never drew an overseas assignment - although several volunteered to go to Vietnam (coward that I am ... I never volunteered :)
I still enjoy the 482nd site - you are doing superior work. Thanks... Lee
Jan 10, 2010
From: Al Basinger (at AlBasinger@cableone.net)
Subject: LONG LOST [former Armament and Electronics Officer, 482nd FIS]
I have been looking over the website with great interest and recalling many memories. I was the third member of the 482 on the ground in N.C. when the squadron was activated, so I was there from the beginning until I was released from active duty at the end of 1957. When I arrived there was only Major John Batie and Airman Bell. The Major had loaned Bell to base supply as the base was very short handed then. Col. Thomas was still at 85th Air Division at Andrews. When the Major was gone I was acting squadron commander, I'm sure the nation would have slept well knowing that! There were only 40 airmen and 14 officers on base as I remember. I reported in to another 2nd Lt. in the upper bay of a WWII hangar. He was acting base commander that day. The corps of engineers was in the process of tearing down the old tar paper buildings from WWII and starting to rebuild the reactivated base, which had one C-45 as it's aircraft. Major Batie and I had two chairs and one desk that we shared in one corner of base weather, in a WWII metal hangar. I think the only new buildings were an airman barracks and a cafeteria. There was nothing in the 482nd area as yet and the runway was being extended and re-done.
It was a real learning experience for me, since my training was on the F-86-D, only to learn that things were running so far behind that we had been switched to the F-102. That was a little like going from a Model T to a Ferrari. Luckily I had some great airmen and tech-reps who saved the day. Later along came CWO E. R. Carter and CWO Ed Barber, both of whom were extremely knowledgeable and capable. Later we received a CWO for electronics who was a great help.
It was interesting watching our squadron area take shape and be involved in moving from nothing to standing alerts 24/7. We had only two T-33s for what seemed like a long time until our F-102s came in.
You have done a fantastic job with the 482 website ... it is obviously a labor of love, congratulations! Let me know if there are any specifics about the early days you want to know.
Al Basinger, Bartlesville, OK
Jan 1, 2010
From: George Willick (at AF16526225@yahoo.com)
Subject: ANNUAL MESSAGE
Well, that's a surprise ... we made it to the second decade of century 2000. I'm not about to congratulate any of you for that (ok, ok ... maybe a yeh-yeh for the one or two optimists still in our midst). Didn't imagine when I started this project that I would have a decade to compile enough data to get anyone's attention. But we fooled the demons and made it through with help of all of you in the here-and-now, and those who didn't make the complete trip with us. Good men, all --- catch up to you soon.
The path was rougher than I thought it would be. We changed domains several times, changed hosts four times, changed site email addresses twice, and had several computer crashes ... all survived well, except the last which cost me some irreplaceable data research compilations from the late 2006 to early 2008 time period.
The listing of the email address above (ie the usual link to the name has been abandoned) uses a hard copy printing of the address which will now be standard procedure. Mainly because Windows and assorted browsers have altered the way the old methods worked with subtle and continuous changes. They've also eliminated many traditional methods of data and photo copying ... it isn't your imagination or old age that you use to be able to copy this and that, but can't do it now.
Try to stay in touch as best you can (annually would be nice...try birthdays), as the tools I've been using to keep track of everyone may disappear at any time. Like free TV, the free-use internet is becoming a thing of the past. [Incidentally, if you have one of the more common surnames ... my knowing your birthday would be a HUGE help in locating folks if/when the need arises.]
Good luck with that and everything else boiling-on-skids out there in the world ... re the slum expression "it ain't over 'til its over."
PS --- Jan 9, 2010
Research has been very slow of late ... downright difficult. Couldn't knock over an elephant balanced on the edge of a nickle. And then ... today ... I did my best piece of research ... and no one knows it but me ... because I've learned the odds against it. Name---common---John E. Wilson, S/Sgt third 482nd period---WWII veteran. But that WWII record gave me a birth year date---1918. Not much help, there were 8 of them and across the decade I had eliminated only two of those. I had listed that this man might be deceased ... some wild hair instinct that he died in 1967. The Social Security birth year matched ... but everything else was non-existant.
Your head repeats, over and over and over, "something out there, find it, what have you missed?" NOW, I have on occasions searched on AF numbers ... those sometimes turn up where guys are working on other military web-pages. Works best for officers. But I've never used WWII draft numbers ... so tried it ... 8 digits on Google ... one answer came back and I expected it to be the 482nd ... it wasn't. That particular draft number was one of those that could have been issued in West Virginia or North Carolina. It was West Virginia ... man, was it ever.
Most states have been involved in documenting their military contributions to the various wars and police actions. This page belonged to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Various sources were used in the compilation, but all check out exactly in this case. John Edgar Wilson did, in fact, die in 1967 ... but not in America: He died in England with heart trouble. He was returned to America ... not to West Virginia but to Arlington National Cemetery: Section 52, Grave 588. I had walked over it ... missed it. The West Virginia webpage leaves a date when the page was added ... it reads 2009 ... didn't miss it this time ... only 43 years late. GCW