V1992RU 1996-2000

1997 Dallas TX

The Downtown Ramada Hotel had been taken over by new management after the negotiations had been made by George Savage for reduced room rates and services. Rooms normally over $100 per night were made available at $59. George was also making arrangements for a B-36 organization reunion and used the two to bargain reduced rates. George and Jim Hall did a magnificent job of preplanning and conducting the reunion arrangements.

The first night we were invited, along with Jim Hall’s and Bob Ley’s, to George Savages for a barbecue. Betty Savage prepared an excellent meal and we all enjoyed looking over George’s “memorabilia room” and his “pecan tree ranch”. It was a very pleasant evening.

V. Poncik showed me a copy of the 7^th BG history he was preparing, an excellent book. The 7^th BG history merged with the 19^th on Java. The 7^th was sent to India and 19^th to Australia. I told Victor I had no info on the 19^th in Australia. Vick drove to his home in TX and returned with March 1942 rosters of the newly organized 19^th BG when they fell back from Java to Australia. This data was very helpful in reconstructing what went on. Vick had arrived on Java via Africa route as copilot on a B-17E.

Ausman G. & Helen S. Perry, Walter Gordon Shore, Janie & Elton D. Brown Leon Long

Ausman Perry was radio operator on B-17E piloted by Capt. A. E. Key, arriving in Java 01-30-42. Walter Shore was navigator on B-17E, also arrived Java end of Jan 1942 via S. Atlantic route. Elton Brown also navigator on B-17E arriving in Java 02-17-42. Leon Long was flight engineer on B-17D piloted by Lt. (later L/Gen) John W. Carpenter III on a reconnaissance mission from Clark Field, the Philippines, on the 8th of Dec 1941, after Pearl Harbor, and a bombing mission on the 9th, returning while Clark was under attack. On the 10th, Leon flew with Lt. (Capt.) Harl D. Pease on a bombing mission. Capt Pease' aircraft was lost later in the SWPA campaign, for which he received the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously. Leon was evacuated to arrive in Java on 31 January 1942.

1997 Ft Worth: Betty & Jim Parks 28^th Crew Chief M-15 Connie & Erwin Voss 28^th Crew Chief M-10

I was delighted to visit with Jim Parks and Erwin Voss, whom I’d known very well on Guam some 52 years prior.

Eileen Kiracofe (husband Jim was ex President 19^th BG), Bob & Norma Wolletz ex membership chairman; Museum Ft Worth

1998 Reunion Tucson AZ

1998 Tucson: first CD’s of 19^th BG history Fred & Dorothy Bigelow and Mary Landau

I was still busy “burning” CD’s when the Association business meeting was called, and President Bob Ley insisted that I stop what I was doing and join the meeting. Unknown to me various ones had decided to nominate and elect me as Chairman of the Board. They concluded that if I could produce history CD’s I could handle the roll of Chairman. This worked well because Bob Ley, as President, did all the “heavy lifting” and caused the organization run well enabling me to devote my time to compiling the history.

Fred & Dorothy Bigelow and Darrell Unknown Marie Aronsen Van Parker

Mary & Darrell Landau Walkway between museum hangers ____ Nomi & Van Parker

Altman was radio operator on Colin Kelley’s crew Hemming was Navigator on Tobin’s crew

The main dinner was held in a large hanger by a B-29. Prior to the meeting when people were looking about Bob Altman 14^th Sqd on Colon Kelley’s crew when they were shot down near Clark Field came up to me saying I was told the 14^th Sqd was not a part of the 19^th BG, insisting I come with he to straighten this out. Bob led me to Ralph Hemming Navigator on Tobin’s crew whom I knew. Ralph smiled saying you have to read the specific words, it says “the 19^th BG on Guam” which did not include the 14^th Sqd. I told Altman, he’s right, when the 19^th Fell back to Australia they merged those in the 14^th into a new 435^th Sqd which assigned to the 19th and the 14^th was deactivated. Later when they reactivated the 19^th Group at Great Bend KS, they deactivated the 435^th. I said Bob they deactivated your 14^th when you become a POW.

The final dinner was held at tables set up beside a B-29 in the museum hanger

AGOM’r Tom Mitsos & wife Chris attended this reunion and we arranged for AGOM’r ____ who lived in Tucson to meet with Fred Bigelow and had a good visit over lunch.

Noni & Van Parker

1998 AGOM Reno NV

__ and Lloyd Waters Stool Landau _____

AGOM

1999 Reunion Cleveland OH at Drawbridge Inn KY

1999 Drawbridge Inn KY meeting site

Meeting Place in KY North to Cincinnati to go on Riverboat Ride

1999 Ohio River site of Botanical Gardens All members had boat photo taken

I took my laptop computer to this meeting. At the meeting I told of history events I’d recently learned about which was that plane from Del Monte Fld Mindanao had metered back into Clark Field three at a time to avoid bomb craters when loading bombs. Afterward __ Bowman came up to me saying he was so pleased I told that story. He said he was backup pilot on Colin Kelley’s plane and they had used his WW1 type helmet to scoop a ramp so Kelley’s plane could pull itself out of it. It was reported that Col Eubank had become very concerned when it was stuck believing they had lost another plane. Bob Altman on Kelley’s crew said Kelley rested his hand on Eubanks shoulder, uncommon behavior for a West Pointer, and said “Sir don’t worry, I flew her in and will fly her out” and with the help of others did.