LEADER'S WORDS

By Ron Dietes, Squadron Leader

     The Revenue Rides we scheduled for January went smoothly and the Rose is now in the beginning phases of the “B” Inspection.  So far all looks good and we hope to have the Rose back in the air by the end of February or the beginning of March.  Our first air show is not until the middle of March this year due to the cancellation of the Brownsville show.  Although we do not make a lot of money doing the Brownsville show, the Rose crew always enjoyed the trip due to the friendly folks that put on the show.  Talking to the spectators is also a good time.  There is usually a lot of winter Texans (Yankee’s) in the crowd.

     I am sorry to report that Mel Soderberg has asked me to find someone else to step into the Safety Officer position.  Mel went to the doctor for his checkup and because he thought there might be a problem, he asked the doctor to check his other knee.  It seems he now has to have his other knee replaced.  Knowing what he knows about the length of time it takes to recover from this type of surgery, Mel thinks it would be best to just step aside.  So, I am asking for a volunteer for the Safety Officer position.  Just email me or give me a call, if you are interested.

     Ken Udcoff and Steve Gladwin continue to work on the 2008 air show schedule and I am happy to report, we are getting shows confirmed.  Look for the Operations article elsewhere in this newsletter.  Between the air shows, engine change and plans we have for getting revenue rides, it look like we are going to have a very busy year.  I think Steve is getting ready to send out a signup sheet for the shows we have already confirmed.

     I think a huge Atta Boy needs to be given to Jim Liles, Ray Clausen and Greg Young for replacing the packing in the Rose wing jacks.  Anyone that has helped jack the Rose for the retract check could not help but notice the leaking hydraulic fluid that went all over the floor and usually all over your shoes.  Jim, Ray and Greg replaced the seals and we now have a really great set of jacks.  They even fixed the leaks on the pump cylinders, reservoirs and also replaced the broken casters.  Thank you very much for the hard work.

     We are still working toward displaying the Doolittle Reunion memorabilia and if you have anything you want to add to what we already have, get the materials to Bob Gardner or Letty.  We are still looking for display cases and a good place for the cases in the Centex museum.

Thru our somewhat absent member Shane Arnwine, we were selected to be on the cover of the USAA annual report.  The photographers (from Chicago) and all his helpers were at the hangar last Saturday (Jan 26th) to take the pictures.  The photo shoot went really well and the photographers as well as the USAA people left very pleased.  The weather even cooperated.  Susan Hough from USAA told us that they were expecting to print 2.6 million copies.  Talk about exposure.  Great job to all those that made this happen.

     Remember every Saturday that the Rose is in the hangar is a work day.     If you want to help, just show up and the folks there will find something productive for you to do that will help us get the Rose finished and ready for our first air show.  Don’t forget even when the wrench turning is done, we still need a little time to do the maintenance flight and get the flight crew current.

     Our next Squadron meeting is Tuesday February 12th at 6pm in the hangar briefing room.  Hopefully, I will have more information regarding status of the engine overhaul.

MINUTES OF THE YELLOW ROSE SQUADRON MEETING

JANUARY 8, 2008

Meeting convened at 1810 hrs

Pledge of Allegiance

Prayer

 

NOTE:Since there was no meeting in December, 2007, it was not necessary to vote on acceptance of the minutes from that meeting.

 

NEW MEMBERS: Mike Drake was introduced to the Squadron.

REPORTS

XO: No report

 

ADJUTANT:  Pat Moore re-emphasized to members to make any corrections on their contact information and to pay their dues so the Yellow Rose directory can be issued as early as possible in 2006.

 

OPERATIONS: Steve Gladwin passed around a schedule for 2008.  He will soon send out an e-mail for members to sign up for flights.  Some of the dates are tentative.  For now, it is not known which shows are confirmed

 

Ron informed members that the airshow season starts in the middle of March.

 

FINANCE: Judy passed around a copy of her finance report for membership to view.  Jack Reeves made a motion to approve the finance report as presented, Chuck Clayton seconded, motion passed.

 

MAINTENANCE:  Jim Liles said the jacks are fixed to the point where they no longer leak.  Two wing jacks are done and the nose jack remains to be done.

Jim said the new engine won’t be ready by the end of the month.  He needs help to prepare the aircraft for the “B INSPECTION”.  Jim would like to replace the right main tire.

 

PX: Greg took the 2007 inventory and counted 5,442 items. The most popular items are depleted.  When he gets a schedule with confirmed shows, he’ll start ordering more inventory.  Greg also got some items that the previous PX officer had stored at their residence, so he’s going to try to sell that stock off as well.

 

SAFETY: No report

 

ADOPT-AN-AIRPORT: No report

 

NEWSLETTER: No report

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS: USAA wants to come out and do a photo shoot of the Rose for the cover of their annual report.  The squadron would get use of the photos.  Dick Cole and some other Doolittle Raiders will be on hand for the photo shoot.

 

     Ron told membership that he had copies of the new CAF regulations.  If a member would like to view them, please get with Ron.  Ron also said that the winter staff conference is on  March 7,8,9.  The new regulations will be finalized and voted on.

Ron also told membership that the Squadron needs to pick a date for the Yellow Rose ground school. Ron suggested Sunday, Feb.24 which membership all agreed on.  It may be possible there will be a charge for materials at the 2008 ground school.

     Ron told the squadron that towards the end of 2007, the squadron received some generous donations for the new engines.

     Ron spoke a bit regarding the 2008 Doolittle Reunion which is in Dallas. The schedule, as it stands now, was published in the last newsletter.  It is currently up in the air whether the Rose will go to the reunion due to competition from other aircraft. It may not be cost worthy to go.  More discussion will come regarding the Doolittle Reunion.  Ron will check into the advertising.

     Ron also spoke about ordering Yellow Rose business cards.  He still has a couple of printers to call yet. If members would like business cards, please get with Ron.

      Ron told membership that Bob Gardner had created a database which he sent to Bubba, on places in a 200 mile radius of San Marcos in which we could perhaps do rides for hire on the Rose.  A steerage committee will be put together to check into advertising.  Ron asked Judy for an advertising budget for rides for hire.  If members would like to volunteer for this committee, please let Ron know-Bob Gardner volunteered to serve on the committee. Ron would like at least three people to serve on this committee.

 

NEW BUSINESS/CORRESPONDENCE: None

 

SICK CALL: No report

 

GOOD OF THE SQUADRON: Bob Gardner presented a large print of Jimmy Doolittle signed by Doolittle Raiders, to the Rose Squadron.  Hopefully, it will be displayed in the Centex Wing museum.

 

Dan Stim told membership he has access to a dog-tag making machine until the end of the month.  If anyone would like some made up, please let Dan know.

 

For the weekend of January 12, the squadron has 4 confirmed ride-for-hire customers coming to take their rides on the Rose.

 

Steve Gladwin made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Jim Liles seconded, motion carried. 

Meeting adjourned at 1856 hrs.

PX Report

By Greg Young, Squadron PX Officer

The new year is upon us and I am happy to report that the inventory for 2007 has been completed and submitted to Judy who in turn submitted it to Midland HQ.  The total inventory came out to $8442.30 as the value of the items that were counted (the cost of the items, not the retail cost one hopes to get on a sale).  Some of the more popular items were completely depleted so I will be ordering as the airshow schedule is firmed up.  I already ordered crew shirts and there is a new supply of the American Eagles series of caps that Jim Liles obtains for us.  There are lots of posters that turned up this year from storage so hopefully we can use them as additional marketing tools.  Any suggestions are welcome and until next month, Happy Landings.

HEADS UP Y’ALL

From Bob Gardner

There will be a several page story on our Yellow Rose in the up coming March - April 2008 issue of WarBird Digest. www.warbirddigest.com on sale in February. I have proofed the story and it is GREAT!! 

Can't tell you more or they will cut off my legs.

NEW SQUADRON MEMBER

From Judy McMillan, Finance Officer

     This month we would like to introduce a new CAF member and a new Yellow Rose Squadron member:  Buzz Perez. 

     Buzz, who lives in Austin, is a retired instructor pilot with 5000 hours of flying time. He was in the U.S. Marine Corps. and is active in the Marine Corps League.  Buzz has already been putting in time at the hanger and is looking forward to adding Yellow Rose Squadron activities to his schedule. 

     We look forward to the participation of all new members and hope they will speak up, step up and pitch in.  Look for Buzz around the hanger and make him feel welcome. 

RIDE FOR HIRE

From Bubba Renfro, Executive Officer

     We had our first paid rides for 2008 last Saturday January 12th. Yeah. Although we only had 4 riders the weather turned out really nice and they had a super time. Three of them also flew with Grant in the T-6. We plan on scheduling these rides throughout the year so if any of you know someone that wants to ride on the Rose or if you have any ideas of how to generate more paying customers please let me know.

SQUADRON MEMBERS

From Ron Dietes

     You may want to get a copy of the March/April 2008 issue of the Warbird Digest magazine.  This issue has an article about the Yellow Rose.  Bob Gardner has been working on this for a quite a while.  Way to go Bob!

     Bob has also been working with USAA (Shane Arnwine) on the Rose being on the cover of their annual report.  We did the photo shoot last Saturday.

POSSIBLE AIR SHOW SCHEDULE

Editor’s Note: The schedule printed below is the same as appeared in last months newsletter.  Our Operations Officer reported that he is still busy confirming shows.  This schedule will give you an idea of the potential shows.

 

March:-         Goodfellow AFB

 

April:-            NAS Kingsville. The Blue Angels will also be there.

                    Burnet, Texas

                    Doolittle Reunion in Dallas

 

May:-           Dyess AFB, Texas

                    Fairhope, Louisiana

                    Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. The Thunderbirds will be the other star attraction.

 

July:-            Fredericksburg

 

September:-  CAF AIRSHO 2008

                    Greenville, Texas

 

October:-      Little Rock, Arkansas. The Blue Angels again.

 

November:-   Lafayette. The Thunderbirds twice in one season.

WILL RAISING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON UNITS AND MEMBERS SAVE THE CAF?

By Judy McMillan, Squadron Finance Officer

     If you have listened to the DVD you received from the CAF’s new President, you are aware that part of the plan to ‘save’ the CAF is to increase the financial burden the units and members carry to support the operations of Headquarters. 

     What does this mean to the Yellow Rose Squadron?  In 2006, our Unit ANUAC* was $800 and the Yellow Rose’s Aircraft ANUAC was $5,100.   For 2007, we have been billed $1600 for Unit ANUAC and $10,200 for Aircraft ANUAC—a total of $11,800.  If we pay the total amount by February 29, we can save 5% or $590.  We have the option of paying the ANUAC in quarterly installments without the 5% incentive.   We have $6000 set aside for 2008 ANUAC because we were not notified in 4th quarter 2007 when we were making plans for proceeding with the overhaul of the left engine in 2008 that this increase would occur.  We have a working balance of $17,813 as we begin 2008 after setting funds aside for engine repair, PX refurbishing and $6000 for ANUAC.  We will now have $5210 less or a $12,603 working balance with the ANUAC increase. 

     ANUAC is not insurance. We pay $7700 in insurance each year.  To stay in operation before we perform any maintenance on the Yellow Rose or buy any fuel or oil, we must have $19,500 for Midland.  Obviously, by supporting one of the bombers (the best looking one around if you ask any YR Squadron member) we have taken on a big task for our not so big Squadron. 

     In addition, in the Ride For Hire program, the amount of an Associate Membership required for each rider will increase from $45 to $55 out of the proceeds from the rides.  Will this and the continuing rise in fuel cause us to raise our price for rides?  How close are we to the price ceiling that the limited market for aircraft rides will bear? 

     Individually, we will be paying $40 more a year for CAF annual dues—a 25% increase. 

     From my perspective as Financial Officer, I hope that support for the Yellow Rose will not waiver and all of the Squadron’s members will renew their CAF memberships in 2008.   The heart and soul of the CAF is in the membership of the Units.  We are the ones who take the CAF message to the public.  Only through us, can the CAF survive.  Please continue your support. 

 

*ANUAC, Annual Unit Administrative Charge.  Unit ANUAC is determined by unit size; Wings and Squadrons pay the same.  Aircraft ANUAC is based on aircraft size, number of engines and HP.  Twin-engine bombers with engines over 1500 HP are charged $5100/engine. 

January 28, 2008

 

To the Doolittle Raider Families:

 

     As we emphasized in our first letter last fall, The Frontiers of Flight Museum is greatly honored to have been selected to host the 2008 Doolittle Raiders Reunion.  We and our Reunion partners, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, Texas, and the University of Texas at Dallas, are committed to make the Reunion a memorable one for the Raiders, Distinguished Visitors, their families and all our guests.

     We’re pleased that many of you have already made your reservations to attend the Reunion.  Accompanying this letter you will find a detailed itinerary of the events we’ve planned.  There are three events that require tickets—the April 17 Luncheon, the April 18 Luncheon, and the April 18 Celebrity Speaker Banquet.  As family members, these tickets are available to you at the Museum member prices indicated in the itinerary.  When you call either our Museum or the Cavanaugh Flight Museum to purchase your tickets, be sure to identify yourself as a Doolittle Raider family member.

     The host hotel, is the Embassy Suites Dallas-Love Field.   For those of you who have not yet made reservations.  I would encourage you make your reservations as soon as possible in order to get the $119 rate.  Our original block of rooms has been filled and the hotel has increased the number of rooms available—but they are limited.  

     If you make your reservations by phone (214-357-4500), be sure you are talking to someone at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Love Field and not at the national Hilton reservation number.  The staff at the hotel are more familiar with the arrangements we’ve made for the Reunion and will be able to better assist you with your reservations.

     If you know of anyone who wants information on the Reunion, please direct them to our web site at www.flightmuseum.com.  Again, we are committed to making this Reunion a first-class event.  If you have any questions about this information or the event itself, please do not hesitate to call me at (214) 350-3600, ext. 225).  We’re looking forward to meeting all of you in April!

 

Sincerely,

/ss/

Bruce A. Bleakley

Museum Director

SOME (BUT NOT ALL) OF THE SCHEDULED EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16—

 

Throughout the day:  Raider Widows, Honorary Raiders, families and guests arrive.

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 17—

 

8:30 – 10:30 a.m., Embassy Suites:  Raiders Business Meeting and Goblet Ceremony (private).

 

11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Frontiers of Flight Museum:  Luncheon, presentation and book signing with welcoming remarks by a high-profile Dallas personality.  Tickets available for purchase by Raiders’ families and the general public.

 

FRIDAY, APRIL 18—

 

10:00 – 11:30 a.m., Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison Airport, Addison, Texas:  Raiders, Widows, Honorary Raiders and their companions will be taken on a guided tour through the Cavanaugh’s collection of extensive collection of WWII and other military aircraft.  Families and other guests can tour the museum on their own before the luncheon (below) if they desire.

 

11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Cavanaugh Flight Museum:  Luncheon, presentation and book signing.  Tickets available for purchase by Raiders’ families and the general public.

 

6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Frontiers of Flight Museum:  Cocktail reception and Celebrity Speaker Banquet.  Tickets will be available for purchase by invitation only, but the invitation list will be extensive and will of course include Raiders’ families and guests.  Scheduled speaker is General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and ardent Doolittle Raider fan.

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 19—

 

Evening:  Raider Family Dinner Night

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 20—

 

8:00 – 9:30 a.m., Embassy Suites:  Farewell Breakfast for Raiders, Widows, Honorary Raiders and their companions, Reunion Sponsors, and other VIPs.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO  www.flightmuseum.com or call Bruce Bleakley at (214)350-3600 Ext 225

2008 Yellow Rose B-25
Squadron Staff Officers

Squadron Leader - Ron Dietes

t6cpilot@netzero.net

Executive Officer - Bret Renfro

bubba@gvtc.com

Finance Officer - Judy McMillan

heyjude@texas.net

Adjutant - Pat Moore

patrickmoore99@mail.ev1.net

Operations Officer - Steve Gladwin

skgladwin@suddenlink.net

Maintenance Officer - Jim Liles

james.liles@gte.net

Safety Officer -

PX Officer - Greg Young

tbolt52@hotmail.com

Publicity Officer - Bob Gardner

bob@rhga.com