October Newsletter

		Previous issues
BRIEFINGS
Oct, 2004	The Yellow Rose B-25 Squadron Newsletter	Vol. 07-10

LEADER'S WORDS

By Grant Lannon, Squadron Leader

     Well, all the hard work paid off. The Rose was back in the air in time for Alice. She flew with the bombers in the Saturday show (see related article) and made the round trip without problem. As I write this, she is in Wichita at McConnell AFB for the weekend. Midland is up next and then Houston. Meanwhile, the long term finance plan is taking shape thanks to Bob Gardner. Thanks again for everyone who helped on any aspect of keeping the Rose flying.

     As a side note, we are all still shocked at Paul Moore’s death. Those who haven’t sent a donation to the Burnet Squadron in his name, please do so. Howard and I are working at getting him (Howard) checked out in the SNJ so he can fly the memorial flight in it on October the 9th. Judy heard a news story about how staph infections are more predominate in Texas this year. They stated that if you get a wound and it is puffy and/or later develops a rash around the wound, you need to have it checked. Meanwhile, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and keep it clean and covered.

                ‘till next time, Grant

MAINTENANCE MATTERS

(Maintenance really does matter!)

By Ron Dietes, Squadron Maintenance Officer

We are operational again, thank goodness. After the long down period, it is good to be back in the air. We made successful trips to the 3rd Coast Air Show in Alice and the Wichita Air Fest. As this is written, we are getting ready to go to Midland for the annual CAF Airsho.

There is no way that thanks can be given to all who helped with the repairs to get us back in service. Our schedule is really busy for the next few weeks, so if you have spare time, we welcome you to come out and help. Even if there is no maintenance to do, we still have to clean the outside and the inside, as well as to restock the PX. Help is always welcome. Thanks and see you at the hangar!

MINUTES of the September 14, 2004 Meeting of the Yellow Rose Squadron

By Dave Howard, Squadron Adjutant

The regular squadron meeting was held at San Marcos in the Centex Hangar Ready Room. Ron Dietes called the meeting to order at 1806 and conducted it while Grant attended the Centex staff meeting. Officers present were Maintenance, Adjutant, XO, Safety, PX, and Publicity. Twenty-one members were present. Scott McFarland, our newest Friend of the Rose, was introduced. Minutes from the August meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.

REPORTS

Operations: Ron reported for Howard that Alice, on 17-19 September, is the next show on our schedule. We leave at 1500 this Friday and return on Sunday morning. The next trip is McConnell AFB at Wichita on September 24-26th. Midland is 30 September to 3 October, then Houston on 15-17 October, and finally Lackland AFB 5-7 November. Laughlin AFB is cancelled. Our first event next year is probably Fredericksburg, on 19-20 February, to support an event at the Nimitz museum if we can get our winter inspection done in time.

Finance: The August beginning balance was $34,454. Disbursements totaled $5907, including the new turret, leaving an August ending balance of $28,547. September activity to date has cost $239, so the current balance is 28,308. Payables are estimated at $9,500, including $7000 for the new fuel bladder. Projected September ending balance, including payables, is $18,808. Balance in the Aircraft Account remains at $26,610.

Maintenance: Ron reported that the fuel cell is now fully installed and leak-tested. Engines have been tested. The turret dome is installed, and the "A" inspection is complete except for the maintenance flight, currently planned for Thursday. A problem with #1 Nav radio will be dealt with after Midland. Ron thanked everyone who had done whatever it took to accomplish so much so quickly. Members present also recognized Ron and Jim Liles for doing the lion’s share of the work.

PX: Tommy reported that the PX is packed and ready for Alice. He also mentioned that Brenda has a broken leg to compliment his bum shoulder. Therefore, he asked for a volunteer to manage the PX for a couple of months until at least one of them gets better.

Safety: Jerry reported that he is researching operations procedures to form the basis of our new squadron safety manual.

PR: Bob reported that his fund raising plan phase 1, the detailed annual cost projection, is virtually complete. He expects to kick off the campaign in November.

OLD BUSINESS

The new T-shirts are now available. One of the better flea market candidate locations is Bussey’s in New Braunfels. There is a 3 month lead time requirement to reserve a booth, however.

The business cards are in the Break Room.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/NEW BUSINESS

Resumes are available for the headquarters offices candidates.

SICK CALL/GONE WEST

The Koepkes’ misfortunes were mentioned above. Since last meeting Paul Moore died suddenly from a staph. infection. In keeping with his generous nature, his family has donated his SNJ to the CAF.

     The meeting was adjourned at 1831.

A DEDICATION to MAXINE FLOURNOY

By Grant Lannon
          The 3rd Coast Squadron held a ceremony to rename the Squadron to the "Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron" while we were at the Alice airshow on Saturday the 18th of September. I had taken Maxine for a ride in the T-6 in 2002 and she flew from the back seat. She had not flown a T-6 since she was a WASP and that year she was the President of the WASP society. There was an article about her life in the airshow handout and I thought I would relate some of that in this article. She was born in Missouri and graduated from High School in Joplin in 1939. She attended Joplin Jr. College and became interested in the Civil Pilot Training Program there and earned her pilot’s license in June, 1941. She received a recruitment letter from the WASPS in the spring of 1943 saying they would be in Kansas City if she wanted to interview. She passed the interview and signed up. She attended Army Pilot Taining in Sweetwater with the other WASPS and graduated in December 1943. She was assigned to Hondo Field in Hondo, TX, which was a navigation training school. There were twin engine AT-7s and C-60s at Hondo at the time and the WASPS participated in test flights, slow-timed new engines, delivered parts to other airfields and took part in navigation missions. The AT-7s accommodated 3 students in the back and the C-60s five.

     Slow-timing engines involved flying around and breaking in new engines at various power settings in two hour flights. On graduation navigation flights, the cadets had to navigate at least 1000 miles so Maxine got out to San Diego to visit her mother quite often. There were not accommodations for women in these airplanes so Maxine got very good at not drinking fluids before these missions. There was some discrimination against WASPS at Hondo but it was rare, according to Maxine. In December of 1944 the WASPS were disbanded because of political reasons (if you want to see the details, rent "Flygirls", a PBS video).

     Maxine moved to Alice in 1955 to fly for an oil company and met her husband, Licien Fournoy, while there. After her WASP experience, Maxine served 9 years on the USO Board of Directors, and 15 years on the USO Board of South Texas. She was also National President of the WASPS Organization in 2002. She has three daughters and many grandchildren.

SAFETY FIRST

By Jerry Taylor, Squadron Safety Officer

Thanks to the dedication of many of our squadron members, our Rose is back on the airshow circuit. However, this is not the time for us to get careless and forget to be cautious in our activities. We need to be conscious of all of our surroundings and observant of all of the safety rules and use common sense in our participation at Rose activities. Danger lurks at every turn of these events, and is not confined just to the flying. The ramp can be hazardous to the participant, just as well.

The weather has cooled down some, but still we need to be aware of each of our body needs and drink plenty of fluids and avoid overexertion. As always, common sense should be our guide and if a problem should occur, do not hesitate to ask for professional help.

2003 Yellow Rose B-25
Squadron Staff Officers

Squadron Leader - Grant Lannon

Glannon@texas.net

Executive Officer - Tim Black

tblack2000@aol.com

Finance Officer - Judy McMillan

heyjude@texas.net

Adjutant - Dave Howard

dave.howard@baesystems.com

Operations Officer - Howard Martin

bigbad@tstar.net

Maintenance Officer - Ron Dietes

dietes.ron@heb.com

Safety Officer - Jerry Taylor

james_j_taylor@msn.com

PX Officer - Thomas Koepke

koepke@ctesc.net

Publicity Officer - Bob Gardner

bob@rhga.com

Mar 12-14	Brownsville, TX *
Mar 26-28	Tyndall AFB, FL*
Apr 2-4	Eglin AFB, FL*
April 9-10	Burnet, TX *
April 15-18	Doolittle, Tucson, AZ*
April 23-25	Barksdale AFB, LA *
May 1-2	Temple, TX *
May 8	San Antonio, TX *
May 14-16	Kingsville NAS, TX
May 21-23	Dyess AFB, TX
June 4-6	Little Rock, AR
June 18-20	Oklahoma City, OK *
June 26	Ada, OK *
July 16-18	Angel Fire, NM
Aug 6-8	Topeka, KS
Aug 27-28	Altus, OK
Sept 17-18	Cannon, NM
Sept 24-26	Wichita, KS*
Oct 1-3	Midland, TX *
Oct 15-17	Houston, TX *
Nov 5-7	Lackland AFB, TX