LEADER'S WORDS

By Ron Dietes, Squadron Leader

Well, we are now in the heaviest part of our Airshow season and the Rose is ready to get started. We have Midland, San Angelo, Hallettsville, Killeen, UT Austin Flyover and Gray AAF on the schedule. My thanks to all the folks that came out and helped get her ready over the past three weekends. We had many willing people to get the job done and if you look at the Rose you can tell. Thanks again to Jim Liles for spending many hours on those push rod tube hoses that refuse to stop leaking. All we can do is stem the flow.

Bob Gardner and Richard Garcia are progressing with our fund raising efforts. Hopefully, they will have some good news to share with you very soon. I am sure everyone realizes how important this work is. I have said it at many of our meetings, that this one project is really important for the future of the Rose. As I help Grant with Operations, the more I realize that air shows are not going to be enough to keep her flying. We can all volunteer our time and money, but I am convinced the Rose is going to need more than the squadron can provide using the old ways. If you want an eye opening experience, ask Bob to see the budget forecast he prepared for the fund raising proposals. That will give you an idea of how much it is going to take for us to survive.

The plan is for the Nominating Committee to share their selections for the upcoming election. The positions of Executive, Finance and Safety Officers are up for this election. We will elect the candidates at the November meeting. That will give us time to send out any absentee ballots and tabulate the results prior to January 1, 2006. Please remember if you nominate someone for a position, be sure they are willing and able to fulfill the office for which they are elected.

The Christmas foray to Fredericksburg and our fly day weekend will be Saturday Dec 10 and Sunday Dec 11th. Unlike last year, we will leave San Marcos shortly after lunch so folks can go into downtown Fredericksburg to shop or browse, prior to the cocktail hour and dinner at the Hangar Hotel Saturday night. Cocktails are scheduled to begin at 6pm with Dinner to start at 6:45pm. We’ll depart Fredericksburg after breakfast so we can be back at San Marcos before noon. We’ll have our usual pot luck lunch with the Squadron supplying the meat and asking everyone to bring a dish to share. Just the thought of it makes me hungry. After lunch on Sunday, we will fly folks in the Rose and T-6, so don’t wear anything you wouldn’t mind getting dirty. Slacks or shorts would be best for the ladies. We’ll do as many Rose flights as we can in the daylight we have, so if you haven’t been in the Rose or if it has been a while, come on out and join in the fun. There will be some members that drive to Fredericksburg, so ground transportation should not pose a problem for those wanting to head downtown.

If anyone is good with wood and has some time available, I am seeking a volunteer to build a shadow box to house our two newest awards. Send me an email or grab me at the hangar and we can toss around some ideas.

On behalf of the Yellow Rose Squadron, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to Mike and Lisa Francis on the death of Lisa’s mother. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Bill Barker has not been feeling very well and is now in the hospital. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for Bill.

NOTES FROM THE PX

By Greg Young, Squdron PX Officer

There has not been much PX activity since the last report as we really did not take much of a PX to our successful Colorado trip.  There have been no other shows but with 2-3 events coming up this month, the PX will be back in business.  We now have a nice Yellow Rose banner to put with the PX especially for the times like in Midland when we have to have the PX at a separate location.  Our inventory should carry us through the rest of the season.  That is about it for the PX for now, Happy landings.

ROSE TRAVELS AND ACTIVITIES

FLYOVER OF AUSTIN’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE END OF WWII
SEPTEMBER 2nd

By Jerry Taylor

Our “Rose” came home from Denver on August 28th, but she did not get to rest long. Her day began on September 2 at 0730. I arrived at the hangar and there she sat quietly in all her splendor. I began my inspection of our bird and she patiently allowed me to inspect her. With a couple of exceptions, she was bright-eyed and ready to go.

It was not long before the hangar became a beehive of activity. Others began to arrive and preparing for the five planes from here to participate in the fly-over. Our plan was to join up with Lone Star’s B-17 “Thunderbird” and the Devil Dog outside Austin.

Loaded with a flight crew of Ron Dietes, Ken Udcoff, and myself, as well as Mike Colacula and Pat Jopling as crew members, and three guests, we cranked and took off, following the four plane single engine formation led by Grant Lannon in the “Triple Nickel”. We joined up with the B-17 and PBJ sorta as planned and waited for our man on the scene, Jim Liles, to call us in for the first pass. During our waiting, Ron did an amazing job of formation flying with the B-17, while the PBJ kinda wondered around.

On the first pass, Jim reported that it was excellent. Again we waited, then were called over the capitol for the second pass. This was accomplished and once more was as planned.

The formation then broke up with the “Rose” leading the single engine formation back to HYI, while the B-17 returned to Galveston and the PBJ to Georgetown. Upon landing, we wiped very little oil from the “Rose” (thanks to Jim Liles and his push rod tube magic), then debriefed. All in all, it was agreed that it was once more a successful showing by our beloved “Rose”.

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BRENHAM

SEPTEMBER 3

By Greg Young

A special treat awaited for those of us who showed up for a Saturday work day on September 3, 2005.  Ron announced that our normal lunch at the hangar would be relocated a little ways away....to the home of the Blue Bell Ice Cream Dairy, Brenham, Texas.  A group of airplanes were headed east led of course by the Rose with its crew of Ron Dietes, Ken Udcoff, Jim Liles, Richard Garcia, Dave Howard, Bob Gardner, and Greg Young.  Grant Lannon and Julie Pulcipher were in the T6, Clint Epley brought the U3, and Mike Renck had the ever present U11.  A relatively short flight brought us over Brenham where we circled a couple of times to announce our arrival.  Naturally, the Rose attracted attention as we landed and taxied to the terminal-cafe-restaurant.  Our intrepid group deplaned and went into the 50s motiff restaurant-cafe where everyone enjoyed a meal of various types.  I had never been to this airport and its eatery before, I definitely recommend it.  After eating, it was back to the airplanes and a return flight west.  It was a lunch not to be soon forgotten, Good idea. Ron and Grant. 

 

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SQUADRON MEMBER AIDS IN HURRICANE RELIEF

From William Larry Foster, 1st Lt.TxSG

Tuesday, September 13

 I am writing this on my phone so I hope it looks okay. As you know I was called to active duty with the Texas State Guard on Sept. 1 2005 to help with the hurricane relief. On Friday Sept 10 Rick Perry decided to send a small unit of State Guard to New Orleans to help with the clean up efforts. I was one of the lucky nine to make history as this is the first time a state military force has crossed into another state in over 100 Years. We arrived in New Orleans today Tuesday It was like something you would see in a sci-fi movie. We only passed THREE cars once we got into New Orleans. The houses were blown down. Trees were still laying in the road and power was still off in most of the city... It was hot and humid and the flood control is really looking good...only parts of the city was still underwater. Well it is almost lights out.. Will try to send you something tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 14

Subject: New Orleans-Day Two

I notice birds starting to return to the city. I also got to explore part of the garden district and French Quarter. It looked like a third world country with cars burnt out and wheels gone... I am in some really good living areas... Third floor of a parking garage. C-130's are spraying the city to keep bugs down.. Got to go...

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Coming next month we will cover all September and October activities that have not been reported on.

Minutes of the September 13, 2005 Meeting

By Dave Howard, Squadron Safety Officer

The regular squadron meeting was held at San Marcos in the Centex Hangar Ready Room. Squadron Leader Ron Dietes called the meeting to order at 1808. Other officers present were XO, Maintenance, Ops, Safety, Adjutant, PX, and Publicity. Twenty-one members were present.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HQ has announced the upcoming staff elections, including 4 changes to the bylaws. These proposals were discussed and clarified by Ron, Grant, and Jerry. Members were urged to request absentee ballots before the deadline, and VOTE.

 

The squadron elections are coming up in November. Officer openings are Executive, Finance, and Safety. Chuck Clayton is leading the nominating committee, comprising Jack Reeves, Mike Colaluca, and himself. The nominees will be announced at the October meeting.

 

Plans are firming up for the Fredricksburg Christmas party, December 10th and 11th. The format will be very much like last year, without the landing gear emergency drill at San Marcos. Members should receive an announcement broadcast this month.

 

REPORTS

 

Operations: The Houston event is off our schedule. A tight budget has caused them to delete some aircraft, and they have found a cheaper B25. With Pat Jopling’s help we are going to San Angelo on that weekend instead. The remaining shows on our schedule are now Midland, San Angelo, and Hallettsville.

 

Finance: Judy sent the following report by e-mail. The August beginning balance was $30,610. Net deposits and disbursements added $590, so the August ending balance was $31,200.

September activities to date have cost another $4000. Upcoming expenses are estimated at $18,500, including $2000 for repairs, $1500 for fuel, and the approved $15,000 set-aside for next year’s CAF fees due in December. Projected September ending balance, after the set-aside, is $8700. Balance in the “hands-off” accounts is $46,438.

 

Maintenance: We now have our 4 main gear tire recaps back. The fixed nose gun mount has been tightened up.

 

Safety: The next Squadron Safety Meeting is scheduled for November 19^th. The new CAF HQ Safety Officer will attend.

 

PX: Greg thanked Pat Jopling for her help with the recent inventory. He plans to do a minimal restock of selected items to cover the remaining events. Next year’s inventory planning will wait on next year’s air show schedule. Letty displayed the new banner she procured for the air show tables.

 

Publicity: Bob reported that the Centennial appearance was a major success. Ron displayed two of the three trophies the Rose brought home. The Squadron made some new friends and scored big PR points for the CAF for charity involvement. He is publicizing our activity through all available media channels. In that connection, Bob asked that we all begin a conscious effort to note all comments heard about the Rose or the Squadron. This information can be very helpful to him in documenting our impact on the public in our goal to pass on the history that the Rose and the CAF represent. Bob also said he expects our next fund-raising presentation in his campaign will happen early in October.

 

The meeting adjourned at 1842.

2005 Yellow Rose B-25
Squadron Staff Officers

Squadron Leader - Ron Dietes

dietes.ron@heb.com

Executive Officer - Tim Black

tangblack@austin.rr.com

Finance Officer - Judy McMillan

heyjude@texas.net

Adjutant - Dave Howard

dave.howard@baesystems.com

Operations Officer - Grant Lannon (interim)

glannon@texas.net

Maintenance Officer - Jim Liles

james.liles@tstr.net

Safety Officer - Jerry Taylor

james_j_taylor@msn.com

PX Officer - Greg Young

tbolt52@hotmail.com

Publicity Officer - Bob Gardner

bob@rhga.com