As a USAA employee myself I want to thank everyone that helped that day. These employees have written some great feedback praising our efforts as an organization. Good Job Everyone!
USAA Displays
June 16 & 17
By Shane Arnwine
The morning of 16 June we set up display cases with artifacts from our museum for USAA employees to see. Some of the items displayed were General Doolittle’s armored seatback, the Tokyo bomb site, the Yellow Rose donation bomb (sorry about that, I didn’t get it back in time for the Oklahoma run) a camera, propeller and lots and lots of pamphlets made up by Bill Walsh and his family. Set up next to us was a display of a private collection of weapons dating back to the Spanish-American War. That morning we were located in the courtyard in front of the “F” building café. A popular spot for USAA employees to go during their breaks, Jack Reeves was there for the first part of the day and then Chuck Clayton took over in the afternoon.
These guys did a great job.
The next day we moved down to the courtyard in “B” building in front of one of the company stores. Just like the day before we had really good crowds who enjoyed what we had to offer. Grant took the morning shift and Bill Walsh came in for the afternoon. People were very enthusiastic about our display and visiting the hanger. I hope we get some visitors from this. The Home Office of USAA houses around 15,000 employees so quite a few people got a chance to see us. Several of the people I work with came by and looked at everything. They came by my desk the next day and told me how much they enjoyed it.
Once again we wowed the people at USAA. Great job, Jack, Chuck, Grant and Bill; I hope you guys enjoyed yourselves and enjoyed USAA.
OKLAHOMA CITY
June 18, 19, 20
A Fine Weekend for Ducks and Submarines
By Bill Walsh
Webbed feet and snorkels would have been appropriate equipment for the 2004 Aerospace America Air Show at the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City.
The weekend of June 18, began with a slightly delayed takeoff for “The Yellow Rose” as her intrepid crew waited out inclement weather along the straight north route to the land of red clay and redder necks. PIC Ron Dietes, co-pilot Grant Lannon, pilot Ken Udcoff and crew chief Jim Liles were joined by helper-outers Greg Young, Letty Dietes and Bill Walsh.
After dodging thunderheads of up to 45,000 feet on route, “Rose” set us down in OKC at about noon. Although it wasn’t on the original schedule, the show organizers asked us to fly a mission on Friday since the show was going to open the gates at 4:00pm. Flying was what “Rose” was made for so we formed up with Waco’s A-26 Invader and with Grand Junction’s TBM Avenger to represent a WW II bomber flight. “Rose” took to the skies on Saturday and Sunday also after waiting out rainfall on both mornings that reminded us of the tour boats going along the base of Niagara Falls. It was as though Mother Nature threw a switch at 1:00pm and turned off the rain each day to allow a slightly abbreviated demonstration schedule.
OKLAHOMA CITY CREW ( L-R) - Jim Liles, Lettie Dietes, Ron Dietes, Ken Udcoff, Greg Young, Grant Lannon, Bill Walsh
The weather didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd to visit “Rose”. Although the PX business was pretty slow, cockpit tours had a steady waiting line. We probably would have made even more money if Col. Walsh hadn’t let certain young ladies go free if they could guess whether he was older than “Rose”. His hurt feelings were punishment enough for the loss of income. Thanks to the superb bargaining skill of co-pilot Lannon, we made a little economic head way by getting an extra 200 gallons of fuel for the unscheduled Friday demo.
Second only to the flying done by “Rose” was the performance of the “Blue Angels”. Those pilots may have neater uniforms, but our guys had a certain panache that held up very well. It was obvious to all that the roar of two R-2600s
at 500 feet was much more harmonious than all that annoying jet noise. We also had the company of fellow Centex Winger, Bill Powers, who flew the faux Zero in the fighter demo with CAF’s Me 109, a Yak 3, and the newly repaired and gaudily painted P-51 “Miss America”. If you can believe it, “Miss America"'s owner kept her in the hanger during Saturday and Sunday because he didn’t want to risk his $39,000 red, white and blue paint job. Kind of confirmed what we’ve always thought about wussy Oklahomans.
All things considered, “Rose” and her crew made a mighty good showing. Of the show’s anticipated 96 visiting aircraft, only a few actually penetrated the weather and not one of them looked better or flew better than our “Yellow
Rose”.
DELL DIAMOND FLYOVER
June 24
By Grant Lannon
The Rose was joined by Harold Middleton in his CJ, while Bill Powers flew Triple Nickel in a three ship to open the American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) regionals opening ceremony at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. The Rose was crewed by Grant Lannon, Ron Dietes, and Howard Martin. Also on board were two grandsons of one of the Doolittle Raiders. H.D. Butler was our controller on the ground. There were about 5,000 people in the stadium with teams from 14 states in the southern U.S. and their friends and families. The flyby was three passes: Rose with CJ in trail; Rose and CJ with T-6 in trail; and finger three formation directly at the crowd. Meanwhile, the narrator on the ground told the audience about the history of the three types of aircraft and put in a plug for the CAF. We were glad to be able to take part and got the following message from the person in charge of the
regionals.
Grant
Just Perfect Today!! Met HD at stadium, and you were right on schedule with all 3 passes.
Beautiful! Thanks, George
ADA, OKLAHOMA
June 25 & 26
NOTHING SOUNDS LIKE A B-25
By Brad Fordham
Brad Fordham here, the “newbie” Yellow Rose member reporting in after my initiation week-ender to Ada, OK. On Friday afternoon some hydraulic issues and some unsettling looking weather delayed take-off for the Rose and made for some anxious folks waiting at the Friday night fly-in dinner. I don’t know if the food was a motivating factor but I watched with some awe as Ron, Jim, Jack, Grant and Greg galvanized into action on the Rose. I proceeded to try to stay the heck out of the way while passing tools, holding work lights and wiping up lots of hydraulic fluid. (Maybe the Rose squadron should think about hiring out as a pit-crew for the Indy-500!). At my first shift pumping one of the wing jacks my 150lbs wasn’t quite achieving the desired effect. Mad Jack suggested I needed to put a little lead in my pants! Maybe we could set up a transfer system and I’ll pick up some of those impressive South
Beach diet pounds you’ve been shedding. Anyway the storm blowing through cooled off the hangar nicely while the work was completed and with just enough time to arrive in Ada before nightfall, the Rose was on her way. With not a lot of arm twisting from Jack and Howard I was motioned up front to take the nose
position. I think I’ll reconsider my offer to Jack now about picking up a few extra pounds because I want to always be able to shinny across that catwalk and scoot through that tunnel to the nose whenever I get the chance.
Being up in the Rose Nose as Ron and Grant
steered us up, down and around the storms that were trying to stop us was unforgettable. Sitting up in the nose, separated from my new airborne family and watching clouds race by at 150 knots gave me pause to reflect. A life-long dream had come true for the skinny kid from Canada who wouldn’t stop talking about WWII airplanes. My teachers kept saying I would grow out of it but they were wrong and as soon as I could I joined up with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Foundation. I volunteered on the Lancaster restoration crew, as my late Uncle Jack was a “wireless op/gunner” on
these during WWII. I got to scrape a lot of paint on the old Lanc and eventually got to see here fly, only the second flying Lancaster in the world. One of my fondest memories of the old hangar in Hamilton, Ontario was watching the hard nose B-25 head out and come home from air shows. I said it then and I say it now, nothing sounds like a B-25 taking off! My career as a touring musician has thankfully taken me all over the world. I’ve been to just about every continent, except Antarctica and Africa, and have had the pleasure of getting to fly in a lot of types of fixed wing aircraft en route to all kinds of shows. But in the Rose Nose I was on cloud nine. And I’ve never felt safer or in more capable hands than those of the Rose boys. So there ya go Grant and Ron—it’s in writing, “Hat’s off”! I was speechless and proud to be on that airplane. Oh, and that’s my excuse for my headset not working—I was speechless! Next time I’ll call a radio check, I promise.
Anyway, enough about me...blah, blah,
blah. The arrival in Ada could not have been more perfect as Ron and Grant treated the anxiously waiting crowd to a few passes over the field just as the sun was beginning to set. The air show folks were thrilled that we made it and we were thrilled we made the chow line! We were provided with a Chevy suburban that had an empty gas-tank and a burned-out A/C but, hey, we don’t complain do we fellas? But, really, we appreciated the ride. Greg Young did an excellent job as the designated driver. As a new guy and with five pilots behind your car, I wouldn’t volunteer for that gig for anything. All those years in a squad car keeping the streets of San Antonio safe paid off, Greg.
Cheers! Grant told me not to expect much from the Microtel, so I did as told. (What marketing genius came up with that name?! Sounds like it should be in a petri dish or on a glass slide—I had a high school science class flashback.) But the room was a pleasant surprise. The walls were a little thin, though. It’s a good thing my roommate Greg wanted to rise early because when you have the room next to the lobby full of WWII paratroop re-enactors clomping around in jump boots its gonna happen anyway! They were a little overwhelmed sorting out the room situation at the Microtel and it appeared that Grant’s luggage was missing. I didn’t dare mention one of my past day-jobs as a luggage handler for Air Canada as I thought I’d be thought guilty before proven innocent! I still stand by my no luggage ever lost
record! Turns out a mysterious Mr. Merlot had made an appearance on the trip. I’ve not met the man but apparently he shows up quite often on trips.
I feel like I know him already. He helped unload the Rose, responding to the call in his true 911
style. I know we didn’t back over any bags at the push back in the hangar and Grant last saw the luggage at the rear hatch so Mr. Merlot must have got up there after we landed. Greg got Grant back to the Rose to reunite him with his luggage right where Mr. Merlot stashed it. Luckily the dreaded late-night Wal-Mart underwear and toothbrush run was averted and we were off to sample the Ada, OK nightlife.
The Village Inn was very accommodating. When they saw our Yellow Rose uniforms we were not allowed to pay the 5$ cover charge and they bought us drinks. Once we heard, or felt, the band I was glad we didn’t have to pay cover. We would have gladly passed the tip jar to get them to stop! I had to agree with Grant that when B-25 guys say it’s loud... It’s loud! Good and loud is one thing, but these guys just weren’t.
And here I was on my musician’s night out—I thought it was some kind of squadron initiation they set up. I thought of many classic musician “compliments” I could pass on to them such as “I like what you are trying to do” or “how long have you been playing roughly?”. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it as I was having too much fun watching the Yellow Rose squadron go to great lengths trying to acquire alcoholic beverages. Greg tried to get Grant a glass of red wine and the pretty young bartender kindly said “we don’t have any fancy stuff”. Grant was even braver going for a gin and tonic. In Ada, Ok. I was afraid of what they would call tonic water—too close to toxic water. At least Grant didn’t make me taste test it first. I thought it might be another initiation trick. As the band started what I think was an attempt at the old blues standard “Stagger Lee” the Yellow Rose squadron staggered out to the suburban to head for the hotel. I think the drummer was still on the song before.
The Yellow Rose crew at work(?) at the
Little Rock AFB Show
Photo Courtesy Bob Gardner
Air show day came quickly as I opted to go for a morning run with Greg Young, my roommate and a two time police Olympics gold medal winning runner. What was I thinking? I think I still had the adrenaline flowing from my first Rose trip but it felt like the beer from the night before was still in my throat. We jogged over to the Rose airfield and back (yes, there were witnesses!). It seemed like a good idea at the time. Actually, after coffee it felt great and I was ready to do my part to help any way I could to keep the Rose flying. We were parked in a prime spot right at the main gate. The first thing the kids could see was the Yellow Rose and our PX tables full of model planes and toys! There was a healthy turn out of C-47’s in various configurations and I had to break away to get some interior shots for Cowden and Howard. They’re on the way Cowden, hope they work for you! I’m still figuring out my digital camera. The paratroopers jumping from their invasion striped C-47 was a real sight for me and I got a play by play commentary form our own Mad Jack Reeves during our lunch break.
Thanks, Jack!
Helping out with cockpit tours is something I really enjoy. There was one little fella who reminded me of myself as a kid. He knew his planes and he was just shaking with anticipation as I put him up the ladder to Jack. I probably would have passed out with excitement if I had gotten to climb in a B-25 when I was his age. The three C-47’s looked and sounded great but when the Rose fired up... I say again
nothing sounds like the B-25!
The Yellow Rose was the star of the show so she went last and we were glad to have the shade of her wings to sell PX as long as we could. We had just got the last of the models packed up when the rain started. The guys at the FBO were already phoning
around checking on hotel room availability but they don’t think positive like the Rose. She wanted to sleep in her own hangar. Sure enough, after a dinner break the weather cleared enough for us to load up. I made sure Grant’s bag went on first in case Mr. Merlot came by to help see us off! As the guys up front skirted us around the storms, Jack, Greg and I watched out the waist windows at the beautiful rainbow escorting us home. Howard called out the Texas Motor Speedway off the right wing and I couldn’t help but think, “I’ll take a B-25 ride over a NASCAR anyway!”
Thanks, guys, for a great weekend and let’s
keep ‘em flying.
SAFETY CORNER
By Jerry Taylor, Squadron
Safety Officer
I had fully intended to use this month’s column for a reminder of heat issues and how to avoid and/or treat them. Instead, I want to caution you about the possibilities of heat illnesses, especially at airshows and ask that each of you take care of yourself and watch out for the others on the crew.
Instead, I received an announcement from the office of Naval Aviation Acquisition Programs and Flight Training Programs. This contained some worthwhile
safety tips concerning fueling of automobiles. It also applies to every type of fueling, including airplanes.
First, there is the hazard of mobile (cell) phones. Instances have shown that the just ringing of a cell phone in the vicinity of a refueling can ignite the
fumes caused by fueling. You should know that:
Mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes.
Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition.
Mobile phones should not be used during any type of fueling.
Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust.
Additionally, we need to heed the warning about other static electricity during fueling. You should be warned not to enter your vehicle during
fueling. If it is absolutely necessary to get into your vehicle while the gas is pumping, be sure when you get out, close the door and touch the metal before you touch the nozzle. This way, you discharge the static from your body before dealing with the gas nozzle.
I realize that the above examples deal with the fueling of automobiles, but the same rules need to be applied to the fueling of the “Rose”. Keep in mind that
in addition to the hazards mentioned above, we should ground the airplane, keep all unnecessary personnel at least 50 feet away, and any fuel or oil spilled should be cleaned up promptly. Also, be sure that there is nothing in your pockets
that could fall into the fuel tanks. Use common sense and BE CAREFUL!
CAF Safety News
HANUSA REPORT RECEIVED
By Jerry Taylor, Squadron
Safety Officer
At the April 24, 2004, the CAF General Staff,
meeting as the CAF Safety Committee, accepted the report written by Dick Hanusa, detailing the results of his review of the CAF’s operations
procedures. The Committee unanimously approved acceptance of Hanusa’s report and the forwarding of information regarding regulations to the operations board for consideration and to task the CAF president to review operational issues and report recommendations to the General Staff for staffing to accomplish the CAF safety management program.
As reported in the April, 2004, issue of the “Briefings”, Dick Hanusa was retained to lead the implementation of a top-to-bottom safety program for the Commemorative Air Force. According to Doug Rozendaal, this program is to “Send a loud and clear message to the entire CAF that we must change the way we do business if we wish to continue flying our warbirds”.
In view of the current safety concentration of the CAF as well as the Yellow Rose B-25 Squadron, just as soon as the contents of this report are released to the units and membership by headquarters, the Squadron Staff plans to immediately implement any procedures necessary to bring our group in compliance with any issues raised in this report.
