Our ROSE with Ron, Tim and Jerry on Saturday photo pass at Gathering of Memories Air Show
Photo By Jan Wagner
Gathering of Memories
2005
By the Culligan Man
Normally we have a saying that if it is raining, there must be an air show going on somewhere. Well, that saying didn’t apply this past weekend in San Marcos at our Gathering of Memories air show. In fact, the saying this weekend was probably something like if you don’t have a sunburn or tan, you’ve been hiding inside.
As usual, the members of the Yellow Rose Squadron pitched in with other CENTEX members to make our air show successful. Much hard work was done for this 2 day air show and dinner dance. Unfortunately, the weather took its toll on the spectators so the crowd that was expected did not materialize. But, those who did attend got their money’s worth watching these historic aircraft fly again to relive history.
The PX was set up in a good location right under the air show announcer’s location which was show center. Thanks to Lettie, Dave, Bubba, and all who helped man the PX. The only problem was the music being played while the announcer took a breather was sometimes representative of only one Texas school of higher (?) learning. Tommy and Brenda were seen grinnin’ big, but I for one had to hold my fingers in my ears! Bob Gardner had done a great job of getting the honored guests to come and sign books, pictures, etc. I talked with one, Dick Cole, and he was complaining of writer’s cramp from all the posters he had signed. But, those posters will come in very handy in Bob’s quest for getting sponsors to help with funding for the squadron. Mike Francis was kind of a jack of all trades it seemed. He was everywhere. Grant was as busy as anyone. He and Bill Walsh had done most of the coordinating for the aircraft that participated in the air show as well as organize several other functions. Finally once the show started Grant could do what he could relax at, FLY.
The Rose on Saturday was flown by Ron, Tim, and Jerry Taylor. The lineup in-flight was not the best as they placed the C-47 behind the B-17 and in front of the Rose and the Dog. But due to the high flying skills of Ron, and some creative maneuvering, the Rose looked great and naturally was the crowd favorite.
The CENTEX PX was assisted by Charlene, Pat, and Paul. Ray Ender was cruising around in his sports vehicle providing security. Thanks to him for clearing the airport road of those freeloaders that were trying to watch the show without paying. Next year I suggest we use spray paint to mark their cars as cheapskates! Mad Jack, Brad, Chuck, Ed and a crew of Navy Sea Cadets manned the front ticket sales location. I overheard Mad Jack talking like a sailor late Saturday afternoon after being out there with those cadets.
Mike Renck and Harold Miller launched with the trainer lineup for the shows. Curtis was seen wondering around with a large
book of songs looking for a karaoke kiosk. Pat Joplin had the AF recruiters in a prime location as well as assisting in many other areas.
The dinner dance Saturday night was THE place to be for an evening of socializing, sweating, dancing, sweating, or just kickin’ back and enjoying the friendships. Julie did another first class job of coordinating the silent auction. I am really dismayed by the fact that the Sentimental Journey Orchestra, as great as they are, DOESN’T KNOW the “Yellow Rose of Texas”. I requested it, but was told “sorry, we don’t have that music”. Well, I say, that next time by golly, they BETTER know it or we get George Straight, Willie Nelson, Pat Green or some group that does know it. The Rose flew twice on Sunday. Sunday morning Ron, Tim, and Mike Francis took up a group of air show sponsors on a PR flight with a dual mission. One was to show the sponsors a reward for their help for the show and the second was to advertise over the local area to get people to come out to the show. Mad Jack said one car did show up and said they saw the Rose flying and decided to come. The Rose flew again in the show with Ron, Tim, and Phil. Once again the lineup wasn’t the best, but we made the best of it and showed why the Rose is the crowd favorite. As the saying goes, “a rose by any other name (other than the Yellow Rose)………..is just a ……..name!!
Many thanks to Clint and Jim Liles for their untiring efforts to make the show successful. Needless to say, they put in many hours of hard work. I apologize for anyone that worked and was not mentioned in this article. The Yellow Rose Squadron can be proud of the efforts of all its members for their work on the air show and dinner dance.
Letty Dietes
pins a Yellow Rose pin on the collar of Ben Muller, WWII
B-25
radio/gunner, POW and honoree at Gathering of Memories
Photo by Bob Gardner
LEADER'S WORDS
By Ron Dietes, Squadron Leader
Well, here it is the end of May and the Temple, Tyndall and Centex air shows are now in the history books and the Rose did not let us down. The only thing that happened was one generator went offline and it appeared to be a circuit breaker issue. All is well now but to be sure I have received two replacement circuit breakers from AeroTrader. We’ll install them as time permits.
The next show is
Minden, LA, followed by Dyess AFB. Then we take the Rose to Midland for our rotation. Sometime during the rotation, we’re planning to go to Midland and fly the Rose. That way we know she is OK and it gives us a chance to fly some of the headquarters folks that have not had a chance to ride in a CAF warbird. We’ll have more details regarding the date next month. It will most likely be a day during the week.
The fund raising project is progressing on schedule and we’ll have more information for you at our next squadron meeting
which is Tuesday June 14th. This is a very important project as the Rose is going to require many dollars to keep flying. Airshow fee’s, PX sales and cockpit tours are just not going to provide the future funds that
will be needed.
A big THANK YOU goes to the Rose folks that came to San Marcos to help with the Rose during the Airshow. We did not do many cockpit tours or sell much from the PX, but I think
we had a good time and the dinner dance was a lot of fun. It was also good to see Charles and Dorothy Greinke. I flew co-pilot on many flights with Charles. He is a good teacher and I learned a lot from him.
Congratulations to Grant for getting his PPE check completed.
Rose lifts off
for Saturday’s show
Photo by Jan Wagner
SAFETY FIRST
By Jerry Taylor, Squadron Safety Officer
“Gathering of Memories” was a success. I have no idea what the financial outcome will be, but we had a safe show. That was the big goal for the event! However, there arises an issue that I cannot stress too much, even though I sound like a broken record. Summer is really here and the heat surrounds us and it is time for my annual reminder of heat damage to your body.
Saturday afternoon the San Marcos Fire Department measured the temperature at 145 degrees Fahrenheit on the ramp. With the humidity, it was an inferno. After our flight for the show, I was totally wiped out, even though I had consumed lots of water.
This brings me to the point of this message. Watch yourself in these
circumstances. It is easy to be complacent and not consume sufficient liquids for your body until it is too late. Heat can slip up on you and strike you down before you know it. If you notice your body stops sweating (glowing in the case of the ladies), react. Sometimes, water alone is not enough. Your loss of body elements needs to be replaced quickly to keep you sound. Try to avoid caffeine and or alcohol during the times when you are at greatest risk.
Many of us spend most of our daily lives in air conditioned comfort during the week, then, out for an air show for the weekend. Our bodies are not acclimated to the elements and we jump into the activities without thinking. Each of us needs to be careful and aware of the risks. Also, look out for those around you. If you notice someone around you who is acting out of character, talk to them. See if they need to get to a cool place and recuperate. Encourage them and if necessary, accompany them to make sure that are OK.
Finally, remember how hot it gets inside the “Rose”. The temperatures are even greater than on the ramp, and the metal gets scorching. Be careful what you touch.
We have been stressing flying, hangar, and ramp safety, but personal health is an issue that we cannot stress enough. We need you, but nothing we do is more important than your health.
ROSE TRAVELS AND ACTIVITIES
TEMPLE…..
AND A WHOLE
LOTTA CRUD
May 7-8
By Letty Dietes
The Rose took Ron, Tim, Mike, Jack, Julie, Greg, Curtis and myself to Temple for the May 7-8, 2005 Airshow. Others that joined up with us in Temple were Ken Udcoff, Lisa Francis, Brad Fordham and Dave Howard. Tim Black’s wife, Grizelda, their son, Trey, their daughter, Christina and her husband, Nathan contributed their support on Saturday. What a great group we had! On Friday the Rose took us in for a low pass as part of our arrival, smoke and all – just as a reminder to
everyone on the ground that once again the Rose planned on being the star of the show. Rose let them park her right next to a Big Blue thing. No intimidation. Just Rose pride.
The true camaraderie of our group showed as we deplaned and wiped her down. It is amazing to me that people will walk up to us and comment on how impressed they are with our obvious group effort.
Friday night we ate Italian and then headed for the American Legion Hall. They know us there. After arranging a table the crew soon began the dancing, darts, karaoke, shuffleboard, and crud.
What is Crud you ask? Imagine six people gathered around a pool table – three people on each team. Two balls on the table, the Cue ball and an object ball. A person rolls the Cue ball hitting the object ball trying to get it into a pocket. If the object ball is not sunk in a pocket and before the object ball stops rolling, the opposing person can grab the Cue ball and try getting the object ball into a pocket. Observing the game from afar it looks like Keystone cops running around the
pool table. Very comical. American Legion regulars were coming up to us asking what the heck we were doing. Tim Black taught us. We kept the rules to a minimum and it made the game a lot of fun. Thanks to Tim for teaching us. So what is Crud you asked? You thought you knew everything? Heh heh….well now you do.
Saturday’s show was very successful. Rose’s flight, cockpit tours and PX – all successful. We heard that their was an Airshow party at the Las Casas restaurant, so we drove over there to check it out. Well, there were many Airshow folks in attendance, but nowhere to sit and have dinner so after much discussion, Greg remembered a steakhouse where we ate last year. So thanks go to Greg for finding the Oxbow Steakhouse in Belton and for leading a four car caravan. Unfortunately,
Sunday’s show was cancelled due to weather and we had to drive home. Ron, Tim and Jim brought Rose back on Monday.
Kudos to all of us for a
successful Rose trip. P.S. to Ken ------- 2 olives next time, please.
TYNDALL AFB
May 13-16
By Greg Young
On May 13, 2005; the Yellow Rose and her intrepid crew headed east on her longest trip of the year so far to Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida.
The crew was Ron Dietes, Grant Lannon, Jack Reeves, Ken Udcoff, Bubba Renfro, Dave Howard, Bob Gardner, and Greg Young. We climbed to altitude and before long, we were doing a midfield flyover of Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport where I glanced down on all of those aluminum tubes parked at the gates, I am glad that they exist but they still don't fly like a B25. Our eastward trek saw us flying over Lake Charles, Lafayette, and south of Baton Rouge. At this point I crawled into the nose for the best seat in the house and we overflew Lake Ponchatrain north of New Orleans which was seeing some thunderstorm activity. Gulfport, Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola, Eglin AFB, and finally Panama City were flown over prior to our arrival at Tyndall Air Force Base home of the F15, the QF4 drone, and the brand new F22 Raptor. After a warm reception at the flight line we moved into our temporary quarters for the next few nights. The welcoming reception was held at the officers' club
located just off the Gulf Coast shore line. A mini night airshow was held for the participants and it was neat to watch the Army Golden Knights parachute to precision landings right outside the window where we were seated. The next morning found us out at the flight line getting ready for the day. Sgt. Spencer who is stationed at Tyndall came out to visit. He built a gigantic model of the Hornet and Doolittle Raiders which is similar to the model in the Centex museum. He befriended Col. Doolittle and many of the Raiders so when he returned on Sunday he had a framed cloth map of China signed by many of the Raiders when they were hiding in a cave in China immediately after the raid. Saturday's show proceeded well although the B17 MEMPHIS BELLE which was parked next to us did not fly due to lack of a pilot. We saw the F22 fly and it was good to watch the F4s fly and the Canadian Snowbirds fly a good show. Of course, Ron and Grant and Mad Jack with his trademark yellow helmet put the Rose through her paces on both days; on Sunday the P40 flew in formation with the Rose. On Sunday, one of Grant's former coworkers named Dave came to the flight line (Grant worked on the QF4 Phantom drone project prior to his retirement). He visited with Grant and stated he would make arrangements for us to go to the BOATYARD restaurant in Panama City Beach. So after 2 days of well flown airshows and good PX sales and cockpit tours (yes, we had quite a few empty boxes to load in the bomb bay), the crew was in a good mood to celebrate. So off to the BOAT YARD we went to meet Dave. To say Dave had made arrangements was an understatement. We were shown right in to a table already set up with signage of the Yellow Rose B25 squadron and Yellow roses by each place setting. The manager and wait staff were very enthusiastic to greet and serve us. The house band even played the song, YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS. An excellent time and meal was had by all. Thanks Dave. Monday morning saw our departure westbound over the same cities we had flown by a few days earlier. We overflew NAS Pensacola and I saw the BLUE ANGELS parked on the ramp of their home base. Near Houston, a bright blue KLM Boeing 747 overflew us on its way in from Amsterdam. I wonder if any of the passengers would recognize the vision from the past that flew below them. After almost 4 hours of flying the Rose was back home at San Marcos. Another well done Rose mission was complete.
04/30/2005 SAFETY MEETING REPORT
By Jerry Taylor and Ron Dietes
The called meeting came to order at 1005. Present were twelve flight crew members and trainees. Three were absent.
After a discussion regarding standardization of procedures, Ron Dietes and Jim Liles took over and went over the new procedures for filling the hydraulic reservoir and the use of the emergency bottle. The new hand pump was demonstrated and storage location explained.
Discussion and procedures for the Emergency Air Reservoir followed.
Next, a discussion of the P-39 incident by Grant. It also included the expansion of the pre-flight crew briefing.
Ron then brought up the necessity of observance of good intercom procedures during takeoffs and landings. Use will be only by the pilot and co-pilot and cross talk will be eliminated except to report an emergency.
Paperwork was discussed. The need for neatness and orderly preparation of ALL paperwork was discussed.
Check lists were discussed and the use of the standard checklist emphasized.
The meeting adjourned at 1100.
OUR NEWEST MEMBER
We want to say welcome to the latest addition to our unit—Jan Wagner. Jan, a Navy veteran, is employed by Lockheed Martin at Brooks City Base and his wife Carla is with Rush Enterprises in New Braunfels. He has jumped right in and was at the Gathering of Memories for both days and cannot wait to get involved in all of our activities. When you see him at the hangar, make Jan welcome.
PX REPORT
By Greg Young, Squdron PX
Officer
Three shows have passed since the
last report; Temple, Tyndall, and San Marcos. Sales were very good at the first 2 shows and since I am in Phoenix as I write this I do not know the final tally on the San Marcos event. Temple sales were excellent the first day with approximately $1,040 being sold along with $182 in cockpit tours. Tim
Black's suggestion to move the PX over to some vacant space along where the crowd came and went led to a sales bonanza. Lots of sales were made to people passing by even after the flight line was sanitized. Bad weather led to the cancellation of the second day of the Temple show and the potential for more sales was not realized.
Tyndall proved to be a good sales event for us also, the weather cooperated for both days so we totalled $242 in cockpit tours and approximately $1,300 in PX sales. We managed to continue sales even after moving the PX away from the airplane but we stayed along the crowd line. As I said I can not report on San Marcos other than to say thanks to those who worked and to Joe Matlock who donated his book sales of $124 to the squadron.
We continue to sell out of airplane balls, snap together models, "Jim Liles signature" hats, 50 cal shells, and the toy pushback airplanes. Needless to say I stay busy ordering those items. The next hat order includes "Tim Black signature" hats which have a lower brim. I will also be ordering some smaller size crew shirts.
That's about it for this month.
Happy landings.
2005 Airshow Schedule
| Mar 12-13 |
Brownsville, TX |
| Mar 19-20 |
Luke AFB, AZ Cancelled |
| April 9 |
Burnet, TX |
| April 16-17 |
Holloman AFB, NM |
| May 7-8 |
Temple, TX |
| May 14-15 |
Tyndall AFB, FL |
| May 21-22 |
San Marcos, TX |
| June 3-5 |
Minden, LA |
| June 25 |
Dyess AFB, TX |
| * |
|
| Sept 9-11 |
Cannon AFB, NM |
| Sept 28 |
Tucumcari, NM |
| Oct 1-2 |
Midland, TX |
| Oct 8-9 |
Houston, TX |
| Oct 22-23 |
New Orleans, LA |
|
|
* The Yellow Rose is scheduled to be on rotation in Midland from mid-July through early September.
2005 Yellow Rose B-25
Squadron Staff Officers
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
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