ROSE TRAVELS AND ACTIVITIES
CAF AIRSHO
MIDLAND,TEXAS
OCTOBER 1-2
By Greg Young
Late September
means the annual migration of people and aircraft to Miidland, Texas for AIRSHO 2005. Grant Lannon was the pathfinder this year flying up there early in the "Korean Pathfinder" Triple Nickel T6 to participate in TRARON formation flying. Others journeyed by aircraft or ground transport. A crew consisting of Ron Dietes, Tim Black, Jim Liles, Mel Soderburg, Greg Young,
Bubba Renfro, and our rookie, Jan Reno flew the Rose up to Midland Friday afternoon, Sept. 30. Yours truly ventured into the tail gunner position for the first time in flight and it was a neat experience looking for imaginary E109s to come attack out of the sun. Soon Ron and Tim were announcing our arrival with a traditional Rose pass before our landing
in Midland. Julie Pulcipher and Curtis Hall were our reception committee. There were not quite as many aircraft there this year and "other" B25s present included the Devil Dog, Miss Mitchell, and the WARBIRD magazine sponsored Mitchell. After securing the Rose, the crew went to the O Club where of course we were about the liveliest group there. After that, it was to our Rose Odessa quarters, the illustrious PARKWAY INN. Naturally, following tradition, we then ventured to the American Legion, another Odessa home away from home. There, after a battle, Tim Black led myself and him to a team victory in the Rose
shuffleboard championship over the reigning champs, Jim and Julie. One can not gloat however, as today's glory can be tomorrow's misery. Saturday morning found the crew being split up between the Rose on the flightline and the PX by the CAF museum. PX sales were better than last year and the show proceeded well with Ron and Tim and Jim doing the usual Rose performance. I enjoyed the heritage flight with the F15, P51, and now a classic, the F4. The Lima Lima team put on a good performance in their T34s.
Saturday night found us back in the OClub and then the American Legion. While we were at the OClub we observed a group of lights that appeared like a UFO. As they approached, we were able to determine that it was the Lima Lima team with their landing lights on, flying a tight formation. Sunday was basically a rerun of Saturday although many of us toured the Avro Shackelton that morning. It reminded me of a flying hotel with bunks and a kitchen. Watching it fly with its counter-rotating props is interesting. While working the PX, I took a break and went into the CAF PX. An individual was putting out NEW ARRIVALS merchandise which included a large wall type thermometer. I saw the words B25 Mitchell which further attracted my attention. Lo and behold, the Rose was the B25 on the thermometer! Needless to say I bought one. They are a little expensive to carry in our PX but are available through the headquarters PX. The ever dependable Pat Jopling stopped by during her escort duties for one of the CAFs guests, a retired B17 crew person. Herb Welch was doing similar duties with one of my heroes, Tex Hill. We wrapped things up Sunday night and went to the O Club again, this time for the Survivors' Party. It was then off to the Parkway and up for a Monday morning departure. Mrs. Juanita Tucker from Odessa was an additional passenger (her granddaughter was flying back with Grant in the T6). Our landing back at San Marcos marked the end of another successful Rose mission. Good job, everyone!
KILLEEN STATE CEMETARY FLYOVER
OCTOBER 5
By Greg Young
On October 5, the Rose participated in a formation flyover over Killeen during the
dedication of the State Veterans' Cemetery. The Rose crew was Grant Lannon, Ron Dietes, Jim Liles, and Greg Young. One guest, Mike from the neighboring aircraft paint shop, flew along. Ron Iberg also came from San Marcos in the Triple Nickel T6,
the Bluebonnet Belle C47 and another T6 came from Burnet, and the Devil Dog PBJ came from Georgetown. All the aircraft formed the formation over a nearby lake and then flew a couple of flyover passes with the Devil Dog in the lead. Unfortunately for one
buzzard, his attempt to join the formation was a fatal one as the luckless bird collided with the right prop of the Devil Dog. One should not mess with a B25. The flyover was completed and all aircraft headed back to their respective home airports.
Another Rose mission was completed......
RIO CONCHO
AIR SHOW
SAN ANGELO, TEXAS
OCTOBER
8-9
By Greg Youngg
On October 7, an intrepid crew of Grant Lannon, Ron Dietes, Jack Reeves, Bob Gardner, Curtis Hall, and Greg Young gathered at the hangar to crew the Rose for her trip to San Angelo Mathis Field for the Rio Concho Airshow (The premiere edition of this particular show). Our takeoff was not to be that Friday as the rain and inclement weather enroute prevented us from setting out. So it was up and at them early Saturday morning Oct 8 for a 0815 departure. The weather was
completely the opposite from the day before with not a cloud in the sky. Our one hour flight to San Angelo was one of the clearest in visibility that I had seen in awhile. The ever dependable, recently transferred to Dyess AFB, Pat Jopling, was there to greet us. The Rose mission this particular trip was to be static only and did the Rose star at that. The PX was set up and cockpit tours began (there was no charge for these, the show organizer paid extra to set that up). To say the Rose was the star was the understatement as it seemed half of San Angelo lined up to tour our beautiful girl. Bob Gardner reported that as many as 60 people were waiting in line at one time to go inside. Our PX almost sold out the first day.
The airshow was a good one with my personal highlight being to watch the Heritage Flight with the F15 and another North American product, the F86 Sabre which was painted in the colors of the SkyBlazers, a 1950s era USAF aerobatic team similar to the Thunderbirds. After securing the Rose at the end of the day, the crew went into downtown San Angelo
to our quarters. We than went to the Twin Mountains Steakhouse and enjoyed libations and a meal. Chuck Tulley from the Highland Lakes group joined us. Sunday morning found us setting up the airplane again and deciding to offer autographed pictures as a supplement to our depleted PX. Most of the pictures sold and the PX boxes were mostly empty. Sunday's show was a rerun of Saturday and sticking with Rose tradition we waited until the very end to shut things down and prepare for the flight home. After another nice one hour flight, Grant and Ron shot a straight in approach to San Marcos and we put the Rose up for a rest (Between
Midland, the Killeen flyover, and San Angelo, all in a period of one week, the Rose had gotten a good workout). I look forward to the
San Angelo show next year.
Airshow Aftermath from Pat Jopling
Just wanted to say how much the Rio Concho
Airshow committee enjoyed the Yellow Rose being there. After the Rose departed I talked to Al Elliott, the Airshow Chairman, and he received nothing but kudos about the Rose all weekend. Without the Rose and the 2 F-15s there on static, it would not have been much of a show.
I had another great opportunity to show off our “pride and joy” to some cadets from Angelo State University AFROTC (Det 847). As always, most of them could not believe how much of an impact the B-25 has had in our AF history. To me, this is the greatest opportunity to show our future AF officers their history. Each time, they get a great history lesson and I get a great feeling and a sense of pride knowing that we have passed on the reward that we get from being associated with these great Warbirds. Without them and the men and women who flew them, think about where would we be now?
LAVACA COUNTY
AERIAL CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 21-22
By Greg Young
Friday, Oct. 21, the Yellow Rose mission to mark the memorial seminar put on by the Lavaca County Historical Commission in Hallettsville began. The seminar was to memorialize the airmen that died in 6 plane crashes in Lavaca County during World War II. Ironically the first of these crashes was a B25 that went down in March of 1942 killing 6 crewmen (the month before the Doolittle Raid). The other crashes involved T6s and an AT7 so it was appropriate that the Rose and the Triple Nickel were part of the event. Each crash site is marked with a granite headstone and Lavaca County is believed to be
the only county in the country that has commemorated airmen in this way. Due to the shorter length of the Hallettsville runway, the Rose flew with just 3 crew members, Ron Dietes, Ken Udcoff, and Jim Liles. Grant Lannon and Jan Reno flew down in the Triple Nickel T6 and Dave Howard flew in his Cessna 120. The rest of the crew consisting of Bob and Judy Gardner, Letty Dietes, Curtis Hall, Julie Pulcipher, Mel Soderberg, and Greg Young drove in assorted vehicles including Greg's PX truck. Ron landed the Rose in Hallettsville with no problem and already had an audience of school kids and others watching. The Rose, the Triple Nickel, and the Cessna 120 quickly attracted attention. The PX was set up under the left wing and the tours began with groups rotating between visiting all 3 planes. It is estimated that at least 300 kids toured the Rose between the usual cockpit tours and an additional stop in the rear of the Rose. The Historical Commission people were most hospitable. Reporter Barry Halvorson from the VICTORIA ADVOCATE visited Friday and wrote a very accurate article with a nice picture that appeared in the Saturday edition. Letty Dietes confirmed the accuracy of the quotes when Halvorson quoted Ron as saying "I absolutely love flying the plane". With all the kids and others visiting, the day passed quickly and an extra attraction was a visit by a Ford Model T club that stopped, so some pictures were taken of the cars with the Rose in the background. All the airplanes were secured and the PX was transferred to the Knights of Columbus Hall, where the seminar would be held on Saturday, and it was decided to do the PX sales there. After the crew checked in to their respective quarters, we regrouped and went to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant sponsored by the Historical Commsision . The night was wrapped up at Sammy's Night Club, the night spot in Hallettsville. Alas, there was no suffleboard but Dave Howard and others did play pool. Saturday morning was bright and sunny and after breakfast the crew split up with some going to the airport and others of us went to the PX location. It was another good day for the PX as most of the items were sold, and again, empty boxes were loaded at the end of the sales day. I heard parts of the seminar and it was well presented and a good memorial for the fallen airmen. Lunch was homemade items including delicious chicken noodle soup. The seminar ended after 3 pm, still in time for people to either go to the airport or go out into the parking lot to watch the impending flyover. It was gratifying to see so many people out in the parking lot anxious to see the aircraft. Soon the Rose and Triple Nickel appeared and made a couple of passes. It was great. We loaded the PX into the truck and waved to Dave Howard as he flew over in his Cessna. The crew headed off in various directions; another group Rose effort was a success. Again thanks to the Lavaca Historical Commission for their friendliness and hospitality.
Hallettsville flyby of the Rose and the Triple Nickel.
Photo from Bob Gardner
