78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
The " Eagles of Duxford " gathered in Phoenix, Arizona on October 19, 2000 to celebrate another reunion...55 years after leaving Duxford and the ETO of World War II.
The Hampton Inn, Peoria, Az., reunion reception room buzzed with "hellos", "hugs" and "reminiscent stories" that first afternoon as the members arrived. Carolyn and Durell Knowlton, the reunion hostess and host had meticulously planned a full slate of events for the next few days.
The Hampton Inn reunion reception room buzzed with activity the first afternoon. Jack Price is shown here flanked by the reunion hostess and host, Carolyn and Durell Knowlton. (Picture Source: Webmaster)
Some new faces were in attendance and some familiar ones were conspicuously absent.
Tod Nicol from the Imperial War Museum(Duxford), U.K. was in attendance to conduct video interviews with the veterans for the museum archives. (Picture Source: Webmaster)
The first day's activities started with a tour of Luke Air Force Base. The 78th veterans had an opportunity to visit with a modern day F-16 Fighter Squadron, the 309th " Mad Mallards from Hell ". The highlight was a tour of the squadron headquarters plus spending some actual time on the flight line. The officers and enlisted personnel were very cordial and informative.
Both pilots and enlisted personnel of the 309th provided some close insight of squadron operations. Jim and Millie Stallings, Harold and Joyce Carlson, Wayne and Lois Coleman, Marion Roberto, and Lynn Hosford among others wait with 309th personnel for the Base tour bus. (Picture Source: Webmaster)
The afternoon of the first day included a bus tour of downtown Phoenix and a visit to the world famous Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Az.. Flyable aircraft from all periods of History were on display. The museum P-51D provided an extra treat for the veterans when it was rolled out for departure to a local Air Show. A special flyby was made as a salute to the 78th veterans. Love those Merlins!
The hand carved wood sculpture "Two Eagles" greets visitors in the Champlin Museum lobby. (Picture Source: Webmaster)
Dinner that evening was western style..served up at the " Rockin R " Ranch. Dinner was followed by a live stage show and an old west gun fight.
78th Fighter Group Association members " waiting for chow " at the "Rockin R Ranch" in Mesa, AZ. Shown(left to right) are Jerry Brasher, Tommy Thain, Jack Price, Ennis Clements, unk., Fred Swauger, ,Bob Green, unk., and Wayne Coleman. ( Picture Source: Webmaster )
Pre- dinner entertainment at the " Rockin R " Ranch was provided by "Pecos Pat's Medicine Show". (Picture Source: Webmaster)
Saturday morning found the veterans boarding the buses again for a tour of beautiful Sedona, Arizona with a stop at Montezuma's Castle. That evening, back at the Hampton Inn, everyone was treated to a superb menu at the reunion banquet. Col. Tom Schaefer (USAF, retired) provided a very inspirational speech after dinner followed by the Association Business meeting.
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SEE MORE REUNION PICTURES
Personal Note From the Host and Hostess . . .
78th Reunion Memorabilia . . .
Some of the Association members brought along personal individual pictures and picture albums to share at the reunion.
For those 78th veterans at the reunion who had trouble beleiving that the Webmaster had "hands" on experience with the P-47, I submit the following picture in evidence:
The Webmaster in 1947 dressed in flying gear during his "Basic" training days. It appears that I am demonstrating the dive characteristics of the "Jug". ( Picture Source: The Webmaster )
In addition, the Webmaster displayed a unique pewter mug which he had secured on an internet auction. The mug was originally owned by " Lt. William G. Dunken, 82nd Fighter Squadron ". It was unique to the fact that there were over 44 signatures of other 78th pilots scribed on it. Jerry Brasher reported that he had also procured a similar mug during his tour with the 82nd which he retains today. It too is scribed with signatures of other 78th pilots.
See the story "82nd Fighter Squadron - Pewter Drinking Mugs" in the General Interest section of this web site.
IPMS Model Display
The "Craig Hewitt", Phoenix Chapter of the International Plastic Modeling Society(IPMS) was kind enough to provide a model aircraft display for the benefit of the 78th veterans on Saturday afternoon. Some of the models were actually built special for the occaision and represented actual aircraft of the 78th.
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The model on the left represents P-47D, WZ-S, s/n 42-28878, "Eileen"; 1st. Lt. Frank Oiler's assigned aircraft( 84th Fighter Squadron). The model on the right depicts P-47D(razorback), MX-W, s/n 42-26387, "Miss Behave"; 1st. Lt. Robert Bosworth's assigned aircraft(82nd Fighter Squadron). ( Picture Source: Webmaster )
Raffle Prize . . . " Through the Back Door "!
Bob Green ( Capt. R.T. Green, 83rd Fighter Squadron ) was the lucky raffle ticket holder for the lithograph print " Through the Back Door " by aviation artist William S. Phillips. The print was donated by Ken Fish and signed by all the Association members in attendance. The print depicts "Miss Behave", a 82nd Squadron P-47D Razorback(MX-W, s/n 42-26387 ) flown by 1st. Lt. Robert Bosworth attacking an enemy airdrome sometime after D-Day. More 78th P-47s can be seen in the background starting their strafing runs. ( Picture Source: Webmaster )
'Til We Meet Again . . .
This page was last revised on 5 / 25 / 01
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