23 Flight Flyer
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23 Flight Flyer Dallas - Fort Worth Order of Daedalians, Inc. A National Fraternity of Military Pilots http://www.daedalians.org S E P T E M B E R
CAPTAIN’ S CORNER Richard Fairlamb Lt. Col., USAF, (Ret.) [email protected]
2 0 1 3
NOTAM Sep 19, 2013 FLIGHT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS’ REPORT
Howdy, Daedalians & aviators. Well, it is getting near the end of the Endless Texas Summer, and that means that Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis should be back—soon—to serve as your “Master of Ceremonies” for our next meeting on Thursday, September 19th, 2013. Be sure to mark your calendars to come
at Rolling Hills CC, I-30 & Cooper St
Social: 1800 Hrs; Dinner: 1900 Hrs Dress: Casual Chicken Fried Chicken or Chicken w/Sauce Cost: $25.00 For Reservations Call or email: Dallas. . . . . . Chuck Bopp . . . . . . .972-418-8536 or [email protected] Ft. Worth . . . .Dick Jones . . . . . . . . . .817-421-4617 or [email protected] Make reservation before 1800 hours Sep 16 If necessary, please cancel before 1800 hours Sep 17
to our “Scholarship Awards Evening.” we will recognize three (3) Academic Scholars, one (1) CAP Solo Cadet and two (2) Cadet Flight Indoctrination Program (CFIP) Solo Cadets. And don’t forget the Order of Daedalians National Convention in San Diego, CA, the first week in October.
Lt Col Ray Janes, USAF (Ret) talked to the Flight about his Unique Vietnam Cavalry Tour
The August 2013 gathering of the finest aviators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area— nearly 50 of YOUR Flight 23 “Dandelions” was held on August 15, 2013. The noise in the room reflected the volume of the “aviator/pilot stories” that were fly-
Volabamus … Volamus
ing around the room! Membership Chairman Chuck Bopp has set us the challenge of having 75 Daedalians at our meetings, so—bring yourself, bring an aviator friend, and join us for food, flying stories and camaraderie! Provost Marshall Gene Bardal got us started 4 minutes early, with his “scramble klaxon!”—a nicely tuned cow bell. I called the meeting to order. Our chaplains have returned—Mike Masterson gave the invocation. And our own Adjutant, Chris Neale, led the Pledge to the Flag, and we had our usual toasts.
correct?!?), who were also welcomed with a toast. After all that concentrated toasting (drinking), it was time for our usual very good dinner provided by the Rolling Hills Country Club (RHCC) in Arlington, TX. In addition to the good food and pretty good wine, the new RHCC General Manager, Mr. Eric Eitel, was in the room, assisting with the serving of our meals. Something tells me that Eric likes having us in each month!?!
Mack Angel, Dick Keyt, Jim Crain, and Jim Davis seem to have something profound to share
Sadly, three Daedalians had passed away since our July meeting. We toasted the passing of our prior Flight Member MajGen Dave Forgan, Daedalian # 2584, on July 26th, 2013. A number of our Daedalians attended General Dave’s memorial service on Friday, 16 August, in Trophy Club, TX—the day after our monthly meeting. I was present to represent the Flight. One of our Flight Members, Colonel Pete Lane, from Denton, was also there; Pete flew with General Dave at Korat in F-105s. At our August meeting, we also acknowledged with a toast the passing, on August 10th, of General David C. Jones, Daedalian #
3957—the 9th Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and two terms as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Finally, Chuck Bopp led us in a recognition of the passing of Colonel George E. “Bud” Day, Daedalian # 4427, on July 27th 2013. Chuck’s comments were followed by a toast to this magnificent airman who served his country in three wars— WWII; the Korean War; and the Vietnam War—and was a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from August 1967 to March 1973—5 years and 7 months. We had 2 guests—Grant Mackie and Norm Knofs (sure hope I got the spelling
Al Caldwell, Dick Jones, Jack Purdy, and Al Kamback chat before the August meeting
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Good to his word in last month’s Flyer, Provost Marshall Gene Bardal wants you all to know that the Flight Awards Board has been updated, the plaques rearranged, and is now available for you to look at—when you are standing in line to pay for dinner each 3rd Thursday! You should be aware that we are the only flight, out of some 70+ Daedalian Flights, to have received two (2) awards of the “Jimmy Doolittle Outstanding Flight of the Year” recognition. Both of these plaques are now on the Flight Awards Board. Gene also unveiled, for the first time, the framed Flight 23’s numbered copy of Keith Farris’ painting, “Bold Beginning”—which depicts the first flight of the first military, heavier-than-air airplane, owned by the US Army Signal Corps. This flight was made by 1st Lt. Benjamin Delahauf Foulois, on March 3, 1910, at Fort Sam Houston, TX. The US Army purchased a one-of-a-kind Model “A” Wright Flyer in August 1909 for $30,000. After some flying in the Washington, D.C. area, and a number of crashes, Brig Gen James Allen, Chief Signal Corps of the US Army, ordered 1st Lt. Foulois to take the “Signal Corps No. 1”—the Wright Model “A” Flyer— to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to teach himself how to fly, and to train in weather more conducive to flying. It was there, in early 1910 that the future Major General (and Chief of the Air Corps from 1931 to early 1935) “..taught himself to fly…” through trial and error, and by correspondence with the Wright Brothers. Although he crashed frequently, he was injured only once, when he was pinned beneath part of the aircraft. Our numbered copy of the Keith
Farris painting is one of a short series of prints that were commissioned by Fort Sam Houston National Bank, and given to the Order of Daedalians. As you know, I am standing in for Flight Captain Angelo Spelios (DNF-medical) and Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis (TDY/ TAD-Northern Wisconsin). I spoke with Angelo while preparing these “Captain’s Corner” comments. He has completed both chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Houston, TX, as of August 16th, 2013. He has the Dr.’s clearance for a physical tumor-removal operation on September 6th, also in Houston, after which he is looking at 2-3 month recovery period. Angelo wanted me to pass on his very sincere “Thank Yous” to those who have called, emailed or sent him get well cards, and to tell you he is looking forward to getting back into the Third Thursday Daedalian Meeting mode! Carl is having a good summer up in Northern Wisconsin, but will be back to Texas in time to re-take the reins as Flight Captain....you should know that I am looking forward to that, also! After dinner, Chuck Bopp led us in a discussion of “membership”—there is a new membership application form out on the National website. Only one (1) signature is now required to sponsor an applicant. Chuck will help anyone who needs assistance in filling out the application. He is also going out of his way to get the name and contact details of our guests, and follow-up to keep them interested. It’s a big job, so help with your guests, in any way you can. We have had no “feedback” regarding the “membership questions” that were posed by Daedalian National Commander Lt Gen Nick Kehoe at our June Meeting— • Should the Order consider expanding membership eligibility? • Would a broader membership base enhance the Order’s advocacy for aviation?
23rd Flight members listen intently to Lt Col Ray Janes as he talks about his Vietnam Tour
• What aspects of the current membership criteria should be retained, if membership eligibility is expanded? And, I did a very poor job of responding to a request from the floor, made at the last meeting, that we have a vote on the “membership question(s)”—right now!!! My apologies to the Daedalian who proposed the vote; I was focused on other things; I should have held the vote right then, but—did not. My apologies… Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis & I have spoken about the membership issue, and Carl will ask for a vote of the Flight 23 members present at our September 20th Monthly Meeting. Probable questions to be voted— • Should the Order expand membership eligibility to non-pilot-rated navigator crew members? • Should the Order expand membership eligibility to non-pilot-rated enlisted crew members? • Should the Order expand membership eligibility non-pilot rated UAV/RPV crew members? • Should the Order retain our membership “as is”? This would mean a continued limitation to heavier-than-air rated military aviators of all the Uniformed Services of the United States of America?
So, put your thinking cap on, and be ready to vote! Thanks. The Flight will be represented in San Diego at the National Convention, October 2-5, 2013, by—Mike McGinnis; Gene Gulick; Al Caldwell; and David Johnston. We hope to give them a set of vote results that can be presented to the National Staff, when/if the membership question comes up. Mike McGinnis is going since he wrote up the recommendation for the Order’s Lt Gen Harold L. George Civil Airmanship Award. This award is presented annually to the pilot, copilot and/or crew of a United States certified commercial airline selected by a FAA committee to have demonstrated ability, judgment and/or heroism above and beyond normal operational requirements. The American Airlines Super 80 crew that Mike recommended will be the 2013 recipients of this prestigious civilian flying safety award, and Mike wants to be there to participate. Great job, Mike. As I have said earlier, the September 20th Meeting will recognize our scholarship recipients for 2013. Roy Ryon and Ivy McCoy are inviting all six (6) scholarship recipients and their families to join us for the evening. YOUR Flight 23 sent one (1) CAP Cadet to the 2013 CAP Encampment, go through ground and flying training to solo during the encampment. YOUR Flight 23 provided awards to
Volabamus … Volamus 3
Officer for 18 months, while deciding if he wanted a career in the Air Force. Ray went to Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1955, and came back through North Texas to go through Interceptor Upgrade at Perrin AFB, Sherman, TX. He flew F-102s and F-106s with the 94th FIS, at Selfridge AFB, MI; the 95th FIS at Andrews AFB & Dover AFB, Delaware; the 317th FIS in Alaska; and the 71st FIS in Virginia.
Lt Col Janes shows the Flight his token of appreciation just presented by acting Flight Captain Richard Fairlamb
three (3) university ROTC Cadets, for monetary support of their studies at the university of their choice. This year we will recognize one ROTC Cadet each, from Texas Christian University; the University of North Texas; and the University of Texas at Arlington. Along with the financial support we provide for the Cadets recognized, the Daedalian Foundation provides “Matching Scholarship Funds” to the Cadets that we select. Roy described this year’s scholars very clearly in the previous Flyer, so I will not duplicate those articles here. I really want us all to commend Roy Ryon on the superb job he has done of putting together YOUR Flight’s recommended candidate for the National “John & Alice Egan Multi-Year Scholarship” program. There are 73 flights in the Daedalian organization. Roy has done so well with his submissions over the past four (4) years, that one of the Academic Scholarship winners from YOUR Flight has also received an Egan award. Roy and I think this is a record, unmatched by any of the other Daedalian Flights, world-wide. Last year the Egan funding was $5,000, in addition to the Flight’s scholarship monies; not too shabby! This year, probably due to a difficult investment climate, the Egan funding is $2,500, in addition to Flight 23’s scholarship funding.
Please remember—the extra dollars you spend on Treasurer Scott Hartless’ “Crooked Wine Raffle” during our monthly meetings go directly into the Flight’s Scholarship Fund. Finally, the Cadet Flight Indoctrination Program (CFIP). We selected 2 High School JROTC Cadets to take ground and flying training to solo this year, at Delta Qualiflight Aviation based on Meacham Field in Fort Worth. The Les Leavoy Foundation covers the entire cost of training for these scholarship recipients each year. We hope that the Les Leavoy Foundation benefactor, Laird Leavoy, will be with us on the evening of September 20th, to make a personal presentation of the CFIP Flight jackets and models of Les Leavoy’s airplanes to the two Cadets. It should be an interesting evening! Our program last month was A Unique Vietnam Cavalry Tour, provided by Lt. Col. Ray Janes, USAF (Retired). Ray grew up in Dallas in the 1930s and 1940s, and graduated university from what was had been called East Texas Normal College, founded in the Commerce, TX area in 1899. The college is now Texas A&M University–Commerce. Ray missed out on the Korean War, due to college and ROTC commitments. He did go on active duty with the US Air Force in 1954, and was an Air Police
Volabamus … Volamus 4
In 1969, Ray was sent to Hurlburt Field in the Fort Walton/Destin area of the Florida panhandle to check out in the OV-10, and to be a Forward Air Controller (FAC). Ray’s “stories for the evening” began upon his arrival in the Republic of Vietnam in January 1969. As many of you FACs will remember, we all went through the 504th Tactical Air Support Group for “in-processing” of Air Liaison Officers (ALOs) and FACs at Bien Hoa Air Base, just north of Saigon. We then went to Phan Rang AB, to get a local “check out” and qualify in accordance with the “Vietnam Rules of War.” While at Phan Rang, Ray was approached by the ALO of the First Air Cavalry Division—the 1st Air CAV— and was offered the job of being a First Cav “Rash FAC” living right with the US Army. Ray thought that would be fun, and volunteered. The rest is history—the history of a young pilot officer providing FAC services to the 1st CAV in the mornings with his OV-10. And then, actually flying with the CAV’s OH-6A Cayuse White Teams—the Scouts—the AH-1 Huey gunship Red Teams—the Weapons—and the UH-1 Huey troop transport teams in the afternoons. At that time, the 1st Air CAV had just redeployed from I Corps—where I had also been a “Rash” FAC for the division—to the III Corps Tactical Zone. This was a large area in a 150 mile arc north and west of Saigon that encompassed the border with Cambodia, with Division HQ at Phouc Vinh. At the time of Ray’s arrival to “The CAV”, the 1st Air Cavalry Division confronted four
enemy divisions—the 1st and 7th NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and the 5th and 9th Viet Cong divisions. Ray regaled us with multiple stories of combat operations, right down at the “rubber meets the road”—Army level, and how he survived his year in the life of Vietnam. There is not space to relate those stories here—notwithstanding the fact that I cannot remember them all! Sufficient to say that Ray Janes was an essential element in the combat operations of the 1st Air CAV division for his entire year of 1969 in Vietnam. The high-level description of the CAV’s operations were things like—a February 1969, Operation (CHEYENNE SABRE) in the area northeast of Bien Hoa that straddled and cut Viet Cong and Viet Minh (NV Army) infiltration routes. While most of the contact with the enemy was light, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry (2/7th) engaged the enemy with more than 600 enemy soldiers killed. The spring and summer of 1969 was punctuated by numerous North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attempts to overrun 1st Cavalry Division firebases. On the night of 12 August 1969, the VC threw simultaneous attacks against Quan Lai, and the CAV’s landing zones—LZ Becky; LZ Jon; LZ Kelly; and LZ Caldwell. The VC were thrown back with heavy losses and more were gunned down by helicopter gunships as they fled in retreat—in these engagements the VC and Viet Minh lost seven hundred men. In the closing months of 1969, the 1st Air CAV brigades successfully stymied enemy infiltration of the roads, trails, and narrow paths of the Serges Jungle Highway hidden beneath the triple-canopy jungle. By the end of 1969—encompassing the entirety of Ray’s tour with the CAV in Vietnam—the division had thoroughly smashed the domination of the enemy over the northern areas of III Corps. You will note that a number of the names of Vietnamese towns which are mentioned here were the focus of high-intensity ground fighting and battles which made the national news in those days of the late 1960s.
After Vietnam, Ray served in the Washington, DC, area and retired from the Pentagon in 1975. He holds two Masters of Science degrees, and came back to the Fort Worth area of Texas to be a teacher in the FWISD. After his 16 years as a teacher, he retired for a 2nd time in 1992. Ray has lived in the Denton area for 25 years and has volunteered his services to support the operations of a number of local organizations and agencies. At the end of his presentation, YOUR Flight 23 presented Ray with a plaque commemorating his presentation and thanking him for sharing some very personal stories with us. In addition, Chuck Bopp advises that Ray took home with him an application to become a Daedalian—thanks, Chuck. A very personal presentation, by a longtime serving officer.
FINISHING TOUCHES Richard Fairlamb, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) We had our usual “Crooked Drawing”— but this time for three (3) bottles of wine, thanks to Dick Jones. As always, I ask you to remember—and thank—our diligent Flight Officers and Program Chairmen (and Chairwoman) for all the good work they do to keep the Flight running smoothly. Thanks to you all. OK—remember the biennial National Convention is in in San Diego, CA, October 2-5, 2013. And—every member bring a member— or a Guest to our September 20th Scholarship Awards Evening. Volabamus Volamus—Richard Fairlamb
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sep 19
Flight Scholarship Recipients’ Report
Oct 17
Monthly Meeting
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23 Flight Flyer Dallas - Fort Worth Order of Daedalians, Inc. A National Fraternity of Military Pilots http://www.daedalians.org S E P T E M B E R
CAPTAIN’ S CORNER Richard Fairlamb Lt. Col., USAF, (Ret.) [email protected]
2 0 1 3
NOTAM Sep 19, 2013 FLIGHT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS’ REPORT
Howdy, Daedalians & aviators. Well, it is getting near the end of the Endless Texas Summer, and that means that Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis should be back—soon—to serve as your “Master of Ceremonies” for our next meeting on Thursday, September 19th, 2013. Be sure to mark your calendars to come
at Rolling Hills CC, I-30 & Cooper St
Social: 1800 Hrs; Dinner: 1900 Hrs Dress: Casual Chicken Fried Chicken or Chicken w/Sauce Cost: $25.00 For Reservations Call or email: Dallas. . . . . . Chuck Bopp . . . . . . .972-418-8536 or [email protected] Ft. Worth . . . .Dick Jones . . . . . . . . . .817-421-4617 or [email protected] Make reservation before 1800 hours Sep 16 If necessary, please cancel before 1800 hours Sep 17
to our “Scholarship Awards Evening.” we will recognize three (3) Academic Scholars, one (1) CAP Solo Cadet and two (2) Cadet Flight Indoctrination Program (CFIP) Solo Cadets. And don’t forget the Order of Daedalians National Convention in San Diego, CA, the first week in October.
Lt Col Ray Janes, USAF (Ret) talked to the Flight about his Unique Vietnam Cavalry Tour
The August 2013 gathering of the finest aviators in the Dallas/Fort Worth area— nearly 50 of YOUR Flight 23 “Dandelions” was held on August 15, 2013. The noise in the room reflected the volume of the “aviator/pilot stories” that were fly-
Volabamus … Volamus
ing around the room! Membership Chairman Chuck Bopp has set us the challenge of having 75 Daedalians at our meetings, so—bring yourself, bring an aviator friend, and join us for food, flying stories and camaraderie! Provost Marshall Gene Bardal got us started 4 minutes early, with his “scramble klaxon!”—a nicely tuned cow bell. I called the meeting to order. Our chaplains have returned—Mike Masterson gave the invocation. And our own Adjutant, Chris Neale, led the Pledge to the Flag, and we had our usual toasts.
correct?!?), who were also welcomed with a toast. After all that concentrated toasting (drinking), it was time for our usual very good dinner provided by the Rolling Hills Country Club (RHCC) in Arlington, TX. In addition to the good food and pretty good wine, the new RHCC General Manager, Mr. Eric Eitel, was in the room, assisting with the serving of our meals. Something tells me that Eric likes having us in each month!?!
Mack Angel, Dick Keyt, Jim Crain, and Jim Davis seem to have something profound to share
Sadly, three Daedalians had passed away since our July meeting. We toasted the passing of our prior Flight Member MajGen Dave Forgan, Daedalian # 2584, on July 26th, 2013. A number of our Daedalians attended General Dave’s memorial service on Friday, 16 August, in Trophy Club, TX—the day after our monthly meeting. I was present to represent the Flight. One of our Flight Members, Colonel Pete Lane, from Denton, was also there; Pete flew with General Dave at Korat in F-105s. At our August meeting, we also acknowledged with a toast the passing, on August 10th, of General David C. Jones, Daedalian #
3957—the 9th Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and two terms as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Finally, Chuck Bopp led us in a recognition of the passing of Colonel George E. “Bud” Day, Daedalian # 4427, on July 27th 2013. Chuck’s comments were followed by a toast to this magnificent airman who served his country in three wars— WWII; the Korean War; and the Vietnam War—and was a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from August 1967 to March 1973—5 years and 7 months. We had 2 guests—Grant Mackie and Norm Knofs (sure hope I got the spelling
Al Caldwell, Dick Jones, Jack Purdy, and Al Kamback chat before the August meeting
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Good to his word in last month’s Flyer, Provost Marshall Gene Bardal wants you all to know that the Flight Awards Board has been updated, the plaques rearranged, and is now available for you to look at—when you are standing in line to pay for dinner each 3rd Thursday! You should be aware that we are the only flight, out of some 70+ Daedalian Flights, to have received two (2) awards of the “Jimmy Doolittle Outstanding Flight of the Year” recognition. Both of these plaques are now on the Flight Awards Board. Gene also unveiled, for the first time, the framed Flight 23’s numbered copy of Keith Farris’ painting, “Bold Beginning”—which depicts the first flight of the first military, heavier-than-air airplane, owned by the US Army Signal Corps. This flight was made by 1st Lt. Benjamin Delahauf Foulois, on March 3, 1910, at Fort Sam Houston, TX. The US Army purchased a one-of-a-kind Model “A” Wright Flyer in August 1909 for $30,000. After some flying in the Washington, D.C. area, and a number of crashes, Brig Gen James Allen, Chief Signal Corps of the US Army, ordered 1st Lt. Foulois to take the “Signal Corps No. 1”—the Wright Model “A” Flyer— to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to teach himself how to fly, and to train in weather more conducive to flying. It was there, in early 1910 that the future Major General (and Chief of the Air Corps from 1931 to early 1935) “..taught himself to fly…” through trial and error, and by correspondence with the Wright Brothers. Although he crashed frequently, he was injured only once, when he was pinned beneath part of the aircraft. Our numbered copy of the Keith
Farris painting is one of a short series of prints that were commissioned by Fort Sam Houston National Bank, and given to the Order of Daedalians. As you know, I am standing in for Flight Captain Angelo Spelios (DNF-medical) and Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis (TDY/ TAD-Northern Wisconsin). I spoke with Angelo while preparing these “Captain’s Corner” comments. He has completed both chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Houston, TX, as of August 16th, 2013. He has the Dr.’s clearance for a physical tumor-removal operation on September 6th, also in Houston, after which he is looking at 2-3 month recovery period. Angelo wanted me to pass on his very sincere “Thank Yous” to those who have called, emailed or sent him get well cards, and to tell you he is looking forward to getting back into the Third Thursday Daedalian Meeting mode! Carl is having a good summer up in Northern Wisconsin, but will be back to Texas in time to re-take the reins as Flight Captain....you should know that I am looking forward to that, also! After dinner, Chuck Bopp led us in a discussion of “membership”—there is a new membership application form out on the National website. Only one (1) signature is now required to sponsor an applicant. Chuck will help anyone who needs assistance in filling out the application. He is also going out of his way to get the name and contact details of our guests, and follow-up to keep them interested. It’s a big job, so help with your guests, in any way you can. We have had no “feedback” regarding the “membership questions” that were posed by Daedalian National Commander Lt Gen Nick Kehoe at our June Meeting— • Should the Order consider expanding membership eligibility? • Would a broader membership base enhance the Order’s advocacy for aviation?
23rd Flight members listen intently to Lt Col Ray Janes as he talks about his Vietnam Tour
• What aspects of the current membership criteria should be retained, if membership eligibility is expanded? And, I did a very poor job of responding to a request from the floor, made at the last meeting, that we have a vote on the “membership question(s)”—right now!!! My apologies to the Daedalian who proposed the vote; I was focused on other things; I should have held the vote right then, but—did not. My apologies… Vice Flight Captain Carl Riis & I have spoken about the membership issue, and Carl will ask for a vote of the Flight 23 members present at our September 20th Monthly Meeting. Probable questions to be voted— • Should the Order expand membership eligibility to non-pilot-rated navigator crew members? • Should the Order expand membership eligibility to non-pilot-rated enlisted crew members? • Should the Order expand membership eligibility non-pilot rated UAV/RPV crew members? • Should the Order retain our membership “as is”? This would mean a continued limitation to heavier-than-air rated military aviators of all the Uniformed Services of the United States of America?
So, put your thinking cap on, and be ready to vote! Thanks. The Flight will be represented in San Diego at the National Convention, October 2-5, 2013, by—Mike McGinnis; Gene Gulick; Al Caldwell; and David Johnston. We hope to give them a set of vote results that can be presented to the National Staff, when/if the membership question comes up. Mike McGinnis is going since he wrote up the recommendation for the Order’s Lt Gen Harold L. George Civil Airmanship Award. This award is presented annually to the pilot, copilot and/or crew of a United States certified commercial airline selected by a FAA committee to have demonstrated ability, judgment and/or heroism above and beyond normal operational requirements. The American Airlines Super 80 crew that Mike recommended will be the 2013 recipients of this prestigious civilian flying safety award, and Mike wants to be there to participate. Great job, Mike. As I have said earlier, the September 20th Meeting will recognize our scholarship recipients for 2013. Roy Ryon and Ivy McCoy are inviting all six (6) scholarship recipients and their families to join us for the evening. YOUR Flight 23 sent one (1) CAP Cadet to the 2013 CAP Encampment, go through ground and flying training to solo during the encampment. YOUR Flight 23 provided awards to
Volabamus … Volamus 3
Officer for 18 months, while deciding if he wanted a career in the Air Force. Ray went to Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1955, and came back through North Texas to go through Interceptor Upgrade at Perrin AFB, Sherman, TX. He flew F-102s and F-106s with the 94th FIS, at Selfridge AFB, MI; the 95th FIS at Andrews AFB & Dover AFB, Delaware; the 317th FIS in Alaska; and the 71st FIS in Virginia.
Lt Col Janes shows the Flight his token of appreciation just presented by acting Flight Captain Richard Fairlamb
three (3) university ROTC Cadets, for monetary support of their studies at the university of their choice. This year we will recognize one ROTC Cadet each, from Texas Christian University; the University of North Texas; and the University of Texas at Arlington. Along with the financial support we provide for the Cadets recognized, the Daedalian Foundation provides “Matching Scholarship Funds” to the Cadets that we select. Roy described this year’s scholars very clearly in the previous Flyer, so I will not duplicate those articles here. I really want us all to commend Roy Ryon on the superb job he has done of putting together YOUR Flight’s recommended candidate for the National “John & Alice Egan Multi-Year Scholarship” program. There are 73 flights in the Daedalian organization. Roy has done so well with his submissions over the past four (4) years, that one of the Academic Scholarship winners from YOUR Flight has also received an Egan award. Roy and I think this is a record, unmatched by any of the other Daedalian Flights, world-wide. Last year the Egan funding was $5,000, in addition to the Flight’s scholarship monies; not too shabby! This year, probably due to a difficult investment climate, the Egan funding is $2,500, in addition to Flight 23’s scholarship funding.
Please remember—the extra dollars you spend on Treasurer Scott Hartless’ “Crooked Wine Raffle” during our monthly meetings go directly into the Flight’s Scholarship Fund. Finally, the Cadet Flight Indoctrination Program (CFIP). We selected 2 High School JROTC Cadets to take ground and flying training to solo this year, at Delta Qualiflight Aviation based on Meacham Field in Fort Worth. The Les Leavoy Foundation covers the entire cost of training for these scholarship recipients each year. We hope that the Les Leavoy Foundation benefactor, Laird Leavoy, will be with us on the evening of September 20th, to make a personal presentation of the CFIP Flight jackets and models of Les Leavoy’s airplanes to the two Cadets. It should be an interesting evening! Our program last month was A Unique Vietnam Cavalry Tour, provided by Lt. Col. Ray Janes, USAF (Retired). Ray grew up in Dallas in the 1930s and 1940s, and graduated university from what was had been called East Texas Normal College, founded in the Commerce, TX area in 1899. The college is now Texas A&M University–Commerce. Ray missed out on the Korean War, due to college and ROTC commitments. He did go on active duty with the US Air Force in 1954, and was an Air Police
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In 1969, Ray was sent to Hurlburt Field in the Fort Walton/Destin area of the Florida panhandle to check out in the OV-10, and to be a Forward Air Controller (FAC). Ray’s “stories for the evening” began upon his arrival in the Republic of Vietnam in January 1969. As many of you FACs will remember, we all went through the 504th Tactical Air Support Group for “in-processing” of Air Liaison Officers (ALOs) and FACs at Bien Hoa Air Base, just north of Saigon. We then went to Phan Rang AB, to get a local “check out” and qualify in accordance with the “Vietnam Rules of War.” While at Phan Rang, Ray was approached by the ALO of the First Air Cavalry Division—the 1st Air CAV— and was offered the job of being a First Cav “Rash FAC” living right with the US Army. Ray thought that would be fun, and volunteered. The rest is history—the history of a young pilot officer providing FAC services to the 1st CAV in the mornings with his OV-10. And then, actually flying with the CAV’s OH-6A Cayuse White Teams—the Scouts—the AH-1 Huey gunship Red Teams—the Weapons—and the UH-1 Huey troop transport teams in the afternoons. At that time, the 1st Air CAV had just redeployed from I Corps—where I had also been a “Rash” FAC for the division—to the III Corps Tactical Zone. This was a large area in a 150 mile arc north and west of Saigon that encompassed the border with Cambodia, with Division HQ at Phouc Vinh. At the time of Ray’s arrival to “The CAV”, the 1st Air Cavalry Division confronted four
enemy divisions—the 1st and 7th NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and the 5th and 9th Viet Cong divisions. Ray regaled us with multiple stories of combat operations, right down at the “rubber meets the road”—Army level, and how he survived his year in the life of Vietnam. There is not space to relate those stories here—notwithstanding the fact that I cannot remember them all! Sufficient to say that Ray Janes was an essential element in the combat operations of the 1st Air CAV division for his entire year of 1969 in Vietnam. The high-level description of the CAV’s operations were things like—a February 1969, Operation (CHEYENNE SABRE) in the area northeast of Bien Hoa that straddled and cut Viet Cong and Viet Minh (NV Army) infiltration routes. While most of the contact with the enemy was light, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry (2/7th) engaged the enemy with more than 600 enemy soldiers killed. The spring and summer of 1969 was punctuated by numerous North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attempts to overrun 1st Cavalry Division firebases. On the night of 12 August 1969, the VC threw simultaneous attacks against Quan Lai, and the CAV’s landing zones—LZ Becky; LZ Jon; LZ Kelly; and LZ Caldwell. The VC were thrown back with heavy losses and more were gunned down by helicopter gunships as they fled in retreat—in these engagements the VC and Viet Minh lost seven hundred men. In the closing months of 1969, the 1st Air CAV brigades successfully stymied enemy infiltration of the roads, trails, and narrow paths of the Serges Jungle Highway hidden beneath the triple-canopy jungle. By the end of 1969—encompassing the entirety of Ray’s tour with the CAV in Vietnam—the division had thoroughly smashed the domination of the enemy over the northern areas of III Corps. You will note that a number of the names of Vietnamese towns which are mentioned here were the focus of high-intensity ground fighting and battles which made the national news in those days of the late 1960s.
After Vietnam, Ray served in the Washington, DC, area and retired from the Pentagon in 1975. He holds two Masters of Science degrees, and came back to the Fort Worth area of Texas to be a teacher in the FWISD. After his 16 years as a teacher, he retired for a 2nd time in 1992. Ray has lived in the Denton area for 25 years and has volunteered his services to support the operations of a number of local organizations and agencies. At the end of his presentation, YOUR Flight 23 presented Ray with a plaque commemorating his presentation and thanking him for sharing some very personal stories with us. In addition, Chuck Bopp advises that Ray took home with him an application to become a Daedalian—thanks, Chuck. A very personal presentation, by a longtime serving officer.
FINISHING TOUCHES Richard Fairlamb, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) We had our usual “Crooked Drawing”— but this time for three (3) bottles of wine, thanks to Dick Jones. As always, I ask you to remember—and thank—our diligent Flight Officers and Program Chairmen (and Chairwoman) for all the good work they do to keep the Flight running smoothly. Thanks to you all. OK—remember the biennial National Convention is in in San Diego, CA, October 2-5, 2013. And—every member bring a member— or a Guest to our September 20th Scholarship Awards Evening. Volabamus Volamus—Richard Fairlamb
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sep 19
Flight Scholarship Recipients’ Report
Oct 17
Monthly Meeting
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