We are now at the Bass Lake Famcamp on Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.
We had a very easy run up from Elizabethtown on Saturday, making good time through Louisville and Cincinnati even with all the weekend traffic. The Air Force Marathon was being held on the base when we arrived so we had to pull into a shopping center parking lot and wait for the road into the gate to open.
Yesterday we visited the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This is actually our second time at the museum but since they have added several more displays and aircraft I wanted to see it again.
General Chappie James
We began our tour at the outside display area so that we could pay our respects to C-141C/66-0177, the Hanoi Taxi. This old gal was the last C-141 to fly before being parked here at the museum.
As a young SSgt, I was stationed at Clark AB, Philippines I from February 1972 to February 1975 with the 604th Military Airlift Support Squadron, working on C-141's and C-5's. During Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of our POW's in Vietnam, we prepared the C-141's for their missions to Hanoi. I was fortunate to have been selected to be on the block-in crew when 66-0177 came back to Clark from Hanoi. That day is etched in my memory forever and will never forget witnessing Rear Admiral (Ret) Jeremiah Denton's remarks when he got off the airplane. I still get chills up my spine thinking about it.
Also on the grounds of the museum is Memorial Park. Joyce and I walked around this beautiful area for over an hour admiring the beautiful monuments. There is a new one that will be dedicated this Friday, Professional Loadmaster's Association monument.
Air Force Medal Of Honor Recipients Memorial.
Our next stop was at the Wilbur and Orville Wright Memorial which is part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The park is actually five sites; the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, The Wright Cycle Company, the Wright Brothers Aviation Center, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial. We hope to see them all before leaving the Dayton area.
09/18/2012
Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force! Sixty-five years ago today, our Air Force was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 by The National Security Act of 1947.
Yesterday was a "chores" day for us. Laundry done-Check, Commissary shopping-Check, etc. Also, Joyce's Nook finally went belly up so we went to Barnes & Noble and got her a new Nook Color. Sweet!
Since B & N wanted big bucks for their Nook covers, Joyce bought some fabric at Joann's and made her own for about $6. Very nice!
09/19/2012
Yesterday was a shopping day for us. Now, believe me, I never got the shopping gene that most women have so you won't ever see me wondering around J.C. Penney's just looking. However, sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do. Oh, I did get three pairs of pants.
09/20/2012
Joyce and I visited the Wright Cycle Company yesterday. This area of Dayton is where Orivlle and Wilbur lived and worked in the early 1900's at their printing and bicycle businesses.
The black fence is where Cycle Shop #3 used to stand. It's now in Michigan.
The shop were the Wright's designed and built their Wright Glider and the first Wright Flyer was bought by Henry Ford and is now at his Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI.
Also, the visitor center has several displays chronicling the life of poet and author, Paul Laurence Dunbar.
09/21/2012
Had supper with with Dave Bell last evening. Dave and I served together in the 7th MAS and 60th AW at Travis. It is always fun to see friends from the "good old days".
We also attended the dedication of the Loadmaster Memorial. We saw several guys we hadn't seen in may years. Anyone remember these names: Bob Cosegrove, Ray Snedegar, Arnie Suvatne, Joe Brown and Mark Raymond?
Bob Cosegrove, Dave Bell, Mark Raymond, Joe Brown, Joyce, Me, Arnie Suvatne and Ray Snedegar
This guy is owned by a loadmaster in Dayton.
Ray Snedegar was a crew member on this airplane.
09/25/2012
On the 22nd we hooked up, jumped on I-70 east, headed to Donegal, PA for one night. Traffic was surprisingly light with not too many construction area since it was a Saturday.
After getting a good nights rest, about 8:30 AM there was a knock on the door. There stood Bill Baker a loadmaster who served in the 7th MAS at Travis. I hadn't seen him is well over twenty years! We had a good, but way to short visit with him and his wife Pam.
We are now at the Artillery Ridge Campground in Gettysburg, PA. More on our time here later.
Barry & Joyce
Which state doe you disembark from of your cruise? Almost feel like I'm going with you. Buy lots of neat clothes and stuff.
ReplyDelete