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The Yellow Rose Squadron and Central Texas Wing of the CAF were invited to take part in a Thanksgiving dinner for wounded warriors in San Antonio on Thanksgiving Day. This event was sponsored by Valero in their hangar at SAT. (WOW!! What a hangar, and what corporate jets!) Photos should be on the way. When they send them, I'll get them posted. Here's the break down so you can form a mental image.
The right side of the hangar, closest to their very nice lobby and offices, had the tables set up. Nice centerpieces and everything on the tables. They cooked the meal in their kitchen right there in the hangar!
The left side of the hangar had aircraft on display. On the front row, facing the tables were (right to left, looking at them) the P-39 Airacobra, the B-25 Yellow Rose (with the speaker's platform in front of the nose and a BIG American flag hanging over her from the rafters), and the P-51 "Happy Jack's Go Buggy". The back row had a Staggerwing in the corner, Calvin Allen's "Red Tail" T-6, and H.D. Butler's SNJ. There might have been one more arrive after I left. If so, I'll update.
We flew the planes over Wednesday morning, and I drove my van over to bring the flight crews back. The daring aviators for this mission were Ron Iberg in the P-39; Ron Dietes (PIC), Tim Black (SIC), and Ray Clausen (FM) in the B-25. Calvin Allen remained in S.A., as did Ron Dietes, being their home town. Billy Parker flew H.D. Butler's SNJ down, and had separate transportation. Friday we were to recover the planes and bring them back to San Marcos. Same crews, same plan (me driving). Unfortunately I had a call from Tim on Thanksgiving morning. His father in law had passed away, so he was going to have to be out of town and couldn't bring the Rose home. So, by default, I had to fly SIC in the Rose. (I know, I know, poor, poor me!) Now, though, how were we going to get down to her? Thanks to Peggy Jones (who is running for Hays County Commissioner), she took time out from campaigning and flew the Rose crew down in her 182!
Here's the only sad thing, not that happened, but that didn't happen. Valero had made a request to the Air Force Headquarters (the USAF Public Affairs Office, I think) to get a fly-over or static display jets for the wounded warriors. They turned them down, saying they wouldn't do it because it wasn't a public affair! These military people had almost given all they could to the United States, and they wouldn't honor them with a fly-over or static? I guess that's what you get for going through D.C.!
It's my understanding that the troops enjoyed their special display of our military history, and those who could, got up close and personal looks. There were a few WWII vets there as well, who got misty eyed with the reminders of their past. The planes they served in or saw in action, and the wounded warriors of today brought back memories of their own friends who were wounded in action. We were privileged to have had one of the WWII vets on the Rose for our flight back to San Marcos on Friday! He shook our hands, and you could see his appreciation in his eyes! I might add that he sure has a firm, strong grip!
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Mike
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