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Annual Reunion Plans for the Future 2008 Reunion held at the Holiday Inn at Dayton/Fairborn, OH near Wright-Patterson AFB was a huge success. There were so many favorable comments from so many people that it was apparent they enjoyed themselves. The food was outstanding and the Tour of the U.S. Air Force Museum, including the IMAX show, was the highlight. For your information, the Executive Council decided to continue Annual Reunions as long as we can continue to enjoy a favorable participation.
Currently, there are two cities under consideration for the 39th Annual Reunion. The first is New Orleans and the second is Oklahoma City. Each of these locations has a lot to offer. As soon as the preliminary survey is complete, the recommendation will be presented to the Executive Council for approval. You will be notified as soon as possible so that you can make plans for the fall of 2009. The first alert will be sent to you through the communication link from the National Wing Commander to the Wings Commanders and the Area Commanders. Details will be provided in this web page and a comprehensive report will be published in the Silent Wings Museum Newsletter. So, for the time being, "Just stay tuned." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Several attempts were made following World War II to organize a glider pilot association. The movement didn't really get started until the spring of 1965 when Earl Dust, of Champaign, Illinois, a former member of the 80th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 436th Troop Carrier Group, made a vacation trip from New York to Florida and visited many of his old buddies along the way. Earl decided to call for a reunion of those GPs he had contacted to be held in Champaign in May of 1966. Using a personal list of names, the word was put out and a total of nine GPs and wives showed up. This may not sound like a large group but at that time, it was the largest group of ex-glider pilots gathered in one place since the end of WWII. At this meeting it was decided that these few would initiate a movement calling for a reunion of all former glider pilots. Bickett Ellington and Virginia Randolph "volunteered" to help in locating as many ex-GPs as possible and do the awesome chore of letter writing and address list typing. A Steering Committee was formed headed by Earl Dust. Earl located and appointed ex-GP Lt. Col. Frank Moore as temporary "National Chairman" and indicated that Moore's primary responsibility would be to "search, seek out and locate former glider pilots. Moore was authorized to use all available news sources in this effort. The preliminary mailing lists started to grow. Finally, after months of hard work, the decision was made to call for the first national GP reunion. It would be held in Dallas, Texas on August 13,14, and 15, 1971. Since the national VFW organization was holding its annual reunion on those same dates, it was felt that this would be an ideal opportunity to attract many GPs who might also be attending that event. Sixty-five glider pilots were on hand on August 15,1971 at the Adolphus Hotel when the first annual reunion was convened in Dallas. |