W-1923DM-1998.DOC

1998 Activities

Birthday just prior  --  Christmas   --   Birthday just after

Monica’s BD for Mother – the Families BD for Father; 75 Already!!!

Each year we are reminded of change.  On our return to CA from Alumni in KS last spring traffic flowing south from Barstow was so heavy it stopped flowing – we crept along from dead stop to 20 mph for miles and miles.  We thought there had been a big accident, large transports, with two way radios, were pulling off the road.  There had been no accident, drivers decided to take a nap till congestion cleared – it was a Fri night.  The return this fall was just the opposite.  Leaving Las Vegas, trying to beat the falling sun, we were going with the flow to avoid a ticket.  Traffic had moved to the right lane, with nil passing moving at 85 mph.  A highway patrolman came passed us going 90 – nobody was pulled over. He pulled off up ahead at place with gas pump and facilities – I guess he made it in time.

Construction entering Barstow metered traffic, we ate then headed south. Going with the flow we expected congestion – there was none – flow sustained at 85 mph!  We dropped down over the mountain, hardly slowing in the descent to flat country.  In the flat I-15 became four lanes filled to 2/3 capacity as it swept under intersecting freeways.  Keep alert and go with the flow – that’s the safest way to drive.  A car passed me on the right, a quick glance at the speedometer said 90!  Mary exclaimed this is too much and ducked down with blanket over her head!  Highway patrolmen, like cowboys, had learned to get out of the way of the stampede – to only responding to a crash – we saw no crashes!  I wondered if I could still drive it 10 years later when coming up on age 90!

What a change from travel between McCook NB and Oberlin KS.  Almost no traffic, on clear roads posted at 65 in KS and 60 in NB, with patrolmen eager to catch a speeding driver.  There is indeed a time warp.  I resolved to have the business section mailed each day from CA, even the Omaha and Denver paper business sections were anemic by comparison – subscribers seem to have no interest?

Garden Grove Crystal Cathedral, computer converted to twin towers

The year began with a visit from the Fred Bigelows of AZ, I’d known Fred on Guam.  Fred brought his computer and we upgraded it to the then current Pentium standard.  We went to look at the Crystal Cathedral where Fred took the above photo – which I enhanced

We next attended the 19th BG reunion in Tucson AZ where we made side trips to an Atlas Missile silo – an enormous thing built during an early phase of the Cold War. We also went through a Cooper mine where they had removed an entire mountain and were continuing underground.  We also took in the Pima Air Museum where they had a considerable collection of WW II aircraft.  A special event was having dinner under the wing of a B-29 in one of the hangers.  I had a good visit with Bob Altman, radio operator on Colin Kelly’s B-17 crew, Bob spent was as a POW.  I took along my computer and kept it busy making CDs of our 19th BG history.  They elected me Chairman of the Board for the Association.

 

Mary was allergic to the large Carob tree in our front yard, they stopped making medicine to counter it, so the tree had to go.   The wood is beautiful white-yellow sap wood with dark walnut like grained interior.  I used electrical chain saw in bursts – after an hour of sawing I was soaked with perspiration.  I ached all over and it took two weeks of days to condition the body to work.  The handle to the saw broke while 20% of the work remained.  I went to Sears, with the 20 year old part number, they said they’d have to order it from the supplier – but it shows he’s out of stock.  I’d conditioned myself to expect that and started to turn away.  The Sears fellow said wait, the supplier will make one.  I said OK and paid the bill in advance – original price plus shipping from the factory – it arrived at my house two weeks later!!   I purchased a 6”X12” planer – it’s a terrific machine.  By various methods I cut the wood into 6”x6” chunks then use the planer to square up two sides as a minimum.  Using the bench saw I cut 1” slices.  The process left a garage full of sawdust and a lot of wood planks of various lengths – it took two years to become a desk.

 

Mary painted, whenever she could find the time.

David purchased a new Kodac DC-260 electronic camera and brought it for a family gathering.

In Sept we went to Reno NV to an American Guerrillas On Mindanao reunion. On our way to Reno we stopped at Inyokern for gas – and were startled to see a B-29!  It is part of the beginning of a air museum – they had pulled it from China Lake where it had been exposed and became full of dirt.  We had a good visit with the fellows there – they intend to rebuild it to fly!  It’s possible but only at great expense. 

Bob Stahl, Laptop & Gerald Chapman

I took along a lap top computer to show the fellows their AGOM history photos and write ups on the monitor – their history section is unusual and remarkable – perhaps their story can someday become a documentary. 

We drove on to our second home in KS where we enjoyed a months stay visiting with relatives and friends.  Julia, our daughter, was able to join us and since it was Halloween season, she helped decorate.  Julia and Mary did a land office business handing out candy to a steady stream of kids out trick or treating.

Cousins at Eileen’s: Darrell, David & Diann Simpson, Nancy Landau, Julia Richards & Eileen Laird.

Diann was doing battle with cancer, her spirit and outlook were remarkably up beat – reflecting the marvelous person she was.

Julie’s main project was Liz – a stuffed coveralls scarecrow with mop hair and a Liz Taylor perfume sales photo for a face.  A photo of Liz became a computer project where downloaded Halloween clip art was superimposed to lend special effect.  Before departing Liz was placed in the basement to greet anyone descending the stairs.  The large pumpkins were cut up and cooked into the makings for pumpkin pie then distributed to friends and family.

 

Julia’s Liz Taylor masterpiece for Halloween in Oberlin KS

My year ended with our annual Flight Control Christmas Dinner.  This one was special as I was able to visit with fellows I’d worked with some 34 years ago on a 3.5 year secret program.  After the lunch I printed copies of the 51 page story I’d written about the effort to make a Post Boost Propulsion System to deploy 3 then new Hydrogen Bombs on the other side of the earth.  I mailed copies to Buxton who was chief engineer; Nease who was chief scientist;  Purpura  who was on staff to the program manager;  Averill lead analyst who used our new digital computer to define thrust magnitude and vector for the set of 13 rocket engines used to deploy the war heads;  and Anderson  supervisor of controls systems.  All were primary players in the story.  None had read or even known I’d written of that experience.  I included a CD on 19th BG history, 1941-1943 plus a “filler” section, which included other aerospace stories of interest to them.  I’ll be interested to hear how their recollections compare with mine.  Buxton had a severe stroke, Averill suffers from severe case of Parkinsons disease, Purpura wears a pacemaker, and Anderson has recovered from a heart attack.  Nease, the youngest, is still in the pink of health.  Only a few people were involved and I don’t know of anyone else having written a comprehensive document on this subject.