905 Arapaho Court; Columbus, GA Phone or Fax: (706)

Transcription

1 80 th FIGHTER SQUADRON 905 Arapaho Court; Columbus, GA Phone or Fax: (706) Vol. IX, No. 35 "AUDENTES FORTUNA JUVAT" December 1, 1999 Greetings, Fellow HEADHUNTERS! Bonnie & I hope this Newsletter finds all of you in the very best of health and happiness as we enjoy this great Holiday Season! T his WWII photo was sent in by Howard Pete Sheehan (kneeling, second from left, with shirt). It shows 214 aerial victories just eleven short of our final WWII tally of 225. Of the 19 crouching men, Pete ID s some as (L to R): #1 (no shirt) Mark Damon; #2 Pete; #4 Bill Dwinell; #5 Hugh Hatfield; #8 Fearless Ferguson?; #9 Oren Harris; #11 Cy Homer; #12 Larry Henkes; #13 Logslett; #14 John Stanifer; #15 Rusty Roth. P H ete writes, I m fairly sure of those I ve identified and the images of most of the others are familiar to me, but I can t come up with the names for them (55-year old photo!). e continued, #1 Damon was shot down over Mindanao shortly after this picture, but a couple of months later, he turned up (wasted and bearded) at our camp on Mindoro having walked out through the jungle. #4 Bill Dwinell shot down two night bombers over Mindoro when the night fighters couldn t find them. #5 Hatfield (from the fabled Tennessee feuders) was

2 distinguished by a serious of boxing matches against the Aussie champ. #8 Fearless Ferguson so named because of the elaborate preparations for his personal bomb shelter. #9 Harris was shot down after a dive bomb and strafing run against a Japanese task force (at night) just off-shore at Mindoro. He managed to get into his one-man life raft and listened to the sounds of the crew s shouts as the battle continued and the ships glided past. #11 Cy Homer was simply the best pilot I ever saw (and I was a test pilot at Wright Field with Chuck Yeager). #12 Henkes was the only pilot known to me with enough strength to take-off from a dirt strip in a P-38 on single engine. P ete concludes, There may be more some of us flew with Lindbergh on the celebrated mission over the Celebes, but that s another story. If any of the WWII 80 th members are able to identify some of the others in the photo, let me hear from you and maybe I can recall some of their exploits. Thanks for the photo and your very interesting recollections, Pete!! Any more info on this picture from our other members? HEADHUNTER AWARDED SILVER STAR by Tech. Sgt. R.R. Getsy Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Three Air Force pilots received one of the service's most prestigious awards for their heroic efforts during Operation Allied Force. The decorations were presented to Capts James L. Cardoso, Adam B. Kavlick and Sonny P. Blinkinsop by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen in a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base, MD, Sept 15. The three airmen received the Silver Star for their roles in three separate incidents. The Silver Star is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. (Photo by S/Sgt Angela Stafford, USAF) Capt James L. Cardoso, first officer from left, and Capt Adam B. Kavlick, second from right, led efforts to find and rescue two pilots downed over Yugoslavia. Capt Sonny P. Blinkinsop, far right, led a successful attack against two surface-to-air missile sites. The pilots all earned Silver Stars, presented by Defense Secretary William Cohen, left. For Blinkinsop [80 th FS Chief of Weapons & Tactics Jan 98 to Jan 99], a night mission May 2 near Obrva, Yugoslavia, quickly took a dangerous turn. Our mission that night was to support the NATO strikes, said the F-16 pilot. He was leading a formation of F-16 aircraft into the heavily defended Obrva airfield area. The area was defended by an array of surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery sites. Minutes after the captain and his team established their combat 2

3 air patrol, several missile launches from a SAM site were visually detected. Blinkinsop directed his No. 3 man to fire a missile. As the pilot turned to fire, Blinkinsop's flight came under fire. The captain immediately engaged the incoming salvos and fired several missiles that subsequently shut down the site. Our training came through, said the Silver Star recipient. We responded pretty quickly to the salvos of SAMs coming up. I just happened to be in the best position to shoot a missile back a couple of times to prevent them from engaging us. All three recipients credit the teamwork and dedication of their fellow squadron members. Everything happened as it should have, Blinkinsop said. It's a team effort. We couldn't have gotten it done without the people out on the line getting the jets ready and loaded. The awards ceremony culminated Operation Allied Force Appreciation Day, which was hosted by Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan. The event honored members and families of the Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserves who participated in the campaign during the Kosovo crisis. These were the only USAF Silver Stars awarded in Operation Allied Force. THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON OF THE CENTURY T ime magazine prepared a list of the 10 most influential people of the century in each field to mark the end of the century. The 10 most influential scientists, politicians, entertainers, sport figures, musicians, artists, and industrialists. This month they published the 10 most influential people (overall) of the century. They named the "American GI" the most influential person of the century. It is the only one that is not a single individual. General Powell wrote the introduction to the award: Subject: Colin Powell's Tribute to the American G.I. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I referred to the men and women of the armed forces as "G.I.s." It got me in trouble with some of my colleagues at the time. Several years earlier, the Army had officially excised the term as an unfavorable characterization derived from the designation "government issue." Sailors and Marines wanted to be known as sailors and Marines. Airmen, notwithstanding their origins as a rib of the Army, wished to be called simply airmen. Collectively, they were blandly referred to as "service members." I persisted in using G.I.s and found I was in good company. Newspapers and television shows used it all the time. The most famous and successful government education program was known as the G.I. Bill, and it still uses that title for a newer generation of veterans. When you added one of the most common boy's names to it, you got G.I. Joe, and the name of the most popular boy's toy ever, the G.I. Joe action figure. And let's not forget G.I. Jane. G.I. is a World War II term that two generations later continues to conjure up the warmest and proudest memories of a noble war that pitted pure good against pure evil, and good triumphed. The victors in that war were the American G.I.s, the Willies and Joes, the farmer from Iowa and the steelworker from Pittsburgh who stepped off a landing craft into the hell of Omaha Beach. The G.I. was the wise cracking kid Marine from Brooklyn who clawed his way up a deadly hill on a Pacific Island. He was a black fighter pilot escorting white bomber pilots over Italy and Germany, proving that skin color had nothing to do with skill or courage. He was a native Japanese-American infantryman released from his own country's concentration camp to join the fight. She was a nurse relieving the agony of a dying teenager. He was a petty officer standing on the edge of a heaving aircraft carrier with two signal paddles in his hands, helping guide a divebomber pilot back onto the deck. They were America. They reflected our diverse origins. They were the embodiment of the American spirit of courage and dedication. They were truly a "people's army," going forth on a crusade to save democracy and freedom, to defeat tyrants, to save op- 3

4 pressed peoples and to make their families proud of them. They were the Private Ryans, and they stood firm in the thin red line. For most of those G.I.s, World War II was the adventure of their lifetime. Nothing they would ever do in the future would match their experiences as the warriors of democracy, saving the world from its own insanity. You can still see them in every Fourth of July color guard, their gait faltering but ever proud. Their forebears went by other names: doughboys, Yanks, Buffalo Soldiers, Johnny Reb, Rough Riders. But "G.I." will be forever lodged in the consciousness of our nation to apply to them all. The G.I. carried the value system of the American people. The G.I.s were the surest guarantee of America's commitment. For more than 200 years, they answered the call to fight the nation's battles. They never went forth as mercenaries on the road to conquest. They went forth as reluctant warriors, as citizen soldiers. They were as gentle in victory as they were vicious in battle. I've had survivors of Nazi concentration camps tell me of the joy they experienced as the G.I.s liberated them: America had arrived!! I've had a wealthy Japanese businessman come into my office and tell me what it was like for him as a child in 1945 to await the arrival of the dreaded American beasts, and instead meet a smiling G.I. who gave him a Hershey bar. In thanks, the businessman was donating a large sum of money to the USO. After thanking him, I gave him as a souvenir a Hershey bar I had autographed. He took it and began to cry. The 20th century can be called many things, but it was most certainly a century of war. The American G.I.s helped defeat fascism and communism. They came home in triumph from ferocious battlefields of Wars I and II. In Korea and Vietnam, they fought just as bravely as any of their predecessors, but no triumphant receptions awaited them at home. They soldiered on through the twilight struggles of the cold war and showed what they were capable of in Desert Storm. The American people took them into their hearts again. In this century, hundreds of thousands of G.I.s died to bring to the beginning of the21st century the victory of democracy as the ascendant political system on the face of the earth. The G.I.s were willing to travel far away and give their lives, if necessary, to secure the rights and freedoms of others. Only a nation such as ours, based on a firm moral foundation, could make such a request of its citizens. And the G.I.s wanted nothing more than to get the job done and then return home safely. All they asked for in repayment from those they freed was the opportunity to help them become part of the world of democracy and just enough land to bury their fallen comrades, beneath simple white crosses and Stars of David. The volunteer G.I.s of today stand watch in Korea, the Persian Gulf, Europe, and the dangerous terrain of the Balkans. We must never see them as mere hirelings, off in a corner of our society. They are our best, and we owe them our full support and our sincerest thanks. As this century closes, we look back to identify the great leaders and personalities of the past 100 years. We do so in a world still troubled, but full of promise. That promise was gained by the young men and women of America who fought and died for freedom. Near the top of any listing of the most important people of the 20th century must stand, in singular honor, the American G.I. REUNION! W ell, our 18 th reunion is now history, and what another outstanding get-together it was! Our thanks go out again to our hosts, Jack & Wanda Shelton, for this memorable time. It was held in the beautiful historic Menger Hotel right across the street from the Alamo. It is the oldest operational hotel in the Country established in 1859! Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders in the main bar of the Menger! The Thursday night dinner cruise on the riverwalk was a great success what a great time to enjoy a great Mexican dinner while cruising around downtown San Antonio and getting a narrated tour of the river front. 4

5 Our Headhunter Open Golf Tournament was another great success, with nine foursomes competing for the coveted title of Winners on the beautiful Randolph AFB course! The team of Paul Murphey, Harrison Freeman, Robbie Robbins, and Ron White captured that crown! The highlight of all reunions was the Saturday night banquet. About 130 were in attendance, but the main drawing card was the unique location of the banquet the Buckhorn Western Museum and Banquet Hall about three blocks from the hotel. What a fantastic setting! Col (Ret) Rich Graham was the guest speaker on the SR-71 and his experiences in his 17 years of reconnaissance. Lt Gen Jay T. Robbins was honored at the banquet with a Laser-etched walnut plaque for his service to the Headhunters and his Country. A full size copy of the plaque is enclosed. The entertainment was none other than our own Tom NOGAS Reichert, who volunteered his considerable musical talents to sing and play a Juvat Boys Choir song from each of our Headhunter time periods then finished his outstanding presentation with our Squadron Song, Twin Tailed Lightning. What made it extra special was that four of the six famous Headhunters mentioned in the song, Gen Robbins, Norb Ruff, Paul Murphey and Kirby too, were in the room!! Thanks again, Tom, for your time and talent we all appreciated it very much. C NEXT REUNION PLANNING UNDERWAY ol Sol and Carolyn Harp, the first Juvat commander in 1971, long-time LTM, and reunion regulars, have raised their hands to be our next reunion hosts to be held in the April-May time frame of Sol already has the hotel firmed up it will be in the Mologne House on the beautiful Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington, DC. This will be another reunion to remember, as we haven t been to this area in almost 15 years. It was also decided at the business meeting during the reunion to have the follow-on reunion, in the Fall of 2002, in Ft. Walton Beach. Big Ed Joyner and Bob Kan volunteered to be the cohosts! HEADHUNTERS GETTING ORGANIZED! A s of 19 October 1999, we are now officially the 80 th Fighter Squadron Headhunters Association, Inc. As we continue to grow, it was recommended by our lawyer members to do this. It was also brought up by some of you to become a non-profit Veterans organization that is recognized by the IRS to receive tax deductible contributions. This has also been done, and will be completed in another week or so. Therefore, if you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to the Headhunters, please let me know. You don't stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing. 5

6 Gen Robbins being honored with a presentation of a plaque in recognition of his outstanding service to the Headhunters and his Country. Tom NOGAS Reichert Golf winners (L-R) Tom White, Robbie Robbins, Harrison Freeman, and Paul Murphey. We need to sell those 10,000 shares of Microsoft, and get something good. Sleep S-L-E-E-P!! Anybody remember what we came here for? (All photos on this page complements of Bob Kan and Jim Rose) 6

7 F or those of you with computers and access to the Internet and the World Wide Web, we launched a brand new Headhunters Web Site!! It was up and running on my birthday, 19 November, to honor two major Squadron events about half way between 14 Nov (1944) when Maj Jay T. Robbins got his 22 nd and last aerial victory of WWII (went home 2 weeks later) and 22 Nov (1952) when Maj Chuck Loring flew his mission that would get him the Medal of Honor. Please stop by our new site, roam around, check out the 25 pages (so far!), and let me know your comments/additions/corrections. There are a few bugs in it (the List Entry Form and history PDF doesn t work), but still worth your visit. To get the sound on the history pages, go to the HISTORY page, then scroll to the bottom and click on the red History Button. It s OUR Web Site enjoy it!! P lease note the new postage stamp on this newsletter. Flash it in the light, and see the emblem on the hat change color. Get some at your local post office. It is a fitting tribute to one of our great pioneers of aviation, B/Gen Billy Mitchell. Following WW I, many Air Service flyers supported the idea of a separate air arm, independent of the Army and Navy, which could carry out strategic operations against enemy industrial targets as opposed to supporting front-line troops on the battlefield. The most prominent advocate of this philosophy was Billy Mitchell. When Mitchell suggested that U.S. airpower could defend the nation's coasts from attacks by enemy warships better than U.S. seapower, the controversy developed as to whether an airplane could sink a battleship. It was decided to conduct tests off the Virginia capes and in Jun.-Jul. 1921, Mitchell's bombers sank three captured German naval vessels and in Sep. 1921, the obsolete USS Alabama. Two years later, additional tests were conducted off Cape Hatteras and two more obsolete U.S. battleships were sent to the bottom. The success of the bombing trials encouraged the supporters of a separate air arm to press even harder for their objectives, but the Army General Staff remained firm in its belief that airpower, acting independently, could not win a war. Following a trip to Japan early in 1924, Mitchell submitted a report which has been labeled "The masterpiece of his career." In it, he foretold of Japanese expansionist ambitions in the Pacific and presented what he considered would be the start of a Pacific war. Basically, he stated such a war would start with a Japanese air and sea attack upon Pearl Harbor in Hawaii with an accompanying aerial attack on the Philippines: Attack will be launched as follows: Bombardment, attack to be made on Ford Island (Hawaii) at 7:30 A.M... Attack to be made on Clark Field at 10:40 A.M. Mitchell became increasingly critical of his superiors until his public statements could no longer be condoned. In Dec he was found guilty before a court-martial of violating the all-inclusive 96th Article of War and was suspended from duty for five years. In 1926, Mitchell resigned from the service. Mitchell was gone but his ideas remained, to be resurrected in ten years with the advent of the Boeing B- 17, the world's first true long-range, high-altitude strategic bomber. Mitchell died in 1936 and never saw his ideas vindicated in WW II, but in 1946 Congress posthumously awarded him a special Congressional Medal of Honor, the only one of its kind in existence, in recognition of his outstanding pioneer service and foresight in American military aviation. The inscription on the front of the medallion reads: The inscription on the reverse side reads: NEW WEB SITE! Billy Mitchell BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM MITCHELL 7

8 AWARD OF THE CONGRESS AUGUST 8, 1946 FOR OUTSTANDING PIONEER SERVICE AND FORESIGHT IN FIELD OF AMERICAN MILITARY AVIATION Billy Mitchell was a visionary far ahead of his time. His predictions on the role of airpower in a future war were uncanny, though they made little impression upon his superiors in the mid-1920's. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at 7:55 A.M. and, later, Clark Field in the Philippines at 12:35 P.M. Mitchell had erred by only 25 minutes for the attack on Hawaii and less than 2 hours for the one against the Philippines almost 18 years before the fact. (Information and photo taken from the Internet. Type in Billy Mitchell in an Internet search engine for more information and photos.) WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS! It gives us great pleasure to welcome these 2 new members to our ranks for the first time (in the order of "signing up" since 1 September). Equally rewarding are the many members who have rejoined after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or even 8 years absence! Welcome back to all! As of this date we have 390 Yearly, plus 419 LifeTime Members (LTMs) 809 Total!! Col Charles A. Watry (71-72) F Here is the roll call of our new members: Mark Stanifer (John Stanifer s son) riends of yours? You bet!! Look 'em up in your new Master Roster Change and/or Master & Fax List Change (enclosed), give 'em a call, write 'em a letter, or beam an e- mail message over to them. Or better yet, ask them to meet you at the next reunion! Great to have you all in formation and what a super one it is!! Welcome! Do you have Headhunter friends that aren t members? If so, please let me have their addresses, and I ll send a Please Join Us letter to them. Thank you! T ATTENTION KOREAN WAR VETERANS he U.S.-Korea 2000 Foundation, Inc. is trying to contact as many Korean War veterans and family members of deceased Korean War veterans as possible to inform them of commemorative ceremonies to be held here and abroad from 25 June 2000 through 27 July th anniversary of the Korean War. Please contact them at: 4600 Duke St, Suite 416; Alexandria, VA Phone: (703) Fax: (703) Info@USKorea2000.org. 8

9 THE MAIL BAG REQUEST FOR HELP: An message received 15 Nov: I am looking for information on 1st Lt Bertram Dunn Wilkins, 80 th Ftr. Bomber Sq. He left Ipswich, Mass. in June 1950 to Korea and was killed Bertram was also in WWII and was awarded the AM & 3 OLC. I have just discovered this web site and it is wonderful. I was engaged to Bert at that time. So many, many years ago...never forgotten. Billie Schneider; HCR 01 Box 913; Leakey, TX canyonkaty@hctc.net REQUEST FOR HELP: An message received 17 Nov: Hello, I am trying to determine if the 80th was involved in providing fighter cover in Ormoc Bay Philippines on December 2-3, A Navy Destroyer (USS Cooper) had been sunk with crewmen in the water. A P-38 squadron provided suppressing shore fire and top cover for the sailors in the water. Would there be any history of the 80th that you have that might indicate if the squadron was involved? Thank You. Ron Babuka; Cornell University Senior Programmer/Analyst 120Maple Avenue, Suite 132 (607) Ithaca, New York REQUEST FOR HELP: An message received 23 Nov: I'm Col Steve Mac Isaac, USAF - my Dad was in the 80th for a short time in 1942 before he had a crash that knocked him out of the war - 2/Lt John Alexander Mac Isaac - P-39 jock. I buried Dad at Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO on 21 Aug '98. Would very much like to hook up with anyone who knew him, and find out if I am allowed to attend future Headhunter Reunions (I finish up 31 years in the Air Force this 01 July '00, and will be able to control my schedule/travel after that!) - do you put out any publication? Cost to get on the mailing list? Thanks & Cheers - Mac [Col Steve Mac Isaac; P.O. Box 6332; MacDill AFB, FL (w) ; (h) ; (fax) ; ( ) Richard.macisaac@macdill.af.mil [A Please Join Us letter was sent to Mac on 24 Nov] LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM AROUND THE WORLD! Our highly reliable sources in strategically placed key positions around the globe have informed us that one of our Members, Maj E.T. "Gotno" Moore, (Juvat Maintenance Officer, 94-95) recently accepted the USAF's early retirement option and has just graduated from the 6-month long Hampton Roads Regional Police Academy. "Gotno" is now a sworn police officer in Hampton, Virginia. His wife "Muffy" (Former 8 th Maintenance Squadron Officer and Juvat Chick, 94-95) is now a Process Engineer for Howmet Corporation in Hampton. All you Beltway Bandits check 6 Gotno may be in your rearview mirror! Congratulations to Gotno and Muffy! I n addition, our deep moles in clandestine positions in sensitive areas have passed on to us that after 15 months of courtship, Hans finally convinced her! Erica Adams and Mike Hans Gantt, one of our Juvat LTM s, will exchange vows on 24 June 2000! Congratulations to you both, and welcome to The Headhunters, Erica!! S ources also tell us that Lt Col Greg Smith relinquished command of the 80 th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan AB, Korea, on 22 November to Lt Col Rusty Cabot. Lt Col Cabot is already a LifeTime Member of our Association from a previous tour in the 80 th! We all wish the new Juvat Lead the best year ahead! 9

10 MASTER ROSTER CHANGE E nclosed is your Master Roster Change. Please note this is only a change, and not a complete new roster! Only information that has changed since the last (1 September) newsletter is included. We still receive letters, Why have I been deleted from the Master Roster in the last newsletter? If you have any additions/corrections to any of the information, please send to me for updating. A complete Master Roster is available upon request. Thanks. head headhunter corner W hat a unique time period we re in! In only 31 days from now, we will enter, not only a new year, not only a once-in-four-generations new century, but a new millennium! This happens only once every 1000 years! I have personally looked forward to this date since I was old enough to calculate how old I d be when this happened, and whether or not I d have a shot at it. So what some of you may say? Well, just think of what has happened in this world since the last time this happened 500 years before Columbus discovered America! After each of us slowly digest the magnitude of this event, let us now try to imagine what our world will be like the next time this happens as the world enters the year I can only guess. Although it s possible that another Head Headhunter will be writing a similar paragraph in our newsletter at that time, it s certainly not probable! Therefore, Bonnie and I would like to say, not only Happy New Year to all of you, but Happy New Century, and Happy New Millennium to all of us! How many times can this be done? Only once. What a truly unique experience. HEADHUNTER STORE!! T hese items are now available in our HEADHUNTER STORE. Get them now, and wear/use them proudly not just at the reunions, but wherever you go! It s a great way to find other HEADHUNTERS, to! Unless purchased at a reunion, a small fee of $3 should be added for postage to all orders (unless otherwise noted) I ll take care of the handling! Blazer Emblem (men s or ladies) $35 Golf Shirt (specify size) $25 Squadron Unique Tie $30 T Shirt (specify size) $12 Ladies Floppy Bow (matches tie) $30 Squadron F-16 Print $20 Squadron Nickel Coin or Keychain $ 4 White Hat $10 *Personalized Sq coffee mug $20 Black Hat $10 *Personalized Sq beer stein $23 Squadron Memorial Plaque $10 *Mug & Stein set as above $40 Korean-era Sq Patch $ 5 Current Squadron Patch $ 5 **Personalized Sq beer mug $25 10

11 Squadron Golf Balls (sleeve) $ 7 Lapel Pin/Tie Tack $ 3 Headhunter Tattoos (fun!) 2 for a $ 1 Reunion 99 Shopping Bag $ 5 Reunion 99 Golf Towel $ 5 Vipers in the Storm Diary of a Gulf War Fighter Pilot, by Capt Keith Rosenkranz. Hard cover, 325 pages, with illustrations. Book price $24.95 Order Here. * Please include name and/or callsign desired on your mug/stein (up to 20 letters), and right/left handed with your order. Unless otherwise stated, the Squadron logo & your first name in Old English will be on the front (handle left for right-handed drinker), and an F-16 will be on the back. ** Large 25oz mug is beautiful etched glass. Please indicate Squadron logo or our Association logo desired, choice of P-38, F-86, F-4, or F-16, and include name and/or callsign in HEADHUNTER or standard bold font, and right/left handed, with your order. Other aircraft may be available. Personal markings (tail number/markings, aerial victories, etc.) available. Please call for quote. Please send check to The Headhunters ; 905 Arapaho Ct; Columbus, GA Please don t forget $3 postage on all orders (accept patches, coins, tattoos, & lapel pin.) Fighter pilot songs (Rated G) on CDs and/or tapes are available from our fellow HEADHUNTER Dick Jonas. Contact him at: Erosonic; 2001 Mountain View Glen; Ft Mojave, AZ Thud Ridge and Going Downtown two great books by our own Headhunter Col Jack Broughton, now in reprint. Outstanding Vietnam air war coverage and the politics behind it. Order: (714) HEADHUNTERS AT REST L ast, but certainly not least, we would like to take this opportunity to pass on to all members the names of those HEADHUNTERS, who we know of, that have made their last takeoff in this lifetime since our last newsletter. MSgt Elmer A. Kufro WWII/LTM November 15, on 27 Oct 99 from our long-time LifeTime Member, Brig Gen Larry Huggins concerning his wife, Quay: JAY, MISS QUAY DIED TODAY AT 1235PM PEACEFULLY IN HER SLEEP. THE CANCER AND CHEMO FINALLY GOT THE BEST OF HER. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE MESSAGES AND PRAYERS. SHE RECEIVED 143 HEADHUNTER S FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND SHE REALLY LOOKED FORWARD FOR THE TWICE DAILY CHECK ON OUR WEB SERVICE. REGARDLESS OF THE FINAL OUTCOME, THOSE PRAYERS MADE HER DAY. PER HER DESIRES, SHE WILL BE BURIED HERE IN HICKORY [NC] THIS SATURDAY [30 Oct 99]. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR QUAY. GOD BLESS THE HEADHUNTERS! AS EVER, LARRY. O n behalf of the entire Squadron, we wish to officially pass on to these families our deepest sympathies and sincere gratitude for the outstanding contribution each of these individuals made to the Squadron and our Country. May they rest in peace and forever soar with the Eagles. May God bless and keep them in His Flight forever. 11

12 ********************* The next HEADHUNTER HEADLINES will be dated 1 March 2000 The Headhunter Headlines is the official newsletter of the 80 th Fighter Squadron Headhunters Association, Inc. Hanukkah - 4 Dec Christmas - 25 Dec New Years - 1 Jan 2000 Presidents Day -21 Feb HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW CENTURY, & HAPPY NEW MILLENNIUM TO YOU AND YOURS!! Col Jay E. "JayBird" Riedel, USAF (Ret) The Head Headhunter 80th Fighter Squadron "HEADHUNTERS" 905 Arapaho Ct Columbus, GA ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED FIRST CLASS 12