Spence Air Base Guestbook
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|
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
We were recently informed of the death
of Ed Paschall, former Spence/Hawthorne Instructor Pilot and Flight
Commander. Our condolence to his family. Ed was a great guy
and a good friend. He will be missed by many. OBITUARY
Bruce R. Watson, Spence Webmaster <
Bruce@spence-air-base.com>
Prescott, AZ USA – July 16, 2008 at 12:00PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
How
Interesting! I found this website while searching for another
topic, and recognize many names and some faces from the years my dad
"Fritz" Mengle was a Flight Commander at Spence in Moultrie. I
was just a little girl at that time, but do remember quite a lot about
it, and have many cherished memories of that time and place. When
my dad left Spence, he went to Lowe Field at Fort Rucker, AL with the
new Hawthorne US Army Primary Training Section back in the 60s.
Another interesting chapter. When that training program closed we
returned to Florida where dad continued his long, enjoyable flying
career virtually until the time of his death on March 31, 1988.
Thanks for the memories.
Ocala, FL USA – July 4, 2008 at 1:35PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My late father, Maj. George T. Curry
USAF (Ret), was a member of the Spence Graduating Class of 43J.
His memories of the Advanced Flight Training experience there were
fondly recalled up until the day he passed on March 19, 2007. His
graduation took place on November 3rd, 1943. I still have the
graduation announcement and a picture of him, my mother and sister
taken the day he received his wings. He came back to Spence in
1944 - I believe he might have been assuming an instructor role.
My brother Don Curry was born in Moultrie in October of 1944.
Thanks so much for an incredible web site.
George Taft Curry <
gcurry@nc.rr.com>
USA - June 15, 2008 at 12:21PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Golden Days & Nights! My
good friend, Bob Lowery (now deceased) and I were stationed at Spence
in 1955 in the class of 56P. I was in Tiger Flight and Bob was in
Bobcat. We enjoyed our days there flying the T-34 and
T-28...nights, too. From
Spence we went to Laredo AFB to train in the T-33 jet. We
graduated on June 13th, 1956 and received our wings. Great
times. Great memories. Thanks for the wonderful website.
Bill Greenwald, Tiger 89 <
bcgrnwld@sbcglobal.net>
USA - June 14, 2008 at 2:05PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am
the grandson of Alvin Harrison, who was an instructor pilot at Spence
in the 50’s. His untimely death in a crop dusting accident never
allowed me to meet him or gain any knowledge beyond recollections of my
father who was five years old when my grandfather passed. My
grandmother, Florene Harrison, never spoke much of him, and that is why
I am adding to the guestbook. I really appreciate all the
knowledge that I have been able to glean from this website, however, I
am seeking more. If anyone knew my grandfather and would be
willing to share any stories, thoughts, professional information, etc.
I would really love to hear them. I am searching to learn more
about my families past and any help will be greatly appreciated.
Nathan Harrison <
nharrison@gocatgo.biz>
Russellville, AR USA – May 8, 2008 at 7:24AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you Bruce - the web site is well
done. My name is Les Horvath. My brother Frank A. Horvath
took his advanced flight training and got his wings at Spence Field in
1944. My only regret was that although asked to attend I couldn't
be there to pin his wings on because of other duties. I sure
would like to hear from anyone who served with him.
Les Horvath <
lutsi@webtv.net>
USA – May 5, 2008 at 6:41PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 55-K, Richard J. Carlson, if you
see this note, please contact me. We would like have you join us
at the next 55K reunion in 09 at Reno.
Ted Fletcher <
tsooty@juno.com>
USA - April 22, 2008 at 3:44PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I came to this site to find a pilot
who graduated in class 55-N. His name is William R. Hurt.
While metal detecting a lake in Michigan I came across his USAF pilot
ring. If anyone can help me in this quest please e-mail me at the
address below. If he is deceased I would love to give this to his
next of kin. Thank you for your help.
Robert Grattan <
robertg@firststep.net.>
USA – March 26, 2008 at 2:13PM
Note: On May
21, 2008 we received word that Bill Hurt passed away on May 6,
2001. BRW, Webmaster
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was a
member of Class 58-F at Spence – Polecat 78. Having the
opportunity to be in the area I visited the Base in Jan 2008.
Even though all the buildings are gone except a couple hangars, the
still standing control tower brought back a lot of memories of 50 years
ago. I found I still have a few saved entries in my hard drive
about Spence AB and all the classmates, Instructors and Momma K.
MG Raymond E. Moorman, USAF (Ret) <
REMoor@aol.com>
Centerville, OH USA – March 25, 2008 at 8:04PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was in class 53D at Spence in
1952. It was a very pleasant time in my life, learning to fly
even though Cadet Training was tough. I left there in Dec. 52,
went to Webb A.F.B. for T-28 & T-33 training. By 1954, I was
an instructor in the Instrument School @ Moody A.F.B, then on to
fighters flying F-86 D&L, F-102, C-47(for a short time) then into
F-104 Starfighters until the end of my career in Dec. 1971. In
1970-71, I flew acceptance test flights on the F-104 @ Spence A.B. for
a civilian contractor. This was 20 years after going through
pilot training there. That was quite an experience on a 6800ft.
runway with no arresting barrier, an old Chevy fire truck , and no
control tower. This can all be verified through records @ Eglin
A.F.B.,Fla. In Dec 2007 my wife & I visited Spence one more
time. The buildings are gone, but the memories are still vivid in
my mind. Only the hangers are still being used for various
endeavors. It was a heart warming experience to look back on my
fond memories. Your web site is great! Many instructors in there
that I remember.
Chuck Dildine, Lt/ Col USAF (Ret) <
cadildine@cox.net>
USA - March 14, 2008 at 1:45PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am seeking additional information on
two WW2 pilots with apparent Spence Field ties. -- 2nd Lt. John W.
(Jack) Bence was from Wayne County, Michigan, and shows up on records
as a S/Sgt. at Spence Field in Aug. 1942. He was then assigned to
the 7th Ferrying Group and went straight to ferrying lend-lease P-39's
from Great Falls to Fairbanks. About six months later, at the
time of his crash, now a commissioned officer, he had 450 flying hours
so he must have been a pilot while at Spence, perhaps an instructor. --
Bence had an engine failure at Fort St. John, BC, on a P-39 test
flight. He was fully fueled including ferrying belly tank.
He was to carry on up the line if the test flight went OK. He
crashed wheels up in scrub bush and the craft burned. -- Six fellow 7th
pilots were pallbearers at his funeral at Edmonton Alberta. One
of these was 2nd Lt. Marshall F. Blair and it is he that I am writing
about. He and his craft went missing from Fort Nelson, British
Columbia on 7 June 1943 and he is still missing. -- Despite enlisting a
year apart, Bence and Blair were only separated by twenty serial
numbers, 0-500609 for Bence, 0-500629 for Blair. -- Maybe Bence was an
instructor at Spence? Does anyone out there know anything about
him? Blair was from Manhattan. Could he have trained at
Spence? How and where were serial numbers assigned? There
are many unanswered questions and I will appreciate any help you can
give me. If anyone from Jack Bence's or Marshall Blair's family
reads this message I would appreciate contact. I do have a
funeral photo I could share. Thank you.
Millet, Alberta, Canada – March 11, 2008
at 1:52PM
Note: In
1942 there were still a number of enlisted "Sergeant Pilots" in the
USAAF and many of those held the rank of S/Sgt. In late 1942, as
the Flight Officer Act went into effect, qualified enlisted pilots were
promoted to Flight Officer (equivalent to Warrent Officer) or 2nd.
Lt. Probably Jack Bence, above, was one of these. BRW,
Webmaster
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
What a
great site! I would like everyone who reads it to know that
Pilot Training Class 59-A will be having a reunion and banquet on
October 10, 2008. Anyone from class 59-A is invited to
attend. The banquet will be held at the National Museum of the
Air Force in Dayton. Ohio. Please contact Don Schmenk for more
information. 59-A also invites any of our instructors or anyone
who graduated from USAF Pilot Training in fiscal or calendar year 59 to
joins us at the banquet. Space may be limited and 59-A members
have first priority.
USA - March
11, 2008 at 3:53AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I graduated with Class 58-B, my instructor
was Walter J. "Pat" Dunnigan and I was Gopher 32. On April 3,
2003 I entered a message in the Spence Guest Book (see below). I
come back to this site from time to time to see if any of my 58-B
classmates have checked in. So far I think I'm the only one and
that saddens me. The only flying I do these days is on my
computer using a great flight sim program, X-Plane. I sold my
last aircraft about eight years ago, a Cessna 337, because my wife of
36 years has Parkenson's Disease. I'll keep checking in to see
who show's up.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was was Cadet in class 59-A. I had
been in, if I remember right, 58P-O9 and our class was held back at
Lackland for six weeks to unload the flight schools. Would enjoy
hearing from anyone who was there in mid to late 1957. Also would
anyone remember a flight instructor by the name of Jerry
Phillips. I think 59-A was his first class. He had flown
F-86s in Korea. Our class has been having reunions for quite some
time now with the next one at Wright-Patterson this October 2008.
Jimmy Swan <jimmy_swan@hotmail.com>
USA - March 4, 2008 at 7:40PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Neat web site. Did
not train at
Spence but enjoyed the site. Was in Class 65C at Vance AFB, Enid,
Oklahoma. Trained on the Cessna T-37, then the Northrop T-38
Supersonic Talon trainers.
When I was stationed at Charleston AFB, South Carolina
during the sixties, I remember seeing Bevo Howard perform over the
water at the
Battery there in downtown Charleston.
Years later while on a layover in Washington DC (I was pilot for
Northwest Airlines at the time) I
took a tour of the Space Museum was shocked to see
Bevo's biplane there and the information on his death. Now fly a
Stolp V
Star based at Casa Grande, AZ where I share
a hangar with a very
special 1940 J-3 Cub owned by Bruce Watson (Spence Webmaster).
Dale Basham <dwbasham3@cox.net>
Lt Col,
USAF (Retired), Captain, Northwest Airlines (Retired)
Phoenix, AZ USA - March 2, 2008 at 11:05AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I just finished a full hour reviewing this
wonderful website, including
a notation from my 57-L classmate Jim Ramsey, who has written a
good book about those days, focused on f-86D/L experiences, called
"Bury the Dot." I am Gerry Haughey, and am among those blessed by
the aviation experience, even though I flew professionally (F-86D/L,
F-84F, F-89) with USAF for only a few years, (three years in England
and Germany, and NJ ANG and PA ANG for a couple of years while
attending law school), and as an amateur for many years in my Mooney
57540 and various other light planes. What rings loud and clear
from my own experience and those of many others who have
commented on your website is simply this: there is nothing to
compare with being young and airborne. After forty years as a
lawyer, those flying years remain vital in my memory. I won a few
cases, but I can't remember them. None of that compares with a
night crosswind landing in an F-84F in bad weather, let alone a
vertical Mach one dive or a formation aero exercise. Thank God
for the opportunity, and for surviving it. Cheers to all! !!
Gerry Haughey <gehlawyer@aol.com>
USA - February 26, 2008 at 8:59PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
My family rented our garage apartment
to a French liaison officer who
worked at Spence Air Base. I think it might have been in
1954. His name (not sure of the spelling) was Francois
Antimarquis. If anyone knew him, I would like to ask some
questions about the time he was there. I am writing a story and
need some background details. Thanks.
Brooks Dumas <bcdumas@bellsouth.net>
USA - February 1, 2008 at 4:46PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Made a guest book entry some years ago, but email addresses do
change. I was 56-D, and now am close to the CAF…Commemorative
(was Confederate) Air Force here in Midland TX. Flew F-86, F-89,
C-97 in MN ANG before moving here. Drop me a line:
C. Ronald Schwisow <crsastro@swbell.net>
432-682-3789, Cell 432-553-8690
806 Palomino, Midland TX 79705-1811 USA - January 14, 2008 at 8:17PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was an aviation cadet at Spence in pilot training class
55-H.
Ted Cossairt was my very excellent instructor. Anyone have a contact
with him? Upon graduating at Webb AFB in Feb '55, I went into tac
fighters and never looked back (except to keep my 6 clear). F-80,
F-84E/F, F-100D/F, F-105D/F, F-4C/D/E. Retired as an 0-5 in '73.
Michael P. Cooper <mcooper8@nc.rr.com>
USA – December 21, 2007 at 5:16PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tom Calovin, Class 59-A...Panther 58 (see - I remember). I
stumbled onto this site and instantly was taken back in time. I
also have fond memories of my classmates and instructors and the
flights over to "Sunset" to practice in our T-34s. Bob McComb was
my instructor at that point and was a wonderful teacher. I
remember him telling us of the effects of a headwind on an aircraft
which brought to mind an image I had seen at the 1949 Air Races in
Cleveland which my Dad had taken me to. That image was that of an
antique Curtis Pusher Race in which one of the planes actually stood
still before the stands and started to be blown backwards in flight
while the pilot dropped his legs down and started to simulate
peddling. Bob was surprised that at my age I had seen the event
and remembered it. The next day he presented me with an 8x10 of
the event autographed to me and my Dad...turns out he was the guy
flying the open pusher. Great memories and wonderful
times...Thanks for the site, and , Bob, and all my classmates, if any
of you are reading this I wish you all the very best.
Tom Calovin <shooter@iwaynet.net>
USA - December 19, 2007
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I went through Spence in class 59-E. I am writing a book of my
life
and adventures, the main adventure flying the U-2. A important
part
of my story was my time at Spence, perhaps the happiest and most
important
time of my flying life. With your okay I would like to use
some
of your Spence pictures, especially the tour ramp in which I spent many
hours,
being the recipient of the dreaded 72 gun salute. At Spence I was
thrilled
and inspired by Bevo and had the best instructor of my aviation career,
John
Kitchens. Can anyone out there give me any information concerning
John
after he left Spence.
Don Wright <goodoledon@earthlink.net>
603-763-4390
USA - December 8, 2007 at 10:47AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
On 9/23/03, a Mike McDonald entered a request
(duplicated
immediately below) in the Spence Guest Book, requesting photos of two
WW2 fighter pilots, 2nd Lts. R. K. Short and E. R. Smith, who
died in a training accident on Nov. 24, 1943, at Bartow AFB,
FL. My information indicates that
these two pilots enlisted in Dec. 1942 and trained at Maxwell AFB, Shaw
AFB,
and finally Spence AFB in 1943. They were then stationed at
Bartow
AFB in October 1943 and in November crashed with only 22 hours in the
P51B.
The former Bartow Base, now airport, has a museum on wartime history of
the base and would like additional information on them to go with the
story
of their crash. As a former P51 crew chief at Bartow, I'm trying
to
help them obtain this information or anything else about the 1943-45
period.
Your help will be sincerely appreciated as I am 87 yrs. old and doubt
if
very many of the others who were stationed at Bartow at the time are
alive.
A.A. Billian <Billianaa@aol.com>
2209 St. Joe Center Road, Apt 253, Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA - November
3, 2007 at 11:12AM
* * * * * * * * * *
I am writing a story about Decatur, GA. natives 2nd Lts. Enrique
R. Smith and Richard K. Short. They grew up together, went to
high
school together were in ROTC together, went to GA. Tech together, left
in
their junior year together to join the AAF, and were killed together in
a
training accident on 24 Nov. 1943. I need pictures of these two
pilots
who got their wings at Spence in October of 1943. Actually, Smith
got
married that evening to a Boston, GA. girl named Eugenia
Langston.
I know class "Annuals" were usually printed that showed the graduating
class
of pilots. If anyone reading this can E-mail me a .jpeg file
showing
both pilots it would be greatly appreciated.
Mike McDonald <mikemc@bellsouth.net>
Roswell, GA USA - September 23, 2003 at 7:43AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking for any one who may have been at Spence Field 1941-1942
and who is familiar with base operations rather than flight training.
My dad was stationed there but was neither an aviation student
nor instructor. I am trying to research his service and
keep running into roadblocks like this. Thanks.
Jim Cobb <jcobb_3@bellsouth.net>
USA - October 16, 2007 at 4:09PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings. I graduated from Spence in Class 57-L and have
always
kept the yearbook - 'Take Off.' I have recently had a book
published titled "The Buried Dot" which relates a good deal of my
experiences at Spence plus basic and advanced flying leading to
becoming an F-86L fighter interceptor pilot. You can order the
book either through PublishAmerica.com which is the publisher or from
Amazon.com. It is listed by title, or by
author, James W. Ramsey. I have shared memories recently with
three
other members of my class -- two of whom became F-86D/L pilots, the
third
an F-84 pilot. Another classmate wound up an F-100 gunnery
instructor
in North Africa. If anyone out there remembers our class, please
let
me know.
James W. Ramsey <wampuscat@imbris.com>
P.O. Box 555, Ponderay, ID 83852 USA - October 14, 2007 at 7:16PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking for any one who flew out of Tifton Air Base in the
1944-47 era, or any one who has any information about two air mishaps
that occurred there during that period. They occurred south of
the air base in northwest Cook County. I was living there
when a P-38 crashed SW of our house, the pilot bailed out and my father
carried him to Tifton. The second plane, I believe a P-40, landed
heading east directly toward our
house but veered left just in time and came to rest just north of the
house.
It was late in the evening and the pilot had to stay and guard the
plane.
My father offered the pilot his double barreled shot gun to help in his
duty.
Any additional information about the planes, the dates the accidents
happened and any information on who the pilots were and where they
served in the
war will be greatly appreciated.
Curtis Rutland <ccrutland@planttel.net>
(229) 546-4553
1266 Little River Road, Lenox, GA 31637 USA - September 27, 2007 at
8:22AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Nell Murphy Wagner. I grew up in Moultrie GA and
married Curt Wagner, (class 61-E). After pilot training,
Curt flew
C-124's at Charleston AFB, then flew 32 years for Delta Air Lines.
He
has been retired 10 years and plays about 25 Senior Golf tournaments a
year.
We are the proud parents of 2 children. Our daughter is married
to
a Delta Capt. (retired USAF C-141 pilot). They have a 15 year old
daughter. Our son is a Capt. with Net Jets, flying the Hawker
800XP.
They have 3 children. My father Albert Murphy
had an orchestra and played many dances and parties at the Spence
Officer's
and Cadet Clubs. For sometime I have enjoyed the Spence
web
site. I would like to identify someone in one of the pictures on
the
Memories page. The first unidentified person in the picture,
Cadet
Parade Review (circa 1953) is Moultrie Mayor William B. (Willie)
Withers.
Curt and Nell Wagner <curtnellwag@earthlink.net>
USA - September 15, 2007 at 6:27PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
May God bless you for all that has been done to preserve the
memories of Hawthorne and Spence Air Base. My father was a flight
instructor (Ted G. Williams). I believe it was the Blacksheep
flight group.
As a child, I remember the Easter egg hunts on the base at the Base
Chapel, the swimming pool, the main gate and sometimes waiting to pick
daddy up
after he got off work. I definitely remember all the air shows we
attended. I used to watch Bevo fly and I remember Bob McComb, as
well.
He and my dad were close friends as were Pat Dunnigan, Vernon Magners,
Gus
Sermus and Tony Weld. My dad died of a massive heart attack
January
18, 2001 in Albany, Georgia. He was an air traffic controller and
had been a link trainer (working in Augusta, Warner Robins Air base in
Macon,
also worked at RAPCON in Cochran and finally retired in Albany,
Georgia).
His love for flying was his world. We noticed a big change in him
once he wasn’t flying anymore. I would love to hear from any of
his
friends and former students and am interested in receiving any and all
pictures
and information relating to his time at Spence. Thank you for
what
you are doing.
Glenda A. Klar <phoenix02@tampabay.rr.com>
(813) 962-2668
16318 Caliente Place, Tampa, Florida 33624-1037 USA - August 24, 2007
at 8:51AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Ronald S. Kender, Aviation Cadet Class 58-N, at Spence
April through November 1957. Are their any members of this
class out there who would remember our time in Moultrie at Spence
A. B.?
Would like to hear from you.
Ronald S. Kender <cmk316@aol.com>
USA - July 1, 2007 at 3:35PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
What an amazing collection of Spence memorebelia! I've really
enjoyed browsing through all the photos and remembering faces and
names. Mama K was truly special to the cadet corps! I
passed through Spence with class 55-F, and recently ran across some
35mm slides I thought you might be interested in having.
Bob Eldredge <rpeld@gate.net>
USA - June 25, 2007 at 5:47AM
(See MORE SPENCE MEMORIES at top of
MEMORIES
page
for pictures contributed by Bob)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
In 1943, the Georgia Border Air Corps Baseball League was formed.
Teams in the League were Spence Field (Moultrie, Ga.), Moody Field
(Valdosta,
Ga.), Bainbridge Army Air Field (Bainbridge, Ga.), Army Air Forces
Advanced
Flying School Napier Field (Dothan, Ala.), Thomasville Army Air Base
(Thomasville, Ga.), and Marianna Army Air Field (Marianna,
Florida). A lot of the men who played in the League were Minor
League Players. Many played in the old Georgia-Florida and
Alabama-Florida Leagues. Some of the men playing had played in
some Semi-Pro Leagues. Many of the Spence Field Mustangs game
were played at Spence Field. Spence Field was
used as a Minor League Baseball Spring Training site for years. I
am searching for former players of this Georgia Border Air Corps
League.
Anyone with information, please write to me. I am
especially
interested in the Spence Field teams.
Clint Chafin <clint.chafin@mcleanengineering.us>
4789 Tallokas Road Moultrie, Ga. 31788 USA - June 20, 2007 at 1:43PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Great site and slide show. On the MEMORIES page “Early
Instructors”
picture, No. 10 of the "Unknowns" is Tommy Maxwell, one of the original
Spence instructors who taught me how to fly. He was from Homer,
IL and a
great pilot and instructor. He flew his 25th mission in B-17's as
1st pilot before his 21st birthday and never got a scratch.
I mentioned this to my three sons when each turned 16 and took out the
family
car.
Ray Kelly, Class 52-C <acerky98@yahoo.com>
USA - April 26, 2007 at 4:29PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I recently purchased a T-6G that served at Spence from May 1951 to
November 1952. It's serial number is 49-3350, and it is painted
in
it's Spence colors as TA-350. The aircraft has had a long history
of military service both in the US and in Spain, and I would love to
find
some pictures of it at Spence and/or hear some stories about it’s use
in
training there.
Jason Railsback
USA - March 29, 2007 at 3:41PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings, I graduated from Spence in May 1954 class
55-B.
My instructor was Dave Badgley and we both enjoyed listening to Paul
Harvey during some of my training rides. Anyone know if he is
still around? I have many fond memories of Spence. Bevo
Howard's air shows
for the new classes - President Eisenhower flying in to go hunting with
Treasury Secretary Humphrey down in Thomasville - my solo in the T-6 at
Tifton (I
was first in my group) (last in my group to solo the PA-18 at Sunset).
Major Beck for my final instrument check in the T-6. Yuck! It was
a long time ago but it seems like yesterday. Thanks Bruce for
letting me reminisce.
Howard J. Tyson <mst757@ cox.net>
Pensacola, FL USA - March 22, 2007 at 11:33AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bruce, a most enjoyable journey thru years long past! I was in
58K, Rebel 37, Instructor was Bill Peck. After a break in
training, I graduated with 60C in October 1959 at Craig AFB.
Retired from USAF in 1977. Col. Falcon John was our
Commander at Spence while I was there. I ran into him in 1970 at
the French Officers Club in Berlin. He was a brigadier and
Vice-Commander of USAF Security Service.
Ed May <oldgator56@cox.net>
Tucson, AZ USA - March 12, 2007 at 5:58PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Anybody from the class of 52F that would like to reminisce with me
about our time at Spence?
Felix Geraets <fger30@yahoo.com>
Netherlands - March 5, 2007 at 3:41PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings - I graduated from Spence Air Base in August 1957 - Class
58H - I was one of flight instructor Carl Gibson's "Guys" -
"Bearcat-79" (seven-niner).
Due to a government mandated "mid-course enlistment correction", I
elected
to take leave of the Cadet Program, and pursue an engineering career -
destiny
taking me into the field of life support technologies for high altitude
aircraft.
The life expanding experiences that I gained at Lackland and at Spence
Air
Base, have served me well in the ensuing 50 years. This newly
found
web-site has stirred within me many fond memories of my time at Spence
-
our "den mother", Momma K, Bevo Howard performing square outside loops
in
his Buecker Jungmeister, walking the "Ramp" under the Georgia sun, and
chasing
a beautiful rainbow at 5000 ft. over the fields near Tifton.
Bruce
- thanks for the memories - a really great web-site that I will visit
often
- especially when I have the need to further reminisce about the "salad
days"
of my life.
Robert F. Wood <procyon@localnet.com>
Williamsville, New York 14221 USA -
February 22, 2007 at 6:23PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Art Alderson, Class 56-J, Fireball Flight. I can't
find any guys from that class in the Spence Guest Book and would like
to know
if there are any out there.
Art Alderson <arta@earthlink.net>
USA - February 18, 2007 at 9:50AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi - Really enjoyed your site. My dad, Charles (Al) Temple
(Gopher 75) was an instructor at Spence from 1955-57. We lived on
a farm west of Moultrie and hosted quite a few "squadron" parties
there. I remember Pat Dunigan, Winkelman, Paschall, and Pedersen.
Dad took a job as
an instructor pilot with TWA in 1957 and trained pilots for Ethiopian
Airlines until 1961 when he went to work for the USAID Program doing
locust control and training agricultural pilots for the Ethiopian
government. Finally returned to the US in 1974 as a contract
operations supervisor for the Dept. of Agriculture. He passed
away suddenly in 1976 while supervising
an operation at Van Horn, Texas. At the time of his death, Dad
had
over 20,000 hours of flying time in several dozen types of aircraft.
I
went through the entire guestbook and saw no mention of an Army L-19
training
program at Spence while we were there. I seem to remember it
created
some controversy. Anyone recall this? Would like to hear
from
any of Dad's former students or anyone we knew in the Moultrie area.
Charles Temple Jr. <chastemple@ev1.net>
USA - February 11, 2007 at 5:39PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bingo! Wonderful show. Your revisions to the Spence Slide Show
solved the problem I was experiencing. I think I am speaking for
all former students when I say we can't thank you enough for putting
this tribute together.
Well done! I will make sure my classmates have the URL.
Thanks again.
Gus Letto <lettog@worldnet.att.net>
Class 56-A
USA - February 7, 2007 at 1:49PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
First class - 52-C - during the Korean War Era. Our class has
been having reunions for many years and the next is this May in Rapid
City. Last year in Dayton and next year in San Diego. I
just made contact with my Spence instructor, Joe Poole, as a
consequence of information from your web site. Thank you for all
the effort needed to produce these fine memories of Spence.
J. W. “Bill” Payne <jwpnap@sbcglobal.net>
USA - February 5, 2007 at 10:34AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings! My name is Paul Carpenter, cadet member of Class
56D.
After completing pre-flight at Lackland, our class was split with
half assigned to Bainbridge , GA (my assignment) and half to Spence.
My
best friend, John Lindsey Tennant III, was assigned to Spence and we
stayed
in touch through our primary training and subsequent service years.
While John flew T-34/T28’s at Spence, Class 56D at
Bainbridge was the final class to receive primary flight training in
PA-18/AT6’s. I have read with a great deal of interest and fond
memories the many messages in this wonderfully done website. I
had hoped to find an equivalent one for Bainbridge too, but without
luck so far. If anyone knows of one, or has any news of John
Tennant (last I knew he was in Mississippi), or if
any 56D classmate might remember me, I would appreciate hearing from
you!
Paul Carpenter <thetroll@montanasky.com>
USA - February 4, 2007 at 11:15AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was a member of the 52-C class that reopened Spence during the
Korean
conflict. I soloed on my 21st birthday, June 22, 1951. I
believe I was the first to solo in that initial group. We soloed
at Thomasville, Ga.
Waldo E. Cecil <waldocecil@msn.com>
USA - January 29, 2007 at 12:30PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
remarquable!!! je suis un ancien cadet de spence, classe 52 E,
année 1951. mon instructeur: Joe CURRY , un type
exceptionnel. 1ere promotion d'élèves des forces
aériennes alliées à spence field. commandant
de l'école colonel Crosby.
responsable des études: capitaine Kirkpatrick. merveilleux
souvenirs de "maman" KILGORE. merci pour ce site que je viens de
découvrir. mais aussi, merci à mes amis
américains pour cette tranche de vie qui restera pour moi la
plus extraordinaire, la plus belle, la plus enthousiasmante, celle des
premiers vols et des "3 points landing".
Roger L. Lenglet <roger.lenglet@wanadoo.fr>
France - January 28, 2007 at 1:38AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
We own a T-6G that was attached to the 3302nd Pilot Training
Squadron at Spence Air Base through the early 50's. It is serial
number 49-3402.
It would likely have had the fuselage side number of TA-402. I
see
a lot of T-6 pictures on the Spence website but none of this particular
airplane. If there is any former Spence instructor, student, etc.
that is familiar with this airplane and has a picture of it in your
files please contact me.
In general I am compiling a list of all military aircraft where a
serial
number can be identified. Can you help in any way.
Matt Voight <algualvi@hotmail.com>
USA - January 26, 2007 at 10:30AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking for anyone who may have known my father Gary G. Wright.
He was in 52G at Spence. I would appreciate any photo scans
of him that anyone may be able to send me.
Gary Wright Jr. <garyjen@se.rr.com>
USA - January 21, 2007 at 9:30PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The slide show is terrific and the background music is, well,
priceless.
Where but for the Spence Web Site could we walk down this very special
"memory lane" together? Thanks again for all you have done and
continue to
do.
Mac McKinley <alasitis@optonline.net>
Class 55-N
Lodi, NJ USA - January 8, 2007 at 11:02AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The slide show is great, Bruce! I really enjoyed seeing Spence
in color again; all the pictures I've been looking at for the past 50
years are black and white. The background music is very fitting
and got
me back to the fifties. Thanks once again for all the effort
you've
made to construct the site. It's clearly meant a lot to many
people.
Brien Levy <blevy@levylawfirm.org>
Son of former Spence Air Base CO Col. Robert Levy
Sumter, SC USA - December 29, 2006 at 2:22 PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
What fond memories of the greatest time of my life you have
triggered with your site! I was a prior enlisted Cadet in class
59-Hotel. As Fireball 41, Jim Riley was my instructor and mentor,
and a better man I
am yet to meet. As a matter of fact my fondest memories of Spence
were Jim, the meals, the flying, and meeting my future wife at the
Cadet
Club (not necessarily in that order). The Spence program was the
beginning of a forty year accident free flying career and a lifetime of
memories.
Don Brown <nahkbin@cox.net>
Midwest City, OK USA - December 8, 2006 at 3:45PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi, great web sight. I graduated from Spence in class 43-I,
October 1st, 1943. Went on to Central Instructors school at
Randolph Field, Texas, and Instructed in BT 13's at Newport, Arkansas,
until it closed in June 1942. Instructed French Cadets at Gunter
Field and went to Hendricks Field, Sebring , FL for B-17 Transition.
Flew B17's in Europe after the war photo remapping Europe.
I still have copies of my class rosters at Spence class 43-I if anyone
would like to have a copy. -- An interesting note, Moultrie and
Turner Field at Albany were in different time zones, so when we went to
Albany for recreation we could stay an hour longer with the local
gentry, while the Turner cadets had to get back for their bedcheck, and
leave the lovely ladies to dance with us.
Peter H Hicks <phhicks@earthlink.net>
Salinas, CA USA - November 17, 2006 at 10:06PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I graduated from Spence in Class 56P. Mr. Lester, who is one
of the finest men I have ever met, was my instructor. He not only
taught me to fly but he set an example
for those who chose aviation as a career. After Spence I went to
Greenville MS and then to Luke AFB for gunnery school (F-84G).
Then on to Turner AFB where we flew the F-84F and F-100D. From
Turner I was fortunate enough to go to Misawa Japan in F-100's.
While there I was the PACAF representative to the USAF Fighter Weapons
School and graduated Top Gun for
Class 61D. I was invited back to the USAF FWS as an instructor
where
I served as instructor and operational test pilot for a little over 7
years.
During that time, however, I was lucky enough to have a F-4 combat tour
with
the 555th Fighter Squadron at Ubon Thailand. Thanks to the
training
that started with Mr. Lester I was able to kill two Russian MiGs in
aerial
combat. I did spend 2 years, 1 month, and 20 days in the Pentagon
prior
to being assigned as the Operations Officer and then Commander of the
4485th Test Squadron (TAC) at Eglin AFB. Retired in 1977 and been
in FortWalton
Beach ever since. -- That's my story and I'm sticking with it! I
enjoyed
reading the exploits of all the other Spence alumni so I'm just adding
mine
to the long list of great guys.
Everett T. Raspberry (razz850@cox.net)
Ph: (850) 651-0427
3 Marlborough Rd, Shalimar FL 32579 USA - November 14, 2006
at 4:25PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Great web site! I graduated Spence in class 57RN. You
never heard of a class with 2 letter designations? Well our 57R
class was split into thirds. (Some kind of an experiment trying
to determine
if T28 training was necessary.) One third got only the standard
20
hrs T34 training before being sent off to basic. The second third
got
additional, formation, night and instrument training, aerobatics may
have
also been included. I was in this group. The third group
got
the full blown T34/T28 training. My understanding of the results
of
this experiment were that the group with the most hours in the T33
scored
the highest in the final evaluations. -- I think our flight was
known
as "Tiger Flight." My next door room mate at Spence was Wally
Malmer.
I've never heard anything about him since (Does any one know anything
about
him?) Don Hollis ( I think he is deceased), Al Cron and one or
two
others were in my training group. -- Al Cron and I followed each other
throughout
our AF careers; from Spence to Lorado to Moody and to the 41st FIS on
Anderson
AFB on the lovely island of Guam, flying the F86D. -- I'd like to hear
from
other members of the 57R/RN class, and remember to 'keep the speed up
on
final and the dirty side down!!
Art Dalke (dalkeone@msn.com), Ph:
(541) 245-0278
265 Briarwood Ln., Medford OR 97504 USA - October 30, 2006 at
4:55PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My grandfather was Spence Instructor Pilot Tom Maxwell and after
discovering the website I noticed two pictures of him (INSTRUCTOR page
and under FLYING TRAINING - A day one never forgets - that first solo
flight). I have no pictures of him as a flight instructor because
a lot were destroyed in a house fire years ago. It would mean the
world to me and my mother (his daughter) if we could obtain some higher
resolution pictures of him
that I could copy. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
and God bless.
Gregory A. McLaney II <GMCLANEY@southernco.com>
Phone 251-434-5663
West Mobile, AL USA - October 16, 2006 at 9:39AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am organizing a trip throughout the southeastern U.S. for a group
of French war pilots interested to visit the military bases from their
"war" days. They are a group of about 30 people, senior citizens,
and they are planning on coming September 2007. Among their list
is the base in Moultrie, GA which I am assuming is Spence Air
Base. Will appreciate all help in arranging an interesting visit
for them. Thank you very much in advance.
Roberta Selcuker <roberta@bonjourusa.com>
Bonjour USA Tours - October 11, 2006 at 8:59AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am William O. Vogel, Colonel, USAF (Ret). Spence , Class 52
C "Charlie." We (52 C) were the first class of aviation cadets to
begin fight training (1951) at Spence at the beginning of the Korean
War. Look back with nostalgia and am grateful to a very patient
civilian instructor, "Red" Lanning.
William Vogel <wvogel624@aol.com>
Danville, CA USA - October 10, 2006 at 12:44PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My Dad was Bob Montgomery, Flight Instructor, Polecat Flight, and
these were the best of times for our family. Our move to
Moultrie, and Spence Field, in the early 1950’s was certainly the
highlight of my life but I wouldn’t
realize it until I was older. Daddy was a pilot, he loved it, he
talked
about it, he lived it. I loved the sky buzzing with airplanes
both
day and night and even the temporary loss of reception on our TV when a
plane
would fly over our house. We became great friends with
other
instructor families and we gathered and cook-out frequently. I
would
listen when daddy talked about flying and I would sit on the living
room
floor at night and look through all his flight manuals. I
memorized the instrument panel of a T-28 because daddy said that was
something students had to do. I loved the times when at the end
of a class daddy and
mother would invite the students over for supper. There were
other
times when daddy would come home from work with a splitting headache
after
spending the day at “runway control”. It was the worst of times when it
all
ended and Spence Field closed, because families and friends went in all
directions
after that. In daddy’s final years with Alzheimer’s, he couldn’t
drive
a car or a lawnmower, and he couldn’t remember even the most basic of
things
but he could tell me with crystal clear precision his flying stories
from
Spence Field. He would laugh and then tears would come into his
eyes.
It was the best of times for our family.
Bob Montgomery Jr. <bmontgomery@sgbconline.com>
Moultrie, GA USA - September 7, 2006 at 3:36PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I graduated March 1, 1945, Class 45A. One third went to
fighters (flew the P-40 the very next day at Selma, AL) one third went
to gliders, and the one third went to B-29 flight engineers school.
Its what they needed most at the time. I have enjoyed
screening down the "Guestbook" stories and was looking for any class
45A contacts or reunions. Thanks for your website.
Tom Bent <bentfly@bellsouth.net>
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 - August 27, 2006 at 10:52AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My father, James Summers, was an instructor in 444th School Squadron
in 1942, and appears in the Spence Field book of the same year.
He was a Pilot Officer seconded by the RAF to finish training and
then instruct. He enjoyed greatly his time at the base, and
especially meeting the local people. Unfortunately he did not
survive the war, but I now
take great delight in following his movements in the US and
elsewhere.
Your website and the book have been most useful in providing the
background
to his training, and if there are any wartime records referring to him,
I should be most interested to hear of them.
Tony Summers <tonyandsybil@tesco.net>
Basingstoke, Hants, England - August 1, 2006 at 9:47AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Roger Howell , 57R flying T34 & T 28 as an aviation cadet after
4 yrs AF enlisted time. Graduated from pilot trng at Greenville, MS,
Jun 30,
'57. Went back to MS ANG flying RF84, RF101 & the RF4C.
Was on active duty several times during my 35 yrs flying.
Was appointed wing commander of the 186th, MS ANG & promoted
to Col in 1985. Retired in Jun 1990 as Brig Gen MS ANG. Got
word of this site from Bill Doler of 57R & brought back fond
memories. Loved my stay at Spence.
Would like to attend the next Spence reunion if it doesn't
conflict
with our 50th yr 57R reunion in Oct? Was great to see classmate
names
& comments on your site especially my 2 room mates Bud
Flowers
& Lee Hill.
Roger Howell <rbhowell@comcast.net>
(601) 264-5626
Hattiesburg, MS USA - July 30, 2006 at
5:20PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jane Johnson <jjohnson@paonline.com>
171 Tabor Road, New Holland, PA 17557 USA - July 22, 2006 at 8:20PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am trying to locate Mike McDonald, a former Cadet who entered the
following guest message on the ArmyAirForces.com web site on 6 Oct.
2003.
“Writing a story to honor two p-51B pilots lost in a
training accident 24 Nov 1943 as part of 56th fighter grp, 3rd AF
stationed at Bartow AAF in Florida. Desperately
need photographs of the two pilots; 2nd Lt. E.R. Smith 2nd Lt.
R.K.
Short. They enlisted in Dec 1942 then on to Maxwell AFB, Shaw
AFB,
and Spence AAF in 1943 to complete advanced training. Stationed
at
Bartow AAF in October 1943 with only 22 hours on Mustangs
before crash.”
I was stationed at Bartow at the time and have a newspaper clipping
on
the crash. Would like to be in contact with Mike McDonald on the
story
he was writing. Bartow Historial Committee is creating a display
on WWII use of the Bartow AFB and I am furnishing them with many photos
etc.
including the newspaper writeup of this crash that they plan to use;
thus
my interest in further details.
A.A. Billian <Billianaa@aol.com>
Ft.Wayne IN USA - July 13, 2006 at
2:37PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bill Crow (son) <bdcrow@valornet.com>
USA - July 11, 2006 at 12:00PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE CONCERNS COL. ROBERT M.
LEVY, FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER OF SPENCE AIR BASE (1954 - 56)
I hate to be the bearer of sad tidings but thought you'd be interested
in learning of Dad's passing. He'd been ill for several years so
he's certainly in a better place now. Below is his obit.
Brien Levy <blevy@levylawfirm.org>
Sumter, SC USA - June 26,2006 at 6:37AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was a cadet in 56-D. Flight training was in the T-34 and
T-28.
I was the odd man out for an instructor at first and was assigned to
Scott Fitzgerald. He was the Flight Commander of our group.
After
about 5 hours with him John (Jack) Oberholtzer was my instructor.
Glad to have been notified about the site. Even though I have
attended
the 56-D reunions visiting this site brought back a flood of good
memories.
Arsene J Fauquet <afauquet@alltel.net>
3445 North 58 Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 - June 25, 2006 at 3:29PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
My grandfather was an instructor & dispatcher at Spence in the
1950's. His name was Max C. Lewis. He passed away recently,
and we found the attached photo among his things. I don't have
any descriptions, etc. to identify everyone, but I thought it might
interest you, anyway.
James Watson <james@SOWEGALand.com>
Moultrie, GA USA - May 27, 2006 at 6:37PM
(Note: Picture of Class 61-G2 / Gopher
Fight included - see
MEMORIES page.)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My father, Elias Mintz, spent four years at Spence field, from 1941
to
1945. He was the supply sergeant for the Spence band. He
also served as the band drum major, played drums, violin and saxophone,
had a small
dance band and also ran a once a week radio show. My mother
joined him
there for most of his service. Having both come from Brooklyn,
southern
Georgia in those days was quite a change for them. My dad always
told
me that the years he spent in the service and especially at Spence
Field
were the happiest of his life. I always wanted to take a trip to
Moultrie
with my parents, to see for myself what the town and surrounding areas
were
like but we never were able to make that happen. Both my parents
have
since died, but I still am hoping to one day make the trip with my
husband.
I am sending you some pictures of the band from my fathers collection.
I’m wondering if you might be interested in having them for your
archive and
website. I believe that it would have made my dad very happy to
know
that he contributed to your efforts to keep this history alive.
Carol Heuser
Green Valley, AZ USA - May 19, 2006 at 12:30PM
(Note: A
couple of
pictures
of the “Spence Field Skylarks” of WW2 have been added to the SPENCE DURING WORLD WAR
2
page.)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm conducting genealogy research for
a friend of mine. Her
father, Edward Larkin McLennan, was stationed at Spence in 1942.
The only
info we have is the following note: Moultrie, GA., war service
appointment - engineering, Spence Field, April 1942. If this
sounds familiar to anyone, I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks.
Melissa Parker <mbparker@charter.net>
Prattville, Alabama USA - May 17, 2006 at 7:48PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
I am trying to find information about my friend and his best friend,
who were stationed at Spence Field, Moultrie, GA USAAFB in WWII.
They
were in Class 45A, 1945, Advanced Flight Training. -- My friend is:
Francis
G. V.(Vernon) Jenkin, Ser. # 35061631. I understand that he did
not
complete his advanced training as he succumbed to appendicitis.
He
was still in the hospital (where he met his wife) when V-E day
arrived.
His wife (and nurse) was 1st Lieutenant Lillian R. Trostle. -- His
friend
was Lt. Albert Johnson. I assume he was commissioned a 2nd
Lieutenant,
Class 45A, 1945, as well. -- I would appreciate any assistance in
locating
his friend, and any historical information about Mr. Jenkin as
well.
I wonder if they might award Mr. Jenkin his 'wings' as he is now 85
years
old and only missed the last few days of his training? Perhaps
someone would know to whom I may inquire about this as well? I
will greatly appreciate any help your web site viewers can give me.
Dr. Neil Ross (
rossplanet@aol.com)
Phone (440) 461-1123
1450 S.O.M. Center Road, Suite 26, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 USA -
March 30, 2006 at 10:12AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am a Lieutenant General (retired) from the Peruvian Air
Force,
and I graduated in Class 60-E at Bainbridge AB (Georgia) T-34 and
T-37 , Reese AFB (Texas) T-33A and Nellis AFB (Nevada) F-86F.
Since then I was a former Chief of Staff of the Peruvian Air
Force. I flew jets, being a Fighter Pilot all my career in the
air force. I flew T-33, T-37, MB-339, F-80, F-86F, Mirage IIIC,
Mirage V and Sukoi’s 22. Do you think it could be possible for
you to help me to get in touch with my classmates of class 60-E?
I’ve been looking at the Internet trying to
get in touch with them without any positive results. I will
appreciate it if you can help me with this matter.
LT. GNRL. (RET.) PAF CESAR GONZALO LUZZA
<
impala@infonegocio.net.pe
>
Peru – March 9, 2006 at 10:02AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I picked the attached post card up at a flea market in Virginia
about ten years ago. I was at Spence in class 62-A but washed out
and ended up as an Atlas-F launch officer. -- I think you should make a
little place on the Spence Web Site to memorialize "Tennis Shoe
Ernie". I got a
couple of salutes a day from him. Somebody must know what his
name
was. -- Also, I held the poles for Bevo in about August of 1960 when he
did
a flight for photos for Parade (I think) Magazine, the newspaper insert
mag
in the Georgia papers. I have no photo of that but would sure
like
to know if anyone does. There were only 4 or 5 of us there on the
weekend
when he did the flight. He went up, did one pass upright, then
the
ribbon cutting inverted pass and landed. Just enough for the
photo
shoot. None of us had a camera and I shipped out before the
magazine
came out. -- I retired as a major in 1975.
Ismail O. Nuri, Jr.
USAF 1954-1975 <IsmailNuri@aol.com>
USA - March 3, 2006 at 7:43PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 56D. Trained in the T-34
& T-28 at Spence, basic in the
B-25 at Reese AFB, advanced at Randolph in the B-29. From there
to SAC
at DMAFB flying B-47's. After leaving the Air Force went into the
reserves
flying C-119's at March AFB then flew C-141's in the first Associate
Reserve Wing at Norton AFB.
Eugene "Gene" A. Roberts <
eugeneroberts@hotmail.com>
Grants Pass, OR USA - February 11, 2006 at 2:49PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was an A/C at Spence field out of
Lackland in Oct. 1957.
Class 59C (Blacksheep) Ed Keyes was my instructor. Got about 40
hrs in the 34
and sie'd out due to inner ear problems. Would be interested in
hearing
from anyone from that era.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bruce, I like your web site. I
am hoping you can help me?
My late father Stewart Arnold Scharmen received his training at
Spence during WW 2. I think it was in 1945. Can any of your
web site viewers tell me who I can contact about the WW2 Spence
training rosters. He may have been trained with his cousin Loy
Scharmen. My dad mentioned about he and Loy getting trained to
fly gliders. I don't have his
uniforms, so I don't know what squadron he was in. I do have his
Spence
Field ring, this at least gives me an idea where he got his training.
I
will appreciate any help I can get.
Gary Stewart Scharmen Sr. <
bryce01marcus03@yahoo.com>
Sterling Heights, MI USA - January 17, 2006 at 5:36PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
We were notified recently of the
death of George Freeman, former
instructor pilot and flight commander at Spence. George died on
January 9th, '06 in New York at age
88.
He was a Hawthorne employee from 1951 to 1960. After leaving
Spence he flew for Corning Glass until his retirement, then continued
to fly his own plane until about ten years ago. George’s picture
appears on the INSTRUCTOR
page in the Flight Commander section and also just above that in the
Class 60-E picture.
Bruce R. Watson, Spence Webmaster <
Bruce@spence-air-base.com>
Phoenix, AZ USA - January 17, 2006
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was in Class 61-F at Lackland with
many who went on to Spence.
I was sent to Bainbridge, then medically out...thence to Panama City,
FL.
After the USAF, went and finished my BA and JD at UT-Austin, then OSI
duty with the reserve at Bergstrom AFB. Tyndall AFB was really
OK; full
of white beaches, beer and secretaries on vacation from Atlanta and
Birmingham.
Tough duty, but somebody had to do it. Never got saluted, not
even
once, since I always wore a suit, never a uniform. Possibly was
the
only officer in the whole dang Air Force to NEVER be saluted!
Anyway,
on to UT law school, practiced law for 37 years, and then a civil judge
and
criminal magistrate for 10 years. Married, 2 children, 2
(twin)
grandsons. All in all, it hasn't been dull. Would love to
hear
from some of my old 61-F classmates.
Chuck Wood, AKA "Santa Claus" at Lackland. <
cbwtex@gmail.com>
USA - December 21, 2005 at 1:27PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Enjoyed going through your site which
brought up many excellent
memories! I was a Belgian 54-L student pilot in the "Fireball"
Flight from end of June 1953 till graduation the same year in December.
My instructor was Mr. Albright and I still have the "cup" he
offered to all his students at the end of training. After the end
of the training in USAF in October 1954 (Webb came after Spence, then
Laughlin and gunnery at Luke AFB was
the last step), I came back in Belgian Airforce, flying first F
84-G's.
Later on several other bases and types of aircraft (F 84-F, Meteor,
Mirage, Fouga, Alpha Jet and some others). Staff jobs as
well.
I kept pilot status until I retired. My rank went up
to Colonel. I'm 75 now and live in a quiet
little village of 360 residents, close to Namur-Belgium. All
the best and warm greetings for
old friends who still could remember me. If other 54-L
"Fireball"s could read this message, I would be delighted to get some
news from them!
Frans Boerewaart <
f.boerewaart@tele2.be>
rue de la Gohiette 49, B-5380
HEMPTINNE, Belgium -
November 30, 2005 at 3:10PM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
I was at Spence in class 56-V.
Walter J. "Pat" Dunnigan was our
instructor. Dunnigan's students were, Paul Flanery, Carlon
O'Malley,
Richard Murphy and Harvey Callahan. Murphy and Callahan were 2nd
Lt's.
A picture was taken at Spence with all of us standing beside a
T-28
for Air Force Times (See picture on Memories
page).
It had something to do with the Irish, and the AF. Great
Memories,
Great time!!!!!!!!
Paul Flanery, Gopher 32 <
paullflanery@sbcglobal.net>
11315 Iberia Dr., Houston, TX 77065,
Ph: 281-948-5870 USA - November
20, 2005 at 12:24PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Enjoyed browsing the Spence Air Base
website and seeing the old sights
again. I was in 54-P and Grady Klutz was my instructor under Scott
Fitzgerald (PA-18A and T-6G) . -- I well remember Ike’s visits in
the Columbine and Bevo’s inspiring demos in his Jungmeister, not to
mention the hilarious J-3 act I think was done by ‘Smokey’
Havelka. Does anybody know where Frank Havelka lives? Is it
in Illinois? I think I just met a family
link of his. -- A keen memory remains of a night (during T-6 night
transition)
when classmate Lt. Lockett (Cowboy) Pundt walked into the Flight Ops
with
a bloody lip and a T-6 throttle tightly clenched in his left fist.
Incredibly,
his engine had quit after take-off and instead of landing straight
ahead
off the base he made a turn toward the ‘sod’ where we had soloed the
Cubs.
Before he could roll out of his turn, his wingtip caught the ground and
cartwheeled
the Texan. Wings, engine and empennage snapped off but the
cockpit
remained intact and almost upright. He climbed out and walked in
to
Ops. He flew a couple days later and proceeded to graduate with
the
rest of us. -- There’s nothing spectacular or distinguishing about my
short
USAF career, except that I survived 2800 hours of C-119 time,
instructed
in a Reserve squadron after active duty, and resigned as Captain.
I
quit flying at about 9,000 hours after selling aircraft (Beech), being
a
corporate pilot (King-Air, DH-125), owning an air taxi company, and
operating the airport for 1 year at Paris, TN. Thanks to the
great start given me at Spence, I enjoyed every bit of my flying
career. Notable passengers on my birds: Elvis, Hubert Humphrey,
Gerald Ford, George Wallace,
3-Dog Night. -- 54-P classmate Lt. Bill Fisher stayed in and became a
KC135
Wing Commander, I think at Ramey, P.R. Bill sang in the base
choir
at Spence. He and I had been college classmates at Tulsa, as
well.
-- Thanks for the great reminders of the good life.
Rod Fenn <fennr@bellsouth.net>
Charlotte, NC USA Phone: 704-334-0632 x
3147 - November 3, 2005 at 9:54AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings from Gopher 13 (Bob Clark,
56-V) to Gopher 10. Bruce,
I am little concerned that if you still remember me after all
these
years it must be because Gopher 13 required a little more instruction
than
the other guys. Seriously, it is great to to be back in touch and
the
fact that I am still alive must be due, in part, to your early efforts.
--
After Spence, I went to Reese and flew B-25s, then to Germany to fly
SA-16s
and C-47s. The C-47 mission was to fly into Russia in case of war and
pick
up downed SAC pilots. Thank God we never had to try that one, but
it
entailed long hours of very low-level flying and lots of short field
work.
A gooney bird with 4 JATO bottles is spectacular. Then back in
California, I again flew the SA-16 and accumulated lots of water
landings. I seemed to have become trapped in the older aircraft
because I ended up in Korea flying
recon of the DMZ in C-47s. This was done at 15,000 feet
maintaining 1000 meters South of the line. This caused lots
of turns which were made flat so the side-mounted camera could continue
clicking. In essence a series of very big skids. I think we
actually bent a couple of aircraft in the process. -- I continued in
the C-47 and then picked up a bunch of
time in the C-54. Mostly, I remember that everything in the
Pacific seemed to be 10 or 11 hours in the C-54. Why waste all
that time computing?
Just fill her up and fly all day and then look around. I always
liked big aircraft and I got to fly some. The C-133 (big and slow
and more trouble than you can imagine). I also flew C-130s and
loved every
model, especially the H series which was like a hot rod after the
others.
My favorite aircraft was the Canadair CL-44. I flew this for two
years on exchange duty with the Canadians. I also flew Convairs
and even
Otters along the way. -- In Viet Nam, I once again got tapped for the
old
Gooney and flew Vietnamese aircraft with Vietnamese crews. Many
of
the airplanes still had French markings in the cockpit. I put in
my
last five years at Eglin AFB, retired here and worked for the State of
Florida
for another 20 years before retiring again. Along the way I
married,
had three kids (one of whom is a USAF Nurse Major) and now have two
grandkids
living in Oregon. One graduates from High school next year.
All
in all that is about it. I had a good career and flew during
almost
all of it.
Fort Walton Beach, FL USA - October 22,
2005 at 10:27AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bruce,
my son and grandson found your website much to my surprise and
pleasure. I graduated from Spence in Class 54-P and am interested
in
locating other members of my class. I would appreciate hearing
from
any of my classmates and would like to know if anyone has a directory
of
54-P members. If so, I would certainly appreciate a copy.
Jack L. Lively <
jacklively@yahoo.com>
1216 West 4th Street, Coffeyville, KS
67337 USA - September 8, 2005 at
6:13PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Came across this great site just the
other day. I and five other
guys graduated with the Class of 44-C, went on to P-40 transition at
Tifton, GA, P-47 RTU in Richmond, VA, and joined the 79th Fighter Group
on Corsica in July 1944. Our names were Angyal, Arnold, Ascenzie,
Benito, Bond and Bratt. Last one is me. Two of us were
POW's, one KIA, one badly wounded and returned to US, and two made it
to end of war w/o a scratch. Ground support in Fighter/bombers
was a bit dicey.
Albert V. Bratt Jr. <
avbratt@aol.com
Lake City, FL USA - August 25, 2005 at
3:15PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
An informal Spence/Hawthorne reunion is planned
for October 7-8, 2005 in Moultrie, GA at the Hampton Inn where it was
held the last time we met. For details contact Vivion S. Griner,
1862 U.S. Hwy 319 South, Moultrie, Ga. 31768, Phone 229-985-3048. You
must make your own reservations at the Hampton Inn if you are coming.
All former Spence
personnel, civilian and military, including former Student Officers,
Aviation
Cadets and others are welcome.
Otha H. "Skeet" Vaughan, Jr. (Class 52-G) <
skeetv@knology.net>
Huntsville, AL USA – August 21, 2005 at 9:34PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
stumbled upon the Spence Air Base site much by accident, while doing
some research for my family tree. Any Spence interests me and
your site
was a real surprise. My father trained to be a bombardier
during
WW II, but he never told me about an air base with the family
surname.
I will certainly try to look up the namesake, Lt. Thomas Lewis
Spence.
Congratulations on putting together a topnotch website.
Larry D. Spence <
larry.d.spence@earthlink.net>
Poinciana, FL USA - July 19, 2005 at 3:02PM
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nice
site. It brought back lots of memories. I was in Class
56-A. I think we were the first class to use the
T-34/T-28 versus the old Cub/T-6. You are right. The main
recollection was of Mama K. She fixed me up with several dates
with
local girls and nobody could complain about the food. The other
memory
was of the tour path. I was always in trouble; hardly ever went a
weekend
without being on the tour path. I went on to Vance AFB for basic
training
in B-25s and then on to SAC, flying B-47s for eight years and ended up
with
24 years in the Air Force.
Augustine R. 'Gus' Letto <
lettog@att.net>
Albuquerque, NM USA - July 13, 2005 at 9:18AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name
is Arthur Koshak. I was in Pilot Class 55K and have
many
fond memories of Spence. My instructor there was Robert
Montgomery and
would like to get information on him. I graduated from Pilot
Training at Vance AFB, OK in March 1955 and stayed in until retirement
in June, 1974. What a great website!
Arthur Koshak (<
arthur064@centurytel.net>
Park Falls, WI USA - July 1, 2005 at 1:32PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Andrew Spence, age 16, and
since hearing about Spence Air
Base I've been trying to find out more about it. My family has
its roots in Georgia and the name of the base caught my eye. As
someone who
would like to get into flying school at some point in my life, the
finding
that Spence is once again involved in Air Force pilot training is like
a
gold nugget found in a rocky field. Thanks a lot for
posting
this site!
Andrew Spence <
HELMETTESTER@cinci.rr.com>
Ohio USA - June 17, 2005 at 1:55PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Richard Seely and I was a
member of the Aviation Cadet
Class of 57-I. We graduated in August of 1956 -- my goodness that
was almost 50 years ago! I remember the good food and the
wonderful flying.
Thanks for the very nice web site and the wonderful memories.
Dick Seely <
tarheel1998@earthlink.net>
USA - June 4, 2005 at 3:57PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Spence website is a long step back in time, Bruce, and it's obvious
that it means a lot to many people. I wish to add my deepest
appreciation for what you've done for all of us who lived in the
Spence/Moultrie community during that great era. I lived on
Spence for two of the best years
of my childhood. My dad, Bob Levy, was CO from '54 to '56 and he
and
my mom, Eileen, have never forgotten the wonderful people they knew
there
-- both on base and in town. I recall well many of their civilian
friends, some of whom had children my age (nine to eleven). I
remember being paid ten cents a pound for picking cotton on the Odom
and Funderburk farms.
I attended Central Elementary and have been in touch with a few of my
classmates. Robby Lenihan and Lee Hackney -- are you still in Moultrie?
After Spence,
my dad spent almost four years in Bangkok and his last assignment there
was
as chief of the Air Force section, JUSMAG. He then spent several
years
at the Pentagon in the Southeast Asia section, then to
Evereaux-Fauville, France, for a year and a couple of years in
Wiesbaden, Germany. He
had a wing at Lockbourne AFB, OH, and his final assignment was as
Director
of Ops for Ninth Air Force, Shaw AFB, SC. He retired in '70 and
he
and Mom still live in Sumter. As does everyone who was at Spence
in
the fifties, I remember very fondly Mama K, Bevo Howard (who took me
for
a thrilling plane ride), and Ike and Mamie's visits. Among many
other
adults, I also remember Bill and Mary Peck and Joe Buldoc (sp) who was
a
good diver and used to bounce off his butt on the high dive. Paul
McComb
was the pool lifeguard. Among my friends on base I remember very
fondly
Phyllis Savoy, Mike Ziegler, Nancy Palmer, and David and Tommy Holcomb,
with
whom my brother, Geoff, and I spent many great days playing baseball.
I'd sure like to hear from them. Thank you again,
Bruce.
Brien Levy <blevy@levylawfirm.org>
Columbia, SC USA - May 31, 2005 at 1:44PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am Yves Leroy living in the south
of France. I was a French
student in Class 53-C at Spence Field, then went to Bryan Field, Texas
where I graduated on the F84. Next I went for gunnery training to
Luke Field, Arizona.
Then I went back to France in a sqadron at Reims on F84’s. After
a
year I became a Student Instructor, then Instructor in the French
Airforce
on T33’s. In 1953 they were asking for volunteers to go to
helicopter
training ... which I did. After graduating I was sent to fly for
the
International Commission in Laos at the China frontier. In 1958 I
went
to Algeria and during that time I passed the Plane & Helicopter
Commercial
License. At the end of 1959 I found a job with Bristow
Helicopters
and I stayed with that Company until I retired at the end of
1985.
I flew in many countries .... Bolivia, India, Rhodesia, Iran, Pakistan,
Nigeria,
Equatorial Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia and so on .... Bell 47,
Sykorsky
55 & 58 (piston engine & turbine) S205, S212, S206, Hillers
(many
types) and I finshed in the S61. When I was in Bolivia In the
jungle
I was also flying the DH Beaver. I did a lot of different types
of
works. I enjoyed very much my stay in the states and maybe
somebody
will remember me, then they can contact me. I have many good
memories.
Amities to All.
Yves Leroy <
Vyorell@aol.com>
Southern France - April 7, 2005 at 6:15AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cl
ass 59-D. (Fireball 43) Just found
the site. Great
work.
Brings back fond memories. Since I married a Moultrie girl, I
visit Spence fairly frequently.
William L. "Bill" Jowers <
jowersb@bellsouth.net>
Columbia, SC USA - April 5, 2005 at 6:01AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Found the web-site thru the 61-D site
several months ago and enjoy
checking the visitors page especially when I see notes from some former
classmates.
I read Gale Webb's note (3/20/03) with interest. As I remember,
Gale and I were the last 2 members of our flight to finish the T-28
phase on
just about the last day of flying. We both had about an hour left
to do and the weather was pretty marginal. I went up toward
Tifton
and spent most of the time flying a holding pattern just at the base of
the
cloud deck. I never saw Gale until I headed back to Spence to
land.
The note from Bobby Smith (4/18/03) caused me to look thru some
pictures
from that time and I found one I had taken when we were at Daytona
Beach
on Easter weekend in 1960. It shows Smitty, Mike Connaughton, and
Fran Hublou on the beach chatting up a young lady identified as
Dot.
George Golding (7/8/04) and I were in Bravo 1 at Lackland, then Spence,
and Vance, where I left the program. I met Bill Hayes (2/17/05),
one
of the all around good guys, at Lackland. Good site for stirring
up
memories! I still have my solo cap.
Jim Goodsell, Gopher 22 <
JJimrg@aol.com>
Richfield, OH USA - April 2, 2005 at 11:54AM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
C
lass 55K, Spence AB, Moultrie, Ga.,
was my introduction to flying,
first in the Piper PA-18 and then the T-6. I felt that my
instructor never let me land the PA-18, and that he was so heavy on the
controls he
never realized all the bad landings he charged as mine were really
his.
Mr. A.L. Grimmett, Flight Commander (Flight B-1) had to step in around
10-11
hours as my instructors other students had soloed in the 7-8 hour
range.
While always mild mannered off the flight line, Mr. Grimmett was most
authoritarian once you were in the "washing machine" - step one out of
the pilot training program. He informed me in no uncertain terms
that both my ground
and in-flight procedures required much additional work. His
critique
continued throughout the flight UNTIL final approach; when he turned
mute
and placed both hands on my shoulders from the rear seat. It
suddenly
dawned on me that I was about to make what I felt was my FIRST
unassisted
landing in a PA-18. It was a GREASE job and the only way I
detected
that I was on the ground was rising and falling on the rough
ground.
Immediately, the critique began anew! Same song, second verse
until
turning onto final approach when the back seat went mute, again.
A
second GREASE job landing and Mr. Grimmett instructed me to pull over
and
let him out. --- It was the same story with the T-6 landings, and Mr.
Grimmett,
again. This time too he had many "suggestions" for improvement of
my
flying ability and repeated much the same verbiage as in the
PA-18.
Again, as in the PA-18, I felt these were my FIRST unassisted landings
in
the T-6 and Mr. Grimmett soloed me after two GREASE jobs. --- It was
only
after completing T-28 training and well into the T-33 did I get a clue
to
my possible PA-18 & T-6 landing problems with my Primary
instructor.
I flew first period and another student flew second period with 1/Lt
Truxal.
When 1/Lt Truxal returned to the instructors desk and his students, he
slammed
his helmet on the concrete floor and yelled: "I'll be damned if I
will
ever fly you and Swift the same day ever again! Swift wants to
land the plane 50 ft. under the runway and you want to land the plane
50 ft.
above the runway. I can't stand it". He never flew with
both
of us on the same day again, and I learned to start my round out high
enough
to allow for a smooth transition to a landing attitude before
touchdown.
--- After graduation from Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas, Mar 13, 1955,
there
was no need for fighter pilots and I was sent to C.A.A. Air Traffic
Control
school, Okla. City, OK., followed by orders to Roswell AFB, Roswell,
N.M.;
followed by orders in Jan. 1956 to Toul-Rosieres AB, France and a month
later
to Hahn AB, Germany, on the Mosel River. While with AACS 2nd Mob., I
was
sent to the 1957 Int'l Air Show, Paris, France. January 1958, I
was
out of the Air Force and back at Georgia Tech as a senior, and
graduated
a year later. Retired from the Air Force Reserves with twenty
years
and now live in Hendersonville, N.C. I am currently the Immediate
Past-President
of the Military Officers Association of America N.C. Council of
Chapters.
--- Spence was the brightest and MOST enjoyable of my life's
experiences
and will always remain so and it is not my intention for this to appear
negative.
In spite of my comments above my Primary instructor at Spence (Robert
Montgomery)
was a great instructor as compared to all the other flying instructors
to
whom I was exposed. Spence AB and all the cadets are
forever
fresh in my mind, as is Mr. Grimmett. He is responsible for
sending
me to Webb AFB and my being a fighter pilot.
Richard S. Swift <
rswift@mchsi.com>
Hendersonville, NC USA - March 29, 2005 at 6:03PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations for the superb site
covering Spence Air Base. I
was there, as a French Aviation Cadet, a very long time ago. I
was
one of “those crazy Frenchmen” in Class 54-L. I started in
San
Antonio, nearly 3 months without flying, then on to Spence for training
in the PA-18 and T-6. My instructor was Vernon Magners.
After
Spence it was Webb AFB (Big Springs,Texas) for training in the
T-28.
It was there that I had my wings clipped - I was eliminated at the
final
test in close formation. This was very hard to live with, believe
me. Nevertheless I have had a good career, on the ground, in the
optical
business. At Spence I roomed with a Belgian Cadet and a US Cadet
Major,
Roger Mathiasen, who was like a big brother (nearly a mother) to
us.
As I recall, his older brother had been a WW2 bomber pilot. Roger
made a career of the USAF where he was a highly decorated fighter
pilot,
flying, among others, the F-86, F-100, F-105, F-111 and F-5. He
was
based in West Germany for fours years during the Cold War and in
Thailand
during the Viet Nam War where he flew over 100 F-105 missions over
North
Viet Nam. He received the Silver Star and eleven Air
Medals.
He later returned to Thailand a second time, flying additional
missions,
in the F-111. He graduated from both the Armed Forces Staff
College
and the US Army War College and held several important administrative
positions
with the USAF. He retired as a bird Colonel in 1979, then
continued
to fly professionally as a civilian for another 15 years.
Unfortunately
he passed away, prematurely, in September 2000. Colonel Roger
Mathiasen
was a great man, as you would say in english “A gentleman”, and he was
my
best friend.
Bernard Lemarchand, Class 54-L
Bihorel-Rouen, France - March 21, 2005 at 3:14AM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
I am trying to find out information
about Spence Field to see if a
class ring found by my late mother-in-law in downtown Moultrie might
belong to
one of the cadets. The ring is from "Air
Corps
Advanced Flying School, U. S. Army, Class
of
1942". The initials RMC 42-B are engraved inside the ring.
If
you have any information that might be helpful, would you please
provide that to me. I would like to return the ring to the owner
if possible.C. F. Smith <
esbcmoultrie@planttel.net>
Moultrie, GA USA - March 17, 2005 at 9:25AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
(March 2005) After more
than 46 years, I finally had an
opportunity to return to Spence Field . I always wanted to go
back one
more time, there was an impelling need. It certainly is not the
airbase
I so fondly remember. In fact it provided a high and a low at the
same
time, whatever that might be. There is very little difficulty in
navigating
the old airbase, the roads are pretty much the same. The guard
gates
are gone but the entrance is still there. The major landmarks are
the
water tower and the control tower. The water tower no longer
sports
its red and white checkerboard pattern that we all looked for to let us
know
we were at the right place to land. The three large hangars
adjacent
to the old ramp area are still there as well. On another note, I
recently
had an opportunity to visit the Udvar-Hazy facility at Dulles and see
Bevo Howard's Bucher Jungmeister in its inverted position. That
is not
the attitude that I remember from my days at Spence - rather I remember
its
three point stance on the flight-line in front of one of the large
hangars
when taxiing in from a training flight. The access to the old
flight-line
is unrestricted. You are able to drive into areas that are either
close
to or onto runways we used to use. I think my wife was amused as
I
drove our car onto closed runway 4/22 and lined up on the centerline
marker
for my take-off roll. The take-off roll was quickly aborted by
obstacles
as light poles and buildings were everywhere. At near-by active
runway
14/32, I observed two small control towers (two stories) that I believe
have
something to do with USAF flight operations from Moody AFB. I
would be interested in knowing more about auxiliary operations at
Spence - I was
there on a Saturday and did not expect to see any activity.
Returning
to Carter Avenue and the former Aviation Cadet area, nothing remains
above
ground level. Away from the flight-line, I could identify almost
no
other structures from the 1950s. I was particularly interested in
the
old golf course as I recall driving the first green (300+ as I recall)
on
one occasion. The golf course is gone and is the home of some
sort
of correctional institution. It is a period of time during my
life
that I will never forget.
Ray Sack, Class 60-E <
rfsack@comcast.net>
Owings Mills, MD USA - March 15, 2005 at 7:12 PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks for a great web site.
But my father, Henry J. Maddox is
missing.
I have his Vertigo Class Books from Classes 53-G, 54-H, 55-Q & 56-G
and have attached a photo that I scanned from 55-Q. I would
really appreciate it if you could add his picture to the Instructor
page. By all accounts, his students thought a lot of him.
He was killed in a car accident
near Camilla, GA on September 18, 1955.
Grant Maddox <
gmaddox6@mchsi.com>
Fitzgerald, GA USA - March 14, 2005 at 9:46AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Just browsed your website. Very
enjoyable. My father, Teddy
Dunn, was an instructor at Spence from 1954 until closing. Have
good memories of Spence. Attended several recent reunions and
enjoyed many stories about Spence. My father died Dec. 7, 2004.
William "Buster" Dunn <
w.dunn@mchsi.com>
Moultrie, GA USA - March 13, 2005 at 1:45PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
It is so nice to see a web-site dedicated to Spence Air
Base.
It brings to life a part of my daddy's life that I only heard about
because I was so young. Thank you for the fine job you are
doing. It
makes me very proud. I found my daddy's picture on the website
and
cried. He's been dead 20 years now but it still brings tears to
my
eyes. I was born in 1950's while he was an instructor pilot at
Spence.
I would love to hear from some of the men he trained. That would
be
so great!
Kathryn Gray Wright, daughter of Henry C. Gray, Instructor Pilot/Spence
Air Base <
kathryn_wright2@yahoo.com>
USA - March 11, 2005 at 2:01PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you look at the 'Hawthorne' page of this Spence site you will
find,
alongside the picture of Bevo Howard that of Bert Harsh, Vice President
and General Manager of the company. Bert stayed on in
Moultrie when the Hawthorne school closed and became a pillar of the
community, the local library and of the Presbyterian church there.
I much regret that I heard from Mrs. Doris Harsh that Bert passed
away at the age of 87 at the Colquitt Regional Medical Center on
Saturday 26 February 2005. Bert and Doris had been very kind to
my wife and to me when we visited them in Moultrie a little while ago
and I felt I owed it to them to let the many
students and staff at Spence who read this site know of his
passing.
He was a good, kind and friendly man; we shall miss him.
John Perrott, ex-RAF, Class 53C <johnperrott@waitrose.com>
March 11, 2005 at 9:36AM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings
to all, I was an Aviation Cadet member of Class 61-F, the
first class to train in T-37's at Spence and the next-to-last Aviation
Cadet class. I remember how wonderful it was to fly brand
spanking new T-37-B's
right out of the Cessna factory. Flew T-33's in basic and KC-97's
on
active duty. My next active duty tour was with United Airlines
for
32+ years. Ended my UAL career flying the 747-400 around the
Pacific. UAL is trying to take away our pensions and I have
downsized to an
Aeronca 7AC conversion. You can see photos of my latest plane and
see
many photos of the devastation to Punta Gorda Airport during Hurricane
Charley
on Fri, 13th, 2004 at the following website. - -
https://home.comcast.net/~ddugas11/champ/champ.htm
Don Dugas <
ddugas11@comcast.net>
Punta Gorda, FL USA - March 4, 2005 at 7:58PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is William F. Kerschner
[formerly spelled Koerschner]. I
was an aviation cadet at Spence from Nov. 1956 until June 1957 as a
member of class 58-E. Our class was held back for two weeks
because of south Georgia weather [morning fog pumped in by Pogo]
and we went on to
Basic as class 58-F. I graduated and got my pilot wings on 18 Jan
1958 at Greenville AFB Mississippi. Retired from the Wis. Air
National
Guard in Jan 1976 as Lt. Col. I flew for Delta Air Lines from
Nov.
1964 until Feb. 1997 [over 32 years].
Capt. William [Bill] F. Kerschner, MD-11, PDX, Delta Air lines
[Retired] <
kerschner88@earthlink.net>15200
Hidden Glen Ct., Elm Grove, WI 53122-2007, tel. 262.784.5618 -
March 1, 2005 at 2:35PM
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As a fledgling aspiring pilot from
the Netherlands, I came to Spence
AFB in Sep 51 till March 52 as a member of aviation cadet class
52F. I
remember the weekend party's in the cadet club and the nice lady's in
the
restaurant on the base. Also the nice dances we had with the
local
young women. Everybody was very friendly. I have great
memories
of my time in Moultrie. After flying the T6 at Spence, I went on
to
Craig AFB to train on the P51, where we got our wings. Then on to
Luke
AFB for gunnery training. I flew the T33 and F84G in the
RDAF til the end of 1956. Wonderful site, I will check back often
to see
if there are any entries of MAYBE somebody I remember. My
instructor
at Spence was Les Williams.
Felix Geraets <
fger30@yahoo.com>
Syracuse, NY USA - February 18, 2005 at
5:16PM
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Great web site - it took me on a time
machine. I flew the last
T-28 flight at Spence as part of 61 Delta - all T-37's after that.
Bill Hayes, <
BILLHAYES555@aol.com>
2700 NE 51st Street, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33308 USA - February 17, 2005
at 3:01 PM
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Cadet in 58 E. Retired from AF
1979. Excellent site.
Thanks to you for the site and thanks to all supported us at
Spence. Special thanks to my instructor, Jack Fletcher.
Robert E. Fielding <
ref@motion.net>
Auburn, IL USA - February 12, 2005 at
12:14PM
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As a retired "Navy" Pilot that had basic training in N2S Stearman's,
Intermediate in SN-J Texans, and finished in SB-D Douglas Dauntless
Dive Bombers
and then into F4U Corsair Fighter Aircraft in WW II, then served in
three
wars to retire in 1972. From the open cockpit of the Stearman to
the
early jet squadrons to supersonic flight --- is quite a stretch.
Along
with 71 missions in Korea off the USS Essex CV-9 in the F2H-2
Banshee. Spence Field is a fine rememberance for the Spence name.
I'm proud to
add my comments.
Wayne J. Spence, Lcdr. USNR (Ret.) <
WSpence106@aol.com>
Willow Springs, MO USA - February 8, 2005 at 10:03AM
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Thanks for the site. Brings
back memories of childhood.
Father, Jim Lewis, served as Air Traffic Controller until base
closed. Fond rememberances of the picnics, Bevo's air shows,
parades, etc. Does
anyone remember riding on "Wendy Windham's" fire truck? Still
have
home movies of a trip to Dairy Queen. Have copies of Spence story
my
father gave me. Will locate and try to scan pictures to send to
those
who request. Anyone remember Billy Wells and his sister.
Mickey
McDill and his sister. And of course, Bevo Jr, his sister and
brother
Demi.
James R. Lewis Jr (Jim) <
jlewis9833@aol.com>
176 Davenport Road Asheville, NC 28806, 828-252-3475, fax 828-251-1559
- January 25, 2005 at 8:44PM
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Yes, you have definitely done a great
job on putting Spence memories
back in my mind. I was a cadet, member of the supposedly "last
class" of cadets, at Spence in Class 61F. George Biggerstaff was
my instructor.
He was a tall, ruddy, red headed Georgia red neck who always carried a
benji stick (split bamboo wrapped with surgical tape) which he
frequently used
from the back seat of the T-34 to hit his errant pilot on the head when
he
wasn't doing as he was told. Spence was a great combination of
the
community and military working together in an environment of mutual
support.
The fond memories I have always generates a broad smile and quiet
peacefulness to mind.
John Puckropp <
ColPuck@charter.net>
USA - January 17, 2005 at 11:54AM
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Wonderful
website. Thank You. H. Gordon Sheppard (A/C Ol
Shep) Class 59-D. I was priviledged to be in Gopher Flight with
instructor Henry "Hank" Caudill, my call sign Gopher 77 and the closest
thing to Heaven a guy who loved airplanes could ever attain. I do
not think any of
us will forget what we learned with the best instructors on this
planet.
On to Greenville, Miss and the T-33. Graduated Nov. 58.
Luke
F-84F. Va ANG and the F-86H. Del ANG. 30 years EAL
Capt
A-300. Bevo Howard was my Hero -- still is in my heart.
Anybody
out there? Drop a line ..
Gordon Sheppard <
2shep@plantationcable.net>
Beautiful Lake Oconee, GA USA - January 13, 2005 at 3:08PM
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My name is Ray Moorman and I was an
Aviation Cadet member of Class 58-E
at Spence from Nov 1956 thru Jun 1957. My class was held back 2
weeks and I went to Greenville AFB as Class 58-F, graduating on 18 Jan
1958.
I have started to try and locate classmates and would appreciate if
anyone, either from this class, or knows anyone from this class, put
them in contact with me.
MG Raymond E. Moorman, USAF (Ret) (
REMoor@aol.com)
2807 Shetterly Ln, Centerville, OH, 45440. Phone: (937) 434-4209
- January 10, 2005 at 11:04PM
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My name is George R. Partridge, Air
Force Pilot Class 56-V. I
entered the Aviation Cadet Program from the Air Force enlisted ranks as
Airman First Class. Began Preflight at Lackland (as most did)
June 55. Spence AB for Primary Sep 55 to Apr 56. Then Bryan
AFB, Bryan, TX Apr 56 to Sep 56. Advanced training at Moody AFB,
Valdosta, GA in the F-94C. Then to New Castle County Airport,
Wilmington, DE Feb 57 where I was assigned to my old squadron in which
I had been an F-94C crew chief for two years. I flew my old F-94C
#531 that I had crewed from its initial assignment to the squadron -
brand new! My old crew chief buddies didn't try to
"smoke" me on the preflights! Vietnam: three temporary duty tours
for 13 months cumulative: 1961 as a Tactical Air Command mobile
radar
controller, Tan San Nhut AB, Saigon; 1965 as a Forward Air Controller
(FAC)
for the US First Infantry Division, Lai Khe (Ben Cat); and 1972 as
Fighter
Duty Officer, Tactical Air Control Center (TACC), Tan San Nhut.
Did 33+ years then retired. Worked 10 years as job placement
specialist
for the mentally disabled in a local center. Bruce, this is a
fantastic
web site! Thanks. Lots of work! Very well done!
George R. Partridge (
gpartridge56v@knology.net)
Prattville, AL USA - December 22, 2004 at 7:58PM
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We learned of this website from our 4
1/2 year old granddaughter Leah's
"other" Grandaddy who was at Spence a couple of years after my husband,
Charles J. "Chuck" Lievrouw, who was there in 1952 in Class 53-D.
He graduated from Enid OK in 53 in multi engines. The other
Grandaddy is Bob Johnson who was a student officer in 56-V I
think. We love the web site, I printed most everything
there for Chuck to read - he doesn't use the computer so I get info for
him. Thanks for the Spence Site, it really brings back
memories. I am from Albany Georgia and we have been married
52+ years.
Eloise (Mrs. Chuck Lievrouw) (
ELievrouw@aol.com)
Fort Worth, TX USA - December 20, 2004
at 3:40PM
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My name is Jack Francisco and was in
Class 56-V at Spence. What
a beautiful job you have done with this site!! I flew the T-34
and
T-28 there and then on to the T-33 at Bryan AB, TX. Went to