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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wayne Braswell < wbraswell@bellsouth.net > USA - Feb 16, 2013 at 10:28AM Photo added to bottom row of Instructor Pilots on INSTRUCTORS page I
was a cadet in
class
57-R.
Soloed the
T-34 on my
22nd birthday,
August 1,
1956.
Ray Clayton
taught me to
fly and he
must have done
a good job;
5000 hours and
never bent the
sheet metal.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Ed Carr (gloriaanded@cox.net) USA - Feb 10, 2013 at 12:05PM My
name is Felix
Geraets (
Royal Dutch
AF). I
was an
aviation cadet
in Class
52-F.
Would love to
hear from
anybody of
52-F at Spence
AB. My
instructor was
Les
Williams.
I really
enjoyed my
time at
Spence.
I'll never
forget my stay
there and
Moultrie.
Felix Geraets < felixp51@gmail.com > USA - Feb 04, 2013 at 4:41PM ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ My
name is John
McEvoy.
I was at
Spence in
Class
53-E. It
is truly a
thrill to
visit your
site as it
brings back
many pleasant
memories.
My Spence
Instructors
were Ira
Misenheimer
and Henry C.
Gray.
Both were
excellent
instructors
and fine
men. I
spent three
years in SAC
at Loring AFB
then went to
Boeing Flight
Test.
Would love to
hear from
those in my
class.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________John McEvoy < mcevoyjohn167@yahoo.com > USA - Feb 03, 2013 at 9:51AM Do
you remember
the Spence Air
Base monthly
publication by
Hawthorne
called the
“Hawthorne
Herald.”
The Museum of
Colquitt Co.
would love to
get copies of
as many of
these as
possible.
If anyone has
copies and
would like to
place them
where they
will really be
appreciated
please contact
me. We
saw a group of
these on ebay
recently but
did not win
them.
This is the
first any of
us knew they
existed.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________"Clint Chafin" <clint.chafin@mcleanengineering.com> Moultrie, GA USA - Jan 23, 2013 at 11:35AM Edward
Sullivan of
Class
59-E.
What a
wonderful web
site. I
have sat here
for over 3
hours by the
clock and it
seems like I
just sat
down.
Wow!
Thank you for
the wonderful
memories.
My wife is
from Moultrie
Jeanette
Sellars
(Moultrie grad
class of 1954)
and we come to
Moultrie to
visit friends
and relatives
often.
The Cadet club
was where I
met my wife of
54
years.
The Chapel was
where we were
married.
The O'Club was
where we had
the
reception.
The other
places were
remembered
with equally
great
joy.
Before I left
Spence for
Reese AFB TX,
my finance and
I were
engaged.
I returned at
Christmas of
58 to the
coldest spell
I ever
remember in
GA. We had 5
Cuban, 5
Vietnamese, 2
Bolivian, 1
Guatemalan,
and 12
American
Students in
our graduation
class at
Reese.
So we were
certainly a
diverse
group.
We were told
that we would
actually
graduate a
week early
(Jan 21 1959)
from Reese,
because Jimmy
Doolittle and
the Secretary
of the Air
Force was to
be at our
graduation
since it was
the last class
that flew the
B25's.
We all went on
leave over
Christmas,
little did we
know to expect
changes.
My lovely to
be Bride made
all the
arrangements
for the
wedding on the
day we were to
have actually
graduated.
It was all
set.
There were
several
unexpected
events that
happened.
Not all the
Cuban students
were allowed
to come back
as Castro had
become the
dictator.
Luckily they
came back a
few days late
and completed
the
course.
I learned of a
change that we
could not
graduate
early, because
we really were
not 2nd Lt's
for another
week and that
would
complicate a
lot of
things.
So I had a
problem of
being in two
places at the
same time
several
thousand miles
apart. I
talked to the
Tactical
Officer and
was told to
change the
Wedding.
That went over
very
well!!!
Anyway it all
worked out and at
0600 on Jan 28
1959 my best
man, Daniel T.
Berube, and I
raised our
right hands
and were sworn
in. And,
there were
several
instructor
pilots who
were willing
to get a few
more hours in
the "Old bird"
and agreed to
take a cross
country to
Turner AFB,
GA. The
instructors
would not let
me at the
controls.
They said my
judgement was
not good
enough that
day!!!!
We landed at
Turner AFB
about 14:00
hours and were
driven by my
Brother in Law
to
Moultrie.
In one day I
said the best
two words I
ever said in
my life,
"I
DO".
I was a single
Officer for
less than 12
hours.
The rest is
history.
I retired from
the Air
Force in 1979
after 24
years. I
flew more than
10 different
types of
aircraft and
over 7,000
hours of
flying
time. I
look back and
see that what
I learned and
done at Spence
was the basis
for much of my
future
success.
One of the
greatest joys
I have had in
the last few
years is
finding and
communicating
with many of
my Aviation
Cadet
classmates.
What a
wonderful
group of
guys.
May God
continue to
bless America
with such men!
Edward Sullivan <sulliraf@bellsouth.net> USA - Jan 20, 2013 at 1:00PM _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Otha H "Skeet" Vaughan Jr, Class 52G < skeetv@knology.net > USA - Sept 17, 2012 at 2:30PM Mike Perry <mperremail@yahoo.com> USA - Aug 24, 2012 at 2:30 pm As
someone who
loves the
History of
Moultrie/Colquitt
Co., I have a
request for
all who served
at Spence
Field. I
would like to
ask all of you
if you would
send me your
autograph.
Would you
please put
your Rank and
what year(s)
you were at
Spence.
This would
mean a lot to
me. As I said
before, I love
local
history.
If any of you
are ever in
Moultrie,
please come by
and visit the
Museum of
Colquitt Co.
History.
We are open on
Fridays,
Saturdays
(10am – 5pm)
and Sundays
(2pm –
5pm).
You can also
call the
Museum and
arrange a tour
(Groups or
individual).
Please call:
1-229-890-1626.
We would enjoy
having you
visit and you
will not be
disappointed.
Also, If you
would like to
donate an item
from Spence
Field, we
would love to
have it. You
can donate
your item(s)
or put on
loan.
May God Bless
all of you and
thanks for
your service
to our great
Country.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Clint Chafin, Museum President. < clint.chafin@mcleanengineering.com > 4789 Tallokas Rd., Moultrie, GA. 31788 USA - Jul 26, 2012 at 10:24AM My
father, Virgil
T. Michels
(they called
him Mike) was
a flight
instructor at
Spence when I
was very
young. I
think I was 3
when we moved
there & 7
when left
because they
planned to
close the
base. My
mother was
Yolanda.
I have two
brothers,
Mickey &
Dennis.
I remember
Col. Rogers
had a daughter
my age.
I loved living
in Moultrie
& remember
the airbase
very well,
especially the
pool!
Would be
interested in
knowing if
anyone
remembers my
dad.
Thank you.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Roxanne Michels <rmichels53@gmail.com> Paris IL USA - Jun 07, 2012 at 5:40PM Larry Hart, P CTR USAF AFMC WR-ALC/GRMIB < Larry.Hart@robins.af.mil > USA - Apr 12, 2012 at 11:24AM ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name
is Chuck
Bartlett and I
was a student
at Spence in
early
1956. I
would like to
ask about one
of my
instructors,
Veo "Swede"
Swenson.
Does anyone
know any thing
about
him? If
he is still
alive I would
like to
contact
him.
My class was
57-F.
One of my
Flight
Commanders was
Bob
Rose.
Any one that
can fill me in
would be
appreciated.
I spent 14
years in the
Air Force and
then a little
more than 27
years with
Northwest
Airlines
retiring in
1995 at age
60.Chuck Bartlett < gtcharli@aol.com > USA - Apr 05, 2012 at 7:45PM Ben Newell, former Spence
Instructor
Pilot, passed
away recently. He
started at
Spence about
the same time
I did. I
worked with
him in several
flights and he
was in my
flight for
some time
after I became
Flight
Commander.
He was a big
golfer at
Spence and was
well known
around
Moultrie.
I had
contacted him
a few months
ago after he
had a heart
attack and he
was not in
very good
shape then and
was living
with a
son. You
may want to
put a notice
on the Web for
the few of us
who are
left.
I'm sending
this obit just
as I received
it from a
friend of
his. Arnold Lester
< lester.arnold@yahoo.com
>
Hi - I was in
class 57-I
(T-34 &
T-28; Rebel
Flight, the
other 57-I
flight was
Black Sheep
Flight). I
believe that
unknown
instructor #9
in the “Early
Instructors”
photo on the
MEMORIES page
might be my
instructor
Billy Mace. Billy
flew Grumman
Avengers for
the Navy in
WW2, and for
me was a great
instructor -
demanding,
calm,
reasonable,
and thorough. I
remember Bob
McComb too,
and in fact
flew solo “in
formation”
with him back
from Tifton
once during a
thunderstorm
after
practicing
T&Gs there
(my first but
not last
formation
flight...). I
went on to
Webb AFB and
then Perrin
for 86D
training, and
then off to
Japan for 3
years with the
68th FIS. It’s
good to see
Spence once
more... lots
of great
memories!
John
Freese <
rmtht@hotmail.com
> Greeley,
CO USA - Feb.
3, 2012 at
9:04PM My late
father, Verne
Reisinger, was
an Aviation
Cadet at
Spence, Class
55-Q. He
went to
Williams AFB
after Spence. I
didn't come
along until a
year after he
graduated at Williams
in 1955, so I
never got a
chance to see
Spence. I
thoroughly
enjoyed the
website and
particularly
the slide
show. Now
I have some
idea of how
Spence
appeared back
then and I
thank and
commend those
responsible
for
contributing
the photos and
putting
together such
a nice
presentation.
--- I am a
full scale
pilot as well
as an RC pilot
and I would
like to paint
my T6G to
resemble any
of those used
at Spence. I
have my
father's
yearbook but
it is in all
B&W. If
anyone has
detailed
photos of the
T6 in color, I
would
appreciate
seeing them. I
would really
appreciate any
close-ups of
the training
emblem that
was painted on
the cowl. ---
Thanks again
for such a
thoughtful
site and I
enjoyed
reading many
of the entries
in this
guestbook. David Verne Reisinger <
daanddv@hotmail.com
> Carlisle, PA USA
- Dec 19, 2011
at 4:03PM _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Have enjoyed the Spence
Website.
Began my
aviation and
military life
at Spence in
Class 53-E. Stewart McLay <
stewart@digitalpath.net > USA - Nov 24, 2011 at 2:22PM I was a cadet at Spence in
class 61-F. I
was a yank
from Wisconsin
and being in
reb country
for the first
time in my
young life was
a real
experience. A
great
experience! Paul Saastad < psaast@hotmail.com
> USA – Nov 11, 2011 at 2:19PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If
you are aware
of the life
and times of
my father,
Beverly "Bevo"
Howard, you
probably know
that in 1947,
Bevo and
William
Strohmeier
co-wrote an
excellent
primary flying
textbook named
"You Can Learn
to Fly." --
Sometime
around 2001, I
came across a
discussion
among pilots
who were
discussing
this book and
the fact that
copies were no
longer
available.
That encounter
prompted me to
convert the
copy I had to
electronic
format and
re-release it
as an Acrobat
PDF EBook in
2004 and a few
of you
purchased it
on CD Rom. --
As EBooks
progressed
over the
Beverly Howard < Bev@BevHoward.com
> USA – Nov. 8, 2011 at 8:38PM http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062QD19I ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Les
Williams
(former Spence
IP) is
planning to
hold a Spence
Reunion at The
Hampton Inn in
Moultrie as we
have done
before. I
told Les that
I would help
him as much as
he needs me. We
are planning
to have the
reunion
starting with
people
arriving on
the afternoon
of October 7th
and hold the
first meeting
on the 8th. The
Hampton
Inn telephone
number is
229-616-7777. Vivion
Griner, who
has
coordinated
past reunions,
has been
having health
problems so
Les has
decided to
hold a very
simple reunion
this year.
All
former Cadets,
Instructors,
and Student
Officers for
Classes 52G
and 52 H are
invited and
any other
class members
that can
attend are
invited. Please
post this
information on
your Spence
Air Base Web
Site.
Otha
H "Skeet"
Vaughan Jr,
Class 52G <
skeetv@knology.net
> USA - Sept 18,
2011 at 4:30PM Arnold Lester < lester.arnold@yahoo.com > USA - August 25, 2011 at 6:52 PM ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
graduated in
the class of
60F. I
was Tiger 61 and my
instructor was
Ben Newell.
Went to Larado
AFB for jet
training in
the
T-Bird.
I just missed
the T-37 at
Spence.
Like everyone
I knew, it was
a great
experience.
When I last
visited
Moultrie, the
base reminded
me of the
scenes from
the movie, "12
O'Clock High"
when Dean
Jaeger biked
out to that
old WW II
airstrip and
then told the
story.
It was sad but
all of my
memories were
good of
Spence.
Ron Friday < ronniejay75@yahoo.com > USA - Aug 24, 2011 at 5:54 PM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name
is Butch
Lesley.
I am a retired
C-130
Loadmaster.
It was my
experiences as
a young boy
enteracting
with cadets
that
influenced me
to chose a
career in the
Air
Force.
My parents
worked at
Spence in the
mid
50's.
Dad, Woodrow
Lesley, was a
maintainence
foreman and
mom, Mabel
Lesley, was a
secretary for
one of the
commanders, I
am thinking it
was the base
commander but
I am not
sure. I
visited the
site this past
Sunday for the
first time
since we left
in 1956.
Was sad to see
what little is
left so
rundown.
Thank you for
your fine
site.Butch Lesley, Tsgt, USAF Ret < butchlesley@yahoo.com > USA - Aug 24, 2011 at 9:25 AM __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Abbey"
Abbaticchio,
class
57L....writing
memoir about
flying, with a
chapter about
Spence. The
theme is "Why
We Fly."
At my age (79)
just had a
crash in an
experimental
airplane and
what saved my
life was, "fly
it into a
crash" as Bevo
drummed into
us. And
as I laid in
the hospital
bed I decided
to write about
why we do
this. 22
years after
graduating
from Spence, I
happened by
Moultrie on
business and
decided to
have a
sentimental
look-see at
the old
base.
The guard at
the gate said
“there isn't a
week that goes
by without one
of you guys
coming
back." I
am writing to
find out why
this means so
much to all of
us. Be
glad to hear
from anybody.Robert “Abbey” Abbaticchio < nodotnocom@bellsouth.net > New Smyrna Beach, FL USA - Aug 8, 2011 at 8:03 PM We are trying to locate Ben Newell. He is a former Spence Instructor Pilot and a few years ago we helped him locate a T-6 for a Spence reunion. We have since lost touch with him. I hope someone can let us know his present contact information. Thanks. Jackie Dankos, 804-334-7533 < jdankos@regencyv.com > USA - July 13, 2011 at 7:09 AM My name is Robert Wavra. Just came across the Spence AB web site on the internet. WOW, what memories. I was in class 53B (T-6) then went to Bryan AB TX (T-28, T-33). I did not see my instructor Mr. Smith on the Instructors page. I believe it was H.G. Smith, but a long time to remember, I am 82yrs old. The one instructor I did recognize is Ray Arnold. I did not know him at the time I was at Spence but in the 1980s I meet him when we were both working at Southern Air Transport flying Lockheed L-382’s. I lost track of him when both of us turned 60yrs and retired from the airline (FAA rules at the time). Retired from the AF in 1971 and attended a few 53B reunions. Bob Wavra < rwavra@infionline.net > _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello, my name is Chaplain Philip Green. I am 97 years old. I was the Chaplain at Spence Air Field from late 1951 to January 1953. I will write lots more later about my experiences there, but if you care to contact me in the interim, you can reach me at the email address below. I am currently writing a book entitled "Much Alive at Ninety-Five". I know I said I'm 97 years old but writing a book takes awhile. The book mentions my time and experiences at Spence Air Field. I'll write more later. Chaplain Phil Green, Col., USAF Ret. < lambethphil@aol.com > Colorado Springs, CO USA – June 28, 2011 at 1:48 PM My name is Patsy Goodwin Bentz. I am originally from Moultrie. We are planning the 50th reunion of the Moultrie High School class of 1962 and are trying to locate classmate Ree Sumner. She was with us in the 8th through 10th grade and we think her father worked at Spence Air Base. If anyone knows her whereabouts please let me know. Thanks. Patsy
Bentz <abentz@moultriega.net> _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Charles Kreis <charles-kreis@comcast.net> 505-296-8995 USA - June 6, 2011 at 8:01 PM Class 55H, Feb - Aug '54. Instructor was David Spears. Great foundation for flying and I really enjoyed the tour. Frank Smith < fsmith2134@juno.com > Lynn Haven, FL USA – May 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM Judy
Phillips
Georgiades
<georgiades@embarqmail.com>
SunKissed
Alpaca Ranch
USA - April 4,
2001 at 12:04
pm
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I know my brother, Kap, has been in touch in the past about the time our Dad served at Spence during WW2. This weekend, I came across the attached documents in a file of my Grandparents and wondered if it's something you could use on the Spence page - it's a copy of the graduation program, as well as a thank you from the Class of 44B. Thanks for all your hard work on the Spence website - it's nice to know someone remembers the men who served in WW2. Wendy Paquette < wdpairdls@yahoo.com > daughter of Elmer G. Paquette, Class of 44B USA - February 21, 2011 at 4:26 pm Graduation Program – Class 44B For
other WW2
information
see Spence
during WW2 For
picture of
Wendy’s father
see WW2
Instructors at
bottom of
INSTRUCTORS
page I've just about worn out my scrolling finger, looking for any commentary from former members of Class 53A at Spence Field. I washed about midway through but went on from there to James B. Connally AFB, Waco,TX, and won my wings as a "radar observer all weather intercept," known today as “radar intercept officer,” class 52-27. My best friend then, as he is now, was Duane Dunham from Wisconsin. It was a wonderful experience, and I'd sure like to hear from any dinosaurs of that era. Ron Ziegler < ronanddel@hotmail.com > DeLand,
FL USA -
January 13,
2011 at 9:39AM ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I recently found your very wonderful website about Spence Air Base. I was an Aviation Cadet in class 56-P. After Spence I spent 6 months at Bryan (T-28 and T-33) and 3 months at Williams (F-86F). After Willie I returned to the Oregon ANG at Portland, OR (F-94B - ugh). I didn't get much military flying as I went to work for CAA at Oakland ARTCC in early 1957. I spent 6 years at Oakland, 27 years at Denver ARTCC and a couple of years at Miami ARTCC. I retired in 1994 and now live near Redmond in central Oregon where I play lots of golf and enjoy the magnificent scenery. Jim Platz <jplatz@cbbmail.com> Oakland,
OR
USA – October
16, 2010 at
10:21AM ___________________________________________________________________________________________
My dad,
Robert
(Bob) P.
Weaver, was at
Spence from
1951 til its
close in
1961... I
remember how
committed he
was to his
students and
one student
told me that
once during
night flying,
there was an
approaching
storm and for
some reason
they were
afraid they
would lose
power and even
possibly the
landing lights
on the
runway...
anyway, the
student told
me that dad
told him,
"Don't worry,
if all the
lights are
out, you can
rest assured I
will be
standing at
the end of the
runway holding
up my lighted
Zippo."
I've always
loved that
story. Be
blessed
... Bobby
Weaver <Raine070@aol.com> ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I received a phone call recently from Homer Hulme, class of 57R. He had seen my earlier entries about my father, Ashby Grimmett. Mr. Hulme is now in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and a CPA, in practice for 52 years. I told him I would make an entry for him in the Guestbook – after Spence he went to Reese Airbase in Lubbock and then had jet training at McConnell in Wichita, Kansas (pardon any misspellings I might have made!). He served on lead crew 71 in the 40th Bomb Wing. He would love to hear from anyone of his class and would like to know anything about Bob Weaver and his family. He doesn't have email, but his son had shown him this website. I'm sure he would see any reply on this guestbook. Linda Rhodes, CPA < lrhodes@rms-cpas.com > USA - September 15, 2010 at 3:04P __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My
father, Frank
Haines, was an
instructor
pilot at
Spence from
mid ‘55 to
late ‘60.
I was
only about 4
when we left
Spence but I
remember going
to the pool
and the
church.
My dad
went on to El
Paso, Texas
when he left
and worked
for, I
believe, Ross
Aviation.
He then
worked Civil
Service at Ft.
Rucker, AL. in
Hueys, then
Cobras.
He went
back to fixed
wing at Ft
Stewart, GA.
and did a
little
moonlighting
at Hunter Army
Airfield in
Savannah, GA.
until he
retired.
While
at Spence in
the 50's he
purchased the
old women's
mess hall with
about 6 acres
located on the
southeast
corner of the
Spence Field.
He then
turned it into
a large house
we lived in
and started a
mobile home
park there.
He
later retired
there and
purchased
another 7 or 8
acres closer
to the field.
Not
sure what
happened to
the place
after his
death in
December 1997
at age 76.Walter
E. Haines,
Information
Manager,
JSF/F-35 SATAF
<walter.haines@usmc.mil>
As
a member of
UPT Class 68G
at Moody AFB,
I made lots of
touch and go's
at Spence in
the T-37
between Jun
and Aug 1968.
Undergraduate
Pilot Training
was the term
USAF used for
the 53-week
course to
award wings.
We
started at
Valdosta
airport with a
civilian-taught,
30-hour
program in the
T-41 (Cessna
172). Then we
moved to Moody
AFB for the
T-37 (90 hrs)
and T-38 (120
hrs).
It was
during the
T-37 portion
of the
syllabus that
we flew over
to Spence to
do traffic
patterns, low
approaches and
touch and
go’s.
Moody
sent an IP to
man mobile
control at the
runway because
Spence was not
an active base
by then.
There
was one tragic
occurrence in
this period.
A
student pilot
in our class,
Fred
DiGiacomo,
forgot to
perform a fuel
transfer
switch
operation as
he got ready
to do patterns
at Spence,
flamed out and
was killed.
I
recall only
that you had
to do this
about twenty
minutes after
takeoff.
This
was a chilling
event for us
all and
particularly
sad for me as
Fred lived a
couple of
doors away
in the
same apartment
building in
Valdosta.Beaufort, SC USA - Aug 20, 2010 at 10:24AM ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dave
Kramer, Col.,
USAF (Ret)
<dkkramer@roadrunner.com> ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
was stationed
at Spence in
1959 (I
don't remember
the class
number), and
my roommate
was Joseph
Arsenault.
While at
Spence I
formed a fancy
exhibition
drill team.
Over
the last 50
years I have
lost contact
with everyone
I knew there.
I would
appreciate
hearing from
anyone who
remembers. Bill
Weistroffer
<billwww@charter.net> Rodney,
MI (in 1959,
North Aurora,
IL) USA -
August 15,
2010 at
11:11AM I’m
Paul Soulé,
proud to have
been in class
59A at Spence
in 1958.
Many fond
memories.
I didn’t want
anything more
in life than
to fly and be
an Air Force
pilot, and as
a kid – I
celebrated my
20th birthday
at Spence, I
worked hard
and learned to
fly all over
again! I
don’t remember
much in the
way of
details, other
than the ‘fire
like’ look of
the T-28
during night
flight,
getting lost,
and then
finding myself
on a night
cross country
check ride.
The
circuit
breaker panel
caught on fire
on gear
extension
during the
pitch out for
landing.
Managed to
continue the
approach, the
gear was, in
fact,
down.
Landed and
safely
evacuated the
aircraft. (The
fire probably
let me pass
the check
ride!)
Also remember
having to get
my parents’
permission to
continue in
pilot training
with the
‘contract
change’ to
four year
commitment
after
graduation.
(Under
21, I couldn’t
sign it
myself!)
Finally
graduated, on
to Reese in
B-25’s, and
commissioned 2
days before my
21st birthday.
I’m
happy to say,
I still can’t
get flying out
of my system,
as I approach
20,000 hours,
7000 of which
are military,
and NO airline
pilot
time!
Managed to
remember the
safety lessons
taught by Mr.
Kitchens at
Spence, and
was awarded
the Wright
Brothers
Master Pilot
Award by the
FAA a couple
of years
ago.
Haven’t flown
in a couple of
days – better
get out to the
airport now
before I
forget how!
And
thanks for the
great job on
the website,
and the
wonderful
memories! Miami, FL USA - August 14, 2010 at 6:33AM ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
My
Dad, Howard
Phillips, was
one of the
first Army Air
Force
personnel to
set foot on
Spence Field
in 1941.
He is now 92
years old,
soon to be 93
and I was
showing him
pics of the
Spence
website.
His memory has
faded a lot,
but he thinks
he was a
Sergeant,
aircraft
mechanic at
the
time. He
was
transferred
from Maxwell
Field in
Montgomery,
AL. It
was before
Spence Field
actually was
operational.
He ended up
being involved
in setting the
whole field
up, accepting
shipments,
aircraft,
gasoline,
supplies and
ground
equipment, and
helping
arrange
everything.
Included was
going over the
buildings,
turning on and
off every
faucet and
flushing every
toilet before
the job was
signed
off. Also,
in the final
signing off
when the
builder was
finished.
The
intent
was
to
make
sure
Uncle
Sam
was
getting
his
money's
worth.
--
One
dark,
rainy
night
he
heard
an aircraft
flying
overhead,
circling
around,
apparently
looking for a
landing
spot. He
jumped in a
weapons
carrier and
drove over to
the runway,
fired up the
generator and
turned on the
runway
lights.
The air force
trainer - he
can't remember
what it was -
landed and ran
out of fuel on
the
runway.
Dad had to
fuel him up to
get him off
the
runway.
The pilot told
him that he
knew there was
a new air base
down here
somewhere, but
never would
have been able
to find it if
Dad hadn't
heard him and
lighted the
way for
him. I
wish he
could remember
the pilot’s
name, but 70+
years have
taken a toll.
-- He's
sitting here
with
me, telling
me how much he
enjoyed being
there and how
much he grew
up in the
process.
When he
left shortly
after the
brass arrived,
he was
commended for
a job well
done. -- He
subsequently
served as a
crew
chief (flight
engineer) on
B-17's
& B-29's
and served in
the Pacific
theater. --
Thanks so
much, and
thanks to all
for their
service. Tom
Phillips <phillipsthomasmark@gmail.com>
Master
Sergeant
Howard
Phillips,
USAAF, WW2 USA –
August 6, 2010
at 7:20AM
______________________________________________________________________________________
I
was in class
60-A, in
Polecat
flight.
I do
remember well
those days as a
cadet.
I
started with
Red Gargaly as
my instructor
but his method
of instructing
didn't work
well with me.
I
didn't respond
well to the constant
cussing.
I do
bless the day
when Dick
Weeks was
assigned as my instructor,
he
had a
different
style.
He
explained what
and how.
With him
I never had a
problem again.
I went
on to
Greenville, MS
and into the
B-47 duty in
SAC.
When
that became
unacceptable I
resigned and
went to
fly for US
Steel Corp,
two years
later I was
with TWA and
spent 25 wonderful
years flying
for them.
Thank
you so very
much Dick
Weeks!!
My wife
of 50 years I
met while a
cadet at
Spence and we
married in
April of
1960.
It was
a great place
and I will
always value
my time there. Ed
Martin <flyboy@ptd.net> Excellent
job on the web
site.
Renewed a lot
of old
memories.
I was a
flight
instructor
based at
Spence during
1944.
Flew the AT-6
and
also P-40's
out of Tifton.
I
graduated from
advanced at
Craig Field,
Selma, Alabama
and then went
to Instructors
School at
Randolph
Field, Texas.
On
completing
that course I
was assigned
to
Spence.
After all
these years, I
have almost no
memories of
the other
instructors at
Spence except
for one or two
that were in
my
squadron.
I believe
there were
four squadrons
of students
per class,
with two
classes in
training at
the same time.
I left
Spence in
December 1944
and went to
P-47
Transition
School.
I am now
involved with
the P-47
museum and
library at the
airfield in
Millville,
NJ. Keep
up the good
work!!! Warren
W. Smith <WWS328@aol.com> Millville,
NJ - July
6, 2010 at
1:28PM Bill
Bovard, a
former Spence
Instructor
Pilot, was
my first
flight
instructor and
a great pilot
and
friend.
We lost
contact in
1974.
Does anyone
know of his
whereabouts?
I should let
you know that
I was never at
Spence.
I was a
generation
younger and
was fortunate
enough to have
Bill as my
flight
instructor in
1973-4 when he
worked for
Sowell
Aviation in
Panama City,
Florida.
I was wet
behind the
ears at age
23 and he
kind of took
me under his
wing. He
was probably
in his fifties
at that time
and married to
Anna, his
Mexican
wife.
They were kind
enough to have
me over for
tacos and
other Mexican
food during my
stay in
Florida.
I was a
foreign
student from
Canada at the
time. We
had lots of
fun flying
together and
he would tell
me some of his
stories and
talk about old
friends.
I was quite
amazed to see
his picture on
your site.
The
Spence
experience
must have been
wonderful, looking
at all those
Harvards and
PA-18’s lined
up and
ready to
go! I
imagine Bill
must be in his
eighties now
but some
people leave
lasting
impressions on
us and Bill
was one of
those
guys.
Thanks for
keeping such a
great web
site.
And
Bill, if
you are
out there, I
am proud to
still have
your signature
in my log
book! Gerry Murphy <gerrymurphy@northglengarry.ca> Canada
- July
5, 2010 at
4:48AM STUART
ROOSA
FAMILY-AUTHORIZED
BIOGRAPHY
(UPDATE):
Seeking any
and all
information
available
about Spence
class 55-K
(April-September,
1954), of
which future
Apollo
astronaut
Stuart Roosa
was a
member.
I'm still
working on the
family-authorized
biography of
Roosa, and am
seeking
recollections,
photos and
other input
from
classmates,
instructors, or
students from
other classes
in that era
about his days
at
Spence.
Anybody got a
55-K
classbook?
Any group
photo(s) that
include Roosa
available?
Thanks
in advance for
your help with
this
worthwhile
project.
Any
contributions
that are used
will get the
contributor
listed in the
book's
"Acknowledgements"
section. Willie
G. Moseley,
Senior Writer,
Vintage
Guitar
Magazine <willie@vguitar.com>, cell
ph. (334)
201-0112,
office ph.
(334) 283-1188 USA –
June 6, 2010
at 11:26AM If the
attached
picture of
Class 57-U
Cadets is
useful for the
website,
please feel
free to use
it. If
you wish, I
can name most
of the guys in
the photo.
I've
also attached
a T-28 photo
that you may
want to
use.
This was a
solo flight
one Saturday
morning.
I was usually
able to taxi
to the ramp
after a flight
but this time
it didn't work
out that
way. In
later years, I
reflected on
this incident
and was glad
that I was
such an
experienced
pilot at the
time. I
had some 80
hours
total.
Given the
choice between
skill and
luck.....I
guess luck
wins out.
Thanks for the
great web
site.
Many good
memories.
(See
Tom’s pictures
and report at
top of MEMORIES
page) Tom
Carlson <silverfox_44@yahoo.com>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________ SPENCE AIR BASE NOW HAS IT'S OWN PAGE ON FACEBOOK. CHECK IT OUT AND IF INTERESTED SIGN ON AS A FRIEND. (if not a Facebook member copy and paste the following address to your browser) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=111833602184998 Bruce R. Watson, Spence Webmaster <Bruce@spence-air-base.com> Phoenix, AZ USA - April 27, 2010 at 3:17PM _____________________________________________________________________________________________
I
ran across
your Spence
website
several years
ago, and even
though I
didn't have a
personal
connection to
Spence Field,
it was
fascinating to
look through
all the
photos,
information,
and guestbook
entries just
the same. I
grew up in
Moultrie in
the '60s, and
like most kids
of that era, I
was a real fan
of NASA and
the
astronauts. I
still read
whatever I can
get my hands
on regarding
the Apollo
program, and
was amazed to
find that
several of the
Apollo
astronauts had
gone though
pilot training
at Spence. You've
done a great
job with the
website, and I
wanted to pass
along these
two photos
that I posted
on the "Old
Time Moultrie"
Facebook
group: -- The
Charlie Duke
photo is from
his
autobiography
"Moonwalker,"
and the
original
caption is
"Charlie as a
young, eager
student pilot
at Spence Air
Base in 1957."
-- The Stuart
Roosa photo is
from the rare
illustrated
version of
Andrew
Chaikin's "A
Man On The
Moon," and is
captioned "Air
Force cadet
Stu Roosa
climbs aboard
a T-6 trainer
at Moultrie
Air Force
Base, Georgia.
After
winning his
wings in March
1955, Roosa
embarked on a
flying career
that would
include
service in a
fighter-bomber
squadron armed
with nuclear
weapons." --
Thanks again
for all you've
done on the
Spence website.
See
photos at top
of MEMORIES
page. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
My
daddy, Henry
C. Gray,
Jr. was
a instructor
pilot at
Spence Air
Base for
several years
when I was a
child.
He has been
deceased since
1984. I
am curious to
know if any of
his former
students or
instructor
friends are
still
around.
I would be
pleased to
hear from
anyone who
knew my daddy
back then. Kathryn
G. Wright <kwright@swgacac.com> Moultrie,
GA
USA – Apr 13,
2010 at
11:21AM I was
born and
raised in
Moultrie
(1951) and
still remember
when Spence
was up and
running.
I had a lot of
great friends
whose parents
worked at
Spence
Field.
It was sad to
all of us to
see Spence
close and most
of those
friends moved
away. It
is great
visiting your
website,
brings back
memories of
visits tothe
field and I
can still
remember Bevo
Howard cutting
the ribbon
upside down in
his
plane.
Bevo’s
daughter was
in my 4th
grade
class. I
also got to
see Bevo in an
air show in
Lakehurst NJ
shortly before
his death. --
I
found one of
my child hood
friends by
reading
through the
letters about
Spence.
I
emailed
him. It
was good to
catch up after
about 50
years. Thanks
for keeping
Spence Field
alive for the
younger
generation. -- I
came across
this
interesting
excerpt
concerning
Spence from
former NASA
Flight
Director Gene
Kranz's book
“Failure Is
Not an Option:
Mission
Control from
Mercury to
Apollo 13 and
Beyond”. *******************
“My
travels in the
Air Force took
me to Spence
Air Base in
Moultrie,
Georgia, where
Jack Colman,
my primary
flight
instructor,
opened the
world of
flight to me
and taught me
much more.
In the
hot steamy air
over southern
Georgia he
tested my
skills, but in
the briefing
room and on
the ramp he
taught
teamwork and
the belief
that “There is
no such thing
as good
enough.
You,
your team. and
your equipment
must be the
best.
That is
how you will
win
victories.”
The day
he turned me
loose to solo,
he taught me
that the
teacher’s role
is to instill
the confidence
to fly at the
edge of peak
performance. Your
primary flight
instructor is
the man you
will never
forget.
Coleman’s
lessons helped
me in my years
at Mission
Control.
I could
empathize with
what the
controllers
felt during
the brutally
demanding
debriefings
after a
mission and
tactfully
handle the
one-on-one
critiques
after a
simulation.
He
taught me, by
example, how
to train my
controllers,
build their
confidence,
and turn them
loose when
they were
ready.
Coleman
also gave me
an
appreciation
of the
fundamental
importance of
teamwork and
mutual trust
among team
members.” _____________________________________________________________________________________
The
world wide
search is on
for "Tony the
Tiger," Class
60-F.
If anyone out
there knows
where Tony and
his logbook
ended up
please let me
know.
Neil Cosentino <Neil.cosentino@verizon.net> USA - March 14, 2010 at 5:51AM ______________________________________________________________________________________
Pilot
class
57-R (Spence
only) is
having a
reunion in
2011 and
considering
holding it in
the Moultrie
area. Please
let me know if
you are aware
of any other
Spence/Moultrie
reunions
planned for
2011. Bill
Doerler <PSDWKD@aol.com> Princeton,
NJ
USA
(609-575-8718)
– March 13,
2010 at 1:40PM I am Bob Archibald. I was in Class 56A
at
Spence.
We were the
first class to
fly the T-34
and
T-28. My
instructor was
Gordon F.
Ward.
What a great
place and
group of
people to
start my Air
Force
Career.
I soloed the
T-34 in late
Sep or early
Oct 1954 at
the Tifton
auxillary
field. I
remember
driving daily
in a bus from
Spence to
Tifton in
those days and
buying peanuts
from young
kids at the
railroad
crossings in
Tifton.
Those kids
must have been
about 8 years
old and smoked
cigarettes.
The peanuts
were either
"parched" or
"biled."
When we got
some of the
"biled" ones,
we realized
they were
boiled and
sloppy
wet. I
never
developed a
taste for the
boiled peanuts
until a few
years ago in a
Hunan Chinese
restaurant in
San Francisco.
- - I don't
know why I
recall more
about Tifton
than the other
auxillaries at
Sunset and
Thomasville.
In recent
years I have
visited Spence
twice and
stopped in at
the
auxillaries
once
each.
Moultrie has
sure grown,
but what
hasn't. - -
After Spence I
went on the
Greenville for
basic in the
T-28 and
T-33.
Then to all
weather school
at Tyndall,
first in the
T-33 then the
F-86D.
First
assignment was
85th FIS at
Scott AFB
which was a
great
assignment,
then 514th FIS
at RAF
Manston,
England, then
512th FIS at
Sembach AB.
Germany, all
in the
F-86D.
Then a T-33
instructor
assignment at
Laon AB,
France,
bartering
another year
in Europe for
assignment to
the 18th TRS
in the RF-101.
Then to George
AFB in the
F-106.
After a year
in AFIT went
to the F-106
again at 27th
FIS, Loring
AFB. A
year in SEA,
first in a
recce command
post, then
flying the
RF-101 again
with the 45th
TRS at TSN,
20th TRS at
Udorn and
finally
assigned to
7th AF Hq, 120
missions. - -
I returned to
States as
F-106 flight
test officer
at ADC Hq, was
instrumental
in getting the
20mm cannon
installed in
that plane,
then back to
TAC at Shaw
AFB in the
RF-101 and
then into the
RF-4.
Four years in
England at RAF
Alconbury in
32nd TRS and
10th TRW Hq
flying the
RF-4.
Last
assignment was
SAMSO as staff
reliability
engineer for
the Minuteman
III and MX
program.
Retired after
22 years to
Santa Rosa,
CA, where I
own a flight
school and
still fly and
instruct in
Cessnas and
Light Sport
planes.
Cheers!
Bob Archibald <DRAGONFUEL@ aol.com> David B. Ross <dbrosssr@comcast.net> USA - February 1, 2010 at 7:31PM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name
is Tom Patton.
Although he is
not listed on
the
instructors
page my
father, Al
Patton,
instructed at
Spence from
late 1955
until the base
closed in
1961. At
86 he is still
very active in
sport aviation
having built
over a dozen
airplanes
including his
first, the APF
(Al Pattons
Folly, so
named by my
mother) which
he designed
and built
while we were
at
Moultrie.
After leaving
there he was a
corporate
pilot
(surviving a
crash into
a mountain
during a
blizzard),
retired from
the Marine
Reserves as a
Lt. Col.
flying F9F
Cougars and
working as an
air traffic
controller at
the Augusta,
Ga. tower for
20 yrs.
All during
this time he
continued to
instruct and
provide pilot
services for
anyone who
asked.
Among his many
awards was his
induction into
the Georgia
Aviation Hall
of Fame in
2005. We
have always
had fond
memories of
the years we
lived in
Moultrie and
I'm sure he
would
appreciate
hearing from
any of his
former
students or
fellow
instructors.
You may reach
him through me
via email or
call him
directly at
(706)0738-2228.
Thanks.
________________________________________________________________________________________________Tom Patton <tomalpat@aol.com> USA - January 24, 2010 at 9:44AM Ron
DeWitt,
Class
57-C,
Polecat
Flight.
My
Spence
instructor
was
Robert
Montgomery.
After
Spence, I
completed my
flying
training at
Webb AFB, TX,
in the T-33,
received my
wings, went to
advanced
training in
the F-86-D at
Perrin AFB,
Dallas TX, and
flew with the
41st Ftr
Intcpt
Squadron,
assigned to
Guam. My
memories of my
instructor,
Spence AB, and
all my AF
career are
close to my
heart.
My permanent
home is in
Cincinnati
Ohio, but my
wife and I
winter in The
Villages, FL
each year,
from
Oct-April, and
each time I
come down I-75
the Moultrie
sign gets my
attention.
A few times I
have driven
over to
Moultrie, and
visited what
is left of my
beloved
Spence. Ron
DeWitt <ronbetd@embarqmail.com> USA
– January 10,
2010 at 9:28PM Class
60-G, Spring
1959, Beaver
83. The
most enjoyable
6 mo. in my 34
years military
service.
Earned my
wings at Vance
AFB in
November
1959.
Attended Class
61-C, the last
F-86 class at
Moody
AFB.
Assigned to
F-101’s at Dow
AFB, Me.
Then to 59th
FIS Iceland,
437th FIS
Oxnard AFB,
98th FIS
Suffolk Co
AFB, NY, 64th
FIS Clark AB,
60th FIS Grand
Forks AFB,
ND,- rif’ed-,
107th FIG
Niagara Falls
AB, NY,
retired June
1993. --
Acquired over
6000 hrs
fighter time
during my
career.
My
Spence
instructor,
Newton J.
Cole, and my
roommate Wayne
E. Kinder were
my inspiration
setting goals
to meet.
I am attaching
a photo of
Newton J. Cole
my instructor
- I noticed
there is no
photo of him
on the
instructors
page. (Photo
has now been
added – BRW) Wayne
O. Craig (waynec05@verizon.net) 305
Glenvale Rd.,
Youngstown, NY
14174 USA -
December 26,
2009 at 5:22PM Morris “Mo” Spence <mgspence1970@verizon.net> (301) 374-6566 (H) USA – November 12, 2009 at 2:31PM __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You
don’t know how
exciting it
has been to
find the
Spence Air
Base site on
the
internet.
You have done
an excellent
job. My
dad was L.
Paul Nabors a
flight
instructor and
flight
commander at
Spence.
Bevo called
him personally
to come to
Moultrie in
the very
beginning and
he came in ‘51
and left in
‘61 when the
base
closed.
My mother,
Ruby Nabors,
taught school
at Moultrie
High all the
years they
were in
Moultrie. I
loved
Moultrie. It
was a
wonderful
little town
and we called
it home
because we
lived there
the longest of
any one place
in our lives
until my folks
got older.
When my dad
left Spence he
went to
Dillingham,
Alaska and
formed the
Western Alaska
Airlines with
a group of
bush
pilots.
He left there
in ‘64 or ‘65
and went to
Fort Rucker,
Ala. to teach
helicopter
flying. They
moved back to
Moultrie after
a couple years
at Fort
Rucker.
Then they
moved to
Angwin, Calif.
where he
helped
establish a
flying school
at Pacific
Union
College.
After that he
got on with
the FAA and
was in
Atlanta, New
York, and
Philadelphia
before he
retired to
Ashland City,
TN.
Finally they
came to
Chattanooga in
1998 so they
could be near
me. My
dad passed
away in 2003
at the age of
88. My
mama turned 90
the first of
the month and
is doing
fairly well
for her
age. I
have run into
a couple of
guys that were
at Spence, a
Pete
Bartholomey
who was a
flight
instructor in
’59 & ‘60
and a former
student named
John Bobo who
was in class
55k if I
recall
correctly.
John passed
away several
years back but
his wife Nancy
will be
pleased when I
tell her about
the Spence Web
Site.Paula Nabors Graham <beachygalii@gmail.com> 7417 Twin Brook Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37421 USA – Oct 25, 2009 at 4:23PM __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
My
Grandfather
was Melville
"Pete"
Peterson.
He has just
passed away
last
week. He
often talked
about his time
at Spence AFB,
being an
instructor,
and when he
was at the
last reunion
he
attended.
He had written
to the Spence
website back
in 2003.
I would love
to hear from
anyone that
has stories
about
him. I
am in the
process of
going through
some of his
memorabilia,
and would like
to add a
personal touch
from people
that knew
him. (Pete's Obituary)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________Joy L. Day <JDay@photoservices.net> Cape Canaveral, FL USA - Oct 19, 2009 at 4:34PM Victor Obando <vmobando@hotmail.com> Peru - Oct 18, 2009 at 10:52AM _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was
at Spence,
class 56M in
1955. We
were one of
the first
classes to fly
the T-34 and
T-28. After
Spence, I went
thru the T-33
program at
Webb AFB in
Big Spring,
TX. My
instructor at
Spence was
Milton Walsh,
who flew
P-39's in WW
II, and I was
in Panther
flight--Panther
89.
Spence was a
wonderful
experience,
which I will
never forget
-- especially
Bevo Howard's
air
shows. I
have owned my
own T-34
Mentor and an
L-39 for
about 5 years
now. Most of
my flying in
these
airplanes are
taking people
for
rides.
Thanks for the
trip down
memory lane in
your website.
Jimmy Jenkins <jhj2@att.net> USA - October 04, 2009 at 3:31PM Be sure to click the link above to check out Jimmy's beautiful flying machines. It must be brutal to have to fly these birds but I suppose someone has to do it;-) BRW _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Did
anyone know my
grandfather
“Edwin
Edge”. I
believe that
he worked as
an air traffic
controller at
Spence during
WWII. He
told me many
stories about
his
experiences
but I am not
sure whether
he was
assigned to
Spence.
He lived in
Doerun,
Georgia, which
is very close
to Moultrie.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________Wallace D. Bonner, Jr. <WBonner@mcdr-law.com> Albany, GA USA – August 19, 2009 at 2:17PM "Ray
Frendo" <rayfrendo@orange.fr>
France
- Aug 17, 2009
7:04 am
____________________________________________________________________________________________Munir Azam <munirazam@aol.com> Santa Clarita, CA USA - August 12, 2009 at 11:35PM __________________________________________________________________________________________
Jim Gosdin <jim.gosdin@gmail.com> Skype:gosdin USA - August 1, 2009 at 10:10AM Working
on the
family-authorized
biography of
Apollo XIV
Command Module
Pilot Stuart
Roosa
(1933-1994),
who trained at
Spence in
class
55K.
This will be
my eighth
book.
Would
appreciate any
input,
recollections
or images from
such times by
other
individuals
who served at
Spence.
Thanks in
advance for
the
opportunity
and
consideration.
Willie G. Moseley <willie@vguitar.com> P.O. Box 780566, Tallassee, AL 36078 USA - July 25, 2009 at 6:14PM __________________________________________________________________________________________
Clint
Chafin <clint.chafin@mcleanengineering.us>
4789
Tallokas Road,
Moultrie, GA
31788 USA -
July 22, 2009
at 12:01PM
__________________________________________________________________________________________Jim Roquemore, 57-G at Malden AB, MO <roq@camden.net> Camden, SC USA – July 5, 2009 at 3:31PM Bruce,
I can't say
enough about
your
contribution
to the
countless
"Spence Air
Base people"
who continue
to share their
experiences
and
memories at
www.spence-air-base.com.
There is just
no way to
measure the
appreciation
and pure joy
that so many
have
experienced
because of
your
efforts and
devotion to
the creation
and
maintenance of
the
website.
To think
that the site
has averaged
over 18,000
hits a year
and that they went
to over 32,000
in 2008 says
it all!
Great job and
thanks again.
__________________________________________________________________________________________Mac McKinley (Class 55-N) <macmckinley@gmail.com> Lodi, NJ USA - Jun 14, 2009 at 12:59PM I own a
Taylorcraft
L2M
Grasshopper
once based at
Spence and
have
researched it
quite
extensively.
The Army Air
Force serial
no. was
43-26648 if
this
helps.
Am wondering
if anyone is
still around
that knows
about these
Liaison
aircraft and
how they were
used at
Spence.
Beverly Howard
told me you
might be able
to help. This
aircraft was
at Spence from
1944-1945 and
was nosed over
while two
Sergeants were
taxiing it.
The accident
happened July
2, 1944 and
Major John M.
Simonton was
in charge of
the accident
investigation.
I am a history
teacher
looking for
memorabilia
from this
period to
display with
the
aircraft.
Would
appreciate
hearing from
anyone who can
add to my
information.
__________________________________________________________________________________________Walter <ironeagle253@hotmail.com> USA - June 13, 2009 at 1:13AM John Blissard <jgblissard@leapstream.net> USA - Apr 10, 2009 at 12:48PM My
class was
57-0. If
anybody out
there knows
others in my
class, please
let me
know. My
instructor was
Grady Klutz in
T-34's and
Moose Whiddon
in
T-28's.
Our call sign
was "Pole
Cat". I
went on to Del
Rio, then
Laredo and
then
Perrin.
After 5 years
in the Air
Force
continued 18
years with the
PA ANG.
It would be
great to hear
from
classmates.
__________________________________________________________________________________________Earl “Buzz” Mead <ATOldGoat@aol.com> New Bern, NC USA – April 4, 2009 at 8:30AM
Does
anyone who was
stationed at
Spence during
mid 1944
remember the
call signs for
Tifton,
Sunset, and
Spence?
If so please
let me know at
the E-mail
address below.
-- At
Bruce’s
request I am
adding a
little
concerning my
“Spence
connection.”
Graduated from
Advanced at
Spence 44-F,
6/27/1944.
Basic at
Malden,
MO;
Primary at
McBride,
Mo. P-40
at Tifton,
AT-6 gunnery
at #7 Eglin
Army Air
Field,
Fl.;
P-47
transition at
Camp Springs,
Md;
Dover AAF,
gunnery;
Richmond AAF,
Camp Shanks,
NY;
replacement
depots,
England and
Paris; 48th
Fighter
Group,
Illesheim,
Germany;
Laon,
Fr.;
Marseille,
Fr; Camp
Shanks, NY,
Seymour
Johnson AAF,
NC for
separation.
In the 80's I
visited Spence
and it was
going down or
had already
gone.
Malden was the
same
way.
Marianna, Fl
still had some
barracks left
if I remember
correctly.
Jackson, MS
was a
commercial
field:
Seymour
reactivated in
50's or 60's
now home to
4th TFW.
As I try to
pull this up I
notice I'm
beginning to
lose some
detail but it
was all a real
adventure. Norfleet Smith <pungor1@carolina.rr.com> USA - March 27, 2009 at 8:39AM Greg Mockford <glm@wolfwillowpress.com> (780) 991-3792 Millet, Alberta, Canada – February 15, 2009 at 11:16AM Check Greg's new website at www.norseman100.ca Be sure to view the movie. Interesting! BRW 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. Greg Mockford <glm@wolfwillowpress.com> (780) 991-3792 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 __________________________________________________________________________________________
I had
been looking
for this
former student
James Wold
from Class
53-F for
years.
The last I
heard from him
he was at the
Pentagon
preparing to
go to
Russia.
He invited me
to come to DC
and take a red
carpet trip
through the
Pentagon but
at the time I
was not in
position to
go. My
son Kent
finally found
him for me but
a few years
late.
Since I had
tried for so
long to find
him I just had
to try his
phone number
and believe it
or not his
widow answered
and we had a
nice long
chat.
She is still
operating the
bed-and-breakfast
in North
Dakota and
their children
are all
connected to
flying in one
way or
another.
He had a
brilliant
career and I
thought you
might want to
add him to the
distinguished
list.
See the
following
links --- Arnold
K. Lester <lester.arnold@yahoo.com> USA - 188 Ivy Terrace Dr - Apt. 305, Boone, N. C. 28607, 828-355-9608 – February 12, 2009 at 4:15PM
Robert J. Kozar <rkozar@comcast.net> USA - January 19, 2009 at 2:42PM Ben Poitevent <bpoitevent@msn.com> Tallahassee, FL USA - January 15, 2009 at 11:21AM ___________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm a
really OLD Spence
grad -- of
43-G.
Enjoyed all the
history displayed
on the site &
learned of its
subsequent
reincarnation
&
demise. Was
19 when I
graduated at
Spence & was
assigned to
Greenwood AAF Base
as an
instructor.
Later transferred
to Gunter Field,
then back to
Spence in 44 where
I was discharged
in Nov 45. -- Got
married, got a U
of FL
architectural
degree in 51, had
two kids &
started an
architectural
practice in Ft.
Lauderdale in
1955. Now
retired in
Mckinney TX, in
reasonable shape
considering all
the wear &
tear. Have
many memories from
those old days.
Lawrence
“Larry” Browning,
Former 1st. Lt., AAF
Reserve <larryinmex@gmail.com>
Mckinney,
TX USA – January 10,
2009 at 12:33PM
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Response
to
message
immediately
below ----
Mike Hurt, as I'd told you during our phone conversation of the other night your dad, Bill, and I were the closest of friends while we were instructing in B-25s at Reese. Your mom, Jane, was along when the four of us drove over to Riodoso in Bill's new Ford stationwagon. I'd been in touch with Robert Grattan after his request on here and, with Bruce's help, was able to tell him who Bill Hurt was and enable you to get that ring back. I'm fairly certain that Bill must have been at Selfridge AFB with his KC-97 and lost that ring while swimming in Silver Lake. The last time I saw Bill was at the Lages O club in the Azores one day in (circa) 1964-65. Glad that Bruce was able to furnish you with my E-mail address and hope to find those 50 plus year old photos of your parents, your brother and all of us when we were at Reese. -- Also, a matter of interest, Bill's table with 4 students was next to mine at Reese, one of his students was Tom Ray. You probably do not remember but Tom was from the Alabama Air Guard, a B-26 unit at Birmingham. Riley Shambarger and Tom were killed during the "Bay of Pigs" deal in Cuba. -- Also yes, Bill and I graduated from cadets together at Reese, commissioned 16 May 55, cadet class 55-N. Tom Lokey on here also is a classmate. Randy Sohn, 55N <ndper@aol.com> Savage, MN USA – January 6, 2009 at 9:04AM ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks to
Robert Grattan for
finding my Dad's
Air Force
ring. (See
Robt. Gratton
March 26, 2008
entry below).
He found it in
Silver Lake,
Michigan in
2006.
Interestingly he
found it in 14 ft.
of water - 8
inches deep in the
sand.
William Robert
Hurt, my Dad may
have graduated in
1955, as his name
and class 55N was
engraved on the
ring. I
don't know when he
lost the ring, but
curious to see if
anyone knows or
even knew my
Dad. Anyone
interested in
corresponding I
look forward to
talking to
you.
Mike Hurt <jhurt1958@hotmail.com> Atlanta, GA USA – January 3, 2009 at 1:38PM ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Otha
H. “Skeet” Vaughan <skeetv@knology.net>
Huntsville,
AL USA – December 14,
2008 at 8:00PM
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Class
"52-Charlie"
now has a web site at www.52-c.org. Our next reunion is
17 May 2009 in Tucson, AZ. Bill Payne <jwpnap@sbcglobal.net>
Ennis, TX USA –
October 30, 2008 at 7:28AM
____________________________________________________________________________________________I
was in the last USAF unit
at Spence Field, the 1st
Air Logistics Augmentation
Squadron (1st ALCAS),
which was an Air Force
Reserve squadron for the
reconstitution of Robins
AFB in the event of
nuclear attack or natural
disaster. Our last
commander was Colonel
Irving J. Schwartz.
Our unit was disbanded and
left Spence as of 30 Sep
1978.
Thomas H. Lokey, Major, USAF, Ret. <TomLokey@aol.com> Jacksonville, FL USA – October 27, 2008 at 12:52PM More on ALCAS ____________________________________________________________________________________________
We recently
learned that a good
friend, Doyle White,
passed away on Sept. 23,
2008. Our
condolence to his
family. Doyle was
a long time employee at
Spence in the 1950’s,
first as a Link
Instructor and then for
several years as a
Instructor Pilot.
For the past several
years he, along with
Vivion Griner, has
planned and coordinated
the annual
Spence/Hawthorne
Reunion. Doyle
will be missed by
many. OBITUARY
Bruce R. Watson,
Spence Webmaster <Bruce@spence-air-base.com>
Prescott, AZ USA
– October 22, 2008 at
3:40PM
____________________________________________________________________________________________Arnold
K.
Lester,
Class
44-B.
It
was
sure
nice
to
get
back
to
another
Spence/Hawthorne
Reunion,
since
my
last
one
was
about
1992,
and
visit
with
friends
from
50+
years
ago.
Especially
nice
for
me
to
have
a
student
from
Class
53-F,
John
Fondren
and
wife
Peggy.
Many thanks to Vivion
Griner for all her work
over the years keeping
the reunion going and
she forgot to mention
the fact that the
Reunion Fund is
depleted. If you
were there and/or have
thoughts of going next
year please
send her a donation
to replenish the fund so
she can continue to have
a place to meet and have
those good snacks and
drinks that we all
enjoy. Her mailing
address is 1862 U. S.
Hwy. 319 South,
Moultrie, Ga.
31768. It seems
that I was the only one
there that had a
Hawthorne Flight Dept.
History book that
includes a list of all
instructors, Hawthorne
flight rosters and all
accidents. Since
several of you wanted a
copy of the book, Bruce
and I decided the best
way to get it to you is
with a CD. (Since
this is essentially
Hawthorne information
and some of it is still
considered confidential
the CD is available to
former Hawthorne
personnel only.)
My son, Kent, has it on
CD and is running
several for me, so if
you would like to have
one please contact me at
aelester@comcast.net
[Arnold K. Lester, 1801
Monte Vista Dr.,
Pulaski, Va. 24301],
send your mailing
address and you will get
it soon. Our ranks
are thinning out but I
estimate we had about 45
at this gathering and
already planning next
year.
Arnold K.
Lester
<lester.arnold@yahoo.com>
USA
- Otha H. “Skeet” Vaughan <skeetv@knology.net> Huntsville, AL USA – October 13, 2008 at 6:17PM _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Harold
W. (Rudy) Rudolph, Class 53-D.
. . .arrived by train in June,
1952, from Albany. . .it was
'an open air train'. . . no
walls, just seats with a small
rope to keep one from falling
off. . . the train stopped at
all road crossings to let the
cars pass!!!. . . .my
instructor's name was Dave
Seitz, I believe. . . .at one
point while flying, he said,
"Rudolph, do you know what the
needle and ball instrument is?
. . .you're supposed to use it
to make "coordinated" turns!".
. .(that REALLY helped!). . .
At 29 hours and 30 minutes of
logged flying (you had to solo
by 30 hours!), he said". .
.OK, Rudolph, you got it", and
climbed out. . .and off I went
solo. . . .then to Bryan
AFB to fly T-Bids and the
T-28. . . then to Perrin AFB
to check out in the F-86D . .
.(somewhere I have a photo of
the airspeed indicator as I
was breaking the sound barrier
in the 'Dog". . .MIGHT have
been against the rules. . .
Went to instrument training at
Valdosta, then they asked
where to want to be
stationed?. . .at the time the
Korean War was over so I said
'Selfridge AFB. . .I had been
secretly married all through
pilot training and my wife was
pregnant and wanted to get
back to the Detroit area. . .
.So I wound up at Selfridge
where the unit was just
transitioning from the F-86E
to the F-86D. . . .I had 10
hours in the airplane and was
leading flights as a brand new
2 Lt because I had more "time"
in 'D' than many of the older
pilots. Finished my 3
year tour and joined the Mich
ANG at Detroit Metro. .
.flying the F-84-F, RF-84F and
the RF-84K. . . . .Moved back
to Selfridge in 1971, flying
the F & RF-101,
F-100D, and the love of my
flying life, the A-7D. .
.great cross-country
aircraft!!. . .Led a couple of
6 shippers to our co-located
operating base in Gioia Del
Colle, Italy, and a number of
trips to Howard AFB, Panama. .
.doing "air defense" of the
Panama Canal. . . .Oh, what
fun!. . . Wound up as the Wing
Commander at Selfridge in 1981
and retired in 1988. . . .Ah,
those were the days!!.. .
.(Have a 21 year daughter in
the AFROTC at Loyola
University in New Orleans. .
.graduates in spring of 2009
with an assignment as an AWACS
ABM. . .says it's my fault she
is too short to be a pilot!!)
Harold W. (Rudy) Rudolph <hwrudolph@sbcglobal.net> Detroit, MI area USA – October 7, 2008 at 5:09PM Egon Baek <egonbaek@stofanet.dk> Denmark - September 7, 2008 at 8:07AM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bob
Slater. Class 53-C.
Learning to fly at Spence was the
most fun I ever had. Dan
Barton was my instructor, and he
was the best. I have nothing
but fond memories of that
experience - the training, both
air and ground, Ma Kilgore's
wonderful food, Bevo doing his
airshow for our graduation,
everything. I'm now retired
in Scottsdale, AZ (a suburb of
Phoenix). For various
reasons I missed the 53-C
reunions, but would welcome
correspondence with anyone I knew
at Spence. Good luck to all
and good flying! Bob Slater (bobslater@qwest.net)
Scottsdale, AZ USA –
August 30, 2008 at 12:52PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
Renda Mengle Mackey <rendamackey@comcast.net>
Ocala, FL USA – July 4,
2008 at 1:35PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
George Taft Curry <gcurry@nc.rr.com> USA - June 15, 2008 at 12:21PM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Les Horvath <lutsi@webtv.net> USA – May 5, 2008 at 6:41PM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chuck Dildine, Lt/ Col USAF (Ret) <cadildine@cox.net> USA -
March 14, 2008 at 1:45PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________Greg
Mockford <glm@wolfwillowpress.com>
(780)
991-3792
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.
Contact Don
Schmenk at <dschmenk@bright.net>for
more information.
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.
Charles Campbell,
Ph.D., J.D. <DrCampbell@strnetwork.com>
USA - March 5, 2008 at 3:25PM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 < tony@tonyandsybil.plus.com > 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
My father, Ivan Stone Jr., worked as a
lab technician in the Spence Field Hospital from 1942
until the base closed in 1945. He would love to
hear from someone who may have worked there also.
I was born in the hospital August 12, 1945. I was
recently surprised by my sister and husband with a visit
to the base on vacation in June of 2006. I
appreciate the Spence Field web site and this "Guest
Book" so very much and have shared it with my Dad.
The history is wonderful and I love reading everyone's
comments. I wish I could see a layout of the base
at that time so I could see where the hospital
was. I can't seem to find anything on the
hospital. If anyone has information that will help
please foreward it and I will make sure Dad gets
it. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
My Dad, Floyd Crow, was at Spence from
1942 - 1945. His duties there included MP,
officers snack bar, cadet mess, and mail clerk. He
and my mother lived in Moultrie. He attained the
rank of Sergeant. Some of his best friends were
Julius and Grace Bass. Julius was an MP at Spence.
Dad keep diaries during his stay at Spence Field.
He would like to hear from anyone from the 1942 -
1945 era at Spence. He now lives in Tecumseh, OK.
We will be visiting Moultrie, GA July 31, 2006.________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.Robert M.
Clark <bobclark2@cox.net>
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 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dick Seely <tarheel1998@earthlink.net>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.
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 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 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 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class
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.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
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 ______________________________________________________________________________________________
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 _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 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 ________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 gunnery school in the F-84F at
Luke then on the a short checkout in the F-100A
at Nellis. Then over to France and Germany
for four years in F-86H and F-100D.
Returned to Eglin and participated in the Cat IV
test for the F-105D and then to Seymour
Johnson. Then to Kadena for three and one
half years in the F-105 and was back and forth
to Thailand for action in North Vietnam.
Back to Seymour for staff job then got back in
the 105 and back to Thailand. Rotated to
McConnell and finished the 105 flying when we
gave our aircraft to the Guard and Reserve after
which all pilots were scattered to the wind and
I ended up at Davis Monthan flying A-7Ds.
Retired from the AF there and immediately went
to work for Learjet doing flight test and
production test work for them for 22 years and
then retired from full time work with
them. Still doing contract work for
Learjet and enjoying it immensely. Keep up
the great work on the site. Sure brings
back a lot of good memories.Jack Francisco (flightservices@comcast.net) USA - December 17, 2004 at 10:03AM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
I saved
the website as a favorite some time ago but haven’t
visited in over a year or more -- what a great job
you’ve done. I married a Moultrie girl and
just last night she called [she’s down in Moultrie
helping her Mom get her strength back after a severe
illness] to read me the article from the Moultrie
Observer about Moody using Spence again as an
auxiliary field -- that prompted me to visit the
site again. Browsed thru the guest book but
didn’t see any 60-H’s. I left Spence in Nov 59
and went on to Greenville for T-33’s but had the
misfortune to pass out flying my transition
checkride -- we were between wars and the USAF
wasn’t short of pilots or Officer Candidates so I
returned to civilian life -- but never had any
regrets about my 15 months in the Cadet Program --
it sure got me grown up in a hurry -- and I
thought I had the best instructor in the school --
Percy C. Costner. During one of our many
visits back to Moultrie after we were married I took
my son and daughter out to Spence and showed them my
old barracks bldg and my room -- as I remember they
weren’t impressed -- of course that’s all gone now
-- nothing but really great memories. My son,
much to my initial surprise, chose the military as
his career -- he’s now a Army Signal Corp LTC posted
at Ft Hood, TX. We are certainly proud.
Ed Morris (gdaddyed@bellsouth.net) Charlotte,
NC USA - December 2, 2004 at 5:12PM
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
had to miss the 2004 reunion this year. I'm
sorry to hear that George Goulette, the former
Director of Academic Training throughout all
of the years at Spence Air Base from the
beginning in 1951 to 1960 died at the age of
88 in Boulder, Colorado on October 13 ,
2003. Then since the reunion I received
a call that Scott Fitzgerald died, apparently
in Moultrie, in either October or November of
this year. We all remember Scott as one
of the pioneer pilots who was with
Spence from the beginning in 1951.
Frank C. Madill, former Asst. Dir. of Academic Training (1951-1960) (FMPOW6672@aol.com) USA - October 23, 2004 at 12:47PM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I first came to Spence
Field as a student pilot in a T-37 in 1972.
Spence Field was the primary auxiliary field where
T-37 students from Moody Air Force Base learned how
to fly the traffic pattern and do touch-and-go
landings. I spent many hours, first as a
student and then as a T-37 instructor pilot, flying
initial, the break, inside downwind, the final turn,
final, landing, take off, and the much desired
closed pattern. I also spent many hours in the
runway supervisory unit (RSU) observing and
controlling aircraft in the pattern. My most
memorable event at Spence Field occurred the day one
of my fellow instructors gave his Iranian student a
go at the pattern. In the normally crowded
traffic pattern at Moody, the instructor could not
allow the student to deviate too far from the
required flight pattern and frequently directed him
to “start your turn now” or “tighten it up a
little.” The instructor knew the student could
not fly the pattern without input from the
instructor, but the student’s pride blinded him to
that fact. The student insisted he was ready to fly
solo. Finally, the instructor arranged to be
scheduled to fly with his student at a time when no
other aircraft would be at Spence Field, and I and
another instructor from the same flight would be in
the RSU. When Kent 23, the call sign of
the Iranian student and his instructor, checked in
we grabbed our microphones and got ready for the
show. On his first pass down initial, the
instructor kept quiet and the student never broke
for downwind. He simply kept going straight
and disappeared into the distance. Several
minutes later, Kent 23 reported initial once
again. This time the T-37 broke sharply at
about midfield. Unfortunately, the turn continued
for a full 270 degrees until the airplane was headed
perpendicular to the runway. He again
disappeared into the distance. … Several
minutes later, Kent 23 reported initial for the
third time. The break for downwind was more
like the usual 180 degrees and the gear and flaps
were even lowered. But instead of descending
in the final turn, Kent 23 maintained level flight
and rolled out on final about 1,000 feet above the
ground. Following several more attempts in
which Kent 23 never got closer than 800 feet from
the threshold of the runway, he departed and we in
the RSU relaxed. The Iranian student’s
instructor told us the debrief with his student was
much different after that flight. From then
on, the student accepted his instructor’s assessment
with both interest and humility.
Tom Powell <powellt@owc.edu> USA -
October 27, 2004 at 1:30PM
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
My
father W.E. Stump, was a Military Police Guard of
German POW's at Spence Field early in WWII.
I thinkhis unit was the 237th
Military Police Company. He went on to
serve in the Pacific until 1946 and then was a
First Sgt. at the US Disciplinary Barracks at
Greenhaven, NY. His service at Spence is
what brought me to this page. Great Site. Bruce Stump <bstump1@nycap.rr.com> Pittsfield, MA USA - October 4, 2004 at 4:41PM __________________________________________________________________________________________________
My name is Clint Chafin and I am
looking for photos of the Spence Field Baseball
teams. If anyone has any items relating to
the Spence Field teams, please write to me.
Also, if anyone has any information or
photos of any of the old Minor League Baseball
teams that used to have Spring Training at Spence
Field, please write. God Bless, Clint Chafin <Clint.chafin@mcleanengineering.us> 4789
Tallokas Rd, Moultrie, GA 31788 USA -
September 20, 2004 at 6:17AM
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Alan Upshaw <alan.upshaw@pfsfhq.com> Lawwrenceville, GA USA - September 14, 2004 at 4:43AM __________________________________________________________________________________________________
A wonderful
site I found while surfing the web and one to be justly
proud of. Very interesting reading for anyone
interested in Air Force life. A good source of
history and memories of a fond time in my younger life.
I was not stationed at Spence but I served at
Moody AFB just a few miles down the road at Valdosta.
Your site is much appreciated.
Congratulations on a job well done.I was an Aviation Cadet at
Spence, Class of 44-B, and graduated 8 Feb. 1944.
Thoroughly enjoyed flying the AT-6 and
subsequent Primary Gunnery for 2 weeks while TDY at
Field 7, Eglin. Also got a week TDY at Tifton
for checkout in the P-40. What an adventure.
My wife joined me Sat. 17 December 1943 and my
son was born 17 Sept 1944. I went on to fly
P-40, P-47, P-51 in WW II but that was the end of my
career as a Fighter Pilot. Later flew B-29,
B-47, B-52 and C-124. Retired as L/Col in May
1968.
L/C Ray L. Shewfelt <alrays143@earthlink.net> Orange City, FL USA - September 13, 2004 at 4:02PM __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Antoine Foret <mufjp@charter.net>Raceland, LA USA - August 30, 2004 at 10:01AM __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi, Great site!! I was in Aviation
Cadet class 60-G, Rebel 17.Kent Sawyer <kenmar@rockisland.com> USA - August
22, 2004 at 11:02AM
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
As noted in an earlier post from my
sister Linda, our dad, Ashby Grimmett, Instructor and
Flight Commander at Spence 1951-57, died at age 88 this
January 7th. My memories of Spence are not as
"pleasant" as my sisters. I was young and shy,
born in 1954, and remember standing at the fence of the
day-care center looking for mama who had left me there,
for what seemed forever, while she was playing bridge.
She must have honed her bridge skills well as she
still plays a couple of times a week to this day.
I remember that dad could never get me into one of
the simulators. I was not happy about being shut
up in a gyrating box. He never showed
discouragement or made me feel bad about that.
Needless to say, I have pursued a different
profession - a medical profession. I do remember
the field day crash simulations and how cool the foam
trucks were. I have pictures of me at Spence in
our "fly-boy" red convertible. I have learned that
one of the most noble things one can accomplish in life
is to teach a skill that can allow someone to succeed in
life. Dad apparently had high expectations of his
students, which for flying was a matter of life and
death. We miss him, but know his impact on other
folks can live on.Ash Grimmett (Jr.) <AGrimmett@comcast.net> Savannah, GA USA - August 20, 2004 at 2:20PM _________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was a high school senior (young lady)
when Spence Field was set up as a flight school. A
bus from the base would pick up the young ladies to go
to the dances at Spence Field. My father would not
allow me to date but I managed to sneak out a few Friday
nights and the "jitterbug" was so popular! I was a
very good dancer and had the time of my life on these
nights which were oh so innocent! I remember only
one name of a young flight student and I secretly dated
him a few times. Nothing serious but I thought he
was such a gentleman and I was very flattered that he
chose to be a friend. His name was Jimmy Angel and
he was such a nice young man! I went on to college
but deep in my heart there was always the memory I
shared with this lad. He was very lonely and
frankly so was I and since I had such a strict father we
pretty much got along very well. I still remember
his youthful face and his gentlemanly manners. I
go back to Moultrie for my class reunions and feel very
nostalgic when we pass by Spence Field. I HOPE
that all those fine young men made it through the war
and returned to their loved ones.Betty (Sampley) Jones <Bjones2881@aol.com> USA - August 2, 2004 at 2:06PM _______________________________________________________________________________________________
SPENCE REUNION.
The
Spence-Hawthorne
Association
will
hold
another
reunion
on
October
8–9,
2004
in
Moultrie,
GA
at
the
Hampton
Inn
where
it
was
held
the
last
time
we
met.
For
details
contact
Vivion
S.
Griner,
1856
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 – July 29, 2004 at 2:09PM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
My father trained at Spence in 1958 as a
Vietnamese Air Force flight student. See his US
training certificates at http://www.qxpham.com/pdf/hoa.ustraining.certs.pdf.
I
am
writing
a
father-son
memoir
about
duty,
fate
and
the
aftermath
of
Vietnam,
due
out
in
the
Spring
of
2005,
http://www.asenseofduty.com.Quang X. Pham <quang@qxpham.com> USA - July 10, 2004 at 9:07AM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Found your excellent site through the
61-D site. I was an Aviation Cadet and flew the
T-34 and the T-28, call sign Fireball 69. I have
great memories of Spence and the people there. I
went to Vance to complete pilot training and receive
my commission. I spent 27 years in the Air Force
and flew 23 different planes during my career. I
flew 0-1E's, C-130A's and B-52D/G's in Vietnam.
Of my 8,000 hours about 4,800 were in the various
models (A to G) of the B-52. My best assignment
was as a SAC Wing Commander flying B-52G's and
KC-135's. I will always remember my instructor
Mr. R. D. White. He saved me from washing out
and taught me so much. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Class
61-F. Washed out by T-37 mid-phase
check. Went to Harlingen AFB for nav training.
Graduated Aug. After Nav school
went to RIO school (F-89s) at James Connelly then
was sent to McClellan to fly the C-121 radar
"Connies". Went to Yokota, AB in '66 flying
RC-130s. My wife left me and our two girls in
'68. Transferred to Forbes, Topeka, KS in '69,
still in C-130s. Passed over for Major and
released in '73. Became a Reserve Bum (AKA a
"Professional Reservist"). Flew C-130A out of
Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO for a year then arranged a
transfer to C-5 at Travis. Met an AF nurse
(Pat) and married her in '77. '84 sees navs
being phased out of C-5 by triple inertial so I
arranged a transfer to the back seat of F-4s at
Tinker. Becoming a Reserve Bum paid off as I
was able to accumulate enough active duty days to be
able to get a full 20 year active duty retirement as
a LtC in '88. Pat got out of the AF in '76 and
worked as a County Public Health Nurse until she
retired in '00. Since then we travel as
often as we can and we've been enjoying retired
life. We live in Vacaville, CA just 10 miles
from Travis AFB. Went back to Moultrie a
few years ago - what a change. Website sure
brings back memories. Thanks.
Buck Buchanan <PhantomB2@aol.com> 330 Vine St., Vacaville, CA 95688-8703, (707) 446-BUCK (2825) - June 21, 2004 at 3:57PM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was born on Spence Air Base on
September 8, 1944. My Father, John H. Fallat,
was a Staff Sergeant stationed there before going to
Algeria. I am returning to Moultrie and Spence
Field after 60 years in late August. My Father
passed away in May 1997 in Palm Springs,
California. I will miss not being able to share
this experience with him. If anyone has any
knowledge of my Father or can share anything with me,
about Spence Field at the time of my birth, I would
appreciate it. I can not wait to see the place I
was born. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
stumbled on this web site for the first time
today. I was in Cadet Class 57-O.
I was Panther 48, a student under Harold O. Boroughs
with A/C Joe Guerra, Panther 46, A/C Henry Brown,
Panther 49, and Lt. Tom O'brien, Panther
47. I went from Spence to Del Rio for
T-bird training. We were moved from there to
Brian AFB where I graduated in June of
'57. I was fortunate to get first pick
of assignments and took the F-86/F-100
slot. After F-86 gunnery school at Willy
(the best flying experience of my life) I went to
Nellis and F-100 training. I was assigned to
the 386th FBS which was redesignated the 523rd TFS
at Cannon AFB. I would love to hear from any
of the old Spence crew.
Peter M. Page <Penrith@AOL.com>Juneau, AK USA - June 2, 2004 at 8:23AM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was a member of Class 55-K at
Spence. It was an experience I will never
forget. As I recall, my Instructors name was
Jenkins. This at the time of the PA-18, and the
T-6, although we heard that T-28's were coming
(if memory serves). We had several foreign
students in our class. One of my room-mates was
from Cuba. I was a member of the first
marching band at Spence (I believe it was the
first). I retired from the Air Force in 1974. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Surfing the web and found your
site. It's great. I was Polecat 63 in
Class 57-O. Charles Steuben was my
instructor. I'd like to find some of the guys in
the class. I retired from the Idaho ANG after 32
years (not all flying years). I built and fly my
BD-4 aircraft. Plan to go to Oshkosh with it
this year. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
What a great web site -- my wife found
it while planning for the 45th reunion of her Moultrie
High School class of ‘59. I have many fond
memories of Spence. My father worked with the
contractors rebuilding the base and was among the
first hired by Hawthorne, as their chief
refueler. We lived on the base. As a
teen I spent much time with him while he was at
work. I was in the 1956 class of mechanic
trainees and worked on the flight line as a mechanic
until the base closed. My grand father owned and
operated the store just south of the main gate and had
cabins and a trailer park for renting to base
personnel. After the base closed in 1961 I did
not pursue flying or aircraft maintenance but
maintained a love for it. I always talked
airplanes to my grandson (who received his commercial
pilots license at MTSU last month). I went to
the Farm Expo last year and did a lot of reminiscing,
even taking one of the flights over the base to look
down on it (while working there, I really enjoyed
flying with the test pilots). I would enjoy
hearing from some of the people I knew and/or worked
with. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I own an Air Force T-34 Mentor, AF
52-7630, that was based at Spence in the
mid-50s. It is an historic aircraft since it was
one of three sent to Edwards AFB in Oct. '53 for
acceptance testing. There is a great picture of
it circa '53 in the Poncho Barnes Room in the O'Club
at EDW. After EDW it went to Marana and then to
Spence. It finished its AF career at Tinker and
then went into the Aero Club and finally into civilian
hands. I have owned the plane since '85, when I
put it through a complete ground up restoration at
Parks Industries in Amarillo TX. It is marked in
the original markings as delivered to the AF in '53,
and "lives" at Chino Airport in Southern California
where we enjoy flying it very much. Would be
interested to know if anyone on your guest list flew
52-7630 while it was based at Spence. (See
picture of aircraft on Memories
Page) 1501 Quail
Street, Newport Beach, CA USA, (949)476-3434 - May 4,
2004 at 8:03AM ________________________________________________________________________________________________
A very memorable website. I was
Polecat 78 in Class 58-E. Gordon "Flash Gordon"
Ward was my instuctor. He launched me onto a
great career in the sky. Went to Greenville AFB,
graduating in Class 58-F on 18 Jan 1958.
Finished my career in the Ohio Air National Guard in
1992. Will never forget Spence AB. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to Bruce Watson on a
fine piece of work! Super website. I was
hoping to see some names from my class mentioned
(59-B) but didn't. I did see Randy Sohn's
name who I knew from Northwest Airlines and the
Minnesota ANG. After preflight at Lackland in
Sept. '57 I was praying to go to Spence for primary.
Where did they send me????? Hondo.
Being raised in Decatur, Ga made Hondo far down
the list for me, but the USAF wasn't bothered by the
decision at all. An interesting note about
Hondo; according to an article in Flying Magazine, the
Air Force was still having pilots trained at Hondo
until a couple of years ago. A gentleman by the
name of Mr. Glen Estep was STILL instructing there
after beginning at Hondo in the early 1950's.
Two friends of mine instructed at Spence whose names
might be recognized. They are Dave Seitz and Dan
King. Dan passed away recently, but Dave is
alive and well and will probably outlive us all.
I sure wish someone who was related to Hondo in some
way could do the same thing Bruce has done for Spence. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nice web site! I was in Aviation
Cadet class 54P and your site brought back many
wonderful memories. Also remember walking 21
tours for checking in for my assignment an hour late.
One hour time change from Panama City Fla to
Moultrie Ga. Who would have thought??? It
was September of 1953 when I began training in the
PA-18's. Your site prompted me to dig out my old
log books and reminisce of those by-gone days.
It was a good time in life and what an
experience for a 20 year old launching what was to be
a 40 year career. I particularly remember the
giant step from the little yellow PA-18 into that
monster T-6. And those horrible hours under the
hood in the back seat with Mr. Clark egging me on and
knocking my knees with the stick when my attention
span was sagging. He was a great instructor and
a nice guy. I owe him a lot for his patience and
instructional skills. I have often wondered what
happened to some of my classmates from that era.
If any of you guys stumble by this site... drop
me an Email. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Graduated in Class 52-F - Webb AFB,
Texas - Japan 40th FIS (P-51's) - Willams AFB, AZ Base
Information Officer ________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is a great website. It
brought back a lot of memories. I took my
advanced training at Spence during WWII, class of 44F. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Re Tom (Jim) Lokey's comment in the
Spence guestbook: >>old 1st. Lt. student
officer. I was 30 years old...........13 days
later I was on my way to Moultrie, GA, Class
55N<< I'd always told the story or assumed
that it was so that Randolph Scott (no, not THAT
Randolph Scott of the movies, this is the one that had
his stripes torn off of his USAF khacki shirts) was
the oldest in our cadet class of 55N. Technically, I
guess it may have been so, Tom Lokey was a student
officer - as were a few others in our class.
Scottie was a former Tech or Master Sgt, best I
recall. And he may not have been at Spence with us,
only at Lackland. The other night on WCCO talk
radio, Alan Malmberg interviewed another one of our
Spence classmates, John Bob Pardo, formerly of Hearne,
Texas and now retired in College Station. For
those who may not recall 1967, Bob was involved in
"Pardo's Push" in F-4's in VN. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
For Sergeant Lesley's memories of
his childhood at Spence Air Base click
here. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I was in the Class of 57-I, Rebel
Flight, with Bill Peck (Rebel 35) as my
instructor. As with most of us, I have many fond
memories of Spence and Moultrie – excluding of course
the heat, humidity and gnats. I, and my wife
Pat, went from here to Vance in Enid, Oklahoma and
then to Dow in Bangor, Maine. I’d like to hear
from any former friends. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I was an old 1st. Lt. student
officer. I was 30 years old, in a critical MOS
and had been eliminated from the Cadets in March
1943. I sent my application for pilot training
with a request for 3 waivers. My Commanding
Officer, Brig. General Hutchison, gave me a
recommendation but laughed and said I would not be
accepted. I got an answer on my request for
waivers and they told me to attach my request with my
application. 13 days later I was on my way to
Moultrie, GA, Class 55N. I’m so old now I can’t
remember many of my classmates or instructors.
Randy Sohn was among those who went to Reese AFB,
Lubbock, Texas where we flew T-28’s, then
B-25’s. I stayed at Reese AFB as an Instructor
and Operations Officer. I recently received an
e-mail from Arnold Lester, an Instructor at Spence,
who informed me of this web site. I retired from
the Air Force the last of August 1971, as a LTC, with
a total of 3 years in WWII as an enlisted man, then 23
years as an officer. I flew B-47’s, B-52’s,
KC-135’s, T-33’s, C-123’s, C-27’s and others. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I have recently purchased a T-6G that
was stationed at Spence from 1951 to 1954. In
repainting, I'd like to get a closeup of the USAFTC
logo with the Spence lettering. Any photo's
would be appreciated. If anyone out there flew
TA-799, it's still in great shape! _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks Bruce, I just discovered the
Spence page and have had a ball stirring up old
memories. I graduated at Spence in class 44-B
when it was the Army Air Corps, stayed there and
instructed til it was converted to Basic
training. Ken Brugh, who was from my home town,
hired me in June l951 to come back and do it all over
again. I did everything from Buck Instructor to
Flight Commander and stayed there until we closed the
door. I have lost track of all my students but
would be glad to hear from any of them. I knew
most of the instructors over the years and it is good
hearing from some of them. Keep up the good work. Arnold K. Lester <lester.arnold@yahoo.com> USA - 188 Ivy Terrace Dr - Apt. 305, Boone, N. C. 28607, 828-355-9608 - February 13, 2004 at 9:23A _______________________________________________________________________________________________
After reading Randy Sohn's (55N)
Warbird Note #16 in the Spence Memories section of
Bruce Watson's terrific Spence AB website, I could not
help but think back to my days at Spence (60E).
In particular, one incident involving the forced
landing procedure, surfaced in my mind. My
instructor pilot sitting in the back seat was a
screamer and I believe he thought it was the only way
to get my attention. Today there are a lot of
college basketball coaches that have the same
style. You get the picture. One day while
on a routine training flight in a T-34 Mentor, the
instructor initiated the forced landing drill by
suddenly reducing power and turning control of the
aircraft over to me. As Randy Sohn has so
vividly described the local geography with its odd
shaped fields for the cultivation of cotton, peanuts,
and other crops, it was essential that the student
pilot find a field that was approachable and long
enough to successfully complete the forced landing, if
necessary. At a proper altitude but low enough
to make a change in fields difficult, I pointed out my
field of choice straight ahead and described its long
length. Much to my horror, the IP screamed "You
mean the one with the cows in it?" Only a
miracle and quick thinking was going to get me out of
this one. And then, there it was as I said "No,
the long field next to it on the other side of the
tree line" as I slowly adjusted my course to more
precisely line up with my "second" choice. There
was a long moment of silence before the IP announced
"OK Sack, I have the aircraft" and we headed for home. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Linda, sorry to hear about the death
of your father, Mr. Grimmet. He was my flight
commander in Class 56-D Nov. 54 - June 55. He
counseled me to stay in the Flight Training program
after a tough first week. He gave me my final
check ride in the T-28 and gave me a perfect score on
a spin. He cared about us students and our
efforts to become good pilots. I too, was there
when President Eisenhower came to Spence. Was
the Officer of the Day, but that didn't get me a spot
in the receiving line!! ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello, and a nice day from
Austria! I have a question about one pilot. His
name was “Lt. Edward J. Risk.” He came
from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was one of five
brothers that was active in the USAAF. Why I
seek information about him ?? In the year 1945,
16th April, the 351st Fighter Squadron (Raydon
Airfield, England) was included in a strafing
attack near my hometown. 10 miles from my house
was the airfield Obernberg that was attacked by many
Fighter Squadrons. Lt. Risk was shot down by
FLAK and was buried in Reichersberg. Later he
was moved to France – St. Avlod. I am working on
a history about the pilots of the USAAF on that
day. I am looking for any information about this
Fighter pilot. When was he at Spence Air Base,
when did he came to Raydon in England, and so on.
Thanks for your trouble. Geoffrey ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your great
website. I just lost my dad, Ashby Grimmett, on
January 7, 2004. He came to Spence in May 1951, with
my mother and I soon following - I was 5 at the
time. He was a flight instructor, flight
commander (Tiger flight, I believe) and later
personnel director when he had to stop flying.
What wonderful memories I have from my childhood of
visiting out at Spence - swimming in the pools,
watching the airshows with Mr. Howard's acrobatics,
watching the trucks demonstrate their foam
firefighting techniques. I remember seeing
President Eisenhower arriving, and he waved directly
to me and my mother as we stood on the side of the
road. I would love to hear from any of my
father's former students. I know he loved to fly and
loved to teach others about flying. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 54P, Bryan AFB, graduated August
17, 1954. Went home and flew with the Minnesota
Air National Guard. Would like for you to call
me or email me if you know of anyone who was at Bryan
AFB in Class 54P. From Bryan I went to Laughlin
AFB TX for Gunnery and then to Luke AFB and flew
F-84s. Please give a call or email.
Thanks. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Trying to locate anyone who was at
Moody AFB Valdosta, Ga., 1952-1955. I was in the
3550th Maint. & Supply Group, 3629th Flight Line
Maint. Flew on B-25's as crew chief.
Thanks. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was stationed at Spence Air Base in
early 1953 as part of Class 54ABC; it was the first
class to begin flight training in the PA-18. I
completed that phase and then entered the T-6G
program, but I did not complete it. The web site
is very interesting, as I recall the barracks, mess
hall, and Cadet Club. I also recall that the
food was excellent. I remember the dousing I got
in the pool after soloing! Keep up the good work
with the web site! ________________________________________________________________________________________________
54ABC - Thanks so much for your web
site. I graduated from Spence in September of
1953, and fondly remember the great times I had
there. My first solo in the PA-18, the sound and
smell of those radial engines in the T-6. The
weekend passes in Moultrie. Those were happy
times. I ended up my flying career with the
airlines. North Central, Republic, then
Northwest. 33 years total because of the early
training at Spence. Thanks to the instructors
and employees of Hawthorne Aviation at Spence Field.
I sure would like to know if and where William
(Bill) Parry, my flight instructor, is located.
Thanks again. Any body else from 54ABC out
there? ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was one of the first two Royal Air
Force students to arrive at Spence, in April
1952. The other was Brian Laxton and
we were Class 53-C. Later there were others in
classes 53-D, E and F and we all had a great time at
Spence. Regrettably Brian Laxton washed out and
I went on alone to San Marcos and later to James
Connally AFB, graduating on T-33's on 1 May
1953. - Foreign students were hosted by
members of the Moultie Lions Club and my hosts were
amongst the kindest and most welcoming people I have
ever met. In 1991 I went back and had the honour
of being the guest speaker at one of their meetings,
and was at last able to say thank you to them for all
they had done for me, a 19 year old student a long way
from home. In 1993 my wife and I went to
the wedding in Pine Mountain Georgia of one of the
grandchildren of one of my host families and old
memories came flooding back. - My
instructor was Richard R. Clark, who during the war
years had flown with the Royal Air Force before
transferring to the US Army Air Corps after Pearl
Harbour. (Yes, I'm British, and we put a 'U' in
'Harbor'!) - My co-students were Cadets
Pinkney M. Deal, still alive in Arkansas, his home
State; Joe Disbrow who tragically died just
before our first 53C reunion in 1997; and John
Duffy I would be very pleased to hear if
anyone knows what happened to John Duffy. He was
friendly with the Fire Chief's daughter at Spence and
we all said it was because in the event of an accident
the Fire Crew would rescue him first! - In
particular I would like to know what happend to
Richard R. Clark. He was a tyrant in the air and
frightened me to death during the time we were
airborne, but on the ground he was the nicest of
men. I have done a lot of instructing since
those days and I think I was just a slow learner and
needed to be shouted at. Although his
instructional technique belongs to an age long past,
he taught me, and taught me well, so that I flew for
46 years, finally hanging up my helmet in 1997.
- Finally, 'War Bird' operators make a big deal of
flying the T6 - and we all did it as 20 year olds,
without much fuss, and without too many
accidents. Happy days! ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 55N, Blacksheep Flight. Thanks,
Bruce Watson, for the great Web site and for teaching
me how to fly. I was thrilled today to discover
the Spence Air Base site and to experience the
countless fond memories it evokes. I was
especially pleased to find your message and email
address in the guestbook. Finally, I am able to
send you good wishes, tell you how important you were
to me, and to thank you. Whatever flying skills
I acquired, were a direct result of your exceptional
flying skills and your great ability to teach
others. I'm sure that all of your students would
agree that you prepared us well for what was to
come. In subsequent training, it was immediately
clear that you had taught us well and sent us off with
a high level of flying skills and with confidence in
ourselves. For me, it meant that multi-engine
school at Reese and transition into C-119's at
Randolph Field were seamless extensions of what you
had taught me at Spence. The fact that you were
such a likable guy was the icing on the cake! As
a 19 year kid who had never been in an airplane before
that first ride in the PA-18 with you, I really
lucked out getting you as my first instructor.
Randy, it's real good to see your post here and I'd
love to hear about some of our other classmates, as
well. My fond memories of Spence are alive and
well. Every day was filled with challenges,
excitement, and priceless camaraderie. I should
add that this Web site not only jogs the memory of
things once known, but it has taught me some things I
didn't know before about folks who were intimately
involved with operations at Spence, some of their
children's experiences, and memories of some residents
of Moultrie. It's great to read all of your
postings. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey, it took me a while but I
finally got around to taking a peek at your web
site. After reading some of the entries in the
guest book I've decided that the memories it inspires
in people is a beautiful thing. My only thought
after looking at it is wow, I hope I can learn to fly
like my grandpa can. Nice web site. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
My dad is John W. Gallimore, who
worked as an instructor for Bevo Howard in Moultrie,
GA. As a result of his employment there, I was
born in Moultrie on 17 Dec 1954, at a whopping 2lbs
8oz, three months premature. I have the
distinction, since I lived, of being the only "Georgia
Boy" in my family - my sisters all being born in
Pensacola, FL. I have heard about Bevo all my
life, and because of your website, I have been able to
gain a little insight to the world my dad and others
shared in those days. Thank you so much.
Also if there are folks who knew my dad I would
love to hear from them. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Class 55N. Flew PA-18s and
T-6s, Allen Cribbs was my IP until pulled away
to do that new T-34/T-28 program. Then Mr. John
Owen and Mr. Pitts. Flight CO was Ed King, Asst.
CO Arnold Lester, dispatcher was John Rhoades.
Blacksheep Flight. Remember the fist fights to
be the ones to hold the fishing poles/flags for Bevo
Howard's airshow in the Buecker for each graduating
class. And Buelah Kilgore - "Mama Kaye". _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I was in class 55-Q. Spence was
one of my more enjoyable Air Force experiences.
Excellent facilities, instructors, food, and
environment. My instructor was Joe
Poole. I came back once in a T-33 while
stationed at Robins AFB, GA. Great
website. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Can anyone tell me if black/colored
pilots were trained at Spence Field during World War
2? The reason I am asking is that my father,
Newell B. Anderson was stationed there in 1942 and was
in the 16th Aviation squadron under the command of
Major Walter R. Lee. I have a 1942 Spence Field
book and cadet brass wings that belonged to him.
Later, he was a licensed civilian pilot who flew out
of the Xenia, Ohio airport. I now work at WPAFB
in OH in simulation training where we have one of the
only operational "blue boxes" that still
exist. I would like find out more
information on any black/colored cadets at Spence
Field but have not been able to find anything about
them. Please help me with any information you can give
me concerning the blacks who were at Spence.
Larry Anderson _______________________________________________________________________________________________
The web site is well done, indeed.
I also grew up in the shadows of Spence,
watching Bevo fly the Bücker Jungmeister, listening to
the drone of yellow T-6's, and remembering when
President Eisenhower arrived in the L-1049G Columbine
for a visit to south Georgia (The sleek silver
"Connie" was biggest aircraft many of us had ever
seen!). My father was "Safety Sam" Phillips, who
served on the flight safety team with Hickson Skinner,
Bob McComb, and Willard "Pete" Pedersen. When
Spence closed we moved to Dothan Alabama with the
Hawthorne training contract at Ft. Rucker (L-19's -- I
think). Dad finished his aviation safety career
with the Department of the Army aviation safety
center, and went to be with our Lord in 1985.
Subsequent to 6+ years flying the F-4 Phantom
for the Marine Corps, I have been flying for Delta Air
Lines since 1980, and presently serve as bi-vocational
pastor of a growing contemporary church. Thank
you again for such a great website. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
What a surprise to find this site
while looking for old friends in Moultrie. I was
a Spence Field kid. My family lived on the base
for a few years ...we moved there in 1951 when Dad
began his career there...he was a flight instructor
and a flight commander 51-61. Wonderful memories
growing up there. The back door of our home
looked out onto a big field...I think it became part
of the golf course eventually. There were woods
in the distance where we children were allowed to
build a treehouse, of magnificent proportions, it
seemed at the time. Our days were spent between
there and the officers swimming pool in summer
along with blackberry picking (Mother made the best
pies ever!) and many adventures on our bikes around
the unrestricted areas. I remember a lovely
young woman whom we called Miss Joyce who was the
organist at the base Church and our jr. choir
leader. What a beautiful place the Church was
then, so peaceful surrounded by those tall pines,
polished wood floors and pews with the sun filtering
in through windows...I was impressed even as a young
child. We moved into town in the late fifties
but I returned as a lifeguard at the officers pool for
several summers. My family left Moultrie in the
summer of 1961 when the base closed. My father
has had a long and successful flying career which he
misses greatly. What a thrill it always was when
he would tip his wings as his flight flew over our
house. Thank you for your work on this site, Mr.
Watson. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Excellent web site and I have fond
memories of the people and places in the Moultrie
area. I was in the medical service from 1956 to
1961 at Spence Air Field, Moultrie, Georgia. A
large part of my duties involved crash rescue.
As part of the emergency crew I was present at most
downed aircraft from Spence Air Field. Can any
one tell me where I could find records on the number
of downed aircraft from 1956 to 1961? ________________________________________________________________________________________________
A great site! I was in Class 56P and was at
Spence from May through December 1955. The
instructors provided me with fundamental flying
knowledge and skill that has provided me with an
aviation career of 43 years (20 years in the AF and 23
years with a major aircraft manufacturer). I
completed single engine fighter basic at Bryan AFB,
TX. I flew a great variety of aircraft in the AF
- from single engine, single seat fighters (F-104
& F-105) to four engine jet transports
(KC135A). I have been back to Spence as late as
June of 2002.
Claude C. Underwood <ftrpilot@mindspring.com> ________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am writing a story about Decatur,
GA. natives 2nd Lt. 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. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
What a pleasant surprise to find this
great site while surfing the net! I was in
class 59-D (Nov. 57 to May 58) and enjoyed every
minute of it except for the time that Col. John caught
me speeding on base. I was Fireball 27 and I
flew the T-34 and T-28. Momma K introduced this
Yankee to her great southern cuisine and added to my
uniform size. Spence prepared me well for 20
years of Air Force flying. Let me personally
thank you for initiating a veritable flood of great
memories - keep up the high quality of the site!
I would be honored to be included in your
guestbook. Incidently, my instructor was "Red"
Bernaskey, Fireball 25. Bob Pocreva _______________________________________________________________________________________________
This is very good information. I
was born and raised in Moultrie and never knew this
much about the air base. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I came across your site while doing a
little surfing and wanted to comment. Great
introduction to the base and its mission. My father
went through his pilot training at Spence from 22 Oct
1953 to 19 May 1954. Not sure what class that would
make him but those were the dates. His name was Jere
Lottner (2nd LT at the time). Anybody who might
remember him please feel free to contact me. He died
in an F-100F while training for Viet Nam in 1967 and
I'm trying to research his career and life. Thanks for
the site that allows me to get an idea of his
training, Paul Lottner. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
An informal reunion of all former
Spence Air Base personnel is scheduled at the Hampton
Inn in Moultrie Ga. the first weekend in October 2003.
Plan to arrive Friday 3rd and depart Sunday Oct.
5th. For additional information contact Vivian Griner
229-985-3048 _______________________________________________________________________________________________
So glad to have found this site. Hill
Class 55B _______________________________________________________________________________________________
My grandfather, Lawrence Kreissler,
was a flight officer in WWII and received his training
at Spence Field in 1942. He later flew several
missions in a B26 Marauder, named "Missouri Mule," in
N. Africa, before the plane was eventually shot down
in late 1942. He was the only one to survive. I know
that he has good memories of his time at Spence and
was wondering if anyone might have memories and/or
pictures of the base as it was around 1942 they would
be willing to share? Thanks to all who served at this
base and others! Ken _______________________________________________________________________________________________
I was in class 58KO4C. Instructor at
Spence was a retired US Navy pilot. We flew the Mentor
T34(A) and the T-28 Trojan. The base then trained both
Cadets and Student Officer pilots. We recieved great
support from the folks in Moultrie and surrounding
area. President Eisenhouer flew in on the Columbine- a
"Super Connie". He landed at Spence ant the convoy
drove him over to Thomasville, GA where his Secretary
of the Treasury (Humphries, I believe) has a
plantation. They hunted pheasants there. We spent
weekends at Panama City Beach. The alternate training
base was at Sunset Field where Southern Airlines flew
from. The were still flying DC-3s! Always an explosion of memories to view the Spence AB guest book. wouldn't it be great to return for even just one day as an Aviation Cadet (the highest rank we ever achieved, sir!) best of health to our fellow classmen. Ken Maurer <doorbellone@yahoo.com> East Douglas, MA USA - Sunday, June 22, 2003 at 11:39:43 (EDT) I was originally in 52F and washed back to 52G. This site goes far to make up for my classes' lack of a yearbook. Veo M. Swenson taught me to fly the great yellow bird in 52F, and John Wiekus (sp) pulled me through in 52G after calling me a chowderhead about a thousand times. What truly great instructors they were. Even so, just making it through the program was one of the greatest callenges of my young life. I went on to fly T28s and T33s at Webb, then fighter gunnery at Luke in the F84 B & C, later F84G, then to K2 Taegu Korea in the 84G. Flew the 86F and 84F at England AFB, LA, and then the 84F again in the MoANG, St. Louis. I well remember L/Col Crosby, our CO at Spence, particularly for presenting me with a bunch of plastic bugles and snare drums, and instructing me to gather a bunch of students to create marching music for those infernal Saturday morning parades; Mrs Kilgore, who ran food service since the Hannibal crossed the Alps, viewed every student as her personal offspring; And Capt Kirkpatrick, the only tach officer mean enough to restrict me to the base one weekend with a 5 & 5 for some petty offense. Thanks to Skeet Vaughn for informing me of this terrific site. David Geffen <dgeffen@juno.com> Tempe, AZ USA - Saturday, June 21, 2003 at 20:28:11 (EDT) Great site that brings back some wonderful memories. I took flight training at Spence (T-34), in the summer of 1958. Unfortunately, I was a lousy pilot and I washed out. It would be great to hear about others in my class. I will keep checking. Thanks. Frederic F. Cossick <fcossick@twcny.rr.com> Camillus, , NY USA - Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 10:23:30 (EDT) I was young at the time, but I do remember that my dad, Elmer Paff, was a flight instructor at Spence when it closed. He went on to Ft. Rucker from Spence. I do recognize many of the names of the instructors that I found on the website and found the site to be very interesting and enjoyable. Terry Paff <tpaff@comcast.net> North Little Rock, AR USA - Friday, June 13, 2003 at 16:57:05 (EDT) Pilot Training Class 55-K....Great Memories!! James C Smith <cjcsmith@mn.rr.com> Bloomington, MN USA - Monday, June 09, 2003 at 23:48:57 (EDT) Wonderful site. Brings back many fond memories. I went back to Spence many years later and it was all boarded up. However, I found my barracks and the room I lived in. Thanks for caring enough to do this site Roy L Henry College Station, TX USA - Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 08:42:10 (EDT) I needed to add to the first note that John Walsh was my instructor...What a patient man he was...Lloyd Lloyd Timmons <hammer11@charter.net> Brookings, OR USA - Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 23:04:32 (EDT) I graduated for training there sometime in 54 aviation cadet class 55-D pilot training...went from there to Big Spring, Texas and flew T28's and T-33's..graduated there November 15 1954. Lloyd Timmons <hammer11@charter.net> Brookings, OR USA - Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 23:00:28 (EDT) I grew up in Moultrie, and in the spring of 1957 my class's year-end picnic was held at Spence. I took my first flight that day, with Bevo at the controls. What a thrill it was to soar heavenward for the first time and float over that amazing "miniature landscape." In the early 1930's, my father's first flight was with Jimmy Doolittle, and I'll bet not too many father-daughter combinations can claim such renowned first-flight pilots! This website is fantastic, and it reminds me of many of the reasons why Moultrie was such a great place to live. Thanks so much. Lowell Turner Berenguer <ltbskater@charter.net> Montgomery, AL USA - Friday, May 09, 2003 at 22:15:38 (EDT) What a wonderful job you have done with this site. It brings back so many great memories of times at Spence and of flying with Bevo!! Ann Killebrew Taddie <taddie@cox-internet.com> Clarksville, AR USA - Friday, May 09, 2003 at 14:40:57 (EDT) I was a student in class 52-H at Kinston, N.C. and after being released from the AF in 1956, I came to Spence as an instructor. Was there until the base closed. My call sign was " Panther 60". Marty M. Mulkey <marmic1@earthlink.net> Tomball, TX USA - Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 10:06:57 (EDT) I was a 52-H student, but not at Spence. Marty M. Mulkey <marmic1@earthlink.net> Tomball, tx USA - Saturday, May 03, 2003 at 09:47:48 (EDT) I was in 54F and look back at the whole training program as a real life-changing experience. I retired after a 26 year career as a corporate pilot with United Technologies (United Aircaft Corp) and 22 years AFR career. The whole thing was made possible as a result of my AF training program and believe me, I am very grateful. i almost got thrown out of the program at Spence due to my poor military bearing and I'm convinced a fellow cadet named William C. Canton from NY saved my bacon. Bill had prior enlisted experience and he took me under his wing. I really wish I could thank him but I have lost track of him -- strangely enough, I don't think Bill made it through the program. I also wish I could thank all the instructors I had. I especially would like to thank the ground instructors at Spence -- they really opened my eyes to the world of weather,navigation, hydraulics, avionics. Morris Kinder was my flight instructor for a short time. He was especially good and I wish I could thank him. As I look back, I think I was about 12 years old mentally -- I wish I could do it all again -- maybe not the marching in the parades. Many thanks for the Spence Webb site -- it's great!! Bob Butler Robert W. Butler <robertwbutler@msn.com> West Hartford, Ct. USA - Friday, May 02, 2003 at 16:47:14 (EDT) I have the T6g that was the centerfold for the brochure about Spence. (TA 350) David R. Webb Jr. <at6g@worldnet.att.net> Dallas, Tx USA - Thursday, May 01, 2003 at 11:02:09 (EDT) I was a flight instructor 1951-1953 Ray Arnold <wwray@htn.net> Lake Placid, FL USA - Saturday, April 26, 2003 at 10:45:03 (EDT) Class 60-G. Beaver 82. My instructor was Mr. Newton J. Cole and this was the best six months ever. Wayne E. Kinder <ancientpelican@msn.com> Colorado Springs , CO USA - Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 14:1 |
