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The Fifty-Fifth SRW Association will hold its 21st reunion from 17 to 20 May 2001 at the Holiday Inn Beach Resort Melbourne-Oceanfront located in Melbourne Beach, FL. Just 15 minutes from the Melbourne International Airport, and one hour, ten minutes from the Orlando International Airport, the hotel provides the perfect location for sun, sand, and the relaxed atmosphere to renew old friendships and make new ones. Airport shuttle service to the Melbourne Airport is available for all arriving/departing flights. There is none to/from Orlando.
    Note: Renting a car for the drive to and from Orlando and Melbourne may be less expensive than the air hop between airports. Check it out.

Holiday Inn room reservations: ($79.00 per night, plus tax, single or double occupancy) should be made through Holiday Inn reservations at 1-800-465-4329; or directly to the Melbourne- Oceanfront at 1-321-777-4100: fax: 1-321-773-6123. You will need a credit card to hold your reservations. Be sure to mention the 55SRW reunion to obtain the special room rate. Additionally, a limited number of oceanfront rooms are available for $99.00 per night, plus tax, and suites are available for $159.00 per night, plus tax. The hotel has a web site, if you would like to obtain more information--www.holiday-inn.com/mlb-oceanfront.

Reunion registration forms (the last two pages in this newsletter) and payments should be sent in by the May 1st to provide event head counts for the planning committee.

See the reunion registration form for information on how you can eliminate the room tax through early registration and by payment through the Association, and to compete for a free room drawing.

Make your air travel arrangements through your favorite travel agency, or with an airline, or on the Internet. If not already done, do it soon!

For RV'ers there is a FAMCAMP at Patrick AFB. Phone: 1-321-494-4787. It is about five miles or so from the Holiday Inn. There is RV parking across from the hotel at no cost to guests. Parking only, no hookups.

Reunion cochairmen, John Caban and Barney Clary, have done a superb job of putting together a well balanced agenda of activities and free time for what is expected to be yet another memorable gathering of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth troops, family and friends.

The reunion planners have striven to provide a variety of events for the reunion attendees; some of them are duplicated to allow maximum flexibility. Some attendees may not choose to do any of the activities outside the hotel. This is not a problem-pick and choose as you desire. The primary goal is for us to get together and have fun.

Wednesday, May 16th

Those 55thers arriving Wednesday, May 16, will be able to register for the reunion until 8:00 p.m. and enjoy gathering in the hospitality suite. The hospitality suite is the penthouse, a large two story room with a glass wall facing the ocean, which will be available to us 24 hours a day throughout the reunion. Check-in and greet others. (There will be a meeting of the Board of Directors at a time to be specified by them.)

Reunion registration will be in the hospitality suite each day. Hours may vary, but generally, there will be someone there to help you. Feel free to volunteer for bartending and/or registration help. You may find John Caban and/or Marsha Griffin tickling the ivories from time to time, so we can indulge in some nostalgic and, perhaps bawdy, sing-a-longs. Be prepared to sing the 55th anthem found elsewhere in this newsletter. For those of us who can no longer memorize (or even remember) stuff, bring it with you.

Thursday, May 17th

Shopping, Factory Outlet Mall in Vero Beach (Morning 'til ?) You can take a one-hour bus ride to the largest outlet mall on the Space Coast. Seventy-five stores are sure to please even the most discriminating shopper. (This option is also offered for Friday morning so you have a choice on when to melt your plastic.)

Kennedy Space Center Tour (Morning), a bus jaunt to Kennedy Space Center to experience NASA's past, present, and future. See the Space Shuttle launch pad, the enormous Launch Vehicle Assembly Building. Learn about the international space station, and much more. The start time is 9:30 a.m. and will last approximately three hours.

Your special VIP tour will avoid waiting in the normal lines at this popular tourist attraction. The $40 cost of the tour includes the Visitors' Center, the museum/gift shop, and an IMAX theater. Just like Disneyland! (This tour option is also offered for Friday morning.)

There will be ample free time until the evening Casino Cruise. Miss the gambling from the last reunion? Then we have the entertainment you'll like. Cruise on the largest gambling ship we know about. Five decks of gaming tables will give you ample opportunity to play. A finger food buffet is available at no charge. Gambling instruction is available on board the ship.

While the emphasis on the ship is gambling, there is also a small lounge with entertainment and outside seating on the afterdeck. Best of all-there is no charge for the cruise itself; but, beware-those machines suck the money out of your wallets. Buses will leave the hotel at 5:50 p.m. The ship sails at 7:00 p.m. and returns to the dock at midnight. Participants can expect to return to the hotel about 1:00 a.m.

Friday, May 18th

The obligatory Golf Tournament for you duffers, hackers, and Tiger-wannabes will take up the morning. Swing away with your reunion friends at Patrick AFB. Shotgun start; cost of $30 includes carts, green fees, and prizes. Organized by Jim Owen.

Shopping, Factory Outlet Mall in Vero Beach (Morning 'til?) See the details on Thursday's schedule. This gives you another option on tailoring your plans.

Kennedy Space Center Tour (Morning) Ditto the previous paragraph.

Sunset Dinner Cruise. This is limited to the first 75 folks who sign up. ***SOLD OUT (March 2)***
You will cruise the Indian River and enjoy the sunset with your friends and the pleasure of relaxed dining. One meal selection for all. Sailing time is 6:30 p.m., returning at 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 19th

There will be an RC-135 aircraft tour (providing the 55th Wing's operational commitments allow availability) at Patrick AFB early this morning. You will see what technology the current crewdogs have to play with these days.

Back at the hotel, Robb Hoover will orchestrate a Reconnaissance Seminar from 9:00-11:00a.m. on the following topics: The November 1970 Pechora Sea incident with Jimmy Jones and crew, the last time there was MIG gunfire near a 55th aircraft; Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick and the recon community relationship; and a current operations briefing from a 55th Wing representative.

The 55th SRWA Business Meeting for the membership and guests will be held immediately after the seminar (approx. 11:15 a.m.) The purpose is to review, update and conduct the necessary affairs of the Association; hold the election of the Board of Directors; and to talk about future reunion sites/dates, etc.

To consider: do we want to have a reunion between this one and Dayton in September 2003? If so, when, where, and who will be in charge? Think about it.

The newly elected Board usually meets immediately after the business meeting to elect officers from its ranks.

All this stuff is free, gang! Free is good.

After that, you will be on your own for lunch and free time for the hospitality suite or whatever, until the gala Saturday Evening Banquet. The banquet will be held at the hotel. Dress for dinner will be coat and tie for the male members. (Please wear pants, as well.) Meal choices and a place to indicate special meal needs can be found on the registration form.

Sunday, the 20th will be the last hurrah to say farewell to comrades and friends for a safe return home, and to resolve to attend the next reunion. (This article was done by committee with Barney Clary in the lead.)

It's going to be fun,fun,fun!

Here is the list of those that have signed up as of 5/6/01.