The gathering of SAC veterans at the 2002 reunion, held May 16-18 at The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, located in Pooler, GA just outside Savannah was a resounding success!
Approximately 320 attended the Saturday night banquet with former CINSAC, General Russell E. Dougherty, as the guest speaker. The banquet was the reunion finale, and celebrated the sixth anniversary of the museum, and the expansion of its theme from Eighth Air Force in Europe in WWII to the inclusion of the Strategic Air Command in the Cold War. A highlight, of course, was the participation of the Cold War warriors of Strategic Air Command in the reunion festivities.
Events began with Thursday morning's golf at the Crosswinds Golf Course just north of the museum. It should be called "downwind" because it is just north of the eastward final approach of Savannah International Airport. In addition to airline and Northrop Grumman Corporation aircraft traffic in the area, the golfers were treated to F-16s, Harriers, Georgia AFRES C-130s, and two B-1s arriving for an exercise at the local gunnery range. (As one hacker observed, "We went to play golf and an air show broke out.") Of course, the reunion planners took credit for staging that activity.
Many who did not play golf went on tours of Savannah that day and throughout the rest of the week. They enjoyed the many elegant sights, fine dining and other ambiance that hospitable historic southern city offers.
Co-sponsors for the SAC reunion were the Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum and the Birthplace Chapter of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Historical Society. It is difficult to find the words that adequately express the efforts of these two groups. The staff was experienced in putting on events, but not in the initial planning and notification aspects. From the very beginning, they were totally committed to the success of the reunion, as were the members of the local 8AF chapter.
Two new museum projects were dedicated during the reunion. The Birthplace Chapter completed the restoration of a B-47 on the Monday before, and the museum completed the construction of a replica English chapel on the day of our arrival. The B-47 is an eye-grabber as you cruise on I-95 just north of Savannah. Just a few yards away is the Chapel of the Fallen Eagles, displaying the stone and stained glass so common in English chapels. Both are nestled adjacent to the museum's Memorial Garden, which is filled with monuments and other dedications to crews and units of the Mighty Eighth.
On Friday morning a memorial service was held to honor those SAC members who have gone on ahead. At the conclusion of the service, Reg Urschler made a flyby in his P-51, Gunfighter II, on his way to his next air show. His commitment was typical of the 55 SRW Association. Of the 362 who registered to attend some or all the reunion activities, 134 were members and guests of the 55th SRW Association having their own "mini-reunion".
The reunion organizers, Buck Shuler, Tommy Harrison, and Jim McCoy, at a luncheon on Friday, provided information and discussed plans for future reunions. Buck covered the status and plans for the Mighty Eighth Museum, and Jim gave an update on the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Omaha, NE. Tommy recounted how this reunion came about, and led a discussion on future reunions and the possibilities of a controlling organization. Currently, there is no formal organization to plan and govern future SAC reunions.
McCoy then told of the SAC Veterans Advisory Council which was formed to work with the Strategic Air and Space Museum. It includes in its charter the tasking to help develop future reunions and to the perpetuation of the history of the SAC. At present, the museum leadership feels it cannot support planning and notification of reunions. The museum newsletter, Wings, did report on the initial planning for this reunion, as well as updates including the registration form. This was of significant assistance in getting the information to most former Society of SAC members.
Discussion was held on possible sites for future reunions. Hal Austin, representing the March AFB Museum, offered to host the 2004 reunion, possibly in mid-January. Efforts are also being made to work with folks from the Barksdale area for 2006. The attendees decided not to establish a reunion organization at this time, but to leave the planning for future reunions in an informal structure.
A special thanks is expressed to the leaders of the former SAC society and its local Omaha chapter. Upon closing their respective organizations, both groups provided funds to the reunion committee. Without these funds the reunion planners would have been hard pressed to get the word out. Additionally, a special thanks goes to the many reunion organizations that picked up the initial planning information and the registration forms and passed them on through their newsletters to their memberships.
As a final note, a word about the Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum. You should definitely put it on your list of places to visit. It is unlike most museums, which show equipment and the occasional story. It attempts to do the opposite by using a historical narrative. Its research library is exceptional. They have information on virtually all crewmembers who served in the 8AF in WWII as well as many others. Check out their web site at www.mightyeighth.org.
By Tommy Harrison
