Yes it says WarBirds Convention but it is not sponsored by them. Us players have opened it up to all online gamers. Come and join us Nov 13-16 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
World War Two Gamers Convention Here are the updates:
1. I'm working on updating the schedule of events. It looks like our guest speaker will be going with us to the Air Force Armament Museum. Ask all your questions about the airplane and the Doolittle Tokyo Raid while you stand next to him by a B-25. As flight engineer and gunner on the B-25 during the raid, he can tell you an amazing story.
2. I’ve had emails wanting to see pictures of our guest speaker: MSgt Edwin Horton.
(on top of wing)
Pic 1 (first on the left)
Pic 2 (second from the left)
3. I also added lunch to our tour on Saturday. The Flight Line Pub & Cafe offers aviation-inspired mural covering the building.
The exterior and interior of Flight Line feature photos, paintings, patches, and other memorabilia associated with flight. The collection seems to grow with donations from patrons. On one visit, a large group of retired military people came in bringing a patch and a framed print. (And yes, draft beer is available.)
More Here4. I talked to another Raider tonight on the phone, Col Robert Hite, who was coming to Fort Walton Beach this month. But due to an open heart surgery, he is wanting to come down here in the middle of November. Did I say “around the 15th?” He told me he needs help getting his travel plans put together. I asked him if he would join us at the CON for an hour or two if he did make it down here next month. He said he would love to join Ed, our guest speaker, and talk about the raid to you. I'm working on helping him and his wife with airplane tickets, car, and a place to stay, etc.
Col Hite and I at the 2001 reunion
Here's a short bio of Col Hite:
Lt. Hite blindfolded by his captors is led from a Japanese transport plane after he and the other seven flyers were flown from Shanghai to Tokyo. After about 45 days in Japan, all eight were taken back to China by ship and imprisoned in Shanghai.
The crew of Farrow's plane after being captured. In front, L to R, were Cpl. Jacob DeShazer, and Sgt. Harold A. Spatz; in rear, L to R, Lt. William G. Farrow, Lt. Robert L. Hite, and Lt. George Barr. Farrow and Spatz were two of those executed on Oct. 15, 1942.
Col Hite spent 40 months as a Prisoner of War (POW).
WOW, if we can get him to join us!
5. Hal Holland, a B-17G tail gunner from 1943-1945 will join us Saturday at the museum and dinner.
6. I’m working on these two below.
a. Col Bob Gates, Bob Hope’s pilot during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and the former commander of Eglin AFB, auxiliary field 9. He is so busy but told me he’ll try.
b. Col George “Bud” Day, a World War Two veteran, Vietnam Prisoner of War, and Medal of Honor recipient. He is the most decorated military person since Gen Douglas Macarthur.
http://www.midamericaairmuseum.com/budday.htmlFootnote:
These are heroes that I have met and come to know over the years. I can call them on the phone as a friend. None of them have asked for money if they can show up. Col Gates and Col Day appear all over the country and can’t promise they can make it.
7. Security concerns are still high at Hurlburt Field for the AC-130 and Special Operations Air Park. Since I'm not active duty and don't have a flightline pass anymore (retired), I need to coordnate through the proper channels to allow us access. As a member of the Air Commando Association, we can visit their building if we can't get on base. There 2 miles down the road.
Air Commandos
