2002 1st Fighter Association Reunion
The 2002 1st Fighter Association Reunion was held September 11th-15th near Langley at the invitation of the former 1st Fighter Wing Commander BG Goldfein. The task of hosting fell to the current Wing Commander Colonel Miller since Gen Goldfein had departed for the Pentagon. The grunt work was done by Vic Johnston, Lt Col Pete "Toes" Bartos, the 1st Fighter Wing Historians , and Major Brad Franklin who was our tour guide. But nothing would have happened had Colonel Miller not set its goals.
It is difficult to describeThursday's Tattoo, other than to say it was awesome (not in the meaning of today's teenagers but what one says when one first views the Grand Canyon) and worth the trip from the West Coast. The Historians (MSgt. Craig Cairo and TSgt. John Deshetler) put together a slide show at the Saturday banquet that covered the 1st from WWI to the present including pictures of some of those of us in the Association as they appeared in WWII. It was a work of art. The Air Combat Command band appeared in WWII Pinks and Greens and brought us back to those times with songs of the era.
On our side, Hersch spent sleepless nights worrying and arranging the arrangements. "Pilot Officer Prune" MacAllister of the 71st is always quietly on our sidelines. This time he hosted a cocktail party for all the squadrons and arranged for us to get up to date on the 1st Fighter Wing and the Air Force of today.
As a sidenote, Colonel Miller in his talk at the Saturday banquet described the 71st as having led the whole Group from the States to England on Operation Bolero. This feat is something that is not always recognized! I suspect that the current 71sters at the Wing might have had something to do with inserting that in the script!
Most of the 2002 reunion photos on this website were taken by me and the 1st Fighter Wing's official photographer, SSgt Andy Bellamy (unless otherwise noted)
Robin Hansen
71st Fighter Squadron
September 19th, 2002