2008 Troop Carrier/Tactical Airlift Association Convention

San  Antonio,  Texas

November 6-9

 
The first TCTAA convention was an unqualified success. Although the turnout was a little smaller than expected due to illness and other conflicts, those who were there thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Andy Levya did an outstanding job bringing everything together under Hector Leyva's supervision. There were some last minute scheduling changes due to conflicts with the 433rd Airlift Wing and Lackland Air Force Base, but everything came off smoothly. First thing Friday morning we were picked up at the hotel by an Air Force bus provided by the aerial port squadron and taken to the 433rd flight line where we were treated to a static display of one of the wing's C-5A Galaxy long-range transports. The 433rd is the lineal descendant of the 433rd Troop Carrier Group of World War II, which saw duty in the Southwest Pacific as part of the 54th Troop Carrier Wing.

Jimmy Trampota and Rudy Bompensa



Former C-5 loadmaster Sam McGowan

After touring the C-5A, we went to the Lackland Museum and were treated to a tour of the small complex, which is in the process of being converted into a museum of Air Force training. The museum is interested in accounts and photographs from veterans basic training experiences.



Our next stop was at the Kelly Officers Club, which is now a civilian establishment that caters to the military and civilian employees of the facilities in the former Kelly Logistical Support Center. It was sad to see the vacant buildings that used to house billions of dollars worth of aircraft parts and equipment. The buffett was OUTSTANDING, and the $7.00 price was hard to believe for the amount and quality of food we were served. After lunch we returned to The Hyatt Place on the River Walk in downtown San Antonio and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening socializing in the hospitality room or out seeing the sites around the town.


The officers and board members met first thing Friday morning. Our chairman of the board, Alfred "Ace" Bowman, sent an Email advising that he had fallen ill and was unable to attend so the vice-chairman, Carl Wyrick, presided over the meeting. Our first order of business was to nominate someone to fill the vacancies for the four positions that expire this year, and we decided to recommend to the members that they be reelected for full three-year terms. We also decided to have our conventions every two years, and in view of not having anyone in Little Rock to take responsibility for organizing an event there, we decided to look elsewhere for 2010. Carl also suggested we try to have our conventions in conjunction with an air show, and Hector Leyva is looking into one in San Antonio while Sam McGowan is looking at the annual Wings Over Houston air show, which is normally held in late October. We also decided to make loadmaster and Air Force Cross winner Charlie Shaub and Huey Long honorary posthomous members of the Association. We also will make available space on our web site for individual pages for any troop carrier or tactical airlift veteran that their friends and families wish to honor with a contribution to the Association in their name. (Remember that all donations made to the Association are fully tax-deductible.) After a short adjournment we returned for the members meeting at which the suggested changes all passed. It was recommended that something be done to recognize the spouses and signicant others who accompany their partners to future conventions.

After the meeting we heard a Power Point presentation by USAF Vietnam veteran CMSgt Bob Laymon, who served as a T-39 crew chief on Scatback missions in 1971-1972. Bob was flabbergasted when he referred to the airdrop mission over An Loc when Captain Bill Caldwell and SSgt Charlie Shaub earned the Air Force Cross and our newest member, Charlie Armistead, spoke up and said "I was in that formation" and Hector Leyva and Ralph Bemis each responded "I was too." Incidentally, Charlie and Ralph were on Captain Doc Jensen's airplane a few days later when they were shot down and miraculously rescued within minutes, if not seconds, by US Army helicopter crews who witnessed the crash. The navigator on that mission, Robert Kilpatrick, had just showed up at the hotel. Charlie and Ralph are two of the Association's five Silver Star holders.
 


That evening we all gathered at the King William House near the hotel for a buffett of fajitas, beans and rice, after which we were entertained by a mariche band. Hector Leyva read a letter from Texas Governor Rick Perry, who expressed his regrets at not being able to attend and his love and appreciation for the C-130 and tactical airlift mission of which he was a part at Dyess AFB, Texas in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Following the entertainment our special guests who had come all the way from Saltsby in England told us about the Saltsby Airfield where the 314th Troop Carrier Group was stationed during World War II. Ray Bennett was a small boy during the war and was adopted by the Royal Air Force and US Army Air Forces airmen who frequented his father's pub. His daughter Rosie gave a history of the base and told about their efforts to establish a memorial to the British, Polish and American airmen who flew from the airfield. They have a close relationship with members of the 62nd TAS/AS from Little Rock.

After the presentation by Ray and Rosie, everyone returned to the hotel for more socializing. The next morning we all said our goodbyes and began making plan for our next convention.

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