The Vietnam War was a defining event in our lifetime. It changed the nation. I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the 1-hour screening of the preview of Ken Burns' epic 18-hour PBS series on the Vietnam War in D.C. last week at the Wilson Center. My reaction was - STARTLING, POWERFUL, THOUGHT-PROVOKING....
I had a great time meeting General Shepperd and General McPeak at the preview of the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary "The Vietnam War" in Washington, DC this week. Don Shepperd was the perfect host and General McPeak had us all laughing prior to the showing of the film. McPeak was a consultant on...
The Super Sabre Society celebrates the official adoption of the United States of America's new flag, on June 14, 1777. The U.S. Army also has adopted this date as its official birthday, with the establishment of the American Continental Army on June 14, 1775. We will spend a few additional seconds looking at Old Glory waving...
Hello everyone, this week's bios include Dick Rutan, George Buchkowski, Gary Tompkins, Dean Echenberg and Charlie Neel, it looks like a mostly Misty week. If you live in Central PA, that pretty much sums up every day for the last three months...
As a Memorial Day Remembrance I am attaching a letter my dad wrote on the Battle of the Bulge in response to a question he received from one of his buddies on the Super Sabre Society group forum back in 2007. Les Leavoy was in the fighter cockpit for 34 years and saw a lot...
Today is a day for solemn remembrance. We remember those who have died serving our country. We honor them all, all services, peace and war. But for us in the Super Sabre Society, it is personal, very personal. We remember the faces. We can hear the voices. They were our commanders, our flight leads, our wingmen, our...
A fellow F-100 fighter pilot who friends say had a smile that touched his eyes, headed west on May 20, 2017. Those who knew Paul say he wished his family and friends a fond farewell. Paul Phillips was born in Royal Oak Township, Michigan on June 11, 1932. His parents Paul Phillips and Marion Swan...
https://www.facebook.com/RealAirPower/photos/a.225169034287638.1073741828.225040454300496/856174661187069/?type=3&theate...
Hi everyone, I had my gallbladder out on Friday so it will be a few days until I'm back to working on the bios. However, if you have a good F-100 story send it to me at mbbarrett2020@gmail.com and as soon as I am able, I will post it to your page....
To our U.S. Armed Forces: thanks for what you do for all of us, our families and our country. We admire you. We watch you in action all over the world. We wish we were young again and could serve with you side by side. We are older now and have seen a lot. We...
The F-100 pilot's often became Air Force leaders. Here three F-100 Pilot's, Air Force Chief Gen Charles Gabriel, Lt Gen Merrill (Tony) McPeak, and BGen Jon A. Reynolds, Air Attache to China enroute to China for Airman for the first Airman to Airman talks. Gen Gabriel came face to face with the Mig pilot he had...
Donald W. Martin headed west May 6th, after a long struggle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Services are planned at the American Lutheran Church in Prescott, AZ on Saturday May 13th. Don began pilot training in 1952 at Bartow AB in Florida in the T-6. In 1953 he was assigned to the 81st Fighter Squadron at Hahn Air Base, Germany where...
The Super Sabre Society website will now feature monthly stories about F-100 pilot's, so grandchildren and others in the year 2050 and beyond can hear about a pilot or family member's experience of the F-100, the first fighter capable of supersonic level flight. Duane and his F-100 in Vietnam This story is from this month's featured...
Hi Everyone, I'll be sending a weekly update on the status of the bios. This post will give you a list of the bios I'll be working on for that week and times you can call if you prefer to have your bio recorded then transcribed. Thank you to all for giving me the opportunity...
Leo K. Thorsness (February 14, 1932 - May 2, 2017) was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. During his youth, he was active in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. He and Gaylee Anderson met in the freshman registration line at South Dakota State College in 1950. They married in 1953 and have...
As we review this past week’s Las Vegas reunion, think about this… the world needs to hear your story. The Super Sabre Society Board of Directors has been placing great emphasis on getting your biographies. Why? Because it’s time to share your story. This is not to be your typical bio, your resume or your curriculum...
Gerald Dean (Jerry) Grimmonpre’ was born in Marshalltown, IA on Jan 11th 1935 and passed away on Saturday April 1st 2017 at Franklin Woods Hospital, Johnson City, TN following a short illness. Jerry began his flying career with the US Air Force where he spent 9 years flying many aircraft including his favorite the F-100. Jerry...
Yesterday, President Trump signed into law an act of Congress that designates March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day, calling for the U.S. flag to be flown at half-mast. For those of us who were there, this is a time for memories and reflection. Often, when traveling to D.C., I try to visit the...
The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to “preserve the legacy of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew it” – a simple statement, but very challenging to implement. It is a multi-faceted, complicated and long-term effort. The view of the Super Sabre Society Board is that our stories, and those of our...
Lee Allmann headed west March 21, 2017. Lee Started as a SAC Nav at Mountain Home, where he met wife Vicki, he went to USAF Pilot Traning, F-100 training at with the 522nd TFS at Cannon AFB, NM, Followed by a year with the 352nd TFS at Phan Rang in Viet Nam. From there to...
Sept 26,1936-March 11, 2017 SSS member Col Jack Harris, USAF (Ret) headed west on March 11, 2017. Even as a young man, Jack's first love was flying. After graduation from the U of Bridgeport Jack joined the Air Force. He flew the F-100 in England, Germany and Vietnam. Later he flew the FB-111 at Pease and a second tour...
Colonel Paul “Rex” Hammock USAF (Ret.) Rex Hammock, 83, loving father, grandfather, and friend, passed headed west on March 8, 2017, after a long hospital stay. Born on May 27, 1933, in Long Beach, Rex spent the majority of his youth in San Diego. A seven-year boarding student at Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad, he earned...
SS member Charles A. Watry headed west on February 27, 2017 at age 93. He was as in the Army Air Corps/USAF from 1944 to 1974. He was actively flying during entire 30 year career, and retired as a Colonel. He flew F-100's for three years with the 79th Fighter Bomber Squadron in the UK...
SSS Member Col (Hank) Paul Rettinger, 95 headed west Sunday, February 19, 2017. Hank is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara J. Rettinger and three children, Paul Rettinger, Battleground WA. Lynn Newby, Austin, TX, & Babbs Chittenden, San Antonio, TX. Hank enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program in 1943 and as...
Richard "RY" Youel Costain (81) headed west Feb 18, 2017 after a sudden bout of pneumonia. He passed away Saturday February 18, 2017 while surrounded by family.He will now begin a much anticipated eternal life with Sylvia, his beloved wife of 40 years, and Christy Ann, his daughter who passed when she was 5. R.Y. was...
35TFW, Phan Rang AB F-100’s 1968 120th TFS (ANG), 352 TFS, 614 TFS, and 615 TFS F-100 Pilot, Greg Butler did not hesitate. "I immediately blew the canopy and was ejected," he said. "I started tumbling until the parachute opened and then had a normal descent." Several Army helicopter gunships, operating north of the base, quickly diverted to...
Lieutenant General William J. Campbell (Ret) of Sarasota, FL. was born May 11, 1931 headed and west February 02, 2017. He was was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Test Pilot with the 1st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SR-71), from 1965 to 1969. Ref: United States Military Academy...
Super Sabre Society Charter member Harry D. Scott, 79, headed west Sunday, January 29, 2017 in Tallahassee, FL. He was born November 24, 1937 to Harold and Rubye Scott in Chattahoochee, FL. He was raised in Chattahoochee and graduated from Chattahoochee High School. Harry graduated in 1959 from Florida State University where he played trumpet in...
Logan Jackson "Jack" Doub 08/28/1934 - 1/13/2017 Aviation Cadet to LtCol We lost a great F-100 pilot who started in the F-86 Sabre Jet and went on to fly the next fighter, the Super Sabre, for 11 years. He flew the F-100 in the most challenging and hazardous environments; in combat at the height of the Vietnam...
Charter Super Saber Society member Elmer Slavey headed west January 12th, 2017. Elmer was a highly respected and decorated F-100 pilot with the Silver Star, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 34 Air Medals to his credit. He is Survived by his wife Charlene. Services for Elmer are currently being planned by Charlene and other members of...
This website continues to reach more F-100 fans from around the world, and it's presence is increased on Facebook and in Google search response. Our seasonal posts and updates often score 1000 visits in one week. Members and families benefit from this visibility because it enhances the legacy of F-100 Pilots. Less than half of our...
Never a Christmas morning, never an old year ends, but somebody somewhere thinks of – old days, old times, old friends – and that is us. As the grandkids and great grandkids gather around the Christmas tree at our feet by a warm fire, raucous over their presents, a smile comes across our face -...
Stanton (Stan) Smith (October 17, 1938 - December 15, 2016) retired from the Air National Guard in 1981 and from Northwest Airlines in 1998. Stan was a fighter pilot's fighter pilot, an outstanding South Dakota Guardsman, and a true patriot. Stan was born in Orange, New Jersey. While serving his country in Vietnam, he was a member...
Well known aviation artist and Associate SSS member Keith Ferris and SSS CEO Hoppy Hopkins working on a rough sketch of what will be a full color, oil on canvas painting of the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center's F-100D, Serial No. 56-3440. _________________________________ This working sketch portrays a 3rd TFW combat loaded "Hun" at liftoff on the...
When you’re preflighting an airplane that has just rolled out of the factory, you expect it to be perfect. But every pilot knows that perfection is elusive in aviation, and simple mistakes can snowball into disastrous mishaps within seconds. First Lieutenant Barty R. Brooks found that out the hard way on January 10, 1956. That afternoon...
SSS member Leo Joseph Canavan, Jr. headed West on November 19, 2016 at the age of 81. Leo is survived by his loving wife, Logan Iin Canavan, his daughters, Susan Ellis and husband Velton Ellis, Shae McKean, Sissy Letchman and husband Chuck Letchman, and Jennifer Stephens and husband Joe Stephens. After having five girls, he...
Happy Thanksgiving As we sit down today with family and friends for meals of turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce, we are reminded that there are many things for which to be thankful: We are thankful that our forefathers founded a great nation based upon freedom. We are thankful that wise men along the way saw fit to preserve...
SSS member Warren "Van" Vanderburgh, 74, headed west November 17, 2016. He was an extraordinary man. He was a fighter pilot and 14 time Top Gun. He retired from the Air Force but loved the flying fighters so much joined the reserves (Some play golf, he flew fighters on weekends). He flew 27 years in...
Paper ballots: 98 ballots sent USPS. 44 ballots returned. Vice President 44 votes cast Edward R. “Eddie” Bracken - 32 Lester G. "Les" Frazier – 12 Director at Large: 44 votes cast Richard “Dick” Pietro - 34 David G. “Dave” Mosby Mosby - 10 Votes submitted via Survey Monkey: 1272 ballots sent For VP: 693 votes cast Edward R....
From Covey FAC, Tim Eby I Enjoyed the AOPA video about the guys flying the Hun one-more-time. I was an OV-10 Covey FAC, Covey 540 in the 20th TASS based at Pleiku and flying the Laotian mission, 1970-71. I may be your best non-Hun qualified fan. You guys were the most professional, most accurate, most reliable guys that...
Super Sabre Society Veterans Day Message It started with our grandparents, then it was our parents and aunts and uncles, then it was us, and now our kids and grandkids. Veterans all, we answered the nation’s call, not for money, not for fame, but for our country and for each other. We recall the trenches of...
The voting is complete - here are the results of the Super Sabre Society votes for Vice President and Director at Large - the final vote count will be certified in one week-ten days by the election committee composed of Bill McDonald, Jerry Key and Dewey Clawson - the likely changes are only a couple...
Bill Swendner (82) ..in his own words I was leading a flight of 4 F-4C's out of Danang AB on 14 July (Bastille Day) 1966, to escort a flight of 4 F-105 Wild Weasels. We joined up with the WW's over the Black River and they were a flight of three with #3 still not camouflaged (silver). We...
Hun Pilot Extraordinaire, Honorary SSS Member and Iconic in the history of aviation died this morning, according to reports. Bob Hoover, a World War II fighter pilot, former North American Aviation test pilot and world-renowned F-100 and other aircraft airshow pilot headed West Today (October 25, 20 16). Some of the greatest pilots who ever lived, including...
James E. (Jim) Williamson of Richmond, TX, "flew his last flight" on October 13, 2016. He was born in Houston, TX on November 7, 1929 and graduated from Lamar High School in 1947. He was commissioned in 1951 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S.A.F. and became a career jet fighter pilot with a combat...
All SSS members, The links below features the article and videos of the Ft. Wayne F-100 Flying event. On the video link, the main video is featured at the top of the page, followed by individual interviews and ending with Dean and his crew. I have some regrets. Due to deadlines and my time, I did...
GOLD COAST HOTEL & CASINO Online Registration begins about October 25th, 2016 Tuesday, 25 April 2017: Primary Registration Day, Dress - flight suits or flight jackets for an afternoon and evening happy hour to include light snacks and later, a casual light buffet dinner. Wednesday: 0730-1630 All day Yucca Flats excursion. Tour options to include Vegas Backstage...
SSS member Major General Earl J. Archer Jr., 88 headed west on October 3, 2016 at his residence in Sterling, VA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah E. Archer. He is survived by his children, CDR Stephen C. Archer USN (Ret.) (Sharon), Douglas J. Archer and Linda Yeatman (Douglas); his siblings, Ralph Archer...
SSS member Don Castleman, 82, born September 15, 1934 in Olney, TX to Luther W. and Bonita Castleman, passed away September 19th in Payson, AZ. He completed high school at Arlington Heights High School in Ft. Worth, TX, and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Texas State College in Denton, TX. While in college...