Giant 133 Model Update

Breaking News from Super-modeler, George Maiorana!

I have placed the C-133 build on hold until the end of July.  I'm in the process of getting my Tu-4 ready for the Scale NATS held in Muncie, IN, this July 12th.

I've gotten the "itch" to get my planes into the air so the 133 has to take a back seat for a while.  I still plan on having it flying in the Spring of 2014.

I can't promise anything, but your 60th Anniversary Reunion at Dover would be a great place to fly the 133 if you could get us permission to fly it there. Just a thought for now.  All depends on my health and financial situation.

Best regards,

George

Here's his Tu-4:

Survey Response Update

Again, thank you for the great response!

As of this morning, we've had 79 responses to the survey. That's a 46% response rate (79 out of 172 e-mails sent. EXCELLENT!!)

61 people said YES (Very likely to attend, will plan on it). 13 said MAYBE! 5 said No (can't travel).

The 74 saying YES and MAYBE accounted for an expected attendee total = 143 people! (16 singles, 49 couples, 6 said they'd bring 2 guests each, and 2 said they could bring as many as 9 guests total).

Preferences favored the Maxi = 83% to Mini = 17%, and the Mid-May dates (60% to 40% for Mid-June).

IF YOU HAVE NOT RESPONDED YET, PLEASE DO SO NOW! We need all the input we can get, and would like to grow that expected attendee number.

79 of you have provided some valuable information to help our planning, but it leaves us with some issues to struggle with:

1. The "preference survey" did not tell us how many of the "June Preferences" would or would not be able to make a reunion scheduled in May. We're hoping many of you could, even though you prefer June. If you indicated a June preference, please let me know by e-mail whether you can make a May reunion?

2. Considering some MAYBEs could turn in to NO, and some "June Preferences" can't make it in May, the expected attendee total is actually less than 143. IF the right number is 125, that's about half the number we had in 2010. So the question becomes, what is Half-a-Maxi-Reunion?

Any additional input you can provide to help the planning decisions would be appreciated.

Thank you very much,
Dick Hanson
e-mail: rehanson342@me.com

BG Jack Randolph Cram, USMC

A bit off the C-133 topic. The Naval Air Station (NAS), Ft. Lauderdale Museum has posted my latest article on its site. http://www.nasflmuseum.com/events-blog.html It is "Jack Randolph Cram: Airport Manager to Marine General."

While researching the Olympia (WA) Army Airfield, I found the name of the Olympia Airport's first manager. He turned out to be very interesting! The first pilot hired by WA State, the first Olympia Airport manager, a key person working for CAA to develop the civilian pilot training program, a certified Marine hero at Guadalcanal! Would you believe sinking a Japanese troop transport with torpedoes launched from a PBY! Then commanded a Marine PBJ (NA B-25 in Marine service) ship-busting unit from Saipan, Iwo and Okinawa. Later commanded a major Marine unit at Pohang, Korea. And more.

Your Survey Response

THANK YOU!!  

Within the first 24 hours, 36 of you responded! Great start, but…..

If YOU haven't yet, please do so now (see the e-mail message sent earlier).

EARLY PREFERENCES: So far, 81% of you prefer a Maxi-Reunion (full weekend like 2010, rather than one afternoon like 2012). So far, 34 of you indicated 62 will attend (10 singles & 26 couples). That's enough for a Mini, but doesn't justify a Maxi (need at least 100!). So we will  at least have a Mini-Reunion in Spring, 2014, in Dover. Also, your preference for timing isn't clear yet (it's 52% for Mid-May & 48% for Mid-June).

NEED MORE INPUT!!

Please let us know ASAP if you haven't already!

Diamond Anniversary Reunion Survey

If I have a current e-mail address for you on my list, you should have received the following e-mail survey today. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP! If you didn't get one, please let me know your name & address at rehanson342@me.com .

During early May, Hank Baker convened his local planning committee for their initial discussion of the Diamond Anniversary Reunion of Dover C-133 Crew Colleagues in the spring of 2014 at Dover AFB. They need some input from YOU!!

The goal is to provide the incentive for those around the country to travel to Dover for this One Last Celebration of our Camaraderie! BOTH FLIGHT CREWS & GROUND CREWS!

For openers, we have four simple questions:

1. Would you prefer: (it makes a difference in expense, but this is probably our last Hoorah!)

    a. The 2010 Maxi-Reunion model that took place over a full weekend with all the trimmings, or…

    b. The simple Mini-Reunion of 2012 that took place in one afternoon in the hangar?

2. Would you prefer the Reunion to be:

    a. Mid-May, 2014, or…

    b. Mid-June, 2014?

3. How certain are you that you would attend?

    a. Yes. Very Likely (will put it on my calendar and plan to come).

    b. Maybe. Really want to, but too early to tell.

    c. No. Wish I could, but doubt I can make it.

4. If you plan to attend, how many guests would you bring in addition to yourself?

    a. None

    b. One

    c. Two

    d. Three

    e. More than three

We want to encourage your children, grandchildren, family members and friends to be a part of the grand finale that began some 60 years ago, and is now an Air Force Legend: The Crews of the C-133 Cargomaster heavy cargo transport!

To get as much response as possible to this survey, here are several user-friendly ways you can reply:

1. The simplest is to click on the following hot link which will take you to an online MonkeySurvey. Just click on your answers to each of the four questions, then Done: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LRRL672  

2. OR, you can click on Reply to this e-mail message and list your four answers, then Send it back to me.

3. OR, if you have access to a printer and prefer doing it by hand, print out this e-mail, clearly mark your answer to each of the four questions, and snail mail it to me: Dick Hanson, 10849 Falling Water Lane, Unit C, Woodbury, MN 55129.

Finally, attached is the Program from the 2010 Maxi-Reunion to refresh your memory. Please review it and suggest by Reply to this e-mail any changes that you deem appropriate. We need your feedback!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Your C-133 Diamond Anniversary Reunion Planning Committee

PS: We will search diligently for a "big name" entertaining USAF member for our keynote speaker.

By…..

Dick Hanson

10849 Falling Water Lane, Unit C

Woodbury, MN 55129

Cell:  651-249-9541

Email:  rehanson342@me.com

Linkedin Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=54376019&trk=tab_pro

Facebook Wall: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1441451645

Website:  www.hansonsouvenir.com

PPS: Check with your old buddies and make sure they got a copy of this e-mail and ask them to respond. We have 171 e-mail addresses on this list. If they didn't get one, let me know their e-mail address and I'll add it to the list. If they don't do e-mail, let me know their home mailing address and I'll send them a hard copy.