Final Week Reunion Countdown

We have 95 Crew Colleagues attending our Reunion next weekend, with 84 Guests (179 total). A fantastic turn-out!

Our Reunion Emcee, Rick Spencer, in his planning for our gathering, suggested I distribute the following link to an important YouTube video you will enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnodU1mCrPA&feature=related . A very appropriate way to begin our Diamond Anniversary Reunion (60 years since Douglas was contracted to build 50 C-133s). And here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia reference for Design & Development:

The C-133 was designed to meet the requirements for the USAF's Logistic Carrier Support System SS402L for a new strategic transport.[1] The aircraft differed considerably from the C-74 Globemaster and C-124 Globemaster IIs that had preceded it. A high-mounted wing, external blister fairings on each side for the landing gear, and rear-loading and side-loading doors ensured that access to, and the volume of, the large cargo compartment were not compromised by these structures. The cargo compartment (90 ft/27 m in length and 12 ft/3.7 m high) was pressurized, heated, and ventilated.[2]

The Cargomasters went directly into production as C-133A; no prototypes were built. The first Cargomaster flew on 23 April 1956.[3] The first C-133As were delivered to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) in August 1957 and began flying MATS air routes throughout the world. Two C-133s established transatlantic speed records for transport aircraft on their first flights to Europe. The fleet of 50 aircraft proved itself invaluable during the Vietnam War. The Cargomaster soldiered on until theLockheed C-5 Galaxy entered service in the early 1970s. The C-133 was then retired and most airplanes were cut up as soon as they were delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, on their final flights in 1971.

Fifty aircraft (32 C-133A and 18 C-133B) were constructed and put into service with the USAF. A single C-133A and a C-133B were built and kept at Douglas Long Beach as "test articles". They had no construction numbers or USAF tail numbers.

To reference the entire Wikipedia document, click on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-133_Cargomaster

Finally, there was some breaking news this afternoon out of Travis AFB, where Cal Taylor and his 133 Crew Colleagues are having a Travis Reunion this weekend: "Plane crashes during base air show" click on: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2014/05/04/plane-show-crash-travis/8699935/

You never know!! Travel safe getting to the Reunion! We want to see you all there!!

Dick Hanson