ARIA May 2009 Newsletter

800

To me the number 800 looked like a big number until I made comparisons.

800 beans don't make a very big pot of soup. 800 words double spaced makes about a two and a half page document. 800 pennies can make it difficult to buy a dinner at my local hangout. If you like Starbucks coffee you know that 800 pennies may not go a long way, needless to say I don't frequent Starbucks. 800 miles is a drop in the bucket to the miles I drive monthly. 800 days may seem like a long time but before you know it the ARIA reunion will be here; don’t forget to submit your suggestions for the reunion. 800 dollars can buy a really nice LCD flat screen TV. 800 Jelly Beans would be a feast for that special someone on Easter. 800 dollars will buy you a decked out iPhone with a number of months service.

Simply, to construct the ARIA 328 memorial in Walkersville, Maryland we need to have an additional 800 memorial bricks sponsored. You see, 800 is not a big number to accomplish a very important memorial for the ARIA 328 Veterans.

If you cannot afford to sponsor a memorial brick in a one-time payment I am positive that we can work out a donation plan that will accommodate your finances. You can contact me at Randy.Losey@ARIAMemorial.com.

ARIA 328 Memorial Service May 6, 2009

Service will start at 10:30 a.m. at the ARIA 328 Memorial, National Museum of the Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. After the service, we will gather at Clancy's for a fellowship luncheon.

For this year's service we are asking for a volunteer to lead us in prayer. You are invited to address those at the service with a personal message.

I would like to share with you a writing of the first ARIA 328 Memorial Service.

May 6, 1981

At the headquarters of the 4950th Test Wing, and throughout every corner of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the atmosphere was quiet and solemn that memorable day, Wednesday May 6, 1981. It was the day that ARIA 328 with 21 persons aboard had crashed. In remembrance, 21 trees form a living tribute to the loved ones lost.

A C-135, its landing lights sparkling, exhaust trailing from its four engines, roared low over the missile display. Three A-7 aircraft in "missing man" formation followed the C-135. The half-staff American flag and the crowd clustered on the concrete pavement in front of the Air Force Museum. Air Force personnel, civilian employees, family members and friends sobbed, embraced and wiped their eyes.

For the service inside, the 500-seat museum auditorium was crowded to the walls with an estimated 1,500 other persons gathered in the lobby and exhibit areas listening to the proceedings.

Lieutenant General Lawrence A. Skantze, telling of his grief, said he regarded the two wives, along on the mission under the HAVE PARTNER program, as part of the crew. "Our ability to perform properly is entirely entwined with the families and particularly the wives, I feel helpless that I can't reach out and alleviate your suffering, sorrow and loss."

Colonel Donald T. Ward struggled for words to explain how some 1,800 members of the Test Wing could be so close they could all be a family, and that the sense of comradeship and sharing that exists throughout the Test Wing helped us through this loss. He concluded by reciting his favorite hymn:

There is a God; he is alive.
In him we live, and we survive.

Now that the seasons have passed, we all continue to remember that fateful day in our respective ways. One thing is constant; this memorial garden and museum dedication shall endure the test of time. Our children's children will learn of the joy ARIA brought to each of us that served and memories of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for the mission they so enjoyed. We all shall continue to migrate to this place spiritually, if not in person, every May 6th to quietly reflect and remember our fallen comrades and ARIA.

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Clancy's Tavern
(Located in the Kroger's shopping center)
5514 Burkhardt Road
Dayton, Ohio
937-256-9333

Clancy's is approximately 3.4 miles from the National Museum of the Air force. MAP

ARIA 328 Memorial Flower Arrangement

Each year a beautiful flower arrangement is provided for the ARIA 328 memorial service at the National Museum of the Air Force. Before the transfer of the wing to Edwards Air Force Base it was decided that there would be an annual service held to pay respect to the crew and passengers of ARIA 328. From those early days Terry Moore has been instrumental in ordering the flower arrangement and seeing that the arrangement is at the ARIA 328 Memorial for the May services. This year is no exception and we thank Terry for all of the years of dedicated service.

If it wasn't for those that have donated to the ARIA 328 Memorial Flower Fund we would not be able to provide these annual flowers. Thank you.

Remembering Demon 51: June 8, 2009

Air Force officials dedicated a memorial Jan. 13 at the Museum of Military History in Jacksonville, Ark., to the six airmen who perished in the crash of an Arkansas Air National Guard C-130 transport during a training flight June 8, 1988. The aircraft, assigned to the 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Ark., went down near Greenville, Miss., killing Maj. Andy Zwaan, 2nd Lt. Mark Brandt, 2nd Lt. Thomas Leece, MSgt. Ed Smith Jr., MSgt. Danny Holland, and SSgt. David Bingham. About 150 family members, friends, and current and former military members were on hand for the dedication to the crew of the aircraft, which had the call sign Demon 51. The memorial includes a plaque with the six airmen's photos and a single propeller blade from one of the aircraft's engines.

Submitted by Richard Beard

Windfall Films - National Geographic's Big Bigger Biggest

Windfall Films arrived in the United states the week of the 18th of April and started filming in Huntsville, Alabama at the Space and Rocket Center. The following week they arrived in Tucson, Arizona.

The response to Windfall Films by the ARIA alumni was exceptional. The alumni has since provided Windfall Films the information that they needed to accurately portray ARIA for the Skylab missions.

Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion July 19-22 Canberra, Australia

John Saxon has organized the Apollo 11 40th Anniversary and Reunion. If you are interested in attending you can obtain the latest updates at http://jsaxon.org/space/hsk/Reunions/40th2009/. You can also contact John directly at jsaxon@pcug.org.au.

flyARIA.com Updates

This past month my time has been spent working on a number of web site issues. Receiving spam via the online web forms has recently become a problem and have been currently testing ways to fix the issue.

I have updated the 4950th Test Wing section with a number of photographs from Gloria Seifert.

There has been a delay in updating the site due to trying to determine the best way to categorize and present the information; this will be worked out soon.

ARIA Newsletter

Each month there is usually a number of newsletters that are sent out that get bounced back to me because of one issue or another even for good alumni e-mail addresses. If you don't receive a newsletter on the first day of the month please e-mail me and let me know so I can correct any issues that do arise.

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Contact Information

I can be contacted through the ARIA Memorial web site or by Randy.Losey@ARIAMemorial.com. You can also use this email address to submit information to be included into the ARIA Newsletter.