1 THE ROADRUNNER NEWSLETTER Volume 1, Issue 1 Spring 2012 Reunion at a Glance: Dates: 7-10 Nov 2012 Gold Coast Hotel Room rates start at: $30 Reunion Day-by-Day: Wed - Nov 7 - Registration - Hospitality Suite - Welcome Party - Buffet Dinner Thur - 8 Nov - Hospitality Suite - Night on the town Fri - Nov 9 - Nellis -“Aviation Nation” - Hospitality Suite - Free Night Sat - Nov10 - Champagne Brunch - Hospitality Suite - Banquet and Dance JOIN US FOR 2012 40 th Anniversary… Deployment to Takhli Plan to Celebrate in LV 7-10 Nov 2012 September marks the 40th anniversary of the deployment of the 474 th TFW (advanced) to Takhli RTAB, Thailand in support of Linebacker II. Many of you will recall that the wing received its ‘alerting order’ in mid-May 1972. The deployment was a classified movement and apparently we did our job well because the first local newspaper story was printed on Sep 26, 1972… just a few hours before we dropped our first bombs on targets in NVN. Everything about this deployment and the follow on Linebacker II and Constant Guard IV missions are something in which all par- ticipants can be justifiably proud. First, it was one of the largest deployments of fight- er aircraft during the SEA conflict. But most importantly it was flawlessly execut- ed… nearly 1,500 personnel, 48 F-111A’s, and literally tons and tons of spares and spe- cial support equipment loaded out on 41 MAC C-141 aircraft loads and that was in addition to the en-route support teams. But the wings real success story was vested in our leadership, certainly beginning with our Commander Colonel Dick Nelson, and the subordinate unit commanders. The real hero’s were the aircrews who took off early every evening with the last recovery occur- ring just before sunup… single ship low level missions, often in weather conditions that kept other units on the ground. Next day Bomb Damage Assessments clearly told the story… ‘Whispering Death’ was raining hell over some of the most heavily defend- ed targets in NVN and clearly played a ma- jor, if not pivotal, role in forcing a truculent NVN government back to the Paris peace talks in early 1973. Planning is well underway to get us all to- gether once again for fellowship and Cele- bration!! Many of you are also mindful that this year also marks the 20 th Anniversary of our first Roadrunner Reunion. That’s just another reason to mark your calendars NOW for this year’s reunion, November 7- 10 at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. As our membership unanimous- ly agreed two years ago this year we will meet in conjunction with the Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Air Show, historically one of the best in the country and held to cele- brate our veterans over Veterans Day Week- end. To lower mail handling Cost and reduce paperwork we want to distribute as many registration packets as possible via the internet… We currently have email addresses for more than 200 of our members. We believe there may be many more of you with email ca- pability. If so, please provide Greg Ellis ([email protected]) your contact information and you will added to our “electronic” list. All Oth- er members will receive a copy of the registra- tion packet in the mail by mid-to-late July. As always, our goal is to provide a great reunion venue and lots of fellowship opportunities and just plain fun at the least possible cost. START PLANNING NOW… WE WANT TO SEE YOU AT OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY REUNION TO CELEBRETE THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 474th TFW DEPLOYMENT TO LINEBACKER II Registering for Roadrunner - 2012
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40th Anniversary… Deployment to Takhli - F111 Reunionf111reunion.com/newsletter2012.pdf · Deployment to Takhli Plan to Celebrate in LV 7-10 Nov 2012 September marks the 40th anniversary
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