Official Communication Channel of the Billy Sparks Kentuckiana Chapter of the River Rats
The Spark 1 MAY 2020
In this "Extended"Edition
Passing of Barbara Cowles
Local Pack Spotlight El Dorado Canyon's Col. Arnie Franklin
National League of POW/MIA Families
Col. Katie Buss Promotion Update
Lt. Chase Bennett - Newest Viper Pilot
Aviation Heritage Park Update
Winter 2020/Takeoff 2020
Thunderbirds/Blue Angels Tribute Flights
A Ton of TINS
- So You Want Your Own Air Force! - A Couple Tunes from Dos Gringos - Col. James Howard - MOH - French Passenger Ejects on Ride - USAF F-14? - Back In Time - The B-36
- I Am The Flag - Must watch video
Last Pass
Closing Comments
Passing of Barbara Cowles
It is with sadness that we inform everyone that local pack member Mike Cowles' wife, Barbara, passed away this week. Mike is the River Rat's liaison to Aviation Heritage Park. We want to extend our deepest condolences to Mike and the entire Cowles family. The following is from the Bowling Green Daily News:
Bowling Green, KY - Barbara A. Cowles, passed away April 24, 2020 in Alvaton, KY with her husband by her side. Dearly beloved wife of Michael; beloved mother of Melissa Cowles, Ryan Cowles, Marybeth Rhoden (Tyler). Grandmother of Ada Statum. Sister of Richard Aylward (Barbara) and Larry Wingate.
She was born Barbara Ann Wingate January 20, 1954 at Ft. Gordon military base in Augusta, GA to Ada I and William L Wingate. Barbara attended Western Kentucky University, Vanderbilt University, University of Louisville and Sam Houston State completing her Masters in Developmental Psychology. She managed special education programs and staff for several large school districts that included multiple middle schools, junior highs and high schools.
Barbara was always involved in community activities; for the kids growing up it was Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports, PTA, etc. After retiring she was active in WKU Society for Life Long Learning, HOTEL Inc, Daughters of the American Revolution, Med Center Health Foundation and Salvation Army. Barbara strongly believed in equal rights for everyone, mentoring young women to become leaders and helping people come back from difficult life events. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed all genres but particularly history and non-fiction.
One of Barbara's favorite sayings was "The most wonderful places to be in the world are: in Someone's thoughts, Someone's prayers and in Someone's Heart". Please do that for her.
Cremation was chosen. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a celebration of life for Barbara will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel. To honor Barbara, donations are preferred to Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt Hospital, Med Center Health Foundation, HOTEL Inc, or Orchestra Kentucky.
So, do you know who Col. Arnie Franklin is? Well, I bet you know what mission he lead....The El Dorado Canyon raid on Libya, on April 14, 1986. Arnie is one of the key members of Aviation Heritage Park and the F-111 on displayed there has the markings from an aircraft on that mission. He is one of those soft spoken guys, that unless you ask him, you'd never know about it. Here's a short Bio sheet that was put together when he was honored to be apart of the Air Force's "Gathering of Eagles" program in 1996.
Here are a few links to the stories on the El Dorado Canyon raid
American public support is critical to achieving the League’s goal: the fullest possible accounting for those still missing, and repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War.
Do you know: Fly the POW/MIA Flag: Display the League’s POW/MIA flag every day. On November 7, 2019, President Trump signed a law requiring all Federal locations to fly the POW/MIA flag 24/7/365; this includes the White House, Departments of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, all offices of the US Postal Service, all VA medical centers and cemeteries, and military bases, posts and stations, as designated by the Secretary of Defense. Also included are the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the WWII Memorial.
Latest from POW/MIA Familes 4/30/20
VIETNAM'S ABILITY TO ACCOUNT
FOR MISSING AMERICANS
Family members, veteran organizations and other POW/MIA supporters throughout the country consistently opposed steps to improve economic and political relations with Vietnam until their leadership decided to cooperate fullyto resolve the POW/MIA issue. The League supported a policy of reciprocity – steps by the US to respond to efforts by Vietnam to locate and return remains and provide issue-related archival documents. During the initial stages of the normalization process, important leverage was lost without commensurate results; however, there has since been much greater responsiveness.
One way of viewing what the US knows concerning Vietnam’s ability to respond more fully is to look at what US intelligence and other data confirmed at the end of the war. At that time, 196 missing Americans were last known alive in captivity or reliably reported alive in close proximity to capture. Vietnam knows that these highest priority cases are directly related to the live prisoner issue and has improved responsiveness, but thus far has accounted for fewer than expected of these Americans by returning identifiable remains or archival evidence as to why neither was possible. In that regard, archival documentation is as yet incomplete. In all but very few of these cases, joint field investigations have reportedly been sufficient to confirm death. Logically, if deceased, remains of these Americans should be recoverable, as they were in captivity or on the ground in proximity to Vietnamese forces (other than those who died in captivity in South Vietnam). Also, logically, Vietnam should possess and be able to provide helpful records; thus, recent initiatives by Vietnam to increase access to working level archival research and records are encouraging and most welcome.
For more information, here is their website; https://www.pow-miafamilies.org
Lt. Col. Katie Buss Promotion to Colonel... Virtually!
Here are a few screen shots of Lt. Col. Katie Buss being "Virtually" promoted to Colonel. Congratulations Col. Buss!
Update on Local Pack Member
Lt. Chase "Haig" Bennett
Like father, like son. Local pack member Neale "Waldo" Bennett is proud to announce that his son, Chase (call sign "Haig"), has graduated from F-16 FTU (initial training in the F-16) and will be headed to Shaw AFB this summer to fly the "SEAD" mission in the F-16. We are hoping that "Haig" will be able to give us a briefing sometime in the future at one of our TCs on the latest mission and employment of the F-16.
Congratulations to Chase and Rachel as they start on their next journey.
Chase and his wife, Rachel, while he was attending F-16 FTU at Kelly AFB, this past winter
So, let's say you have a few, make that more than a few million in the bank, and you were wondering what you could do with it. Now this is a different approach to spending the kids inheritance!
If you have not heard of Dos Gringos, then you are missing out on some great fighter pilot songs. Here are a couple to help you thru these difficult times staying home. "2's Blind" and "I'm Looking Right". Warning...there may be some language used in the videos, just sayin...
I know this will raise some eyebrows. But I also remember seeing sales brochures by Grumman Aircraft touting the F-14 to the Air Force back in the early 70's. You be the judge but I think the right design was made.
Built to Replace the B-29, it was only in service 11 years but helped bridge the gap during the Cold War till the jet bombers came on line. Plus, Jimmy Stewart got to fly it, and that in itself is cool!
With everyone stuck at home, I decided to put some extra material in this issue of the Spark. Stay safe and don't go stir crazy.
Hope you like the stories on our local pack members as it is an honor to share them with you. We will have more "Spotlights" in upcoming editions of the Spark.
As always, if you have something that is of interest to the pack, send it my way and I will get it out to the group so we keep everyone up to speed with what we are up to. Please forward to me at kentuckianarr@gmail.com and I will get them in the next Spark.
