The High Sky Wing

On Saturday, May 26th, our first Museum Tour took place at the 12th Armored Division’s Museum in Abilene.  While this museum is dedicated to the 12th Division, there are a number of displays depicting the overall history of World War II and the German and Japanese opponents.

It is a privately owned museum and depends on volunteers and donations.  They are in the process of expanding the museum from two floors of displays to three, which will incorporate six more life-sized dioramas about the 12th Division.  No completion date was given.

Sherman Tank on Display at the 12 Armored Division Museum. While not as powerful as the German Tiger tanks, the lighter, faster, Sherman was produced in such large quantities that we more than held our own in tank battles.

Former tank platoon leader H.A. Tuck records some tanker's gear for his memory book.

The 12th Armored Division's Wall of Honor, saluting those division members who gave their lives to insure our freedom.

After a final review by Museum Director Autumn Hicks, the HSW Speaker’s Bureau is ready to begin making presentations to inform the community about our organization and solicit memberships and donations.  We have acquired a projector, speakers and a portable desktop projector screen, and the CAF DVD and our own PowerPoint presentation are finalized.

A demonstration will be given at the next Wing Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, May 24.  If you have not seen the CAF DVD, it is very professionally done and is certainly worthy of viewing.

We will be anticipating contacts from the community to make presentations, and we will also solicit from the community, especially from those who might not know that we will come to them.  If you know of any community organizations that would benefit from learning about the missions and purposes of the CAF and HSW, OR if you would like to be a volunteer speaker or assistant, please inform Greg Gutting (ggutting@earthlink.net or 210-326-5983).

Please respond to me by email @ b58ahustler@yahoo.com if you can make it to the Fire Extinguisher training on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00 pm at the Comm Center.  I need to know if we have enough people for training. Need to know by Saturday.

Thanks,

Paul “Buffy” Cooper – HSW Safety Officer

Hops ‘n Props was a big success this year.  Approximately 300 were in attendance, enjoying live music performed by The Cory Yeager Band, a silent auction, food, and, of course, plenty of hops.  The band alone was well worth the price of admission.

The photo shows some of the HSW members that attended: (l to r) Paul Latham, Drew Diggins, Mark Russell, Patti Collins, Brent Collins, Jerry Perales and Paul Cooper try to find a Messerschmidt to shoot down from their waist-gunner position in a B-17. (Their family histories can be traced back to the Keystone Cops!)

(Photo by Greg Gutting)