2015 F-106 Reunion (Read 15,978 times)

This is a tribute to Bob Justus [RIP] who created the 456th FIS website that now resides in the F-106 website thanks to Patrick McGee. And to Erv Smalley [RIP] who lived in Colorado Springs and whose website is also now part of the F-106 website. This is also a tribute to Russ Greenberg, 456th pilot, who attended the 2015 Reunion at Colorado Springs and who helped the 456th FIS fly 106 sorties on Aug 11, 1967.
www.456fis.org  


This story starts with this article on George Welch and Kenneth Taylor who together shot down 6 Japanese invaders at Pearl Harbor.
www.thisdayinaviation.com/12-october-1954/  

Bob Justus traced the former Commanding Officers of the 456th Fighter Squadron back to WWII with the help of Stan Wood who was in that 456th Fighter Squadron.
www.456fis.org/HISTORY_OF_THE_SQUADRON.htm

This page described the history of the 414th Fighter Group
www.7thfighter.com/414thfg/index.htm  

This is the Bio on Kenneth Taylor the first CO of the 456th Fighter Squadron in 414th Fighter Group assigned to Iwo Jima in July 1945. It follows Ken’s career from Pearl Harbor to his last assignment in Alaska as a Brig Gen and includes his son’s bio, Brig Gen Kenneth Taylor, Jr.
www.456fis.org/BIO_GENERAL_KEN_TAYLOR.htm  

I tracked down Kenneth Taylor after he retired and was still living in Alaska. I wanted to invite him to a 456th Reunion but I lost track of him and later found out he was living in AZ. Several years later I tracked down his son Jr. and I was considering having a 456th Reunion in Tucson just so his Dad could attend. Jr was also retired as a Brig gen and was glad to receive the call. He said his Dad never understood why so many people looked upon him as a hero of WWII and said Dad had moved from Alaska and was in a nursing home in AZ where Jr lived. Several weeks later his Dad died.

While we never got to meet Kenneth Taylor I find it ironic that the first CO of the 456th and the last CO, John C. Marcotte, were both fighter pilots and heroes in WWII.
www.456fis.org/BIO._JOHN_MARCOTTE.htm  

This past week in Colorado Springs was a real memory maker. We had a great turnout and will have a lot of pictures to share in the next few weeks. Bobski and Ken Wigton did a great job as co-chairs of the Reunion Committee and had a lot of help from a lot of volunteers to host this reunion.

More Later,
Pat P.