posted Nov 15, 2009 2:49 PM by Milt Martin
 A few (not all) members of B-29 Museum Inc. |
posted Nov 9, 2009 2:32 PM by Milt Martin
[
updated Nov 9, 2009 2:34 PM
]
Veterans Day
Program
Wednesday,
November 11, 2:00 PM
All Veterans
Memorial at Pratt Airport
Master of
Ceremonies---Jack Ewing
American
Legion Riders Arrive
Presentation
of Colors---National Guard
Star Spangled
Banner---Skyline High School Band directed by Bob Bitter
Flag Salute
led by Jack Ewing
Invocation---Pastor
Bob Fleener, First Southern Baptist Church
Welcome and
Introduction of Jeff Taylor, Mayor of Pratt---Jack Ewing
Recognition
of Active Duty Military and National Guard---Mayor Taylor
Recognition
of All Veterans---Mayor Taylor
The
Allegiance Rap---Skyline K-6 Students directed by Jane Biles
Introductions
by George Stevens, Ret. Command Sgt. Major
Major Robert A. Wood, HQ 635 RSG---Speaker
Master
Sergeant Terence Goscha, HQ 635 RSG---Speaker
Battle Hymn
of Gettysburg---Sacred Heart Students
directed by
Marty Hopkins
America---Skyline
High School Choir directed by Beth Novotny
Presentation
of Memorial Wreath---George Stevens and Bud Simmons
21 Gun
Salute---1st
Battalion 1161 Field Artillery Ks. Natl. Guard
TAPS---Mark
Graber
Retrieval of
Colors---National Guard
Closing
Statements---Jack Ewing
American
Legion Riders Depart
God Bless
You, Our Troops, and God Bless America
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posted Oct 5, 2009 6:16 PM by Milt Martin
[
updated Oct 5, 2009 6:14 PM
]
B-29 MUSEUM, INC
BOMBERS ON THE PRAIRIE
MUSEUM
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 3,
2009
The meeting was called to order by
Phillip Schultz.
Minutes were approved as presented.
The Treasurer’s report was approved.
Old Business: Printing 50 books
was approved.
New Business:
Depositing of funds – a
committee of Dea Dix-Brown, Phillip Schultz, and AC Boland were
named to decide where to place our funds.
B-29 Bomb Group member’s
scrapbook is at the Historical Museum for a limited time.
Joe Chovelak is coming Monday the
21st until Saturday the 26th. We may need
another meeting before his arrival.
Other: Jack McCawley asked the
Evergreen for a discount for Joe’s stay, and they offered to let
him stay for $40 a night. Ideas were offered for ways to maximize
the effect of Joe’s time in Pratt: speaking to students, a public
reception, visit a Rotary Club meeting, notify newspaper and TV, etc.
Meeting adjourned
Next meeting Thursday, September 10,
2009, at the Historical Museum
Submitted by
Marjorie Buck, Secretary
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B-29 MUSEUM, INC
BOMBERS ON THE PRAIRIE
MUSEUM
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10,
2009
Those attending worked on an agenda for
Joe Chovelak’s visit. Volunteers accepted tasks, e.g. picking Joe
up at the airport, providing or scheduling meals, arranging for talks
at both school districts, attending a Rotary Club meeting. He will
be spending many hours going through the records with us, as this is
the primary reason for the visit. Weather permitting, Phillip will
take Joe up in Phillip’s plane for an aerial tour of the area. It
was decided that it was important to plan a schedule, but equally
important to leave a significant amount of flexibility to allow Joe
to say what he wanted to accomplish and when. George said he would
like to host a dinner at his home on Friday the 25th.
It was decided that after the public
reception Tuesday the 22nd we would determine if there is
a need for a quick meeting to tweak the agenda for the rest of the
week.
Submitted by Marjorie Buck, Secretary
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posted Oct 2, 2009 7:12 AM by Milt Martin
Dear B-29 Museum and All
Veterans Memorial Complex Supporters,
We will be having a regular Museum meeting at the
Pratt County Museum at 212 South Ninnescah on October 8th at 7:00
p.m.
Please come to the meeting and help us plan our new
museum and plan the Veteran's Day Program.
As many of you know Joe Chovelak was in Pratt last
week to help us with the 29th Bomb Groups Archives that Joe placed in our
custody for the future.
After Joe landed back in Chicago September 25th his
limo was forced into a railing along the roadside and he was bruised up during
the shoving match near Chicago. I visited with him this afternoon and he is
doing okay with the exception of a few bruises. He stated that he had a great
visit in Pratt, and those who got to meet him will surely agree.
If any of you have items you would like placed on
the agenda please email them to me.
See you all at the next meeting.
Phillip Schulz
Chairman |
posted Oct 1, 2009 6:31 AM by Milt Martin
Reflecting back on Joe Chovelak's visit to Pratt
the Week of September 21st thru the 25th 2009.
When Joe first mentioned coming to Kansas several
months ago my first thoughts were "What the heck are we going to do for the
whole week".
Well as you all know, we had a full week and then
some.
Joe is very interesting to visit with and is
always "on" for anyone or anything that comes up.
When I first saw Joe coming down the ramp at the
Wichita Midcontinent Airport I knew we had someone very special coming to
Pratt. He had mentioned to watch for a little guy in a wheelchair with
bushy eyebrows and waving an American Flag.
My feeling is Joe enjoyed the visit as
much as we enjoyed having him here.
Everyone did a fabulous job of helping out with the
visit. There were many things to cover and work out but it was
accomplished very well by our group.
The meeting between Joe and George T. Chandler was
very special. To listen and watch these two Combat Army Air Force Veterans
discuss their various flying missions was a moving experience for those present
in the room. Photos and a digital voice recording of their conversations were
made for our Museum History.
I won't mention everyone's contribution, for fear I
will leave somone out.
The open house went very well. Many stopped by to
visit with Joe and the refreshments were very good. Thanks to those who prepared
them.
The two items that were presented to Joe during the
Open House were a very nice remembrance for Joe on his return to Kansas after
some 64 years.
I think some wondered "Just who is Joe" at the
beginning but now we "all" know who Joe is.
Thanks to all for Helping Fly this Mission with
Joe.
"Well Done"
Phillip Schulz
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posted Sep 12, 2009 3:04 PM by Milt Martin
The World War II 29th Bomb Group
Historian, Joseph J. Chovelak , will be honored at an open house at the
Pratt Senior Citizen Center in Pratt Kansas on September 22nd from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00
p.m.
 He will be there to officially present the Historical Archives of the
29th Bomb Group to the new B-29 Museum which will be located on the
grounds of the Pratt Industrial Airport.
|
posted Aug 18, 2009 4:12 PM by Milt Martin
"The B-29 bomber was made to soar in thin, cold air, dropping its
massive bomb load from heights so great that the crews might never see
their targets through the clouds below. That was just fine with Ben
Robertson, pilot in command of one of the big four engine bombers
hammering Japan to its knees in a nonstop bombing campaign in the
Pacific. When General LeMay ordered the B-29s to switch tactics from
daylight, high-altitude bombing runs to nighttime, low-level runs,
Ben’s attitude changed. What was once seen as simply dangerous--bombing
Japan--now seemed a whole lot more like suicide." Read more about Ben and his book, "Bringing The Thunder" on his website. Note: Ben was stationed at Pratt Army Air Field for his B-29 crew training. |
posted Aug 18, 2009 4:06 PM by Milt Martin
B-29 MUSEUM, INC
BOMBERS ON THE PRAIRIE MUSEUM
MINUTES OF AUGUST 6, 2009
The meeting was called to order by Phillip Schultz. Also present were A C Boland, Kathie Thurman, Jack McCawley, John Cochran, Bud Simmons, Lonnie Detmer, Milt Martin, Marji Buck, Lori Jones, George Stephens, Dea Dix-Brown, and Marsha Brown.
Minutes were approved as presented. The Treasurer’s report was approved: balance of $1,896.26. Payments of $90.00 to Taylor Printing for a banner (see new business) and $30.00 to Jeremy Martin for the DVD (see old business) were also approved.
Old Business:
We have taped a video of Price Gibbons’ war recollections.
Milt’s son Jeremy created and edited a DVD from the tape of AC and George’s trip to Chicago to pick up archives.
New Business:
Grant writing – Curtis Nightingale has begun the process of finding appropriate grant opportunities and submitting applications.
The banner purchased to use at the County Fair, as well as many future functions, was displayed. Taylor Printing did an excellent job of making the banner with short notice.
We need formal by-laws and a sample was shown. Further action is tabled to the next meeting.
The practicality of having the “All Veterans Museum Complex Inc” organization under the umbrella of the B-29 Museum Inc was proposed. Discussion topics included the continued segregation of funds to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the Memorial, the complications arising with grant applications if we have two 501c3 organizations, joint meeting times and dates, and purposes and goals in common and/or not in common. The consensus was that the success of both groups is important for the success of either group. The discussion was productive, resulting in a motion to “combine memberships of both committees while retaining both 501c3’s”. The motion was approved.
New Business items that were tabled to the next meeting:
County Fair Booth – comments including perhaps doubling our booth width to 20’
By-Laws for the Museum
Joe’s visit, maybe mid-September
Donation forms needed – the printing and use
A mural painter from Stafford is interested in creating murals inside the Museum as well as a B-29 on the tower part of the building.
Fall or Winter event to kick off the museum
The next meeting, date and time to be announced, will be held at the Armory.
Submitted by Marjorie Buck, Secretary
|
posted Jul 28, 2009 2:26 PM by Milt Martin
posted Jul 27, 2009 8:51 AM by Milt Martin
Dear B-29 Museum
Inc. Members and Supporters,
I want to take this time to thank each and
everyone of you for your help and attendance at the Museum's
Booth during the Pratt County Fair's run..
Temperature was a little warm at times but overall mother
nature was good to us. Attendance was good at the Booth. We had
visitors of all ages and interest stop in and look at the displays.
We were able to have a variety of items donated to
the Museum from visitors, ranging from B-29 Wheels and Tires Turbo
Chargers to pictures and a Lead on aquiring the Pool Table that was
in the Officers Club at the Pratt Army Airfield. (Looking for
volunteers to help get this table down some stairs) if we are successful in the
aquisiton of the table. Table could have the 1/2 to 3/4 inch slate table
top. Heavy Heavy.
Help from a carpenter and Kansas Gas Service
Company (Labor and Equipment) in the restoration of the Parachute
Building. Many stories were told to me and many of you pertaining to
the life and activities at the PAAF during the war.
No one walked up and said they Flew A B-29 but it will
happen sooner or later at one of these events. One lady's dad was a B-29
pilot and she is going to scan his photos and send the scans to us for our
library.
I was surprised by the young people's interest in the
Airfield and Aircorps' history.
The "Fallen Soldier" was in attendance
and accompanied by Two National Guard Members. The Memorial was
displayed in front of the Museum's booth. We all consider it an HONOR to
be a part of this tribute to the Members Of The Armed Forces of the United
States of America.
We did find out that to really tell the Story of the
Museum Project we will need a 20 foot space next year. Just a little too
close in the 10 foot space.
Some kind of give away items would be great with the
Museum's name and logo on them to give out.
A special thanks to George for building the Peg Board Wall
Displays and the Frame for the Great Banner that Marsha Designed and had
Taylor's make for us at the Last Minute.
We have to agree that the Banner was the best looking and
displayed one in the building.
This venture at the fair proves that we NEED everyone to
participate and help with the forming and moving the Bombers On The Prairie
Museum ahead to a long and successful flight.
We are making progress on the 444th Bomb Group's archives
(99.9%) we will get them and getting our presence known to the 73rd Wing
that we want to display their archives and library at the Pratt
Museum.
Email from Anthony Ferraro- the new head of the 29th Bomb
Group Herritage Association that I received this week telling me that he feels
the Possiblilty of having their FIRST reunion at Pratt nest year is more
likely to happen now. Their organization is moving along very well
and he is contact with a couple of other Bomb Group associations that are
interested in holding a joint reunion at Pratt.
If the reunion comes about we have an excellent
opportunity to Show Off the Museum Project and Pratt's history.
Also an email received from Curtis last Sunday stating he
is ready to move ahead with the grant writing is also Great News.
A lot of work lies ahead but with this great opportunity
in time to establish the Museum and aquire additional archives cannot be
passed by.
Again thanks to all and l look forward to working with all
of you and the many others that will come onboard the Flight to Complete
the Bombers On The Prairie Museum and Library.
Have a good week ahead
Best Regards,
Phillip
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