Home - Contact Us - Cold War Hist. - 91st SRS Hist. - Stardust 40 Mission Story
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| After saying goodbye to each other in the summer of 1954, there were varying degrees of contact in the years that followed. In twos and threes we infrequently were able to coordinate our schedules for brief visits. An example of this was a meeting in San Antonio, TX, in the mid-1980s, when the Jacksons, Clivers and Stones had a day together. See the two photos below. Other than that, the exchange of annual Christmas letters kept us aware of significant events in each others lives. |
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L to R: Paul, Jim |
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| It wasn’t until the last week of June, 2000, that the cards fell in an order that ten of the surviving eleven crewmembers could come together. With us all having reached retirement age, it seems that schedules were more adjustable. Planned travel, by many, to year 2000 school reunions seemed to mesh in very gracefully, as well.
Little Falls, Minnesota, the hometown of Charles A. Lindbergh, became the target community. By planning ahead, hotel reservations were made at a local hotel facility and, over the weekend, the crew began to gather. Early arrivals pitched in and helped finish arrangements for our planned events list, and every family arrived on schedule, at the correct location. Sunday evening saw some very serious visiting around the hotel lobby and snack room. Monday morning, we were off as a group, to the Lindbergh Historic Home and Interpretive Center for a theater program, exhibit review and guided tour of the historic home. Immediately following, Mary Beth (our local photographer) gathered us together on the front steps of the Lindbergh House for photographs. See the results below. |
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| It is clearly obvious that we all look much better when we stand behind some of our accompanying spouses. They added a great deal of joy and warmth to the gathering. Pictures taken, we drove over to Lindbergh Park where we enjoyed a catered picnic lunch. From there we adjourned to our home for a leisurely afternoon of visiting. |
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| At 6:00 p.m. we were gathered at the Fireside Room of First United Church for a catered meal, followed by the addition of around a hundred friends from the local community. The crew and local friends then enjoyed a 160 color slide presentation relating to classified reconnaissance in Japan, as well as views of the people and landscape of rural Japan — slides taken by crewmembers while hiking, many of which are available for viewing on this web site.
If you would like to look in on this event, we have set up a series of pages that will take you there. The photos were clipped from video tape, recorded by a friend. |
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| We spent the following day relaxing, chatting, remembering and snacking with a catered lunch served at noon. The most common impression shared was the disbelief that 46 years could, for these three days, seem no longer than about five minutes. |
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| How does this grab you for a before and after set of pictures. Crewmembers Bob Barnhart, top left and Sam Farley, top right (official crew picture, above) were very much missed and well remembered. Sam, and his wife, Ruby, live in Kansas. We look forward to seeing them at a future gathering. |
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| Chuck offers a framed photo print of Mount Fuji to the crewmembers The new owner would be chosen by drawing lots. |
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Don Kleinkauf As the day turned toward evening, we all began to realize that this gathering would soon change from “reality” to another fond “memory”. |
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| Jim Cliver sent us this photo of his memorabilia collection that pretty well speaks for us all. Time will not dim our memories of having been an RB-29 crew any more than the colors of his jacket and flight cap will ever fade.
That evening we had our going away dinner at a local supper club, said our good-byes and slipped away for a night’s rest. The following morning, all were enroute back to their individual version of reality. Our hearts were warmed and we are all talking and thinking about where and when we can again come together. |
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