Wednesday, 09 May 2012 17:24

405th Hampton Air & Space Museum Dedication

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405th FIGHTER GROUP DEDICATION
Hampton Air & Space Museum
September 12th & 13th, 2007

We’re here to commemorate the 405th Fighter Group at Langley Field. After the 1952 activation at Godman, KY., the move was made to Langley, and the following year nuclear training began in the Republic F-84F fighter, with a new tactical atomic weapon, the Mark-VII bomb. In 1955, the 405th attained ‘Combat readiness,’ while introducing a new 'Special Weapons Delivery' tactic called ‘Low Altitude Bombing System. In ‘LABS’ the Immelmann maneuver was flown, off the deck, to a high-angle release, 20 degrees past the vertical.

Three key officers lead the 405th : General Jim Ferguson Commanded at origination at Walterboro, S.C. and into WW-II. Maj. General Bob Delashaw took command at Normandy and Godman, KY. Colonel Donald Baccus initiated command at Langley Field. At Langley, our 405th Fighter Group would be in the forefront of free-world defense for five years while intercontinental missiles remained unproven.

We're privileged to have 405th members from each generation: WW-II; the reactivation at Godman, Langley; South East Asia, The UK, and Aviano, Italy. For pictorial record, I'll ask members to step forward in following order.

The 405th Group Commander of WW-II, Normandy, and Godman., Maj. General Bob Delashaw., Would you come forward?

Two of the first pilots at Godman., and at Langley Field, Mr. John Corley, 510th & 509th Squadrons, and Mr. Joe Williams, 510th Squadron. Would you gentlemen step forward? From Langley Group Maintenance, I’ll ask MSGT. Emmet Hayes, Aircraft Maintenance Line Chief, and Mr. Boyd Williams, MSGT, Aircraft Mechanic & restorer of the Museum’s F-84F., would you gentlemen step forward? And the rest of our Langley Group please, come forward.

The first generation, WW-II group, please step forward. And South East Asia Group please come forward. And UK & Aviano Group please come forward.

Gentlemen, Ladies, Congratulations! Thank You all for attending. You’ve established worthy remembrance.

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