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Orlando, FL--July 3-7, 2003

The 20th annual reunion of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association took place at the Rosen Convention Center/Hotel in Orlando, FL from July 3-7, 2003. The attendance was just over 2000 pilots and guests and a great time was enjoyed by all who attended. On Friday the 5th, a Mini-reunion of the 33rd Trans/118th Assault Helicopter Company took place from 1-5 PM in Salon 10. A rather small number were in attendance.

Front Row L to R: Gil Ferrey(66), Larry Smith(69-70), Mike Hurley(64-65),
Jack Swickard(67-68) and Tom Payne (66-67)
Back Row L to R: Jim Ellis(65-66), Angus Desveaux(67), Dale Moore(69-70),
Gary Fischer (64), John Clark(65-66), Reed Kimzey(66-67)
Not pictured but at the reunion were: Bill James(62-63) and Jim Harvey(62-63)
(Photo courtesy Tom Payne)
 

 

Taking a look at "one-over-the-world" map and telling war stories.
(Photo courtesy Tom Payne)
 
 
Jack Swickard shows Geneva Ellis, wife of Jim Ellis, how to take a digital photo.
(Photo courtesy Tom Payne)

 

Reed and Sandy Kimzey at the banquet in
Orlando, FL.(after jerking off his tie)
(Photo courtesy Tom Payne)
 Anyone else having photos of the Orlando Mini-reunion, please forward to webmaster.

 
 

Washington D.C.---August 27-30, 2015

The 32nd VHPA Annual reunion took place for the third time in Washington DC at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. The reunion was highlighted with a dinner at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and a tree planting at Arlington National Cemetery honoring all the pilots and crewmembers who died in Vietnam. There were 32 former Thunderbirds in attendance which was a near high number. The list of who attended is included below.

Thunderbirds in attendance were Allen Laya, Frank Maus and Gerald Peffers (63-64); Michael Hurley, John Grasmeder Patrick McLarney, Donald Parrish and William Ryan (64-65); John Clark, Angus Desveaux and Glenn Weber (65-66); Tollie Adkins, Thomas Baca, Joseph Boggs, Robert Kelley and Vernon Watts (66-67); Richard Dyer, Randolph Meade and Jack Swickard (67-68); Jeffrey Bernard, Stephen Carlson, Robert Rich and John Wrinkle (68-69); David Bryant, Glenn Clark, Chick Luther, Duane Speirs, Gayle Truitt, Charles Williams and Robert Zwink (69-70); Donald Abrams and Dennis Gulich (70-71)

 

L to R: Glenn Clark and Duane Speirs standing in front of Pollution IV on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Duane said he flew this a/c a couple of times while in the Thunderbirds . (2015)
 
   
   


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