The second part of a video produced by Cranford TV 35 on Lt. Art Snyder’s Air Force career was shown which covers his second tour as a CIA B-29 pilot out of Yokota, Japan on psychological warfare missions in violation of the Geneva Convention, and on his third tour for the French while still in the CIA out of Da Nang, French Indochina.

Officer elections for the next fiscal year were held. After which the first part of a video produced by Cranford TV 35 on Lt. Art Snyder’s Air Force career was shown. It covered Art’s first 50 missions as a B-26 pilot from K-9, US Korean Base, where he describes that his job was to kill anything that moved in North Korea. The second half will be shown at our next meeting.

On Saturday, June 27th, following lunch, Reverend Trevor Slade, while visiting the US on business, gave a presentation about the South African Air Force Association and the common interests it has with the US Air Force Association. Reverend Slade is a member of the Johannesburg Branch and National Executive Committee of the South African Air Force Association and heads the Benevolence Portfolio.

Pictured: Reverend Trevor Slade (left) and Chapter 195 President, Bill Fosina.

On Saturday, May 27th, following lunch, Kyle O’Neill, our chapter Teacher of the Year, gave a presentation of his teaching activities. He is a teacher of Environmental and Forensic Sciences and utilizes STEM methods in the classroom. As part of the Renewable Energy unit in Environmental Science, his students make solar ovens out of recyclable material that can heat to 110-170 degrees to melt chocolate and bake pizza rolls.

Pictured: Kyle O’Neill (Center), Chapter President William Fosina (Left), and Bob Voucher, WW II Veteran and B-29 Pilot.

SC3/c Joseph H. Staigar, USN, gave a talk on Landing Craft Support (Large), LCS(L) 61, on which he served in support of troops invading the Pacific Islands during WWII. The LCS (L) 61 gunners had the best anti-aircraft record. LCS(L)’s were primarily used for close support before landing forces on beaches. They also performed radar picket duty and fire fighting. They were nicknamed the “Mighty Midgets”. The LCS(L)(3) ships provided more firepower per ton than any ship ever built for the U.S. Navy. Three guns and 10 rocket launchers were the main armaments. Four 20 mm cannons were also mounted and other arms stowed inside. The rifle locker held 4 M1 carbines, 4 Thompson sub machine guns, and 1911A1 45cal semi auto pistols. For more about them, see: LCS(L)-61

On Saturday, February 25th, Keith Ferris delivered a presentation on his latest painting of an F-35C taking off from a carrier. He is a founding member and past president of the American Society of Aviation Artist.

The Air Force Association Chapter 195 sponsored a “Spouses / Friends” meeting with a talk by Lt Col Thomas ‘Bob’ Vaucher, of Bridgewater, NJ, on ‘WWII B-29 Kobe Fire Raid Mission – Saved by Iwo Jima.’ He is a decorated WWII B-29 pilot with 117 combat missions who led the armada of 525 B-29’s “Show of Force” over the USS Missouri as Gen MacArthur and others signed the Japanese Surrender documents on September 2nd, 1945. The “Spouses/Friends” meeting was held to recognize the contribution by women to who now comprise about 20 % of the active duty Air force.

Pictured: Spouses/Friends with Lt Col Bob Vaucher, L-R: Ginny Murphy, Diana Ramos, Betty McConnell, Lt Col Bob Vaucher, Lorraine Gambert, Ann Morgan, and Donna Lazartic.