380th BW Museum dedication
On Saturday, 1 October 1983, members of the 380th Bomb Group of World War II traveled to Plattsburgh AFB for their second reunion. For many, it was the first time in more than 40 years that they've seen each other. This weekend was a time for reminiscing, for viewing photographs and swapping war stories. It's a friendly group, filled with bright smiles and hearty handshakes. Some of the people traveled through Friday's ceremonies with their former crew members. About 420 people were participating in the weekend activities commemorating the second reunion of the group. 350 people were expected to attend the weekend. The first reunion was held in 1982 in Dayton, Ohio.
On Friday, an interfaith memorial service was held at the base's cemetery in honor of those who gave their lives in the 380th Bombardment Group of World War II, and for those who had since died. Chaplain Richard J. Dickey said there were three qualities that those being honored possessed: commitment, loyalty and integrity. He spoke of commitment, because the group fought for a cause and had a vision of what life was supposed to be; the cause was the defense of their nation. He said members of the group were men of integrity and they were loyal to their nation. "Call it loyalty. Call it friendship. Call it love," Dickey said. The ceremony also featured music from the 541st Air Force Band of New England, a solo by Ron Wood, and a 21-gun salute. Later that afternoon, the Plattsburgh Military Museum was officially dedicated during a ribbon cutting-ceremony. The idea for the museum was conceived in 1982 and was being housed in a 79-year-old building on base originally ^used as the carpenter and blacksmith shop. Many members of the group brought World War II items with them to donate to the museum. One man, John Cott of the 530th Bomb Squadron, said he'd sent various pictures and a newspaper clipping to be donated to the museum.* He'd never received any word that the items arrived, but turned the corner in the two-room museum to find the pictures and clipping neatly framed and hanging. Cott and five of his fellow crew members are in Plattsburgh today, and they posed Friday for a photographer in front of the old crew picture.
Later Friday afternoon, a parade was held on the old base and the 380th Bomb Group finally officially received an award presented by the Philippine government in 1945. The award, a Presidential Unit Citation, was formally presented by Brig. Gen. Angel Kanapi, defense attache to the Philippine embassy. The award was made for work the group did in August 1943 and in the spring of 1944, when the group ran strikes on the Japanese oil refineries, which disrupted the enemy's fuel flow. As the parade ended, members of the group cheered and clapped when the band from Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire played the Air Force Hymn.
