Pilot Class
INSIDE
WATCH HISTORY COME ALIVE ........3
BETTER LISTEN CERTIFICATE........5
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER ...................6-7
OBE LOVE’S VETERANS ..................8
RANDOLPH 1943 PHOTO.................9
LAST FLIGHTS................................10
COL. JOE M. JACKSON & MOH.......11
PREZ MESSAGE..............................12
J U N E 2 0 0 9 
V O L U M E 2 1 
I S S U E 3
43-D HONOR ROLL
43-Delta Eagle

HERE ARE THE DONORS SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE:
SHIRLEY REED NORA TRIPP (GEORGE MEMORIAM)
JOHN WALKER DAWN WARNER (CHARLIE BROWN MEMORIAM)
CHUCK SPAULDING JOHN TATSAK
JACK PATTON NORMAND KLARE
GEORGE PROCAK JONATHAN GLASBY
BILL BARTLETT ALBERTA ALBRITTON (MERLE MEMORIAM)
As you can see, the membership continues to show support for continuing the Delta
Eagle. As it stands now, we have sufficient funds to insure the following four issues: this
one, then October 2009, and February & June 2010. So it becomes a waiting game. When
we approach June, and we see how your editor is holding up, if the support continues, then I
can promise you that I will continue to publish this newsletteraslong we are financially able,
and I am physically able to do so.
It simply amazes me as to how much support has been given by the members to
insure continued publication of your newsletter. My efforts and those of contributing
members are just the material backing to continue publication. I still have a lot of material
and it looks like we will run out of time before we run out of material.
As a contribution to the final issue, probably next year, Dick Korthals has consented to
spearhead the operation in contacting the members still on our mailing list and then
consolidate responses from you in the format he used when he was getting dues
submissions and updates from you along with the cash. I think it is a wonderful idea and it
should present one last effort to show how the 43-Delta Eagles are getting along. So when
you receive a query from Dick, don’t throw it away, sit down and pen a little essay on your
individual situations. Right now I don’t see those notices going out until maybe the end of
the year. That way we will have the most up to date information for our final issue.
One more thing...we don’t have much wiggle room with our finances concerning the
next four issues, so if behooves every member taking prompt action when a change of
address occurs. I don’t want to wait for the Postal Service to notify us because then it will
cost us money!! In fact just a few months ago there were some fifteen changes from the
USPS which could have been averted had you provided the information prior to my mailing
the Delta Eagle. I am simply asking for your cooperation in this matter and hope you will
help us out.
- 30 -
You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing!

A THOUGHTFUL MIND, WHEN IT SEES A NATION’S
FLAG, SEES NOT THE FLAG, BUT THE NATION ITSELF.
-----H. W. BEECHER
JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 2 The 43-DELTA EAGLE is published three
times annualy by the Pilot Class 43-D
Association, Inc. Any opinions expressed
herein are conceived solely by the individual
authors and do not necessarily represent or
reflect the opinion of this association, or its
officers. We disclaim any liability for
damages resulting from articles, opinions,
statements, or representations expressed or
implied. We welcome any comments,
articles, or letters from members, or nonmembers
alike. Send changes of address,
articles, letters to the address given below.
The Editor reserves the right to reject,
postpone, edit for space, style, grammar, and
clarity any material submitted. Founded in
April 1984 at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.
From the Editor's Desk . . . . . . .
Cogito ergo sum
You will find some pictures in this issue and I would like to add
some clarification to them. First of all, the Red Bull P-38 made a stop in
Pensacola last February. I went out to see it and took some pix, and they
are on page 8. One shows the pilot. (a swashbuckling individual if there
ever was one) who flew the airplane in and the other is of me. I went out
there and found no one around. I was hoping for the pilot to allow me to
sit once again in the cockpit but he was no where to be found. The
airplane left before I had another chance and is now in Austria at the Red
Bull Headquarters. It had been completely restored and in fact was Left
Garner’s all white #13 before the rehab. You can see from the pix that it
is now completely cleaned up and looks like it has been chrome-plated!
While I was looking at the bird, I had to fight a desire to drop the ladder
and climb up on the wing, but thought better of it and didn’t want to cause
any trouble.
*********************************************************************
On the same page there are a couple of pix taken at the Oriole
Beach Elementary School here in Gulf Breeze. It seems that after the
Honor Flight last year, the school appointed me their “veteran” and so
they put my pic and memorabilia in the middle of their Honor Wall!! Not
only that but they also included all the veterans connected with the
students. To further expand their activities, they took the pix I shot at the
Honor Flight visit to Washington, DC in April 2008 and made a display
board which was put up in the main hallway of the school. You can see
the results in the second pic. I just want to mention that I have also been
interviewed several times in connection with succeeding Honor Flights
and it has been an honor to be so associated. In particular, I was
interviewed by two students and believe me they were really sharp!! I
have a tape of it to prove it. It makes me feel good to know that these
students are inheriting the country and the prospects with them in charge
is really comforting.
**********************************************************************
Throughout the DE you will see reports of Bob Alter’s trip to a
WWII Heritage celebration, Joe Jackson’s visit to DC to be recognized for
his Medal of Honor heroics, and also a picture from Jonalthan Glasby of
the Randolph AAF flight line when it was a basic flying school. Then
there is the report by Dick Korthals of the Ostrich Patrol. I don’t want to
ruin your enjoyment as you read of this organization and see the album of
pictures he has presented.
***********************************************************************
Next issue I hope to have a report of the ceremonies connected
with Donnie Conner’s inurnment at Arlington, but this will have to wait til
the next issue. Watch for it.
-30-

OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
Bob Alter
320- Hamburg Rd.
Easley, SC 29640
864-246-8250
1st VICE-PRESIDENT
Otis B. Prichard
408 Bretcoe Dr
Green Bay, WI 54302
414-468-5711
2D VICE-PRESIDENT
Dick Korthals
2880 Inspiration Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
719-574-7774
SECRETARY
Al Forbes
1614-B Berwick Ct.
Palm Harbor, FL 34684-2210
TREASURER / EDITOR
Frank Dutko
316 Florida Ave.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-4242
850-932-3467
duke43d@hotmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
West Coast Command
JACK PATTON
VACANT
Gulf Coast Command
FRANK ROLLA, CHAIRMAN
POWELL SCHEUMACK
Southeast Command
VACANT
GEORGE SAVAGE
PAST PRESIDENTS
Eugene Causey................1985 - 1986
Frank Dutko......................1986 - 1987
Eugene L. Riser ...............1987 - 1988
Charles Brown..................1988 - 1989
Jack Songer .....................1989 - 1990
Ken Harris ........................1990 - 1991
Jack Patton ......................1991 - 1992
Vic Nunenkamp................1992 - 1993
George Tripp ....................1993 - 1994
Art Speer ..........................1994 - 1995
Otis Prichard ....................1995 - 1996
Harold Peterson ...............1996 - 1997
Robert G. Babb.................1997 - 1998
Frank J. Rolla ...................1998 - 1999
Robert Alter ......................1999 - 2000
Charlie Brown ..................2000 - 2002
Ed Ondre..........................2002 - 2003
Frank Rolla.......................2003 - 2004
Frank Dutko......................2004 - 2006
Bob Alter.......................... 2006 - 2007
- 30 -

N.B.: This is the final officers listing for
the association.
JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 3
Page 4 DELTA EAGLE JUNE 2009 These are pictures provided
by Bob Alter and depict
some of the scenes at
“Watch History Come Alive”.
If Tray Alverson of the
Fayetteville Dailyl News
sends some more pix and
text we will run it next time.

JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 5
Editor’s note: This copyright confirms that Bob’s
Better Listen was first published in the Delta
Eagle and appeared on our website.

Page 6 DELTA EAGLE JUNE 2009

JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 7
Page 8 DELTA EAGLE JUNE 2009 Upper left: OBES Wall of Honor, my space is in center under my A-2 jacket. OBES Loves Veterans Wall is lower
left. Upper right, the pilot who brought in the Red Bull P-38. Note the belt buckle and jacket...typically a fighter
pilot. Lower right is a picture of me and the bird. The airplane went by ship to Austria where it is now based.

JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 9
Ed Note: This is a note from Jonathan Glasby who spent time at Randolph. "Thought you
might enjoy the enclosed photo taken at Randolph in the Spring of 1943, Showing the
cadets marching to the Flight Line, between Hangars P & Q. Possibly 43-D? P-13 was
my personal ship parked near the road - the P standing for Hangar P, out of view to the
left, opposite to Hangar Q, our Maintenance Hangar, seen far to the right. Please excuse
the condition of the photo. The original negative suffered heat damage over the years.
The two enlisted men seen walking to the Flight Line are Roy Ashley of Bristol,, OK, who
I still talk with over the phone, followed by Bart Bartling, of Duda, TX

Last Flight
We give our loved ones back to God,
And just as He first gave them to us
And did not lose them in giving,
So we have not lost them........
For life is eternal, love is immortal,
Death is only a horizon....
Merle L. Albritton, 5 Dec 2004
James W. Heyroth, 6 Aug 2007
Viginia Dooski, (Mike) 32 Mar 2009
Page 10 DELTA EAGLE JUNE 2009 MERLE LEE ALBRITTON
Merle Lee Albritton, 83, Wauchula, (FL),
died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at Lakeland Regional
Medical Center.
Born May 8, 1921, in Bowling Green, to the
late Hosea and Elizabeth Best Albritton, he had
been a lifelong resident of Hardee County and was
a member of the First Baptist Church of Wauchula
for over sixty years. He was a Lifetime Deacon.
He held the rank of Captain in the U. S
Army Air Forces and was awarded the
Distinguised Flying Cross with four oak leaf
clusters, and the Air Medal. He was President of
the 98th Bomb Group and a member of the Herger
Williams Post of the American Legion. Merle was
a past board member of the Wauchula Airport
Authority and Airport Task Force, the Hardee
County Education Foundation Hall, and a member
emeritus of the Wauchula Masonic Lodge. He
retired as a statewide harvesting supervisor for
Coca Cola Food, Minute Maid Division and was
awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy
Scouts of America.
Survivors are his wife of 61 years, Alberta
Carlton Albritton, one daughter, Merilyn Strickland,
and husband Jerry of Fort Meade; one brother,
Robert Hyman Albritton and wife Martha of
Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Martha Louise
Durrance and husband Bobby of Lake Wales, John
Davis and wife Christy of Winter Haven, Miles
Strickland and wife Tara of Lakeland and Kyle
Strickland and wife Kim of Fort Meade.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 7
at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with Dr. M
Felts Dent officiating. MIlitary honors and burial
followed at Bowling Green Cemetery, with Dr. Bob
Norman officiating. Funeral was under the
direction of Roberts Family Funeral Home, Inc.,
Wauchula.
Editor’s Note: I want to apologize for the
apparent delay in publishing this notice. If it were
not for the efforts of Alberta, it might not have
happened. I am at a loss to explain why this
happened, but I can only say, “better late than
never”.....
JAMES W “BILLY” HEYROTH
James W. Heyroth passed away on
Monday, Aug. 6th, 2007. He was born in 1922 in
Breckenridge, TX and was preceded in death by
his first wife, Jane Detrich Heyroth, and sister
Louise Heyroth Alexander. He left behind his
wife Carolyn Heyroth, three sons, Stephen
Heyroth, Derby, KS; Paul Heyroth, Midland, TX;
and Peter Heyroth, Anchorage, AK; extended
family John Drackett, Greenwood, AR; Billy
Drackett, Gatesville, TX, and their families.
Following CPT he entered the Army Air
Corps in 1943 and graduated in Pilot Class 43-D.
During the WWII he was stationed in the CBI
Theater and flew cargo planes over the “Hump:”
in the China Airlift. Jim stayed in the AF
following the war and later participated in the
Berlin Airlift. He was stationed in various
assignments throughout his career including
stints as a test pilot at Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB
and at the Pentagon. He obtained an EE degree
from AFIT. He specialized in the latter part of his
career in the new field of satellite
telecommunications and retired from the AF in
1969 aas a Command Pilot with rank of Colonel.
Billy left behind a wonderful family, many
memories and lasting impressions. His lessons
to his family of hard work, dedication,
organization and quiet strong faith will live in our
lives forever.
Editor’s Note: Just one more that was late in
arriving.

JUNE 2009 DELTA EAGLE Page 11
Editor’s Note: I want to
thank the Newnan (GA)
Times Herald for the
picture and article which
I condensed to fit the
space available. If you
look at the picture on
the left, Joe Jackson is
right in back of Obama,
in the first row.
PILOT CLASS 43-D ASSOCIATION
316 Florida Avenue
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-4242
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Page 12 DELTA EAGLE JUNE 2009
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - Bob Alter
FIRST CLASS

 

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