Warbird Information Exchange

About 15 minutes ago I walked to window of my office to watch 2 A-10s in close formation, gear & flaps down, on a long instrument approach to Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base - they were from my old unit, the 103 TASS.

I've also been known to run out into the parking lot when hearing round motor sounds..........

Where is that motivational poster maker link when you need it.

You must be S or SE of the base area, I live to the NW and usually get to see them climbing out.
Rich

Foothills man upset at air show for Tora act
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
January 15, 2009 - 4:57PM
An event at this year's Yuma Air Show that recreates Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 is getting mixed reactions from area veterans.

Tom Trotter, a Foothills resident and Marine Corps veteran, says he is furious with organizers of the air show for the decision to have an attraction that re-creates the Dec. 7 attack.

"The thought process that went into this just boggles my mind," said the 70-year-old Trotter, who joined the Marines in 1956 as a senior in high school. "There are still veterans living in this community who went through it and still wake up with nightmares. They don't need to see this, much less Japanese Zeros flying in our skies again."

But others say the re-creation is an important addition to the air show because of its educational value.

"It's a good idea because people should know what happened at Pearl Harbor that day," said Hubert Suits, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1955. "It should also remind every American that something like that can always happen."

The attraction that is in dispute is called "Tora, Tora, Tora, " in which pilots flying replica planes re-create the attack with aerial acrobatics and pyrotechnics, complete with an announcer.

Trotter said he thinks having the attraction is disrespectful to World War II veterans and inappropriate to have at an air show.

"There are still just too many memories associated with the attack," Trotter said. "It is also just in bad taste to do because we were a defeated country that day."

Yuman Greg Gardner agrees with Trotter, adding he would thinks it sends the wrong message and that he hopes air show organizers cancel the attraction.

"To me, it is a slap in the face to Pearl Harbor survivors and family members who lost loved ones there," said Gardner, who served in the Marine Corps from 1968 to 1980. "Pearl Harbor was a horrendous event in our nation's history. We don't need it re-enacted to remember it."

Gardner added, "What is next? Are they going to do a re-enactment of planes flying into buildings? I don't think in Japan they re-enact the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

But not all veterans agree with Trotter and Gardner about whether "Tora, Tora, Tora " should be performed.

Frank Sheridan, of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1763, doesn't see anything wrong with having the attraction.

"It is re-enacting history," said Sheridan, who served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1965.

Put on by the Commemorative Air Force, the "Tora, Tora, Tora" performance is one of three new attractions coming to the March 14 air show for the first time this year.

Roger Lopez, marketing director for MCAS Yuma, said the air show normally couldn't afford to bring in an act such as "Tora, Tora, Tora," but decided to do so this year since it is the base's 50th anniversary.

"They are the most sought-out civilian performers for an air show," Lopez said. "They are always the headliners wherever they go. You can have an air show with them as your only main attraction."

Lopez said doesn't understand why someone would be against bringing in the attraction. He added the attraction is so popular that, not only will it appeal to larger crowds, it will help also help draw in younger crowds who normally don't attend the air show.

"It tells a story about a point in time in our history. It is like a museum coming to life," Lopez said. "You have heard about it, now you can come be a part of it in real life."

Ken Crites, who has been the announcer for "Tora, Tora, Tora" the past 21 years and is himself a Navy veteran, said the attraction is a tribute.

"It actually speaks to the greatness of our nation and is in no way disrespectful," Crites said. "The program reminds us that America is a strong country because of the men and women who wear its uniform and carry the flag into battle."

In explaining the attraction, Crites said it starts out at the attack and then goes into how it pulled the country together and the renewed sense of patriotism that arose from it.

Crites said the CAF has been been performing "Tora, Tora, Tora" for more than 20 years and has only encountered this type of sensitivity to the program twice.

"And both times it was from people who hadn't seen the performance before," Crites said. "Both people also changed their opinion of it after they saw the performance and what it was all about."

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.