PRESIDENT'SLETTER FELIXSMITH
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Volume 33, No. 1 November 2007 ~ March 2008
President’s Letter Felix Smith
THE SPIRIT OF CAT
While tossing junk out of our house at the "suggestion" of my wife, I leafed through an obsolete CAT direc-
tory and was struck by the number of magnificent guys and gals who have left this planet. Not many of us
remain. Will CAT wind up as a footnote of history? Do we have a legacy? Perhaps we'll be an inspiration
of how much can be accomplished with little.
A prestigious newsman of our era, Stewart Alsop, admired Chennault's Tigers because they were at the tail
end of a thin supply line, but held their P40s together with "chewing gum and string," and he later sang prais-
es of CAT for the same reason. We flew for almost the entire first year without pay (we got per diem in Chi-
nese currency) while pilots of CATC and the prestigious CNAC received higher pay. During the airdrops on
besieged Taiyuan, we ate hard-boiled eggs from vendors at Peiping 's airport while CNAC pilots enter a
hastily-erected, private CNAC building with cooks and waiters at tables covered with white cloths. When
the Communist 8th Army ring around Taiyuan got tighter and anti-aircraft fire was more concentrated,
CNAC and CATC didn't fly at night, but CAT did. During the evacuation of Chengchow we lived in tents
while a cook at a campfire washed dishes in filthy water in which Tsingtao beer labels floated. Lacking
drinking water, we became the only airline in history that provided flight crews with beer during turn-
arounds. Our cook took a rag from around his neck, wiped his forehead and then dried the dishes. One of
our tents blew down in a midnight storm. However, pilots of the other two airlines seemed to envy us. A
few transferred over from CNAC. CAT had something which historian Bill Leary called, "a Hemingway
insouciance." An Air Force General said, “CAT has the spirit of a fighter group."
We grew to become Asia 's finest airline, a bonafide IATA carrier. On one of our rare delays -- 10 hours
projected -- we arranged to put our passengers on Northwest, which would depart within the hour, but many
of our passengers preferred to wait for us. We were called the "Can Do" airline. When Air America was
born into our complex they caught the spirit and expressed it more articulately: "Anything, anytime, any-
where, professionally.” I once quoted it, omitting the last word and was quickly corrected. I remembered
more than one USAF officer saying they heard we were coming, thought they'd see civilian cowboys, but got
professionals.
Perhaps our legacy will show what can be achieved by ordinary people with good leadership. Chennault and
Willauer attended our pilot meetings, sometimes with a bottle of bourbon. They didn't seem to feel they
were special. Only the work was. Chennault said, "This is your airline. I'm a military pilot, not an airline
man. You'll have to show me how." After we got on our feet financially, we got our accumulated back
salary plus $1,000. Willauer himself visited every CAT base, even outposts with bedbug-ridden hotels to
hand each employee, however humble, the bonus check with a handshake and personal thanks.
(Continued on Page 11)CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 2
The CAT Bulletin In Memoriam
ANNA BLEDSOE passed away in January from complications
The only news magazine in the world devoted
of a stroke. An enthusiastic pilot and one of Amelia Earhart's
entirely to news concerning ex-CAT (Civil Air
Ninety Niners, she met CAT pilot Jim Bledsoe at a women's air
Transport), ex-SAT (Southern Air Transport) and
race in 1953. He told us, "I met this gorgeous red-head. Wow,
ex-AAM (Air America) employees and friends.
she was such a great pilot, I invited her to dinner." A few months
Published by: The CAT Association later they married.
Editors: Felix Smith and Lew Burridge LINDSEY BRUCE HERD, Jr. We are sad to report the passing
of our friend Lindsey Herd on November 1, 2007. He had been
Permanent Honorary Chairmen:
living with his daughter, Karil and her family in the Dallas area,
LTG Claire L. Chennault and
and he fought a courageous battle with leukemia. Many of us
Whiting Willauer (Co-founders of CAT)
saw Lindsey for the last time at the CAT reunion in San Antonio
Peggy Chennault Lee
three months earlier.
Joe Rosbert
Honorary Chair: Lind- sey
Anna Chennault
Directors Emeritus:
Sue Hacker
Lil Finnerty
Chairman of the Board: Lew Burridge
President: Felix Smith
Vice-President / Reunions:
Pat Shaver Schier
Treasurer: Bruce Bigony
Secretary: Vicky Bigony Peters Lindsey Herd (right) with Big Bigony
at last year’s CAT Reunion in San Antonio
Other Board Members:
Dick Rossi served in the Coast Guard during World War II and the Navy
Bob Rosbert during the Korean War. He joined CAT as an accountant in
Pat Walker Hong Kong in 1952 and was assigned to Tokyo in 1953 and Tai-
Carol Burridge Massa pei in 1956, where he led the internal auditing department. He
Don Massa worked for CAT/Air America for over twenty years and was a
vice-president and treasurer of Air America when he closed its
Please send material for inclusion in Taiwan office in 1976.
the Bulletin to:
CAT Association Lindsey was a man of strong faith, had a wonderful sense of
Vicky Bigony Peters, Secretary humor, and was a good friend to everyone. His wife, Ruth, of 43
Post Office Box 1644 years passed away in 2003. In addition to Karil, Lindsey has a
Waco, TX 76703 son, Bruce, four grandchildren and a sister. All of us will miss
E-mail: jcpusma@wt.net Lindsey.
The CAT Association is a 501(c) Not-for-Profit
Association registered in the state of California. Memoriams continue on the following page. We wholeheartedly
apologize if we have missed anyone. If you have any memoriam
Membership Dues: $25 per year, $30 for all information about a CAT member or family member, please
overseas members. Dues are payable January send it to Vicky Bigony Peters, P.O. Box 1644, Waco, TX
of each year.
76703, e-mail: jcpusma@wt.net. Thank you.CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 3
In Memoriam (continued)
BOB MURRAY, one of our associate
members, will be remembered as
the friendly engine mechanic in Hong
Kong and a man who made the Colony
so popular with our crews. From 1948
to 1953 he worked with HACO (Hong
Kong Aircraft Engineering Company),
our maintenance contractor at Kai Tak
Airport, during CAT’s early days.
Bob passed away from complications
of a broken hip on February 7th. We
send condolences to our good friend’s
family.
Bob Murray with Harmon Harrison (Bob’s Conservator)
CONNIE SIEGRIST, a much loved member of the CAT family, left us on March 6 after suffering a stroke.
“Sieg” joined CAT on November 1, 1950, and he will always be remembered as one of our legendary pilots.
Few of us know the full extent of operations that Sieg participated in. One of Sieg’s old bosses remarked
that he had a nose for sniffing out black operations. As a result, he participated in many of them in a wide
variety of aircraft and locations: The off shore islands of Quemoy and Matsu in the PBY; the B-26 at Mana-
do in the Celebes; the B-26 again in Guatemala and at the Bay of Pigs. Operation Coldfeet in the Arctic
Ocean with a B-17 and the Fulton Skyhook. Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, India, Korea, Laos, the
Philippines, Thailand, and North and South Vietnam before and after the French left, and Taiwan plus the
United States all felt Connie's footprint.
Besides the B-26, B-17, and PBY, Seig flew the B-
727, C-130, C-46, C-47, C-45, DC-6, DC-4, C-
119, T-28 and others. An excellent pilot, Seig had no
problem switching types of aircraft and usually
checked out in a new type with minimum hours of
training.
Seig helped develop low-level night flying tech-
niques, delayed airdrop techniques, Fulton Skyhook
pickups, and he trained many pilots, both American
and foreign. He had a great career with CAT, SAT,
Air America and Intermountain, and his exploits
earned him the nickname “Indiana Jones” by his
coworkers at Home Depot. Submitted by Doug Price,
a good friend of Sieg’s.
(Continued on Next Page) Connie Seigrist and Doug PriceCAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 4
In Memoriam (continued)
CONNIE SEIGRIST (continued)
James Glerum, CIA Station Chief in Taipei, and subsequently the Agency’s Director of Personnel writes:
“Sieg was one of the great ones. From B-26 combat operations against the Indonesians, to the PBY gold
flights into Macao, to the Bay of Pigs, to Project Coldfeet in the Arctic - and a bunch of other things in be-
tween - he served his country well.”
Janet Ray Weininger writes: “It is hard to find the right words to share with all those who loved a true hero,
how broken hearted we are and the loss that all we feel.”
Felix Smith adds: Jim, Doug and Janet said it better than anyone else could. Seig seemed like Clint Eastwood
because he was a man of few words. But there was eloquence in his work. Unflappable and courteous, with
a gentle sense of humor, Seig is a genuine icon of aviation history, and of CAT.
Sieg’s sons, Steve, Jeff and Alan, are planning a memorial gathering within the next few months to honor
him and celebrate his life.
“Lobo Flight” Painting Dedicated
A painting commemorating the pilots who
flew in the Bay of Pigs operation in April
1961 was unveiled on October 18, 2007 at
the Southern Museum of Flight in Birming-
ham, Alabama.
Entitled “Lobo Flight,” the painting by
artist Jeffery Bass depicts the Liberation Air
Force destroying a column of Castro's
militia forces advancing toward the invasion
beaches on April 18, 1961. Three flights,
consisting of two B-26s each, pressed the
attack that afternoon. Connie Seigrist led
the assault in Lobo I, followed by Captain
Doug Price in Lobo II.
The six aircraft, which successfully de-
stroyed the enemy column that afternoon,
Doug Price and Alan and Jeff Seigrist are emblematic of the Cuban exile pilots,
With Painting “Lobo Flight” the Alabama Air National Guard and the
Artist Jeffery Bass was commissioned by Compass Bank of Alabama to CIA air wing pilots, all of whom took risks
paint “Lobo Flight” to honor the Bay of Pigs pilots. Janet Weininger, above and beyond to support their brothers-
daughter of “Pete” Ray, one of the pilots, provided extensive research in-arms in a tragically unsuccessful attempt
and supported the artist in developing the painting. See the related to free Cuba from a communist dictator.
letter on page 6. For more info about Jeff, visit www.jeffbass.com.CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 5 Treasurer’s Report Bruce Bigony As of February 29, 2008, the CAT Association had $32,475.33 in its account, of which $22,637.29 is earmarked for the CAT Documentary Project. The balance of $9,838.04 is used for ongoing operating expenses. Since my last Treasurer’s Report to you as of September 30, 2007, which appeared in the last Bulletin, the Documentary Account has increased $1,407.02 (due to a generous donation of $1,000 from Ja- net Weininger and accrued interest of $407.02), and the Operating Account has increased $182.18 (as a result of the collection of 2007 and 2008 dues, donations from the membership and accrued interest, less the cost of publishing the last Bulletin). As I indicated in the last Treasurer’s report, all of the funds in the Documentary Account and most of the funds in the Operating Account were invested in a 6-month Certif- icate of Deposit with Citibank, accruing interest at 4.88% for an annual percentage yield of 5.00%. The Certificate of Deposit matured March 24, and it has been renewed for a 3-month term at 2.47% for an annual percentage yield of 2.50%. Because of the decline in interest rates, the Association will not realize as much interest income as in the past. Directory Changes Please update your CAT Directory with the following changes. Be sure to contact Vicky Peters at 254-881-1624 or jcpusma@wt.net as soon as you move or change phone number or email address. Robert Babjack Bille Joiner Robert Sims 502 South Post Oak Lane, No. 17 billiejoiner@att.net 21 Fort King Drive Houston, TX 77056 Monte Markham Colonial Beach, VA 22443 Nina Sue Joiner Breining P.O. Box 607 Phone: 804-224-5049 phlebotomyplus@aol.com Malibu, CA 90265 bob6071@msn.com Donald Funk Bill Shaver Anne Tatham Phone: 530-501-5267 Phone: 801-355-1293 Phone: +44 (0) 1883-743987 Phil Ingogila monson.shaver@yahoo.com David Traylor Zip Code: 33596 Phone: 805-966-4372 THANK YOU to the following life members who switched to paying annual dues! Val and Irene Bednekoff, Weldon Bigony, Bruce and Mary Frances Bigony, Don and Kakuko Bussart, Bet- ty Dew, Jim and Anne Harrison, Ann Rousselot, Wade Rousselot, Zena Sailer, and Robert Sims. Paying annual dues helps the Association with its operating costs. Currently we have 240 stateside members, of whom 60 pay annual dues, and 25 overseas members of whom four pay dues annually. We are also grateful to those members who donated to the Association. During 2007 we received $1,050 following Felix’s appeal for donations. In addition Janet Weininger generously donated $1,000 for the CAT documentary fund. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO DUES PAYING MEMBERS: Dues are now payable in January. If you have not yet paid your dues for 2008, please send your check to our Treasurer, Bruce Bigony, 1953 N. Grand Oaks Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001. Checks should be made out to the CAT Association. Dues for stateside members are $25.00 and overseas members’ dues are $30.00.
CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 6
New Members
Janet Ray Weininger JANET, a close friend of Connie Seigrist and Doug Price, is warmly
(husband: Mike) welcomed. Her father, Pete Ray, formerly a B-26 pilot with the Alabama
16360 SW 87th Place Air Guard, flew with them in the Brigade 2506 Squadron of the Cuban
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157 Liberation Air Force. He was shot down and disappeared the day after
Phone: 305-255-5994
Cell: 305-610-6464 Seig and Doug flew Lobo I & II in the raid which is depicted in the
WingsValor@aol.com painting recently unveiled in Alabama. (See article on Page 4.)
www.wingsofvalor.org
Janet searched tirelessly, to discover the circumstances. Eighteen years
later she discovered that her father had been captured alive, executed, and
embalmed to be placed on display in Havana as a trophy of war. After
several more years Janet induced President Fidel Castro to return her
father’s body to Alabama where he was buried with full military honors.
Janet devoted the following years and her personal funds in helping other
families, Cuban and American, discover and repatriate the earthly remains
of their loved ones. She says she recently received more than 20 messages
from Cuban families who mourn the passing of their hero Seig who
trained them; nor have they forgotten their other hero, Doug Price.
We received the following letter from Janet along with a $1,000 donation to the CAT Documentary Fund.
Thank you so much Janet!
Dear Members of CAT and AA:
It was in 1961 that Thomas “Pete” Ray’s B-26 disappeared off the radar screen during a covert action known as the
Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. The White House devised a media cover story to destroy the reputations of the four
Americans who died while, at the same time, Pres. Kennedy was hailing the Cubans of Brigade 2506 as heroes who
were striving for the liberation of their homeland. As a six-year-old child, I embarked on a mission through the vortex
of the Cold War and covert missions to learn the fate of my father and bring honor to his name by seeking the truth.
As I was improving my reading skills, I didn’t spend time on the books of Nancy Drew; I was reading anything I could
find on Cuba and the CIA. It was in a book by Buck Persons that I first learned of the flying history of Doug Price and
Connie “Seig” Seigrist, who were only referred to honorably as “a couple of real cowboys.”
In 1979, my father made his final flight home to be buried with full military honors after being executed and displayed
in a Havana morgue as Castro’s symbol of hate against the United States for over 18 years. My mission wasn’t com-
plete. I hadn’t found those that I had come to call “the sky cowboys” and the mysterious warriors, like Gar Thorsrud,
who put their lives on the line for our freedom.
Twenty-two years ago at CAT Reunion, I came to personally know Doug and Seig and from many more reunions of
CAT, AA and Laos, I came to know Gar Thorsrud, Ken Smith, Andy Anderson, Leo Turk, Paper Legs Peterson, Jack
Wall, Toby Scott, Ken Hessel Miles, Shep Johnson and the list could continue. There are two I never had the honor of
meeting in person who flew the PBY in the Cuba operation, Don Teeters and John Lewis. Sadly within months of the
Cuba operation, John Lewis was to lose his life in an aircraft accident in Laos.
While I will always wish to have had my father in my life, I couldn’t imagine my life without knowing them and others
who have become my true heroes. I’ll never tire of listening to their histories and will forever be grateful for the bond
of loyalty that goes beyond friendship. This donation is in honor of them and their families.
Sincerely,
Janet Ray WeiningerCAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 7 CAT History Project Lew Burridge With the UNRRA / CNRRA agreement signed on October 25, 1946, there was an assumption by CNRRA that CAT would "get moving" immediately on the airlift of food and medical needs to areas isolated (by "Reds") from essential supplies. Very restricted by funding, Chennault also knew that CNRRA officials had little knowledge of the technical facilities and personnel requirements, funding and time it would take to support the dispatch of the first relief flight. In anticipation of this, Chennault had chosen to recruit AVG associates, military pilots and technicians who had China experience and had proved themselves proficient in performing under the minimal and restrictive operating conditions during WWII and post-war China. AVG Ace Joe Rosbert, and in DCA, Doreen Lonberg, also assisted in recruiting former AVG and Flying Tiger Lines pilots in the USA. These pilots were Catfish Raine, Bus Loane, and Bob Conrath. (CAT's orig- inal technical team was Ken Buchanan, Chief Pilot; H.L. Richardson, Chief Engineer; Clyde Farnsworth, PR Officer; and Dr. Tom Gentry, Medical Director. All former Chennault men.) For Operations his choice was Colonels Richard Wise and Charles Hunter who were granted detached service from the 14th Air Force. For recruiting pilots they were greatly assisted by AVG Ace Dick Rossi. Rossi had come back to China to join GCAC (Great China Aviation Corp.) which was negotiating for a franchise in Canton. He recruited Tsingtao-based Marine Corps veterans Lew Burridge and Var Green, and Naval Air Corps veterans Bill Hobbs and Weldon Bigony for GCAC. But when that corporation failed in obtaining an operating license the pilots were put on standby in Shanghai (with CNAC veteran Felix Smith) to await CAT employment when CAT became licensed for CNRRA operations. Shortly after Christmas 1946, CNRRA confirmed that the five C-47s at Clark Field in the Philippines and fourteen C-46s in Hawaii were available for pick-up. CAT activated the pilots who had been on "standby" since November 1946. Chennault selected Marine pilots Lew Burridge and Var Green, Air Force pilots Stu Dew and Paul Holden (after serving General Marshall), and Naval Air Corps pilots Weldon Bigony and Bill Hobbs. Thanks to the work of COL Dick Wise and Dick Rossi, these crews were ready for departure to Clark Field in the Philippines on military transport from Shanghai.
CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 8
History Project (continued)
Japanese Zero Downed by USAF on Display Manila International Air Terminal
at Clark Field (Philippines) 1946 Aviation Crossroads for Regional and
Clark was the Working Base for C-47 Crews International Carriers (1946)
Chennault gave Lew Burridge $500 to cover expenses for the trip with a request that they return any amount
that could be saved. The CAT group arrived at Clark Field still in military uniforms without insignia as there
was no time or money to buy civilian clothes or CAT uniforms.
They were well received at Clark Field, but found than none of the dozens of surplus U.S. Army planes there
were airworthy. With the help of a few "moonlighting" Air Force technicians, they selected five with lowest
airframe and engine time. This plan soon required that two of the five C-47s be cannibalized for parts.
Working with informal assistance from the Air Force, they created three flyable C-47s. The planes were ex-
amined by Philippine Airlines and certified to meet U.S. standards. They flew to Canton on January 25th
with minimal fuel due to exhausted funds and cabled their Shanghai office to arrange re-fueling credit with
the Standard Vacuum Oil Company (SVOC). They were told that SVOC, Hong Kong, would assist, so they
landed there on January 26th after aborting the first CNRRA load to Kweilin due to severe weather. (Three
CNAC planes and one Central Air Transport Corporation, CATC, plane had crashed at Shanghai on Dec.
25th due to dense fog.) At arrival in Hong Kong the crew encountered considerable negotiations with
officials because of the lack of recognizable identification on the planes and were held up for necessary
clearance and refueling. In spite of the dismal and minimal weather reports, the first flight took off and land-
ed at Lung Hwa and then went on to CAT’s base at Hung-Jao on January 26, 1947.
On January 31st, pilots Frank Hughes and Doug Smith, with UNRRA cargo, a Jeep, and General Chen-
nault aboard, made CAT's first commercial flight from Shanghai to Canton. CAT was at last in business!
Later, Var Green flew a CNRRA relief flight from Shanghai to Peking. On the C-47 pre-flight run-up in
Peking, prior to the flight continuing to Taiyuan, a leaking primer line caught fire and the plane was
destroyed on the ground there. The two remaining C47s continued a very busy relief schedule without
further incident.CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 9
History Project (continued)
While Burridge and his men over-
came their initial challenges in
the Philippines, similar frustrations
occurred in Hawaii. For a short
period, COL Oliver Clayton was
Acting Operations Manager and
COL Bill Richardson was Chief
Engineer. Acting Chief Pilot Dick
Rossi and CNAC veteran Felix
Smith were dispatched to Hawaii
via military transport, expecting to
find CAT's 17 C-46s in fly-away
condition, but when they got to
Wheeler Field on Oahu, they saw
fuselages encased in heavy cosmo- Lew Burridge and Stu Dew Shopping for Civies in Honolulu
line, devoid of engines.
Recently demobilized USN Supply
Officer Bob Lee (Chennault's son-
in-law) explained what any compe-
tent supply officer knows: A war-
surplus airplane is kept in perfect
condition by pickling the hull and
moving its engines and accesso-
ries to a corrosive-free facility. Bill
Freeman, a former U.S. Army
captain in the CBI Theater, was
dispatched to Hawaii to manage the
huge maintenance challenges with
Susan Pollock (Sue Buol Hacker)
as his secretary. Now Civilians, Paul Holden and Lew Burridge at Ala Moana
The lead mechanic was Johnny
Glass with Joe Melger and Ronald
(Doc) Lewis. The Communications
Officer was former AVG and 14th
AF COL John Williams. They were
followed by Army Air Corps Engi-
neering Officer Oliver Clayton,
whose principal assignment was the
purchase of spare aircraft parts
which were on sale at rock-bottom
prices from Oahu's numerous war-
surplus outlets.
CNRRA Air Transport C-46 Over Shanghai (note tail insignia)CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 10
History Project (continued) The first of the pilots who gathered were AVG Aces Joe
Rosbert, Bus Loane, Roger Fay, Earthquake McGovern,
Neese Hicks, Conrath, Ozzie Young and Robert (Catfish)
Raine, and USMC pilot Bob Buol, who had been highly
decorated by Admiral Halsey. One of the engineering
feats was the installation of long-range fuel "tanks", which
were huge neoprene bladders, in the C-46 cabins, that
were later tested for reliability by the pilots. The most
significant occurrence in Hawaii - one which had a long-
range deterrent effect on CAT operations in China, was
the unexpected decision of Colonel Oliver Clayton to
resign from the infant CAT to join a used-parts salesman
from California, taking with him the spare parts for which
he had negotiated on CAT's behalf. This later burdened
CAT mechanics to keep CAT airborne in China with
cannibalized spare parts, including glow plugs for the
C-46s, which forced CAT Pilots to fly in the sub-zero
CAT Flight Crews Enroute to Hawaii temperatures of North China and Manchuria without
January, 1947 cockpit heaters.
A few days toward the end of February three of the completed C-46s were decorated with CAT's colors, the
Chinese MOC (Ministry of Communications) insignia on the tail, and our Chennault logo, the peaceful tiger
cub, designed by Bruno Braga, one of our first traffic managers, on the nose.
The first three C46s arrived in Canton on March 2. Dick Rossi led the flight. The lone passenger (in the
plane crewed by Austin Young & Felix Smith) was the U.S. Army Air Corps nurse, Sandy Williams, wife of
COL John Williams who was in Shanghai, awaiting her arrival.
As we continue our history series, the editors would welcome any additions or corrections our readers might have.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED
FOR REUNION IN SAN FRANCISCO!!
The Silent Auction at the reunion in San Antonio last year was a
lot of fun and a tremendous success. We raised almost $900!
Let’s do it again! Please clean out your closets and drawers and
send items to this year’s reunion coordinator:
Billie Joiner
132 Valle Verde Court
Danville, CA 94526
Last year people donated CAT jewelry, items used on the
Mandarin Jet, CAT cigarette lighters, magazines with articles on
CAT, CAT travel bags, tee shirts, a model CAT airplane, even
CAT envelopes. Everything was popular. So don’t throw any-
thing away! It does not have to be CAT related—people love
anything from Asia. Send it to Billie, and we will auction it and
raise money for the CAT Association. We want to see you in
San Francisco, but please send something even if you are unable
to attend. We need your support!CAT Association Bulletin, November 2007 ~ March 2008 Page 11
President’s Letter (continued) Felix Smith
There's an undefinable yet unmistakable mysticism to CAT. Former employees — accountants, mechanics,
pilots, stewardesses who progressed to more prestigious careers in more comfortable places — say there is
something special about their time with CAT. It seemed to define their private selves indelibly. This imprint
includes Lew Burridge, who worked years as president, Asia, for one of America's largest pharmaceutical
corporations, and Flight Attendant Amy Lee who now publishes English / Chinese dictionaries and other fine
books.
Good leadership is somewhat of a mystery. No one ever heard Chennault raise his voice. As a matter of
fact, he never said much. Willauer shouted at all Commies and any injustice, but never at employees.
He asked questions, listened, and depended on us. It seems to me, good leaders remain fiercely loyal to some
goal. Their integrity is inviolate. And they hold an innate respect for those they lead. They don't profess
this. It's just there, like gravity. You feel it.
These are the reasons why I believe the spirit of CAT will be our legacy.
MUSEUMS
The Air America Foundation (not related to our Air America), on the main highway to Cape Canaveral, and
the Museum of Freedom in Atlanta, Georgia want to display the history of CAT and Air America as part of
the lineage of Chennault. Details in the next Bulletin.
PROPELLER FROM McGOVERN / BUFORD C119
JPAC (Hawaii) has not forgotten us. The recovery of the propeller destined for the HAC, UTD, is delayed
by standard procedures imposed upon JPAC by the government of Laos, which guards its sovereign
rights. JPAC recovery teams must search in sequence from north to south and back again, with a specified
number of days at each site. When the allotted time expires the recovery team must move to the next site
regardless of adverse weather. It may take a year to get back to complete the work. JPAC still searches for
the earthly remains of Wally Buford in Laos and Norm Schwartz in Manchuria.
“Earthquake McGoon” McGovern (on the right)Remember When?
First row (left to right)
John Fogg, Harry Hudson,
Joe Madison, Dave Lampard,
Moon Chen and Frank Hughes
Second row (left to right)
Ann Bagnell, Laura Vesser,
Donna Funk, Margaret Berg,
Mary Cockrell, Cora Tsai,
Nellie Murray and
Tom Cavanaugh
Back row (left to right)
Cliff Berg, Don Funk,
Unidentified Gentleman,
Bill Welk, Gene Vesser,
“Pinky” Pinkava and
Harry Cockrell
CAT Christmas Party 1951. This photo was sent to us by Cliff Berg. Can anyone identify the
gentleman between Don Funk and Bill Welk? Does anyone remember where this party was held?
If you can answer these questions, please let us know!
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