Sunday Starts Week of Honor for Laughlin AFB's Historic U-2 Spy Plane Unit

May 16, 2008
By Stacy S. Jensen
Special to LIVE!

The work of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Strategic Air Command continues to be honored in Del Rio. This is the unit formerly stationed at Laughlin AFB that flew the highly classified U-2 spy planes that discovered offensive nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. The unit relocated from Laughlin to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in July 1963.

On Friday, May 16, Mayor Efrain Valdez signed a proclamation declaring May 18 to May 24 as 4080th SRW Week. And, to be "set aside by all citizens to honor those whose dedication to duty, caused peace to prevail during great national crises."

The 4080th reunion begins next week.

In addition to the proclamation, the 4080th SRW is being recognized with a Texas Historical Marker. The dedication begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 23 at Star Park, on Main Street, between 4th and 5th Streets in Del Rio. The marker will be placed near the flagpole in the center of the park.

Christina Tevington, chairwoman of the Val Verde County Historical Commission, said the recognition of the 4080th is fitting, because this year is the 45th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

4080th Proclamation Whereas the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of the Strategic Air Command was stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas from 01 April 1957 through 12 July 1963; and Whereas, during that historic time known as the "Cold War," the Wing truly explored the "Unknown" and provided not only our nation, but the Free World, with both scientific and strategic knowledge that enabled peace to be maintained and the future of mankind to prevail; and Whereas, our community celebrated with the Wing, the joys of birth and the remorsefulness of tragic deaths. Now, Therefore, I Efrain Valdez, Mayor for the City of Del Rio, Texas, do proclaim that the week of Sunday, May 18th through Saturday, May 24th, 2008, be known as 4080th SRW Week and set aside by all citizens to honor those whose dedication to duty, caused peace to prevail during great national crises. In Witness Whereof, I have affixed my signature and seal of office on this 16th day of May 2008.

She said there were 11 pilots who flew during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"The 11 flew at great risk to themselves," she said.

Of the 11, six are still living. Four will attend the reunion in Del Rio while the other two were unable to make it due to their health.

Getting the "Operation Brass Knob" marker approved was no small feat. "It took two years of hard work to get that," Tevington said. It is unique, because the marker will contain the names of the pilots who are still living, she said.

The marker is one way to recognize the U-2 pilots and their crewmembers. Tevington said when most people think of the Cuban Missile Crisis, they think of John F. Kennedy.

The pilots flew into harm's way with cameras, not guns in their planes. Following the crisis, she said most lived in relative obscurity.

"It will be fantastic thing to get these guys remembered," she said.

Two of the surviving pilots will participate in the ceremony; Col. Richard S. Heyser, (U.S. Air Force retired) will unveil the marker. Accepting the marker on behalf of the 4080th will be Brigadier Gerald E. McIlmoyle, (USAF retired).

Following the ceremony, the pilots and other members of the 4080th SRW will remain at Star Park to speak with the press and autograph souvenir programs and photos of the U-2 for those in attendance.

The 4080th SRW reunion begins Thursday, May 22 and is the last one, according to Louene Milam, reunion chairwoman.

The 4080th SRW has been gathering since 1978. "The first reunion was one day," Milam said. "It was a 'who could you think of,'" event.

Next week, 300 people, former pilots and support personnel and their spouses, are attending the reunion.

In addition to the marker dedication, the group will have a busy schedule.

Louene Milam said they arrive on Thursday, May 22 to pick up registration. Meals are at the Ramada Inn.

Thursday there will be "border buttermilk," a Mexican buffet and a speaker.

On Friday, May 23 there is the marker dedication at 10:30 a.m.

Gerald McIlmoyle will be signing copies of his newly released book, "Remembering the Dragon Lady- Memories of the Men Who Shaped History" on Friday at the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum and Saturday, May 24 at The Emporium Soda Fountain.

From 6 to 7 p.m. there will be a social hour in the Ramada main ballroom, followed by a western buffet. Retired Maj. Gen. Gerald Prather will speak and pay tribute to the 4080th.

On Saturday, May 24, golfers will play at Laughlin Air Force Base at 9 a.m.

Chris Pocock, author of the book "50 Years of the U-2- The Complete Illustrated History of the Dragon Lady" and authority on the history of the U-2, will be giving a presentation on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum.

Saturday night there will pictures taken and a sit-down dinner at the Ramada with a speech by Major Gen. Steve McElroy. He ran the weather satellite program. He may speak about how the satellites helped the U-2.

Jim Long, chairman of the Laughlin Heritage Foundation, said the reunion includes pilots and all the crews who worked on the U-2s. "It's more like a fraternity than a military unit," he said, because in private they address one another by first name – not rank. In public, the rank still applies.

"It was and still is a very unique Air Force unit," Long said.