Many 4080th Reunion Events Open to the Public

May 20, 2008
By Joe Hyde
Special to LIVE!

The dedication of the Texas Historical Marker honoring the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), Laughlin Air Force Base, TX, that flew the U-2 missions over Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis is expected to have more than three-hundred in attendance according to Christina Tevington, chairman of the Val Verde County Historical Commission. The marker dedication for “Operation Brass Knob,” honoring the entire SRW for discovering the Russian missile sites in Cuba during the thirteen-day period in October, 1962, will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 23rd at Star Park, on Main Street, between 4th and 5th in Del Rio.

Four of the six living pilots will attend along with family members. Over two-hundred 4080th SRW members have indicated they will be present as the marker dedication coincides with their final Reunion, due to their age and health concerns. Also in attendance will be three Black Cat U-2 Pilots from Taiwan, one of whom was a POW in China for twenty years.

Texas Historical Commission History Programs Specialists William McWhorter and Bob Brinkman will present the dedicatory address. Edwin Emerling, Colonel, USAF Retired, one of the U-2 pilots, will unveil the marker, following which another pilot, Gerald E. McIlmoyle, Brigadier General, USAF Retired, will accept the marker on behalf of the 4080th SRW. The Del Rio High School Air Force ROTC Detachment 66 Color Guard will post the colors and Cadet 1st Lt. Brittany Lugo will sing the National Anthem.

Immediately following the marker dedication, the pilots and 4080th members will sign souvenir programs and a limited number of photographs of the U-2 for those in attendance. The pilots will then meet privately with the press and dignitaries during at a light lunch at the San Felipe Country Club, 1530 E. Highway 90 in Del Rio.

Reunion events open to the public include exclusive showings of the film titled “The Inquisitive Angel,” a recently de-classified story of the original Lockheed U-2 flights, at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. on May 23 at the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum, 309 South Main in Del Rio. On Saturday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., noted British aviation author and Lockheed U-2 authority, Chris Pocock is presenting a power-point lecture at the Laughlin Museum. Pocock and Brigadier General McIlmoyle will be present to autograph copies of their books, “50 Years of the U-2” and “Remembering the Dragon Lady,” which McIlmoyle co-authored with Linda Rios Bromely. For specific times, contact the Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum at 830-719-9380.