49th Fighter Squadron Association Reunion

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nick Graham
  • 49th Fighter Training Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The Black Knights of the 49th Fighter Training Squadron proudly hosted a reunion for the 49th Fighter Squadron Association October 8-10 at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. 

The 49th Fighter Squadron Association is comprised of former members of the 49th from World War II to the present. Each year in October they hold a reunion at varying locations. Over 50 members attended this year, including six World War II veterans, three of which flew the P-38 Lightning during the era when the 49th referred to themselves as the Hangmen. 

Reunion events on base included four orientation flights in the T-38C IFF, base tours, T-38C IFF simulators, observing IFF student training briefings and debriefings, a squadron cook out, a roll call, and culminated with formal banquet at the Columbus Club. Off base events for all participants included evening meals at a variety of local restaurants and an historic homes tour in downtown Columbus. 

"Having the 49th FSA members and their families joins us at Columbus AFB for their reunion was truly an honor," noted Lt Col Tor Dietrichs, commander of the 49th Fighter Training Squadron. "This squadron has a strong heritage and it was great for all the current 49th FTS members to see it firsthand." 

Attendees at the reunion were again honored by the presence of Mr. Frank Mullinax, a 49th WWII P-38 pilot and former POW who recorded two Luftwaffe kills before being shot down and captured by the Germans. 

He spent nine months in captivity before escaping and spending another ten months evading in the Italian mountains, finally making his way to a British patrol who helped him make his way back home. Shot down in December 1942, he finally arrived back in the US on July 4th, 1944. He retold his heroic tale at the Hangmen's roll call Friday afternoon. 

The featured speaker at the reunion banquet was world-renowned aviation artist Mr. Keith Ferris. Ferris was the speaker when the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron deactivated its F-106 mission at Griffis AFB, N.Y. His awe inspiring speech covered 80-years of an Air Force life that started with a father who was an Army Air Corps pilot in the 1920s. Mr. Ferris has flown in almost every USAF aircraft over the last fifty years and has produced sixty paintings in the Air Force Art Collection as well as several which hang in the Smithsonian. 

He also produced a painting for the retirement of the T-37 from SUPT which he presented at the retirement ceremony here in May, 2008. A signed copy of "The Right of Passage" now hangs in the lobby of the Columbus Club. He relayed some of the details related to aircraft paint schemes he designed and the mechanics and precision required to produce his aviation paintings, clearly demonstrating he is as much a scientist as he is an artist. 

Ferris was first invited to fly the T-38 at Randolph AFB, Texas in May 1963. Col Tor Dietrichs flew Mr. Ferris on his orientation flight on Friday morning, some 46 years after that initial T-38 flight. 

The Black Knights of the 49th are proud to have shared in this great heritage event and look forward to continued active support of the 49th Fighter Squadron Association.