Boneheads reunite for last time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Several former 95th Fighter Squadron "Boneheads" reunited for the 68th Anniversary Reunion, held June 24-26 at Tyndall.

The attendees, all from different time periods of service to the 95th, joined for the last reunion to celebrate their time as Boneheads before the squadron deactivates.

The events held included tours of the squadron, an auction, roll call, a golf tournament, tea-time for the ladies and a final banquet June 26, wrapping up the reunion. While touring through the squadron, many Boneheads reminisced while they toured the squadron for the last time and flipped through photo albums and newspaper clippings from decades ago.

"I left the squadron in 1963," said Ronald Sutton, former crew chief on a Convair F-106 Delta Dart. "It's sad to see it go because it is rich in tradition, but I have a lot of good memories from it."

The squadron, distinguished in 1942, holds years of tradition and history.

"The Boneheads distinguished themselves in the European theater during World War II and built on the history of service to America by flying combat air patrol missions following the September 11th attacks," said Mr. Ted Roberts, 325th Fighter Wing historian.

The squadron first saw service flying the original twin-tailed fighter, the P-38 Lightning, serving in both North Africa and Italy. At the end of World War II, the 95th FS tallied more than 400 total victories including 199 air-to-air kills and seven aces. After World War II, the 95th FS served with the Alaskan Air Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The present squadron was activated at Tyndall in 1974, as the 95th Interceptor Training Squadron, re-designated the 95th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on April 1, 1974, and finally as the 95th Fighter Squadron on Nov. 1, 1991.

While the former Boneheads reminisced on the squadron, they also had a chance to remember the times they spent together serving as Airmen.

"I have mixed emotions," said Jim Ginger, a 95th Fighter Squadron crew chief in 1966. "It's good to be back on one hand, yet I'm sad the squadron is dissolving."

Although the squadron will be deactivated at Tyndall, many Boneheads still keep in contact with one another and continue to relive the memories.

"I have been here for the last four reunions and it's sad to see them go," said David Bloxsom, also a crew chief from 1960 to 1963. "Yet I sure hope I'm around to see them come back."