Shallowater High School - Corral Yearbook (Shallowater, TX)

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MORE THAN 15,000 ATTEND RENAMING PROGRAM RAFB Holds Ceremony By EMMETT SHOCKLEY Avalanche Staff Writer MORE than 15,000 South Plains residents Sunday were guests of Reese Air Force base at an open house after which ceremonies were held in honor of First Lt. Augustus F. Reese, jr., Shallo- water war hero for whom the base is named. High Air Force officials and base personnel staged a five-hour program for visitors, beginning at 11 a. m., with an open house and ending shortly before 4 p. m., with a spectacular aerial acrobatic exhibition by a quartet of jet fighter planes. Estimates ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 were made on the num- ber of visitors who attended cere- monies, although the official count at the gate numbered approxima- tely 15,000 including base person- nel. Over 3,000 cars entered the base, and many were turned away at the gate because of lack of parking space, military police said. ' Parents Honored At Ceremony pated, began at 2 p. m. The air- men marched into position before the reviewing stand after which the general order renaming the base was read to them by Capt. Clyde W. Bradley, jr., cadet squad- ron commanding officer. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ll a. m.-Open. house. All office buildings, hangars and clubs open for inspection until 5 p. m. Engineering mockups and other displays ln base shops hanger untll 5 p. m. Aircraft open for Inspection on ramp. I2 noon-Lunch stands open ln building T-70 until 5 p. m. I p m.-Concert by 5ltth Alr Force band. on ram . ll . l:3ll p, m.-Unveiling of m arble plaque honoring Lt. Reese at Flag. pole. 2. p. rn,-Squzulruns march to pnsl- tion for rcvicu. Band music. 'l' F I l .. .i p. m.- orma rev ew. Renam- lng ceremony and presentation of nr- ders to Mr. and Mrs. Reese, sr. Fly- over ln' 18-25 formation. 3:15 p.in.-'l'l2-25's land. -1 p, rn.-Agrojets fr 0 in Williams ', Al-'B and :fr :ll display over flight line. 5' 'l Mr. and Mrs. Augustus F. Reese, sr., of Shallowater, parents of the wartime flier, were guests of hon- or during ceremonies, which in- cluded the unveiling of a marble plaque by the flag pole in front of base headquarters, and a formal review on the ramp, with the pres- entation of the renaming orders to Mr. and Mrs. Reese by Col. G. W. Pardy, commanding officer of the base. Reese was killed in action at Cagliari, Sardinia, on May 14, 1943, while flying on a volunteer mission to destroy a railroad sup- ply train. His plane was enveloped in the explosion resulting from his successful bombing and strafing of the train. The plaque, which commemor- ates the renaming of the base on Nov. 5, 1949, was unveiled in a simple ceremony at 1:30 p. m. 1 Presented By Local Groups It was presented by Homer D. Grant, president of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of that organization, and the Lub-- bock 'chapters of the American Legion. Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Vet- erans. Col. Purdy accepted it on behalf of the base. The ceremony ended with a prayer by Lt. Col. James M. Becker, base chaplain. The marble plaque. mounted on a limestone base. reads as follows: Reese Air Force Base, Dedicated . in memory of Lt. Augustus F. Reese, jr., 1949. The review, in which about 2,000 officers and men. all available personnel on the base, partici- 'k'k'k CONUMENT UNVEILED AT REI-'ISE AIR FORCE BASE-Mr. and Mrs. Augustus F. Reese, sr., of Shallowater, right, parents of First Lt. Augustus F. Reese, jr., are shown beside the marble plaque unveiled Sunday at Reese Air Force base, commemorating the renaming of the base for their son, who was killed in action in 1943. Maj. Gen. Robert W. Burns, left, and Col. G. W. Pardy, commanding officer of the base, are shown at left. Gen. Burns, deputy commanding general for organization of the air training command at Scott Field, Ill., spoke briefly at the review held shortly after the un- veiling of this plaque. The plaque has the following inscription: Reese Air Force Base, Dedicated to memory of Lt. Augustus F. Reese, Jr., 1949 iStaff Photo by Emmett Sh0Ck19Y-9

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My l A T AUGUSTUS F. Reese, JR. First Lieutenant Augustus F. Reese, jr., was born in Josephine, Col- lins county, Texas, in 1917. He moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus F. Reese, Sr., to West Texas in 1929. He, attended Shallowater High School, graduating in May 1955. Graduated from Texas Technological College August 1959 with civil engi- neering degree. Joined Army in january 1941. Transferred to Air Corps November 1941. Received his wings at Stockton, California, May 1942. Transferred to England, October 1942 and later to North Africa. Killed in action at Cagliari, Sardinia May 14, 1943 while flying a volun- teer mission to destroy an enemy supply train. Reburial services held at Fort Sam Houston National cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, March 28, 1949. Renaming Ceremony S t At RAFB ' In Memory of FIRST LIEUTENANT AUGUSTUS F. REESE, JR. Who gave his life for his country Cazliari Sardinia--May 14 1943 ' a DURING THE REVIEW-The color guard passes a g ou f ff' 1 f reviexving stand during renaming ceremonies Sundliay LeitoReci2sc-icirliidFidcevlaragealipgdjifgzfgy-Rglovg officers and mcnmarched by 1n review, to the accompaniment of the 514th Air Force band ish, at right. In addition, a spectacular aerial show was presented. CStaff Photo.J ' own

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