19th Annual OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunion!

I'm home now after four great days this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, at the 19th Annual Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association. I think everyone had a great time renewing old friendships, sharing war stories, bring each other up-to-date on our families, meeting new friends with whom we have that funny looking triple tailed airplane in common, going on a couple of very nice trips (to the Evergreen Air Museum and taking a brunch-time boat trip up the Columbia), perhaps drinking and eating a little too much and generally having a good time with each other.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel Portland Airport and were treated to a fine breakfast buffet each morning and free beer and wine each evening between 5:30 and 7pm. My guess is that the hotel was surprised when a seemingly endless line of Mohawkers appeared at 5 o'clock waiting for the first draft to be poured!

There was some Association business conducted on Saturday morning, and then it was off to play some more...seeing the sights of Portland and the beautiful surrounding countryside, for some of the ladies it was shopping, or just some more reminiscing with buddies. The banquet on Saturday night featured a wonderful presentation of the Oregon National Guard's 1042nd Aviation Company's role prior to and after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The 225's own Steve Hammons was one of the pilots who flew many missions around the mountain during that time.

After many of us stayed up late into the night (past our bedtimes!), we all headed home the next day with great new memories of the 19th Reunion, looking forward to 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. The dates for the 20th Reunion will be announced sometime after the first of the year, so be sure to watch the Mohawker for that info!

Here are some pictures I made to share with you...

Reunion Time In Portland Is Almost Here!

I leave for Portland, Oregon, next Thursday morning from Seattle on the train. There are about 10 guys from the 225th who will be there...it should be fun swapping stories (true and maybe not-so-true)! I plan to update this blog daily with photos of the Reunion activities next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'll also send out an alert via e-mail each day.

I've put together a short slide show of our birds on the ground and in the air. Thanks to John Ferguson, Danny Talbot, Howard Vail, Phil Brieden, Helmut Haberl and Terry Carlson for sending these. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Some Photos from Phil Brieden

Thanks Phil for sharing these with us!