Did you know that walking through a hotel lobby can have dire consequences? My wife Diana and I were in the lobby of the Ramada in Corpus Christi on our way to parts unknown when who should we run into but Forrest (Frosty) Moore. Fros- ty had kind of a down look on his face. He muttered, "I have to find a new editor for the Scuttlebutt. Don Sweet says he wants to step down."

I said "Gee, Frosty, you're looking at the wrong guy. I am already doing two newsletters." My wife very helpfully said, "But, Bob, you're giving up one of them in the fall." There I was surrounded I sur- rendered. I said that if you really needed someone, I'd give it a try.

No one can replace Don nor can his shoes be filled. But, I'll do the best I can to get out a newsletter quarterly.

I was a late comer to the Squadron being a member of crew 17RR. We were a mighty crew (picture on another page). R M. "Bob" Smith was our PPC with Don Tibbles and Howard Loeffieman shar- ing the right seat or plotting charts, Other crew members were T. J. Quinlan, Harvey Schaeffer, George Cramer, Bob Guilfoyle, W. E. "Doc" Dockery, W. D. Oneal, Ed Graham and L. B. "Pappy" Jones. I was actually a replacement crew member in a double replacement crew. The original tail gunner came down with appendicitis just as the crew was headed for the west coast. We caught up with the squadron on Au- gust 6, 1945 at Saipan, just in time to head for Perry Island, Eniwetok where our plane was equipped with deicer boots and we were issued winter underwear. It was at Perry Island we heard Japan had surren- dered. You know the story from there.

I hope you enjoy the Scuttlebutt.

Bob Cunningham

Table Of Contents

Sweet Talk by D. H. Sweet
Business Meeting Minutes
Reunions
Calling All Airdales
Financial Statement

---

"VPB-21 Alumni Association Newsletter Summary Page"

---