Reunions 1998–2021
Every Tac Tankers gathering from the 1998 founding meeting to the final reunion in 2021. More recent albums are on Facebook.
1998
Warner Robins AFB, Georgia
Founding meeting. Calls were made to hold a meeting in 1998 at Warner Robins AFB Georgia with people from all the squadrons to discuss forming a reunion group.
2000
Tucson, Arizona
First reunion, to see KB-50J 49-0372 at the Pima Museum.
2001
Tampa, Florida
To see the other survivor, 431st aircraft 49-0389, at MacDill AFB.
2002
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton Reunion.
Jun 2002
Oct 2002
2003
May 12–16, 2004
2005
May 17–21, 2006
Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
The TAC Tankers Association Memorial was dedicated at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
2007
Oct 2008
2009
2010
2012
Seattle, Washington
Tillicum Village on Blake Island, Ride the Ducks and the Museum of Flight.
May 19–22, 2013
St. Louis, Missouri
Millennium Hotel St. Louis. Tours included Laclede's Landing, a St. Louis city tour, a Skyline Dinner Cruise on the Gateway Arch Riverboat, St. Charles and the Gateway Arch.
May 17–20, 2015
Sarasota, Florida
91 members and guests at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Read the 2015 reunion recap
Our 2015 Sarasota Florida Reunion (May 17-22) was another success for Natalie Hill, our new Vice President of Communication and Activities. We had a total of 91 members/guests who attended and an additional six guests that came to the Banquet on Wednesday evening. The views from our hotel were amazing, with the Marina on the South facing side, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Sarasota Bay to the North. Waking up at daylight and opening the drapes was a great way to start the day. Once again, the selection of the events in and around Sarasota were interesting and fun, and the meals choices we had were varied and delicious. A Hospitality Room looking out on the pool was provided by the Hyatt Regency and we had it stocked with our refreshments and TacTanker sale items. It was opened for members late Sunday morning and we had registration/check-in from 1:00 to 5:00. Many of us had arrived on Saturday afternoon so that we would be well rested for all the things we would be doing over the next several days.
The first event on Sunday evening was a Sarasota Bay Dinner cruise aboard the Marina Jack II. All those who signed up for this had a buffet dinner and beautiful views as we cruised around the bay. We went under the Ringling Causeway Bridge, past expensive vacation homes and as the sun set, watched the Sarasota skyline light up. This was a good way to start the reunion.
On Monday there was the Big Top Bus Tour (including Toby The Clown) that took attendees around to see all the Ringling Circus related sites and to learn the history of how the Ringling family left an imprint on the area. After the tour, the bus traveled over to Bob's Circus Train for a sit down lunch in restored Pullman cars filled with circus memorabilia. Then it was back to the hotel for a little rest and visiting in the Hospitality Room, followed by another short bus trip to O'Learys Tiki Bar and Grill on Island Park downtown for a dinner on our own.
Tuesday morning we boarded our bus for a trip out to Mixon Fruit Farm (Oranges, Lemons and Grapefruit) in Bradenton for a tour and another buffer lunch. The Orange Blossom Express tram tour around the citrus groves included a stop at the Florida Wildlife Care and Education Center where we got close-up views of all the mammals, reptiles and birds that are cared for there, and some they eventually release back into the wild. Then we were taken to the Pavilion/Gazebo for a great tasting lunch next to a large pond filled with Koi fish and turtles. After lunch everyone walked over to the main building and gift shop to have some fresh juice and to sample their unique wines. Before leaving, we were also treated to some fresh Orange/Vanilla ice cream. Then it was back to the Hyatt for a short rest and another Hospitality Room visit before we went over to Lido Key for dinner at the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle. There was great tasting food and a festive atmosphere for all to enjoy.
Wednesday had two choices, one to Myakka River State Park for a wildlife tour on an large covered airboat and the other being a tour of the Ringling Estate. Members who opted for either one came back impressed with all they had seen and experienced. After finishing the tours, we all met up at Der Dutchman Amish Restaurant in Sarasota for a family style buffet lunch. This restaurant is widely known for their great food, bakery and candy items and fantastic pies and cakes. No one went away hungry from here.
At 6:30 everyone was in the Boathouse for the Social Hour and Banquet that followed. The views from the Boathouse next to the Marina were amazing, and we were able to watch the sun going down after we enjoyed dinner and waited for the door prize drawings. There were numerous quilts made by Natalie that had Florida and Circus themes, a lot of assorted goodie bags, and a special quilt drawing for those members who had 20 years or more and retired from Active duty. This beautiful quilt was won by Harvey Margulies and will be a treasured keepsake. If there was a downside to having the reunion in Florida, it was the unseasonable heat and humidity we experienced, but this is what it is to be expected "down South". Other that that, it seemed like everyone had a wonderful time.
Our 2016 reunion will be in San Diego CA at the Holiday Inn Bayside from May 15th through the 18th. If you are not a member yet, contact us about joining and come meet up with a wonderful group of people.
May 15–18, 2016
San Diego, California
Holiday Inn Bayside.
May 26–29, 2019
Dayton/Fairborn, Ohio
Attendee list (as of May 12, 2019)
- Abell, David, Leonardtown MD - 427th, 429th
- Abell, Dolly Spouse, Leonardtown MD
- Arnold, Tex, Parker CO - 429th
- Arnold, Patc Spouse, Parker CO
- Beehler, JoAnn, Cottontown TN - Guest
- Bernardi, Linda Guest, Sacramento CA
- Bernardi, Cy Guest, Sacramento CA
- Bessette, John, Springfield VA - 429th
- Boyington, Pappy, Ft. Walton Beach FL - 421st
- Bray, Calvin, Morgantown WV - 427th
- Bray, Delores Spouse, Morgantown WV
- Bridges, Tom, Portland TX - 431st
- Bridges, Mary Spouse, Portland TX
- Burns, Karen Guest, Lake Charles LA
- Chapman, Lou, Lockeford CA - 421st
- Clark, Charles, Weldon CA - 431st
- Clark, Terry Spouse, Weldon CA
- Craig, Gary, Kirkland WA - 421st
- Deruiter, Dave, Sarasota FL - 429th
- Deruiter, Carole Spouse, Sarasota FL
- Desin, Allan Sacramento CA - 427th
- Desin, Diane Spouse, Sacramento CA
- Dodd, Loyd, Flatt IL - 429th
- Dodd, Ellen Spouse - Flatt IL
- Dodd, Jessica Guest, Flatt IL
- Dodd, Kole Guest, Flatt IL
- Elliott, Harold, Roseville MI - 431st
- Elliott, Gail Spouse, Roseville MI
- Ellis, Darlene Guest, Marion IN
- Fitzgerald, Thomas Berkeley, Springs WV - 427th
- Fitzgerald, Delores Spouse Berkeley, Springs WV
- Gawell, Frank, Lebanon OH - 427th
- Gawell, Joyce Spouse, Lebanon OH
- Hannibal, Oscar, Ruston LA - 427th
- Hannibal, Mary Spouse, Ruston LA
- Hansen, Harry, Racine WI - 421st
- Hansen, Kathy Spouse, Racine WI - Racine WI
- Hansen, Kelly Guest, Racine WI
- Wilson, Finn Guest, Racine WI
- Wilson, Murphy Guest, Racine WI
- Hill, Natalie, Winter Park FL
- Hoover, Pug, Grants Pass OR - 427th, 429th, 431st
- Hoover, Norma Spouse, Grants Pass OR
- Hoyle, John, Rockville MD - 431st
- Kirby, George, Medway OH - 431st
- Kruger, Ken, Reno NV - 622nd
- Larimer, Walt, Fairborn OH- 420th
- Mathews, Matt, Lake Charles LA - 420th
- Mills/Lofgren, Anne Guest , Lancaster PA
- Myers, Gary, Poquoson VA - 420th, 431st
- O'Dell, Jim, Cottontown TN - 431st
- O'Leary, Mike, El Cajon CA - 427th, 429th
- O'Leary, Barbara Spouse, El Cajon CA
- Ono, Sadami, Bellevue WA - Guest
- Patterson, Neil, Boerne TX - 431st, 427th
- Patterson, Olga Spouse, Boerne TX
- Prenatt Douglas, Sharonville OH - 420th
- Rinaldi, Gus, The Villages FL - 429th, 420th
- Rinaldi, Ann Spouse, The Villages FL
- Schleihs, Bob, Marinette WI - 431st
- Schleihs, Jan Spouse, Marinette WI
- Seay, Bob, Lock Haven PA - 4505th, 429th
- Selfridge, Pat, Kenmore WA - 421st
- Szanyi, Annella Spouse, Tupelo MS
- Veino, Clarence, Tacoma WA - 421st
- Ventura, Vic, Vacaville CA - 431st
- Ventura, Chris Spouse, Vacaville CA
- Wolford, Bill, S. Burlington VT - 429th, 421st
- Wolford, Shirley Spouse, S. Burlington VT
May 13–16, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware — final reunion
Members met the AMC Museum volunteers restoring KB-50J 49-0389 at Dover. After a 21 year run, we say goodbye.
Attendee list
- Abell, David, 427th, 429th, Leonardtown MD
- Abell, Dolly, Spouse, Leonardtown M
- Ambrose, John, 431st, McMinnville OR
- Graves, Rhonda, Guest, Amity OR
- Arnold, Edwin "Tex", 429th, Parker CO
- Arnold, Patc, Spouse, Parker CO
- Boyington, "Pappy", 421st, Ft. Walton Beach FL
- Callahan, Bonnie Spouse, Winter Garden FL
- Chapman, Lou, 421st - Lockeford CA
- Clark, Charles, 431st, Weldon CA
- Clark, Terry, Spouse, Weldon CA
- Ellis, Darlene Guest, Marion IN
- Clisby, Ted, 427th, Jacksonville FL
- Clisby, Dixie, Spouse, Jacksonville FL
- Desin, Al, 427th, Sacramento CA
- Desin, Diane, Spouse, Sacramento CA
- Dodd, Ellen Spouse, Flatt IL
- Dodd, Jessica Guest, Flatt IL
- Dodd, Kole Guest, Flatt IL
- Smith, Kenneth Guest Flatt Il
- Dohner, Jay, 429th, Myerstown PA
- Dohner, Gloria, Spouse, Myerstown PA
- Eby, Jean, Guest, Annville PA
- Elliott, Harold, 431st, Roseville MI
- Elliott, Gail, Spouse, Roseville MI
- Frazier, Bob, 429th, Pinehurst NC
- Gardner, Fred, 429th, 431st, 4505th, Livingston TX
- Gruneisen, David 429th Bellville OH
- Gruneisen, Daniel Guest, Bellville OH
- Hansen, Harry, 421st, Racine WI
- Hansen, Kathy, Spouse, Racine WI
- Henry, Eugene , 427th, 421st, Decatur GA
- Hess, Charles 421st Etowah NC
- Hill, Natalie, Spouse, 421st, Winter Park FL
- Hoover, Rolland "Pug", 427th, 429th, 431st, Grants Pass OR
- Hoover, Norma, Spouse, Grants Pass OR
- Hoover, Diane, Guest, Grants Pass OR
- Sweeney, Jim, Guest, Grants Pass OR
- Sweeney, Colin, Guest , Grant's Pass OR
- Hropvich, Charles 429th Dover DE
- Hropvich, Gloria Spouse, Dover DE
- Jacobson, Jake, 427th, 429th - Eustis FL
- Jeanmard, Frank, 431st, Baton Rouge LA
- Jeanmard, Cheryl, Spouse, Baton Rouge LA
- Kruger, Ken, 622nd - Reno NV
- Margulies, Harvey, 429th, Williamsburg VA
- Margulies, Doris, Spouse, Williamsburg VA
- Mathews, Howard "Matt", 420th, Lake Charles LA
- Burns, Karen, Guest, Lake Charles,LA
- Mathews, John Guest, Lake Charles LA
- Frazier, Carla Guest, Lake Charles LA
- Mills, Anne, Guest, Lancaster PA
- Young, JoAnn, Guest, White House TN
- Beehler, Wess, Guest, Tucson AZ
- Beehler, Terry, Guest, Tucson AZ
- Myers, Gary, 420th, 431st, Poquson VA
- O'Leary, Mike, 427th, 429th, Washington UT
- O'Leary, Barbara, Spouse, Washington UT
- Persson, Debbie, Guest, Monona WI
- Patterson, Neil 431st, 427th Boerne TX
- Patterson, Olga Spouse, Boerne TX
- Rinaldi, Gus, 429th, 420th, The Villages FL
- Rinaldi, Ann, Spouse, The Villages FL
- Robida, John, 622nd, East Hampton CT
- Schleihs, Bob, 431st, Marinette WI
- Schleihs, Jan, Spouse, Marinette WI
- Seay, Bob, 4505th, 429th - Winter Park FL
- Selfridge, Pat 421st Kenmore WA
- Tilton, Bill, 622nd, 431st Aspers PA
- Tilton, Thelma, Spouse, Aspers PA
- Veino, Tom, Guest, San Jose CA
- Ventura, Vic, 431st, Vacaville CA
- Ventura, Chris, Spouse, Vacaville CA
- Wedel, Tom 429th, 421st Crystal Lake IL
- Wedel, Eva Spouse, Crystal Lake IL
- Wolford, Bill, 429th, 421st, So. Burlington VT
- Wolford, Shirley, Spouse, So. Burlington VT
- Zuras, Pete, 429th, 420th, Melbourne FL
- Zuras, JoAnn, Spouse, Melbourne FL
- Zuras, Dean, Guest, Gaithersburg MD