A HISTORY OF AFTAC ON THE WEST COAST by Bob Fitzgerald

CURRENT HISTORY OF THE WCC + AFTAC IN SACRAMENTO PRIOR TO 1999
Most of the History was culled from Bob Fitzgerald's files of our newsletters + some input from Joe Johnson
Click here for a Printer Friendly Version of our history in Adobe.pdf format.

04 Dec2007: New officers elected at the WCC General Business Meeting at McClellan Park.

WCC Officers - Dec 2007-Nov 2009:

Jack Allison, President & Director
Dennis Nolan, Vice President
Ken Denbleyker, Chmn. of the Board
Orville Pritchard, Asst. Chmn. of the Board
Dave Tarquino, Director at Large
Charles Penn, Treasurer

John "Butch" Kemna, Asst. Treasurer
Ken Breitwieser, Secretary
Bob Baker, Asst. Secretary
Dave Price, Membership Chmn.
Dale Klug, Newsletter Editor
Bob Fitzgerald, Webmaster & Asst. Editor

08 Nov2007: 4th Annual Veteran's Day Dinner Social held at the Buggy Whip Restaurant in Sac.
NL Oct2007: "Election of Officers" Nomination form + Vet's Dinner Social form in this issue.
NL Jul2007: CO.Reunion report + May Picnic photos + Way Back When + CMSgt Leon Nargoski's passing.
19 May2007: 3rd Annual Spring Picnic held at Foothill Farms Community Park.
NL Apr2007: Passing of 'Bart' Carter, Bill Auth, Bill Drake, Stephen Horne (son of Lew) & Bob Lyman.
Also sign-up form for the May picnic & regis forms for the June Reunion in Colorado.
NL Jan2007: Vet's soc. photos + passing of Frank Kunz, Dick Payne, Bette Henner, Jim Hall & Jane Dettmer.
Also info & regis forms for the June Reunion in Colorado.
11 Nov2006: 3rd Annual Veteran's Day Dinner Social held at the Buggy Whip Restaurant in Sac.
NL Oct2006: Photos from the Sac. Boat Cruise & 'Way Back When' + 'Articles of Assoc.' revision notice
+ passing of William Braukman & Lorelei Jean Price (dau. of Dave Price).
26 Aug2006: Sacramento River Boat Cruise.
NL Jul2006: Picnic photos + passing of Richard 'Dick' Lema, Robert Justman & Lester Autry 'Gene' Landrum.
20 May2006: 2nd Annual Spring Picnic held at Foothill Farms Community Park.
NL Apr2006: "Way Back When" item about Det 448 Sep 1967-Sep 1968.
NL Jan2006: Membership renewal period goes to Calendar year + Vet's Dinner photos +
+ passing of Ernest Henner Jr., 'Lupe' Martinez & Georgia Magness (longtime 1155th Secretary).
06 Dec2005: Newly elected officers conduct the WCC General Business Meeting at McClellan Park.

WCC Officers - Dec 2005-Nov 2007:

Joe Johnson, President & Director
Dennis Nolan, Vice President
Bob Fitzgerald, Chmn. of the Board
Orville Pritchard, Asst. Chmn. of the Board
Ken Denbleyker, Director at Large
Charles Penn, Treasurer

11 Nov2005: 2nd Annual Veteran's Day Dinner Social held at the Buggy Whip Restaurant in Sac.
NL Oct2005: Results of the Election + passing of Col. Tom Ciambrone, Bill Peek, Col. B.R. Kuntz &
Mike Sepelyak + Add'l reunion photos.
06 Sep2005: Election of Officers held at the General Business Meeting
NL Jul2005: Reunion recap & photos plus nomination of officers form published in this issue.
12-15 May2005: AFTAC Worldwide Reunion held at the Holiday Inn NE in Sacramento.
Reunion Co-Chairmen were Al Pavik & Jack Allison.
NL Mar2005: Registration forms for the May 2005 Worldwide Reunion + passing of Chief Frank Goodreau.
NL Jan2005: Photos of the Nov '04 Vet's Day Dinner + passing of Anne McElhaney.
11 Nov2004: 1st Annual Veteran's Day Dinner Social held at the Buggy Whip Restaurant in Sac.
NL Oct2004: New WCC mailing address P.O. Box published + photos of the May picnic + reunion prelim
agenda & hotel regis form + proposed change to the Articles of Assoc.
15 May2004: "Spring Fling" picnic held at Foothill Farms Community Park.
NL Apr2004: "Way Back When" article by Mike Long on our history + passing of Norris Johnson.
NL Jan2004: New column "Way Back When" articles solicited + WCC website nominated for a
Sacramento "DOTTIE" award + photos from 'Fall Social'.
25 Oct2003: "Fall Social" dinner at the Sheepherder Inn.
23 Oct2003: "www.AFTACwest.org" website changed by Bob to patriotic theme w/help of Dane Wilson.
06 Oct2003: Original WCC "www.AFTACwest.org" website published by Bob Fitzgerald.
NL Oct2003: Results of the "Election of Officers" is announced in this issue + Announcement of new
WCC Website "www.AFTACwest.org" created by Bob Fitzgerald.

WCC Officers - Oct 2003-Nov 2005:

Rod Hinkle, President & Director
Joe Johnson, Vice President
Ken Denbleyker, Chmn. of the Board
Dave Tarquino, Asst. Chmn. of the Board
Orville Pritchard, Director at Large
Bart Carter, Treasurer

Charley Penn, Asst. Treasurer
Marge Iske, Secretary
Ken Breitwieser, Asst. Secretary
Danny Beach, Membership Chmn.
Dale Klug, Newsletter Editor
Bob Fitzgerald, Webmaster & Asst. Editor

02 Sep2003: "Election of Officers" held at the WCC Business Meeting at McClellan Park.
NL Aug2003: New "Depot Fallout" newsletter first page format redesigned. Front page changes now
include a "Chapter Officers" box with names & contact info. + Passing of Jimmy Mays.
25 Apr2003: "Spring Fling" Golfing and Dinner Social at Mather Golf Course.
NL Feb2003: WCC VP, Joe Johnson, selected "AFTAC Alumni of the Year" by Florida HQ Chapter.
Passing of Jack Deets & Andy Quisenberry + photos of the Winter Social.
16 Nov2002: "Winter Social" dinner at the Sheepherder Inn.
NL Oct2002: Notice of upcoming May 2003 Reunion in Florida + photos of the Spring Garden party +
Passing of Tim Burns & John Madden 10 Aug2002: "Summer Get-together - Clear Lake Cruise!" lunch on the Clear Lake Queen.
NL Jul2002: Recap of the Garden Party + Passing of Bill Johnston & John R Johnson, Jr's wife Anne.
18 May2002: "Spring Get-together - Garden Party" at Al & Ann Pavik's.
NL Apr2002: Obit of past 1155th Cmdr & MCL Dir, Col. Dewey Weiford Jr. + photos of the Winter Social.
09 Feb2002: "Winter Social Get-Together" at the Luau Gardens
NL Jan2002: First issue of the newsletter that included photos. (03Nov2001 event)
04 Dec2001: "Business Meeting & Social" at Al & Ann Pavik's home.
03 Nov2001: "Fall Social" dinner at Cafe' Vienna in West Sacramento.
NL Oct2001: Results of the "Election of Officers" balloting is announced in this issue.

WCC Officers - Oct 2001-Sep 2003:

Al Pavik, President & Director
Joe Johnson, Vice President
Rod Hinkle, Chmn. of the Board
Orville Pritchard, Director at Large

Bart Carter, Treasurer & Membership
Frank Goodreau, Asst. Treasurer
Marge Iske, Secretary
Dale Klug, Newsletter Editor

NL Aug2001: Special one-page "Election Info" issue.
A list of the nominations for offices and post-card ballots were included.
NL Jul2001: First issue of the newly named "Depot Fallout" newsletter. "Name Our Newsletter"
contest won by Bill Stephan. + photos of the Apr '01 Dinner + passing of Jim Duvall
(aka SMSgt Jim Brest).
07 Apr2001: "Alumni Meet to Eat" dinner at Luau Gardens. New banner for Apr newsletter.
NL Apr2001: First issue of the WCC Newsletter that included a banner with TOD/1155th/WFO &
"Mission Accomplished" logos + Info about a proposed Amtrak & "Floating White House" boat trip
on the boat "Potomac" + New WCC Membership cards + Passing of CMSgt Richard E. (Oz) Osburn.
NL Jan2001: Amendment to the AoA accepted by members' balloting. "Name Our Newsletter"
contest announced + Passing of Col Ronald A Bird & Prosper E DeBee.
01 Dec2000: Harm Aning, Dir At Large, moves back east. Bob Fitzgerald appointed to fill his term.
NL Sep2000: Two amendments to "Articles of Assoc." (AoA) proposed with ballots included in NL +
Recap of the 1st Annual Picnic (Jun 25) & a recap of the SEO Reunion (Jul 18).
25 Jun2000: "First Annual Picnic Pot-luck" at Orangevale Community Park.
NL Jun2000: Recap of Apr Clear Lake Boat Cruise outing & recap of May Buster Jangle Reunion + notice
of an upcoming SEO reunion & and the 1st Annual Picnic in Jun
29 Apr2000: "Spring Get-Together" with lunch on a cruise on the Clear Lake Queen.
NL Mar2000: Undated 2nd issue of the new newsletter + notice of a new WCC mailing address.
NL Oct1999: The very first "West Coast Chapter Newsletter" published.
Contained recaps of the TOD In-activation Ceremony & our reunion + recap of the formation of the
West Coast Chapter of the AFTAC Alumni Association + signups: 181 members (incl. 38 Life members)
15 Sep1999: Final "TOD In-activation Ceremony" in Russell Bldg at McClellan. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
02 Aug1999: First "WCC Business Meeting" held.
Membership Chmn, Harm Aning, & Newsletter Editor, Dale Klug, appointed.
19 Apr1999: "AFTAC Alumni Assoc. - West Coast Chapter" (WCC) formed.
Officers elected and Articles of Association (AoA) approved.

WCC Officers - Apr 1999-Sep 2001:

Joe Johnson, President & Director
George Thompson, Vice President
Jack Allison, Chairman of the Board
Harm Aning*, Dir. At Large (DAL)

Bart Carter, Treasurer & Membership
Dale Klug, Secretary
Bob Fitzgerald, Asst. Membership Chmn / DAL*
*Harm moved to St. Louis & was replaced by Bob in Dec 2000.

HISTORY PRIOR TO FORMATION OF THE WEST COAST CHAPTER
08-11 Apr1999: "AFTAC Reunion" held in Sacramento at the Holidome (Holiday Inn Northeast).
Reunion Chairman was Joe Johnson with CMSgt Susan Spencer as TOD Liason.
09 Apr1999: Public "TOD In-activation Ceremony" in the Coast Guard Hangar at McClellan AFB.
NL Dec1998: "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" Newsletter with reunion regis forms & info,
Edited by Bob Fitzgerald, with lots of help from CMSgt Sue Spencer, & pubished by TOD.

1995 - 1998 ?? (Please click here to send any info you have to your WCC Webmaster.)

09-12 Jun1994: AFTAC/WFO/1155th/TOD Reunion held at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento.
Reunion Chairman was Lew Horne.
NL Feb1994: Newsletter edited & published by Bob Fitzgerald with reunion regis info & forms.

1986 - 1994 ?? (Please click here to send any info you have to your WCC Webmaster.)

06-08 Jun1985: "2nd Biannual" AFTAC Reunion held in Sacramento at the Red Lion Hotel.
Reunion Chairman was Lew Horne.
NL Apr1985: VOL 4 NO 2 of a NEWSLETTER published by Lew Horne. (I can't find VOL 4 NO 1 ... bf)
01 Jul1984: 1155th TOS becomes the "Technical Operations Division (TOD)".
NL Feb1984: VOL 3 NO 1 called "WFO/1155th TOS REUNION NEWSLETTER"
Edited & published by Lew Horne.
NL Jul1983: VOL 2 NO 4 of the WFO/1155th TOS Reunion Newsletter with reunion recap.
Edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.
17-19 Jun1983: First "AFTAC Reunion" held in Sacramento at the Holiday Inn Northeast.
Co-Chairmen were Bart Bias & Mike Long with help from Al Pavik, Jack Allison & Lew Horne.
NL Jun1983: VOL 2 NO 3 of the WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.
NL Apr1983: VOL 2 NO 2 of the WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.
NL Jan1983: VOL 2 NO 1 of the WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.
NL Dec1982: VOL 1 NO 2 of the WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.
This issue contained a group photo taken at Team 407 on Jun 2, 1959 with names listed.
NL Sep1982: VOL 1 NO 1 of the WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
First "WFO ALUMNI NEWSLETTER" edited & published by Mike Long & Bart Bias.

1960 - 1982 ?? (Please click here to send any info you have to your WCC Webmaster.)

01 Jul1960: WFO becomes the "1155th Technical Operations Squadron (1155th TOS)".
?? 1958: "McClellan Central Laboratory (MCL)" established at McClellan AFB as part of WFO.
Fall 1950: "Western Field Office (WFO)" established at McClellan.
1948-1950: TDY's to McClellan from personnel of the "1009th Special Weapons Squadron".

Note: Most all of our "Depot Fallout", "WFO/1155th/TOD", "WFO Alumni", and other newsletters, have been converted into Adobe.pdf documents and are available from links on our 'Fallout' web page. I hope someday to scan and convert the rest of those of which I have original copies in my files and then publish them to our web site as well. So please check our 'Fallout' page periodically... Bob Fitzgerald, WCC Webmaster & Asst. NL Editor.

If you have information related to this subject or material presented here, please E-mail the WCC Webmaster.