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Roger Heineken of the William Allen White Community Partnership presents gifts to Mr. Gin Wong, Los Angeles; Mr. Jim Meeks, Valrico, Florida; and Col. Karl Samuels, Slidell, Louisiana.
Roger Heineken accepts a gift for the White Historic Site from Gin Wong: 9th Bombardment Group (VH) History (1st, 5th and 99th Squadrons): A B-29 Superfortress Unit in World War II.
These three men flew in the William Allen White B-29 Superfortress during World War II and were honored guests this afternoon at the William Allen White House State Historic Site.
On April 27, 1945, these men and other crew members visited White’s widow, Sallie, at this residence. During WWII, the crew was in Topeka to pick up the newly anointed William Allen White B-29 (built in Wichita). They visited Emporia at that time to meet Mrs. White and also to encourage citizens to purchase war bonds.
Wong, Meeks and Samuels are attending a 9th Bombardment Group reunion in Wichita this weekend. At that reunion this morning, Roger Heineken spoke to the group as did Emporia American Legion Post #5 Commander John Sanderson who read a proclamation signed by the mayor, declaring today to be “WAW B-29 Crew Reunion Day in Emporia.”
The men made an appearance at today’s William Allen White Book Awards Ceremony. They received a standing ovation from the 900 children in attendance.
The men toured the William Allen White home 62 years after their initial visit. Site Administrator Nick Gronseth led the tour.
The B-29 crew, seated in White’s second-floor study: Karl Samuels, Gin Wong and Jim Meeks.
A circle of history. Following the tour of the home, the three WWII veterans sat down with reporters.
Jim Meeks and Karl Samuels.
The crews of the William Allen White B-29 flew 16-17 hour missions over Japan. Because of the long flights and nowhere to refuel, running out of gas was a frequent danger.
They would take shortcuts, “any way to get home,” Wong said.
“We were only supposed to be flying fast enough to be staying in the air,” Meeks added.
“One time we landed and two engines cut out,” Samuels said. “Taxiing on the runway, we ran out of gas.”
Sherry Backhus adds a tiny pink rose to Gin Wong’s lapel. Each of the men received an impromptu boutonnière from the White garden.
A display and scrapbook about the William Allen White B-29 Superfortress and the men who flew it was created by Julie Pope of the Kansas State Historic Society. The display is in the site’s Visitor’s Center.
The men who flew the White B-29 look through the scrapbook. Gin Wong was the radar navigator, Karl Samuels, a gunner, and Jim Meeks, served as a radioman.
Retired District Court Judge John Sanderson, who drove the men to Emporia, said, “These guys are so interesting to talk to. They’re really sharp. We talked about education, politics, foreign policy…”
Wong, Meeks and Samuels visited Emporia today at the invitation of the William Allen White Community Partnership, Inc. Terry Marmet and Julie Pope of the Kansas State Historic Society were on hand for the event as was Chris White Walker, editor/publisher of The Emporia Gazette and great-grandson of William Allen White.
Representatives from local veterans groups were in attendance. The three men also had a chance to see the Emporia Veterans Memorial at Soden’s Grove.
Chris Walker and Roger Heineken check out the B-29 book.
Today’s visit is also mentioned in a online story in The Emporia Gazette.
For additional photos, see related post: Legacy.
Thanks for posting this, Cheryl. These men were very gracious and fun to spend so much time with traveling from Wichita to Emporia for numerous stops on the tour of town. The children, fully unprompted, stood and applauded loud and enthusiastically. History was passed to a new generation.
And……one of those gifts was Beverley Buller’s “From Emporia: The Story of William Allen White.” I had a copy in the car for the men to look at on the drive. One asked where they could get a copy. I told them we were presenting them with a personalized autographed copy. I think they will love it.
Adults will love this book, not only children.
This is wonderful! thanks, Cheryl, for posting the pictures and information–if you go to usd253.org, you will see another picture of Beverley Buller that Cheryl shared! And, our Roger is such a dignitary…and still promoting William Allen White and Emporia! Things couldn’t be better!
Terrific story! I too have an interest in B-29 crew history in Kansas, especially the “Fogotten Air Fields” of that era. One of these fields was the Pratt Army Air Field for which I have built a website at http://www.prattarmyairfield.com for the Pratt County Historical Museum. The 40th and the 29th Bomb Groups trained there and I am curious if the 9th Bomb Group ever crossed their paths.
Wonderful story & pictures Cheryl——you recorded history for us one one time!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing — I really enjoyed the photos & the story!
And doesn’t our Roger look Dapper as ever!!!!!! What a great job he does & all that he does to support this area & community & events!
And the same goes for you Cheryl & Dave!!!!!!!!! You both do so much for this area & the whole state!!!!!!!!
(And you don’t ask for donations of $500.00 to do so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 )
This was a really great story———–& I’m so glad Rog helped make it happen & Cheryl you recorded it all!
You are kind, Flips.
We owed these WWII friends a royal welcome and a sentimental journey. By the end of the visit, you felt like you had known these men for at least a dozen years.
Each are over 80 and I was concerned that our itinerary was a little too ambitious but they seemed to have the right energy to enjoy the day.
I asked that when they return home to Louisiana, Florida and California to be advocates for the White legacy and for the historic site.
The three Vets were just really nice men. They knew each other well – they keep in touch at their annual reunions – so they joked around and teased each other.
And Roger… this visit wouldn’t have occurred without Roger. He got people involved in planning this and in bringing the men here. Roger made it happen. And what a fine impression these men must have made on the youngsters at the WAW Book Award Ceremony.
Each of these men had family at the Wichita Reunion who stayed behind. I did meet Mrs. Wong there briefly when John Sanderson and I joined the men for breakfast. This Daily News and Beverley Buller’s book and Jan Biles’ feature to run later in the Topeka Capital Journal will help these three share the day with family and friends.
I just realized the B-29 crew visit was on the 29th. Any numerologists out there?
You know I lived in Emporia for nearly 19 years of my life and I don’t remember really being taught anything about W.A.W.. You have intrigued me and I will be looking up what I can now. Thanks for opening my eyes.