Final Reunion for the 406th Fighter Group Association

The 406th Fighter Group WWII Memorial Association held its 14th and final Reunion in Tucson over the April 27th weekend. (Note: The Arizona Daily Star will be reporting on the event in an up coming issue.)

Highlights of the three day event attended by over 80 members — including 20 surviving veterans — included pilot JC Van Bloom donating his "Bloom's Tomb" flight jacket, featuring the nose art from his famous P-47 Thunderbolt painted on the back. This well-known and popular WWII nose art icon is a flying tomb with angel wings with an image of JC sitting atop and thumbing his nose at "Der Fuehrer".

Sgt. Danny Keay of the US Army was the guest speaker at the Saturday night Banquet. His very fine presentation detailed the archeological recovery of 406th pilot Paul Mazal — still in his P-47 — discovered under ground on a German farm in 2005. Paul had been MIA, "missing in action", for over 60 years. Many remembered their fellow 406th pilot — some not able to hold back the tears. Noted military artist DW Mueller came down from Utah to present his latest artwork, featuring Paul Mazal getting ready to take off as seen in a 1944 photo, to the 406th Association.

On Friday, April 27th, the Association visited the Pima Air and Space Museum. The Museum is the home for the 406th Historical Archive. In a ceremony, the design for the 406th Permanent Display at the Museum was unveiled. To be completed in the spring of 2008, Fitch Architecture and Design, a worldwide firm with offices in Scottsdale, donated the beautiful design to the 406th. We thank Fitch for their generous support to the 406th and the Tucson community.

The final reunion was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Suites on E. Grant Road. Many Association member brought items to be donated to the 406th Archive as well as donating money for the 406th Permanent Display. It was a particularly warm and friendly gathering with old friends sharing memories from the War as well as the past 60 years.

Members also brought along things to be displayed in and around the hospitality suite, including a beautiful and very large model P-47 done by John Rawson. As many as 12 Grossetta family members — spanning 4 generations — attended the Banquet Dinner.

The gathering was the last scheduled reunion. However, it was announced that there would be a "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" once the 406th Permanent Display was completed at Pima Air and Space Museum sometime in 2008. That date will be announced later.