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JANE COLLINS, Wife of Col. Ken Collins
7-11-2006

The aviation community is deeply saddened by the loss of Jane Collins, wife of Col. Ken Collins, USAF (Ret) and former CIA A-12 pilot for Project Oxcart at Area 51 and Operation Blackshield at Kadena, Okinawa.

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Bob "Armo" Armentrout
UPDATE - 22 November 2005

Bob arrived home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. He's on oxygen all the time for now, but doing good and very happy to be home for Thanksgiving.

12 November 2005

Dixie Lee, Armo's daughter, reports that our Groom Lake 1129th SAS buddy survived major surgery on October 26 for an aneurism. Dixie reports that he was taken off the ventilator and one chest tube removed yesterday. She reports that he was conscious and talking last night and his recovery is coming along faster than any of the family (or the docs) anticipated. Best news of all - he came through all of this with his sense of humor intact. Many of us enjoyed Armo's presence at our Roadrunner reunion earlier in the month of October and plan to do so again at the 20th Roadrunners Internationale reunion in October 2007. Hang in there, Armo!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Thanks, Dixie Lee, for keeping us informed.

More about Bob Armentrout

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Pat Halloran

7 June 2005 Update

Good News! Pat is back home catching up his E-mail after only 4 1/2 days in the hospital. Goes to show you can't keep a good man down. He will be travel restricted for 6 weeks, which means we won't see him at the Blackbird reunion in Reno this weekend.

3 June 2005

The U-2 and Blackbird families were both shocked and relieved to hear Pat Halloran under went open heart surgery today and is reported to be doing fine. He had just returned from the 4080th SRS reunion at Del Rio. Experiencing mild chest pains the past few days during his daily walks, Pat went to his doctor who discovered blockage that required immediate double bypass surgery. The hospital will not release information to other than family, however for those wishing to send a card or flowers, the hospital information is: Memorial Hospital, 1400 E. Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO. 80909. He is in room #4530 B and his bedside phone is 719-365-5945. Pat's home address is 3791 Blue Merion Court, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. We pray for a quick recovery.

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J.D. HUGHES

Mother of Honor

The 35th Annual Clark County Mother of Honor Awards Program was held at the Gold Coast Hotel on Sunday, May 1, 2005. Mayor Oscar Goodman provided the Official Greeting and Paula Francis was the Awards Emcee. The 35th Annual Clark County Mother of Honor Awards Program was held at the Gold Coast Hotel on Sunday, May 1, 2005. Mayor Oscar Goodman provided the Official Greeting and Paula Francis was the Awards Emcee.

J.D. Hughes, wife of Roadrunner Bob Hughes was presented the prestigious Inspirational Clark County Mother of Honor Award. Linda Fowler, daughter of J. D. Hughes, submitted her mother for the award and wrote " A Dedication to J.D. Hughes, Mother of the Year 2005" that can be found at the Dedication link below.

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22 April 2005

Ilah Nelson

Roadrunners Internationale joins the Desert Wings in recognizing Ilah Nelson's tireless contribution as a volunteer of the Blackbird Air Park in Palmdale and the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Museum at Edwards AFB. While caring for A-12 Article #606929 and U-2D Article #56-6721, you have shown these two historical planes the same affection and respect as did we while they were in our care at Area 51. We wholeheartedly thank you Ilah.

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10 November 2004

John Parangosky

John Parangosky was not a Roadrunner, though he should have been.  We would be remiss if we didn't inform his many Roadrunner friends and former associates of his passing on 9 September 2004.  John was a former CIA employee who helped manage the Corona Project, the nation's first photo reconnaissance satellite system. John served as a 1st lieutenant in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He joined the CIA in 1958 as a program management specialist in high-performance operational systems in the U-2 project. After leaving the CIA, John consulted aerospace and government reconnaissance programs.  In 1997, John was honored by the CIA as one of its 50 "Trailblazers." In 2000, the National Reconnaissance Office recognized him on  its 40th anniversary as one of the pioneers in "national reconnaissance." Godspeed John on you final flight. 

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7 December 2004 -
We are happy to pass on to you that Velma is home and doing fine.

4 November 2004

Velma Weiss

Velma Weiss, widow of Werner Weiss, CIA during Projects Oxcart and Blackshield, will undergo back surgery on 5 November for injury caused by a fall. Velma's Roadrunner friends wish her a speedy recovery. Velma is in Room C447-C of the Del Webb Memorial Hospital in Sun City West, Arizona.

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7 December 2004 -
At last report Tom is home and recovering nicely. He is back at his computer, but hasn't fully recovered his speech as yet.

20 October 2004

Tom Pugh

RI learned only today that Roadrunner Tom Pugh recently suffered a stroke. We are relieved to know that Tom is on the mend and take great pleasure in being able to assist Tom's daughter in letting his friends know his progress towards recovery. The following message is being relayed to you for his daughter:

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 To All Habus and Friends of Habus,

       Another update below from Tom's daughter.

Hi Rich and all.... Tom came home for a sleepover Saturday night - kind of a trial to see how he would do at home.  It was GREAT!  He adjusted quite well though still can't talk his recovery is remarkable.  We expect to have him home this coming Thursday, Nov 4, and are still looking for a rehab facility closer to home. 

My dog Colonel (named after my dad) was overwhelmed with excitement to see my dad.  Darn near knocked him over - would NOT leave him alone.  Dad got a big kick out of that.

All for now....will keep you posted!  As dad says often - ops normal...or getting there anyway!

Cathy Smith

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15 October 2004

Roadrunner Gary Powers, Jr. invites his fellow Roadrunners to participate in the estate sale of Mrs. Francis Gary Powers in Las Vegas this date. Information is available at:Link to Estate Sale

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3 March 2004

Roadrunners Internationale is relieved to announce that Bob Hughes is recovering well in the Valley Hospital in Las Vegas from a double heart by-pass and repair of the aorta valve.

For those who don't recall, Bob was one of our F-101 crew chiefs at the ranch. We wish Bob a swift recovery. As more news becomes available, it will be posted below.

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22 November 2003

Marty Knutson Honored

Martin A. "Marty" Knutson, former site manager of the NASA Dryden Research Center at Edwards AFB, California, Roadrunner and former U-2 pilot is one of six people named to receive the Elder Statesman of Aviation Award for 2003 from Arlington, Va.-based National Aeronautic Assn. Other award winners are Former Air Transport Ass. President/CEO Carol B. Hallett, FAA Administrator David R Hinson, and USAF Brig. Gen. (ret) Paul W. Tibbets, Jr who piloted the Enola Gay and after retirement from USAF, became chairman of Ohio-based Executive Jet Aviation.

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Doug Nelson To Be Honored

Douglas T. Nelson, Major General, USAF (Ret), has been selected for induction into The Arizona Aerospace Foundation’s Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 3, 2004.

This is a state-mandated program administered by The Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona, and its Foundation. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed by The Foundation and is reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to aviation and to Arizona. The induction ceremony and dinner is scheduled from 1800 to 2200 on April 3, and will be held at the Pima Air and Space Museum, 7000 East Valencia Road, Tucson. The cost for the ceremony and dinner is $100 per person. It is notable that of all the Honorees, only Generals Nelson and Haupt were associated with the SR-71 program. For reservations/or contributions to Doug’s induction, please call Julee Dawson, Deputy Director-Communications at the museum at 520-618-4804, email jdawson@pimaair.org

On April 2-3, 2004, the museum will host the eighth SR-71 Blackbird Symposium, “Keeping The Spirit Of The SR-71 Blackbird Alive,” to coincide with Doug’s induction.

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31 May 2003
LOU SCHALK

Lou Schalk was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame this date. Louise Schalk accepted the award in Lou's behalf. Writeups, brochures and numerous photos provided by Roadrunner Bill Fox can be viewed at the web page of Lou Schalk. Click here to Link to Lou's Web Page