Class 55-Q presents memorial plaque to Vance

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Flying cadet Albert Nichols received his pilot wings at Vance Air Force Base about the same time his fiancé was graduating from Enid High School. Fifty-three years later, now retired Air Force Maj. Al Nichols brought that same young lady, now his wife of almost 53 years, back to Vance for a Class 55-Quebec reunion. 

Class 55-Q began training with 462 students at Lackland AFB, Texas, in the summer of 1954. Mr. Nichols was one of the 84 multi-engine track students that were assigned to Vance for training in the TB-25 Mitchell. Other multi-engine members of 55-Q went to Reese AFB, Texas, and Goodfellow AFB, Texas, for training. The single-engine students headed for Williams AFB, Ariz., Greenville AFB, Miss., and Webb AFB, Texas.
 
Twenty-five of the original 352 graduates of 55-Q attended the three-day reunion in Enid, Okla., and presented a memorial plaque to Vance during a ceremony held June 12 at the air park on base. 

The ceremony began with the Vance Silver Talon Honor Guard presenting the colors and Chaplain (Capt.) David Martinez giving the invocation. Mr. Nichols gave opening remarks, 55-Q student Ernest Boehler presented a poem about the American flag, and Col. Richard A. Klumpp Jr., 71st Flying Training Wing commander, spoke to the gathering. 

"As we dedicate this monument to the memory of members of Class 55-Q, I urge everyone here to reflect on what it takes to remain free in today's uncertain world," said Colonel Klumpp. "It is people like you that made the beacon of freedom continue to shine brightly throughout our nation and in countries that have chosen democracy as their way of life." 

Colonel Klumpp and Mr. Nichols then unveiled the 1,500-pound memorial plaque, mounted on a concrete pad between the T-6 Texan and T-41 Mescalero at the air park. 

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Michael Gilbert then played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipe. 

The plaque contains the names of 55-Q cadets that trained at Vance. "Of those 84 men, 19 have already passed on," said Mr. Nichols. He said that 55-Q has placed two other memorial plaques, but this was the first time at a base that is still active.