IRON GATE PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL RECEPTION NOTICE

Date: Thursday, 4 December 2008

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Attire: Business Suit or Jacket and Tie

Place: Soldier’s Sailor’s Marine’s Airmen’s Club, 283 Lexington Ave. between 36th & 37th Streets

Reception: Hors d’ Oeuvres, Buffet Dinner, Drinks and Open Bar - $50.00 per person


President’s Message:

This reception will be held in honor of Major General J. Stanley Holtoner, Father of Edwards Air Force Base, a long time leader of Iron Gate and a Director of the Soldier’s, Sailor’s, Marine’s and Airmen’s Club, to which the proceeds will be donated. For his distinguished service to the United States of America and his engineering leadership in R&D as Chief of the Aircraft Branch that produced the technological advancements that made possible the rapid modernization of the post WWII Air Force with jet powered fighters, bombers, helicopters, and the missile concepts in service today. In the final analysis of proposals for an advanced strategic bomber, he told Deputy Chief of Staff for Development, Major General Curtis E. LeMay, that Boeing’s B-47 was the best choice. Of the 2042 made, it was the RB-47E/H reconnaissance bombers that flew combat over denied territory of the Soviets from 8 May 1954 until 1967. The sleek configuration of the B-47 proved a major success, becoming the standard for the B-52 and jet transports, an impact that affected life around the world. During this time Colonel Holtoner also led the R&D effort for the first single-seat radar interceptor, the North American F-86D, in which he later set a world record of 690.118 mph over a 100 km closed course at Edwards AFB and was awarded the Thompson Trophy.

As Father of Edwards AFB, CA, he ranks among the world’s top Experimental Test Pilots. He flew the Bell X-1, was No. 9 to join the 1,000 mph Club, was No. 5 to fly the F-104, was among the first to fly the new planes at Edwards, the XB-47, the first B-52, the B-66, all of the great Century Series fighters, including the F-107, the jet and turboprop transports, and all of the helicopters. He was ordered to Edwards in January 1952 and in December 1952 became the Commanding General.

The directors of the SSMAC share values with Iron Gate and our support will aid young Service Personnel and Veterans visiting New York. The SSMAC was created in 1919 by WWI ambulance driver Mrs. Francis Rogers, Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and ladies of New York. Two big townhouses were joined to create an affordable meeting place for heroes returning from France, only 5 blocks south of Grand Central on Lexington Ave. While we remember that “Day of Infamy” on December 7, 1941, we will aid the SSMAC and USO in service to our Military Personnel. A Broadway Vocalist will accompany Musical Composer Hank Fellows, who will conduct a Patriotic performance for us. We are grateful to Hazel Cathers and John Camillieri for hosting Iron Gate’s Memorial Reception.

Very Respectfully, Frank Hayes