RAPID CITY - Jim
Griffith grew up in South Dakota, went to Huron College and in
1950, worked for a time at KOTA Radio in Rapid City. But he joined
the Air Force and went into the pilot training
program.
He was one of the
420 men who graduated from pilot school on May 10, 1952, at five
bases scattered throughout the country. The class of 1952, known as
52-Charlie, hailed from 45 states. Five of the men were from South
Dakota.
And beginning
today, 63 members of 52-Charlie will gather in Rapid City for the
group's 55-year reunion.
"I wanted these
guys to see the Black Hills," Griffith, who organized this year's
reunion, said.
The festivities
start today at 0645 hours with a breakfast at Best Western Ramkota
Hotel & Conference Center. They will be in the area through
Saturday, with stops at Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore
National Memorial, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Black Hills
National Cemetery.
At the cemetery,
the group will honor the 187 members of 52-Charlie who have
died.
Many of the pilots
flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, as well as strategic
missions in Europe, North Africa, the North Atlantic and the
Arctic.
Griffith remained
in the military throughout his career, rising to the rank of
colonel. He now lives in Texas.
