IKE GALLOOP 1936 - 2019
A TRIBUTE TO IKE GALLOP
We have lost a very good friend to our museum. Ike Gallop passed away. He was a great volunteer and docent. He took care of maintenance issues without being asked. He was our first docent to officially retire. He played a major part in the restoring of the last B-36 Bomber to be built in Fort Worth. This aircraft is now at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Ariz.
Ike served in the Navy until he transferred to the Air Force. He was a Crew Chief on
B-47 Bombers, B-52 Bombers, and KC-135 Tankers. He retired from the Air Force at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas, stayed and raised his family.
Ike just wanted to help his family, Church, and the museum or anyone that needed it.
IKE WAS A DIRECTOR AND VOLUNTEER AT OUR MUSEUM
IKE THANK YOU GOD BLESS YOU REST IN PEACE
IKE GALLOP WAS A FIREFIGHTER
Ike was a volunteer firefighter for 15 years with the City of Edgecliff Village, Texas.
IKE WAS A REAL FRIEND OF BIG RED
IKE WORKING ON BIG RED
IKE WORKING ON BIG RED
IKE WORKING ON BIG RED
IKE WORKING ON BIG RED
Ike was one hell of a mechanic and he loved to work on Big Red. He got sick and could not work on her anymore. She would not be running today, if it had not been for the knowledge and hard work of Ike and Anthony. They were a team working the first year.
JOE SIMPSON 1921 - 2019
JOE'S WWII WAR YEARS
Joe Simpson was born and raised on a farm in Texas. He was married to his High school sweethart Billie for over 74 years. He was drafted in 1944 and went to Ranger school, was injured in training , so he was sent back to the regular Army. He was being trained to fight against the Japanese, but was to Europe to fight the Germans. He sailed on the "Queen Mary" with thirty six thousand men.
Joe fought from France to Germany with the "84" Infantry Division carrying a BAR rifle.
JOE IN BOOT CAMP - CALLED HIM "BIG TEX"
JOE ON QUEEN MARY
JOE IN "THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE"
Joe and his unit was crossing the flooded Roer River in small 10 man boats. His boat was caught in the current and stopped across the river in front of a German machine gun. The Germans opened up on them and all the men in Joe's boat were killed. Joe was holding all the rifles in the back of boat and was knocked into the water. Joe fought to the Elbe River where the Germans were surrendering by the thousands. Joe was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service.
JOE IS CARRING A "BAR" LIKE THE ONE HE CARRIED ACROSS EUROPE
JOE CROSSED THE RIVER IN A BOAT LIKE THIS AND LOST ALL HIS MEN.
THE B-36 BOMBER THAT JOE STARTED HIS CAREER ON AND THEN HELPED RESTORE IT
JOE SIMPSON AFTER THE WAR
Joe came home and built a home for his wife and family on the Northside of Fort Worth. He went back to building aircraft again. He hired out at the Bomber Plant and started building the B-36 Bomber. B-36 was the largest production bomber ever built. He then worked on the B-58 Bomber the fast bomber ever built. He then worked on the F-111 swing wing Fighter and the F-16 Fighter. He retired while working on the F-16 after forty years of service.
JOE STARTED WITH THE B-36 AND ENDED WITH THE B-36
JOE STARTED WORKING WITH THE B-36 RESTORATION TEAM IN 1988. HE AND A GROUP OF MEN STARTED TO RESTORE THE LAST B-36 BOMBER BUILT AT THE PLANT TO BE Put ON DISPLAY IN A MUSEUM IN FORT WORTH. HE WAS A DIRECTOR OF THe B-36 PEACEMAKER MUSEUM WHEN HE PASSED.
walt douglas 1923 - 2018
WALT DOUGLAS 1944
Walt's Bio here
WALT'S B-17 BOMBER AND HIS CREW
Walt's Unit here.
WALT'S ORDERS FOR HIS DFC MEDAL
Walt's Awards here