Kassel Mission Represented at the 8th Air Force Reunion

The four-day 8th AFHS Reunion ( Oct. 1-5 2025 ) drew over 300 attendees representing about 30 Bomb Groups and was led by President Paul Tibbets IV, whose approachable style set a positive tone throughout. The event was filled with energy, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to preserving 8th Air Force history.

‍Highlights

• Attendance & Purpose: With around 800  8th AFHS members today, the organization continues to stress its mission — to remember, record, and share the stories of those who served. Leadership was both capable and down-to-earth, creating a warm, collaborative environment.
• Speakers: Due to the government shutdown, two scheduled active-duty Generals were replaced by retired Generals who delivered solid presentations. Evening speakers, including a talk on Space Command, were well received overall. Dr. Hattie Hearn, curator of the Imperial American Air Museum in Duxford, spoke at the General membership meeting on Saturday and shared the things they are doing. Recall our visit in September of 2024 for those that went on the trip. We hope to develop a stronger connection to this museum.
• Hospitality Suites: Ten Bomb Groups hosted suites, serving as informal hubs for connection. The 351st Bomb Group graciously shared their suite with KMHS, giving us the chance to showcase the Kassel Mission story. Thanks to JP Bertram for preparing the professional flyers, posters, and QR-coded materials — which drew much praise. We sold a few books, distributed over 50 flyers, and made meaningful new connections.
• Networking: Met with several Bomb Group Historical Societies Presidents and communications leads — all facing similar challenges and working to get more “Gen 3” engagement. Many are considering merging content with the 8th AFHS’s new archival project to preserve their group histories, which we need to consider.
• Mighty 8th Museum Collaboration: A key takeaway was a productive one-on-one with Scott Loehr, CEO of the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. He reaffirmed support for a future Kassel Mission exhibit as the museum undergoes expansion. The 2026 Reunion will now be held in San Antonio, with Savannah returning in 2027.
• Day Tours: Excursions included the Garden of the Gods Jeep tour, Air Force Academy visit, and a local air museum tour,— each offering unique insights and connections to aviation heritage and the scenic outdoors of the region.
• Special Recognition: To all the terrific people from the 351st BGHS, so generous and thoughtful to share their suite with us!.  Also…..Great to see Kiera Miner make the incredible effort, fresh from her trip to Germany to join us — a nice surprise and a valued presence. Lastly, many thanks to Jim Baynham for his generous contribution that allowed us to participate and showcase the Kassel Mission to the event attendees.

‍In Summary

At the reunion we achieved our KMHS goals — deepening KMHS visibility, building bridges with other groups, advancing the museum exhibit discussion, and reinforcing the importance of keeping our shared history alive. A strong case exists for broader KMHS participation in future reunions.