In 1998, my wife and I made a trip to west Texas and stopped by Ft. Bliss. I renewed my memories of the base and where the 168th was located. We found that Lt. Al Mestan (now Maj. Retired) still lived in El Paso and we spent a very pleasant evening meal together swapping stories.
I am aware of five Skysweepers that have survived the years. One, in 1998, was at a museum in Ft. Lewis,Washington, near Tacoma. Another one is at Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Rock Island, IL. In August, 2005, my wife and I stopped by Rock Island and I renewed old friendships. It was the first sweeper I had seen since 1954 and it brought back memories. The weapon was in fairly good shape. The only wear I saw was a flat tire, the elevation wheel was gone, and the vibrating post (nutator) in the center of the antenna was missing. I have been told that a third Skysweeper is located (in bad condition) in front of the National Guard Armory in Carson City, Nevada. And I have been told that a fourth one is on display at the Soldiers Monument in downtown Indianapolis, Ind. (In 2007, Wayne Smith told me that the Indianapolis Sweeper is no longer there). John Colburn sent me a picture of a fifth one located in a museum assoicated with Aberdeen Proving Ground. In 1998 I was told by personnel in the Ft. Bliss museum that they had pieces of three Skysweeper that they hoped to combine to get one complete unit. I have not heard that this project has been completed.
I found the 168th lapel pin shown above among my memorabilia. The first gun decal shown above came from a 1950's era Renwal Skysweeper model kit that I bought on Ebay. The second gun decal was e-mailed to me by John Colburn who had it copied years ago by an artist from one of his guns in Japan. John says that the decals were on the guns when they received them. Remember the decals we had on the front of each of our 168th Skysweepers? I seem to remember that it was of a "witch" on her broom, clearing the skys of enemy airplanes. Does anyone have a picture of that decal? I seem to remember the 168th's witch was riding her broom, not swinging it around through the air.
Remember the monster prime movers, the M8E2's, that used to pull the Skysweepers? Does anyone know if one still exists and where, like in a museum, or at an armory? I don't seem to remember seeing one before I got out Spring, 1954. The M8E2's must have become available after that.
Some 168th History
Skysweeper Personnel
Some Old AAA Pictures
Coat of Arms
Anyone interested please get in touch with me.
Al Spinks
aspinks3@triad.rr.com
3129 Sutton Place
Burlington, NC 27215
336-584-8134
*********
