Thank you, Lockheed employees

As printed in the Burbank Leader, Oct 27-28, 2001. By J. Ron Dickson

RE: General news reports, discovery of a WWII bomber crash site.

A poorly rendered graphic of a Lockheed P-80 is lifted on to a pole at the Empire Center mall. On the network news today they spoke of a Lockheed Ventura bomber crash site rediscovered on Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Once again, an aviation product designed and built here in Burbank has made international news.

Built by our families and neighbors in a beige factory in Burbank and sent to our allies overseas; flown by a crew of very young men who didn't want to have to fight, who lives ended suddenly on a cold and deadly mountain top in a foreign country. Now 60 years later, I am again reminded how great was the contribution of the men and women who made the aircraft that saved us from domination by others in WWII. They call it a WORLD war because that's what was at stake, the world. It was democratic freedom versus dominance by Nazis and other totalitarian governments.

The aircraft designed and built in Burbank helped turn the tide then and they help keep us safe to this day. To the people who designed and built aircraft in the Burbank area, I say thank you for being there and for what you did for us and for the world.

J. Ron Dickson

As printed in the Burbank Leader, Oct 27-28, 2001. By J. Ron Dickson