| Leben & Wirken (Englisch) |
GEORGE EDWARD ESSER
09-07-1925 – 08-31-2006
TIMELINE
1925 Only child of GEORGE ESSER (11/02/1902 – 08/28/1972) and RUBYE ELLEN MAGEE ESSER (07/18/1903 - 03/10/1990); GEORGE EDWARD ESSER was born in San Antonio, TX.
1942 Graduated THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, San Antonio, TX.
1943 Attended TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY – Majored in Civil Engineering.
1943 -46 Aviation Cadet, Bombadier, Navigator, Gunner. Highest grade held – 2nd Lt. Stationed at Santa Ana, CA, Carlsbad, NM, Las Vegas, NV, Chatham Field, GA and McDill AFB, FL.
1944 Attended FORT HAYS STATE COLLEGE, Kansas – Aviation Student.
1945 Married DOROTHY ANN DILLON (10/20/1925 – 04/02/2010) in San Antonio, TX on January 26th.
She was the only child of WILLIAM ORVILLE DILLON (08/081903 – 02-/28/1955) and OLIVE HALE DILLON (06-13-1903 – 07-22-1963).
1946 GEORGE EDWARD ESSER, JR. (1-31-46 - ).
1946 – 47 Military Parachutist, Glider Trooper, Heavy Machine Gun Platoon Leader. Highest grade held – 2nd Lt. Stationed at McDill AFB, FL, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Bragg, NC, and Brooks Field, San Antonio, TX.
1947 Honorably discharged.
1947 Attended ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY, San Antonio, TX – Majored in marketing.
1948 – 49 Sold wholesale and retail livestock feed. Raised turkeys, broilers, had a laying flock of hens, operated
a service station and also worked part-time with heavy equipment in Hays, KS.
1950 MICHEL DALE ESSER (09-01-1950 - ).
1952 Began hydroplane boat racing in Lubbock, TX.
1950 – 52 Returned to active duty U.S.A.F., as Armament Officer. Served in Kunsan, Korea and Iwakune, Japan with Light Bomb Groups with rank of Captain. He served with the 452nd Bombardment Wing,
729th Bombardment Squadron and the 3D Bombardment Wing (13th Bomb Squadron).
1951 13th BOMB SQUADRON HISTORY records the night bombing mission piloted by JOHNNY GRUBBS of Brooksville, FL With information furnished from the records of GEORGE E. ESSER, the room mate of JOHNNY GRUBBS, the article written by EARL S. BROOKS, of Harrisburg, PA, was published in the INVADER, a 13th BOMB SQADRON publication and is also available on their website 13thbombsquadron.org/pilot.html. The Aircraft Flight Report lists CAPTAIN GEORGE E. ESSER as an observer.
1952 – 53 Returned to ZI from Korea and received Pilot Training as Multi-Engine Pilot. Graduated first in class. Grade: Captain – converted to regular Air Force through special selection. Stationed at Waco, TX and
Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX.
1953 – 61 Duty Pilot, Flight Commander, Director of Military Training, Director of Academic Training,
Motor Pool Officer, Custodian of Non-Appropriated Funds and Senior Pilot. Highest grade held – Captain, top secret clearance. Stationed at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX, Mather AFB, CA, and
Langerkopf AF3, Germany.
1953 53 C RAMP OUT graduate – USAF Officers School.
1954 DAVID DILLON ESSER (05-20-54 - ).
1955 Began racing Micro Midget cars.
1956 After attending a Micro Midget race in El Paso, CA, later known as the first international championship
Race, he returned to Lubbock, TX and formed the NATIONAL MICRO MIDGET RACING ASSOCIATION ( NMMRA).
1956 Divorced from DOROTHY ANN ESSER on April 28th.
Married MARY IDA WELLS (05-17-1936 – 06-30-1995) in Lovington, NM. She was a daughter
of LOUIS DANIEL WELLS (12-05-1890 – 05-30-1971) and POLLY NICHOLS MCMANUS,
(08-04-1902 – 07-27-1971).
1957 Class 57-A, Air University, Montgomery, AL, Squadron Officers School – Distinguished Graduate.
1958 Given permission to race Micro Midget cars in competion by commanding officers on 06-09-1958
at Mather AFB in California.
1960 GREGORY WELLS ESSER (01-07-1960 - ).
1961 BRYAN KEITH ESSER ( 09-26-61 - ).
1961 – 65 Overseas assignment to Langerkopf AF3, Germany. Administrative Officer of 603rd Air
Control and Warning Squadron. Highest grade held: Major. Top Secret and Crypto Clearance.
1963 Served as V.P. of Ramstein, Germany Micro Midget Club - 06-17-1963.
1964 Requested voluntary removal from flying status on 03-31-1964 because of failing eyesight.
1965 – 67 Returned to ZI from Germany. Executive Officer of 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron,
Homestead AFB., FL. Highest grade held: Major.
1967 Retired from Air Force as Major, Regular Air Force with 24 years of military service. Medals and
Citations included: Korean Service Medal w/4 RSS, National Defense Service Medal w/1 B/SS,
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, Air Force Longevity
Service Award w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, AFCM, SO G-128, 5th AF, 1952.
1967 – 75 Self employed as co-owner of PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLES. Involved in competition
motorcycles. Sponsored riders for local, national and international competition events, dirt bikes, road racing and tracking motorcycles. Actively organized and promoted motorcycle
competition events. Business sold in 1975
1969 Founded AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION.
1969 – 70 President of FLORIDA MOTORCYCLE DEALERS ASSOCIATION.
1972 Founded NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE LEAGUE, a non-profit organization.
1975 – 82 Founded NATIONAL BICYCLE LEAGUE, a non-profit organization. Served as President
And Executive Director of this youth oriented competition bicycle race sanctioning organization.
Held title of Chairman of Board of Trustees Emeritus. This organization is still active and holds
nationwide racing events.
1978 – 80 Formed MOTORCYCLE SPECIALISTS (MCS) as a co-ownership to build special bicycle
components for competition.
1979 Founded the INTERNATIONAL BMX FEDERATION, which is still active; he was a lifetime
member of the Board of Directors. GERRIT DOES of Holland and TADASHI INOUE of Japan
established the European and Far East organizations.
1980 Sold MCS ownership rights.
1982 – 87 Formed SUNBELT VEAL, INC. Served as President and General Manager of barn growing
350 special milk fed veal calves. Business discontinued in 1987.
1987 – 2002 Vice-President, CEO and part owner of FABWELD, INC., of Pompano Beach, FL, a metal
products fabricator/bicycle manufacturer. Business discontinued in 2002.
1993 GEORGE E. ESSER was contacted by WARREN THOMPSON, a writer from Germantown, PA,
who was compiling an article on the bomb timing modifications that were performed by the 13th
BOMB SQUADRON during the Korean War. The article, published in WINGS MAGAZINE,
described the modifications made by the armaments crew and the night missions over Korea in
the Douglas B-26 Attack Planes.
1995 MARY IDA ESSER died 06/30/1995. She worked diligently with her husband in all his business
ventures.
1998 Married MARCIA LEE BATHGATE HAMILTON (11/15/1936 - ) on 08/21/1998. She
was the daughter of WILLIAM WALLACE BATHGATE (12/06/1912 – 07/23/1979) and
FLORENCE IVORY CAMPBELL (07/06/1912 – 11/23/1991).
1999 1st inductee into the NATIONAL BICYCLE LEAGUE HALL OF FAME.
2001 Relocated to San Angelo, TX on August 24, 2001.
2003 – 04 Formed TWIN BUTTES BIRD HATCHERY in San Angelo, TX. Raised quail, pheasant and chukar
game birds. Business discontinued in 2004 due to deteriorating health issues.
2006 Died 08/31/2006 in the Alzheimer Unit of the ROBERT LEE CARE CENTER, in Robert Lee TX.
Buried in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX – Sect. 15, Grave 276.
2011 Posthumously honored at the 2011 EUROPEAN BMX HALL OF FAME.
2013 Posthumously honored at the 2013 BMX HALL OF FAME.
Military References:
War Department Orders and Correspondence – 9-11-1943 to 7-31-1967.
The Invader (Newsletter of the 13th Bomb Squadron Association – Korea)
1950- 11/26; 1951 – 6/8 and 6/15
1993 – July, 1994; July 1996; July 1997; March 1997; June 1998– November 1999
2000 – March, July,November;
2001 – March, July, November
2002 – March, July, November
2003 – March, July, November
2004 – March, July, November
2005 – March, June, November
2006 – November
2007 – March, July, November
2009 – March, July
2011 – March
2013 – March
2014 – March, July, November
2015 - March
The Thunder (B-26 Marauder Historical Society)
2005 – February, August, Fall
2006 – Spring, March
2007 – Summer
Vanguard
Nov. 7, 1958 – U.S. Air Force – Ikimasho, Japan
Nov. 10, 1960 – U.S. Air Force – Johnson Air Base, Japan
The Sortie (Newsletter of the 17th Bomb Group (W.W. II); 319th Bomb Group (W.W. II); 17th (452nd Bomb Wing (Korea)
2001 – Apr. – June (Thanksgiving Day 1950)
2001 – Oct. – Dec.; 2002 – Oct. – Dec..; 2003 – Jan. – Mar.; Apr. – June; July – Sept.;
2004 – Apr. – June; July – Sept.; Oct. – Dec.: 2005 – July – Sept.;(Vol. XXIX and Vol. XXVIII) Oct. – Dec.;
2006 – Jan. – Mar.; Apr. – June
Paraglide (82nd Airborne Division Association)
2002 – Spring
Crosshairs (Official Newsletter, Bombadiers, Inc.)
1992 – Oct.
Afterburner (News for USAF Retired Personnel)
May 2000, May 2002, January 2004, Winter 2005
Fort Hood Retirement Services Newsletter
Sept. 2004 and Sept. 2009
Goodfellow Air Force Base Retiree Newsletter
Oct. 2004
13th Bomb Squadron Association Directory
2006; 2008; 2010;2012;2014
13th Bomb Squadron Association, Orlando, FL, 15th Reunion
1999
13th Bomb Squadron Activation and Assumption of Command, Abilene, TX
2000 – Dedication of B-1B Bombers
B-1B Lancer – USAF – Boeing Specifications
13th Bomb Squadron "The Devils Own Grim Reapers”
Planes from 1917 to 2000
Wings, A Sentry Magazine, Feb. 1994
"Night Missions Over Korea in Douglas B-26 Attack Ships”
1993 correspondence enclosed between George E. Esser and Author, Warren Thompson.
Photo Album from Japan and Korea – About 5” thick.
USAA MAGAZINE – "A Band of Brothers”
Easy Company and the 101st Airborne
Poster – "Kunsan by the Sea”
Displays photos of Doolittle Raiders, Bombing Raids, Classified photos, Korean Map, General McArthur,
1951 Grubbs Flight Log, Photo of Johnny Grubbs and George Esser, Tetrahedrens.
1994 Letters between George E. Esser and Murray Grubbs, brother of Johnny.
1994 Letters between George E. Esser and Earl S. Brooks, who reviewed 1951 squadron history.
13th Bomb Squadron War Stories
Jefferson High School Year Book – 1942, San Antonio, TX
Includes copy of 50th reunion program
53-C Ramp Out
Includes Active Roster from 2007
The Horizons
1955 U.S.A.F. graduates
The Air University, Squadron Officer School, Class 57-A
Lt. Col. Eugene E. Layer (boyhood friend of George E. Esser) - obituary [former Korean prisoner of war].
Col. Travis Hoover, (Doolittle Raider).
National Museum of the Pacific War, Home of the Admiral Nimitz Museum
George E. Esser is memorialized on the Veterans Walk of Honor – [Marcia Esser and George E.Esser, Jr.].
Airborne School, Ft. Benning, GA – Group photo of Co.M graduates – 1946 – framed.
U.S. Army Parachutist Certificate – 1946 – framed.
"A Flight of Aces” – a painting by Jim Laurier A.S.A.A, depicts a flight of SPAD XII and SPAD XIII of the
13th Aero Squadron, A.E.F. W.W. I, on patrol over the front searching for enemy aircraft. The lead plane is flown
by Captain Charles Biddle; #24 is flown by Lieutenant Frank Hays, #15 is flown by Lieutenant William Stovall,
#20 is flown by Lieutenant Murray Guthrie and #3 is flown by Lieutenant Leighton Brewer. The original oil painting
was presented to the new 13th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB on June 14, 2000. This painting was presented to
George E. Esser. (framed).
Other References:
National Micro Midget Racing Association (NMMRA)
Minutes records
Photos and an obituary are furnished for Ennie C. "Tex” Helm, a friend of George E. Esser’s from Carlsbad, NM.
They were given to George by Gwyn R. Snelson. He was best known for his photography of the Carlsbad Caverns.
National Bicycle League History from "Wikipedia” has a 15 page report on the history and the founder, George E.
Esser.
The History of the National Bicycle League (enclosed.
BMX (Bicycle Motocross) from "Wikipedia” shows George E. Esser as the founder of the American Motocross Association (AMA).
2011 European Hall of Fame data enclosed from www.universityofbmx.com
2013 Hall of Fame data from bmxnews.com enclosed.
2006 In Memoriam Tribute enclosed.
2005 Letter written to sons prior to death.
2006 Obituary of George Edward Esser.
1954 Official Air Force Photo of George Edward Esser.
Other photographs are displayed in yearbooks and internet articles.
Ht.: 5’7 ½” ; Wt. 140 lbs.; Blood type: A + [3] |
1925 - 2006 (80 Jahre)
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