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Greetings Fellow Reapers,

I hope the start of 2026 finds everyone enjoying health, happiness, and prosperity. Here’s a status update of ongoing 13th Bomb Squadron Association activities. The Board of Directors has three focus areas as the Association moves forward in 2026.

First, we are working to ensure a constant source of revenue on the coattails of last year’s  membership drive by securing recurring annual active  memberships to financially sustain the Association moving forward. Ideally, this will not involve annual membership drives, but we will continue to do those if required to recruit Reapers to sign up for new active memberships to ensure financial solvency. This requires our constant attention to sustain our mission to promote and preserve the heritage and history of the 13th Bomb Squadron. Consequently, we encourage all Reapers who are not currently active members to consider becoming active members or donors on our website.

Second, we are making a concerted effort to deliver two issues of the Invader per year on the first of April and October. The theme for this Spring’s Invader is past, present, and future. The first feature article is my first contribution to the Invader titled “A Combat History of the B-2.” This article turned out to be quite lengthy as it covers the B-2’s participation in eight air campaigns over its 33-year history, not to include the most recent events in Operation EPIC FURY. Enjoy.

The second feature article provides Tim Hale’s insights into Reapers who influenced the initial requirements development of the B-21 program between 2009 and 2012. The B-21 Raider is currently undergoing developmental tests and is on schedule to become operational late this decade and will most assuredly be the next aircraft flown by the 13th Bomb Squadron.

Finally, the preponderance of our effort over the next several months will be planning the 2026 Reaper Reunion, tentatively scheduled for September 10-13th of this year. We are working with the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, OH, to add some Reaper history to their B-57 static display with the goal of hosting a ceremony to honor our Vietnam veterans with the unveiling of the new exhibit as the main event for this reunion. Standby for more information on the 2026 reunion as we continue working on the details and agenda. I look forward to seeing many of you in attendance.

Reaper Pride,

Brian “Pico” Gallo, Colonel, USAF Retired
13th Bomb Squadron Association President