2023 American Fighter Aces Reunion

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Welcome to AFAA Reunion 2023

Register now for the American Fighter Aces Association’s 62^nd annual reunion.  We’re returning to the Drury Riverside Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, where we had – in the words of US Navy fighter ace Lester Gray and his wife, Paula – “the best Aces’ reunion we’ve ever attended.”

The Drury, on the banks of San Antonio’s historic Riverwalk, residing in an impressive former bank building, offers a free hot breakfast each morning and three free cocktails at their daily “Kickback” at 5:30 every afternoon, along with a buffet of assorted hot dishes.

We expect to have Bud Anderson, Les Gray, and Perry Dahl as our WW3 Aces in attendance.  Plus several Vietnam Aces and Associates, with a large attendance of Gulf War Associates.

When you arrive on Thursday, October 19, take the opportunity to visit the nearby historic Alamo and/or take a leisurely Riverboat cruise, stepping into a boat beside the Drury.

The next morning, we’ll be boarding the bus for a short trip to the Texas Air Museum, situated at Stinson Field, just south of San Antonio.  There we’ll be treated to displays of 18 historic military and civilian aircraft, from the original Bleriot monoplane flown by Katherine Stinson, one of America’s first female aviators, to the F-4C of the Vietnam War.

Following the museum tour, we’ll drive back to central San Antonio to the historic Buckhorn Saloon for a tour of Texas history artifacts and enjoy a Texas barbeque buffet.

Returning to the Drury, at 4:00 we’ll have a symposium of attending fighter aces and Associate members (fighter pilots and backseaters who have been credited with one-to-four aerial victories).

Saturday morning we’ll gather at 9:00 for the annual membership meeting, when the Board of Directors will give their reports and plans for the future of the Association, followed by the annual election of officers for the coming year.  That evening will be the concluding event, the formal banquet, where our guest speaker will be our own Col. Charles B. “Chuck” DeBellevue, USAF (Ret), Weapons Systems Officer (WSO), who shared four victories with (then) Capt. Steve Ritchie and two more with (then) Capt. John B. Madden.

Make your reservations now for another great reunion.  We’ll be looking forward to seeing you!

Rear of Hotel on San Antonio Riverwalk

History of Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

The Alamo National Bank Building stands 24 stories tall on San Antonio’s historic Paseo del Rio, spanning one city block facing St. Mary’s Street. Built of structural steel and concrete, construction was complete by 1929 in the early days of the Great Depression. The building is trimmed in granite and marble, elegant terra cotta embellishments, molded plaster and decorative bronze. The Alamo National Bank occupied the first three floors, and other commercial tenants occupied the upper floors. In 1956, a metal sign and weather gauge was installed on the roof to advertise Alamo National Bank. The neon spire rises six stories above the building and has become a landmark on San Antonio’s Riverwalk. A parking garage was added in 1961.

While undergoing renovation in 2005, the Alamo National Bank Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Drury Hotels’ careful renovation preserved many of the unique period features in the lobby, like stained glass windows, bronze framework, marble walls and travertine flooring. The original chandeliers from construction in 1929 have been refurbished and still hang today from the 50-foot ceilings in the main lobby.

In 2007, the Alamo National Bank Building opened as Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk. This building has always been one of the tallest buildings in downtown San Antonio. In the renovation, the rooftop was converted into a pool and observation deck with 360-degree views of the city.