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The Scuttlebutt Official Publication of Air Group One Commemorative Air Force September/October 2012 1905 N. Marshall Ave. Hangar 6 * El Cajon, CA 92020 * 619.259.5541 * www.ag1caf.org * [email protected] “Forged Above” A painting by Steve Tack Commemorating 100 years of United States Marine Corps Aviation Contents Notes from the Cockpit ............................................ 2 I Didn’t Know That ....................................................9 Maintenance Officer Report..................................... 2 New Members ........................................................10 American Aces of WWII .......................................... 3 Lt. Constant Pringle ................................................11 Cover Story: “Forged Above” ................................... 4 Normandie, Before and After ..................................12 Intensely Worthy of Commemoration ...................... 6 Laff Trak ..................................................................14 Commemorative Happy Hour .................................. 8 2 The Scuttlebutt September/October 2012 Notes Maintenance from the Officer Cockpit Report Col. Bob Simon, Wing Leader Col. Howard Merritt I know it’s not November but I feel we have lots to be The last two months have seen many changes in our thankful for! Especially for the amazing people that maintenance corner. Sassy has plodded thru another we have in this organization. Under the leadership of annual inspection. The cowl, parts of the wing leading our Maintenance Officer Howard Merritt, Mike Green- edge, the scoop and right gear door were repainted halgh, Darrel Cook, Jim McGarvie and Erich Moulder due to various dings and dangs. A few bearings and have taken apart for annual inspection and put back cables were replaced. Grease was injected and joints together again a fresh and new looking “Sassy.” With were oiled. Wish to thank the team who accomplished diligent work, parts have been inspected and renewed all these tasks: Darrel Cook, Mike Greenhalgh, Jim Mc- and fresh paint has been added. We now have a Garvie, Erich Moulder, Warren Thomas, Torri Mowery “bird” that we can all be proud of! And let’s not forget and Pete Hunt. Tim Baerg, who has been cleaning parts for the SNJ I also want to commend a special gentleman, Tim and now, the L-5. He is real Colonel material! Let’s all Baerg, who came by the hangar around the first of encourage him! July and offered to “clean stuff” for us. The result of Speaking of which: if I were a fly on the wall at the his efforts is the present condition of the finish on Camarillo Air Show, I can only imagine the comments Sassy. Even after several flights she still glows. He about our “new” airplane! Of course I’m referring to our also cleaned the leather couches and chair in the of- SNJ with her new, fresh look! Thanks are due to Jim, fice. His next project is the L-5. Quite a man. What an Erich, Darrel, Vicki, Mike, Linda, Heather and Rich for asset to the unit. representing Air Group One and enduring a hot week- The L-5 wing is coming along due to the efforts of Darrel end away from “cool” San Diego! and Erich. Erich has brought in some of his contacts Stay tuned for more activities and weekend trips com- and has set up small teams to continue the tasks. ing soon. Your help is always needed and is greatly Come on by and I will share a cup of coffee with you appreciated. while we work and discuss the issues of the day. See you at the hangar. Air Group One Staff Members Wing Leader Bob Simon Maintenance Officer Howard Merritt [email protected] 858.254.3036 [email protected] 619.820.5359 Executive Officer Jim McGarvie Safety Officer Warren Thomas [email protected] 619.890.7340 [email protected] 858.382.9919 Finance Officer D’Marie Simon Marketing and Webmaster Rich Kenney [email protected] 858.829.4736 [email protected] 858.837.2068 Adjutant Linda King Scuttlebutt Editor Jim McGarvie [email protected] 951.966.4090 [email protected] 619.890.7340 Operations Officer John Telles Assistant Scuttlebutt Editor Bob Constantine [email protected] 760.458.4230 [email protected] 619.546.7080 September/October 2012 The Scuttlebutt 3 American Aces of WWII Submitted by David Hanson This month: Major Robert E. Galer to roam the skies wondering when the Japanese would USMC Ace and Medal of Honor Recipient sweep over them. That September, while piloting an F4F Wildcat, he managed to shoot down 11 enemy bomber and fighter planes against astonishing odds. ‘’Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes,” his Medal of Honor citation read. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented him with the award March 24, 1943. Superiors resisted send- Robert Galer began his Aviation Cadet flight training in ing Medal of Honor recipients back into combat, but June 1936, at NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was com- General Galer persisted and eventually returned to the missioned a second lieutenant in the US Marine Corps skies during the Korean War. As commanding officer on July 1, 1936. Following his designation as a Naval of Marine Aircraft Group 12, he managed to strike ef- Aviator in 1937, he was advanced to First Lieutenant fectively at the enemy’s industrial center in Pyong-yang in July 1939. in July 1952 and was awarded a Distinguished Flying On 29 August 1940, Galer ditched his Grumman F3F Cross. The next month, however, his plane was hit 100 fighter off the coast of San Diego while attempting a miles into enemy territory. landing on the USS Saratoga (CV-3). (The fighter was ‘’I did a dumb thing,” he told a reporter a few years rediscovered by a Navy submarine in June 1988, and ago. ‘’We were bombing, and when we finished, I recovered on 5 April 1991. It was restored at the San went back to take a picture. And this antiaircraft gun, Diego Aerospace Museum and is now at the Naval he nailed me.” Aviation Museum in Pensacola). As he tried to eject at a high altitude, his foot became By the time the United States entered WWII, he was far trapped in the shoulder harness. He struggled free only more seasoned, although on several occasions he was at the last minute and smacked part of the plane’s tail as shot down by enemy fire and landed in the water. He he parachuted out 150 feet from the ground, breaking once swam to a nearby island, where locals returned his ribs. He hid until an HO3S (Navy helicopter) located him by canoe to the nearest Marine outpost. He arrived him and whisked him to safety while Communist snipers at his home base in time to see preparations for his fired, hitting the rescue craft three times and causing memorial service. it to spin. The helicopter made it back through fog with On Guadalcanal, while commanding an undermanned 10 gallons of gas left, he told the Dallas Morning News. but dogged Marine fighter squadron, Major Galer re- For exceptionally meritorious service in combat, he was ceived the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award advanced to brigadier general upon his retirement on for valor. Major Galer and his men were based on a July 31, 1957. small Japanese airstrip rechristened Henderson Field, where the flyers were dubbed the Cactus Air Force. In addition to the Medal of Honor, General Galer also By mid-1942 he was sending up his handful of planes received the Navy Cross, the Legion of Merit with Com- to engage an average of 40 Japanese bombers and bat “V,” the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold fighters on each mission. His only advantage was be- star, a Purple Heart, an Air Medal with 10 gold stars ing radioed in advance by a coast watcher of Japanese and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. takeoffs. That also saved gas, as his pilots did not have Brigadier General Galer died on June 27, 2005 in Dal- las, Texas. 4 The Scuttlebutt September/October 2012 Cover Story: “Forged Above” A painting by artist Steve Tack Commemorating the Centennial of U. S. Marine Corps Aviation By Colonel John Telles, Jr. USMC (Retired) The acknowledged official birthday of United States Marine Corps Aviation is May 22, 1912. That was the date that 1/Lt Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC, reported for flight instruction at Annapolis, MD. So May 22, 2012 started the Centennial Year for celebration purposes. The Marines chose the term “Marine Aviation Centen- nial” (MAC). On April 8, 2012 Air Group One (AG-1) signed an agree- ment with artist Steve Tack to commission a painting in oil or acrylic to commemorate “The Centennial of U. S. Marine Corps Aviation.” The concept had been presented to him by an AG-1 contingent while attend- ing the 2011 International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) CURTISS C-3. The twin-crew, mahogany-hulled Curtiss Conference, December 2011. There are two purposes: C-3 hydroplane of 1913 was the very first type actu- (1) Commemoration. The CAF and AG-1 are a com- ally owned by Marines. First Lieutenant Cunningham memorating organization dedicated to the heritage of and others had learned to fly in U. S. Navy and civilian military aviation, and specifically World War Two. (2) airplanes. Fund-raising. The contract supports the sale of 500 highest-quality Limited Edition numbered and artist- CURTISS DH-4. Marines recognize the Curtiss DH-4 signed lithographs for fund-raising purposes. The work Jenny as their very first combat-tested Close Air Sup- was completed and delivered in May 2012 just prior to port (CAS) weapon. Led by Squadron CO Major Ross the 2012 Wings Over Gillespie Air Show.
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