The Membership Newsletter for The Summer 2014

Inside this Issue: Commemorate the Centennial of the War of the Nations! Museum Visitors 2

AIM Students 2 Summer Camp 2 Jerry Yellin 2 Screaming Eagles 3 in Review 3 Hangar Happenings 4 Trench Art 4 PBY-5A Catalina 4 If you missed the First World War, then this is the time October 1-5 with pilots and builders from around the world MAM Red Dots 5 to return and experience only the best parts of it. Join us attending. On Saturday and Sunday, between flights of the Mosquito History 5 October 4-5, 2014 at the historic style buildings of the Military museum’s aircraft, you can enjoy the aerial antics of a broad Aviation Museum, located at the Virginia Beach , Glider Towing Spitfire 6 assortment of scale-models intended to recreate some of the for the centennial of the War of the Nations. Go with us on a more elaborate maneuvers you may have seen overhead at WWII Airborne 6 journey to the dawn of aerial combat and discover where the the time of the First World War. term dogfight originated. The museum owns and displays Plan to be comfortable on your beach chair or blanket and dozens of aircraft from the First and Second World Wars, enjoy big band music, singing, dancing, impersonators, and which are all in meticulous flying condition. Even more much, much more. Your Saturday ticket also gets you into the Military Aviation Museum aircraft will be on display from other museums and personal www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org collections from around the country. The sky will be crowded Saturday Evening Hangar Dance with the Roaring 20’s style Virginia Beach Airport with colorful airplanes as rarely seen before. orchestra. Come dressed in your World War One uniform or www.VBairport.com Hundreds of R/C models, representative of WWI-era your favorite zoot suit and flapper dress. Dance the Charleston, Fighter Factory aviation, will also fly at the & Triplanes air show. The Lindy Hop, and Foxtrot through the evening. www.FighterFactory.com Academy of Model Aeronautics Tidewater Radio For more information, go online to www.VBairshow.com q Biplanes & Triplanes Chapter hosts its third annual Mid-Atlantic Dawn Patrol or telephone (757) 721-7767 for further details. www.VBairshow.com

Flying Proms: Accept No Substitute By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein & Mark Whall As dusk settled over the crosswind runway of “I think it was our best yet and we’re the Military Aviation Museum, the musicians of getting better all the time! What was Symphonicity took to the stage for the 4th-annual it? It was another wonderful evening Flying Proms. Glistening in the twilight, the grande of musical and flying sorcery dames of the museum’s air armada hearkened to the in the characterful setting of the sound of forgotten melodies, with brasses, strings, and Military Aviation Museum. An woodwinds singing in the summer air. These disparate established part of the UK air show elements formed the counterpoint of an occasion that calendar…in the heart of rural has fast become a Virginia tradition, but has remained England for nearly two decades, an true to its British heritage. American version of the Proms is The “Prom” traces its origins back to the 18th- now very much at home in Virginia.” century pleasure gardens of London, England. These The first half of the program formal outdoor performances have since given way to showcased some of the latest additions to the museum’s rarest musical offerings on the program was composer the modern BBC Proms and, in turn, to the Shuttleworth collection, including a newly restored 1918 Curtiss JN-4D John Addison’s main theme to Reach for the Sky, a BAFTA Collection’s original Flying Proms. Jenny, flown to the accompaniment of ’s Award-winning film that chronicled Group Captain Sir Imported from the UK in 2011, the Military Avia- score to The Great Waldo Pepper. Straight from the pages Douglas Bader’s life and wartime service with the RAF. tion Museum’ is the first and, so far, only authentic Fly- of Pasternak was a Polikarpov Po-2, the note of its exhaust Of course, the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines of our Hawker ing Proms in North America. Mr. Mark Whall, commen- mingled with Maurice Jarre’s music from Doctor Zhivago. Hurricane and were the perfect tator for the Shuttleworth Proms, returns to our shores Other dramatic chords were struck by a P-51D Mustang complement to Addison’s work. Besides a squadron of each year to offer his charismatic accompaniment. Mark and an FG-1D Corsair, in concert with music by John Fokker biplanes and triplanes, the remaining aircraft on had the following to say of his experience this year: Williams and Richard Rodgers, respectively. Among the the program was a Curtiss Model Continued on Page 3 PAGE 2 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 MUSEUM VISITORS Summer Camp: Fledgling Warbirds Get Their Wings

By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein

AIM Students Visit MAM A fun week was had by all in attendance of the 3rd- Every day was punctuated by a catered lunch, annual Warbirds & Wings summer day-camp at the including the day of the field trip to NAS Norfolk. By Brad Groom Military Aviation Museum. The campers’ curriculum Each year campers enjoy an off-site sojourn to one included practical instruction in the fundamentals of The Aviation Institute of Maintenance of our area air installations. This year’s visit included flight, aided by the museum’s resident Eugene Ely, Mr. (AIM) is a career college that teaches students a tour of USS Kearsarge, a Wasp-class amphibious Robert “Boom” Powell. Dressed in period-appropriate to become Certified Aircraft Mechanics. AIM assault ship of the Navy. The ship’s attire, Mr. Powell gave his captive audience a flight is located at 2211 South Military Highway in motto is, “Proud...Bold...Trustworthy.” demonstration of the museum’s , a Chesapeake, VA. design whose origins date back to 1910. Also included was a talk with members of Carrier This summer, AIM hosted an Aviation Airborne Command and Control Squadron VAW-120, Further flight activities were recorded over the Camp for recent high school grads, and their a airborne early warning (AEW) course of the week, including a seminar with members students visited the Military Aviation Museum and squadron. Nicknamed “The Greyhawks”, they fly the of the United States Air Force, from Andrews Air Force Fighter Factory on July 3, as their grand finale. E-2 Hawkeye along with the C-2A Greyhound. VAW- Base, who once again graced us with their presence and 120 traces its lineage back to 6 July, 1948, when Carrier Before visiting the museum, the summer offered a tour of their Beechcraft King Air. Also airborne Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-2 was created camp participants had a very busy schedule at were the museum’s Stearman PT-17 and North at NAS Oceana, Virginia. It was later relocated to NAS AIM. The camp was mostly hands-on. Aircraft American SNJ-2. Additional flights were recorded in Norfolk, Virginia. engines were disassembled, aircraft rivets were a WWI-era Sopwith One-and-a-Half Strutter and a installed, and model aircraft were designed for Fokker Dr.I triplane. The last day of camp included an opportunity for a a flying contest. With all the hands-on projects, A visit to the Fighter Factory yielded insight into the tour of the museum’s historic Cottbus Hangar, a structure they were really busy–which they enjoyed–but restoration of the museum’s warbirds, plus a close-up dating back to the mid-1930s. Originally known as their visit to the museum and the Fighter Factory inspection of our Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. The corner- Hangar No. 6, the building was constructed in Cottbus, was the icing on the cake. “It was cool to see the stone of the museum’s collection, this was re- , as part of a larger air installation. Used Mosquito do an engine maintenance run!” stored from a wreck recovered in . Also included throughout WWII and later during the , the Larry Teator, the docent tour guide, was were tours inside of our Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina facility was declared surplus following the reunification very impressed by the young visitors and their and T-34 Mentor. Further familiarization was provided of Germany. Eventually secured by the Military Avia- enthusiasm and questions regarding the exhibits by another veteran pilot, Mr. Obie O’Brien, USN ret., tion Museum, dismantled, restored, and re-erected at its and variety of planes housed at the museum. whose long experience of flying the Corsair made him present location, the hangar once more provides shelter As the tour was ending, one of the participants the ideal candidate to introduce the next generation to to wartime warbirds of the . said, “I’ll see you at AIM in August because I an earlier concept of airborne operations. Mr. O’Brien’s Besides a final clinic on the finer points of model am going to enroll.” commentary was integrated into lectures on the Battles building, Friday provided an opportunity for children of Midway and the Coral Sea, plus the Korean War, a The Aviation Institute of Maintenance is to share with their parents all they had learned in the conflict in which he served. hosting another Summer Camp August 11-22 course of the week. A grand cookout was the highlight and if you know a high school senior who Hands-on activities included the construction and of the afternoon, followed by a graduation ceremony. enjoys planes or wants to learn more about launching of model gliders, the assembly of scale-model These proceedings were presided over by the Museum aviation, call AIM at (757) 363-2121 to enroll. airplanes, and the construction of model rockets. The Director, Mr. David Hunt, who presented each camper science of rocketry formed a key component of the They will have a great experience! q with certificates of completion and a souvenir camp’s latter half. Undertaken both indoors and out, photograph from the crew of USS Kearsarge. Once campers received diligent supervision as they put their concluded, campers were cleared for takeoff. new-found scientific knowledge to the test. And before anything was launched into orbit, everyone received If you would like to learn more about the Military formal ground crew and fire safety training. Whenever Aviation Museum’s annual “Warbirds & Wings” summer JerryYellin there was a lull between assignments, attendees took a day-camp, please telephone the Events Coordinator at BlogEntry turn at our bank of computer flight simulators. 757-721-7767, or e-mail [email protected]. q

The Mustangs flew in the war had a 90 gallon fuel tank directly behind the armor plated back of the seat. Passengers now do not have much room to get into that space. Dave asked me if I was ready, I nodded as I stepped over the side of the plane and placed my foot on the seat, turned sideways as Dave helped my other leg up and over. I sat down, looked around, hooked my parachute over my shoulder and across my legs, tightened the seat belt as Mike handed me a helmet.“This is a voice activated microphone, Jerry. Got it?” I nodded yes as I put the helmet on... An excerpt from Jerry Yellin, Blog #32, May 17, 2014 | For the rest of the entry, visit the Military Aviation Museum’s Facebook page. VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 PAGE 3

Screaming Eagles: Normandy Revisited, D-Day Remembered Flying Proms continued D, the first aeroplane ever to have been flown from By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein the deck of a naval vessel. Looking every bit of her 104-years, this 1910-vintage design proved she could still go both up, tiddly, up, up, and down, tiddly, down, down! Ron Goodwin’s music from Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines was the ideal selection for our Edwardian recreation. As Mark Whall put it: “The ethos of the Military Aviation Museum is to keep alive the spirit of yesteryear for current and future generations of aviation enthusiasts.” Symphonicity, a new partner for 2014, quickly entered into the spirit of the Proms. In the second On Saturday, 28 June, the Military Aviation Muse- 3rd-Battalion to receive a battlefield commission in half of the evening they performed magnificently um welcomed two veterans of the U.S. Army’s 101st- Normandy. Subsequently, Shames fought in Operation to a large and appreciative audience–many of whom had returned for this year’s show, having Airborne Division, Col. Ed Shames and Sgt. Norwood Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. After the enjoyed previous editions so much. Kimberly Thomas. Their visit was intended to commemorate war he served in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Colonel. the 70th-anniversary of D-Day, 6 June, 1944, which Nickerson, a regular soloist with the orchestra, heralded the start of Operation Overlord. Sgt. Thomas jumped into Normandy, , on sang several uplifting and patriotic tunes. At the D-Day, 6 June, 1944, four miles inland from Utah end of the night, with maestro David Kunkel on Late on 5 June, 1944, a 1,200-plane airborne Beach. Subsequently, in September, 1944, Thomas the podium, the final strains of God Bless America assault preceded an amphibious task force of more strapped himself into a Waco CG-4A glider as part echoing across the fields, the concert concluded than 5,000-vessels. Aircraft departed Great Britain of Operation Market Garden. He also participated in with an impressive pyrotechnic display by shortly before Midnight to transport three airborne the Battle of the Bulge, around the City of Bastogne, Zambelli Fireworks. divisions to their drop zones behind enemy lines. The US Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions Belgium. On behalf of all of us at the Military Aviation were assigned objectives west of Utah Beach. These At the conclusion of our veterans’ presentation the Museum, we hope you will join us again drops were not very successful: only 10% of paratroopers museum’s North American P-51D Mustang, “Double down Princess Anne Road, where we shall landed in their designated zones. Trouble Two”, took flight in a demonstration of air witness flitting through the skies the planes of the museum, to the halcyon themes of the A native of Norfolk, VA, in September 1942 Ed power. This time she carried with her a distinguished next Flying Proms. q Shames joined the US Army. He volunteered as a passenger, Col. Shames. Mustangs played an important paratrooper and was sent to Toccoa, GA, for training. Ed role, along with P-38 and P-47 fighters, as escorts for started as a Private with Item Company, 3rd-Battalion the hundreds of aircraft involved in airborne operations, of the 506th-Regiment, 101st-Airborne Division, and including glider tugs, on D-Day. Flying alongside, Sgt. was later promoted to Operations Sergeant on arrival Thomas chose the more commodious cockpit of our in the UK. North American SNJ-2 for his aerial excursion. We Shames made his first combat jump on D-Day, could forgive them both a muffled war whoop as they 6 June, 1944. Seven days later he was promoted to shot skyward–the distinctive call of the “Screaming Second Lieutenant, making him the first NCO in the Eagles”. q

Warbirds Over the Beach: Cloud-Capp’d Towers By Jonathan R. Lichtenstein On 16 May, 2014, a great tempest swept the Military fighter variant of the more familiar T-6 Texan. Our were modified to carry a version of ’ Aviation Museum. Subjected to lashings of rain and only registered visiting this year was a beautiful famous bouncing . “Upkeep” was the explosive gusts of wind, an atmosphere of anxiety settled upon civilian-registered Douglas C-47, owned by Dynamic dropped by the Lancasters of 617 Squadron. A more the crowds that had gathered for the 6th-annual Aviation, but it did not participate in the air show. compact version known as “Highball” was developed Warbirds Over the Beach. One question, above all, was Perhaps the greatest additions to the program were by Wallis as an anti-shipping weapon. Intended for use on the minds of everyone in attendance: would the turf the historic parachute drops by members of the WWII with Mossies, the ultimate version was never deployed runway drain sufficiently by the morning of the 17th Airborne Demonstration Team, from our Junkers Ju operationally. Our Skyraider can claim the title to permit any flights, let alone flights by the heaviest 52. A complete success on both Saturday and Sunday, “Dambuster” for its VA-195 markings. Created as of the museum’s aircraft? In years past, weather has these are believed to have been the first authentic static-line a Torpedo Squadron (VT) in 1943, in 1950 they played a key role in determining not only the scope drops from a Ju 52 – in the style of the Fallschirmjäger embarked as an Attack Squadron (VA) on USS Princeton but the duration of Warbirds and this year was no –since 1945. You can learn more of this daring re- (CV-37) and were deployed to support operations on exception. Come Saturday, however, we were greeted enactment elsewhere in this edition of “Prop Noise”. the Korean Peninsula. On 1 May, 1951, the squadron’s by a clear sky. After inspection it was determined the Skyraiders delivered aerial torpedoes against the heavily Several key anniversaries just happened to coincide runway had, indeed, dried in the night. We launched a defended Hwacheon Dam in North Korea. The target’s with Warbirds 2014, including Operation Mercury few planes, and then we launched some more. In fact, destruction had already been attempted by the U.S. Air (20 May, 1941), the airborne invasion of Crete, and we hardly stopped flying all weekend, except when the Force and by various other elements of the U.S. Navy. (16-17 May, 1943), the raid by sun decided it had enough and turned things over to But it was VA-195 (now VFA-195) that breached “The Dambusters” (RAF No. 617 Squadron) on the the moon. It turned out to be two of the finest days we successfully the dam’s defenses, whereupon they, too, hydroelectric dams of the Valley. Although we have yet seen at Warbirds Over the Beach. were inaugurated as “Dambusters”. were unable this year to welcome the Canadian Warplane The newest planes to fly in this year’s air show Heritage Museum’s Lancaster Mk. X, we did have Among the broad spectrum of entertainers onstage included a Messerschmitt Bf 108 (Nord 1002), a kissing with us two other “Dambusters”, in the form of our de this year were the Victory Belles, The Ultimate Abbott & cousin to the more infamous Bf 109, and a recreation Havilland DH.98 Mosquito and our Douglas AD-4 Costello Tribute Show, Frank Sings Frank, the Hampton of a North American P-64, an obscure single-seat Skyraider, respectively. Believe it or not, some Mosquitoes Roads Metro Band, the lovely Continued on Page 4 PAGE 4 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3

What is Trench Art? Hangar Happenings By Robert “Boom” R. Powell By Paolo Franzini Life in the trenches in was not Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina-N9521C all mud and misery. There were times of decent weather and reasonably comfortable places to By sleep. However, between patrols and attacks, time hung heavy and boredom became a problem. Thus thousands of young men used their energy and imagination to make life in the field more bearable. Many turned to crafts and made objects— useful, decorative or commemorative—to send home. So many were made and became so popular that the term Trench Art was coined. Trench art had been made for centuries, but until the 1914-18 War the genre did not have a name. Modern warfare, with its profligate use of workable metals, especially brass, meant more trench art survived. Examples currently in the museum’s collection include an artillery shell case which has been Article reproduced and translated from the Boeing PT-17 Stearmans, which were already being crimped, fluted and engraved to make a decorative June 2014 issue of Volo Sportivo. used as “crop dusters”. With their strength and agility, a number of additional aircraft were used in this vase. The crucifix is an example of the irony in has never been a nation full of big warbirds “water-” role and included the Grumman much trench art; messages of peace and love made and only recently, the population of these particular TBM Avenger, Consolidated PBY Catalina, Douglas from lethal bullets and shells. Director David aircraft has expanded by acquiring aircraft larger DC-3 Dakota, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Hunt has his great-grandfather’s pipe from the than the classic biplanes. Despite this, in the past, Boer War which he carved with images of Boer the North American B-25 Mitchell. The use of fans of historical aircraft have had the chance to President Kruger and Queen Victoria along with B-17’s and B-25’s was soon abandoned as a result occasionally admire specimens of warbirds from his regiment and date. The two aircraft pieces are of accidents. abroad who have remained in our territory for from the Second World War. The souvenir PBY longer periods of time. From this point of view, The second generation of warbird “water- Catalina is all brass while the cartridge case and a plane that has definitely had a more significant ” consisted of the Grumman F-7 Tigercat, aluminum jet may have been made as a child’s toy. appeal was the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Grumman S-2 Tracker, Lockheed P-2V Neptune, The museum is always looking for more (N9521C), which in the mid-90s had a long stay Douglas A-26 Invader, Fairchild C-119 (partially trench art—especially if related in our country. The Consolidated PBY Catalina replaced by the “super heavy” Consolidated PB4Y q to aviation. aircraft is not particularly common in spite of the Privateer), Douglas DC-4, DC-6 and DC-7. In numerous surviving examples. It is clear that its this second phase, the Catalina continued to be shape and its history cannot go unnoticed, even among the most popular of the fire fighters. With a to aviation enthusiasts with little experience in the payload between 4,000 and 5,000 gallons of retardant field of warbirds. and water, had the advantage of being able to supply large amounts of water it without having to The Catalina is definitely one of the most return to its home base, which was often very far successful amphibious aircraft in aviation history. from the front of the fire (which greatly limits the At the end of its production, more than 3,290 effectiveness of even modern-day fire fighters). specimens came off the assembly line. During the years of World War II, it became one of the key From the mid-1950s, and into the 1980s, these elements in the fight against German U-boats aircraft worked effectively fighting the scourge Warbirds continued attacking convoys in the North Atlantic, as well as the of forest fires (particularly demanding on the Theresa Eaman, and members of the Mark rescue of survivors in the vastness of the Pacific U.S. west coast) on behalf of U.S. Forest Service Michielsen Big Band! Over three hundred re-enactors Ocean Theater of operations, and especially for and local authorities. The effectiveness of these bivouacked on site, with personnel representing all maritime reconnaissance. In this particular role, “water-bombers” was brought to the attention of theatres of WWII-era operations. Allied and Axis the Catalina repeatedly jumped to the headlines of audiences worldwide with the aerospace-themed encampments stretched the length of the museum’s war, as they became the protagonists of important film “Always” (produced by Universal Pictures and property, including the Cottbus Hangar. Displays actions such as the sighting of the German battleship United Artists in 1989 and directed by Steven featured period vehicles, artifacts, arms, and armor. On Saturday, the fun continued into the evening Bismarck in the Atlantic (beyond the control of the Spielberg). In this wonderful film, the wise direction with a steak dinner catered by Black Angus, and Royal Navy, after the sinking of the battle cruiser of Spielberg shows us some spectacular scenes of a hangar dance, which featured a reprise of virtually HMS Hood) as well as the discovery of the invading supply and release made by a Catalina water-bomber all the day’s musical talent. Japanese naval force about to attack the Midway and many other of these fire fighters. It should Islands. Thanks to its reliability and robustness, also be pointed out that, between 1988 and 1991, To the credit of everyone in attendance, this year’s the Catalina earned the esteem and affection of the the Spanish government rented 3 Catalina water- Warbirds Over the Beach was, perhaps, among the many crews who used it during the war, and only bombers from a Chilean company, Aeroservicio best of the air shows yet undertaken by the Military later, was it replaced by more modern aircraft but Parrague, to fight forest fires. Aviation Museum. What began with so much not of superior efficacy. uncertainty unfolded to become a most memorable Due to their effectiveness in their newfound weekend for all. By your continued support we may In the postwar period, starting in the early ‘50s, role as fire fighters, it’s not hard to understand how entertain the notion of even more memories made the United States began to experiment with the use so many Catalinas have survived to this day. Once and remembered as our warbirds continue to soar of surplus military aircraft for firefighting. The in the hands of collectors, many of these warbirds above the cloud capp’d towers, over the beach. q first planes to be employed in this new role were were then returned to their Continued on Page 7 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 PAGE 5

Museum Volunteer Aircraft Handlers Help “Keep Em’ Flying”! By Ed Dillingham

Everyone who volunteers at the Military Aviation Museum donates what may be the most precious commodity of all–time. We all know that our volunteers help the museum to run like a well oiled machine–doing everything from landscaping to parking at special events, to helping out in the gift shop and giving tours as a docent. These are just a few of the tasks that our cadre of dedicated volunteers provides. There are a group of volunteers, however, who are privileged to help out in a most interesting, sometimes stressful and (often) physically demanding Photo Courtesy of Art Norfolk (L); Photo Courtesy of Liza Eckhardt (R) way–the Aircraft Handlers and Safety Observers. It cannot be argued that one of the best features aircraft, perform pre-flight and post-flight checks, The Aircraft Safety Observers (ASOs) are of our museum is that most of the aircraft are flight and direct the aircraft while taxiing just to name a commonly referred to as “Yellow Dots”–because capable, and during good weather any number few of the chores. Handlers are commonly referred of the yellow dot on their museum nametags of them may be up in the air at any given time. to as “Red Dots” because of the red dot on their that identifies them as such. ASOs help the han- Including the museum air shows, Flying Proms, and a museum nametags that identifies them to the pilots dlers and museum staff during flight operations variety of off-property, a sizeable total of flight hours as handlers. Handlers are first required to have a as well. They help move the aircraft by serving are amassed! During the early days of the museum, minimum of 500 hours as a museum volunteer to be as “wing walkers”–ensuring that the museum aircraft operations were handled by museum staff accepted to the program, as well as being physically aircraft do not come in contact with anything and Fighter Factory personnel. As the museum capable of performing the work. Obviously, working during movement. They also act as safety observers collection has grown, so too have flight operations, with vintage warbirds can be physically demanding on the flight line; ensuring wayward guests don’t which have become too much for paid museum staff as well as great fun–though stressful at times. Our approach too closely to the aircraft during flight to handle without some help. handlers soon discover that a 15 hour workday operations. during an air show is a loooooong day–especially Enter the volunteer Independent Aircraft Handlers ASOs are required to have a minimum of 300 considering the “chronological enhancement” of and Aircraft Safety Observers. Handlers and ASOs hours as a volunteer, as well as being physically Red Dots! are essentially “reservists” to supplement Fighter capable of performing the required tasks. They also Factory and museum staff during aircraft operations. After entry into the program, trainees are must complete a course delivered by the museum Working on these vintage aircraft is obviously a labor required to successfully complete a course of staff to learn their duties as ASOs. of love–albeit one with a large dose of responsibility, instruction in aircraft operations supervised by Ultimately, both handlers and ASOs provide and handlers have the rare privilege of helping to senior staff at the Fighter Factory. Upon completion a significant service to the museum–while having “keep ‘em flying”. Handlers fuel the aircraft, move of the course, handlers are authorized to work on a heckuva good time! Sounds like a “win-win” them, assist the pilot while entering and exiting the the museum flight line during aircraft operations. situation for all! q

Clint was born in 1952 and grew up on a farm When Clint drove out to the farm to see this Zeleski from the Richmond, B.C. Air Museum was near the small village of Milo, Alberta. From a very aircraft, he really had been thinking it would likely looking for Mosquito parts and suggested that Clint early age he always knew he wanted to fly. He loved turn out to be an Anson as many farmers had bought get hold of him. Clint sold it to Ed for $150.00. He everything aviation and got extremely interested in them for scrap after the war. (There used to be a huge was apparently going to try to restore it as a static WW II aircraft. training base in the area south of Vulcan, Alberta for display. When he arrived, Clint’s father and brother Allied .) As he got closer to the When Clint was about eighteen years old, it had Rod helped him load the plane for transport to farm and could start to see the plane a little clearer, his become well known that he loved old aircraft and Richmond. heart started pounding. He could not believe his eyes consequently someone informed him of an old plane as he recognized it to be a Mosquito! After the farmer This has all surfaced because one of Clint’s closest in a farmer’s field. They did not know what kind it told Clint he could have it, he drove home and went friends from childhood called him about an article he was...just an old plane. When Clint found out whose straight to his dad to figure out how they could get it saw in the Herald about this plane. A while field it was, he contacted the farmer and asked to home to the farm, all the time knowing there would ago another of his friends sent him a video of the plane go see it. That farmer had purchased it for scrap for be very little he could do with it but not wanting to see $150.00 after the war, mostly to use for parts to repair flying in New Zealand and of course they all know the it deteriorate any more than it had. His dad enlisted farm machinery. The farmer towed it by the tail across registration of the aircraft. That is what happens when the help of the only neighbor they knew who had a country to his farm, with gas still in the engines, with you love aviation. These things don’t get forgotten! big enough flat deck to haul it with. Clint thinks the his Massey Ferguson tractor. Basically, it was still a flyable Since the article, apparently the YouTube videos and neighbor wondered what the heck he got himself in aircraft at this point. At some point the Air Force came social media has lit up about this Alberta aircraft and for as they hauled it 30 miles cross country knocking and took the engines and props. The farmer then Clint is very excited to have been part of the history of down stop signs and stopping traffic to get it home. stripped it down, used the wheels for something, took it and is extremely happy seeing it so beautifully restored. some of the wiring out and dropped it on its belly. At The plane sat on the Armstrong farm from about I hope you enjoy sharing in the story! q one point it was even used as a hen house. Clint asked 1972 behind their machine shed. After about 4 or 5 the farmer if he could have it and the farmer said “sure!” years, one of Clint’s flying buddies heard that Ed Prepared by Rena Armstrong for Clint Armstrong PAGE 6 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3

Glider Towing Spitfire By Robert “Boom” R. Powell

Ideas for the invasion of scheduled for the spring of 1944 ranged from ridiculous to inge- nious. One, which sounds strange at first, just may have worked. Planners with the RCAF (Royal Ca- nadian Air Force) 126 Wing were concerned there might not be sufficient transportation available to rapidly move complete fighter squadrons to France immediately after the invasion and came up with a scheme to use their Spitfire Mk-IXs to tow gliders loaded with personnel and equipment across the English Channel. The glider chosen was the General Aircraft The Mk-9 Spitfires had a hitch bolted to the and on takeoff the tow cable broke (the closest thing Hotspur with a wingspan of 45’ and a length of 39’. tailwheel strut, with the release cable routed into the to an emergency a glider can have). The Hotspur Originally designed to carry ten equipped troops, the cockpit. Since the maximum speed for a Hotspur landed safely, another tow line was found and the Hotspur had two pilots seated in tandem. The pilot was 160 mph, which was slow for the Spitfires, the armorers continued on. A lesson learned was to not in the rear could barely see out, but was needed for nose high attitude resulted in overheated engines put all one type of specialist in one glider...just in training and to frequently hold the landing flaps and fouled spark plugs. case. After an overnight stay, the empty gliders were down. Compared to the Hamilcar, Horsa and Hadrian towed back to Biggin Hill. (CG-4 in the US), the Hotspur was considered too More 401 Squadron pilots went to Netheravon, small for airborne assault and had been relegated to and by , there were enough pilots Now that the scheme had proved practical, the the training role, so they were available. and gliders for squadron exercises. The Hotspur go-ahead to check out the rest of the squadrons was was all wood and its creaking and groaning in given. The plan was a dozen Hotspurs would be able In late 1943, 401 Squadron based at Biggin flight during live load tests scared the ground crew to move the 126th Wing. By March 1944, training Hill sent four pilots, two flying officers and two who had “volunteered” to ride in the glider. was complete and the gliders and Spitfires were being sergeants, to the Netheravon Training Center for a moved to their launching base at Kenley when the glider course. The course consisted of one ride in In January, a sister squadron, RCAF 412, was program was cancelled, as it was no longer needed. the back cockpit and two up front. After that, the going on a gunnery course in Yorkshire so a practical Spitfire pilots were considered qualified, paired up demonstration was arranged with three gliders carrying Hmmm, the museum has a Spitfire Mk-9 and a and flew “a couple of hours” together. (Note: the extra pilots, ground crew and spare parts towed by glider. Next Warbirds show maybe? Hotspur was a glider—they go down—and not a 401 Squadron Spitfires. After an hour and twenty The full article, “RCAF Spitfire Glider Tugs” by sailplane—they can go up—so much of that time minutes enroute, they had to land and refuel. One Bill McRae, from which this was extracted, is available was probably while being towed.) glider had ten armorers and their equipment onboard, on a most interesting site: www.vintagewings.ca q

WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Lands at the Museum By Dan Cutting

Members of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team jumping from the museum’s JU-52

The team members of the WWII Airborne considerably different in design than the C-47 aircraft paratroopers once again in a WWII German aircraft. Demonstration Team (WWIIADT) were recently the team normally uses. The JU-52 is a tri-motor design The Fallschirmjager jumpers of the German army offered the rare opportunity to have a vintage which provides different airflow profiles around the had a much different style of exiting the aircraft. The JU-52 aircraft available to them for a demonstration aircraft that the jumper must be aware of. The wing ADT members spent time in the aircraft before the jump at the 2014 Warbirds Over the Beach air show configuration is also different, reducing the sight flight to determine the best body position and exit in Virginia Beach. capabilities of the Jump Master to see the drop zone procedure to quickly leave the aircraft and get into position as the canopy opened. The team determined Rare is an over used word these days but in this and make the decisions needed to properly place the that keeping with their training and exiting as they case it is appropriate, as there are so few original jumpers in the correct area. The door opening is much JU-52 aircraft flying let alone providing the capability smaller and lower, reducing the jumper’s ability to have done for so many years was the safest manner to discharge paratroopers. The kind folks at the assume the most stable body position for chute rather than to try and do the “Superman” position Military Aviation Museum have such a bird and deployment. that the Fallchirmjager used. wanted a team of professionals to jump from it. All that considered, the team members that made The JU-52 aircraft flies considerably slower than When WWIIADT was offered that opportunity, the jump in the uniform of the Fallschirmjager were the C-47 the team is used to and they looked forward the team was quick to take the offer and plan for determined to provide the crowd with a professional to the experience of jumping at 80-100mph rather Continued on Page 7 the jump. Planning was important as this aircraft is and dynamic show of what it looked like to have than the normal 120mph. VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 PAGE 7

In Memoriam Catalina continued initial configurations prior to being introduced After a period of neglect in a judicial deposit at into the air show circuit. the beginning of the 90s, this PBY was purchased In the United States, and in other for a few dollars at a public auction by Gus parts of the world (including Europe), some Vincent, a TWA pilot commander who tried to Catalinas are still used for commercial purposes, restore it at his own expense. In 1994, after mainly in the tourism sector for passenger transport Vincent determined that he would not be able to over short, but luxurious cruises along the coast of complete the restoration, the amphibian was sold Africa. During 1995, the European Warbird circuit to a company that moved to Santa Rosa, California considerably increased the interest in in order to complete the reconstruction in work- and in particular, recorded the arrival of four shops run by Lynn Hunt, an expert restorer of Consolidated PBY Catalinas which supported the Catalinas. At the end of that year, the original steering wheel for several years in Britain was bought by Joseph, Bonfiglio, Tosolin and (the famous “Killer Cat” based at Duxford). Such Guido in order to transfer it to Europe to use a large concentration of specimens had not been in the air show circuit. In the meantime, the seen in the EU since the time of their operational Catalina was acquired by Wallace Simpson use for several European air forces in order to Enterprises. It took off to Europe, driven by Tosolin, record flight training of these legendary amphibians. Bonfiglio and Hunt. On May 21, 1995, it reached Among them, the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina the airport Vergiate (VA) after having made Klaus J. G.Jones photographed in this article stood out for the stops in Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, perfection of its restoration, leading it to be regarded On May 13, at the young age of 59, Klaus Jones and Switzerland. From this new base of as the model most faithful to the original version passed away. Klaus was born in Wiesbaden, Germany operations, which alternated with that of Ambri in operation during the period of the Second and graduated from high school in Niceville, Florida. (Switzerland), the aircraft took off for two years World War. In particular, it is reported to be the He held a degree in computer science and a degree from to participate in numerous Italian and European only one with the turret gunner for the front, Antonelli Institute of Graphic Design and Photography. air shows (the images in the water and in the positioned in the nose, which gave it back its Klaus was an active member of “PICTURE THIS” air were taken in 1996 in Venice during the characteristic physiognomy “gibbous and square”. Photography Club of . rally of international seaplanes “Sky and Water”). The perfect two-tone blue livery made it look Between 1997 and 1999, this Catalina G. McPherson Klaus was a retired school bus driver and he even more war-like and highlighted the shape of was used for tourist flights in South Africa. drove with pride the Aviation Museum’s 1962 British the fuselage. However, at the beginning of 2000, it returned to Routemaster double-decker bus. Renowned for his This aircraft has quite a history. Built in 1943 Europe to be based at North Weald (England). In informative and light hearted narratives, he made (n 1656-Bu.48249), it was used by the U.S. Navy 2001, the seaplane was used in England for the many friends with tourists and visitors travelling to in the Pacific, and after the end of the war was filming of the television series “Band of ” Virginia Beach on their tours of the city and the NAS transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard for rescue (produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks in Oceana air base. at sea. At the end of its operational career, it collaboration with the American network HBO). was sold as surplus to the Brazilian government He was an avid biker and occasionally would Subsequently, it temporarily returned to Canada and employed for several years in the control ride with the Patriot Guard and the Rolling Thunder for the movie “Below” (produced and directed of dams on the Amazon River. In 1964, it was in D.C. He was a member of VTX Cafe Motor Cycle by David Twohy in 2002), for which it received purchased by O.W. Noble in the United States and Group and VTXOA Biker Group. the interim livery of a Catalina of 209 Squadron registered with the freshman civil N9521C. Since RAF (codes AH545 WQ-Z). Purchased in 2002 Left to cherish his memory are his parents, 1967, it passed through various traders including Harold and Irmgard Jones of Virginia Beach. Helga the Catalina Flying Inc., of Anchorage, who between by Training Services Inc. of Virginia Beach and Guenter Hoffman of Wiesbaden, Germany and 1983 and 1987 assigned it to the transport of goods (Virginia), it left England to come to the United their two sons, Stefan and Andreas. Cousins, Claudia and passengers in the vast expanses of Alaska. States in July 2003 becoming part of the rich and Olaf and families of Munich, Germany. Also After a few years, it began to operate with the fleet collection of the Fighter Factory, which is now aunts Mary, Audrey, Kay and Judy and families of aircraft of the Colombian drug traffickers who an integral part of the Military Aviation Museum of East Tenn. Also many other family members used to transport illegal drugs into the United created by Gerald Yagen. At the end of 2010, and friends. States (performed splash landings during the night the Catalina was subjected to audit work at the firm Sky Harbor Aircraft in Goderich (Ontario, Klaus was a very loving, generous, compassionate off the coast of Florida where they were waiting person who will be greatly missed by his family and for the powerful local drug speed boats). During Canada) during which a new turret front (ball-type) many friends both home and abroad. a coup by the agents of the Drug Enforcement was installed, and it received a new livery type of Agency, the Catalina was captured and impounded. the U.S. Navy. q

Airborne continued After discussion with the pilots, it was decided that and variable and the team all landed in the small drop the crowd what paratroopers did and to interact directly 100mph was the optimal speed to execute the jump. zone with very little effort. with the attendees as they don their chutes and explain The flights for the three jumps were perfect because The opportunity to be a part of the program at the to them what the paratroopers of WWII were all about. of the excellent coordination between the ADT Jump Military Aviation Museum Warbirds Over the Beach air Through the efforts of all who organized and put in the Master and the aircrew. The program called for four show is an event the WWIIADT look forward to every long hours to make the show a success, they were able jumps, but high winds required that one be scrubbed. year. To be able to do a jump from a JU-52 made it that to further their mission to Remember, Honor and Serve The exits from the aircraft were less than perfect but much more thrilling and fun for the team. The WWII our WWII Airborne Veterans. For more information on greatly improved by the last jump. After the first couple Airborne Demonstration Team is profoundly grateful to the team or to learn more about becoming a member of exits the paratroopers were able to assume the stable be a part of this prestigious program and look forward to or attend their Jump School, see their web page at body position they were looking for. The winds were light many more years of being able to appear and help show www.wwiiadt.org or call the team at 580 335-3344. q NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID VIRGINIA BEACH, VA PERMIT NO. 235

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