Volume 49 Number 7 Website: http://www.aerohistorians.org July 2015

Revell 1/28 by Ken Hornby

July 11 th Guest Speaker the 457 th to complete the 35 Revell Sopwith Camel Ken Rohde 1 st Lt. USAAF mission limit, flying as copilot for by Ken Hornby retired, copilot of B-17G 954Q, “Queenie” and on his very first 748th Squadron, 457 th BG, 8 th mission and others as spare co- The Model AF. pilot for the lead ship. Turning Drafted before Pearl, Ken down a 6 year extension offer in This kit was first released in Rohde became an infantry the USAAF after VJ day, Lt. 1959 and has been re-released soldier and served in the South Rohde retired and became a once about every 5-10 years Pacific. Applying for pilot training, successful engineer with SPX. since. It’s a remarkable piece of it took more than a year and a plastic engineering for its era. half to process the documents, Please join us to hear one of There are a few problems with then passing the written test that the last remaining hero’s of the kit, namely the over-long his orders were finally cut for the WWII. length of the struts, but it can still USAAF. be built into an acceptable model Modelers, bring in your 8th out of the box. However, I Flying in the ETO, from Air Force B-17 and B-24 models decided to correct or improve as August to December 1944, Lt. for display. many of the shortcomings of the Rohde was the first crewman of (Continued on page 5)

Page 1 TCAH Officers From the Prez an extended article in the by Bob Maderich II newsletter on the build/ President , Robert Maderich II history of that plane? So, Welcome to the July edition from now on, let's find a Vice-President , John R. Ross of the TCAH newsletter. Many model that's on the table and thanks to Bob Steinbrunn for a ask the builder to do an Secretary , Marty Agather great presentation at the June article. Kind of a "Model of the Month" thing. Treasurer , Dennis Strand meeting. Like he said, modeling is modeling, no matter the Historian , Tom Norrbohm subject. Sure, there are definite differences between genres, but 2)I went with my Dad, a vet, the skill and craftsmanship to the "World War Two' days remain the same. at Fort Snelling recently. The guys from MMFS had a great Newsletter Info We also put our club display of models and Article Submission Deadline: 22nd of challenge on the calender for dioramas there. They even each month completion in January, 2016. were building right there! It We'll make it a part of the club seemed to be a great Editor contest and award it in some success with lots of people Bob Arko unique way. So...... dig into the observing and asking 6417 Rice Court dark recesses of your model questions. So...... how Lino Lakes, MN 55014 could TCAH reach out and 651-481-8887 closet and find something that be seen in the wider [email protected] qualifies for the (cue scary music here) "Dungeon of Doom" community? It seems local challenge. Remember, any genre air shows would be a perfect is fine, it just has to be something spot for a club display. Send Change of Address Notice to: you've had for a LONG time and Dennis Strand now, behold, you have a chance to build it. Let's discuss this over the summer months. Start churning TCAH This Month up some ideas for the future, I want to pose two especially with the clubs 50th The monthly meeting will be questions to the membership this Anniversary coming up! held Saturday July 11, at Flem- month. ing Field, South St. Paul, begin- See you in July, and don't ning at 1:00 pm. Vendor baiting 1)After seen Dennis Strand's forget, we have a guest speaker will begin about 12:00, so come excellent B-29 at the June courtesy of the hard work of our early. meeting, I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if we had own Mark Rossmann.

Page 2 Airline Chatter Korean AIr Lines ordered 40 by Terry Love Delta Airlines is going to Boeing 737-800s. spend $229 million to upgrade Delta Airlines fleet updates their facilities at Garuda Airlines of Indonesia are as follows: Los Angeles. ordered 60 Boeing 737-800s. 1- 22 more Boeing 717s are scheduled for delivery by Air France is retiring their Volga-Driepr of Russia, December 1 (66 of the 88 have last Boeing 747-400 this coming ordered 20 Boeing 747-800 been delivered), winter. freighters and 21 Boeing 737- 2 - Boeing 737-900s are being 800s. delivered 2 per week (have 39 The following is the report out out of 100 ordered), of the Paris Air Show Ethopian Airlines ordered 6 3- 10 more Airbus A-330s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners. 4 - 25 Airbus A350s ordered Airbus received 426 airliner with deliveries beginning in orders at the Paris Air Show Wizz Airlines of the 2017, worth $57 Billion. Airbus has a Netherlands ordered 110 Airbus 5- 45 Airbus A-321s on order backlog of 6,300 orders. A-321s valued at $12.5 Billion. with deliveries beginning in February of 2016, Boeing received 331 airliner Avianca Airlines of Brazil 6 - The Big Boy fleets now has orders at the Paris Air Show ordered 62 Airbus A-320s, 7 636 airliners, with 144 on worth $51 Billion. Boeing now Airbus A-33-s, and 10 Airbus order. has a backlog of 5,700 orders. A350s.

Malaysia Airlines has gone Ruili Airlines of China Qatar Airlines ordered 14 into bankruptcy. They lost two ordered via the Chinese Boeing 777s worth $4.8 Boeing 777s last year and Communist Government 60 Billion. ridership plummeted. They will Boeing 737-800s, valued at $6.1 probably lay off about 8000 of Billion. Treasurer’s Report their 20,000 workforce. The by Dennis Strand airline will get a new name, logo, Frontier Airlines ordered 10 and color scheme. Airbus A-321s and 2 more A- Our expenses for this month 320s. Frontier currently has 110 were all gift certificates turned in Airbus is planning to Airbuses. by our busy model builders. increase the production rate of These totaled $120.00, and gives their most popular A-320 series Shenzhan AIr of China us a balance of $4731.50. to 60 to 63 per month. Presently ordered 46 Boeing 737-800s for they are building 50 per month. $4.4 Billion. As I mentioned in my report An Airbus A-320 cost just over at the June meeting, I went back $100 million each. Delta Airlines bought 40 though our records and found more Boeing 737-900s. This is in that in 2014 our income was Boeing is currently building addition to the 100 Boeing 737- $2073.00 and our expenses their 737-800 airliner at the rate 900s that Delta has on order were $2356.90. We no longer of 52 per month. A Boeing 737- already. Cost for the new 40 have the newsletter postal 800 cost just over $100 million airliners is $4 Billion. expense and Nordic Con each. remains a separate fiscal entity. Aeroflot, the Russian airline, So, it appears we are financially Federal Express is retiring 7 cancelled the order for 22 Boeing balanced. That is, we will not MD-11s, 3 Airbus A-300s, 4 787 Dreamliners. gain or lose a substantial amount Airbus A-310s, and1 MD-10. All of our funds during 2015. are freighters. On March 1 of this Enter Air of Poland ordered 3 year, Fed Ex had 63 freighters in Boeing 737-800s. At the June midway point of service. the year, we have spent AerCap Holdings, a leasing $1061.67 to date. If we retain Boeing announced that the company, ordered 100 Boeing our membership numbers, our reliability of the Boeing 787 737-800s. club coffers will remain about Dreamliner is above 99%. even with our previous year.

Page 3 Secretary’s Notes Do 17/Do 215 on June 1 of that year. There by Dennis Strand -Quickboost and Airies stuff were no loses due to enemy ac- -Valiant Wings tion from fighters or flak. All The meeting was called to Macchi MC. 202, Technical loses were attributed to the storm order at 13:08 hrs. Guide they flew into. D-Day to VE Day: The Air John Roll gave his vender’s Battle Over Europe Mark also reminded us of our report which included the follow- -KP or Kovazody-Postejov guest speaker for July. Captain ing new items: 1/72 new versions of early Ken Rohde was a B-17 copilot -Lukgraph resin kits Merlin Mustangs and will relate his experiences. 1/32 Curtiss A-3 Falcon 1/72 Piper Cub Please think about bringing in 1/72 Boulton Paul P-12 -Airfix your B-24 or B-17 model (8thAF Bodmin 1/72 Boulton Paul Defiant markings would be a plus). 1/72 English Cork Mk. III 1/48 Hurricane I 1/72 Norman Thomas N.T. 1/48 Spitfire I David Kopydlowski made note 2B of the fact that the “Blue Angles” - Military Miniatures in Review Mark Rossman talked about a will be at Eau Claire, Wisconsin th B-35/B-49 book newsletter entitled “High Ground” on July 4 and the -Big batch of Warbirds/Kits which announced an aviation dis- “Thunderbirds” are scheduled to th World decals play put together by Mark Doolit- perform at Mankato on June 27 th -Skyline/Daco tle, a relative of James Doolittle, and 28 . 737’s re-released and will be open to the public President Bob stated that -Daco from July 1-August 31 in Neills- World War II Days would be hon- th st F-104 plastic correction ville, Wisconsin. Also mentioned ored on June 20 and 21 at Fort and improvement sets was the anniversary of the 1945 Snelling in St. Paul. -Kagero “Black Friday” mission of the “3D”; Type VIIc U-boat “Sun Setters”. They lost 27 Mus- Finally Bob Steinbrunn gave (mostly re-released) tangs and 24 pilots in a single an excellent presentation on the Monograph #60, Dornier mission when they flew into ex- building of his 1929 Duesenberg tremely poor weather conditions (Continued on page 5)

Page 4 (Continued from page 4) a more accurate appearance. for the bungee cord shock SJ model. He covered many as- The seat was made from fabric, absorbers. I sanded down the pects of the project, from solder- plastic sheet and a paper clip. prominent ribs on the wings and ing suspension parts and rebuild- The seat cushion is laminated cut out the missing apertures ing spoke wheels, to getting the plastic sheet and putty covered through the lower wing for the right “leather” look to the uphol- with a homemade decal double flying wires. Rigging is all stery. I know it inspired me to try representing a “requisitioned” invisible thread colored with a some of these creative tech- chair cushion. The lap belt is black marker. niques . masking tape, Scotch tape, and I had decided before starting plastic. Creating and fitting the the model that I would build the cockpit was the most time Camel of Lt. (later Air Vice consuming portion of the build. Marshall Sir) Francis Mellersh, (Continued from page 1) who took part in the last flight of kit as I could. To that end I The Clerget 9b engine got as a scratch-built a complete cockpit new, thinner, wire pushrods for a member of 209 Squadron RAF. I that, of course, can’t be seen. I more in-scale look. I also added relied on a painting of Mellersh’s shortened the struts to a more spark plug wires, but again, they aircraft that he commissioned in correct length and added details are so small and inconspicuous, 1920 and also on period photos from Copper State Models. they can’t really be seen. The of 209 Squadron aircraft for the These included resin and photo- wind-driven generator for the fuel paint scheme, staining, and etch guns, and also instrument pressure pump was moved from weathering. The decals that faces courtesy of esteemed the cabane strut to the landing came with the kit were beyond member Mark Krumrey. All other gear strut as was often seen repair. Since this kit had just detail was scratch-built or during the war. I scribed through been re-released again, I created from modified kit parts. the axle fairing until I could bend contacted Revell of Germany to The only cockpit parts from the the axle enough to represent the see if they could provide kit are the floor and rudder bar weight of the aircraft on the replacements. I got no response and they were each modified for ground. I used upholstery thread (Continued on page 6)

Page 5 (Continued from page 5) Force later used his testimony to close to me and in looking up I to my inquiry until weeks later, support Capt. Roy Brown as the saw Captain Brown’s machine.” when a large envelope arrived in victor over von Richthofen. Brown turned away, and an the mail with decals from an enduring controversy began. older release that included That day 209 Squadron’s A marking for multiple aircraft Flight consisted of Brown Mellersh survived the war including Roy Brown and leading, with Lt’s Mackenzie, and in 1919 was granted a Manfred von Richthofen! I must Lomas, May and Mellersh. They permanent commission as a say that I’ve commonly found left the ground at 9:20 but pilot in the RAF. In October he model manufacturers and the Mellersh soon returned with reverted to the rank of Flying modeling community in general engine trouble. He took off in Officer and two months later to be a very generous group. another Camel and rejoined his joined the Unemployed List. He Unfortunately, the only markings flight. B and C flights of five rejoined the RAF in August I was able to use from the sheet planes each followed within 1921. On 8 June 1922 he was were the British roundels. The about 15 minutes. Lomas of A slightly injured while flying a decals splintered on entering Flight and another pilot of C DH9A, which stalled and spun water and the white portions Flight also had returned with into the ground during takeoff were transparent enough to mechanical trouble. At the end of from Shaibah, Basra Province, require white paint underneath. their assigned patrol sectors A Iraq. After a tour of duty in Iraq The black checkerboard and C Flights spotted AA fire and and the Middle East, he markings on the tailplanes are went to investigate. They found a instructed pilots in England. ancient decals from an unknown mixed formation of Albatros and During World War II he manufacturer. The squadron Fokker triplanes of Richthofen’s commanded an Air Group, then markings and serial block were “Flying Circus” attacking two an Air Force in Ceylon and made from white stripe decals RE8’s and Brown led his eight Southeast Asia. He returned to and rub on numbers. For paint I Camels into the attack. Mellersh, England as commandant of the used a mix of enamels and following closely behind Brown, RAF Staff College, then held acrylics, but the majority are singled out a triplane with a blue command positions in the Far Humbrol colors. tail. He fired a burst which East and Malaya and upon his apparently wounded the pilot or return to Great Britain was made I have a feeling that now damaged the controls, as the Commandant-General of the that I’ve built this, Wingnut triplane rolled over and fell, Regiment, which Wings is sure to announce a seemingly out of control. It he held until his retirement in Sopwith Camel as a future leveled out near the ground and 1954 at the age of 56. He was release! began making its way unsteadily awarded the Knight of the British to the west. As Mellersh closed Empire (KBE) for his services in The History Behind the in for the kill, two Fokkers fixed Malaya between 1 December Model themselves onto his tail. When 1949 and 31 May 1950, another Camel came to his aid, becoming Sir Francis. In May Francis John Williamson he spun down to shake off his 1955, he and Lieutenant- Mellersh was commissioned in pursuers and the triplanes Commander M. Baring of the the in abandoned the chase. Before were killed in a 1916 and had been posted to 9 Mellersh was forced to break off bizarre helicopter crash at Sqn in June 1917. He claimed 5 his second attack, he saw the Itchenor, England. victories with the squadron, blue tailed Fokker crash land which became 209 Squadron on inside German lines. This was A member of the Itchenor 1 , including one on 21 later credited as his fourth Yacht Club, Mellersh had April in a combat during which victory. During the fight Mellersh arranged to cruise over to 209 Sqn fought Manfred von again experienced engine trouble Cherbourg that weekend with his Richthofen’s “Flying Circus” and and decided to head for home. friend, Lt. Commander Baring. the “Red Baron” was killed. With a misfiring engine he made Lt. Commander Baring had a Mellersh was 19 years old at the his way back at treetop height helicopter bring him down to time and was considered one of along the Somme River valley. Itchenor where the pilot hovered the more experienced pilots. His According to Mellersh’s it over a jetty allowing him to role in the battle was small, but statement, “Whilst so returning a step out. While Baring was significant, since the Royal Air bright red triplane crashed quite (Continued on page 7)

Page 6 (Continued from page 6) being greeted by Sir Francis, the helicopter was ascending to depart when its rotors struck the mast of a yacht and crashed on its side. The main rotor struck Sir Francis on the head and Lt Commander Baring was struck by the tail rotor, both being killed instantly.

On The Table—June 2015

Modeler Kit Manufacturer Scale

Mark Rossman F6F-5 Hellcat Hasegawa 1/48 Mark Rossman P-51D 1/48 Bob Steinbrunn Duesenberg 1/18 Dennis Strand B-29 Superfortress Monogram 1/48 Don Stauffer Eindecker Eduard 1/48 Bob Maderich Renault FT-17 1/35 Bob Maderich Stearman PT-17 1/48 Scott Harvieux Yamato 1/350

Page 7 Directions to the Club Meeting Location

Where: South St. Paul Municipal • miles toward the Fleming Field Airport, a.k.a. Fleming Field, lo- airport terminal building. cated on the southern extremity of If coming from east Twin Cities on South St. Paul, south of 1-494, west westbound 494: of Concord Street and East of High- • Exit at the 7th and 5th Avenue way 52. exit (Exit No.65) • Turn left (South) on 7th Ave and If coming from the western Twin go approximately .6 miles to a Cities going east on 494: 4-way Stop sign. This is South • Exit at the 7th and 5th Avenue Street W. To your left front there exit (Exit No.65) will be a small strip mall; to your • Turn right (South) on 7th Ave right there will be an Amoco sta- and go approximately .6 miles to tion. a 4-way Stop sign. This is South • Turn left (East) at the 4-way Street W. To your left there will Stop onto be a McDonald's; to your right • South Street W and go approxi- front there will be a Walgreen's. mately .4 miles. Along the way • Turn left (East) at the 4-way you will encounter two more Stop onto Stop signs—the third Stop sign • South Street W and go approxi- (Henry Avenue) will be a "T" in- mately .6 miles. Along the way tersection. At the "T" intersec- you will encounter three more tion on your left will be homes Stop signs—the third Stop sign and on your right softball fields. (Henry Avenue) will be a "T" in- • Turn right (south) onto Henry tersection. At the "T" intersec- Ave. and go approximately .2 tion on your left will be homes miles toward the Fleming Field and on your right softball fields. airport terminal building • Turn right (south) onto Henry The terminal is on the right with Ave. and go approximately .2

Twin City Aero Historian Rick Schmierer 1852 E. 39 Street Minneapolis, MN 55407

Return address requested

The Aero Historian is published montly by the Twin City Aero Historians, Inc., a joint chapter of the American Aviation Historical Society and International Plastic Modelsers Society/USA, for members and readers as part of their annual dues or fees.

The group is open to aviation enthusiasts from teenagers on up who are interested in aviation modeling, photography, collecting, art and writing. For more information contact Larry Donovan at 651-501-4755.

The Twin Cities Aero Historians (TCAH) meet the second Saturday of every month at 1:00pm.

See above for the new meeting loca- tions and directions.

Mail Newsletter material and address changes to the treasurer.

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