Volume 11, Issue 3 July 2010

EAA Warbirds Squadron 2 Newsletter A Hero Goes West By Frank Almstead e lost a friend last month. Much more than Canada. Later as an Air Force reservist, he was called Wa friend, really – he was a hero, an educator, back to active duty for tours during the Korean War and a gentleman. William H. Holloman III, known and in Vietnam. It was during that time he switched to us as just plain Bill, passed away following a heart services and became the fi rst black helicopter pilot in attack; he was 85 years old. Bill was best known for the Army. Training helicopter pilots in Greenland, he being a member of the . Born 21 became a leading instrument examiner and check pilot. August 1924 in St. Louis, MO, Lt. Col. Bill Holloman He then served as Director for Safety and Standards, fl ew with the 332nd Fighter Group in World War fi rst in Vietnam and then in Europe. II. Bill fl ew his P-51 Mustang Colonel Holloman, having from against targets in amassed nearly 17,000 fl ying Germany, Austria, and other hours and becoming a Master Eastern European countries. As Aviator, retired from the service if one war wasn’t enough, he was in 1972. He went on to complete called back to serve in both Korea his degree requirements in and Vietnam and later became Business Administration at the a professor of history at the University of Maryland, and University of Washington. History at the University of Holloman, a kid infatuated Washington. Bill was a founding with aviation, successfully member and the fi rst president completed the Aviation Cadet of the Sam Bruce Chapter of examinations in August 1942 Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Bill was at the age of 18. After waiting a member of the U.S. Army months for class selection, he Black Aviation Association, began training with college the P-40 Warhawks Pilots, the courses at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama and later P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots, and the P-51 Mustang Pilots graduated in class 44-H from Tuskegee Army Air Field Associations, plus assisting the Western Washington in September 1944. Squadron of ALO’s in Air Force Academy and Holloman was rated in several great fi ghters of the AFROTC recruiting. He was an honarary member, war including the P-40, P-39 and P-47. However, it and a huge presence within the Cascade Warbirds. was the P-51 Mustang that became his favorite mount. In retirement Bill may have done what he The 332nd painted their aircraft with distinctive considered his fi nest work, he started educating people, red control surfaces and tails, and thoroughout the not only the younger generation, but anyone who campaign in Europe, the “Red Tails” were noted as a would listen about history and aviation. He hosted fi erce bunch of fi ghter pilots who went the extra air panels about military aviation at Seattle’s Museum of mile to protect bombers. Flight and toured the country sharing his story. Bill After World War II, Colonel Holloman worked in Holloman was a legend to all who knew him and will South America and fl ew small commercial planes in be sorely missed. › WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 Editor’s Page WARBIRD By Frank Almstead t’s been an a Summer full of suprises hard work and dedication. The 2010 EAA FLYER Iso far and I got another one in the mail Newsletter Editor Awards will be presented on Cascade Warbirds the other day. I was fl ipping through the Saturday, July 31,2010 during the Chapter EAA Squadron 2 Newsletter stack walking back to the house and I saw Leaders Breakfast at the EAA AirVenture an unusual letter from the EAA. When Museum Founders’ Wing. Once again, please Commanding Offi cer I opened it I was suprised to see the accept our congratulations! Placing so Greg Anders following: highly in the EAA Newsletter Editor Awards is Executive Offi cer Dave Desmon CONGRATULATIONS! You have been truly an outstanding accomplishment. Operations Offi cer selected as one of the recipients of the 2010 As you know, it’s not an award for the Curt Kinchen EAA Chapter Newsletter Editor Awards. editor, but for you, the contributors and Veterans Affairs R.D. “Crash” Williams EAA is pleased to have this occasion supporters of the Warbird Flyer. I fi rmly Finance Offi cer to recognize the exceptional quality of believe that because of the quality of Fred C. Smyth your chapter newsletter. The creativity, your input we are able to produce the best Newsletter Editor Frank Almstead consistency and high standards that your newsletter in the country. We’ll have to wait Newsletter Publisher newsletter exhibits are evidence of your and see what the judges think. › Ed Rombauer

This is the offi cial publication Media Review of the Cascade Warbirds EAA By John Clark Squadron 2. As such, it serves principally as a communications Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds vehicle for our membership. The Authors: Robin Olds with Christina Olds and Ed Rasimus views and opinions expressed in Hardcover - 416 pages (April 13, 2010) this newsletter are those of the individual writers, and do not St. Martin’s Press; ISBN-10: 0312560230 constitute the offi cial position of the Squadron or the EAA. As members you are encouraged to ighter Pilot is the long Also told are the two additional wars he contribute articles, comments, squadron news, and anything else Fawaited biography fought at home and abroad: those of the Cold involving Warbirds or associated from Brigadier General War and a war against a seemingly endless subjects to the editor. He will Robin Olds, one of the assignment to the Pentagon. Flying made the gladly work with you and see that your material is put into print greatest combat pilots and leaders to wear Air Defense tolerable but endless hours at a and included in the newsletter, a U.S. Air Force uniform. This biography desk left him weary and nearly disillusioned. no matter your level of writing was written in General Old’s own words, One gets the true sense that he was a no- experience or computer expertise. Articles can be submitted via which were collected from his memoirs and nonsense individual that did not suffer fools e-mail, to the editor’s address. transcribed recollections. Completing the lightly. Just as often as not, he let them Deadline for submission of articles is generally two weeks prior to work after his death were Christina Olds, know as well. As he ascended to the rank of the next publication, but earlier is Robin’s daughter, along with Robin’s friend, Brigadier General, he was forced to give up always appreciated! author and fellow fi ghter pilot, Ed Rasimus. his ejection seat and accepted a seat as the In his 32 years of service, General Olds commandant of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Business Offi ce: fl ew combat in two wars separated by more With retirement after 32 years of service came 1066 Yates Road Oak Harbor, WA 98277 than 20 years and giant leaps in combat a move to his beloved Rocky Mountains in aircraft technology. Contrast the guns-only Colorado to enjoy a civilian life full of skiing, Cascade Warbirds Homepage: armament and piston engines of the P-38 traveling, and speech giving. www.cascadewarbirds.org and P-51 to the multi-crew, afterburning, The reader is given a grand story-telling Editorial E-Mail: radar and missile equipped features of the experience as though Robin is recounting [email protected] F-4 Phantom. Though the aircraft changed, his life from across the room. You share his his aggressiveness and superb leadership did excitement, energy, passion for fl ying, and at EAA Cascade Warbirds Squadron not. He learned from the very best. General times heartfelt disappointments in his career 2 is a tax-exempt charitable organization as described in section Olds was fortunate to have known, and been and family life. This biography is highly 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. mentored by some of the greatest leaders recommended to anyone that wishes to know

Annual Newsletter Value: $2.00 the USAAF had produced: Carl “Tooey” more about the life and times of this great Published Quarterly Spaatz, Hap Arnold, Tex Hill and Hub leader of men. › Zemke among many others. 2 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 CO Cockpit By Greg Anders recently had one of “those sorties” that makes it clear that broke left. Lead put his gear down and landed so I fl ew I assumptions in fl ying will cause you trouble. back up initial rocking my wing. The tower fi gured it out I had the privilege of fl ying the A-10 Thunderbolt II and after I pitched up, cleared me to land. with the Idaho Air National Guard in the 190th Fighter After taxiing back in I was angrier than a wet cat. How Squadron. At one point in the squadron’s history (late could my trusted wingmen not handle that properly? A guy ‘40’s) the squadron primarily fl ew the P-51 but had some pulls up rocking his wing and no one really does anything T-6’s for profi ciency training. I had the opportunity to paint other than tell the tower the guy might be NORDO? I my T-6 in the squadron colors and fl y an IDANG T-6 while was really ready to dress them down for their failure, but still fl ying IDANG A-10’s. A brief but entertaining period instead I took a cooling off lap in my truck before I went of my life that is exceptionally rare in Air Force aviation. to debrief them and that was the best decision of the day. I Even the correct “buzz number” nomenclature of the day quickly realized that since we had been fl ying together a cooperated as the T-6 “buzz number” started with “TA.” lot, our briefi ngs had become habitual and that some of the Thus, I chose to make my “buzz number” “TA-10” as is contingency plans that I consider basic had been briefed fi tting for my “Training A-10” the “Hog Wild Gunner.” less and less over time. We had become complacent in our As it happened one day, all of the pieces fell into place briefi ngs. So much so that it had been a really long time such that I had the opportunity to fl y the P-47 Thunderbolt since I had briefed the difference between simple NORDO in formation with my T-6 and have our SNJ available as and a NORDO aircraft that was NORDO because of the photo ship. I had had trouble with the P-47’s air-to- something like an electrical fi re. air communications before so I briefed the procedural In the Air Force we had called this portion of the briefi ng portion of the sortie very carefully in case we had trouble the “Motherhood” since it was like having your mother communicating with each other. I had not had trouble with ask you if you’d taken your raincoat to school when it was the air-to-ground communications. And, yes, you can have supposed to rain that day. (“of course not Mom, raincoats trouble in air-to-air but not air-to-ground. aren’t cool!”) “Motherhood” was NOT the cool part of the The photo shoot went very well because of the thorough briefi ng where we talked about fl ying, fi ghting and winning. briefi ng. We had initially done the T-6/P-47 pictures, and It was the “What ifs” and they were boring. then the T-6 cleared out to get some individual pictures So, when I got back from my cooling off lap, I debriefed of the P-47. Also, I was recovering back to the P-47’s our sortie. The biggest debriefi ng item was for myself, the home at Paine Field, and the T-6’s were recovering back to fl ight lead. I had fallen into the trap of complacent briefi ng Bellingham. So once we were fi nished, I started towards and my fl ight did not perform as expected because of that. Paine and the T-6’s started towards Bellingham. Once they But that failure was primarily the responsibility of the fl ight had fi nished communications to get back together, my lead, and as such I had failed. The saddest thing was that I attempt to say thanks over the radio made it immediately had been failing for a long time but I had gotten away with clear that not only was I having trouble with air-to-air it because things had been going as planned. communication, my transmitter on the Jug had completely Whatever you want to call it, “contingency plans,” “what failed. I quickly decided that the best plan was to not try to ifs,” “Motherhood,” “WTF’s:” brief it thoroughly and don’t recover at Paine in their Class C airspace as a NORDO (No assume your fl ight mates will just know what to do when Radio) aircraft so I turned back north and caught up with things don’t go as planned. the T-6’s. I’d let them take me back to Bellingham and get In my last “CO Cockpit” I challenged everyone to be me cleared to land. their own “Hard ##s” Check pilot and to focus on spinning And my briefi ng had been very thorough right up until up their profi ciency as we came out of the winter season. we got to this scenario. So when I pulled up and rocked And as the “Check Pilot” for my own sortie I had some my wings, the photographer started shooting more pictures pretty barbed check ride debrief items for myself. All and neither pilot noticed me for a bit. Since I was on the things that pretty much violated what I had asked everyone wingman’s side, I switched over to the other side at which else to do. point I was noticed by the pilots and the T-6’s assumed I Sometimes listening to our own advice proves to be the would land behind them after going up initial. Sure, in most challenging thing to do. Maybe I need some more retrospect, my T-6 driver sees all of the obvious issues with practice sorties….. that plan but we were fl ying and on about a 3 mile initial already so things happened fast and momentum can be a Sic Tempus Ad Fugit!! › challenging thing to change. The T-6’s broke right so I

WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 3 Squadron News FREE AVGAS CWB IN WARBIRDS B-17 COMMITTEE

Got your attention, eh? Two upcoming Subscribers of WBA’s Warbirds The EAA has confi rmed that Warren events in the next quarter require your magazine may have noticed the June Nadeau and the B-17 committee have advance registration. The squadron cover – a beautiful T-37 “Tweet” and set the bar, once again, as the top has been invited to return to the it belongs to our very own Paul Walter scoring tour stop in the nation. The biennial Inland Skyfest at Fairchild of Milwaukee, WI. His is one of EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast AFB in Spokane the weekend of July only two civilian owned T-37’s in the arrived at Boeing Field on 24May 23–25. If you want to go, check with country. Be sure to get your hand on under the dreary skies of the wettest Ops O Curt Kinchen (ptcurt@gmail. the issue and read his story plus that May in memory. The media fl ights on com) to see if there are any rooms left. of his son Joe. They are great articles arrival day went off very well thanks in This has always been a great event and describing the search for a jet warbird, large part to the efforts of Tony Caruso in 2008 over 150,000 folks showed fl ying the T-37 and their long term in spite of the less than sunny WX. 25 up just to see Cascade Warbirds (and plans for the jet. The articles include May was a 30 hour inspection day for the jet demo team). One reminder: some great sketches by Joe during his the airplane and while the rain didn’t You’ll need to have your DD forms USAF training. Good job Paul, and cost us any revenue fl ights I’m sure current; you can fi nd the blanks on our thanks for taking another turn as a that the mechanics would have been website at www.cascadewarbirds.org. warbird custodian. happier if they hadn’t been squishing The second event requiring advance Sharp eyed members would also have around in their shoes. We were down registration is the Third Annual noticed John Session’s Impatient Virgin for two days due to low ceilings and Vintage Aircraft Weekend at Paine in trail on the July cover of Warbirds. rain. This caused a very low crowd Field in Everett. This year it will be The P-51B is featured in some turnout, as well as some cancellations held over Labor Day (Sept 3 - 5) and excellent photos accompanying three of pre-purchased fl ights. The has been much enjoyed in the past. To living history stories of pilots who fl ew economic downturn has had a negative get on the rooming listed here, check the B model Mustang over Normandy effect on the tour this year and Seattle in with XO (and VAW Liaison) Dave circa D-Day. Lastly, a well written was no exception. Lastly, the Liberty Desmon ([email protected]). article describes the development of Bell, a B-17 that preceded us by 3 Other events that may be of interest the Malcolm hood, which is a rare and weeks didn’t help our ridership either. to you are list on the back page of this distinctive feature of the Impatient A very large THANK YOU is due newsletter in the Quick Look column. Virgin. to all the volunteers who braved the rainy skies, got soaked to the skin, IS RENO FOR YOU? NEW MEMBERS and hung in there to make the tour the best possible. There were 26 Cascade If you didn’t know, the squadron We’d like to introduce new members Warbirds in addition to the Civil Air arranges for two reserved-seat boxes and we urge you to say “Hello” when Patrol who did duty on the weekend. at the Air Races each September. If you see an unfamiliar face. In the end, the score was 181 total you would like to attend with other riders with 151 of those for revenue. squadron members, we still have Chris Brown Mukilteo, WA some seats available. The cost for the Adrian Cooper Vancouver, BC YOUR LAST ISSUE entire week is $320; contact Fred at Kevin Crotty Mill Creek, WA [email protected] if you have any Wolfgang Czaia Clinton, WA If the date after your name on this questions. By the way, we also take Mike Lehman Caldwell, ID newsletter mailing label is 12/09, reservations for future years in case Susan Lehman Caldwell, ID we’d like you to send $20 for your you are the type who likes to plan Jeffrey Lustick Bellingham, WA 2010 dues to CWB, 1066 Yates Road, ahead. For 2011 the fi rst box is sold Kevin O’Keefe Everett, WA Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Otherwise, out, but you can reserve seats in the Mark Peterson Boise, ID no more issues for you – or any other second box for only $100 each. Same Dick Storgaard Ferndale, WA goodies we might dream up. It’s really contact. Scott Urban Pasco, WA a nearly painless way to help us “Keep Drew Watson Edmonton, AB ‘em Flying.” 4 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 Squadron News SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Katie’s passion for fl ying centers are to become an Aeronautical around the utility of aircraft; she Engineer and earn her Private Pilot The squadron is in its fourth year wants to become a pilot so she can license. We have no doubt she will. of awarding scholarships to deserving participate in life-saving fl ights to Brandan Brink is the second area youth. We concentrate on teens areas inaccessible by other means. student who will be attending the in the 16- to 18-year-old group who We wish her the best. ground school at Wings Aloft. plan some phase of aviation in their This year we expanded our He’s a junior at the Central Kitsap futures. Also, we have expanded our program by teaming with Wings High School in Silverdale and his offerings this year to appeal to more Aloft, a fl ight school located on experiences are as varied. He spent students. In 2010 we have continued Boeing Field in Seattle. Scholarship ten years with the Tracyton Soccer our partnership with EAA for their winners will be enrolled in Private Club and eight years as a Royal Air Academy at Oshkosh. The fi rst Pilot Ground School and will also Ranger. He’s a lifeguard at the selectee this year is Nik Steele, a have the opportunity to take two Olympic Aquatic Center in Silverdale resident of Rochester, WA, and a and also a member of the Civil Air recent graduate of Tumwater High Patrol where he likes to help marshall School. Nik has had a very busy aircraft. Brandan plans to attend UW several years. He is already enrolled after high school and earn a degree in in South Puget Sound Community Aeronautical Engineering. He hopes College and has been a member of one day to become an airline pilot. the Lewis County CAP for Our third selectee for the past two years. As if the new ground school that wasn’t enough, while scholarship program is in high school he was Johnson Vi. Johnson is a selected to the UN Youth 2010 graduate of Renton Program. He’s even well High School where he on his way toward his spent his after-school hours aviation goal. He’s a line each year participating worker for Jorgensen Air in baseball, football, and Service at the Olympia boxing. Johnson will enroll Airport, a volunteer at the Olympia fl ights in a Cessna 172, both of which in South Seattle Community College Museum, and has even found time can be logged as Dual Received. this Fall and major in Aviation to log over 45 hours fl ight time in Our fi rst student pilot is Jessika Maintenance Technology. After seven different aircraft models. Nik Montgomery. She’s a graduate of earning his Associate Degree, he is looking for an appointment to Granite Falls High School, where plans to attend Central Washington the United States Naval Academy she’s already a member of the CAP University and earn a degree in and will apply for fl ight school after and an Honor Cadet to boot. While Aviation Flight Maintenance. graduation; he hopes to become a in high school, she was a member Ultimately, he would like a career Navy fi ghter pilot. of the Honor Society, played soccer as either an A&P mechanic or as a Our second attendee at the Air and softball, and even lettered in professional pilot. We expect he Academy will be Katie Brueske of track. She was also in Air Force could do either. Olympia, WA. She’s also a recent JROTC and was a graduate of the Cascade Warbirds would like graduate of Tumwater High School Cadet Offi cer Leadership School to take this opportunity to thank where she spent several years and was a member of the Kitty our partners, both EAA and involved in different aspects of Hawk Air Society. Last summer Wings Aloft, for the parts they are music. She was a member of and she volunteered nearly a week at the playing in bringing these aviation participated with such diverse groups Arlington -In where she spent possibilities to our area youth. Their as Women’s Choir, Concert Choir, her time in and around the military contributions are acknowledged and and the Olympia Youth Chorus. vehicle exhibit. Her primary goals appreciated.

WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 5 Unsafe at Any Altitude By Ed Rombauer ecently I received a phone call asking if I would be my hearing, I was using a modern set of hearing protectors Rinterested in riding on the B-17 as it was fl own to its with built in FM stereo music, something that was not next show stop. This would be a three and a half hour fl ight available to the crews who originally fl ew these aircraft in from Boeing Field in Seattle to Ogden, Utah. The “sure the ’40s (A little Wagner adds to the ambience). Climbing I would” tumbled out before my mind could react to the out from Boeing Field, not only was the noise level realities of a long fl ight in an un-pressurized, un-insulated increasing but there was a blast of cold air blowing through and un-heated piece of American history. Also, as there the fuselage. Looking at the ball turret I could see a wide are no “facilities” on board, at least four hours of personal gap around the ball through which the frigid outside air was endurance would be required. As I computed the adiabatic entering. It was obvious that my multiple layers of clothing lapse rate to determine how many layers of clothing to would not keep me warm. It was time to move to the radio wear, I thought that this would be a rare opportunity to see compartment. what bomber crews had to do to survive their missions in Europe. “Ball gunner to engineer—I’m not getting any suit Sitting in the back of the old bomber, dressed in multiple heat, can you take a look at the power box back layers with a hat and gloves, strapped to a wooden seat, here Sarge?” “Engineer to ball gunner—hey Arky, I felt as though I might at least stay warm for the fl ight. you’ll have to wait your turn, I’m a little busy Looking around the compartment I was in, I was aware of with the engines right now. I’ll try to get back to the basic purpose you before that the aircraft was the German built for. Almost fi ghters fi nd under my feet was us. Just don’t a ball turret with turn into machine guns, each a popsicle side of the fuselage before then.” was fi tted with a “How cold machine gun and is it Sarge?” far back in the dark “Looks like tail was another about forty gun position all seven below protected only by Arky— you’ll the thin aluminum be OK for skin of the aircraft. a couple of Flight control Aluminum Overcast at Boeing Field (Ed Rombauer photo) hours until we cables and wiring get our fuel were in open view and the technology consisted of a plug transferred, then I’ll be back there.” box for a suit heater and an intercom station. “Pilot to crew—We’re over the open area, you are The engines started and idled for a few moments clear to test your guns.” before starting to taxi. As the tail wheel un-cocked I was “Right waist to pilot—My gun keeps jamming unexpectedly thrown up against my seat belt, and then with Captain, I don’t know what’s wrong with it.” the screech of the brakes we were on our way. “Ozzie did you clean all the oil off of it?” “We’ve a little time before the fi ghters hit us –take it apart “Pilot to crew—check in”…… “Tail to pilot— and clean it with your handkerchief.” ready sir, only one more after this one and we get “Pilot to crew— We’re climbing through ten to go home.” “Pilot to tail—start fl ashing your thousand, put your masks on and check the lamp for the join-up.” regulators for normal. We’ll be up here for over “Navigator to pilot—heading of 047 for the fi rst eight hours and we’ll need all the oxygen we’ve fi x—altitude nine thousand.” got.”

As the bomber took the runway and the pilot added The radio compartment was warmer as there wasn’t takeoff power, the noise became deafening. Fortunately for the blast of air from the turret. However at the 150 mph

6 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 that the aircraft climbed, cruised and descended at, a small “Sparks, tell Sarge to hurry up with the doors”….. quarter-inch rivet hole in the rear bulkhead emitted a jet “Radio operator to pilot—Captain, Sarge took a of cold air into the compartment making it as cold as the hit in the foot and it cut the hose on his mask.”….. outside air. Our fi ve degrees at eleven thousand feet was “Captain, I’ve got the doors closed but Sarge is out still far more survivable than the life threatening minus and needs oxygen.” sixty degrees at twenty-nine thousand feet encountered in “Sparks, get the spare mask from the B4 bag and raids over Germany. Under those conditions, surviving put it on him.” “Tail gunner to pilot—we’ve been without either oxygen or a suit heater was zero. And when hit in the tail, all the windows are gone and I can’t forced to descend to a lower altitude because of battle see anything.” “Pilot to crew—were losing number damage or lack of oxygen, the bomber became easy prey three, I can’t hold this altitude”….. “if you guys can for the German fi ghters. A no win situation. keep the fi ghters off of us I’ll try to make it back to The nose compartment of a B-17 is very pleasant, at base.” least in peacetime. As I sat in the bombardier’s seat , with the sun shining through the plexiglass nose and the ground As the B-17 taxied up to the terminal in Ogden and shut spread out like a carpet beneath my feet, it was, as one down the engines, I took one last look around the interior of crewmember this relic of a past said, “like war and realized watching that these aircraft a movie.” had been both However in a beginning combat, it wasn’t and an end for until you watched many American the other aircraft bomber crews. around you A beginning in exploding and that they were falling from the boys when they sky, and your fl ew their fi rst friends being mission , excited thrown from the to be going into mortally wounded battle and then aircraft, that you quickly maturing realized that this into professional was no movie. crews, ready to go up against “Bombardier the best that the to pilot— enemy could approaching offer. An end in target, that seventy-fi ve give me a B-17 Waist Gunners (USAAF photo) percent of them level”…. never returned. A “Captain we’re bouncing too much to set the crew member’s life in those old bombers was held by four gyros.” “I know, this fl ak is really heavy, and threads: his intercom connection, the oxygen connection, it’s throwing us around.” “OK level set, auto the power cord to his heated suit, and most importantly his pilot engaged, starting run—thirty seconds to connection to his crew-mates and his dependence on them. target, standby for release.” “Pilot to crew—we Upon entering the vintage terminal building, I turned for lost number four engine, watch out for fi ghters.” one last look at an American icon, my thoughts once again “Bombardier to pilot—bombs away, clean turned to the long ago young crews who had fl own her. A drop”….. “I can’t get the doors closed.” “Pilot to line from a book and a movie occurred to me, “Where do engineer—Sarge go back and crank those doors we get such men?” › up, we’re losing altitude.” “Bandits fi ve o’clock.”

WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 7 Local Museums Sortie in Support of Col Holloman By Greg Anders he Cascade Warbirds were honored to have been able the right wing, fl ying the most important number three Tto organize the “Missing Man” formation, perhaps the “missing man” position was Maj Gen Bill Anders, Apollo most magnifi cent and solemn aerial manuever ever seen, 8 astronaut, fl ying “Val-Halla,” an “almost Tuskegee red for one of our most highly regarded members, Col Bill tail” P-51D operated by the Heritage Flight Museum (www. Holloman. The fl y-by was supported by four Puget Sound heritagefl ight.org) at Bellingham International Airport aviation museums, who in Bellingham. On the generously donated the use of right wing of number 3, in their P-51 Mustangs in honor the number four position, of the mark Col Holloman has was Bud Granley, fl ying left on us all, and as a small “American Beauty,” a P-51D token of the legacy he leaves operated by the Olympic behind. Flight Museum (www. The “Missing Man” was olympicfl ightmuseum.com) at fl own in the “fi nger four” the Olympia airport. formation. As the formation We know that Bill approaches, you will see the Holloman has rejoined with number three man (on the his other departed aviation left side as the formation comrades and is fl ying with approaches) begin a slow them now. We will miss pull up followed by a turn him and were honored to be to the west. The other three his wingman for those short aircraft will continue straight periods when we were able to ahead with the very obvious keep up with his very active “hole” in the formation. This schedule. “He has gone to formation is symbolic of the that great rejoin in heaven fact that one of our wingmen and fl ies with angels wings.” has departed and left us all And if we know Bill, he’s feeling that we must continue fl ying circles around them on with a “hole” in our ranks. all. › In the lead position was Cascade Warbird “Looking heavenward you Commander, LtCol Greg cannot help but shed a tear... Anders fl ying “Upopa mournful... lonesome... a Epops,” a P-51D operated by hole that screams out almost the Flying Heritage Collection as loudly as the roar of the (www.fl yingheritage.com) at engines that pass overhead.” Paine Field in Everett. On -Unknown Author the left wing (right side as the formation approaches) in the number two position, was John Sessions in “Impatient Virgin,” a P-51B operated by the Historic Flight Foundation (www.historicfl ight.org), also at Paine Field in Everett. On Bill Baum Photos

8 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 Who Were ? Adapted from www.tuskegeeairmen.org he Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young suppressing internal rage from humiliation and indignation Tmen who enlisted to become America’s fi rst black caused by frequent experiences of racism and bigotry, at military airmen, at a time when there were many people home and overseas. These airmen fought two wars - one who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, against a military force overseas and the other against courage and patriotism. They came from every section of racism at home and abroad. the country, with large numbers coming from New York The airmen who did not go overseas and trained at City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Selfridge Field, Michigan as bomber crew in the 477th Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to Medium Bombardment Group experienced a great deal of serve the United States of America at the best of his ability. racism. These highly trained military offi cers were treated Those who possessed the physical and mental qualifi cations as “trainees” and denied access to the base offi cers’ club, an were accepted as aviation cadets to be trained initially as act contradictory to Army regulations. single-engine pilots and later to be either twin-engine pilots, There was a rather heated reaction and the Group navigators or bombardiers. Most were college graduates or was transferred to Godman Field, Kentucky. The unfair undergraduates but others demonstrated their qualifi cations treatment and hostility continued at Godman Field and in through comprehensive entrance examinations. early 1945, the group was transferred to Freeman Field, IN No standards were lowered for the pilots or any of the where the hostilities fi nally reached a climax. When black others who trained in operations, meteorology, intelligence, offi cers tried to enter the Freeman Field Offi cers’ Club, engineering, medicine or any of the other offi cer fi elds. against direct orders for them to stay out., one hundred and Enlisted members were trained to be aircraft and engine three offi cers were arrested, charged with insubordination mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, and ordered to face court martial. Eventually, the court parachute riggers, policemen, administrative clerks and all martial proceedings were dropped. of the other skills necessary to fully function as an Army After the war in Europe ended in 1945, black airmen Air Corps fl ying squadron or ground support unit. returned to the United States and faced continued racism The black airmen who became single-engine or multi- and bigotry despite their outstanding war record. Tuskegee engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field Army Air Field continued to train new airmen until 1946, (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama. The fi rst aviation cadet with women entering the program in several support class began in July 1941 and completed training nine fi elds. Large numbers of black airmen elected to remain months later in March 1942. Thirteen started in the fi rst in the service but because of segregation their assignments class. Five successfully completed the training, one of were limited to the 332nd Fighter Group or the 477th them being Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a West Point Composite Group, and later to the 332nd Fighter Wing at Academy graduate. The other four were commissioned Lockbourne Air Base, OH. Opportunities for advancement second lieutenants, and all fi ve received Army Air Corps and promotion were very limited and this affected morale. silver pilot wings. Nevertheless, black airmen continued to perform superbly. From 1941 through 1946, nine hundred and ninety-six In 1949, pilots from the 332nd Fighter Group took fi rst pilots graduated at TAAF, receiving commissions and pilot place in the Air Force National Fighter Gunnery Meet. wings. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews During this period, many white units were undermanned were trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the and needed qualifi ed people but were unable to get the United States. Mechanics trained at Chanute Air Base in experienced black personnel because of the segregation Rantoul, IL until facilities at TAAF were in place in 1942. policy. The newly formed U.S. Air Force initiated plans Four hundred and fi fty of the pilots who were trained at to integrate its units as early as 1947. In 1948, President TAAF served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron Harry Truman enacted Executive Order Number 9981 (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter which directed equality of treatment and opportunity in all Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron trained in and fl ew P-40 of the United States Armed Forces. This order, in time, led Warhawk aircraft in combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy to the end of racial segregation in the military forces. This from April 1943 until July 1944 when they were transferred was also the fi rst step toward racial integration in the United to the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force. States of America. The positive experience, the outstanding The outstanding record of black airmen in World War II record of accomplishment and the superb behavior of black was accomplished by men whose names will forever live airmen during World War II, and after, were important in hallowed memory. Each one accepted the challenge, factors in the initiation of the historic social change to proudly displayed his skill and determination while achieve racial equality in America. ›

WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 9 The Frozen Airmen of the Sierra Nevada By Peter Stekel On November 18, 1942 US Army Air Forces Beech 18 AT-7 The remains were clothed in the uniform of an Army Air Navigator 41-21079 left Mather Field, east of Sacramento, Forces cadet and attached to an undeployed parachute. It California. On board for the navigation training exercise was a piece of the parachute, fl uttering in the wind like a was pilot, Second Lieutenant William Gamber and three Tibetan prayer fl ag that caught the climbers attention. aviation cadets; John Mortenson, Ernest Glenn Munn, and From here, the story gets a little muddy. Offi cial records Leo Mustonen. Leaving at 0711 for a fi ve hour mission, the stated that AT-7 41-21079 departed Mather Field on the crew was never seen alive again. morning of November 18, 1942 with the intention of fl ying It took fi ve years for the AT-7 to be found. In 1947, north to Corning, California - about 150 miles from Mather four University of California students discovered aircraft Field. How is it that crew remains were found 150 miles wreckage at over 12,000 feet, strewn across Mendel southeast of Mather? Since the record shows that four Glacier in Kings Canyon National Park. The wreckage was men were buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, many embedded in ice and included people began to speculate that both engines, a wheel, and a large this Frozen Airman was a fi fth, portion of a wing. The students undocumented - or stowaway - found personal effects including soldier. log books, a shoe, and the back This speculation made no sense. of an Elgin A-11 watch. After An accident report fi led in 1942 returning home from their trip, the [when the plane disappeared and students reported their fi nd to the was assumed lost] and another in Army. Three separate missions 1947 [after the wreck’s discovery were sent into the High Sierra to and fi rst expedition to recover identify and, if possible, recover remains] specifi cally said there the crew’s remains. were only four men on board the The fi rst expedition was in the AT-7. The 1947 report said no fall of 1947. Months had passed remains were recovered. There since the student’s discovery and was no 1948 report extant but several feet of snow had fallen in 2007 Captain Sulzbacher’s on the crash site. Still, the AT-7’s widow, Julia, vividly remembered two engines were relocated and her husband’s trip to the glacier identifi cation tags confi rmed that in 1948 since it took place just this was 41-21079 missing since prior to his death. She told me 1942. No remains were found. her husband came back empty- In 1948 the army sent Captain handed and told her that no Roy Sulzbacher, from graves crewmembers were found - only registration service, to the glacier. airplane wreckage. How could this Twice he was unsuccessful in be when the army told the crew’s fi nding the crew’s remains. A families that their sons had been week after returning from his second trip to Mendel Glacier buried together in 1948? in early October, Sulzbacher died suddenly from bulbar This was not an uncommon action in the years following poliomyelitis. World War II. Especially with service personnel involved Army paperwork continued working its way through the in airplane crashes, there frequently was not much to bury. system. With Captain Sulzbacher dead, and with no further This was a direct result of aircraft crashing with highly intention of searching for the missing crew, the Gamber, fl ammable fuel along with unexploded ordnance. Or of Mortenson, Munn, and Mustonen families received letters being shot down at over 30,000 feet. Knowing that closure telling them that their sons had been found. Because the was preferred to more opened-ended explanations of how remains were commingled, due to the airplane crash, the children or spouses were killed, the military often withheld families were told a group burial would occur at Golden such evidence. In the case of 41-21079, it was probably Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. decided that, since three expeditions had failed to fi nd any For the next 57 years the wreck was forgotten. Then, in remains, and the region was high, wild, and remote, that October, 2005, two climbers stumbled upon human remains would never be found. Nearly half a year after the remains from the AT-7 melting out of the Mendel Glacier. Frozen Airman was found, his remains were identifi ed as 1100 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 Cadet Leo A. Mustonen - a student on the AT-7 41-21079 even any grasses up here. No sedges. No vegetation of missing since 1942. any kind. It had to be a person. I had discovered a second I’ve been hiking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada crew member from the crashed AT-7! Five months later this since 1965 when I fi rst visited Sequoia & Kings Canyon second Frozen Airman was identifi ed as Ernest Glenn Munn National Parks with my boy scout troop. When I heard - Glenn to his family. initial reports of the Frozen Airman I wanted to know more. The last part of the mystery of the two Frozen Airman Unfortunately, news reports were less than helpful. For was to explain why they were found south of Mather Field someone who knew something about the Sierra I could when their reported route on November 18, 1942 had them easily tell that many of the newspaper reports about the fl ying north that day. I found the answer by examining mountain conditions were wrong. That was the impetus nearly 50 pages of faded teletype messages sent between for me to get involved with the story. My September, 1942-1943 by Mather base commander Colonel H.R. 2006 magazine article Hewitt to Washington in Sierra Heritage, D.C. The route, “Mystery of the Ice according to Colonel Man,” was the result. Hewitt was Mather Field But it seemed to me that south to Los Banos, north the story deserved more to Roseville, continuing than exposure than north to Corning before from a general interest returning south to Mather magazine. I started to Field. The airplane crash explore ways to develop site in northern Kings my interest, and then Canyon National Park is obsession, into a book. due east of Los Banos. August, 2007, found It was gratifying for me on Mendel Glacier me to discover the AT-7, with a long-term with three navigators, hiking friend. Since wasn’t so far off-course no wreckage had been they didn’t know the associated with Cadet difference between north Mustonen’s remains, and south. But Colonel I wanted to confi rm Hewitt’s route for the ill- that an airplane had fated crew only partially indeed crashed into satisfi ed the question of Mendel Glacier. Before the AT-7 being off-course. that, I began a paper It didn’t explain why search to prove conclusively there were four, and not fi ve, 41-21079 would be fl ying at nearly 14,000 feet [and higher crewmembers on board 41-21079 and that no remains were if they were to be the required 2000 AGL from Mt. Mendel buried in 1948. - 13,710 feet] and in the mountains when they should have Climbing into the glacial cirque below Mt. Mendel been at 5000 feet or lower in the San Joaquin Valley. [13,710’], we quickly found plenty of evidence of an Answering the route question occupied my next two airplane. At around 12,500’ we found a tire, parts of two years. After four years I’m able to narrate an account of engines, and other pieces of wreckage. While my friend the four boys aboard the AT-7 and their fi nal fl ight. I can continued downslope, I began to traverse across the glacier. tell the Beech 18 story, along with how glacial geology In a moment, I saw what looked like a small tree, killed and an unknown weather phenomenon helped me put and bent over from the frost. I saw something glinting in together a scenario to best explain what happened that day the sun. As I moved closer I recognized the shiny object in November. All this has culminated in the writing of as a ring - a gold ring. I thought, how wonderful! Some Final Flight - The Mystery of a World War II Plane Crash climber lost his wedding ring and another climber found and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra. The book will it and put it on the branch of that dead tree, so the person be released September 1, 2010 by Wilderness Press. I’m who lost it would fi nd it when he came back here, looking happy to be able to tell this story in person at an upcoming for it. But then it hit me. It can’t be a tree. There aren’t Cascade Warbirds meeting. › WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010 1111 Non-Profi t Org CASCADE WARBIRD U.S. Postage EAA CHAPTER PAID 1066 Yates Road Tacoma, WA Oak Harbor, WA Permit No. 00125 98277-3692 Have Your Dues Expired? Check The Expiration Date Below.

Cascade Warbirds Quick Look Calendar

July 24-25* Inland Skyfest 2010 Fairchild AFB 24-25 Concrete 24-25 Baker City Fly-In 26-1Aug Oshkosh 2010 August 2 BC Aviation Museum Open House 7-8 SEAFAIR 7 Chehalis Air Fair 13-15 Abbotsford 20-22 NWAAC Evergreen Fly-In Pearson Airpark 20-22 Oregon Int’l Airshow 21 Heritage Flt Museum Open House at BLI “Props and Ponies” 21-22 Chilliwack Flight Fest 27-28 Madras, OR Check Six 27-29 Wings over Republic September 3-5* Vintage Aircraft Weekend @ PAE 3-6 Annual Yak Discovery Fly-In, BC 4 Bremerton Blkbry Fest 10-12 Hood River Fly-In 15-19 Reno Air Races 2010 18 Heritage Flt Museum Open House at BLI 18-19 Victoria, BC 19 Mountain Home AFB 25-26 CAF - Midland 25-26 Chico Air Fest October 9* Squadron Meeting at Museum of Flight 9-10 San Fran Fleet Week 16 Heritage Flt Museum Open House at BLI 21-23 Copperstate

* Denotes Max Effort Event See Website for Detailed List Lt. Col. William H. Holloman III

1122 WWARBIRDARBIRD FFLYER,LYER, JJulyuly 22010010