The Dixie Dispatch DIXIE WING, COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE, PEACHTREE CITY, GA www.dixiewing.org Col Frank Kalinowski, Editor - [email protected]

November 2016 Education through living history. Keep 'em flying.

Dixie Wing Staff Realizing that most of you will Officers /Contacts be reading this after a busy and festive Thanksgiving day, the Wing Leader staff of the Dixie Dispatch Col Jay Bess sends wishes that the [email protected] remainder of the year is both productive and interesting. Executive Officer Col Larry Combs [email protected] We look forward to a successful 2017, which should bring Adjutant having all of our aircraft in Col Malcolm Lelliott flying condition, an increased [email protected] membership, an expanded Finance Officer WWII Heritage Days, and an Col Paul Zampol even better Atlanta [email protected] Weekend.

Maintenance Officer Col Bob Heath [email protected]

Operations Officer Col Jim Buckley [email protected] WHAT'S INSIDE? Recruiting Officer Col Gerhard Frenz 2 ..... From the Left Seat [email protected] 3 ..... From Some Other Seat; What’s That?

Public Information Officer 4 ..... Finance Report; New Colonels Col Steve Forsyth 5 ..... Maintenance Report [email protected] 6 ..... Talk About Safety; PLANE CRAZY Marketing Officer Trivia Time Quiz Col Moreno "Mo" Aguiari 7 ..... Scenes From The Hangar; [email protected] 8 ..... Bookmaster

Safety Officer 9 ..... – Part Three Col Rodney Higginbotham 10-11 Wright Master Pilot Awards Rodneyhigginbotham @gmail.com 12-14 Hell Broke Loose In Hawaii

Air Show Scheduling 15 ..... Gone West Col Phillip Beegle 16 ..... WWII HERITAGE DAYS - 2017 [email protected] 17 ..... Christmas Party Aircraft Rides Officer Col Jerry Robinette 18 ..... Answer to Trivia Time Quiz and What’s That? [email protected] 19 ..... On The Horizon

Angel Squad 20 ..... THE TAILPIECE Merikay Franklin [email protected]

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 2

From the Left Seat: Col Jay Bess, Wing Leader

It’s the Holiday Season and we have many things comes to – to be thankful for as 2016 winds down. The P-63 they want to see Kingcobra has moved under its own power for the them in action! first time in over 40 years with Dixie Wing pilot, (…with pyrotech- Craig Hutain conducting a successful high speed nics!) A collabora- taxi test run. It won’t be long until it returns to the tion with the West skies and we’ll be broadcasting it live on Wing’s Hell- Facebook. We’ll keep you “in the loop” when the diver and Alan big day arrives. Another project that will take Armstrong’s Kate will hopefully give us greater flight literally any day is our T-34 Mentor. The opportunity to differentiate ourselves from other crew has almost been working around the clock to Warbird and aerobatic acts available. Add the get her back in the air and on its way to Delta for a famous “Red Nose” P-51 and the newly restored beautiful new paint scheme. P-63 and it’s an exciting line-up!

Our successful Living History Series has a new Finally, we lost a great friend to many and the program director for 2017. Dixie Wing member, Dixie Wing. Ron Alexander perished doing what Rick Ector is creating a great line-up for 2017 and he loved best, flying. This article from AOPA is a will be able to announce the schedule in the great tribute to someone who will be missed upcoming month. We also have two new crew greatly: chiefs that Maintenance Officer Bob Heath will https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all- make the introductions. As a hint, one’s a newly news/2016/november/18/ron-alexander-quiet- minted A&P and the other is one of our youngest giant-of-aviation-dies-in-jenny-crash A&Ps – but both with years of experience. Congratulations! Please keep Ron’s family in your prayers over the Holiday Season. The Dixie Wing “Wall of Fame” is making progress as both Gerhard Frenz and Charles I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with Burcher are digging into the history of the Wing family and friends! and preparing the area for a walk down memory lane of the early days. Keep ‘em Flying!

Shortly after Thanksgiving is the ICAS (International Council of Air Shows) Convention. This annual event is where air shows organizers and performers attend to book acts for the 2017/2018 years. The Dixie Wing attends to promote our aircraft and we are heavily promoting our “Prowlers of the Pacific” act. Airshow audiences already have the opportunity to see so many aerobatic aircraft, that when it

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 3

From Some Other Seat: Operations Col Jim Buckley, Operations Officer

Welcome to the end of our extended flying season. Dry, warm and beautiful weather allowed us to complete our last few events of the year. The P-51 had a great visit to its former base at Page Field, Fort Meyers Florida at the end of October. The following weekend it traveled to Cullman Alabama where nine rides were sold! The same weekend our Corsair and SBD were scheduled to fly to Homestead Air Reserve Base, but neither was operational. Fortunately for us, Thom Richard was able to bail us out again by using the P-40 accompanied by the Collings Foundation P-51B to serve our customer.

Veterans at Delta Airlines were honored by their company on that special day, November 11th, by our attendance with the SBD, LT-6 and PT-19.

The event at False River Louisiana was attended by our P-51, Red Nose, during the week of November 10-13, for it's last scheduled event of the year.

Even with all the bad luck we've had, it's been a great year for the Dixie Wing.

On Saturday a former Dixie Wing Cadet, Craig Marchant, dropped by taking some time off his Navy career. I was very surprised when he told me he was having radiation therapy in town. He was having problems with his right eye and had been to several Doctors, but to no avail. Finally, someone listened and got him an MRI scan. Two days later, Doctors removed a tennis ball size tumor from his brain! I wish Craig a speedy recovery.

Blue Skies,

Jim Buckley

WHAT’S THAT? Col Frank Kalinowski

A few hints:

• First flown in 1937, it was intended to be a “bomber destroyer,” capable of intercepting bombers beyond the range of single-place pursuit aircraft.

• Pusher engines allowed it to carry a forward firing 37 mm M4 cannon in each of the two engine nacelles.

• One was displayed at the 1940 World’s Fair (motto: The world of tomorrow.) in New York.

• I don’t know, but its name rings a Bell.

WHAT’S THAT? Find the answer on page 18.

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 4

Focus On Finance Col Paul Zampol, Finance Officer

Our balance sheet as of November 18 shows At a meeting our total bank accounts at $185,000 and total on November current assets of $519,285, little changed from 17, the Wing last month. These numbers do not yet include staff discussed the case for raising our $48 the very successful P51 rides event at annual Wing dues. Dues have stayed at this Cullman, Alabama November 4 and 5. So, no level for several years; there was some debate more Alabama jokes (well, for a while over just how long, but clearly it’s been long anyway). The P&L surprisingly shows a enough that memories have gotten blurred. positive tally of $12,324 for the year so far. As We feel that Wing members receive good I have noted before, however, these numbers value for paying dues; some other CAF units alone do not accurately reflect the heavy charge more. Given the positive results noted investments we’ve made in two new engines above, and a number of revenue-generating this year. initiatives that are in the pipeline, we felt that dues should stay at $48 for now. We will send AWW results are continuing to trickle in, but I an email to all members soon requesting expect that the final result will be about a payment of 2017 Dixie Wing dues. As with $20,000 contribution to our bottom line. the holiday party, we will look at an online Again, thanks to all you hard workers for a payment option using PayPal. unique aviation event for the Atlanta area.

WELCOME NEW COLONELS

James Archer Mark Klone Richard Taylor

Steven Barcoft William Rook Keni Thomas

Tom Faulkner Robyn Rosenzweig Jim Wilder

David Flemning Gregg Scott James Wright

Thomas Henegar John Southwick

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 5

Maintenance Report: Col Bob Heath, Maintenance Officer

I am pleased to announce the appointments of 2 I’ll soon be new crew chiefs for the Dixie Wing! Larry Combs coordinating with is stepping up to assume crew chief duties for the the crew chiefs on Mustang, Red Nose. Larry has worked very hard the inspection on the Mustang for the last 3 years under Lonnie schedule that will Webster’s watchful eye and Lonnie says it’s time be published for Larry to take the stick. Of course, Lonnie is still when it’s set. providing the Wing with his expertise and now will be able to spread it around a bit more on some The work on the of the other aircraft, too. Corsair is already underway and the engine delivered to Kissimmee. The Mustang is currently Chad Marvin has taken over as crew chief for the running well, as is the LT-6 and PT-19. The PT-19. Chad only recently joined the Dixie Wing Dauntless looks to be in the green now with its after relocating to Georgia. Chad spent an Air landing gear problem resolved. With only 6 hours Force enlistment as a B-52 engine mechanic and is on its new engine, we need to get some time on it a recent graduate of Spartan College of before the new year. The T-34 team is rapidly Aeronautics and Technology with an Airframe nearing completion and subsequent transport to and Powerplant Mechanic license. Chad has a long Delta for paint. The P-63 had a very successful taxi family history in military aviation and is very test under its own power on November 18 (see the motivated to work on all aircraft. John Flynn is Wing’s facebook page for a video) and is currently helping Chad learn the PT. While Chad is only at awaiting FAA inspection. the beginning of his aviation career, he is sharp and energetic. I’m looking forward to working I thank everyone for their continued hard work with both of these gentlemen in their new roles. and look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Party! As I mentioned last month, the crew chief is the focal point for aircraft maintenance at the Dixie Bob Heath Wing. Each aircraft is unique and rare. Our team Maintenance Officer at the Dixie Wing is often considered a leading authority on the aircraft we operate. Though some of this knowledge is available in books, much of it is learned on the job. If you have a desire to become associated with a particular aircraft and learn its ways, I can guarantee two things, it will be a lot of work and it will be very rewarding. It is a great way to really satisfy that urge to be part of something bigger than each of us as individuals and keep alive the knowledge that makes these machines run!

The air show and rides season is coming to a close and shortly we’ll be starting the inspection season.

JuneNovember 2016 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page Page 10 6

Plane Talk About Safety Col Rodney Higginbotham, Safety Officer

Most of the Dixie Wing members know I have been with my department for almost 30 years. Recently I have noticed that a lot of time the younger guys will offer to do the lifting and some of the more physical work. This does help sort of restore faith in our next generation of guys coming on with the department. As I look back on my career I realize that I did the same thing when I was a “rookie.” In return the veterans would give me advice and pass along their knowledge. I now realize this is part of my responsibility with our wing.

Here at the Dixie Wing the table is turned somewhat, I am sort of one of the younger guys. I have always heard the Dixie Wing needs younger members. We have them now. I feel it is my duty and the younger members duty to do the more physical work and for the older members to pass along their knowledge to us. Let us climb the ladders and lift heavy the loads.

On another note, the P-63 has brought about another issue which Willard Womack has brought to my attention. The elevator on the P-63 is right at head height for most people (not for me by the way). We have protection (which was donated) that fits on the trailing edge. It is sort of a foam noodle thing. This should be just like a standard procedure such as covering pitot tubes, and putting tennis balls on the antennas, etc.

PLANE CRAZY Bob should have known that Jane was up to something when he asked her what she was going to wear to the Christmas party. Her response: “Oh … I’ll just wing it.”

Be a true man! Don’t miss the deadline for submissions to the Dixie Dispatch – always on the 20th of the month.

JuneNovem 2016ber 2016 The The Dixie Dixie Dispatch Dispatch Page Page 10 6

SCENES FROM THE HANGAR

Just how many Colonels does it take to work on a T-34? Photo by Col Truitt Harper.

Find out the answers to this little trivia quiz on page 18.

Pearl Harbor Edition

1. The first American action 2. The Japanese attack on 3. All of the following U.S. against the Japanese at Pearl Pearl Harbor used all of the aircraft were in the air on Harbor came from the: following aircraft except: the morning of 7 Dec. 1941 except: A: destroyer USS Ward A: Mitsubishi AGM Zero B: battleship USS Utah B: Mitsubishi Betty A: SBD Dauntless C: 334th Pursuit Squadron C: Aichi D3A Val B: P-40 Warhawk D: light cruiser USS Detroit D: Nakajima B5N Kate C: B-17 Flying Fortress E: shore batteries at Kuahua E: All of the above were used. D: P-38 Lightning E: P-36 Hawk

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 8

From The Bookmaster Col Dave Porter

BOTM* WILDCAT THE F4F IN WW II By Barret Tillman

In this dramatic World War II study of the Wildcat, aviation historian Barrett Tillman takes the famous Navy fighter from factory floor into action against the Axis powers. Like his other highly successful warplane "biographies," this book is filled with lively descriptions of combat enhanced by the personal recollections of pilots. Although he concentrates on the operational rather than the technical aspects, Tillman nevertheless provides details of the F4F’s design and development as the U.S. Navy’s first monoplane fighter aircraft.

When introduced in the late 1930s, the Wildcat, powered by a 14- cylinder Pratt and Whitney radial engine, represented a great technical advance in aviation. By 1942 however, the F4F faced faster, tighter- turning, better-climbing opponents. To beat the odds, Wildcat pilots had to devise superior tactics. In this volume Tillman gives full credit to the Navy and Marine Corps F4F squadrons that skillfully exploited the Wildcat’s strengths and the enemy’s weaknesses to win crucial battles at Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal, among others. The British Fleet Air Arm's success with the F4F, called the Martlet in Great Britain, is examined in this book, too, along with many other Wildcat variants.

Written in 1983, the hard cover book is 223 pages with 40 pages of photographs of the F4F, the pilots who flew it, the enemy aircraft it encountered, and scenes from carrier operation on both the Atlantic and the Pacific as well as ground operations in the South Pacific and elsewhere.

This is the second book review by The Bookmaster of author Barrett Tillman; the first was The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II in the February 2016 Edition of the Dixie Dispatch.

The XF4F-2 was the first step up Lt.Cdr. Jimmy Thatch and Lt. from the original biplane design. Butch O’Hare flying VF-3 aircraft F4F-4 50 cal gun bays. off Rabaul in February 1942,

*BOTM - Book of the Month - It is on our bookshelf, it’s a good read; borrow it if you like but please return it! November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 9

Supermarine Spitfire – Part Three of Four Col Willard Womack

The Spitfire Mk II ended the Battle of Britain very much The Mk I and II Spitfires had a single piece windshield on even par with the Bf 109. Better in some respect, with curved side or quarter panels and metal bracing poorer in others, but always better in the turn if taken to surrounding the front panel. The curved quarter panels the very edge. Improvements and modifications were caused distortion when viewing through them. It also coming from Supermarine to increase performance. A had no thick armor protection at all. During the Battle two speed three bladed metal prop replaced the two of Britain a bulletproof laminated glass panel was bladed wooden one. Then a three bladed constant merely bolted onto the outside of the front panel giving speed propeller replaced that. those models a distinctive look.

One of the earlier improvements, starting in 1939, about The Mk III was being designed with a new windshield the same time as the blown canopy, was the engine which had optically flat laminated glass quarter panels powered hydraulic with the bulletproof system. It was no laminated front panel longer necessary to now inside. These hand pump the were incorporated landing gear up and into the late Mk VB down. This original models and all of the pump was mounted Mk VCs. on the right side of the cockpit requiring As production the pilot to fly with proceeded, many his left hand while other modifications pumping with his were incorporated. right. Invariably this The round exhaust would cause the stack was changed to plane to wobble until a “fishtail” style. the gear was pumped up after takeoff. With the These provided a bit more thrust which was estimated improvement the pilot selected up or down with the to be worth sixty to seventy horsepower at three gear lever, although he still had to swap hands on the hundred miles per hour. Also, a larger oil cooler was control stick as the lever was still on the right side. It added under the port wing to improve cooling. A had to be a thrill to make a formation take off in the Mk “Slipper” style fuel drop tank mounted under the Is and have all of the planes wobbling about as each fuselage improved the range. Bomb racks under the raised its gear. wings were designed to leave almost nothing protruding after the bomb was dropped. And a large The RAF began making fighter sweeps into France in number of Mk VBs were fitted with "gun heater the fall and winter of 1940, although somewhat limited intensifier" systems on the exhaust stacks. These piped in penetration due to the short range of the Mk II. At additional heated air to the gun bays. this time fighter sweeps and bomber raids at night were about the only offensive attacks the British were The Mk V was the first Spitfire to be used outside of capable of making. Britain. It saw service on the island of Malta, delivered there by both English and American aircraft carriers. In early 1941 the RAF suddenly found the MK II These were the first Spitfires to takeoff from a carrier. outclassed by the latest Me109, the “F” model. They also served in North Africa after being fitted with Supermarine was developing a Mk III and IV. But an air intake filter to protect against the dust. These can neither of these was ready or were what was needed. be recognized by the much larger air intake under the spinner. It served in the Far East, flying from Darwin on A Rolls Royce Merlin 45 engine, with a single stage the northern coast of Australia. Due to the hot humid supercharger producing 1470hp, was fitted to a slightly tropical conditions these suffered from mechanical modified Mk II fuselage. Thus becoming the Mk V. problems more so than at other locations. With this increased horsepower the MK V was capable of 371mph at 20,000ft, a climb rate of 3250 feet per It served well until September 1941 when the FW-190 minute at 15,000 ft and a combat range of 470 miles on appeared. It quickly became apparent that the Mk V internal fuel. Conceived as a stopgap measure it was now outclassed. Supermarine put together yet became the most produced Spitfire with 6479 another stop-gap Spitfire, the Mk IX, which became the constructed, with three variants and several sub second most produced Mark. variants. November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 10

CAF Dixie Wing Colonels Receive Wright Brothers’ Master Pilot Awards from the FAA Col Steve Forsyth Two Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing records as maintained by the Airmen Records & colonels received the Wright Brothers’ Master Certification branch in Oklahoma City, Okla. Also, Award from the Federal Aviation Authority their names will be recorded in the Aviation (FAA) this month, recognizing more than 50 years Safety Roll of Honor at the FAA headquarters in of piloting aircraft. Washington, D.C. Gause will hold scroll number 120 and Harrison will have 121, representing the State of Georgia.

Gause, a native of Conway, S.C., started his formal flight training in Chicago and renewed his efforts at Dobbins Air Force Base Aero Club after relocating to Georgia. He first soloed in 1962 in the club’s Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, similar to an aircraft that is near restoration at the Dixie Wing. He later affiliated with the USAF Reserves, which brought a chance to serve as a check airman on the same T-34.

Photo by Col Charles Burcher

FAA FASTeam Manager Mike Mullaney (center) presented the awards to Major Gen. (Ret.) George Harrison (left) of Peachtree City, GA., and Ronald Gause (right) of Smyrna, GA., during the Dixie Wing’s monthly member meeting at the Dixie Wing headquarters. Harrison currently serves as director of strategic initiatives for the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta.

The Wright Brothers’ Master Pilot Award is widely considered the most prestigious award the FAA presents to pilots, specifically recognizing senior aviators who as safety-minded

professionals have contributed more than 50 years to piloting aircraft. It is named after brothers Gause owned and operated South Fulton Airport Orville and Wilbur Wright, the designers, builders from 1985 to 2000, where he also managed a full- and pilots of the world’s first powered airplane – service FBO with fuel, maintenance, parts, paint the Wright Flyer that first flew at Kitty Hawk, shop and flight training through a Cessna Pilot N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903. Center. During those years he owned or flew

“The careful dedication, technical expertise and Cessna models 152, 172, 177, 182, 210, 310 in outstanding contributions these men have made addition to a Curtis C-46 and Howard Aero-500 in the field of aviation safety have been invaluable executive transport aircraft. He has flown more in furthering the mission and goals of the FAA,” than 45 different aircraft types in his career, Mullaney said. including the North American T-6, Beech C-45 Expeditor, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, P-51 Mustang Harrison and Gause each received a certificate, and Fairchild C-123 Provider. He currently holds gold lapel pin and an official copy of their airman an SIC type rating on the WWII B-17 Flying

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 11

Fortress for the Liberty Foundation and is a flying About Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing! sponsor for the Dixie Wing’s T-6. In his 54-year The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is a non- career he has amassed nearly 2,000 profit organization dedicated to flying and accident/incident-free flight hours. restoring World War II aircraft. Based in , Texas, the CAF has more than 13,000 members Harrison is a native of South Carolina’s upstate and operates a fleet of more than 165 World War region, and is a 1962 graduate of the Air Force II aircraft. The CAF was founded to acquire, Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He began restore and preserve in flying condition a undergraduate pilot training at Moody AFB near complete collection of combat aircraft that were Valdosta, Ga., and first soloed in 1962 at the flown by all military services of the United States, controls of a Cessna T-37 twin-engine jet trainer. and selected aircraft of other nations, for the Harrison received his silver Air Force pilot’s education and enjoyment of present and future wings in 1963 and was assigned to the 557th generations of Americans. Tactical Fighter Squadron at McDill AFB in Florida, flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4 The Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was Phantom II. approved as the 83rd CAF unit on Feb.28, 1987, and has since displayed its collection of vintage During that tour of duty he took a temporary World War II aircraft in numerous air shows assignment to Southeast Asia and flew his first throughout the United States. The wing is a non- combat sorties as a forward air control pilot in the profit, tax-exempt “flying museum” that relies on O-1F/L-19 Cessna Bird Dog. He returned to the F- contributions of time and funds to carry out its 4 and operated with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing mission. For more information about the CAF from Cam Ranh Bay air base in South Vietnam. Dixie Wing visit www.dixiewing.org

Over his 54-year aviation career, Harrison has flown 95 military and civilian aircraft types, including 530 hours in combat missions all over the world. During his 35-year military career he commanded the 4485th Test Squadron, the 479th Tactical Training Wing, the USAF AirWarfare Center and Joint Task Force Southeast Asia. He also served as director of operations for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa. Before retiring from the Air Force in 1997, he was commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N. Mex. His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze campaign stars, and the Kuwait Liberation medal.

As an avid civilian aviator, Harrison is a certified flight instructor in single and multi-engine aircraft, instruments and gliders, and is involved in flight standardization and other duties for the CAF Dixie Wing. He currently has four separate type ratings on his Airline Transport Certificate. He is involved with the glider/sailplane program and has published several works on military aviation. He serves as director and executive vice president of the Air Warrior Courage Foundation and director of the Aero Club of Atlanta. Harrison became an at-large member of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame board in 2005.

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 12

Editor's Note: As we rapidly approach the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is fitting that we present a first hand account from one of the survivors. Andrew J. Sauer of St. Cloud, MN entered the Navy on 23 January 1939 and by 1941 was serving on the battleship USS Oklahoma. A signalman (communications), the morning of 7 December 1941 started off for Sauer like any other day. That is … until …

Hell Broke Loose in Hawaii All was peaceful and quiet in Hawaii until in the started going over slowly but didn't stop. I was one of morning of Sunday, Dec 7. I had just retired to my the fortunate ones to be near the door to the top side living compartment, which is on the third deck, after and I got out but more than half of the men were attending early Mass at trapped. When I got out, 0700 when all of a sudden the ship was nearly on its the general alarm side so I scampered to the sounded and all hands same side to which the were ordered to man ship was falling, uttered a their battle stations. The little prayer and plunged Boatswains Mate passed into the water. the word over the loudspeaker system "All As soon as I hit the water I hands man your battle swam as fast as I could to stations on the double. get as far away from the The Japs are attacking us ship as I could (I think I and it ain't no shit either." would have given Johnny By that time I was about Weissmuller a good race) half way to my station but even then I was sucked which was at the after under about 5 feet and battle bags on the second boards and trash were deck, and then WHAM! A striking me on all sides. While The Oklahoma (BB-37) as she torpedo had struck us about appeared before the attack. underwater I gathered an armful amidships. The ship lurched and of boards and hung on. When I the port side seemed to raise out came to the surface there were two of the water about 10 ft. and then settled back again life rings right in front of me so I hung onto them and only listed to that side at about a 5 degree angle. that was when I first looked back and there was the old Oklahoma with part of her bottom where the top used Orders were given to close all watertight doors but only to be and men swimming and scrambling all around it. a few of them were closed when WHAM! Another torpedo hit us and this time the ship listed at about a 25 degree angle. All hands not engaged in anti-aircraft firing were ordered to the third deck which is the protective deck. While we were all crowded near an up going hatch on the third deck staring at each other in amazement, two more torpedoes struck us on the port side again so we all crowded on the starboard side. After those two fish hit us, we could hear water and oil rushing in and the ship listed to about a 45 degree angle. Then word was passed for everyone to keep calm and go up to the second deck and stand by to abandon

ship. The men all remained very calm and about 300 of us got up that one little hatch and just as the last man The overturned USS Oklahoma. got up two more torpedoes hit us and then the ship November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 13

nearly blinded and choked us. Then we heard a cry for Hell Broke Loose in Hawaii (cont.) help from the Oklahoma so we immediately went and rescued the man that managed to get out after it had The water immediately became covered with a thick turned over. This man said there were many more men coat of oil and all of us in the water were as oily and in the compartment that he escaped from with very black as coal. I kept on swimming into the bay trying to little air left to breathe so we marked the place and get out of the oil when suddenly a head popped out of rushed to another ship and got several divers and the oil and yelled for help. I got to him in time and equipment and they immediately started diving trying gave him one of my to locate the men. In the meantime we three in the boat life rings and told (still covered in oil) him to hang on. went back and Then the harbor forth along the was filled with ship pounding on boats and even tugs it with a boat hook rescuing the men trying to locate and I was picked men who were still up by one of the alive and when we ship's motorboats. reached the stern, There were only we heard pound- two men in the boat ing from the inside so I assisted in so we called the rescuing men until welders who had we had a full load. arrived on the We took them to scene and they cut the air base across holes in the bottom the bay and and rescued 23 returned for another load but when we got back all men men. By that time assistance was coming from were rescued. everywhere and the oil was burning our skin and our eyes were burning like fire from the oil and smoke so All this while the Japs were continually bombing and an officer said we should go for first aid treatment machine gunning the ships around us but they finally ourselves so we went to the sub base barracks and aid let up for a while so three of us with the motorboat station and received treatment for our eyes. They made went to the Arizona, which was tied astern of the us stay there at least until we got the oil off us which Oklahoma and had blown up during the first attack, and was a very hard job and we took a complete bath in took three loads of wounded men to the air base where aviation gasoline and about three showers after that. ambulances waited. That made me feel a lot better but my eyes still burned like fire and I was beginning to get sick from the oil I Then the Japs came again with machine guns wide had swallowed while in the water so I layed [sic] down open so we stayed in the center of the bay with our boat on the grass and then is when I first noticed that I was which wasn't very safe because schrapnel and machine very tired and it was only about 1400. I was too sick to gun bullets were hitting very close to us but none hit. eat so they gave me a bunk in the barracks and I layed While I was there, I saw bombs bursting everywhere. [sic] on that until the next morning without sleeping a Many direct hits and many misses. wink. My eyes watered and burned whenever I closed them so I had to keep them open all night. This attach didn't last long and even when it was over we got another load of wounded men from another The next day I felt much better. My eyes didn't burn so battleship. This was our last load. The Japs were gone much and I wasn't so sick anymore. and all wounded removed and taken to the hospital. All that day I was roaming around in a sort of daze Two of the battleships were almost completely on fire looking for my buddies that I hoped were saved and I and caused the immense amount of oil on the water to finally found two other signalmen so we three stayed start burning. This was a great menace to some o the together from then on. The Japs did not attack again. ships that were not hit and they couldn't reach the flames with the fire hoses from those ships so we three During the whole attack, I noticed that everyone in the motorboat went to the sub base and got six fire remained calm and no one got a bit excited. It all extinguishers and drove the boat right into the flaming happened so fast that we were all too dumbfounded to oil and sprayed it with our extinguishers which helped get scared. considerably and the burning oil was finally put out completely. We then kept going back and forth The Oklahoma was sunk so fast that that she didn't have between two battleships (one that was in flames and the time to fire a single shot. The attack started at 0755 and other unharmed) breaking up the oil so it wouldn't start at 0830 the Oklahoma was upside down. She lost about burning again. The smoke from the burning ship 400 men including 11 signalmen and November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 14

Hell Broke Loose in Hawaii (cont.)

everyone my best buddies. Two of the best were Allen Jones and Bob Young. I will never forget these two. The whole Navy lost about 2500 men and the Army 500.

Altogether the Japs sunk 5 battleships, 3 destroyers, and two auxiliary ships and very badly damaging 2 more battleships. It will take at least a year to repair them.

28 Jap planes were shot down. Their carriers were at least 200 miles from Hawaii.

During the attack 2 two-man submarines tried to enter the harbor and one did get in but it was spotted by one of our cruisers and blasted completely out of the water. Then one of our destroyers went over it and dropped a few ash cans (depth charges) on it for good measure.

Several ships slipped out of the harbor during the attack and one of them was the U.S.S. Blue and just at the harbor entrance the Blue contacted a sub by sound and dropped 6 ash cans on it. They got it for sure because oil and [materials] came to the surface. The Blue also sank another one a little later. One two-man sub was beached and captured by us.

The Japs evidently tried to knock out our whole fleet. Andrew Sauer served on the USS Blue, USS Dobbin, They might have caught us by surprise but not asleep and USS Manila Bay until the end of the War, and it didn't take long for us to open up on them. participating in 14 engagements during that time.

We are all in the fighting spirit now and out for revenge Salvage operations (below) involved 21 derricks to so ---- "Look Out Japs." right the ship, which was completed on 16 June 1943. Placed in dry dock, the plans to return her to • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • service were abandoned and she was Special thanks go to Col Joe Broker, who made this account decommissioned in September 1944 and scrapped. written shortly after the event by Andrew Sauer available to the Dixie Dispatch. November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 15

From EAA News: The aviation community mourns the loss of Ron R. Alexander, who was killed on Thursday, November 17, while flying his Curtiss Jenny near the Candler Field Museum/Peach State Airport in Williamson, Georgia.

Born in 1942 in Bloomington, Indiana, Alexander soloed an Aeronca Champ at the age of 16. From there Alexander climbed the ratings ladder by instructing ROTC cadets before entering the Air Force in 1964. While serving our country Alexander flew the de Havilland Caribou, supplying Special Forces troops in Vietnam and earned the rank of captain before leaving the Air Force in 1969.

Alexander joined Delta airlines in 1969 and flew an assortment of jets as a captain before retiring in 2002 with 34 years of service. While flying for Delta, he became enamored with vintage airplanes and began a love affair with these historic treasures. From Stearmans to Cubs to DC-3s, Alexander’s greatest love was sharing the joy and beauty of flight with young and old alike.

Alexander founded the Alexander Aeroplane Company in 1979, supplying material to aircraft builders and restorers. In 1993, he created the “SportAir Workshops,” which have opened the doors to countless homebuilders and restorers by giving them hands-on educational experience in the art of building an airplane with an assortment of materials. In 1999, Alexander sold SportAir Workshops to EAA, which carries on that tradition and Alexander’s vision today.

In 1992, Alexander purchased Stits Poly-Fiber, Inc., manufacturing the Poly-Fiber covering process and remained president of that company until 2002. He was also a regular contributor to EAA Sport Aviation and EAA Vintage Airplane magazines writing technical articles for homebuilders and antique aircraft restores.

Alexander founded the Candler Field Museum in 2004 at his home airport, the Peach State Aerodrome. His vision was to re-create the early days of the old Atlanta airport — the original Candler Field — replicating hangars from the 1930s and showcasing the aircraft that operated there during the golden age of aviation. Alexander also served as a director on the Candler Field Flying Club. That organization focuses on teaching young people to not only restore airplanes but learning how to fly them as well.

From the Tampa Bay Times: Willie N. Rogers, at 101 the oldest remaining Tuskegee Airman, passed away on Friday, November 18 in St. Petersburg, FL. Born in 1915, Rogers served as a Master Sergeant with the 100th Fighter Squadron in Italy.

For the complete story, go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/oldest- remaining-tuskegee-airman-a-st-petersburg-man- dies-at- 101/2303534?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=websi te&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 16

WWII HERITAGE DAYS – 22-23 APRIL 2017

The largest annual WWII event in Georgia returns this April with big band music, swing dance, historic aircraft and military vehicles, antique cars and vintage fashion. The program will includes re-enactors portraying Allied and Axis troops, Rosie the Riveter and Hollywood stars, as well as education displays and activities for school-age children.

2017 will mark the 75th anniversary of several defining World War II events, including the , Battle of Coral Sea and Battle of Midway. World War II veterans, guest speakers and authors will provide a unique glimpse into the men and women who changed history.

For more information, please visit www.wwiidays.org

Submitted by Col Matt Ziemann (who gets the “Eagle-Eye Award” this month):

“… one minor correction. In the BOTM section about Hugh Dowding [October Dixie Dispatch] … one picture is mislabeled. What is labeled as ‘The Plotting Table at Fighter Command HQ at Bentley Priory’ is actually the 11th Group Operations Room at RAF Uxbridge. I visited both of those locations last year ... The Plotting Table at Bentley Priory was not preserved as it remained in RAF use through the Cuban Missile Crisis (i.e., it was upgraded so it didn’t look like it’s WWII self). At some point it was later closed off due to being a health hazard. Can’t remember the details but I think there was asbestos and mold. Uxbridge, on the other hand, has been preserved in excellent condition with the map and the status wall showing the actual plots at a certain time on September 15, 1940—Battle of Britain Day. I’ve attached pictures [below] of the same Operations Room at Uxbridge as well as a model of the Plotting Table at Bentley Priory this is in the museum. (Bentley Priory is a beautiful place, by the way. The museum is well done and the building and grounds are absolutely beautiful).”

Editor response: Lacking a good photo we used a photo as a representation of the plotting rooms that were used, and should have captioned it as such. The point to be made is that all plotting was done by hand by men and women of the RAF based on reports that were phoned in from radar stations and observation posts.

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 17

Santa is coming … How about you? Dixie Wing Annual Christmas Party Sunday, December 11

5:00 pm Social Hour 6:00 pm dinner

Due South Restaurant 302 Clover Reach, Peachtree City Adjacent to The Avenue Shopping Center

Valet Parking

Cash Bar

$30 per person

Reservation/payment deadline – 1 DECEMBER

Contact Merikay Franklin ([email protected])

or

Use the clipboard in the business office to make your reservation.

or

NEW – Purchase tickets online at: http://www.dixiewing.org/1007_Dixie_Wi ng_Christmas_Party.htm

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 18

Answers to TRIVIA TIME quiz:

1. The first American action against the attack on Pearl Harbor came from: A: The destroyer USS Ward.

The USS Ward (DD-139) a Wickes-class destroyer launched in 1918, was informed at 03:57 of a periscope sighting by the minesweeper Condor. Searching for the contact, she spotted a periscope at 06:37 and attacked. Although not confirmed until decades later, the Ward sank a Japanese Ko-hyoteki-class two-man midget submarine

2. The Japanese did not use: B: Mitsubishi Betty.

The Mitsubishi G4M Betty was a twin-engined land-based bomber. Although it was operated by the IJN in addition to the Army, it never operated off a carrier and did not have the range to reach Pearl Harbor from any Japanese controlled land base.

3. The U.S. aircraft not in the air at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 was: D: P-38 Lightning.

Although it had been introduced into the USAAC in July 1941, it was stateside with the 1st Fighter Group. Following the attack, the unit joined the 14th Pursuit Group in San Diego to provide West Coast defense. The fist overseas deployment of the P-38 came in April 1942 with the photo-recon version sent to Australia.

Answer to What’s That?

The Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was the first military aircraft produced by the Bell Aircraft Corporation (Buffalo, NY).

Unique in its design, it was both futuristic and innovative, even if some of the “innovations” did not live up to expectations. The designation “YFM” came from: Y – service test; F – fighter; and M – multiplace.

The crew of five included pilot, a copilot/navigator, a gunner in each nacelle and a gunner in the waist.

From the beginning the Airacuda was racked with mechanical and performance problems, never living up to expectations. It was slower than most bombers; it was not maneuverable enough to dogfight; it only had a 600 lb. bombload; the cannons filled the gunners nacelle with smoke; it had a temperamental electrical system; the Allison engines overheated due to the lack of additional cooling systems; and it was impossible to control with just one engine. The list went on.

Despite all of the problems, one squadron was created which operated from1938 to 1940, with the aircraft earning the reputation of being “hangar queens.”

Where can I see one? Unfortunately all of the 13 produced were either lost in crashes or scrapped by the middle of 1942. However, for a little video clip about this ship, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDs0SANU3lM November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 19

ON THE HORIZON ......

Wing and Staff Meetings through February 2017:

December 3 Staff Mtg - 10 am January 7, 2017 Staff Mtg - 10 am; Angel Squad – 10:30 am; Wing Mtg 1:00 pm February 4, 2017 Staff Mtg - 10 am; Angel Squad – 10:30 am; Wing Mtg 1:00 pm Other Events:

December 10 Mr. Epps and Richard Taylor will give the Greenland Expedition Society Presentation to Dixie Wing members ONLY. 11:00am in the conference room. Right after the presentation we will have our yearly group photo. Members should wear the Blue CAF shirt and khaki pants.

December 11 Dixie Wing Christmas Party – Due South Restaurant, Peachtree City

April 22, 2017 Keep 'em Flying RUN. For more information: http://keepemflyingrun.com/

April 22 – 23, 2017 WWII Heritage Days www.wwiidays.org

2017 Ground School Schedule released (more information in next issue):

PT-19 Jan 7th 0800 to 1000

T-34 Jan 14th 0900 to 1200

LT-6 Jan 21st 0900 to 1300

SBD Jan 28th 0900 to 1300

P-51 Feb 11th 0900 to 1300

Free to Dixie Wing Members. $30 to non-members

Reminder: If you have not yet completed the member survey for the Interpretive Studies Class at Georgia State University, you may do so on-line at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dixiewingsurvey

Dixie Wing Corsair One of the 12 Planes of Christmas

For the second year the CAF is sponsoring the 12 Planes of Christmas, and our “530” is one of the 12. This is a great opportunity to support this aircraft, especially following the need for a freshly overhauled Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine. Restoration of the engine compartment is next.

‘Tis the season for giving … what better way to support our mission than to go to: https://www.crowdrise.com/fg-1d-corsair-n9964z1

November 2016 The Dixie Dispatch Page 20 16186 THE TAILPIECE A few closing remarks from your editor A few .

What better time for a few “leftovers” than at Thanksgiving:

First – from the “It Really Seemed Like A Swell Idea At The Time Department” of the Royal Canadian Army comes an entry from Le Musée Royal 22e Régiment in Québec City (which we visited earlier this month) comes the MacAdam Shield-Shovel. The theory in 1914 was that with this implement the soldier could shoot through the hole in the shovel while using it as a shield. However, the tool was neither bulletproof nor an effective shovel. I am sure the soldiers in the trenches at Flanders had another name for it (good thing I don’t understand French). Nearly all were eventually melted down for scrap metal during the war.

Seen at the recent Wings Over Dallas. For some reason I was not allowed to ride the “Bomb Train.” I don’t know why – each one did have “500 LBS” stenciled on the side.

Back to Québec City. Did you know that in WWII Canada had its own version of Rosie the Riveter? Here she is. (Don’t ask me to translate. Cathy did all the talking while we were there. My two years of Spanish have long since left me, and even if we had been visiting a Spanish speaking country the only thing I would have been able to order in a restaurant would be a red elephant.)

On a final note, we visited during “Remembrance Day” (November 11) and both wore our poppies on our coats during the visit. Although I’ve read plenty about WWI, the trip to the museum and reading the casualty figures of the Canadian troops was a sobering reminder of the folly of war. And … yeah … how about the next time when you send us to the front you give us a shovel without a &*#@ hole in it.