Woodie Sprouse 206-708-9664 Being the Youngest Pilot in the U.S
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Eagle’s Scream Commemorative Air Force Florida Wing Volume 6 No 2 Fall 2012 Wing Officers Our Wing Commander, Col Chuck Downey Wing Leader: Colonel Chuck Downey 815-218-2161 is Guest Speaker at Clear Lake Lions Club Transcribed from an article in the Executive Officer: (Clear Lake, IA) Aug. 22, 2012. Colonel Stan Mitchell 386-873-4108 Mirror Reporter, Adjutant: Colonel Ann Conway 386-673-5742 Members of the Clear Lake Noon Lions Club were treated to a historical program presented by a true Operations Officer: Colonel Steve Moddle 386-760-0797 American hero last week. Finance Officer: Captain Charles Stanley Downey has the distinction of Colonel Woodie Sprouse 206-708-9664 being the youngest pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II. At age 89, Downey recalls his service days Maintenance Officer: with vivid detail and says he enjoys sharing his exploits Colonel Steve Moddle 386-760-0797 with not only those who remember the war, but those who were too young to experience its effects. Safety Officer: Colonel Frank Purcell 386-428-4678 Downey, who was raised on the East Coast, said he was fascinated by airplanes Air Show Coordinator: from an early age. He had wanted to drop out of high school and get in the war, Colonel Dick Russell 386-760-6188 but his father wouldn’t allow it. He was enthralled, he says, by stories about the young pilots flying for their country in the Battle of Britain. He tried to enlist just Eagle’s Scream Editor: after high school graduation, but was told to wait until fall when he turned 18. Colonel Jim Bannerman 386-257-3853 “I enlisted as soon as I was 18, with the idea of being a mechanic on an aircraft PX Officer carrier. But the Navy thought I should be an aviation cadet. I probably wasn’t Vacant the best pilot in the class but I passed and went into training for becoming a Recruiting Officer: dive bomber flying off aircraft carriers. We would dive down and destroy ships Colonel Stan Mitchell 386-873-4108 and land targets,” He explained. Downey regaled the group with his tales of war, telling about the time he was in the Pacific aboard the Carrier USS Ticonderoga, got hit by two Japanese The Eagle’s Scream is the official pub- suicide pilots in one day and transferred to the USS Hancock. He went on 17 lication of the Florida Wing of the Com- strikes against the enemy, including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. memorative Air Force and is published and distributed electronically four times In 1944 Captain Downey was credited (along with another bomber aircraft) with per year. To be placed on the email dis- sinking a Japanese light cruiser in the Philippines, for which he was decorated tribution list contact the Adjutant (386- with the Distinguished Flying Cross. 637-5742). For comments or submissions contact the Editor (JimmyBannerman@ “You train for those kinds of strikes, but you’re nervous,” Downey admitted. cfl.rr.com) or (386-257-3853) “You were supposed to let the bombs go at 1,200 to 1,500 feet, but one time I contined on page 2 1 Col. Downey Speaks continued Becoming a Florida Wing went down to 800 feet because I didn’t want to miss. Well, L-17 Sponsor the enemy hit me about the same time I released by bomb. It was like the world blew up in my face. I pulled the plane out. It was smoking but still running. It was a long and CAF Sponsorship Concept lonely ride back to the ship, almost two hours. I didn’t know how much oil I’d lost and I was losing more all the way The initial goal of the CAF was to acquire one of each back.” major type of combat aircraft that served with U.S. forces during World War II. To fund this goal, the CAF relied Downey said the following day five pieces of Japanese heavily on its Aircraft Sponsorship Program. Monies ship decking were found in his engine. donated by many individuals went towards locating, purchasing, restoring and maintaining the current fleet of He shared a recently discovered photo with the Lions CAF aircraft in a flying status. which shows a Japanese cruiser being salvaged. Downey pointed to its crumpled stacks and proudly proclaimed that The CAF Sponsorship concept is a group of men and was proof of his successful strike. women who have a common interest in sharing in the cost of maintaining and flying a particular CAF aircraft. To Captain Downey went on to serve 33 years in Naval the Florida Wing as a Unit Assignment, the CAF placed Aviation Service as a reserve and in 1964 at the age of the Ryan L-17B aircraft, known as “Allie Gator”. The 39 was promoted to the rank of Captain, making him the entire responsibility for the safe operation, maintenance youngest such Officer at the time. He said he rejected the and financial support of the aircraft has been handed idea of becoming an airplane pilot because he felt he had to the Unit Staff. The “Allie” Sponsor Program makes it already done the most exciting flying possible. possible for the CAF-Florida Wing members who cannot afford to individually own and operate a military aircraft to “In the Navy Reserves, I flew jet fighters. I’ve flown over enjoy this unique opportunity by sharing expenses with 40 different planes, about half civilian and half military,” he other like-minded CAFFL members. said. Aircraft and Pilot Sponsorships Instead, he went back to school and became an engineer. Eventually he went to work for American Airlines as an industrial engineer. His involvement with aviation also included becoming vice president of Commuter Airlines in Chicago, working for Butler Aviation and helping to set up Midway Airlines in Chicago. Among the many honors he has received, Downey says a hand-written note from former President George H. W. The CAF Florida Wing currently offers L-17B Aircraft and Bush is among his favorites. Bush, 18-years-old when he Pilot Sponsorships. Sponsor donations are tax deductible began to serve, was once credited with being the youngest and made directly to the CAF HQ, not the Florida Wing. Navy pilot in World War II. Actually, Downey was about six These funds go directly into our L-17B’s individual aircraft weeks younger. “I received a letter saying ‘I salute you as account for the maintenance and support of “Allie”. the youngest Navy aviator’. That was really something.” Prior to being designated a Pilot Sponsor, the sponsoring candidate must meet all the requirements outlined in ********************** various CAF Regulations. Once the Pilot Sponsor is approved for flying the L-17B by CAF Headquarters, he or she is expected to play an active part in assisting the Wing meet its responsibilities for maintaining, operating and funding the aircraft. Pilot Sponsor Requirements Our L-17B is classified by the CAF as a Basic Trainer— below 600 HP. Pilots must therefore possess a valid FAA Private Pilot’s license, along with a current Class 3 Medical Certificate, Biennial Flight Review and Cadet Matt Colan gets an orientation flight in Col. Bannerman’s J3 Cub Continued on page 3 2 Pilot Sponcer continued Executive Officer’s Report Complex Aircraft Endorsement. The minimum flight time By Stanley R. Mitchell, PhD requirements for applying to be an L-17B Pilot Sponsor are 300 hours total time as Pilot-in-Command, 10 hours of The summer of 2012 in Florida has been challenging to which must have been in the last 12 months. say the least. Even though we have not been buffered by a hurricane (knock on wood), a couple of tropical storms have deposited a lot of water on the state. However, when the daily high temperature and humidity were combined, the Discomfort Index was on the high side. But considering other regions of this nation, we’ll take what we got. Also, the summer ended on the Blue Moon. The evening skies were basically clear with a minimum cloud cover. The view of the globe in the sky was remarkable. By the way, the first human to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong, Florida Wing aircraft and operations are covered by a was buried on the Day of the Blue Moon. What were you series of insurance policies provided by CAF HQ. These doing in July1969 when the Lunar Lander set down on the include Airport Liability, Aircraft Liability & Hull Insurance, moon? Air Meet Liability insurance, Directors and Officers Insurance and Pilot Non-owner Hull Insurance. A Pilot Sponsor is required to obtain and maintain hull coverage Airshow Schedules under the CAF’s Pilot Non-owner Hull Insurance policy. The policy period is annual and runs from March 1 to The regional air show season for the Florida Wing begins March 1 of each year. It should be noted that the CAF’s in November 9 – 11, 2012. The Stuart Airshow committee Pilot Non-owner Hull coverage is only for physical damage has invited the Florida Wing to participate. We have which occurs through a pilot’s negligence and not any due accepted and are planning to take the PX trailer, the Navion to any mechanical failures. Since the aircraft is assigned L-17 “Allie” and the A-M Dog Tag machine to the weekend to the Florida Wing, any repair costs to our L-17B caused event at Stuart, FL. Based on previous Stuart Air Shows, by mechanical failures are the responsibility of the CAFFL.