The Membership Newsletter for The Military Aviation Museum Fall 2010 Flying Fortress Inbound to Beach Museum It was almost two years ago that our museum be- or projects, but even those were exorbitantly expen- gan an active search for a four engine B-17 bomber. sive or just not practical to rebuild. Even the Swamp Even though over 12,000 were built during the Sec- Ghost recently recovered from Papua, New Guinea ond World War, today there are only 13 left that are was inspected and evaluated on the docks of New capable of fl ying. The last time that such an airplane Zealand, but determined to be too far gone with mas- changed hands was Fuddy Duddy, which sold in sive corrosion. 2005. It is extremely rare for such an aircraft to ever come onto the market. Then, in early 2009, a solicitation call was made by us to a B-17 owner in Fort Worth, Texas because the plane Every such remaining bomber in the world was con- had not fl own before. Dr. William Hospers had owned Military Aviation Museum tacted, but all to no avail. The museum got close his B-17G since 1979 when he bought it from Dothan www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org to acquiring the non-airworthy project stored at the Aviation in Alabama. They had used it for spraying to Smithsonian, but at the last moment it was diverted eradicate fi re ants throughout the southeast. Dr. Hospers Virginia Beach Airport to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savan- fl ew it back to Meacham Field in his hometown of Fort www.VBairport.com nah. Then there were several others that were statics Worth. He was an orthopedic surgeon who had a strong affection for these wonderful historic airplanes. Fighter Factory His wife, Chuckie, was quoted as saying that www.FighterFactory.com when she learned of this new addition to their family, she said, “Do I divorce him? Do I com- mit him?” However, when he fl ew into Fort Worth to surprise her with this new airplane, she was won over when she looked up to see the Inside this Issue: four-engine bomber fl ying in with her husband New Arrivals at MAM 3 at the controls and her nickname on the nose. Continued on page 2 Annual Wings and Wheels 4 B-17 “Chuckie” was built in 1943 MAM Honors Volunteers 5 Biplanes and Zeppelins Brazilian Soccer Team 6 It was not an ordinary weekend at the Military Aviation roared past the crowd. In fact all the spectators were Dinosaurs Roaming 6 Museum, no it certainly wasn’t. Many people came to amazed at this sight of two Fokker planes and their Model “T” Historic Cars 6 see the romantic days of aviation come alive during display of aerobatic fl ight. the fi rst Biplanes and Zeppelins WWI weekend event RC Warbirds on September 25th and 26th, Other aircraft took to the sky by radio control, a whole Over the Beach 6 which unfolded to an array of squadron of WWI aircraft took off from special events for all. tthe runway to entertain the crowd. A Upcoming Events 7 ttotal of 11 WWI aircraft models were fl ying and re-enacting dogfi ghts for the Porsche Event 7 A little boy asked his dad, “What’s that in the sky, Dad?” ppeople to see. These radio aircraft look Museum Gift Shop 8 The dad replied those are tri- aand maneuver just like the real ones and planes, they were popular al- pput on a great show for all. most a hundred years ago. It seemed the son could not un- AAs you were walking around the muse- uum that weekend, you could bump into derstand, but the two tri-planes AVRO 504 in fl ight at WWI air show. show held his attention and the little actors posing as Mae West and W.C. guy enjoyed the planes as they Fields as they strolled together through- Continued on page 2 PAGE 2 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 Fortress.. Continued from page 1 on October 7th. It was the most costly air- vegetables from the Bahamas into Florida. In March 2009, we went to Fort Worth and plane that our museum had ever acquired. Then it briefl y changed hands again before met with Doc Hospers to discuss the pos- fi nding its way to Dothan and a contract This B-17 (44-8543) left the Lockheed/ with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sible purchase of his beloved B-17 airplane. Vega plant in 1943 destined to become a rare To say that he was not interested would be spray for fi re ants. In 1976 it sat abandoned pathfi nder bomber. These aircraft had the until Doc Hospers bought it in 1979. a true understatement, but it was agreed new top secret BTO radar in the place of the that it might happen at some future time, lower ball After over 30 years, but then was just not yet the time. A few turret. It CChuckie, the B-17, will more telephone conversations were held, is unlikely bbegin its long trip to its but it did not seem to be going anywhere. that this nnew home after the fi rst Then, in March of this year, Doc Hospers aircraft oof the year. Where will unexpectedly passed away. Chuckie, his served in wwe put it to keep her wife of over 50 years, was suddenly the combat aaway from the salt mist new and sole owner of the airplane with her overseas, oof the nearby ocean? namesake on the nose. For a while nothing but that TThat is the biggest con- happened and then we were encouraged to has never B-17 Pathfi nder bombers led the raids ccern facing the museum make contact with her. We softly inquired been abso- with this acquisition. It as to the future plans for the airplane and at lutely de- will certainly necessi- fi rst just wanted to participate with its air- termined. However, it was probably used in tate the construction of yet another hangar show appearances. It had now not fl own a training capacity for this new sophisticated for this and the other planes scheduled to ar- since 2008 and was in a deep maintenance and highly secret radar system. rive before the end of next year. overhaul of the aircraft. During one of the conversations, the subject of a future sale It served with the Air Force until 1959 We feel certain that it will return back for came up and it was learned that her family when it was sold as surplus to the American visits to Fort Worth, where it has so many was giving it some true consideration. Sev- Compressed Steel Corporation for $5,026. old friends that spent endless hours fi xing eral friends and relatives were advising her It has certainly appreciated in value since and pampering this beautiful airplane. At and a price was decided upon shortly after then. After becoming civilianized and con- other times, we might be like imposing rela- another inspection trip this past August. verted to a cargo plane, it was obtained by tives coming for a visit, but often overstay- The sales transaction actually happened Albany Building, who used it for hauling ing their welcome. WWI Air Show.. Continued from page 1 loudspeaker memorabiliam to purchase, out the museum entertaining the guests explained the originalo drawings and oils with their elaborate attire, wit and wisdom. different strate- fromfr Russell Smith studios Military re-enactors that represented sever- gic tactics each anda at night a steak dinner al countries were also in full attendance for aviator was per- alonga with a fantastic hangar all to see. A lot of the re-enactors belonged forming to get danced with live music from to the Great War Association who keeps the the upper hand theth Roaring 20’s. history alive through educational events. It on his adversary. was amazing to see the re-enactors dressed Then, the loud- As people were walking in authentic reproductions of the uniforms, speakers played outo the little boy asked his gear and campsites set-up as if you were a sound track WW1 re-enactors german capture a Ger- dadd why is that man walk- looking at how the soldiers lived 100 hun- of real machine man soldier from his Fokker Dr-1 ing like a penguin? The dad dred years ago. gun fi re and the replied, “Oh, that is Charlie combat took on Chaplin and he was a funny Throughout the day, you could also see a an actual feel of what it must have been man in the movies a long time ago.” It was FFokker and like during the war. Next the Fokker had to a special moment seeing Charlie Chaplin a Sopwith land and the allied soldiers rushed to cap- interact with the 1 1/2 Strut- ture the pilot and his airplane. As they were children at the tter perform marching their prisoner off the airfi eld, the fi rst Biplanes a dogfi ght German infantry made an attempt to save and Zeppelins aabove the their pilot. Gunfi re encompassed the air- WWI weekend aairfield. fi eld as opposing forces fought each other. and a very mem- EEach hav- The attempts by the Germans failed as the orable moment iing different allies fought them back. It was a great re- watching Char- fl ight char- enactment to see and experience. lie walk away aacteristics, with his unique JJonathan Li- As the day progressed there was great food, style and the ar- cchtenstein, lots of WWI airplanes, P-51 Mustang fl ight tistic movements First World War aviators oon a pub- simulator rides, an assortment of automo- of his cane.