SPRING ISSUE APRIL 2021 AEROGRAM NEWSLETTER HAMMONDSPORT, NY CURTISSMUSEUM.ORG AEROGRAM 01 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR As historians and museum professionals we are generally comfortable evaluating events and ideas through the long lens of time. With decades or centuries of intervening context, we can more easily understand the long-term implications of a chaotic reality. Impactful people, places, events, and innovations can be separated from the noise and evaluated more clearly. Though it is a bit cliché, in 2020 we were forced to live history in real-time. Whether we liked it or not, we had a front row seat to natural disasters, pandemics, economic devastation, social unrest, political battles, and the Tiger King. Even in the bucolic Finger Lakes, there wasn’t much of an option to look away. Regardless of political persuasion, we are constantly bombarded by an array of ‘experts’ attempting to tell us all what it all means and why we should be happy, sad, fearful, or downright despondent. Is society making progress or are we on the fast train to the end of civilization? If there is one thing a deep study of history can tell us, it is that we do not yet have enough information to answer those questions definitively. Museums, historical societies, and other non-traditional heritage institutions can and should play a critical role in actively collecting and preserving history in the moment. Though uncomfortable, citizen historians can channel their discomfort to preserve and protect the data, allowing current and future leaders a broader archive of information from which to learn and make better-informed choices. For 60 years the Curtiss Museum has proudly served in this capacity, and we look forward to the next 60 and beyond. Will you join us? CONTENTS Insignia of: U.S. Navy Torpedo Squadron No.2 .......................................................... Cover Letter from the Director ....................................................................................................01 Art At War ..........................................................................................................................02 BENJAMIN JOHNSON Art At War: Squadron Insignias ........................................................................................04 Executive Director Aviation Comes of Age .......................................................................................................06 Restoration Shop Update ..................................................................................................07 New Mercury Exhibit .........................................................................................................08 Member Notes ...................................................................................................................09 What Makes a Place Special ................................................................................ Back Cover 02 AEROGRAM authentic vintage aircraft insignia, aviation insignia had grown to AEROGRAM 03 and not simply modern replicas on nineteen unique pieces (with a few period fabric. As he said, “you can duplicates), each a window into the fake an image on aircraft fabric… past. As an unrepentant aviation [but] it is difficult to fake age and history nerd since childhood, I am patina. It is even more difficult to fake genuinely astonished by what we ART AT WAR folds, knicks (sic), and paint flakes.” found. From French airfields to the Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director, Glenn H. Curtiss Museum After some additional digging, our decks of the Saratoga, from interwar speculations were confirmed. Hawaii to the seaplane hoist of the USS Arizona, these pieces survived over a The project that became Art at War each with silvery paint on a decidedly Our collection was primarily from the golden age of early naval aviation century to end up in Hammondsport, started as part of a relatively simple yet old fabric backing. NY. What stories they could tell! tedious effort to catalog our collection when open-cockpit biplanes launched To learn more we reached out to from the decks of the earliest aircraft No matter how long one works in in more detail. Over the course of 60 our friends at the Naval History and years, even a relatively small museum carriers, U.S. Navy forward bases, this field, the opportunity to identify Heritage Command (NHHC), the and even battleships! Many could be a collection like this doesn’t happen like ours acquires a vast number of group responsible for the preservation, items. Record keeping was spotty in directly connected to U.S. Navy units very often. Though unseen for analysis, and dissemination of U.S. from the 1920s to as late as 1940. decades, they resurfaced at the exact the early days, so finding items with naval history based at the Washington little or no description in the files is Training units, utility aircraft, early right time, when the combination of Navy Yard, Washington DC. NHHC fighters, torpedo bombers, and more. people and resources came together. common. A few years back Curator recommended we touch base with Rick Leisenring was facing just such a The titans of early American aviation In the end, I think Buddy Macon said the National Naval Aviation Museum were represented: Boeing, Vought, it best when summing up his thoughts scenario when he came across a long in Pensacola, FL. Our request was slim box containing a series of canvas Martin, and of course, Curtiss. on the collection: forwarded from Washington, DC Some ships involved were equally rolls. As he gently unrolled each one to Pensacola in late February 2020, images began to peak out for the first astonishing: USS Lexington, USS where we began our digital excursions “It is the finest collection of its type that I time in decades: a parrot, a hound, a Saratoga, USS Ranger, and perhaps through history with Deputy Director the most unexpected, the USS have ever seen in over 40 years, and I would duck with an umbrella, an alligator, Robert R. “Buddy” Macon and his Arizona. Yes, THAT Arizona. be amazed if there is anything that currently and a beautiful ladybug. team. Shortly after our conversations After sending me a few snapshots, he began, the world became gripped The history nerds inside all of us exists that could rival it. The fact that the rejoiced, but a few questions remained. collection has survived over 100 years and What about the other pieces, the is being preserved to be made available ones that were tightly rolled in an unmarked cardboard box? Based on for the next 100 is truly a once in a lifetime the image styles, and a few expertly opportunity. Everyone should take the time, worded Google searches, we initially make the pilgrimage to the Glenn Curtiss thought they could be French. After Museum and take it all in.” a few fruitless hours scouring the internet I came upon a link that ROBERT R. “BUDDY” MACON appeared to offer hope. I sent out a Deputy Director, quick email, not knowing whether the National Naval Aviation Museum author spoke or read English, or was even still alive. To my astonishment, Philippe responded within 90 minutes. A few minutes and 30 euros later I ordered the book. Thirteen days later the book arrived with the confirmation and I decided to get a better look. We in the first major global pandemic we needed: the remaining pieces rolled them all out on the conference in over a century. As Covid-19 like a were definitely French and definitely Art at War Exhibit is presented by: room table. Rick’s early assumption wildfire across the globe, both agreed from World War I! The remaining six was that they were aircraft canvas, the Curtiss Museum and National images represented French squadrons painted with either individual or Naval Aviation Museum were closed roughly dating from 1914-1918. All squadron markers, but we didn’t have to the public. Many of the people but one are in fantastic condition for much to go on. He asked if I wanted and resources we relied upon were their age. Squadron numbers and to see “the others.” “How many quarantining at home. Buddy and iconic early manufacturers jumped others?” I asked. “Lots,” he chuckled. I traded emails as he forwarded off the page once again: Salmson, with additional support provided by: He returned a few minutes later with information to his research contacts. SPAD, Farman, Breguet, Fokker, and Bill & Donna Hutches, Pleasant Valley Inn an awkwardly long archival box and Even though they couldn’t hold the Nieuport. placed it on the floor. He pulled off Richard & Susan Rogers pieces in their hands, Buddy and his In total, our collection of original the lid and they started to emerge, team were convinced that they were Donald Simmons AEROGRAM 05 ART AT WAR SQUADRON INSIGNIAS PHOTO EXAMPLE: TOP HAT Never meant to survive long-term, more common. Squadrons from across Allied nations. During the war, the War US Navy VF-1B Fighter Sqn. (USS SARATOGA) squadron insignia was often roughly- Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Department approved the emblems of Nickname: “High Hats” painted art on the fuselage canvas. most other nations began identifying 45 squadrons that served in France. Emblem: Black Top Hat These images of pelicans, cartoon themselves with unique images and Though many units and their insignia characters, dragons, etcetera, came color patterns. On May 6, 1918 the were disbanded after the Versailles The squadron operated Curtiss F11C-2 “Goshawks” to be far more than just identification Chief of the Air Service – American Treaty in 1919, the tradition of heraldic on