OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE VALIANT AIR COMMAND, INC. (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) SPACE COAST REGIONAL AIRPORT, TITUSVILLE, FL 32780-8009 VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2003 IF YOU WEREN’T THERE DECEMBER 6, YOU MISSED A GREAT PARTY!!! We’re just going to let George Damoff’s photos speak for them- selves!!! Commander Lloyd Morris and wife, Gay Executive Officer Hal Larkin and wife, Ruth Left: Commander Morris and Alice Iacuzzo, Personnel Officer, introduce distinguished guests. Center: Pieter Lennie, Finance Officer, digs in!! Right: Bob James, Maintenance Officer, and wife, Ann IN THIS ISSUE Calendar of Events 2 Airshow Meeting 3 Wright Brothers 3 Pilot Information 6 Airshow Info and Forms 8-12 Membership Application 13 Aviating with Evans 14 Yesterday’s Battles 17 The gift exchange turns vicious!!! Member Jan Catherwood tries to bribe Bob Kison, Mike McDonnough (center), Joan Dorrell New Members/Renewals 19 Facilities Officer (in Santa hat), with Chee- (left) and James Bond (right) enjoy the party tos so he won’t claim her gift!!! with a view of the crowd in the background. Officer Reports Throughout PAGE 2 UN-SCRAMBLE CALENDAR OF EVENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS JANUARY 14, 2003 12:00 NOON VAC MUSEUM BOARD ROOM FEBRUARY 11, 2003 6600 Tico Road, Titusville, FL 32780-8009 12:00 NOON Tel (321) 268-1941 FAX (321) 268-5969 VAC MUSEUM BOARD ROOM EXECUTIVE STAFF AIRSHOW/MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 11, 2002 COMMANDER Lloyd Morris 1 P.M. (386) 423-9304 VAC LIBRARY EXECUTIVE OFFICER Harold Larkin CALL DOSSIE 407-677-1779 OR VAC 321-268-1941 FOR (321) 453-4072 RESERVATIONS OPERATIONS OFFICER Mike McCann Email: [email protected] (321) 259-0587 DID YOU KNOW??? MAINTENANCE OFFICER Bob James THE ENTIRE UN-SCRAMBLE IS NOW AVAIL- (321) 453-6995 ABLE ON THE WEBSITE IN PRINTABLE FOR- FINANCE OFFICER Pieter Lenie MAT, COLOR ON ALL PAGES!!! GO TO (321) 727-3944 WWW.VACWARBIRDS.ORG PERSONNEL OFFICER Alice Iacuzzo (321) 799-4040 FROM THE COMMANDER TRANSP/FACILITY OFFICER Bob Kison Another year has passed us by with many accom- (321) 269-6282 plishments at the Museum. The roll-out of the PROCUREMENT OFFICER Bob Frazier F-8 Crusader and acquiring the F-105 were two Email: [email protected] Tel & Fax (561) 848-4549 of the highlights this year. The restoration work continues on the Messerschmitt, Panther, TBM, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER Bud Evans and the C-47. Both the main and restoration (321) 984-3343 hangars are filled with aircraft. “UN-Scramble” Editors Bob and Nita Kison We must remember that it is the Museum pa- Email: [email protected] (321) 269-6282 trons, gift shop, and membership that account for most of our revenue to keep things going. The dedicated volunteers are one of our most STATEMENT OF PURPOSE prized “assets.” Without them, we could not exist. The VALIANT AIR COMMAND was formed to perpetuate the history of aviation, to encourage gathering of men and women in camaraderie, re- The Airshow planning is underway and I hope I search, and Warbird restoration, to serve as an educational tool for young will hear from each and every one that will be and old alike, and to assure that the memory of those who gave their lives in service to their country shall not perish. volunteering this year. Don’t miss the Airshow meeting on January 11. Thanks to all, and have a wonderful New Year! UN-SCRAMBLE PAGE 3 AIRSHOW/MEMBERSHIP MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 11 An important Airshow This is also the monthly have to work around know (at her new meeting will be held in membership meeting, that. Plans may be a bit number) 407-677- the VAC Library on so all are welcome. flexible. 1779 or call the VAC January 11 at 1 p.m. Food and drink will be 321-268-1941 so we’ll The VAC has a debu- know how much to PLEASE PLAN TO AT- tante ball booked for provided at the meet- TEND!!! ing. PLEASE AT- order. PLEASE AT- the same evening TEND!!! (money in) so we will TEND!!!! Let Dossie CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION PLANS FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MEMORIAL, KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC Plans for the First Flight Centennial Celebration are underway at the Wright Brothers National Memorial site. The Na- tional Park Service, working in conjunction with the First Flight Centennial Commission, Dare County, and others are planning 5 days of celebration. Plans will be formally announced for the December 13-17 program featuring ground and aerial themes culminating in re-enactment of the First Flight at 10:35 a.m. on December 17th. (Information taken from First Flight Centennial Commission website: www.firstflightnc.com) PAGE 4 UN-SCRAMBLE landing gear wheels and the EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT BY HAL LARKIN nose wheel well have been painted. The tail section and Santa came early for the but we can fabricate them. complete and it is ready for the sliding nose section are restoration crew. On No- The rework of the shroud is installation. The L/R inner ready for prime. All we vember 28, 2002, we re- need is a nice, dry, sunny ceived from the National day! Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL, a canopy Rework of the T-2B bomb for the F9F-5 and four racks to fit the Panther 20mm gun barrels. A big wings is coming right along. plus—the canopy is painted It has taken a considerable the sea blue we were trying effort to do this conversion. to duplicate from memory. The fuselage is in prep for Our color is a little too prime. Two big items for dark, but Finishmaster of the fuselage are: rework of Cocoa said they can match the windshield (molds for the color of the canopy. the side panels are in work) There are a few detail parts and finding the missing con- missing from the canopy trols, etc., for the cockpit. Hal telling Santa what parts he needs for the Panther The small fairings that cover the tip-tanks attaching on the ME-208 has been mod- Quonset when I was stationed points are missing, so we erate. there.” So I called Gene and made a mold and will invited him to come up to the One of our volunteers, Wally fabricate the fairings VAC on Thursday, November Littell, a retired U.S. Navy from fiberglass. Rework 21, 2002. When Gene ar- For your Commander who flew the of the left wing and its rived, Wally was surprised! information...all F9F-5’s when he was assigned flight controls is moving They hadn’t seen each other restoration work is to Quonset Point, asked me if right along. Adaptation for over 37 years and had quite done without using of the mobile stand for I knew a Grumman employee a reunion. Gene stayed for our general revenue named Gene Prime. I told the J-48 engine is 50 per- coffee break and enjoyed see- Wally that I knew Gene very funds. Donate to cent complete. Due to ing many of his old Grumman well. Wally said, “Gene was your favorite project! light attendance, progress friends. a Grumman tech rep at WILDCAT—PANTHER—ME-208—MOHAWK On last month’s address labels, Donations for restoration previously unrecognized: there was a square with “Non- If you received this Member” beside it. Check- UN-Scramble in Charles Tanner, Greenville, SC $700 marks were placed in the box black and white and Schuman Foundation, Vero Beach, FL $5,000 for non-members who received are a current mem- a B&W copy of the UN- Neil Franklin, Orlando, FL $100 ber of the VAC— Scramble. Some confusion oc- contact the editors. Gannet Foundation, Melbourne, FL $1,000 curred because folks thought it And, if you are a Schuman Foundation, Vero Beach, FL $10,000 meant they were not members. member and the The format is changed this box is not checked, Pat Larkin, West Palm Beach, FL $25 month; the box says “Member” let us know. Northrop Grumman, Melbourne, FL $600 and should be checked if you are a member!!! UN-SCRAMBLE Details are in the Mainte- PAGE 5 nance Report (page 18). Regarding the C-47 PROCUREMENT BY BOB FRAZIER Negotiations to obtain a Tico-Belle Repair BMW-320/Ju-52 engine Fund…. from the Yorktown (carrier) First and foremost, I hope all a USN T-2 Buckeye aircraft. Museum continue but with We are actively into recon- had a Very Merry Christmas, As it is retired from active little progress. Our interest struction of the nose/ and wish you a Happy and service, it will be flown to the stems from the fact that the cockpit area and have hired Healthy New engine and Ju- a professional sheet metal Year. 82 were once man. This necessary effort The F-105 owned by the put a strain on the fund’s restoration author and first current balance. New do- work contin- member of the ues with the VAC, Martin slow removal Caidin. of all the tape Florida De- nations have slipped and as and sealant partment of material and of November 30 donations Transportation totaled $38,659, with a identifying T-2 Buckeye has now deter- remaining balance of additional mined that the parts for re- $2,207. While we have the VAC and will be demilita- Warbird Mu- volunteer manpower, addi- assembly. Most parts have a rized at our hangar at a lower seum is eligible for a new coating of red dirt/mud from tional help is needed—not cost. type sign on I-95.