Northern Wings Volume 6 No.3 The Aero Club of Northern California Official Newsletter Of Animal Spring Husbandry 2005 Moffett Field museumreopens after3 years Historical artifacts in new facilities More than three years after the Moffett Field Historical Society had to close itsexhibitsbecause of toxic contamination of historic Hangar One, the museum has re-opened in new quartersthat aretwice as large. The museumwelcomedthe public again April 13--the 72nd anniversary of the commissioning of what was then called Naval Air Station --Northern Wingsphoto Sunnyvale in 1933.Now the museum Alan Simpson explains flight planning toAero Club members. is in Building 126, at the southwest corner of Hangar One next door. Aero Club members tour A visitor can walk through 70 years of Moffett Field history, from the 1930s dirigible era to the maritime Jeppesen flight planning center patrol operations that ended only a Need a flight plan to go from the provides this critical support to the few years ago. There also are exhibits United States to a country on the corporate jets and other aircraft24 of Moffett’s partnership with NASA other side of the world? A permit to hours a day, seven days a week. (Continued on Page 3) overfly some Asian or African Club members enjoyed Jeppesen’s country? Or briefings on weather hospitality with a lunch, and systems half way around the globe? marveled at the viewfrom the On the top floors of a high-rise company’s top-floor outdoor patio, office building in downtown San with aeagle’s-eyeview down the Jose, where jet airliners glide by on runways at Mineta San Jose final approach to Mineta San Jose International Airport two miles to International Airport, a group of the north. men and women provide just that to Despite the international planning the business aviation community. tasks, there’s a local flavor to the Members of the Aero Club of operation. A number of the Northern California toured the employees, frommanaging director --Moffett Field Historical Society photo Jeppesen Data Plan facilityon Bob Overby on down the ladder, are DirigibleUSS Maconemerges from March 24to see how the company (Continued on Page2) Moffett Field’sHangar One in 1934 Page 2 Northern Wings Spring2005 Board profile:John C. Pfahnl Florida aviation exec Fromcarriersto accounting named new director Like most board members of the Pfahnl was next assigned to fly F6F at San Jose airport Aero Club of Northern California, Hellcat fighter planes.His air group William Sherry, aviation director at John C. Pfahnl has a long personal was about to board an aircraft carrier Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood history in aviation. It began early in assigned to the invasion of Japan International Airport in Florida where World War II. when the war ended. he headed a $750 million expansion Over the years, Pfahnl, now a After Pfahnl was project,has been named SanJosé’s discharged from the certified public accountant in San aviationdirector. Jose, flew Navy carrier-based torpedo active Navy, he Sherry, also former aviation director bombers and fighters in air combat in enrolled at Golden for the state of Florida, has 15 years the Pacific and on long-range flights Gate University in experience in the airport management to Alaska, Mexico and Europe in a San Francisco and field. His appointment came after a single-engine light plane. obtained his nationwide search that attracted some certified public It was a long journey from the tiny, 100 candidates for the job to succeed fabric-covered Piper J3 Cubs he first accountant JohnC.Pfahnl Ralph Tonseth, who retired in flew in the Navy’s Civilian Pilot credential. He December. Training Program after enlisting in joined anational accounting firm in Sherry will head a multi-billion- July 1942. 1948 and was later transferred to the dollar expansion program at Mineta That November, the San Francisco San Jose office. San Jose International Airport. native was designated an aviation In 1964, Pfahnl started his own cadet and began formal training to be accounting business in San Jose and Aero Club members a naval aviator. He received his U.S. continues to be active in the firm. Navy wings on Sept. 1, 1943. It was in San Jose that Pfahnl tourflight data center After operational training in the resumed flying, this time in general (Continued from Page 1) TBM Avenger torpedo plane and aviation aircraft. He became a partner graduatesof the San Jose State completion of carrier landing in a Beechcraft Bonanza A-36, which University Department of Aviation. qualifications, Pfahnl was assigned to carried him on many long-range The members-only tour was part the aircraft carrierUSS Bismarck Sea, flights across the United States and to of a series of activities the Aero operating in the Pacific. He Alaska and Mexico. Club is planning for the summer participated in the invasions of the Those weren’t difficult compared to months. Next up in June– a visit to Philippines and Iwo Jima. a flight across the Atlantic in the a shop at SalinasMunicipal Airport But on the night of Feb. 23, 1945, single-engine aircraft. It took 44 hours whereWorld War II-vintage P-51 as the carrier cruised the waters off flying time, with stops at Iceland and Mustang fighter planesare built Iwo Jima, two Japanese kamikaze Greenland before reaching Europe. from scratch. aircraft slammed into the ship, sinking Pfahnl has been on the Aero Club it. Pfahnl was rescued by a Navy board of directors since 1991 and destroyer and was transferred to a currently is the club treasurer. troop transport off the beach at Iwo. Heand his wife of 58 years, Betty, Rick Willson– president From the ship, he witnessed the live in San Jose. They have four sons, Sharon K. Sweeney– vice president Marines raising the United States flag John C. Pfahnl Sr.– treasurer ten grandchildren and three great- Ray Hutchings– secretary on the island’s highest point, Mount grandchildren. Ron Blake– past president Suribachi. Jerry Bennett– director Janet Russell Hitt– director SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Carl Honaker– director 41st annual Watsonville Fly-In and Air Show Frank Kirkbride– director May 27-29 at Watsonville Municipal Airport. Large numbers of antiques and warbirds will be Thomas E. Leonard– director on display.Airshows will be flown Friday night andSaturday and Sunday afternoons. Harold Oberg– director Information atwebsite, www.watsonvilleflyin-org. Ronald T. Reuther– director Aero Club members-only tour James Ricklefs– director June 18,Saturday. Aero Club members will tourCalPacific Airmotiveat Salinas Municipal Scott Yelich– director Airport, where World War II-vintage P-51 Mustang fighter planes are created from parts. Contact Aero Club director Jerry Bennett at (408)646-7139 or [email protected] for Frank Sweeney– newsletter editor reservations. Space is limited. Northern Wings is published quarterly Crystal Eagle Award Banquet by the Aero Club of Northern Oct.22, Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Annual Crystal Eagle banquet of Aero Club of Northern California, an affiliate of the National California. Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road at San Carlos Airport. Aeronautic Association. Spring 2005 Northern Wings Page 3 Florida aviation exec MoffettFieldmuseum–portaltopast 70 years named new director (Continued from Page 1) Fromcarriersto accounting Ames Research Center. at San Jose airport While the paint is peeling from the outside of the building, it’s brand-new inside. A dedicated group of volunteers worked not only to put the former displays back together but also to add new exhibits, install a new sprinkler system, upgrade the restrooms,lay downa new carpet andopena new gift shopand libraryin a building that formerly housed the Computer History Museum. Entering the museum, visitors can start withtheUSSMacon era in 1933- JohnC.Pfahnl 1935. Moffett was built by the Navy as a West Coast base for the huge dirigible, which unlike the much- --Northern Wingsphoto smaller blimps had a rigid frame. Museum docents“Red’’ Brooks and Howard Garrison explain how Aero Club members The 785-foot airship was so large that 785-footdirigible USSMaconsqueezed intoMoffett’s Hangar One. it carried its own complement of tiny tourflight data center Curtiss Sparrowhawk fighter planes, blimpperiod from 1942-1947, the Among them are “Red” Brooks, which it could launch in mid-air for 1950s whenMoffett housed Navy jet retired Navy pilot and former museum long-ranging patrols, then recover in fighters, and finally 1962-1999 when curator, who will tell visitors how the flight. it was home base for Navy maritime Macon operated from Moffett and was But the Maconwas lost in a storm patrol and transport squadrons. housed in Hangar One. off the Big Sur coast onFeb. 12, 1935. Museum docents, many of them The museum, he said, “displays the All but two of the airship’s83- retired Navy pilots, are on hand to tell total Moffett Field experience, from member crew survived. personal stories and explain the lighter-than-air until the final P3 Next is the 1935-1942 Army Air artifacts and the history of the base. departed,’’ Brooks said. Corps era, then theWorld War II Louis Helms, who began his Navy flying career in World War II, can guide visitors through the museum and, if asked, show his favorite exhibit -- the flight suit he wore when piloting helicopters in Antarctica. The Navy left Moffett Field in 1994, although some P3 operations continued for another five years.The field is now operated by NASA, which built Ames Research Center on part of Moffett Field in 1940. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Enter through the main gate on Moffett Boulevard or, on weekdays, through the Ellis Street gate. Show a valid photo ID at the gate for entrance, then drive to the museum.