The Membership Newsletter for The Military Aviation Museum Winter 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: New Year, New Staff 2 Fokker Dr.I 2 Officer MacAllister Memorial 3 USCAA Cross Country Meet 4 Planes, Trains & Santa 5 Holiday Hangar Concert 6 Welcoming the New Year and Our New Staff! Military Aviation Museum www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org As we prepare for another exciting year here at the Military Aviation Museum, we take pride in sharing Virginia Beach Airport the news that the Museum has just set an all-time www.VBairport.com attendance record! With more than 80,000 visitors in Fighter Factory 2019 we are reaching more people than ever before www.FighterFactory.com with our world-class collection of vintage military aircraft. Each of these immaculately restored wartime Warbirds Over the Beach aircraft provide us a tangible connection to the lessons www.VBairshow.com of the Greatest Generation, and our commitment to keep them flying serves to captivate and inspire audiences from all walks of life. Our airplanes are time machines used to The Hangar Dance is Back Valentine's Day Weekend create engaging experiences aimed at fostering an understanding of the important role of military The Military Aviation Museum is bringing out club, Swing Virginia, will once again be with us to aircraft and their crews in our nation’s history, and it its best this year with our annual Big Band Hangar entertain and show you how it’s done. Learn the is support from our donors, members and dedicated Dance fundraiser. The dance lands on Saturday, classics such as the Charleston, the Jitterbug, and volunteers that makes it all possible. In addition to February 15, 2020 with dinner, live music, swing the Lindy Hop. Be sure to save them a dance! our record setting attendance, 2019 was also a banner dancing, fine food, auctions and romance! Cut a year for participation in education programs and our Jazz septet, Grace Street Seven, will keep you on dash and dance the night away here at the museum. annual events, as well as for the enrollment of new the floor all evening long, but be sure to take some museum members. Be sure to get your dinner tickets now as they time to explore the silent auction and bid on some are only available through February 8th. Dinner wonderful prizes. Put on your best vintage clothing This growth has been made possible through an enormous effort on the part of the staff and the this year includes a reception with hors d’oeuvres, and enter our costume contest. Make a date and volunteers who support museum operations daily, so exclusive auction preview and cash bar. VIP bring your friends along with you to the dance it is with heavy hearts that we bid Museum Director options are also available for tables of eight that event of the season! Jarod Hoogland farewell in December. We wish Jarod include reserved seating throughout the evening Don’t need dinner? Dance only tickets are also all the best in his new role as Director of the Mission and wine with dinner. Doors open at 5:00 PM and available, so there’s no excuse not to come out and Inn Foundation in Riverside, CA. As Director for dinner will be served at 6:30. The Dance portion of enjoy the evening! Dance tickets are onsale thru the the past two and a half years, Jarod introduced many the evening kicks off at 7:30 PM. 8th and available at the door. Full details of both new events and opportunities for the community Enjoy your meal while listening to the golden options can be found at: https://www.eventbrite. to connect with the museum and its mission, while voice of Ms. Theresa Eaman as she regales you com/e/big-band-hangar-dance-2020-tickets- finding new ways to reach audiences who might not with timeless tunes from days gone by. Afterwards, 78021810335?aff=Website. Tickets may also be have traditionally visited the museum. dust off your dance shoes and hit the floor as purchased by visiting the museum or by phone at national swing dance instructors from local dance 757-721-7767. q Check out our new team PAGE 2 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1 HANGAR Happenings New Staff, continued Museum's 1917 Fokker Dr.I Written By Jack McGinn Museum Director, Keegan Chetwynd Assuming the position of Museum Director from Jarod is Keegan Chetwynd who joins the Museum The Fokker Dr.I collection of the museum may team from San Diego, CA and the Comic-Con be the largest number of “Dreidecker” (meaning Museum. Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, three wings) replicas in one place in the U.S., with Keegan has built a career working in Museums four examples. The type first flew in July of 1917. featuring subject matter ranging from Maritime Culture and Fisheries, to Comic Books and Pop The Dr.I is perhaps the most recognizable aircraft Culture, but says that Warbirds have always been a of the ‘Great War’. Developed as a response to the particular interest of his. British Sopwith triplane, it was thought by some to be too slow and too small until it became obvious that its Prior to moving to San Diego, Keegan was located superior maneuverability made it a potent weapon. in Dallas, TX working with the Commemorative Air Force on their National Headquarters Project, There are many replicas of the Dr.I flying, but as well as participating in the finding, recovery and no flying originals survive. Originally powered restoration of That’s All, Brother, the airplane that by Le Rhone rotary engines, three of ours have led the D-Day Invasion. radials and one has a Rotex rotary engine installed. In addition to welcoming a new Director, the Our all red Dr.I represents the aircraft delivered Military Aviation Museum is also pleased to welcome to Jasta 11 on January 8th, 1918. It was this aircraft a new Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria Reed. A that was flown by the “ace of aces” Baron Manfred graduate of Virginia Tech (Let’s Go Hokies!) and von Richthofen the day he was killed. The “Red Virginia-beach born and raised, Victoria joins the Baron” had 80 confirmed victories and he was team from the Georgia Sea Turtle Rescue Center. She the leading ace of the Imperial German Army Air has a depth of experience working with passionate Service. Baron von Richthofen shot down his last volunteers during outreach activities, recruitment & 20 aircraft in Dr.I’s and the Baron told designer orientation, and the creation of volunteer recognition Tony Fokker that it “climbed like a monkey and events, which will be welcome support to our maneuvered like the devil." museum volunteers. Our all-red Fokker Dr.I, the one with the rotary engine (N-number N917RB), is of “Redfern” pedigree. Victoria also has a specific connection to military In the world of Fokker Triplane reproductions, there aviation through her father, who is a veteran and are generally two sets of plans you choose from; Naval Aviator who flew the F-4 Phantom II, F-8 one is by Walter Redfern. The Walter Redfern Crusader and A-4 Skyhawk. Company, also called Redfern Plans, was based in With the transition period between Directors Post Falls, Idaho and founded by Walter “Wimpy” now complete and Victoria working with the previous Redfern. They specialized in the design and coordinator, Warren Curd, to continue expanding provision of plans for homebuilts, particularly the volunteer program, the staff team has started to replica aircraft of WW I. Redfern’s plans were work on several proposed facility improvements, adapted from original aircraft drawings with exhibits and new event ideas that will keep the assistance from Peter Bowers and Reinhold Platz, museum growing into the future. We all continue to one of the original design team members for the be humbled by the ongoing support of our members, Fokker DR.I. Platz continued to collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria Reed volunteers and donors, and look forward to seeing Redfern until Platz’ death in 1966. This particular you all out at the museum in 2020. q DR.I was built in Brazil (Jose Dante Zanaga Neto). q VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 USAAF Goxhill Veteran Goes West: Officer Pershing Edwin "Mac" MacAllister Living a full 101 years, “Mac” was a perfect example of the many young Americans ” who served in the Air War in Europe. “ The first American combat unit to occupy the Beach several years ago, along with personnel the former RAF Goxhill airfield in 1942 was the from Langley’s 1st Fighter Wing to honor “Mac.” 78th Fighter Squadron of the First Fighter Group. He toured the Goxhill Watch Office with Mr. Yagen Armaments Officer P.E. “Mac” MacAllister was one and was truly impressed with what the museum of the first to arrive at Goxhill. “Mac” went on to was accomplishing. North Africa and other assignments, and after the war Living a full 101 years, “Mac” was a perfect became one of the driving forces in industry and the example of the many young Americans who served arts in his hometown of Indianapolis. in the Air War in Europe, and who went on to lead a “Mac” joined us at the museum for a ceremony to life of purpose to build our country and shape a better share his Goxhill experiences during Warbirds Over world for generations to come. q Courtesy of www.macallister.com Goxhill Tower Watercolor Painting PAGE 4 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1 EVENTS In REVIEW Museum Hosts First National Cross Country Meet The schools from the New England area seemed to enjoy the weather, while the southerners ” bundled up until their scheduled races.