ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER SATURDAY MARCH 23rd

Transcription

1 MARCH, 2013 NEWSLETTER ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER SATURDAY MARCH 23rd TAKE A TRIP ON AIR FORCE ONE Don't miss this presentation - find out how Presidents use their airplane! On Saturday, March 23rd the Candler Field Museum will host its annual Benefit Dinner featuring retired Air Force Colonel William Leachman. Col. Leachman was the commander of the squadron that maintained Air Force One and several other airplanes used to fly our government officials. He has a very interesting slide presentation with pictures and stories of past Presidents and how they used Air Force One. Col. Leachman will describe the process of creating a presidential trip - how it is planned, how much it costs, and all the associated challenges that go with transporting VIPs. This is a story you will not want to miss. Ticket prices are $50 per person with the proceeds going to Candler Field Museum. Your ticket includes an excellent dinner served by the Barnstormer's Grill and the chance to purchase raffle tickets on several interesting items. So, put it down on your calendar - Saturday, March 23rd beginning at 6 PM at Candler Field Museum in Williamson, GA. You can buy your tickets online at the link below, buy them at

2 Barnstormer's Grill or Gigi's Antique Griffin in downtown Griffin, GA. TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS PLEASE CLICK HERE AND GO TO THE "JOIN MUSEUM" BUTTON

3

4 ENOLA GAY NAVIGATOR VISITS Dutch Van Kirk answering questions - Picture courtesy of Rod Reilly Dutch Van Kirk, the only surviving crew member on the Enola Gay (the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima) visited Candler Field Museum on February 23rd. Dutch spoke to a group of over 300 people who had gathered to meet this famous WWII veteran. After relating the details of the mission that took place on August 6, 1945, Dutch spent a couple of hours autographing his book - True North. Todd Childs, a local collector of WWII memorabilia was responsible for organizing the event. The following story was written by Bill Taylor, owner of WKEU radio in Griffin, GA. The article was featured on the WKEU website.

5 "Dutch Van Kirk Navigator of the Enola Gay B-29 that dropped the Atom Bomb that ended World War II was at the Candler Field Museum on Saturday for a guest appearance with the audience and a book signing. WKEUS Bill Taylor had a chance to talk with the World renowned navigator on Saturday. Dutch was and is a military officer, said Taylor, he has never lost his love of the Air Force, all members of the Armed Forces, and enjoys greatly meeting with groups like the one Saturday. He recounted the entire mission of the Enola Gay Air Craft with stories from the start up of the aircraft to its final touchdown following the mission. He took questions from the group present. What did you think when the bomb was dropped and they saw the cloud forming, one person asked? He said without hesitation THE DAMN THING WORKED! Van Kirk mentioned that several attempts to get the trigger and detonation mechanism to work had been tried and each attempt had failed. This caused everyone to doubt as to whether the bomb would explode. He was also was asked about the impact the shock wave had on on the aircraft. He replied that he felt like the airplane was upside down, but pilot Paul Tibbets insured him it never was. The impact was great and the cloud could be seen from over a thousand miles away at 33,000 feet. He also said that all the crew wore heavy goggles and were flying away from the blast when it exploded. Had they been looking at the blast with the nacked eye all would have been instantly blinded. The blast was 20 times brighter than the surface of the sun. Van Kirk remarked how the bombing was necessary to save Hundreds of Thousands of lives not only of our nation but all allies, and the Japanese as well to end the war and not make a invasion effort to the mainland. Bill Taylor said that following the presentation and Book Signing, he found that Dutch lived in Stone Mountain Georgia. Following the end of the War Dutch went back to school even though he already was a chemical engineer by trade. He went to work for the Dupont Company rising to Vice President before he retired. He is also a pilot and even through doesn t fly anymore he still had the love of aircraft embedded in his heart. He has owned an AT-6 World War II Trainer, and a Stearman. In his book, Dutch relates as to his deep friendship with Pilot Paul Tibbits, and Thomas Freberee. They were referred to by Tibbits as the Three Musketeers. All met in 1942 and stayed together throughout the war. Dutch said he wants to get the story out about the mission because so many people today have no idea how it happened, or why. He even said, that one time when he spoke at a school, the Teacher introduced his as a Veteran of World War Eleven. There is no doubt said Taylor, that Americans today and especially school children need deeper history of our nation being taught. I am very concerned when a teacher said Taylor states that we have had World War Eleven? Surely we need to bring the fact home to our students that only for the efforts of their Grandfathers from the late

6 1930 s until 1945 things would have been very different in this free nation we call America. The very free air be breathe each day in America as well as our great nation was paid for by these great men and women that served in World War TWO." photo courtesy of Bill Taylor CIVIL AIR PATROL OPEN HOUSE The local Griffin Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron is having their annual open house on Saturday March 16th from 10 AM until 2 PM. I would like to encourage you to visit this very active group. They are located on the south side of the Griffin, Georgia Airport. If you would like more information on the CAP please go to FLABOB NEWS (news from our sister airport located in Riverside, CA)

7 DC-3 TRIP TO THE CACTUS FLY IN BY Jon Goldenbaum Flabob has a group of dedicated young people who call themselves the Aviators. They grew up at the airport, participated in youth aircraft restorations, attended our high school, and many received flight scholarships from the Tom Wathen center. Two were selected to fly in our DC-3 to the Cactus Fly In near Phoenix. Their reports follow: My name is Jacob Palmer and I am a Flabob Aviator from historic Flabob Airport in Riverside, CA. Last weekend I had the opportunity to fly to Casa Grande for the Antique Fly-In in a 1943 Douglas DC-3. We left early in the morning on March 1st from Riverside Airport and the flight lasted 2 hours and thirty minutes with a full load of 18 passengers and crew. I was able to fly this beautiful, historic airplane for 30 minutes each way and logged an hour of dual DC-3 time in my log book. At the Antique Fly-In I was a docent for youth tours on the DC-3. The children were inspired and engaged by what they learned about Flabob Airport s DC-3. It was an honor to volunteer my time to be surrounded by other aviation enthusiasts. Thank you Casa Grande for a fabulous experience. Jacob Palmer flying the Flabob Express My name is Tyler Howell I m 18 years old and I am currently a senior at the Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy. I completed my flight training for my private pilot s certificate at age 17 through the Tom Wathen Center flying program. I got my flying license before my driver s license. I am also a part of the group of young Flabob people called the Flabob Aviators. I ve always had a fascination with aviation. I started flying when I was twelve years old; my first flight was actually to Flabob

8 airport with my Grandfather in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk. There I heard about Young Eagles and the Pilot training Programs through aircraft build projects that the Tom Wathen Center offers to young people. This weekend I had the chance to fly the DC-3 over to Casa Grande Municipal Airport, along with seventeen others for the Arizona Antique Aircraft Association Cactus Fly-In. The first day I helped prepare the DC-3 for multiple tours of The Flabob Express to local school kids and teachers in Casa Grande. the students were well behaved and asked good questions about the DC-3 and aviation. On Saturday, all the fly-in activities were in session, I helped be a docent explaining the DC-3, The Flabob Flying Circus, Flabob youth programs, and also the Aviators group that we have over at Flabob Airport in Riverside California. Throughout the day I was able to go out and explore and look at the many antique airplanes that flew in for this event. Later that evening there was a banquet that I attended along with the Flabob crew, during the banquet the president of the Antique Aircraft fly-in recognized Flabob for coming to their Antique Aircraft fly-in and bringing the DC-3, they wanted us for their next fly-in, there was many different awards being presented. I received the award called the, Youngest Pilot, it was for being the youngest pilo t to fly a tail dragger to the flyin. That made my day. All in all I would like to thank Jon Goldenbaum and the Tom Wathen Center for allowing me to participate in The Arizona Antique Aircraft Association Cactus Fly-In. Tyler Howell takes his turn in the left seat For more information go to

9 THUNDER IN THE VALLEY AIRSHOW March 16th and 17th the annual Thunder in the Valley Airshow will be held at the Columbus, Georgia Airport. This year the airshow will feature the U.S. Army Silver Wings parachute team, a F-18 demo team, Jane Wicker Airshows, and several other acts. A number of aircraft will also be on display. For more information please go to PICTURES AND STORIES FROM THE PAST JENNY STORY by David Trojan and Brian Karli The town of Eden, TX welcomed 2nd Lt. Philip R. Myer and his Curtiss JN6H biplane. It was was the first time a plane had ever visited their community so everyone came out to see it. The Aviator had flown from Kelly Field, San Antonio TX on March 25th, With almost 600 hours of flight experience, 2nd Lt. Philip R. Meyer was confident as

10 he started the motor and lined up with the makeshift runway. He spied an obstruction only 500 feet away - it was just a fence - and he reasoned that he had plenty of open pasture to become airborne in time. Meyer knew one valve on his motor was not quite right, but the aircraft was brand new and had been thoroughly tested just 17 days prior. Moreover, the pilot and mechanic inspected the plane before the flight. So, Lt. Meyer took off. To the horror of the Eden spectators, Meyer didn't become airborne but rather struck the fence. As the plane nosed over, the whirling propeller chopped into earth like a giant lawnmower blade. It simultaneously splintered, shooting thousands of sharp wooden daggers in all directions. The nearly 2,000-pound plane then rolled on its back, which threatened to crush Meyer.

11 Meyer, however, had luck on his side as he remained uninjured. The badly damaged airplane was not as fortunate. A local blacksmith clicked a picture of the remains being trucked from downtown Eden. The scribble on the back of that photo read, "Eden's first airplane leaving in disgrace." During the post-mishap interview, Meyer told the investigation board that because of the unanticipated softness of the ground, he did not have "enough speed when he got to the fence." However, he said that his attempt to hop the fence was unsuccessful, which suggests he pulled back on the stick despite his low airspeed. This is problematic because an attempt to climb prematurely, or too steeply at a low speed, may cause the airplane to settle back to the surface or stall. The aircraft's specifications and operating instructions, which pilots were tasked to study at least once a week, points out the dangers of a low-speed takeoff. In fact, it suggests that while 45 mph is the minimum speed for flight, pilots should keep the plane on the ground until a liftoff speed of 75 mph. CANDLER FIELD FLYING CLUB For more information on Candler Field Flying Club please go to

12 FACEBOOK PAGE Please CLICK HERE and go to our Facebook page. Click on the "Like" button and you will receive museum updates when we update the page. This is a very effective way for us to communicate with you. Barnstormer's Grill has a new menu. Please visit and try our new items. We also do catering. Let us host your next event or cater it onsite. go to