From the C.O. s Desk By Tom Buck

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1 September 2015 Vol. 10 No. 4 In this issue: From the C.O. s Desk Page 1 Buzzing the Airfield Page 2 Young Eagle Report Page 3 Air Academy Review 2015 Page 5 Fantasy Flight Camp Page 7 Charlie Rides Again Page 12 Warbird Raffle Winner Page 16 Squadron Officers Page 23 New Squadron 4 Members Page 23 Warbird Squadrons Page 23 Upcoming Events October 17, 2015 Saturday 10:00AM 12:00PM Illinois Aviation Museum Bolingbrook, IL A4 Roll-out Ceremony November 8, 2015 Sunday 11:00AM 3:00PM Veterans Forum at Courtesy Aircraft Rockford, IL As always please check our web site for the most up to date information: From the C.O. s Desk By Tom Buck It feels good to have the TBM up flying! It took one new cylinder and a rebuilt magneto to get the engine purring again. Thanks to my crew chief George, who spent many hours getting the TBM in shape. In September, we flew to the Morris Airport Open House, and displayed the TBM and SNJ at the Joliet Airport Open House. We flew bomb runs at the Lockport WW2 reenactment days, and did a flyover at Carillon for a Veteran s benefit golf outing. All of this while the oil consumption was getting better. The TBM crew is pleased with less oil to clean up after the flights. We are all looking forward to some fun fall flying! 1

2 Buzzing the Airfield By Jerry Czupryn Happy fall season to everyone. As the 2015 Airshow season whines down I think about all the air events I ve attended. I attended events with Squadron members and others with family. Had fun, laughs, and interesting times with my fellow Squadron members. In upcoming issues I ll be posting articles and pictures from these events. I hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter. There are some real good articles and pictures that have been submitted by members and friends. I want to give a shout out to Butch, Mike, and Lucas for their contributions. Thanks and great job guys. Thanks again for everyone s support with the newsletter and buying raffle tickets. If you have any questions, suggestions, articles, pictures, or stories please send them to me at nyrs9229@comcast.net. They don t have to be essays or novels. Short stories will do. Safe Travels. Jerry 2

3 Young Eagle Report By Butch Bejna 3

4 Below is a letter from Joe Ermel who attended the EAA Air Academy this summer in Oshkosh. He attended Tom's open house with his mother Aymee. He and I did a Young Eagles Flight and she bought some Warbird raffle tickets and he won the ride with Old Bob in his Stearman. Two plane rides in one day. 4

5 Joseph Ermel Air Academy Review 2015 First of all, I want to thank Butch Bejna for his kindness and generosity by donating his points toward my tuition. I really had a great time at the EAA Air Academy. I was excited to be able to learn more about Aviation, and wasn t even nervous about being away from home, even though it was my first time away. The grounds looked very different without AirVenture going on. The first day we got to know each other and got prepared for the next few days. We did team building activities and visited the Museum. It was really awesome to go Beyond the Borders at the Museum, where we were able to go behind the barricades of the displays and look inside the airplanes. We don t get to do that during AirVenture, so that was pretty interesting. The Simulators were awesome too because I love being able to practice. We were able to design our own gliders. I used balsa wood, which was difficult to cut, and modeling putty. I was proud of my glider because it worked on the first try. It launched right into the wind perfectly. We also split into groups and made a rocket out of a plastic soda bottle, a plastic bag, string and tape. Our rocket was the only one that worked properly and stayed intact. We were proud of it. Of course, getting to fly was the best part! The first evening, I flew in a Cessna 162 Skycatcher with an instructor and was able to take the controls while we were up and earned some time in my log book. The sunset was very colorful from in the air. That morning, we got to fly in the helicopter, too. It was so fun to be able to fly. I also took a video. The food was good, and my roommates were a lot of fun to be with. I also got to meet the Tuskegee Squadron Student, Kristian, who was in the room next door to mine. I hope we can be roommates next time. He was into Aviation as much as I am, so we hit it off really well. We were so busy at the Academy that I really didn t have time to miss being home. I left there tired from all of the fun we had. I slept half way home. I hope I get to go again next year, which will be neat because I will be in the older group. I am looking forward to getting ready to fly when I am old enough. Thanks again to my Family, Butch, and the Academy for the opportunity and experience of a lifetime. I will remember it forever. Sincerely, Joseph Ermel Downers Grove, IL 5

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7 Fantasy Flight Camp By Butch Bejna Recently, I attended the EAA 2015 Fantasy Flight Ultimate Warbirds Trainer weekend. The two trainers were the Consolidated PT-3 (replica) and the North American T-6G. It started on Friday afternoon with Bob Campbell checking me in at the Air Academy Lodge adjacent to Pioneer Airport. Ten men and one woman made up the class. Some of us stayed in the Staff Lodge while the others were in the Air Academy Lodge. After meeting everybody and then having dinner, Jack Pelton, EAA's President/CEO talked to us about his background in aviation. Jack also talked about his planes and handed out the Pilot's Flight Manual for the Ryan PT-22, one of his favorite planes. Saturday started with a Pancake Breakfast by EAA Chapter 252 at the main terminal on Wittman Field. Next was classroom from 8:30-12:00. It was an overview on the designs and operations of both aircraft. Fred Stadler and Ken Kellner talked about the PT-3. Sean Elliott talked about the T-6G. After lunch we split into two groups to go flying. I chose the PT-3 first which flew out of Pioneer Field. After watching a few go before me, I thought I saw the best way to enter the front cockpit with some grace. It wasn't pretty by any means. Climbing around and thru the struts was quite different. Never been in an open cockpit biplane before, I was ready to go. Talk about noise with short exhaust stacks with 220hp less than 5 feet in front of you. It really was a blast - of exhaust, wind and a drop or two of oil. With only the throttle, airspeed, stick and rudder pedals in the front cockpit, it was really flying by the seat of your pants. The flight lasted 30 minutes with me flying close to 20 minutes. I did some climbing turns, shallow and steep turns and just trying to get a feel of the plane. Dinner was next and two guys were talking about a book they read. It was about a guy in the Chicago area that bought an Air Force. It was none other than our very own Will Martin. So, I had to say that I was in the same EAA Warbird Chapter 4 as him. After dinner we had a behind the scene tour of the museum. EAA had an open cockpit with Paul's P-51D, P-64 and Kermit Weeks' Mosquito. The Mosquito was a very tight fit. Back at the Lodge we had the pleasure of hearing the story of the 'Lady be Good' by Dick Campbell. That was a B-24 that went on one mission and disappeared until being found many years later. Sunday morning was breakfast then off to the Weeks Hangar at Wittman Field to fly the T-6G. During breakfast I talked to Shirley the only woman to attend. She saw the EAA's B-17G on tour on the East Coast earlier this year, went for a flight, then joined EAA and the Warbirds of America. She is not a pilot but was hooked on the history of the planes and her dad flew during WW II. Another pilot that attended owns a PT-13 and may attend some of our events in the future. Ken Morris from Poplar Grove, IL was the T-6 pilot on Sunday. Ken also flies the B-17 and flew in Sunday morning in his Twin Beech a C-45H. The T-6 flight was also 30 minutes with me having about the same stick time. I did some steep and shallow turns, S turns and just getting a feel for it. The PT-3 was very heavy on the controls compared to the T-6. All in all it was a great experience! 7

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10 Mosquito Cockpit 10

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12 Charlie Rides Again by Michael F. Hudak AirVenture has come and gone but I would be remiss if I didn't spin this little tale of what transpired there on Saturday. I had just finished my second morning shift of driving the Warbird Tram, which I highly recommend you take advantage of this "free ride, it s very interesting and no two rides are the same. Anyhow as I was finishing the tour I noticed Tom Buck's TBM had taxied into the Warbird area. So I jumped off the John Deere and started to walk over to "Big Blue". As I got close I could see what looked like a familiar figure from behind, it sure looked like Charlie Mueller but I thought no way, he wouldn't be up here. But it sure looked like him and sure enough when I got close he turns around and bingo! It is Charlie, boy were we ever surprised to see each other! His son and daughter in law had driven him up there and Charlie, ever the navigator spotted Tom's plane and came over to see him. But Tom was out and about. So while we were talking Tug Monkey and nice guy Dean Stanley pulls up and reminded me that Cowden Ward is still giving WWII veterans rides in his P 51 Pecos Bill, a real gem! We walked over to Area 51 to check it out. The nice people there told Charlie that there were 3 vets ahead of him and since the airspace would shut down at 2:30 he may not make the "cut". Undaunted Charlie did what he does best, talking to anybody who will listen. With a few hours to kill we wondered over to the Re Enactors Camp where Charlie was a big hit with everybody, the actors, adults, and kids whose parents brought them in close to hear some of Charlies stories. Charlie loved it, especially the children as he is a natural teacher. In the mean time I had to drive the last tram ride of the day and left Charlie in charge. When I finished my tour I was wondering how Charlie made out, he always says he always has been very lucky and I was hoping his luck would hold. As I headed to Area 51 I saw the prop on Pecos Bill turning. I took off in a sprint thinking of what Charlie's mother told him...that he could fall into a pile of "bovine excrement" and come out smelling like a rose! It didn't take long to find out. Just as I got there the plane was already moving to the runway and I could see a head barely sticking up above the fuselage in the back seat and sure enough it s Charlie! I'm running alongside as grass is flying the plane is loud and it rolling away and I am snapping pictures and saluting as people are screaming at me to get away from the plane but they aren't going to stop me...sorry Stacy. I couldn't help myself too excited to miss once in a lifetime opportunity. 12

13 I stood there with his son and daughter in law as Charlie charged down the runway in a P 51, off he goes into a gorgeous blue Oshkosh sky, what a thrill! About a half hour later here they come out of the white puffy clouds to land and taxi in. A crowd of all Charlies new friends had gathered around as Charlie got out on the wing and a huge cheer went up as he waved to us, it was a quite a sight! Charlie came down from the wing and posed for pictures with the pilot Cowden Ward and the entire crew of Pecos Bill...they all wanted pictures and more conversation with Charlie. Charlie told us when he flew missions on B 17's he saw P 51's out there but this was the first time he had a ride in one...71 years later. So don't give up as it can happen. His son Mark was absolutely ecstatic and couldn't believe that he had just witnessed his father flying in a P 51 fighter...only at Oshkosh!! So I asked Charlie how he liked the ride. "Oh it was wonderful!" he said. We did loops and rolls and flew inverted over the lake". I said "No kidding didn't it bother you?" "No" he said "It was beautiful". I said "You know your 93 years old don't you?" He says "Ya don't remind me". "The only thing that made me nervous was when we were over the water because I can't swim anymore". The crowd around Charlie finally broke up but only because the Tora Tora Tora show was starting, which we all enjoyed. And this was Charlie's first trip to Oshkosh! What a great day! Post Script: About a week after Oshkosh Charlie ended up in the hospital (not related to the P 51 ride). He is now back home recovering and as soon as he regains his strength he promises to come out and regale us with more stories. So please keep my old buddy in your thoughts and prayers. 13

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16 Warbird Raffle Winner by Lucas Luecke There was no mistaking John O Connor s Navy-marked canary yellow SNJ as it buzzed through the air and eventually touched down at Morris Airport for the EAA Chapter 95 Open House on September 5. It neither looked nor sounded like any aircraft that you might otherwise see in the skies on an average late summer Saturday afternoon. I was at the Open House that day to meet Mr. O Connor and claim the Warbird ride I had won in the Warbird Squadron 4 raffle a couple weeks prior. The raffle win came as a surprise to me like most people, I never win anything! After being notified of my win, I was asked which warbird I wanted to ride in. Having very limited warbird knowledge, I, of course chose the brightest and most striking looking plane from the raffle flyer. What happened next convinced me that I had made the right choice. After a brief introduction, we got right down to business going through the basics of the plane, its controls and of course, getting properly strapped into the rear seat of the aircraft. I had no idea so many straps, buckles, latches and fasteners could be packed into such a tight area. Once I got everything connected to myself and the seat, I was told to adjust my seat position and tighten again. John told me when we roll, I don t want you hitting your head on the canopy. Roll?!?! I expected the takeoff and ride in a 70 year old plane to be a little bumpy, at best. That was not at all the case. I was surprised at how quick and effortless the plan got in the air. I felt as if we were off the ground in moments much quicker than the commercial airliners I am used to. I wish I could remember how high we climbed but I was busy staring out the canopy at the sprawling landscape below. We made a strafing-like pass by the airport. That dive produced an amazing roller coaster feel of weightlessness and falling and made me re-check those seat straps one more time. Once we reached a nice cruising speed, John let me experiment with the rudder and stick controls; which were a new experience for me. I definitely wanted to give it a try but was terrified of what a wrong move may do to the future of this flight. Knowing that John was in front, truly in control of the plane, was reassuring and gave me the confidence to push that rudder a little more. The pinnacle of the flight was definitely the rolls. Before we started the process, John came over the radio and asked me if I was ready to roll. I gave him the verbal thumbs up and off we went. The roll began with an increase of speed after a quick dive followed by a quick ascent. Then with a simple move of the stick, we were upside down. Again, I was surprised how effortless and smooth the plane handled the maneuver. Not a shake, shimmy or shudder. It was as if the 16

17 plane wanted to do it all along. We survived the first roll and attempted another. 360 degrees later, we were right side up again. After a few more minutes of cruising, John headed back to the airport. The weather was starting to threaten and the decision was made to bring the bird home. We buzzed the airport once, circled and landed just as gracefully as we had taken off. We taxied back to our spot outside the hangar, parked and began the un-fastening process. My ride that day was nothing short of amazing! I would like to thank pilot John O Connor and his willingness to share the flight experience with me. A big thank goes out to Jerry Czupryn and the entire Warbird Squadron 4 for putting together the raffle and providing an opportunity for a truly once in a lifetime experience. I am already looking forward to my chance in the 2016 raffle! 17

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19 TBM-1C Avenger Torpedo Bomber over Yap on 26 July

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21 We still have a few calendars left!!!! June 2016 Warbird Pinup Girl Bryn with Tom Buck s TBM Avenger. Bryn was at the Open Hangar Party at the Joliet Regional Airport on Sunday August 16, She was a BIG hit!! She signed and smooched the extra calendars for us at the event. These calendars are available for $20. You can purchase them at warbirdsquadron4.org or contact Jerry at (630) Proceeds will go to EAA Warbird Squadron 4. Thanks for supporting the Squadron! 21

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23 Squadron Officers (Partial listing see website for full board) C.O. Tom Buck (815) E.O. David Stevens (630) SEC. Ted Kowalik (630) TRE. Brian Churchill (847) New Squadron 4 Members We are always looking for new members to join the Squadron. For more information please contact Bruce Hawkins at (815) or bruce.hawkins@warbirdsquadron4.org Warbird Squadrons You can find all of these links on our site under the "WOA Squadron" button. Listed below is the text for the links. Warbirds of America Link: Seattle, WA Cascade Warbird Squadron 2 Link: Eugene, OR Warbird Squadron 13 Link: Chino, CA Warbird Squadron 16 Link: Cincinnati, OH Warbird Squadron 18 Link: Florida Warbird Squadron 24: 23

24 Squadron 4 Warbirds Spitfire F8F Bearcat Corsair TBM Avenger T6 SNJ T6 T6 SNJ Yak OW Meyers T34 Wildcat Rudy Frasca John O Connor John O Connor Tom Buck Rick Siegfried Vic Krause Rudy Frasca John O Connor Tom Buck Bob Fitzpatrick Chuck Downey Rudy Frasca Rudy Frasca Visit the website for more information. Merchandise Keep em Flyin EAA Warbirds of America Squadron 4 is dedicated to the appreciation of military aviation, its people and its history. EAA Warbirds of America fosters an environment that celebrates all past and present members of the U.S Armed Services. 24