Special Issue Write-Up of Birdwatching in Florida

Volume 42 Number 3 Special Edition December 2007 http://www.cahs.ca/torontochapter Canadian Aviation Historical Society Toronto Chapter Meeting Dec. 15, 2007 Meeting starts at 1 PM -Under the Glider- Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall Road, Toronto Last Month s Meeting.......................... 3 This meeting is jointly sponsored by CAHS Toronto Chapter and the Toronto Aerospace Museum- All CAHS / TAM members, guests and the public (museum admission payable) are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served Landing Fee of $2.00 will be charged to cover meeting expenses Next Meeting & Xmas Gift Exchange Dec. 15, 2007 Special Issue Write-Up of Birdwatching in Florida 1 Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition

Last Month s Meeting October Meeting Birdwatching in Florida Speaker: Martin Keenan World War Lancaster veteran Clifford Alger, had to cancel for medical reasons. Martin displayed a colourful and comprehensive range of photos taken with his digital camera during a visit last October to the QF-4 Phantom in Historical Markings Reporter: Gord McNulty CAHS Toronto Chapter President Howard Malone introduced a familiar figure in Martin Keenan, a Chapter Member, former Chapter Executive Member, and a skilled aviation researcher who made presentations to the Chapter in February 2005 and December 2005 on the CF-101B Voodoo in Canadian service. Martin kindly stepped in to make a presentation on his aviation birdwatching in Florida in 2006 after our scheduled guest speaker, Second F-4 Phantom II Society s Phancon 2006 in Panama City, Florida. The society is a nonprofit, California-based organization dedicated to the history of the famous McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II interceptor, first flown in 1958. Phancon 2006, hosted by the 82 nd rd Aerial Targets Squadron and 53 Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, included activities at Tyndall as well as Naval Air Station Pensacola and the U.S. National Museum of Naval Aviation, together with Eglin Air Force Base. The F-4 Phantom II Society was founded in Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition 2

1984 by enthusiasts of the Phantom, including alligators posed a menace. However, Martin former pilots and crew chiefs. Martin was managed very nicely. Four Phantoms are introduced to the Phancon event by a friend, a nd operated by the 82 as heritage aircraft, painted member of the Vancouver Chapter, who told in vintage U.S. Air Force schemes from the him of the good photo opportunities that would 1960s. They make occasional air show otherwise be difficult to find in the post 9/11 appearances. Martin photographed two of the era. four. Unusual aircraft include a MiG-23 The first two photos showed an F-22 Raptor and interceptor in East German markings, and also an F-15 Eagle at Tyndall AFB. Martin wasn t a MiG-29. Both the active F-4 drones and able to take photos of these aircraft himself another batch of F-4s, that are in storage and because of strict security by the air force. In any used for spare parts, are painted in grey event, the F-4s were his primary interest. markings with orange highlights. Tyndall has about 50 Phantoms that have been Martin showed excerpts from a video that converted as radio-controlled, full-scale drones dramatically demonstrated the high casualty --- the ultimate in r/c flying. The drones are in rates associated with drones. The video various states of repair. About 20 F-4 drones showed QF-100s and QF-106s going out of are fully operational. They are the successors to control and crashing in spectacular fashion the earlier QF-106s which succeeded the QF- during takeoffs and landings. Some of the 100s, which in turn replaced the QF-86s. In crashes ended in fiery explosions, which were nd addition to the F-4, the 82 Aerial Targets not too far from a highway on the other side of Squadron flies other drones such as Ryan the trees along the runway. I sincerely hope Firebees. Target drones are flown across a large that they close the highway while they are range over the Gulf of Mexico, where they are doing this, Martin said. It doesn t bear used for weapons evaluation, training pilots and thinking about if they don t. other activities. The unit does all of its own The next day, the enthusiasts went to the busy maintenance. Naval Air Station Pensacola, a major training Martin recalled that the event attracted a large facility for American naval aviators. Pensacola is home to Carrier Training Wing Three, with three training squadrons: 4, 10, and 86. While Pensacola-based aircraft occasionally visit air shows in Canada, Martin was impressed to see MiG 23 Flogger number of photographers, making it a challenge at times to get clear shots of the aircraft. In at least one area, Florida s not-so-friendly T-2 Buckeye 3 Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition

an entire ramp of aircraft from the station at damage from tropical storms. Martin hopes that once. Some of the aircraft captured in photos the museum will be able to acquire a suitable included the Beech/Raytheon T-6A Texan II, building to properly display the collection. powered by a Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6 Other aircraft include a North American RA-5 turboprop. It s similar to the CT-156 Harvard II Vigilante shipboard reconnaissance and attack flown by the Canadian Forces. North American aircraft, a North American AJ-1 Savage T-2 Buckeyes, of 1960s vintage, were still on shipboard attack bomber, a Grumman E-1 the flight line, as were North American T-39 Trader electronic countermeasures variation on Sabreliners of similar vintage. The T-39s are the Tracker and a Martin Marlin maritime still being used to train electronic weapons reconnaissance flying boat. The collection also officers, navigators, and other back-seat includes U.S. Coast Guard aircraft such as a personnel. Beech/Raytheon T-1A Jayhawks and Grumman HU-16 Albatross. There are about a a Sea King helicopter were seen as well. A fair dozen Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, in various number of air force pilots, and pilots from other models and colour schemes, on display. A foreign services, are trained at Pensacola. The Consolidated PB2-Y Coronado was once base is also home to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Admiral Chester Nimitz flying headquarters precision aerobatic team. A Blue Angels F-18 aircraft and then went to Howard Hughes, who is on display. During Martin s two-hour used it as a training aircraft to train on the morning visit, a U.S.A.F. F-16 arrived from handling of large flying boats before he flew Eglin AFB as did a U.S. Coast Guard Jayhawk and a couple of Marine Corps F-18s. During the afternoon, the group visited the U.S. National Museum of National Aviation at the station. An F-14 Tomcat stands on prominent display outside the museum. Some of the aircraft in the collection are especially noteworthy, such as the Lockheed Neptune that set a world distance record in 1946 by flying non-stop from Perth, Australia to Columbus, Ohio --- a distance of 11,300 miles --- in 55 hours. The record stood until December, 1986 Martin Marlin when Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager became the first people to circumvent the world non-stop in the Spruce Goose. the Voyager. Visitors can also tour the restoration shop, Various helicopters were seen, including the where aircraft are refurbished. There is a large Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave powered by two Douglas A-26 in naval markings, a Grumman 2,100 horsepower R-2800 Pratt and Whitney Hellcat and a Grumman Cougar. The storage radials, Sea Kings including a former Marine area contains one of the Blue Angels old Fat One that flew the president to and from the Albert C-130 Hercules, and the atrium of the White House and a Bell Huey in U.S. naval museum contains an impressive exhibit of four markings. A de Havilland Otter that served the Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawks in formation. U.S. Navy as the U-1B was seen. The aircraft Other relatively rare post-war fighters include are outdoors and chained down, vulnerable to a Vought F7U Cutlass, a Douglas F-6 Skyray, Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition 4

a Grumman F-11 Tiger, a McDonnell Demon, a to the ramp was not allowed. However, aircraft North American Fury, and a McDonnell on display include a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, a Banshee. World War II is well represented by a UH-1P (P as in psychological warfare) Huey, a Hellcat and a Bearcat. North American OV-10 Bronco, a Cessna O-1 Martin noted that the U.S. Navy does not give Bird Dog equipped with smoke rockets for up title to any of its aircraft in the event of a marking targets, a Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green crash, no matter how long ago an accident Giant used to retrieve downed airmen in occurred. One of the aircraft at the museum is Vietnam, a Curtiss C-46 Commando, a a Vought SB2U Vindicator, the only one in the Fairchild AC-119 gunship and an AC-130A world. It was recovered from Lake Michigan gunship. The third day of the trip ended at and restored. The U.S. Navy lost a number of Eglin. Vindicators at the Battle of Midway. The Martin answered a number of questions. He museum is hoping to recover a Douglas TBD noted that the museum has a large hangar full Devastator, which is still under water. Almost of wrecks that have been pulled from Lake all of the Devastators that attacked the Japanese Michigan, including aircraft such as the Hellcat fleet at Midway were lost. The museum has a and the Douglas SBD Dauntless. The QF-4 Vought Kingfisher, which came from the Phantoms at Tyndall are the last operating Uruguan navy. Five Kingfishers survive around Phantoms in American service. Martin said the the world, but the U.S. Navy officially lists the U.S. Air National Guard phased out the last of total as four. Martin explained that the fifth is their Phantoms in 1996. He concluded by in Cuba! The lobby of the museum displays a saying that Naval Air Station Pensacola is well Douglas Skystreak, which briefly held the world worth a visit by aviation fans. Visitors who speed record, and a Thomas-Morse S-5 arrive at the right time of year can watch the floatplane. Blue Angels practise their routine from bleacher seats. Howard expressed his thanks to Martin for the outstanding photos that he displayed. Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Bob Winson presented our speaker with a gift in appreciation of his most enjoyable and informative presentation. *** Douglas Skystreak On the way back, Martin stopped at Hurlburt Field, a subdivision of Eglin AFB. Hurlburt is the home of the U.S.A.F. Special Operations Command, covering activities such as forward air control, psychological warfare, special forces, the operation of AC-130 gunship aircraft, and other secretive assignments. A visit Meeting Reminder Remaining Fall Meeting Date is December 15. All meetings start at 1 PM. 5 Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition

By Taxi: Take the TTC Subway to the Downsview Station and take a taxi from there. It will cost around $8 one way, but it is by far the most convenient option for tourists, because the cab will take you right to our front door, whereas the TTC - unfortunately - doesn't! By Car: From the 401 East or West, exit at Keele Street North. Turn right on Sheppard Ave, and follow Sheppard the entrance to Downsview Park. Turn right into the park (onto John Drury Road) until you reach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall and continue east over the railway tracks to the Museum, which is on your right hand side. By TTC: From the Downsview TTC station take the 108 Downsview, the 86 Sheppard West, Westbound or the 84 Sheppard West, Westbound bus and ask the driver to let you off at the Downsview Park entrance (it is well past the DRDC and Idomo buildings). Walk into the park entrance and follow John Drury Road until you reach Carl Hall Road. Turn left at Carl Hall Road and continue east over the railway tracks to the Museum, which is on your right hand side. Approximate walking distance is 0.7 km. CAHS Toronto Chapter Executive 2006-2007 President: Howard Malone 1st. Vice President: Jim Sidorchuk 2nd. Vice President: George Topple Secretary-Treasurer: Robert Winson Directors: Frank J. Gaspar Murray Jolliffe April Tredgett Associate Directors: Flypast Editor: Matt Clark Flypast Reporter: Gord McNulty Archivist / Historian: Neil McGavock Contacts: Mail: PO Box 457, Downsview Station, Downsview, ON M3M 3A8 Email: (President) howardmalone@rogers.com Tel: (416) 745 1462 ( Membership inquiries / Meetings) CAHS National Website : www.cahs.com Meetings and news from all the chapters, journal back issues, and more! Toronto Chapter Meetings - 2nd Saturday of the month 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Toronto Aerospace Museum, 65 Carl Hall Road TAM is in the former dehaviland building in Downsview Park Near Downsview TTC Station All Welcome Flypast V. 42 No. 3 Special Edition 6