COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE

The

C MPASS
M ISSOURI W ING JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2012

P.O. Box 637 St.Charles, MO 63302 St. Charles County Smartt Airport 636-250-4515 Fax 636-250-4515 www.cafmo.org

MISSOURI WING

B-25 ANNUAL UNDERWAY

E XECUTIVE S TAFF
WING LEADER Col. Patrick Kesler 28 Confederate Way St. Charles, MO 63303 636-928-5687 636-250-4515 Wing wingleader@cafmo.org ADJUTANT / PIO OFFICER Col. Rick Rea 6854 Ardale Drive St. Louis,MO 63123 314-960-4927 col.rickrea@charter.net EXECUTIVE OFFICER Col. Bob Lawrence 111 W. Essex Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 314-494-7529 cell 314-894-3200 x103 work FINANCE Col. Steve Gossett 4 Limerick Lane O'Fallon, MO 63366 636-474-9763 314-306-5021 OPERATIONS OFFICER Col.Craig O'Mara 1085 Graywolf Court Fairview Heights, IL 62208 618-632-6113 home 618-558-7211 cell craigo777@juno.com MAINTENANCE OFFICER Col. Pat Fenwick 6 Heather Drive St. Peters, MO 63376 636-441-2856 SAFETY OFFICER Col. Chris Herrmann 309 Clearwater Drive Belleville, IL 62220 618-233-4782

U PCOMING E VENTS

5 6
1. Prop off. 2. Nose case off. 3. Reparied nose case back on. 4. New cylinder installed. 5. New tires mounted. 6. Tires and wheels installed.

Feb. 11 General Meeting - 1:30 pm Mar. 10 General Meeting - 1:30 pm April 14 General Meeting - 1:30 pm April 16-21 Doolittle Reunion - Dayton, Ohio B-25, LHFE Rides May 12 General Meeting - 1:30 pm May 19 Classic Cars & Warbirds, 10 am - 3 pm May 25-28 Salute to Veterans, Columbia, Mo., B-25, TBM August 31 - Sept. 3 Moline, IL B-25, TBM, PX Oct. 12-13 Clarksdalde, Mississippi - B-25, LHFE Rides, PX

B-25

Saturday - February 11 - General Meeting - 1:30 pm

WING LEADER'S REPORT

Happy 2012! Hope each and every one of you is making a serious effort in fulfilling those New Year resolutions! Im confident you are trying as hard as I am and that this time, it will become fact and a historical event. One resolution I made that I know will materialize is that of being the best Wing Leader possible for another calendar year. I know I can expect a lot of help in achieving that goal and once again look forward to an exciting year at the Wing and around the Midwest. The mechanics have been busy with the aircraft maintenance annuals and continue to amaze me in how much they can get accomplished while eating goodies brought from home, telling war stories, enjoying the camaraderie, and generating a fun atmosphere. They have already had two new main tires ($4,000 per tire) re-mounted on the rims, checked the landing gear for structural integrity, re-painted numerous parts, removed and replaced a bad #7 cylinder on SHOW MEs right engine, conducted a myriad of inspections inside the aircraft wings and fuselage, cleaned gazillions of areas on the aircraft, conducted many visitor tours and answered hundreds of their questions, made a lot of stew and chili, grilled a lot of hotdogs and brats, drank a few gallons of coffee, bead-blasted numerous brake discs and small parts, withstood a few dozen interludes of Wing Leader harassment, and had time to suggest much-needed improvements to Wing operations. Wow! Im out of breath! Oh, and the mechanics are also having a gasket replaced in the B-25 left engine nose dome by the engine rebuilder. I believe he is doing it for free. Col. Matt Conrad has also been extremely busy coordinating for the upcoming airshow season. Looks like it will be another full season this year. We are trying to have as many local area events as possible in order to generate awareness and increase our visibility. The 70th Doolittle Raider Reunion is scheduled for the third week of April and we plan on having SHOW ME participate again this year. It will be held in Urbana, OH and at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton. Some of the upcoming shows and events that Matt is working on include St. Joseph, Columbia, Cameron, Cape Girardeau, and Camdenton in Missouri as well as Scott AFB, Moline, Mattoon, and Mount Vernon in Illinois. Clarksdale, Mississippi and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas are also possibilities. Speaking of events, there is a possibility of doing a Fly-in/ Wing Open House with the EEA on Saturday, June 16th. Also, we might do a Busch Stadium Fly-by on April 14th or 15th. A Cardinals Opening Day (13th) fly-by is already being supported by aircraft out of Scott AFB. Col. Rick Rea is coordinating these possible events and already busy in this young flying season. Thanks Rick! You should have received your 2012 Missouri Wing dues envelope by now. Be sure to mail those back or bring them to the Wing so $teve Gossett can update you on the roster. We have a great membership list and will hopefully continue to see your name marked Current on it. Thank you for your continued support of this unique organization. As you can see, many of our members have been quite active and involved already this year. Please consider shaking off the cabin fever and coming out to enjoy all the perks available at the Wing. Youll have a great time. Remember - with your help We can Keep Em Flying and have a great, rewarding time in your life while doing so. Its always great to make new memories especially when they are associated with the memories of that Great Generation. Respectfully submitted, Col. Pat Kesler, Wing Leader

XO REPORT
Happy New Year everyone. First of all thanks to all for this opportunity to serve the wing as XO and membership guy. I look forward to doing all that I can to serve our wing and members. With that said you should be seeing the membership renewal envelops arriving any day if not already. Please send those back in or drop them off as soon as you can. Besides for solidifying our rooster and having every thing squared away for the flying season we also have to report that information to national. After talk with Matt Conrad on the upcoming air shows you will certainly want to get these turned in so that you are elidgable to participate. Heres to another great year! Col. Bob Lawrence, XO

BIG THANKS
Here is a list of 2011 monetary donors that I missed acknowledging thru the year: James Barr Joe Baruzzini Florence Baur Tee Baur Bernice Bond Jerry Carpenter Logan Doyle Curt Engler Paul Gardner Al Gruer, Jr. Art Hofmann Wm. Holecamp Trust Don Huster Al Kaser Jim Lammert Bob Lawrence Joe Racine Sanford McDonnell Shane Roden Bob Rutledge John Scholes Pete Sherwin Mike Silberstein No matter how big or small the amount, all donations are very much appreciated and needed to help support the continuing operations of the Wing. Thank you very much. Col. $teve Gossett

MUSEUM - - MONEY MAKER

Our museum, a very popular attraction to all that visit our Wing, used to be a run-down hangar that was the site for several private aircraft rehabs that never saw completion. One project was ended by the 93 flood. The other ran out of funds. The hangar also was used by the Wing as a paint shop. In 2004, a group of our members decided to convert the shop into what we have now, a good looking and valuable asset to our Wing. Col. Jim Naumann was Museum Director at the time. Some of the members that had a hand in its remodeling were: Lou Tacchi, Len Kratzer, Tim McCluskey, George Hohmann, Everett Feltham, Jack Seeman, Chet Davis, plus some advice from Julianne Smith. The first big job was to put in a new level floor over the very uneven concrete slab that was there. Then basically everything was replaced, improved, changed, removed, or added. The museum was open to visitors in August of 2005. The total cost was reduced by a grant from Boeing. The first year of operation, with only 4 months being open and with a lot of startup costs which resulted in a loss. However, by the end of 2007 it had not only covered the construction and operating costs of 2 years but also had a profit. It has had a profit every year since 2006, even with the excessive salaries to Jack Seeman and Joe Wurtz plus all the cans of Glade we use to kill cigar smoke. The museum averages almost $1,500 yearly in PX sales and $1,600 in admission/tours. After deducting its operating expenses of electricity, heating, and supplies, its annual profit averages $1,500. Col. $teve Gossett

As Im new to the position, I wanted to give you a few quick thoughts on what safety is to me. Safety is more than just a position, something that can be directed or something that the Safety Officer can achieve. Safety is about the choices. Safety does not just happen, it takes constant effort in everything that you do. It is not automatic and it requires thought. It is choices you make every day in everything that you do. Im sure you can think of several instances where you probably didnt choose to do the safest thing in the last few days. Think about what, how, and why you do things and how you can minimize the risk involved. If you dont want to do it for yourself, do it for those who love and need you. Safety requires action. Safety is not automatic, it needs your proactive participation. Being proactive means that you take actions before incidents happen to help prevent them. If you see something that needs attention, take care of it. Small or large, dont think someone else will do it, or wait until later to take care of it. If it is something that you cant fix or solve, mark the hazard and then bring it to leaderships attention. Safety requires teamwork. The Air Force is now emphasizing the Wingman Concept across all facets of operations both on and off duty. It is really about caring for others. Being a wingman means getting personally involved and helping others. For our wing to be safe, we need to do the same thing and watch out for each other. Safety really is a way of life. At home, at work, at play, and at the Wing, being safe is something you can make happen. Be Safe!! Col. Chris Herrmann, Safety Officer

SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S JOB ONE

345TH BOMB GROUP COMBAT TALES

At the December Wing Meeting I mentioned the conversation I had with Col. Al Gruer on Veterans Day 2011 and I thought I would share with you an interesting story he told me during our conversation. After debriefing from a low-level combat mission against Japanese positions Al returned to his aircraft only to be asked by his maintenance chief What (the heck) did you do to my airplane? Why do you ask? Al said. Follow me the chief replied. Al was shown the right engine and a very large dent in the cowling around it. Al was also shown the remains of some type of bird that was shredded and stuck to the cylinders of the engine. Upon autopsy of the remains of the bird it was concluded that the remains were a chicken. Al had flown his B-25 so low that during the raid his right engine ingested a hapless chicken that jumped into the air upon hearing their approach. Both servicemen had quite a laugh over this discovery. Following the Memorial Ceremony at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery over Labor Day Weekend 2011 honoring the deceased members of the 345th Bomb Group interred there 345th Bomb Group Veterans Vic Tatelman and Don Buzz Wagner jokingly asked me why did Show Me fly so high over the cemetery for the flyover? As I began to explain to them the FAA regulations on minimum altitude flying over a populated area (which I knew they knew) they both told me that if they ever flew that high in a B-25 during a combat mission their squadron leaders would chew their bts. Many times they returned from missions to have their maintenance chiefs find fresh green pieces of palm leaves wrapped around the cylinders of their engines. Ingesting coconuts may have brought different results though. Great stories told by great men Lest We Forget. Col. Rick Rea / PIO, Adjutant

GENERAL MEETING

- 1:30 PM Dec 10, 2011

Pat leading the December meeting.

CAF EXPERIENCES

I have been a member for a few years and I'm always amazed when I go to the airshows at different locations. At Wright-Patterson I met a man who was a B-24 ball turret gunner. He was shot down over Germany and spent about 18 months in a German POW camp. In Lincoln, Nebraska, one of the men who was on the Dootlittle Raid asked me if he could sit next to me. He told me how he was in a German POW camp and it was the same camp that the movie The Great Escape was made. I asked what he did and he said he dug tunnels. A Tuskegee Airman Red Tail Pilot at the Columbia Air Show in 2010 told me he had shot down a FW-190 in 1944 over Yugoslavia. Working in the museum Ive met some interesting visitors. Come out and take part in the many different activities at the MO Wing. You'll have the opportunity to meet interesting people and be with a group of great volunteers. Hope to see you there! Col. Joe Wurtz :)

CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLIGIENCE ROLL CALL OF STAFF: WL __ ADJ __ EXEC __ OPS __ MAINT __ FIN __ SAFE __ PIO __ RECOGNIZE VISITORS AND GUESTS MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (in COMPASS) INFIRMED MEMBERS COMMITTEE REPORTS: Compass John Coffey Gasoline Sales Jim Lammert/$teve Gossett CAF Web Site Bob Lawrence Museum Jack Seeman PX Bob Lawrence Recruiting & Membership Steve Newcombe Air Shows Matt Conrad LHFE Bob Moore Hangar Dance Pat Kesler OLD BUSINESS BRIEFING ROOM Roof is done. Still fighting Tracy about ceiling & interior. REST ROOMS Steve Newcombe OFFICE AREA REHAB Will begin soon... BIG BAND CHRISTMAS - Dec 3rd at Maryville Center-Bob Moore HAD PILOT MEETING AT 9am CHALLENGE COINS Now Available ELECTIONS: Wing Leader Pat Kesler, Executive Officer Bob Lawrence, Maintenance Pat Fenwick, Finance - $teve Gossett, Safety Officer Chris Herrmann NEW BUSINESS AIRCRAFT STATUS: B-25 -Annual TBM -Annual L-3 - A/W STAFF REPORTS: MAINTENANCE__ EXECUTIVE__ OPERATIONS__ SAFETY__ ADJUTANT__ PUBLIC INFO__ FINANCE__ AIR SHOW__ LHFE__ STEEL STORAGE BLDG. Bill Wehmeier No January Meeting No January COMPASS. Will be Jan/Fed issue out in February Meeting Adjourned @ 2:30pm

COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE

MISSOURI WING P.O. Box 637 St. Charles, MO 63302-0637

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2011

B-25 ANNUAL BEGINS

L3B FLYING ALL WINTER

Missouri Colonels working on the B-25's annual. Good to see with all the warm days this winter the L3 has been getting some flying time.

January Birthdays!

Joe Baruzzini (2) Dave Ceglinski (2) Phil Bamberger (7) Joe Bodziony (14) Dick Hendrix (12) Tom Wagoner (15) Carol McSweeney (24) Bill Lippincott (27) Harold Moss (27)

Dale Heining (2) Logan Doyle (4) John Allen (7) Mike McEntee (23) Bill Wehmeier (23) Frank Vitello (25) Compass Deadline: March Newsletter - Need info by February 23

February Birthdays!

April Newsletter - Need info by March 23

EXPLORING THE AMAZING TILLAMOOK AIR MUSEUM

On a recent trip to visit my son in Oregon we decided to explore the Pacific coast between Seaside and Florence on Highway 101. This coastal highway is one of the most scenic drives in the continental United States. The ever changing landscape of picturesque towns, numerous state parks, national wildlife reserves, and spectacular ocean views is simply awe inspiring. The always surprising and unpredictable weather that includes frequent rain squalls, fog, and snow during the winter months can be challenging for travelers. Yet, its precisely this unique weather system that keeps the coastal areas green and lush all year round. The highlight of the trip for us was found in the town of Tillamook. Known nationally for its savory dairy products the Tillamook Cheese Factory is well worth a visit. However, for those interested in historic aviation the Tillamook Air Museum housed in a WWII blimp hanger should not be missed. Its impossible to fully comprehend the enormous size of this structure viewed from a photograph. The history of these giant hangars is a fascinating story in itself. In 1942 the Navy began construction of 17 wooden hangers around the U.S. coastlines to house blimps being used for antisubmarine patrol and convoy escort. Two of these hangars, the largest wooden structures in the world, were built at the Naval Air Station in Tillamook. Hanger B was completed in August 1943 and incredibly, Hangar A was finished twenty seven days later. Unfortunately, Hangar A was destroyed by fire in 1992. With the war over and its facilities now obsolete, Naval Air Station Tillamook was decommissioned in 1948. Since 1994 the remaining hangar has been home to one of the finest collections of privately owned WWII aircraft in the nation. Once inside the vast hangar visitors cannot help marveling at the engineering that went into the creation of such a gigantic structures. What makes the museums collection of beautifully restored WWII aircraft so unique is that most are still in flying condition. Two of my personal favorites were the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusha, or Oscar and the Hispano HA-1112 Buchon a Spanish version of the Messerschmidt Me-109. The collection includes some great examples of American fighter aircraft and bombers including a P-38 Lightning, FM-2 Wildcat, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, A-26 Douglas Invader, AM-1 Martin Mauler, J2F-6 Duck, and PBY-5A Catalina. In addition to the aircraft, theres a fascinating display of the engines that powered these venerable old warbirds along with an assortment of military vehicles. Not the least of which was a fully operational 1943 Army Cletrac aircraft tug. After spending a long afternoon checking out the aircraft the museums Air Base Cafe is a great place to refuel. Be sure and check out the gift shop which offers one of the most extensive inventories of aviation books, videos, models, clothing, and memorabilia found anywhere. Without a doubt, the Tillamook Air Museum is a must see for aviation enthusiasts of all ages and a visit you wont soon forget. For more information check out the museums website at www,tillamookair,com. Article & photos by Col. John Holechek

This interior shot by a Life magazine photographer made during the 1940s graphically illustrates the enormous size of these structures.

The Grumman J2F-6 Duck amphibious aircraft was used by all the services in WWII fulfilled multiple roles.

The museums Nakajima Ki-43 was a Japanese Imperial Army fighter code named Oscar by the US and often mistaken for a Zero. Its the only flying example left in the world.

The former Naval Air Station hangar that houses the museum is 1,072 feet long, 192 feet high, 296 feet wide, and covers 7 acres.

Built by Hispano Aviation under license from Messerschmidt the Spanish Buchon, except for the exhaust system and engine, differs little from the Me-109.

An interior view of the instrument panel in the Hispano HA-1112 Buchon the last variant of the Me-109 built by Spain.

New display in our museum - GI wash stand.

The Allison V-1710 liquid cooled V-12 engine powered such notable aircraft as the P-38, P-39, P-40, A-36 Apache, and the experimental P-82 Twin Mustang.

Buddy Welsh touching up the flight deck hatch.

The 1943 Army Cletrac MG-1 aircraft tug was used for hauling heavy equipment and towing aircraft.

No pilots past the ropes please.

Among the more unusual pieces of equipment on display at the museum is this General Electric Portable Airfield Searchlight.

Light bouys. New item in the back of the B-25.