The Flyer May 2013

Photo by Konley Kelley

B-24 Ground School 2013B-24 Ground School 2013

May 2013May 2013

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B-29/B-24 SquadronOfficer & Staff Listing

Position Name Telephone E-mail

Squadron Leader Neils Agather 817-946-9950 [email protected]

Executive Officer Tom Travis 972-241-8102 [email protected]

Adjutant & Personnel Officer

Debbie Travis King 469-688-1709 [email protected]

Crew Chief Rick Garvis 972-380-8800 [email protected]

Finance Officer Gerald Oliver 312-953-0357 [email protected]

Maintenance Officer Don Obreiter 580-471-3048 [email protected]

Operations Officer & B-29 Tour Coordinator

David Oliver 630-853-9624 [email protected]

Public Information Officer Kim Pardon 432-413-4100 [email protected]

Ride Captain John Oliver 312-925-6184 [email protected]

Safety & Training Officer

B-29 Scheduling Officer

John Flynn 717-632-4497 [email protected]

B-24 Scheduling Officer Chuck Burton 972-243-1316 [email protected]

Facility Manager Jim Neill 972-306-1051 [email protected]

Appearance Captain Henry Bordelon 972-406-0644 [email protected]

Docent Emeritus Jack Bradshaw 214-987-1963 [email protected]

Webmaster Rick Greer [email protected]

The Flyer Editor Konley Kelley 214-995-5184 [email protected]

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In this Issue:• FIFI and Diamond Lil Summer and Fall Tour Schedule• Officer Reports• “Keep FIFI Flying” Fundraiser & Website• Diamond LilB-24 Go Team Report• B-24 Ground School pictures• Special Feature “B-24 in History”• Member News• Volunteer Spotlight – Duane Moreland• Special Feature “Spring Tour in Pictures”• Editor’s Corner• Coming Attractions • Squadron Contact Information

Special Feature““ Spring Tour in PicturesSpring Tour in Pictures””

Diamond Lil cookies at B-24 Ground School

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Summer Tour ABirmingham, AL May 16 – 19 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 / SBD / PT-26Atlanta, GA May 20 – 22 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 / SBD / PT-26Charlotte, NC May 23 – 27 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Manassas, VA May 29 – June 2 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 / BT-13Baltimore, MD June 3 – 5 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Reading, PA June 6 – 9 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 AirshowPittsburgh, PA June 12 – 16 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Akron, OH June 17 – 19 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Dayton, OH June 20 – 23 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 AirshowCincinnati, OH June 26 – 30 B-29 / B-24 / B-25 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 / T-28St. Louis, MO July 2 – 7 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 Airshow

Maintenance Break July 8 – 18

Summer Tour BCarbondale, IL July 19 – 21 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Rockford, IL July 22 – 24 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Madison, WI July 25 – 28 B-29 / B-24 / B-17 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Oshkosh, WI July 29 – Aug 4 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 EAA AirVentureTBD Aug 6 – 11 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6TBD Aug 12 – 14 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Denver, CO Aug 16 – 18 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 AirshowColorado Springs, CO Aug 19 – 21 B-29 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6

Fall EventsKansas City, KS Sept 12 – 15 B-24 CAF Air ExpoFayetteville, AR Sept 19 – 22 B-29 / B-24 / B-25 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 Bikers, Blues,

BarBQ and BombersDallas, TX Oct 3 – 6 B-29 / B-24 / B-17 / B-25 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6Midland, TX Oct 11 – 13 B-29 / B-24 / CAF fleet of aircraft: CAF AirShoHouston, TX Oct 25 – 27 B-29 / B-24 / P-51 / C-45 / T-6 Airshow

Red/Bold indicates both bombers appearing together

Rocky’s new trailer wrap for the AirPower History Tour

Check www.AirPowerTour.orgfor the latest schedule

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Squadron ReportEveryone by now will likely have read the news in On The Flythe General Staff has voted to make the High Sky Wing an Air Base, renovate and enhance the CAF Museum, thereby improving the CAF presence in the Midland Odessa area, and to begin the process to search for a possible new location for the CAF HQ and our National Airsho. I want to urge everyone to focus on the process. The General Staff intends to be as forthright and transparent as possible. This is an important step.

As Chief of Staff, I genuinely believe this decision will prove to be a good one for the High Sky Wing and the CAF presence in the Permian Basin. Furthermore, I firmly believe the CAF will garner several good offers from communities who want to be our new location for headquarters. This fresh start will be good for the CAF as a whole. The move requires a 75% approval vote at the October meeting, so it needs everyone’s involvement. There will be more news as the process unfolds.

The Squadron lost a long-time valuable member in April. Duncan Welder passed away. Duncan served as Finance Officer for many years. He and his wife, Rickie, served as tour planners and many months on the road as tour leaders. Of late, due to health issues, they have not been with FIFI and Lil , but I know Duncan has been with us in spirit. He loved our Squadron and all its activities. I miss him and his leadership greatly.

The Squadron had a very well-attended B-24 Ground School. Rick and his crews have been working hard on Lil’s repairs. She will likely miss a couple of stops, but she will absolutely be on the road this year and I am expecting great things from her. FIFI had quite a bit of work done to her, especially the flaps. Check Rick’s report. However, she left for tour on May 16th as scheduled. Please be sure to sign up for the two summer tours. Slots are filling fast.

See you on the road.

Neils AgatherSquadron Leader

FIFI leaving Addison, May 16, 2013

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Executive OfficerReport

This weekend at B-24 Ground School offered a chance to not only learn about the Diamond Lilbut to catch up with old friends and make a few new ones. Al Benzinghas done a tremendous job of updating the B-24 operating manual. Thanks, Al, for all your hard work.

While talking to one of our members who was on the Spring Tour with the B-29, I heard an interesting story.

He said a father and daughter entered the cockpit of FIFI . The daughter asked about the aircraft and was told this was the type aircraft that carried the war to Japan. In wide-eyed amazement she asked, “We were in a war with Japan?”The tour guide assured her it was true. The young lady who, was nearly of voting age, asked, “Who won?” Our mission in the CAF is education. We obviously have a lot of work to do.

Tom TravisExecutive Officer

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Maintenance Report

Maintenance Report

B-29 / B-24 Maintenance Photo Collage by Rick Garvis, Crew Chief

We performed a 50 hr inspection on FIFI when she returned from the Spring tour. We had a few oil leaks to take care of and somegenerator issues as well. During the inspection, we also addressed some wear that was found in FIFI's flap system. We had to remove the right flap to make sure the were no additional issues with the system. Unfortunately, this pushed us down to the wire on finishing up the inspection on FIFI . Needless to say, we were able to perform the maintenance flight and also put FIFI out on tour on time, once again. Thanks to everyone who helped out to get her back in the air!

Removing FIFI's right flap for inspection Ready for inspection

Asst. Crew Chief Don performing 50 hr inspection

We accomplish a work on FIFI in a short period of time once again.

Bring it down with forklifts

Maintenance flight went very well!

Op's check good on FIFI's flaps! Tom Bailey in APU position on the Maint flight Tom's part of our Addison Maint team of volunteers.

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Maintenance Report cont.

Forward ribs that where made at American Airlines Tulsa facility

Long time Squadron member Jim Gentry who is a Maintenance Supervisor and is also rebuilding Lil's nose gear doors gave us a great tour of AA facility

Touring AA maintenance bay

We where able to use BoB to make a parts run to Tulsa for LiL. The flight crew was David Oliver, Al Benzing, Steve Swift, Joel Kimmel and me.

Some of the AA Tulsa team that machined parts for Lil's landing gear

And of course our dedicated crew chiefs are working hard on Lil as well!

Terry and his team working on Lil New belly skins being fitted up

Skins ready to be riveted on

Forward wheel well Aft wheel well Left half side of wheel well

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Flight Operations Report

The Summer Tour is underway!FIFI left Addison last Thursday on time as expected. Her first stop was Birmingham, AL and, even with rain in the forecast, the crowds came out. I'm happy to report FIFI crews are trained and more proficient than ever before. The backend crews continue to be trained on the road and between stops. All frontend crews are current and qualified.

Steve Swift, one of our newest captains was at the controls when FIFI arrived with Birmingham native, our very own PaulMaupin. FIFI now has six active left seat captains who are helping our aggressive tour schedule stay on track. Its great to see FIFI in such a staffed position for pilots, flight engineers, and scanners.

Despite our staffing situation, let’s continue to keep the training pipeline filled. If you are interested in becoming a crew member be sure to contact me or John Flynn to determine an appropriate training schedule. Next year's B-29 Ground School will happen in January but many crew positions are trained on the road and in-between tour stops.

Squadron WebsiteA new Squadron website is under construction. The old website served us well for the last few years but has become dated. Right now the URL cafb29b24.orgis currently redirected to the tour website, but will soon take you to the new site.

Please watch for more updates and e-mail blasts in the weeks ahead. We apologize for the inconvenience as the new website is developed. The new website will be easy to use and contain all manuals for both aircraft. If you have questions or would like to download the manuals in the interim, please email me at [email protected] get the latest information.

B-24 Ground School RecapI'm pleased to announce we had over 60 people in this year’s B-24 ground school. It was a big success and included many pilots, flight engineers, and loadmasters. Although it was disappointing Lil was not accessible for hands-on training, everyone was glad to see the progress of her repairs. Please watch for announcements as we get closer to flying her once again. Training and tour schedule details will come as we know more.

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B-24 Flight ManualA new revision of the B-24 flight manual was announced last month. This month, I want to remind everyone to make sure they have the latest. The revision date is May 1, 2013 and can be downloaded through the Dropbox link below. Allen Benzing led the team for this revision. Make sure to thank Al when you see him for all his hard work. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bfwxvjgwsysva2d/72MTdYjyVN

How do I sign up for Tour?I'm asked many times how a Squadron member can sign-up for the tour schedule. The best way to get on the tour is to contact the tour scheduler directly. John Flynn is heading up these responsibilities for the B-29 and Chuck Burton for the B-24. There information is listed below.

John Flynn Chuck Burton(h)717-632-4497 972-243-1316(c)717-965-1363 [email protected]@embarqmail.com

David OliverFlight Operations Officer

Flight Ops Report cont.

Photo by Scott Slocum

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Training & Safety Report

REMEMBER: IF THE JOB IS DONE RIGHT, IT IS SAFE!

John FlynnSafety Officer

We just completed a successful B-24 Ground School on May 11th, with 34 flight engineers/loadmasters and 21 pilots in attendance. Thanks to all those who planned, organized and conducted the training: especially Carl and Debbie King who hosted everyone with a barbeque at their lovely home.

As you read this, we are heading east with FIFI , Bucket of Boltsand the other aircraft on the Airpower History Tour. As we proceed on Summer Tour A and the subsequent Summer Tour B, all of our volunteersmust continue to work smart to protect our visitors, ourselves, and of course our valuable aircraft. Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Keep alert for visitors who don’t realize the hazards around our aircraft. This is especially important during cockpit tours and during the numerous aircraft movements on the flight line.

• Everyone needs to be extra cautious around the aircraft, especially when working and helping to wipe oil from the aircraft and engine nacelles. Keep a alert for sharp edges and “head knockers”

• Protect yourself from the sun’s dangerous rays with some good sunscreen.• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Don’t rely on your body’s thirst signal to tell

you how much to drink. Instead, drink frequently, perhaps every 30 minutes.

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PIO Report

We’ve been working hard getting things in place for the two summer tours and it looks like we’re going to have some great media coverage and a lot of support from our partners at many of the stops. We have good partners in the Dixie Wing who will have their P-51 and SBD5 Dauntless with us in Birmingham and Atlanta. The National Capitol Squadron will be with us at Manassas, Virginia and we have other units joining us along the way as well.

I am particularly excited we will have Sarah Wilson and

the Jimmie Allen Stearman Speedmail with us. Sarah has recreated the excitement and adventure of aviation in the 1930s and will share that with young people everywhere we go. An excerpt from our press release:

“This 1929 airplane is the oldest surviving StearmanModel 4 Speedmail and is a real life celebrity vehicle. Originally delivered to the Richfield Oil Company on October 28, 1929, the airplane was the flagship for the Jimmie Allen Flying Club based on the popular radio program The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen. Pilots named Lindbergh, Doolittle, and Earhart were real life heroes but there were other aviation heroes who came right into America’s living rooms each night over the radio. If these pilots were the rock stars of their day, then Jimmie Allen was the biggest teen idol! This plane made public appearances across the country with the actor Jimmie Allen in the front seat to meet members of the Jimmie Allen Flying Club. The Jimmie Allen radio series and Flying Club were important tools and greatly influenced the generation that would fly in WWII.”

You can learn more about Sarah and her airplane at www.SarahWilsonPilot.com.

Stearman Model 4 Speedmail

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We are also pleased to have a new video to help us with our promotional efforts. Scott Slocum used video he shot on the West Coast Tour to create this exciting marketing tool.

Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwJkk2shWu0&feature=player_embedded

PIO Report cont.

Scott also took some amazing photos while we were on the West Coast. We are lucky to have one of the best photographers in the business helping us. Thank you Scott for your help and for always saying yes when I need something.

And, once again, I have to thank Kon Kelley who just put together some great posters for all of our stops at a moments notice. He always has great ideas and input AND he continues to do an amazing job with The Flyer.

I’ll be headed out to Birmingham on the 16th and reporting from the road throughout our travels in the east.

Kim PardonPublic Information Officer

Screen grabs from AirPower History Tour video by Scott Slocum

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B-24 Go Team ReportThe B-24 Ground School has just concluded and I wish to thank those who worked so hard to make it a success. Jim Neill worked to ready the hangar, Kathy Oliver pitched in to help with lunch and Debbie Travis King and her family were gracious in hosting an outstanding BBQ at their lovely home. There were many more who devoted long hours to bring all this all together.

The turn-out for G/S included over 60 Pilots, Flight Engineers and Loadmasters. Many were veterans with our B-24, but there were also new faces, including several from our new collaboration with Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. It is nice to see the interest in Diamond Lil and having crews ready to support her on tour.

The restoration of the nose compartment continues, with a significant number of hours being dedicated to the task. In spite of these efforts, it appears that it will be difficult to make the initial stops on our June calendar. With that reality in mind, we are turning our focus to the Dayton Airshow, June 20-23, as our likely first tour event.

The Keep Diamond Lil Flyingprogram is progressing and may become important to keep interest in Lil, with the delayed June schedule. We will review a rough-cut of the video soon.

We've also had some interesting discussions this week with Squadron Signal, to collaborate on some unique marketing opportunities. More to come on this soon!

Al BenzingB-24 Go Team

Photo by Scott Slocum

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B-24 Ground School May 11, 2013Study Time

Social Time

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Special Feature“B-24 and History”

Attached are pictures of a WWII pilot taken here in Tulsa several years ago with some B-24 crew. Charles Isted is his name. He and his daughters came out to see a Diamond Lil. They mentioned their dad flew a B-24 and wanted to see one. We learned he was in England at the beginning of the war. It was surreal when we discovered he flew early Liberators. I pleaded with them to come back with his logbook because he probably flew the Liberators that, unlike Lil , made it to England. They came back with the logbook and we were flabbergasted with what we had found. Reviewing his logbook, he did, in fact fly many of Lil's sisters and actually flew AM917 as shown in the B-24 footage from Don Obreiter. He was credited with sinking a U-boat and was given an award by the King of England. He has since passed but it was quite an event for us all.

This is pretty cool footage of AM917 and some of Lil's sister ships. Too bad they don't show the other tail numbers, but who knows, she could be one of them in the film...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY8mk3yUHsY

Below are two messages Gerald Oliver forwarded the Editor related to the B-24 Liberator. He suggested they be included in the May issue ofTHE FLYER, particularly due to the timing of B-24 Ground School. Story by Jim Gentry and video found by Don Obrietner.

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Member NewsMay, 2013

B-29 / B-24 Squadron PX

Find us on

http://www.b24b29px.org/

Squadron Monthly MeetingJune 15, 20133 p.m. @ the Addison Hangar

The CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron welcomed these new members in April, 2013

Joseph Kalberer, Grapevine, TexasQuinn Eisenbraun, Dallas, TexasTruitt Harper, Hiram, GeorgiaJim Houghton, Los Ranchos, NMCurt Lewis, Loves Park, ILJeff Williams, McKinney, TexasGlenn Thompson, Lewisville, TexasRobert Koch, Trophy Club, TexasPatrick Huey, Plano, TexasPeter McDaniel, Urbana, ILLee Templin, Tempe, AZ

Dambuster RaidIn May, we salute our RAF allies on the 70th

anniversary of Operation Chastise, otherwise known as the “Dambusters Raid.” On the night of May 16, 1943, 19 British Lancasters, carrying a uniquely-engineered “bouncing bomb,”attacked and breached two dams deep within enemy territory. The daring mission cost eight aircraft and the lives of 53 air crew.

“Dambuster” Lancaster model in CAF B-29/B-24 Briefing Room

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Volunteer SpotlightDuane Moreland

by Angie Whitney

Duane Moreland started out the interview as so many of our Squadron members do..."I was looking for something to do post retirement, I heard they were putting new engines on the B-29. I went down to the hanger and started working that day." That was in the early part of 2010 and Duane's never looked back!

With the amount of time Duane spends in the hangar or touring on FIFI , the Squadron is very fortunate to have him. Last year he spent seven weeks in Florida and three weeks in Texas. This year, he has already toured six weeks with the B-29 in New Mexico, California and Nevada. He had the chance to meet Chuck Yeager in San Diego at Brown Field.

One of his favorite stories comes from a tour in New England. As he was walking up to the B-29, he noticed a lady with her hand on the plane. He started a conversation with her and she explained her father died in a B-29. She had never been in a B-29 so Duane invited her aboard. Henoticed as she sat in the navigator's seat she appeared to go into a trance and seemed to be communicating with her father. "As I sat with her, I too could feel his presence."

He has so many great stories. "As each tour goes by, we all realize there are fewer and fewer first-hand stories" Duane had another great story from the same stop. "Two veterans climbed into the cockpit at the same time. They introduced themselves to each other only to discover they were crew on the same B-29. These two veterans had not seen each other since the war and here they were reuniting in the cockpit of the only flying B-29 in the world." This is what Duane gets from his many tours and stops. He will be back on tour again this summer for another four weeks.

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Special FeatureBest Pictures from 2013

Craig Miller, Burbank, CA

Mark Meadows, North Hollywood, CA

Jimmy Yunt, Camarillo, CA


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Konley Kelley

Gerald OliverScott Slocum

Scott Slocum

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Jonathan Oliver



Konley Kelley

Konley Kelley

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Scott Slocum

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Editor’s Corner

You are welcome to contribute a story, photographs and artwork for this decades-old newsletter. If you are a veteran, please tell us your story. Squadron members continually meet veterans at the hangar, on tour and everyday life – let us know their stories. We’re also looking for contributors for “This Month in History” and news spotlighting our aircraft and members.

Thank you and “Keep ‘em Flying!”

Konley KelleyTHE FLYER [email protected]

THE FLYER WANTS YOU!

“Warbirds Reunite” videoStarring FIFI

Earlier this year musician and artist, Bill Bowermaster painted a picture of FIFI that hangs in our briefing room. Working with Gerald Oliver, Bill has now painted a 24” x 36” painting of FIFI and presented it at our April Squadron meeting in Addison.

Bill Bowermaster is back with a BIGGER FIFI

Video produced by http://www.replayxd.comhttp://www.julieinthesky.comhttp://www.flightlinejulie.com

Julie Sims with Julie In The SkyOnline Aviation Magazine worked with the CAF SoCal Wing and CAF B-29/B-24 Wing to create this incredible video. They attached RePlay XD cameras to the aircraft for this historic formation flight of WWII warbirds. Featured in this video:B-29 Superfortress “FIFI”Mitsubishi AM63 “Zero”P-51 Mustang “Man O’ War”

Supermarine Mark XIV “Spitfire”Grumman F6F “Hellcat”Grumman F8F “Bearcat”

You can see the video at www.julieinthesky.com

Or YouTube athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=692xYiyhWs8

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Coming AttractionsJune Issue of THE FLYER

Join CAF B-29/B-29 member, Dan Owens, as he island-hops in the South Pacific to historic WWII sites and a memorable visit to a Japanese community forever tied to the B-29 story.

Mar 11-12 Oklahoma City to GuamMar 13 GuamMar 14 SaipanMar 15 SaipanMar 16 TinianMar 17 TinianMar 18 GuamMar 19 Tokyo OtaMar 20 OtaMar 21 TokyoMar 22 TokyoMar 23 Oklahoma City

Dan Owens on runway Able, Tinian

Dan Owens’ Travel Journal

Dan and his Grandson, Xane

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B-29 / B-24 SquadronAddison Airport

4730 George Haddaway DriveAddison, Texas 75001www.cafb29b24.org

972-380-8800

The Flyer May 2013

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Transcript of The Flyer May 2013