Spring 2015 - The Commemorative Air Force Dixie WIng

CAF DIXIE WING
THREE DIXIE WING A/C
TO FLY IN ARSENAL OF
DEMOCRACY FLYOVER
ON MAY 8,2015
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THE MISSION BRIEFING
B-24 ‘DIAMOND LIL’
COMING TO GEORGIA
AIRCRAFT
MAINTENANCE UPDATE,
T-34 ARRIVES
ISSUE #3
NEW MX OFFICER,
COL BOB HEATH
THE DIXIE WING MISSION BRIEFING
WWW.DIXIEWING.ORG - WWW.ATLANTAWARBIRDWEEKEND.COM- WWW.WWIIDAYS.ORG
In This Issue
• From The Wing Leader by Col Jim Buckley
• Arsenal Of Democracy by Col Steve Forsyth
• Aircraft Maintanance Update by Col Jack Van Ness
• Recruiting Update by Col Michael Zeeveld
• Member Spotlight: Col Willard Womack By Steve Forsyth
• The Angels: Meet Bonnie Kennedy by Merikay Franklin
• Our Birds: Corsair by Col Willard Womack & Col Mike
Schneider
• B-24 ‘Diamond Lil’ Coming to Georgia by Col Jay Bess
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Editor - Col Steve Forsyth
Design and Digital Distribution - Col Moreno “Mo” Aguiari
Issue # 3- Spring 2015
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From The Wing Leader
Dixie Wing
Aircraft Schedule
By Col Jim Buckley - I'd like to
begin the first "Mission Briefing" of
2015 by recognizing two of our
Dixie Wing staff members for their
long history of service to the Wing.
Col Elmer Koldoff is stepping
down after 14 years as our
maintenance officer. He has been
doing an outstanding job, in my
humble opinion, but has been
having some health issues and
needs to retire AGAIN. Thanks to Col Jack Van Ness for
his four years as the Dixie Wing
Executive Officer and a long history of service to the Wing.
His flying the Zero replica has added a lot to our shows and
as an attraction is our facility.
I'd also like to thank Col Barbara Van Ness for her
participation in varied wing activities such as assistance in
the finance department, her cheerful attitude in helping to
build up our Bingo presence, and her selfless promotion of
the Angel Squad activities.
Thanks to all the Bingo workers who dedicated their
Thursday evenings to the game. It was a great effort and
hopefully was an enjoyment to all.
Sincerely,
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• April 18-19 – WWII
Heritage Days - All
A/C.
• May 8 –Washington
Flyover(P51,Corsair
,SBD)
• May 16– Triple Tree
Aerodrome ( LT-6)
• May 16-17 Warbirds Over The
Beach (P-51,SBD)
• June 5-7 Reading,
( P-51,SBD)
• July 20-26 – EAA
Airventure (P51,SBD)
• Sept 12-13 – AWW
@ PDK (ALL A/C)
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• *Availability subject
to change due to
weather and
operational issues.
Col Jim Buckley
Dixie Wing Wing Leader
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Three Dixie Wing Aircraft to Fly in
Arsenal of Democracy Event Flyover
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By Col Steve Forsyth - Estimated 70 vintage warplanes to fly over Washington, DC
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Three Dixie Wing aircraft will participate in one of the most diverse arrays of World War II
aircraft ever assembled as they fly above Washington, D.C., on Friday, May 8, 2015, the 70th
anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Wing aircraft will be part of the Arsenal of
Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover, to honor the heroes who fought in the war
and those on the home front who produced the tanks, ships, and aircraft that enabled the
United States and its Allies to achieve victory.
As part of a thrilling three-day celebration in the nation’s capital, the May 8 event will
begin with a ceremony for veterans at the World War II National Memorial, followed by the
vast assortment of World War II aircraft flying overhead in historically sequenced warbird
formations. The formations will represent the War’s major battles, from Pearl Harbor
through the final air assault on Japan, and conclude with a missing-man formation to
“Taps.”
Approximately two dozen different types of vintage military aircraft are expected to
participate in the flyover. Dixie Wing is sending its P-51 Mustang, Corsair and SBD Douglas
Dive Bomber. Several Commemorative Air Force (CAF) wings are providing numerous
fighter and bomber aircraft, including “Fifi,” the only flying B-29 Superfortress. Additional
aircraft will be flown by other organizations and individuals that preserve these historic
artifacts in flying condition.
The United States manufactured about 300,000 aircraft, 2.4 million military vehicles
and 124,000 military ships to support the war efforts. The ramp-up in manufacturing was
extraordinary. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for 50,000 aircraft to be made
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each year, production rose dramatically – reaching a peak in March 1944, when 9,000
planes were produced that month.
Millions of American men and women worked on the home front to manufacture the
aircraft, ground vehicles, and ships that significantly propelled U.S. and allied forces to
victory.
In addition to the flyover, the Arsenal of Democracy events will include a gala dinner on
Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The dinner will
pay tribute to World War II veterans, featuring combat heroes sharing their personal
experiences in the European and Pacific theaters.
Stephan C. Brown, President and CEO of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is one
of several noted aviation leaders serving on The Arsenal of Democracy Executive Committee.
Former President George H.W. Bush, former U.S. Senator Bob Dole (R-Kan.), and former
Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives John Dingell (D-Mich.), all World War II
veterans, are the Honorary Co-Chairs of the Arsenal of Democracy.
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Help the airplanes fly over Washington, D.C.! Be part of the historic Arsenal of Democracy:
World War II Victory Capitol Flyover. Your donation will make it possible for this incredible
collection of World War II airplanes to participate in the Flyover and pay tribute to the men
and women who made possible our victory in Europe in 1945.
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Click HERE to support the Flyover
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(Special thanks to the So Cal Wing for background information.)
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Aircraft Maintenance Update - T-34 Arrives
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If you have not already
seen it or heard the
news, our T-34 is now at
the Dixie Wing hangar.
Dixie Wing pilots Cols
Jack Van Ness and
George Harrison were
approved by CAF HQ to
be trained by the Florida
Wing in their T-34A.
Upon completion of
their training and check
rides, Jack and George
delivered our airplane to
the Dixie Wing in
January.
Our contract with the
Florida maintenance facility was to get the airplane airworthy, after long-term storage, so
our Dixie Wing maintenance crew could perform the rest of any items needing attention;
thus saving labor costs. Crew Chief, Col Art Martin, with his very able assistant Col Willard
Womack, wasted no time in starting this task. Col Tony Stein and his able helpers are
installing a new (used donated) radio package.
When our local maintenance is complete, we will have to do some local flying and then off to
a paint shop. The first ground school for potential pilots, mechanics and observers has been
conducted. We could still use help with donations for the paint, (purchased at supplier cost)
and with the painting. If you have a connection with an A/C paint facility that may offer a
reduced charge for their services (a tax deductible donation), let Col Art Martin know.
This airplane is also an excellent photo ship and will be available for those assignments. It is
not the prettiest airplane in the hangar now, but when finished it will be a proud addition to
the Dixie Wing fleet.
Col Jack Van Ness
T-34 Liaison Officer
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Recruiting Update
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By Col Michael Zeeveld - As we closed out 2014, we added 56 new members to the Dixie
Wing. In addition we had six existing Colonels who came to us from other wings. This helps
secure us again as the third largest wing in the CAF. Welcome all new members! We are so
glad to have you onboard.
Wingman
We have continued the Wingman program with encouragement and feedback from new members.
The Wingman program is a matching up of a new member and an existing Col to help mentor, train
and acclimate the new member into the Dixie Wing. We want everyone to feel they are part of this
great organization, and fit in.
New Members Orientation
As a reminder, we will have a new membership meeting every “even” month of the year, on the 3rd
Saturday of the month at 3pm or following the regular membership meeting. We are also moving to
an online orientation where new members can log into the Dixie Wing website and access several
documents, new member orientation presentations and relevant data related to new members.
Swear-In Ceremony
The Adams brothers are our first official three brothers becoming members of the wing at the same
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time. They were sworn in at a ceremony with our P-51 Mustang Red Nose in the background, along
with several members in attendance.
Recruiting applications
The applications for Dixie Wing and CAF HQ have been updated to be more interactive. They
now can be filled out digitally and then printed. Also included is multi-application, which
fills out the repeating data to save time.
Summary
Thank you to all of the members for your hard work, dedication and your continued desire to keep
these great warbirds flying, allowing us to share their wonderful stories and history with the
community. Without you, there is no Dixie Wing. Keep ‘em Flying! Col Zee
Here is a link to direct prospective members to access the applications: Click HERE.
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Col Michael “Zee” Zeeveld
[email protected]
704.221.7944 cell
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Where do our members live?
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Member Spotlight: Col Willard Womack
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Willard Womack Combines Love of Aviation, History
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By Steve Forsyth
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A lifelong love of aviation
and a left turn onto Echo
Court brought Willard
Womack to the Dixie
Wing more than six years
ago, and he has been
immersed
since
then.Willard and his
wife, Jan, moved to
Fayette County, Georgia
from St. Louis in 2008,
looking for warmer
weather. As an aircraft
owner, he was exploring
around Falcon Field in
Peachtree City when he
discovered the Dixie
Wing hangar. “I found my
place,” Willard said. “I saw all of these grey-headed men working on airplanes!”
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Although he spent his career flying various military, commercial and private aircraft, you
would never know Willard is not a licensed mechanic. He spends every workday at the Wing,
doing whatever he can to help maintain the fleet. He fills in on other days as well, frequently
as a tour guide for Wing guests. He has earned the title of Education Officer for the Wing.
Willard attributes that to his love of history and his love of teaching.He has spent as many as
10-12 days in a row at the hangar, working on aircraft and leading tours for school groups,
senior citizens and Scouts, as well as numerous individuals. Often he is seen leading new
members, showing them the facility and answering their questions. He also helped with
Bingo for three years, until it was discontinued a few months ago.“I have helped with all of
the events,” Willard said. “We always need people for everything, from sweeping floors to
flying the airplanes.”
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Willard came by his love of aviation early in life, at six or seven, when he watched planes
operating at Little Rock, Ark., during WWII. That was one of the many cities his family saw
as his father, a minister, moved around Arkansas. In junior high, he spent a lot of time
around small airports, and when he enrolled in Arkansas State College, he found flying
lessons at $11 an hour. He joined the Army ROTC Aviation group as a senior, and earned his
pilot’s license.
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Willard attended Army Flight School in 1960, where he
graduated first in his class. He started with the L-19
Bird Dog and the L-20 Beaver and moved up to the
Otter. He was assigned to Okinawa in 1961, and in
December of 1962 his unit was transferred to Vietnam,
where it operated an airfield. While flying in that area
as an adviser, he was shot at a few times, and took one
bullet in the gas tank of his L-19."His airfield, Soc
Trang, was the staging field for several Vietnamese
battles, with Americans flying the helicopters and acting
as advisers. One, the battle of Ap Bac on Jan, 2, 1963,
“Was a total debacle and led to a Congressional hearing
that determined the U.S. would lead in fighting the
war,” Willard said.
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He left the Army in January, 1963, and joined TWA as a
first officer, flying the Lockheed Constellation. He
moved up to the DC-9, and then spent close to 30 years
in the Boeing 727. He retired as a captain from TWA in
1996, after 33 years of service.Commercial flying was
not enough for Willard. He bought his first plane, a
Beech Bonanza, in 1967. He eventually owned seven
airplanes over the years. His favorite was a Beech Baron, and his last was a Cessna 195,
which he owed for 22 years. Over that time, he started doing some work on his own planes,
and got to know a lot about the mechanics of the aircraft.
As a Wing member, Willard sponsored the LT-6, and he continued to fly until March 2014,
when he officially retired his wings. He has flown a total of 23,000-plus hours in more than
50 types of aircraft with no accidents or incidents, and received the FAA’s Wright Brothers
Master Pilot Award. He received the CAF Colonel of the Year award in 2012, and was
selected Best New Colonel in his first year at the Dixie Wing.
His love of aviation and history has been manifested in the numerous aviation stories he has
researched and written, in a very understandable and interesting style. Many of his stories
have focused on aircraft in the Dixie Wing, including the P-51, Corsair and SBD
Dauntless.You can find Willard working on any of the Wing aircraft, but he is focused on
completing the newly arrived T-34, because it is similar to the Bonanza he once owned. He
always has time for members with questions, and he has an unlimited supply of aviation
history stories. Ask him how split peas helped in the aerodynamic design of the Spitfire!
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The Angels: Meet Bonnie Kennedy
By Merikay Franklin -Bonnie Kennedy and her
husband, Charles, are very active members of the Dixie
Wing. Charles is crew chief on the SBD Dauntless and
Bonnie is a very active, dedicated member of the Angel
Squad.
Bonnie and Charles have a great story about how they
met. When Bonnie graduated in 1960 from Webster
Groves High School, she did not know that Charles was
in the same high school class. Four years later, they met
on a blind date, and one year after that, they were
married.
They moved to Miami In 1968, where Charles worked an
A & P mechanic with Eastern Air Lines. During their
eight years in the Miami area, they were blessed with a
daughter and a son. They moved to Georgia In 1976, and
this has been home to them for almost 40 years. They
agree it has been a great place to live and raise their
family.
When Eastern went out of business in 1989, Charles was
hired by Northwest Airlines in Atlanta. Until that time, Bonnie had been a stay-at-home
mom with their daughter, Leah, and son, Chuck. Bonnie decided to return to work, and was
hired by Delta Air Lines. She worked in Marketing Technology for Delta for 12 great years.
She was in Field Sales Training when she retired in 2001. Both grown Kennedy children live
close by (Sharpsburg and McDonough), along with two grandchildren. Their oldest grandson
is a freshman at the University of Georgia and the youngest grandson is in 8th grade.
Charles and Bonnie feel blessed to have shared many travels together. Some highlights
include mission trips with their church to New York City after 9/11, the Republic of Belarus,
Thailand, Wales, and Israel. While in Belarus, they visited Moscow and walked in Red
Square. They rode elephants In Thailand and enjoyed many beautiful cathedrals and castles
in Wales. In Israel, they were thrilled to walk where Jesus walked.
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This September, Charles and Bonnie will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Bonnie says “It has
been a great adventure being married to Charles, my best friend.”
Born and raised in Rock Hill, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, Bonnie has one sister in Longview,
Texas. Her mother passed away when she was three and her father remarried two years later.
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To join the Angel Squad click HERE.
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Our Birds: Chance Vought F4U Corsair
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Tricky Corsair Became Favorite of U.S. Marines
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By Col Willard Womack
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The Corsair first flew in 1940 and was the first fighter built with the Pratt & Whitney R-2800
engine. It became the first single-engine airplane to exceed 400 mph, proving that an
airplane with a radial engine could still fly fast. By the time production ended in 1953, more
than 12,000 had been built in 16 different models. It was the longest-produced airplane in
American history. !
The XF4U (X-experimental, F- Fighter, 4-fourth one built by, U-Vought), owes its
unorthodox looks to the large propeller needed to absorb the power from the 2,000-hp
engine. For carrier landings it required a very strong landing gear. By building the wings in
the inverted gull shape and fitting the gear to the lowest point, it had a short, strong gear,
along with the added benefit of attaching the wing to the fuselage at the optimum angle to
minimize drag (90 degrees). Armament was one 30-caliber and one 50-caliber machine gun
in the nose and one 50-caliber gun in each wing. It was also fitted with bomb bays in each
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wing, carrying small bombs to be dropped on bomber formations. These were deleted from
the production model.
Combat in Europe had shown that this was not sufficient armament, leading to removing the
nose guns from the production model (the F4U-1), and mounting three 50-caliber machine
guns in each wing. These took up the fuel tank space so all the fuel was placed in one 234gallon tank in front of the cockpit. This necessitated moving the cockpit back almost three
feet. That, along with moving the engine forward 12 inches, gave the Corsair its famous long
nose.
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Early attempts to carrier qualify the Corsair were even more dangerous than usual. First, it
was almost impossible see the landing signal officer with the normal straight-in approach. In
fact, the pilot could see very little of the carrier with the 14-foot-long nose obstructing his
view. Oil and hydraulic fluid from the open cowl flaps also would spread over the windshield,
limiting visibility. The cowl flaps encircled the entire engine, which led to the oil and
hydraulic fluid splattering. This was solved by fixing the top two or three cowl flaps in the
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down position. Later models were built with that area covered by the fuselage skin. The early
Corsairs had a tendency to float down the deck, over-flying the arresting cables. If the pilot
slowed down too much, trying not to float, the plane would stall with no warning, dropping
the left wing, and plunge the plane into the deck or ocean. If the pilot were given a wave-off
and opened the throttle too fast, the torque from the powerful engine would roll the plane
over to the left and into the water. One of the nicknames picked up about this time was “The
Ensign Eliminator”.
The Navy was very happy with the Grumman F6F Hellcat, which had been designed with
carrier operations more in mind. The cockpit was mounted higher, giving the pilot better
visibility. That, along with better low-speed flight characteristics, made carrier landings
much less exciting.Not being happy with the F4U, the Navy gave it to the Marines, who
gladly took it to replace their Grumman F4Fs. The Corsair first saw combat in February of
1943 on Guadalcanal and was used by the Marines for the rest of the war.The original
Corsair had a wicked stall, where the left wing would drop with no warning. This was
especially dangerous when landing, and was solved by adding a six-inch stall strip on the
right wing so both wings would stall at the same time. Accidents and fatalities were higher
than with other aircraft, but had to be accepted.
The later production F4U-1s
(now called the F4U-1A) were
modified with a taller tail wheel
strut. The canopy was a clear,
blown-bubble type with two
metal stiffeners, and the seat
was raised by seven inches.
These modifications, along with
modified landing gear and flying
a curved approach developed by
the British, help the Corsair
finally become approved for
carrier operations. Spot
welding was used throughout
the fuselage and other
components, along with flush
riveting, to help reduce drag.
(This may have made it harder
to repair in the field). The
ailerons were made of wood
while the rudder and elevator were fabric-covered. The wings aft of the spar, and outboard of
the guns, were also fabric-covered. It was not until the F4U-5 that the wings were all metal. !
By February of 1943, the Marines were replacing their F4F Wildcats with the Corsair on
Guadalcanal. Within six months, all Marine fighter squadrons were equipped with it. It could
outfight the Japanese Zero and proved to be an excellent ground attack platform, carrying
bombs, napalm and rockets. During the battle of Okinawa, it was used both in the ground
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attack role and against the Kamikaze. For this it was nicknamed, “The Angel of Okinawa”. It
fought in Korea, both with the Navy and Marines, again in the ground attack role. The
French used it in their Indo- China War in Vietnam and at one time in South America it
fought against other Corsairs and the Mustang. !
The Corsair and the P-51 Mustang are considered the two best fighters produced by the
United States during WW II, and they are the two most preferred model airplanes.
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The CAF’s FG-1D Corsair
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By Col Mike Schneider
The CAF’s FG-1D “530” is one of the original airframes that launched the Confederate Air
Force (now Commemorative Air Force). This airplane is not only historically significant, but
it is thoroughly engrained in the CAF's heritage and has been one of the busiest aircraft in
the history of the CAF’s stable. The CAF Dixie Wing at Falcon Field was selected to become
the new home for the FG-1D "530" by the leadership team of the CAF in August of 2012. We
are very proud to have received such an honor and are doing our best to live up to that
distinction.
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Our Corsair was built by Goodyear, hence the designation FG instead of F4U. BuNo 92468
(Stands for “Bureau Number” which is the Navy serial number of the airframe) never saw
military combat but was used stateside in various roles until being stricken from active duty
by the U.S. Navy in 1956. BuNo 92468 was rescued from destruction in 1957 by Ernest
Huggins. Ernest only held the Corsair for one year when he transferred ownership to Skip
Underwood of Tulsa, Okla. Underwood relocated the plane to an airstrip in Buckeye, Ariz.,
where he had a small crop- dusting operation. It remained there in storage until sold in 1960
to CAF Hall of Fame member Marvin L. “Lefty” Gardner.
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Once joining the CAF, our Corsair was restored to flying condition, registered as N9964Z and
painted in the red, white and blue livery that adorned others already collected, like our P-51
and P-38.
On April 9th, 1974, our FG-1D was damaged in a collision at Ft. Worth, Texas, and
subsequently became the last Corsair rebuilt by Vought in Dallas. Fast forward to March of
1981 and our Corsair was delivered back to us by Vought CEO Norm Thayer. Once again the
Corsair took to the airshow skies, this time in the USMC markings representing VMF-214
“883” which was one of the Corsairs piloted by Maj. Greg “Pappy” Boyington during WWII.
If you have ever have a chance to talk to any of the veterans who flew the Corsair, they will
mention how rugged the Corsair was and how much punishment it could take. While not
under combat situations, ours is a testament to that as well. Due to mechanical problems, on
April 14, 1982, our FG-1D was forced to land in a grass field and sustained damage after
striking a fence. BuNo 94268 was repaired and yet again took to the skies as one of the
busiest airshow attendees of the 80s and 90s.!
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CAF’s FG-1D shown here as Number “13” - a generic representation of aircraft that served
upon CV-9, the USS Essex. It is the first time the checkerboard pattern appeared on the
Commemorative Air Force’s Corsair.
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In April of 2001, BuNo 92468 returned to the site of her restoration at Vought Industries in
Dallas, Texas, to retire “13” that was worn from a decade of airshows. The airframe was
cosmetically repaired and given a new paint scheme depicting VMF-312 1st Lt. M.O. Chance
#”530”, which it still carries today. !
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Operational History
NAS Alameda, California - minor repair (July 1945 - August 1945) NAS Alameda, California - aircraft pool (September 1945 - June 10, 1946) NAS Glynco, Brunswick, Georgia - storage (June 16, 1946 - February 1948) NAS Jacksonville, Florida - Assembly & Repair / aircraft pool (March 1948 - May 1948) NAS Akron, Ohio - Reserve Training Squadron (June 1948 - *October 1948) ***No records from January 1949 through March 1950
NAS Jacksonville, Florida - Overhaul & Repair (*April 1950 - May 19, 1950) NAS Atlanta, Georgia - Reserve Training Squadron (May 19, 1950 - January 2, 1952) NAS Jacksonville, Florida - Overhaul & Repair (January 2, 1952 - April 24, 1952) FASRON-9, NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida (April 24, 1952 - May 15, 1952) CAG-10 / VF-102 “Sluggers”, NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia (May 15, 1952 November 21, 1952) NAS Squantum, Massachusetts - Reserve Training Squadron (November 21, 1952 November 8, 1953) NAS Jacksonville, Florida - Overhaul & Repair (November 8, 1953 - February 15, 1954) NAS Grosse Isle, Michigan - Reserve Training Squadron (February 15, 1954 - June 13, 1954)
NAS Minneapolis, Minnesota - Reserve Training Squadron (June 13, 1954 - April 29, 1955) NAS New York, New York - Reserve Training Squadron (April 29, 1955 - October 12, 1955) NAF Litchfield Park, Arizona (October 12, 1955 - January 1957) stricken: January 1957 (stored on site at NAF Litchfield Park)!
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B-24 ‘Diamond Lil’ Coming To Georgia
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By Col Jay Bess - The CAF’s rare B-24 Liberator bomber will highlight this year’s World
War II Heritage Days, hosted by the Dixie Wing on April 18-19, 2015, at Atlanta Regional
Airport-Falcon Field (KFFC) in Peachtree City. The historic WWII aircraft from Texas will be
on display and rides will be available. “Keep ‘em Flying”, a World War II-theme hangar
dance and dinner, is the highlight for Saturday night, complete with big-band performances
and 1940s Hollywood “stars”, all surrounded by World War II aircraft and memorabilia.
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The 2015 event will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Allied victory and end of WWII in
1945. The program provides a living history experience unique to the state of Georgia,
bringing together historic aircraft, vintage military vehicles, antique cars, educational
displays and demonstrations, including mock military ground battles staged by war reenactors.
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Dixie Wing’s fleet of WWII aircraft also will be on display for the 12th annual Word War II
Heritage Days weekend. Visitors will see the Wing’s Corsair, P-51 Mustang, SBD-Dauntless
dive bomber and other restored aircraft. Rides will be available on many of the Wing aircraft
and may be scheduled in advance at www.wwiidays.org.
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“Keep ‘em Flying” guests will hear the Peachtree Jazz
Edition perform big band tunes made famous by
Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.
Described as “one of the best bands in Atlanta”, the
Peachtree Jazz Edition has a loyal swing-dance
following and is returning to “Keep ‘em Flying” for
the 12th straight year. Also entertaining will be the
Freedom Belles, a female trio that performs 40s
classics by the Andrews Sisters and other stars.
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Proceeds from the dance cover costs associated with
hosting WWII Heritage Days, as well as the ongoing
preservation of the group’s historic aircraft and
“Education through Living History”, a World War II
history program made available by CAF Dixie Wing
volunteers to schools and youth groups free of
charge.
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Tickets for “Keep ‘em Flying” are $55 before April
13th, $65 at the door. World War II veterans and
Rosie the Riveters are invited to attend the dance as
guests of the CAF Dixie Wing. Reserved tables and
group discounts are available. 1940s attire
encouraged. The dance will take place rain or shine.
No refunds please. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 678-654-2464. For more
info, visit www.wwiidays.org.
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The new logo for WWII heritage Days designed by Col Jay Bess
and Chad Hill.
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Wing Elects 2015 Officers
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Dixie Wing members elected officers for 2015, and Col Jim Buckley will continue as Wing
Leader. Col Jay Bess is the new Executive Officer, and returning as Adjutant is Col Malcolm
Lelliott. Col Bob Grove will fulfill the rest of his term as Operations Officer.
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With the retirement of Elmer Koldoff as Maintenance Officer, Col Bob Heath has agreed to
assume that role. As a new member of the leadership team, here is some background on Bob.
He is a licensed A&P mechanic, and is the Crew Chief and a flying sponsor on our LT-6. He
graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and spent
14 years on active duty as a pilot on KC135, T-37, T-38, and U2 aircraft, finishing up as an
instructor and maintenance test pilot on T-38 and U2 aircraft. As an Air Force reserve
Airman, he was an Aeronautical Engineer and Engineering Manager at Hill AFB, Utah. He
retired from the AF reserve in 1997 and was hired by Delta Air Lines, working his way up to
Captain. After retiring from Delta, he worked for the Mercer Engineering research Center,
where he developed several programs for Air Force aircraft. His team redesigned the C-130
maintenance program, reducing the tasks by 40 percent and extending the interval of major
maintenance inspections from 365 to 540 days. He also has a Parachute rating from Army
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CAF Dixie Wing Aircraft Schedule/Events
April 18-19 – World War II Heritage Days, Peachtree City, Ga., www.wwwiidays.org. We
will be selling rides in the P-51, SBD-Dauntless, LT-6 ,L-16 and PT-19.
May 8 – Arsenal of Democracy, Washington, D.C., a massive flyover of Washington Mall to
celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. We will be participating with our P-51,
Corsair and SBD-Dauntless.
May 16 - Joe Nall Week, Triple Tree Aerodrome, Woodruff
S C.,
http://
www.tripletreeaerodrome.com/joe-nall-week.php - We will be selling rides in the T-6.
May 16-17 - Warbirds Over The Beach Airshow, Viginia Beach, Va., http://
www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/ww2-airshow.html - We will be selling rides in the P-51
and SBD Thursday through Sunday.
May 30 - Good Neighbor Day - Dekalb-Peachtree Airport - PT-19 and LT-6 Rides - PX
Trailer
June 5-7 - Reading, Pa., WWII Weekend, http://www.maam.org/maamwwii.html. We will
be selling rides in the P-51 and SBD.
July 20-26 – EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wis., www.eaa.org. We will be selling rides in the
P-51 at Fond du Lac Airport.
Sept. 12-13 - Atlanta Warbird Weekend, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, Atlanta, Ga. Dixie Wing
Fleer
Dates to Remember
- WWII Heritage Days - April 18-19, 2015 - RIDES AVAILABLE
- Meet the Veterans - May 30 2015
- Atlanta History Center - May 30, 3015
- Senoia Memorial Day Celebration - May 31, 2015
- July 4 Parades - Peachtree City & Marietta
- Atlanta Warbird Weekend - Sept 12-13, 2015
- Great Georgia Airshow - Oct 31 -Nov 1, 2015
- Veterans Day Open House - Nov 7, 2015 ( not at the Dixie Wing)
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Monthly Member Meetings
2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - March 21, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - April 11, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - May 16, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - June 20, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - July 18, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - Sept 19, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - Oct 17, 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - Nov 21 , 2015
- Monthly Membership Meeting - Dec TBA
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On The Web
Dixie Wing Website: www.dixiewing.org
Atlanta Warbird Weekend Website: www.atlantawarbirdweekend.com
WWII Heritage Days Website: www.wwiidays.org
Dixie Wing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAFDixieWing
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Previous Issues
The Dixie Wing Mission Briefing - Summer 2014 - Click HERE.
The Dixie Wing Mission Briefing -Fall 2014 - Click HERE.
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To join the Commemorative Air Force click HERE.
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Address & Phone Information
Dixie Wing, CAF - 1200 Echo Ct. - Peachtree City, GA 30269
Main Phone: (678) 364-1110
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am - 4pm
To Schedule a tour contact Willard Womack.
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