You missed an
opportunity if you didn't get to the Douglas Airstrip on Thursday, July 18
to see the annual war bird fly in.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Donna J. Grisham, Quill Staff Reporter
You missed an
opportunity if you didn't get to the Douglas Airstrip on Thursday, July 18
to see the annual war bird fly in.
Lloyd and Mary have hosted the event for thirteen years. He is a member of the Midwest Navioneers Chapter. The president of this chapter is Galen Michael from Elkhart, Indiana, who flew in for the event and has been flying since 1954.
I was privileged to speak with some of the pilots who very graciously gave me information about their planes and personal lives.
The pilots came from Keokuk, Iowa, where they are scheduled to fly back there
and remain there until Saturday. Then
they will fly
to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to attend one of the largest air shows and conventions.
Sofia Byrne and her husband John are both pilots. She's been flying since 1986, formation flying since 1998. Sofia said when she got her license, John wouldn't let her fly his plane, so she bought her own L-17 Navion plane.
Abram Karl and Tom Hinds are from Florida and they fly a plane that was used in Vietnam for four years and logged over 3,000 hours. From December to March, these two fly scientists 25 to 150 miles off shore looking for Wright Whales.
The Schmidts are from Missouri and are good friends to Lloyd and Mary. They love flying their De Havaline Beaver, an observation plane used in World War II and Korea. Mr. Schmidt works for Fed Ex and has charge of thirty nine freight planes.
Thirty seven planes flew in with one hundred twelve pilots, wives and helpers. Around a hundred or so people came out to see these vintage planes, talk to pilots and take pictures. A seventeen month old boy was there and just as excited as everyone was to see these planes.
Pilots came from all over the United States and Canada to attend this event and a hog roast in their honor.
The Douglasses and Nixons looked forward to having Bird Dog aircraft, including Cessna L-195 used in the war, also L-17 Navions, L-Birds or liaison aircraft. The Cessna Bird Dog was used in Vietnam to fly at low altitudes to locate ground targets, guide air strikes and coordinate air and ground action.
The Douglasses and Nixons appreciate everyone for coming out, and the chapter for a beautiful cake and bouquet of roses. We hope to see more people and planes next year.