Annamarie Buonocore 7/17/13 Annamarie Buonocore 7/17/13

Kokomo, Indiana’s Fifth Annual Wings and Wheels Air and Car Show

By Mike Heilman & Ed Wells

Cliff Robinson races a motorcycle down the runway in his modified PT-17 Stearman. Robinson, an airshow veteran, has appeared in more than 300 airshows during his career. (Mike Heilman)It was the little show that could. The 5th annual Wings and Wheels Air and Car show was held June 8 at the Kokomo Indiana Municipal Airport (OKK). The one-day event was billed as the largest airshow in the state of Indiana in 2013. Kokomo can make that claim since the Indianapolis and Gary airshows cancelled due the Congressional sequester. The event drew an estimated 4,000 people.

The annual event is used as a fundraiser with proceeds from food sales and VIP seating going to local charities. The Event Coordinator, Pam Wild, explains “Our show is completely free, no admission at all. The pilots are not monetarily compensated in any way. All they get is a T-shirt and breakfast and lunch. They get gas for the show and the trip to get here. It is an all-volunteer show. We have the support of the City of Kokomo and they are our biggest sponsor.”

Annamarie Buonocore 7/17/13 Annamarie Buonocore 7/17/13

World War II Weekend – A Step Back in Time

By A. Kevin Grantham and Stan Piet

The photograph depicting the flag raising at Iwo Jima was the most iconic image to emerge from World War II. Here the Marines from the Living History Detachment, Paris Island expertly recreate that heroic event. (A. Kevin Grantham) Everyone in their life has, at one time or another, wished they could go back in time and witness some historical event. Technology has come a long way, but as far as your authors can tell, no one has come up with a reliable time machine. But if you are interested in World War II history, there is a place located near Reading, Penn. that annually transforms itself into a magical world of 1940s culture. The event, held by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum (MAAM), is better known by the thousands of people who attend it each year as World War II Weekend.

The following this event has cultivated over its 23-year span is one of the things that make World War II Weekend so special. The show opened on Friday June 7, 2013. Tropical storm Andrea was skirting the area and one may have thought that the wind, coupled with the buckets of rain, would have deterred many from attending. That was not the case. The gates did not open unto 8:30 a.m. but the line to get in started forming Airshow performer Michael P. Kennedy posing in front of his beloved BT-13. Lt.Col. Kennedy puts on a one-of-a-kind aerobatic routine in his vintage basic trainer. (A. Kevin Grantham) some two hours earlier. “We are very blessed to have such a following,” said Museum President Russ Strine. “This show is our single largest funding source, so we are very thankful for all the people who support this event.” Fortunately the bad weather cleared over the weekend, and many people showed up in 1940s era clothing, all wanting to be part of the gathering. Attendance records were not available at time of this article but most agreed that the show drew a record crowd.

Annamarie Buonocore 7/15/13 Annamarie Buonocore 7/15/13

Military Aviation Museum

By A. Kevin Grantham and Stan Piet

The de Havilland Dragon Rapide. One of the museum’s crown jewels. This particular airplane was originally built in 1944 and is restored to resemble the aircraft that was ordered by the Prince of Whales in 1935. (A. Kevin Grantham)Virginia Beach, Va. is well known as one of the best places on the east coast to visit and enjoy the surf and sand of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the home of Gerald “Jerry” Yagen’s Military Air Museum, which is quickly becoming a major attraction for the resort town.

The museum was established in 2005 and is located on the privately owned Virginia Beach Airport in Pungo, Va. It is only about a 15-minute drive from the shore to the museum. The first hint that something special is ahead is when the red and white water tower appears on the horizon. The museum’s 1930s era hangars come into site a few yards farther down Princess Anne road, and as you turn into the entrance you are instantly greeted by some wonderful dinosaur sculptures. This is not exactly something one would expect to see in a somewhat rural area of Virginia, or for that matter at an air museum. But seeing these colorful static creatures brought back fond memories of the roadside attractions that littered the United States during the post-World War II pre-interstate era. No doubt Yagen had that in mind when designing his Jurassic Park gallery.

Annamarie Buonocore 7/15/13 Annamarie Buonocore 7/15/13

Nine-O-Nine: The Collings Foundation’s B-17 Flying Fortress

Story Courtesy of
The Collings Foundation

The sixth annual Bomber Camp held at Taigh Ramey’s Vintage Aircraft in Stockton, California was held on May 29-30 featuring the Collings Foundation’s famous B-17 Nine-O-Nine. Being used for the first time to drop 250 lb. concrete bombs this former air-sea rescue SB-17G s/n 44-83575 had last dropped a lifeboat more than 60 years ago prior to taking on this new role. Since its start in 2008 Bomber Camp had used the B-24J ‘All American’ to make the bomb drops, however his year Nine-O-Nine was called on to make two missions at the popular event. Taigh Ramey used the Norden bombsight in Nine—O-Nine to lineup his target for the drop. Safety was observed at all times with Jerry Anderson flying the chase/photo aircraft for the flights. (Jim Dunn) The most widely recognized and revered aircraft type of World War II, the B-17 Flying Fortress, takes to the skies again. The B-17G (Serial # 44-83575) has been returned to its wartime configuration under the auspices of the nonprofit Collings Foundation of Stow, MA and given the name Nine-O-Nine.

The Collings Flying Fortress was built at Long Beach, Calif. by the Douglas Aircraft Company and accepted on April 7, 1945. Although she was too late for combat, #44-83575 did serve as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron and later in the Military Air Transport Service.

In April 1952, #44-83575 was instrumented and subjected to the effects of three different nuclear explosions. After a thirteen-year “cool down” period, #44-83575 was sold as part of an 800-ton scrap pile and Aircraft Specialties Company began the restoration of the aircraft.

Annamarie Buonocore 7/10/13 Annamarie Buonocore 7/10/13

Living History at Planes of Fame Aug. 3