Webmaster for FirstAeroSquadronFoundation's (FASF) website. Also the CEO of the 501C(c)(3) aviation history-oriented FASF non-profit, which is dedicated to the Birth Place of American Airpower and Rebirth Place of American Civil Aviation in 1916 & 1917 in Columbus, NM.
FASF Trustee, Colonel Cline’s Air Force ROTC Cadets joined forces with Colonel David McCoy’s NMSU Army ROTC Cadets to march in the 113th colorful annual President’s Day Parade at NMSU’s Hadley Field on the NMSU campus Horshoe Drive. FASF members Colonel Alan Fisher and Ric Lambart were invited to view the passing of the troops. The US Army Band from Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas, provided the marching cadence with their well performed martial music. Photos below are courtesy of NMSU Journalism student Rosemary Woller, the FASF Aerodrome Staff, and Col. Alan Fisher, long time FASF member.
Above: Colonel Cline greets 1st honored guests to arrive early: L to R above: Col. Cline;Mrs. Baker, US Navy Captain Walter Baker, Ret.; Mrs. Mary Reinhart, and Lt. Colonel James Harbison, US Army Ret.
Getting ready to Review NMSU ROTC Cadets are, L to R:Ben Woods, President of the NMSU Aggie Development Corp and Assistant to the NMSU President;Lt. Col. David McCoy, US Army ROTC Commander; Lt. Col. Ira Cline, USAF, AFROTC Commander;Brigadier General Juan Griego,US Army, andChief Sergeant Major, Lance Lehr, US Army.
L to R above: In Red NMSU Jacket, Mr.Jay Riveraand his brother,Capt. Joshua Rivera,(both on the Army ROTC’s Staff) with Cadets in Foreground: Army cadetLTC Jarred Green, AF CadetColonels Katie Armstrong,andPeter Smith, Army CadetCOL Tessa Thompson, and AF CadetLt. Col. Brad Ward.
L to R inspecting the assembled Cadets are PresidentBen Woods, Colonel David McCoy, Colonel Ira Cline, and Army CadetColonel Tessa Thompson.
Passing in Review are the combined ROTC Color Guard, with L to R above:AF Cadet Weston Stutzman; Army Cadet Sergeant First Class Brian Webb; AFCadet Capt. Victor Acosta; ArmyCadet 2nd LT Krista Gatan, Air Force CadetAngelica Helton;ArmyCadet 2nd LT Richard Buck.
Leading the “Pass in Review” of all the ROTC units are the top Officer Cadets above, L to R: ArmyCadet Capt. Eric Paul;Army Cadet LTC Jarred Green, Air ForceCadet Colonel Katie Armstrong; Army CadetCOL Tessa Thompson; Air ForceCadet Col. Peter Smith(hidden behind Cadet Thompson); andAir ForceCadet Col. Brad Ward.
Above, Army ROTC Cadet Captain Polly Raleysaluting the Colors – Photo byRosemary Wollerof NMSU
Our own FASF member,Colonel Alan Fisher, who was once the Commanding Officer of the NMSU AFROTC – and who actually pinned his new 2nd Lt. Bars on now TrusteeColonel Ira Cline’suniform at his graduation from NMSU’s AFROTC many years ago, strikes a pose with his friend and honored guest at the President’s Review, RetiredNavy Captain Walter Baker.
Not to lose out on the photo ops,Colonel Alan Fisherinsisted on taking this shot (above) of FASF PresidentRic Lambart,after he had compared experiences withCapt. Bakerabout his own short 3 year career in the US. Navy.Colonel Clineis in background (R) with his young son, Nathan.
Photo (above) of Platoon ofColonel Cline’s AirForce Detachment 505’s Cadets was taken by NMSU journalism student,Rosemary Woller.
From time to time, your FASF website will be pausing to look into the fascinating lives of some of our members, new ones as well as old timers. It would be hard to believe that we couldn’t find interesting material from the lives of any of our many members, but when we run into a member whose story we think needs telling, then we’re going to take pen in hand – and get busy.
In fact, look for a new category to include these interesting member stories. The new blog column will be entitled, “INSIGHTS” – Our Colorful Members. It will appear under the right sidebar menu “MORE TO SEE” and will be right below the news category “NEW VIDEOS.”
One place you, as either a non-member site visitor – or FASF member – can help out in this endeavor, is to let us know who we should feature next – even if, providing you’re an active member, it’s yourself!
Our first “INSIGHT” will be a peek into one of our newest business supporters and her remarkable success story, a young entrepreneur from immediately under our local nose, right here in this small SW New Mexican village of Columbus, the “Cradle of American Air Power.“
Gracie Carreon, sits at her front counter at “E & G Wireless” in Columbus, NM
This young lady has created a small town female version of the fabled American Horatio Alger success story. Her achievements caught our attention for a simple reason; we were told by some locally experienced and expert professionals in the field, when she first opened her new wireless business, that it wouldn’t be long before she failed – – – and would have to close her doors.
Well, not only were those expert predictions dead wrong, they missed the mark by a substantial margin.
Gracie Carreon was born in nearby Deming, NM, where she completed her formal schooling. After getting married, she and her new husband, Eloy, went to Arizona, where they felt career opportunities would be better than if they remained in Deming. Their move was productive. For fourteen years the young couple did well in their new state. Then the 2008 recession struck – hard. Because of low seniority, corporate downsizing cost Gracie’s husband his job in Phoenix. So, not quickly enough finding another one, they decided to tighten their belts and return to New Mexico’s lower cost-of-living climate – – – and to be nearer their families.
Soon, after the move to Columbus, Gracie started working from home as a telemarketer, helping sell vacation cruise packages, mostly by phone. When she was told that it would help her get ahead in the travel business if she learned Portuguese, she got busy and quickly learned the new language. Unfortunately, the expected promotion didn’t materialize rapidly enough, so Gracie started doing research on the Internet to explore other business opportunities for self-employment. Even though she had no experience in the new booming cell phone business, her research led her to believe that it might be a profitable enterprise to start up in Columbus.
However, Columbus is not an affluent village. But it was this same low average income element that attracted her attention. The unfortunate impoverishment in the local area was precisely why Gracie felt there should be a pressing need for a more economical wireless service. Most importantly, her many months of study and research gave her enough confidence to put the ball in motion. She was now sure she could put the new enterprise together; convinced she could provide superior personal service – at a highly competitive price. She was confident that her Columbus neighbors and even citizens from nearby Palomas, Mexico, would grab the opportunity to significantly cut their cell phone bills.
In her words, “We planned to be – Big Enough To Serve, Small Enough To Care.” And that’s the very slogan that quickly became her fledgling company’s guiding motivation.
Gracie’s friends and family thought she was about to make an unwise decision, citing, among other things, that few new businesses ever managed to succeed in the small impoverished community. And, even worse, some of the nearby local experts in the closest large town, Deming, 30 miles to the North, joined with her friends and family, pointing out that there simply wouldn’t be enough customers to enable Gracie’s idea to even break even, let alone thrive. Yet, in spite of all the negative feedback and dire predictions of almost guaranteed failure, Gracie went on ahead and laid out the business plan she expected would prove them all wrong. After all, her Internet studies and research, and the calculations she made with the data she garnered, indicated the investment would soon prove a profitable one. Amazingly, Gracie was in such dire financial shape at this juncture, that she couldn’t even afford her own cell phone!
Did that deter this young mother?
Not for a second.
So, three years ago, in 2012, Gracie began her start-up enterprise. She arose each day and, on foot, plodded through the dusty neighborhoods of Columbus, knocking on doors to offer the local citizens more economical wireless phone packages – plans they didn’t even know existed.
Having had no experience in this new business, Gracie had to learn the hardware and software technology she needed to understand – and all via the same Internet on which she’d taught herself Portuguese. Soon her sales were growing and it became obvious that this walking the streets routine would no longer suffice. Accordingly, our budding young entrepreneur again used the Internet, Craig’s List in particular, and searched for an affordable new portable building. She found a good deal on a used construction trailer, borrowed enough funds for the unit, then she and her teen son, Eloy, Jr., had it transported to Columbus, where they had contracted to buy a lot alongside the main highway. This was the parcel on which she had the mobile unit unloaded and set up.
Now working furiously at two separate tasks; selling cell phone deals and remodeling the old trailer, she managed to spend almost what the new building had cost, just to get it remodeled to her requirements. Many who knew her wondered how she even found enough time each day to do all this complex multi-tasking, but this tough challenge clearly didn’t phase Gracie, nor dimish her hardy ambition. It took a nine month gestation period to get the trailer converted into a good looking sales room and office. When the intensive remodeling project was finished, many (who didn’t know Gracie) were surprised at how effectively and professionally Gracie had accomplished the aesthetically attractive transformation.
Today, three years later, Gracie’s “E & G Wireless” (named by using her husband and son’s initial, “E” and her own “G”) is thriving – well beyond even Gracie’s own ambitious expectations.
Gracie also saw the potential benefit to Columbus from the First Aero Squadron Foundation’s activities, too, so she stepped right up to become an enthusiastic new business supporter of the FASF.
It’s hard to miss “E & G Wireless” when driving either into or out of Columbus. Your attention is quickly drawn to the many cars and trucks parked outside the facility whenever it’s open. In fact, it has been observed that “E & G Wireless” has become a popular new Columbus social gathering center!
When you have the time, stop by and meet this young entrepreneur or her personable assistant, Mely Gonzales. Let them show you how they can provide you with a high quality, yet very competitively priced new cell phone plan. She’s become an expert at significantly cutting her customer’s cell phone costs, no doubt a prime reason for her astounding success.
See more photos of Gracie’s company by clicking right hereand then scroll down the page. You’ll find her operation listed on the “LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORTERS” Page – under “E,” in alphabetical order.
For you old timers among us: Do you remember this famous aeroplane? If so, and you’d like to see it in action again, just click on the photo of the esteemed de Havilland Mosquito aboveand then witness a HD video of its rebirth. At the end of this write-up, down below, you’ll find another link that will take you directly to a 6 minute video of the actual reconstruction of this famous warbird. This story was suggested by FASF members, Wayne and Debbi Evans.
It was famed for its sheer beauty of design, its symmetry and the melodious purring of its two large Rolls Royce Merlin engines, the same that powered that single engined star performer of the Royal Air Force, the indomitable Supermarine Spitfire, another classic aircraft wonder.
The De Havilland Mosquito was nicknamed the “Mossie” by it pilots and crews. The ship was beautifully streamlined for its day, yet it was amazingly enough constructed almost entirely of wood – a new concoction fabricated by the plane’s designer, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, Sr.(seen in photo above after his victory in a 1929 Australian air race in 1929). This new construction “sandwich” technology actually preceded by over half a century the latest new carbon fiber technology developed and applied to Spaceship I by American aviation pioneer, Burt Rutan, of Scaled Composites. Sir de Havilland’s system was one in which light weight balsa wood was sandwiched in between layers of plywood. If you were ever a model airplane builder or enthusiast, you most likely made your models from this ultra light weight – but not noted to be strong – kind of wood – long before plastic modeling became popular. Remember?
FASF member from Arizona, Colonel Frank Smith, observed that the Mossie was likely the first “Stealth” aircraft to ever see action during WWII, when RADAR was first employed by both the Allied and Axis combatants. As the Colonel observed, “The Mosquito, being made out of wood and fabric, also had a low Radar signature. One more reason they were safe from Axis fighters. By design, one of the first stealth planes.”
The beautiful VIMEO HD film, by videographer Scott Slocum, was breathtakingly shot ‘down under,’ so make sure you have your volume turned up. After all, the sound of those twin Rolls Royce Merlin engines is part of the experience.
Captain de Havilland once remarked that: “If an aircraft looks right, it usually flies right.”
If this statement guided his design, the veracity of the slogan certainly spoke for itself.
His “Mossie” was most assuredly one of the most beautiful aeroplanes this famous aviation pioneer and accomplished pilot ever built – – – If not arguably one of the best British aircraft of the war. While originally conceived to be a bomber, it soon proved so extraordinarily versatile that it quickly took on numerous other roles, including that of a combat fighter.
For over 25 years, no Mosquito has flown anywhere in the world, after the last flying one crashed at Barton Aerodrome, Manchester, UK.
This was largely because nobody wanted to trust the 50-year-old-plus balsa and plywood from which they were assembled – and especially the old glue in the few that survived the post war years.
Then New Zealander Glyn Powell, realizing that the only way a Mossie would ever fly again would be to basically build a new one from an old wreck, but he discovered that all the original jigs necessary to form the wooden structures had long since been destroyed. Many of millions of dollars later, you can see the startling and wondrous results of his ambitious vision. As this modest restoration genius remarked, “The devil is in the details.” The woodworking skill sets it took to create this amazing airplane are extremely difficult, if not almost impossible to find in this modern-day and age.
So, as a “retirement project,” Powellset out to build a new one from the chaotic assemblage of the junked remains he inherited, but he remained faithful to the original Mossies – right down to the last and smallest details.
Needless to say, it took him decades.
What followed is the first result to come from those painstakingly reconstructed forming jigs.
This reborn Mossie First flew in NZ in 2013, now it’s over here in the USA.
Was this the finest aircraft of WWII?
It could carry a greater bomb load to Berlin than a B-17
Could fly higher and/or faster than nearly all contemporary fighters, so no need for defensive armament
The first true Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). Bomber, fighter, night-fighter, fighter-bomber, strike, anti-shipping, torpedo-bomber, photo-recce, trainer, target-tug.
1/10th the loss rate of the Lancaster
On the relatively rare occasions when one did go down, 2 men were lost, not the 7 in a Lancaster or the 10 in a B-17
1/3rd the cost of a Lancaster
So fast that the Americans, to avoid comparison, issued a standing order that their fastest fighter, the P-38 Lightning, was never to fly side-by-side with one.
Quotes:
o AVM Don Bennett, AOC No 8 (Pathfinder) Group: “It’s quite clear that the value of the Mosquito to the war effort is significantly greater than that of any other aircraft in the history of aviation.”
o General Erhard Milch, the deputy head of the Luftwaffe: “I fear that one day the British will start attacking with masses of this aircraft, which we should have.”
o Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring head of the Luftwaffe: “It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy.”
Please enjoy the video above and let us know how your rate the short 8 minute film. If you click right here, you’ll see a 6 minute YouTube video of the reconstruction itself.
P.S. There’s now a second Mossie flying in Canada. So that’s two in North America and none in Britain. Hopefully our British brethren will soon remedy this shortcoming and pay proper tribute to their own glorious aviation past.
Above are Deming High School Shop and FFA Instructor, Larry VonTress, on Left, and FASF VP Roy Mantei in center, with FASF Trustee, Megan Wenzel at far right. They are examining the class built steel sign for the FFA Department, a marker that has successfully weathered many, many hot New Mexican summers and the blazing sun.
FASF VP, Roy Mantei, and Trustee Megan Wenzel met with Deming High School (DHS) Teachers this past week to explore ways of further involving our local High School students as volunteers with the FASF, particularly in readiness for the upcoming FAS Centennial events of next year.
Above are Shop Teacher, Larry VonTress and FASF Trustee, Megan Wenzel, discussing their common interest in the Future Farmers of America (“FFA”) organization and Megan’s own experiences with the activity during her own Elementary and High School years.
Joining the conversation, on left, is FASF VP, Roy Mantei. Mr. VonTress is showing Roy and Megan some of the fine professional caliber work done by his students, as evidenced by the high quality workmanship seen in the large white flatbed trailer just completed by his class.
One of the stated missions of the FASF is to work with and help inspire young people to work productively in volunteer activities outside their normal school responsibilities. Such extracurricular activities have long proven to be fertile grounds for the development of excellent leadership and citizen participatory skills, which is why the FASF is putting so much effort into these projects that involve young students. Some of today’s FASF student volunteers could one day become the active leadership of the Foundation.
In the first three (3) photos from the top of this page, you can see Roy and Megan discussing the construction capabilities offered by DHS’s FFA and Shop students, under the direction of Larry VonTress, who teaches those skills to his students. They are standing by the Class’ outdoor welded sign. While at High School in Grants, NM, Megan was an active FFA participant and award winner, so she is more than familiar with Mr. VonTress‘ activities and his students’ potentials. This teacher’s students have already constructed some well-known and very professional looking memorials here in Luna County and Deming. Megan and Roy are exploring how Mr. VonTress‘ class might possibly help build the new Entrance Gateway to the Foundation’s FAS Airfield in Columbus. In the second two photos, above, Larry is showing Megan and Roy an example of the actual professional quality of which his students are capable. They are looking over a full-sized flatbed trailer recently built entirely by Mr. Von Tress’ students. The skills with which instructor’s students are trained range from automotive repair, to welding and construction. Other students at DHS, under the direction of George Wertz, are engaged in actual hands-on Construction Trades training, even building actual homes in Deming for the High School’s Teaching staff. These homes are of high quality construction and remarkably attractive, as well.
Left to Right: U.S. Army Major Andres Leday, FASF Trustee Megan Wenzel, and, Right, FASF VP, Roy Mantei, in the Headquarters Building of the Junior ROTC (JROTC) on the Deming High School campus.
Megan and Roy also spent considerable time discussing volunteer possibilities with the Junior ROTC Unit at DHS. They covered various possibilities with U.S. Army Major Andres Leday, who is the commandant of the 5th Brigade’s Wildcat Battalion Cadets. The principal thrust of the JROTC function at DHS is directed towards leadership training, of which volunteering is always a significant factor.
Major Leday explaining how his Cadets undergo their leadership training along with some of the unique experiences membership in the JROTC otherwise provides his Cadets. On the right, along the wall, you can see the rifle rack. The JROTC unit at DHS has its own shooting team, and it has won numerous top honors, as can be seen by some of the trophies proudly on display above the gun rack, in the photo below. Megan is an avid rifle shooting enthusiast and hobbyist, so had many questions of Major Leday.
Above and below, Major Leday, Megan and Roy discuss some of the opportunities for leadership training experience offered for Deming High School Students who volunteer for various FASF projects and activities.
There are only eleven months remaining before the FASF will find itself deeply engaged in putting on the once-in-a-lifetime FAS Centennial Celebration in the Spring of 2016. Much needs to be done. The 75th anniversary of the raid itself drew some 25,000 visitors to Columbus!
Colonel Ira Cline, USAF, Professor of Aerospace Sciences at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Trustee of the FASF gave an informative and enthusiastically received presentation about the Air Force’s famous heavy hauler aircraft, the Globemaster III, or the C-17, transport, pictured above left. The huge aircraft heavy-lifter was designed and built by the Boeing company to land at almost any airfield, even some unimproved fields – almost anywhere in the world – on its large array of 14 low-pressure wheeled landing gears. And, there are few places in the world the large aircraft has not visited, whether in support of an ongoing conflict, or on one of its countless mercy missions to deliver medical or survival supplies across the globe.
This story’s photos are thanks to the Daedalians and may be seen in larger scale by clicking on them.
View of Globemaster III Cockpit – Note newer type “Glass Panel” and Control Sticks immediately in front of pilot seats
Colonel Cline’s colorful slide show and video presentation were made atop El Paso’s CHASE BANK building in its famed and scenically endowed El Paso Club. The audience was a fraternal gathering of United States Military aviators from all four service branches, the Order of Daedalians.
Following Colonel Cline’s show, he was quickly inundated with a steady stream of questions from the assembled aviators, curious to know the details of how our modern day USAF now carries its and the other service’s cargo and troops around the world.
At left above is Retired Air Force transport pilot, Roger Nichols, then Col. Cline, and, to his left, Larry Spadlin, Retired Army Aviator and Beech Aircraft Electronic Warfare Technical Representative.
The Colonel described how this huge airplane was piloted using a small control stick, as were some of the early FAS Jenny’s back in 1916, not the usual larger control “yoke” or wheel, as is used in most large aircraft. He also explained another significant change in the cockpit’s instrumentation (see photo above) – and how it was no longer similar to the cockpits of the aircraft that had been flown my many of the now retired pilots amidst the audience. While the older military planes had instrument panels crowded with a large array of small circular (analog) instruments, the new ships, such as the C-17, had just a few “flat” panels (much like our newer flat computer monitors), on which even more information is displayed than was true of the old “boiler gauged” instrument panels of old. The new flat panels are commonly referred to as “Glass Panels” and are found on most modern airliners, and even the newer models of small and larger general aviation airplanes as well.
At left and above, Ira lecturing to Daedalians . . .
Colonel Cline accumulated over 600 hours of combat flight time in the Far East, most of them in and over Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to becoming a Command Pilot in the C-17, this FASF Trustee accumulated many hours of flight time in another large military transport aircraft, the C-141, “Starlifter. ” Below is a view of a heavy allied Tank being loaded into the cargo bay of the C-17.
The U.S. Border Patrol’s Honor Guard presented the colors at this morning’s 99th anniversary memorial to the infamous raid on Columbus by Mexican General Francisco “Pancho” Villa on March 9, 1916 – On Columbus Historical Society’s Kiosk podium are, L to R: City Councilman, Bruce D’Salas;Rev. Susan Hutchins;Chuck Hargrave, Columbus American Legion Commander; Sam Sadler of Deming and Paul Nimick of Columbus.
A number of local and some more distant New Mexicans and Texans gathered at the grounds of the Columbus Historical Society in downtown Columbus this morning to commemorate the devastating raid on the town that took place in the early morning hours of this same day 99 years ago, a raid by Mexican revolutionary General Pancho Villa that served to put the tiny town on the map of U. S. History. By the time the surprise attack had been successfully fought off by the local garrison of US Army troops from the 13th Cavalry, 18 Americans had been murdered and over 80 Mexican raiders had been slaughtered in the ensuing mayhem.
Paul Nimick, of Columbus, acted as Master of Ceremonies for this 99th Anniversary Memorial
Under a beautiful Spring sky, the ceremonies were led by Master of Ceremonies, Paul Nimick, of Columbus (seen above) and commemorated by Village Trustee Bruce D’Salas (pictured immediately below). Richard Dean, a local resident and President of the Columbus Historical Society (CHS), the annual event’s sponsor, addressed the audience with insightful memories previously recorded by a few of the bloody battle’s surviving widows. Mr. Dean’s own great-grandmother had been widowed by the raid, when her husband was assassinated by the Villistas.
Bruce D’Salas, FASF member and Columbus Trustee, represented the town’s council at the event – immediately behind D’Salas is MC Paul Nimick
Mr. Dean, longtime scion of the tragic events of that fateful day, has guided the CHS for a number of years, and he and his wife, Betty Dean, almost single-handedly resurrected the old Columbus Cemetery from the dust and sage overgrowth of the local desert. It is now one of the town’s pristine sites to visit. Mr. Dean went on to enthusiastically explain the CHS’s plans for next year’s once-in-a-lifetime Centennial Raid Day Event, observing that on the raid’s 75th anniversary, there had been a huge crowd of over 25,000 people in Columbus for that occasion, and he had been an honored guest and spokesman for the historical raid on NBC National Television. Mr. Dean speculated that the Centennial event might easily draw many more visitors than had descended on the small town on the Mexican border 24 years ago, for that special anniversary. The raid on Columbus led to another imprint on U.S. History by the town: It was the first deployment by the American Military of mechanized vehicles; and the first for airplanes, thus bringing the notable title to Columbus as “The Cradle of American Air Power” – which is, of course, the incident that directly lead to the creation of our own FASF.
Part of the Ceremony was the poignant roll call of both the military victims of the raid and of the civilians. Leading the call from the podium was Sam Sadler of Deming (pictured in the second photos below), and Chuck Forgrave of Columbus, Commander of the Columbus American Legion Post.
After the memorial service was completed, several of the key guests from El Paso met with the Dean’s at their Columbus home to discuss and plan for the Centennial event and for a new Website for the CHS. The U.S. Border Patrol Color Guard presented the colors for the morning’s service and the Invocation was given by Reverend Susan Hutchins, of Columbus.
Richard Dean, above, President of the Columbus Historical Society, gave the main address to the crowd of attendees
Sam Sadler, of Deming, NM, helped lead the roll call for those who lost their lives in the bloody raid on the town
After the ceremonies concluded, some of the attendees and special guests gathered to talk shop, including these four Columbus history and FASF buffs: Above are pictured, L to R: FASF VP Roy Mantei, FASF Advisor, Dr. Robert Bouilly; Major George Armendariz , Retired US Army Special Forces and Special Ops Intel officer, and Rene Rodela, both from El Paso and well-known mentors for young El Paso High School Students who excel in American History. The El Pasoans are helping design a modern cutting edge Website for the CHS.
After the ceremonies at the CHS facilities in Columbus, Mr. Dean (L) and his wife, Betty, retired to his home, where they hosted some of their honored guests and discussed plans for next year’s big Centennial event with Major Armendariz (center) and Mr. Rodela (right), both of whom are helping the CHS President plan the new CHS website. Mr. Rodela is a website designer by profession and manages his firm in El Paso.
Betty Dean (L) chats with FASF VP, Roy Mantei in the Dean Kitchen. The FASF hopes to assist its sister local non-profit, the CHS, get ready for the coming year’s big event and hopes to coordinate their respective activities for the Centennial celebration. Mantei and his companion FASF VP, Dr. Kathleen Martin, are official Liaison Officers to the CHS and are both active members of that organization as well as the FASF.
Richard Dean (L) discussing plans for the Centennial with Major Armendariz (R)
Discussing their joint plans, especially for the new CHS website design and its requirements are Rene Rodela (L); Richard Dean (Center) and Major Armendariz (R)
American and Mexican riders ride North on the Columbus Highway from the Palomas, Mexico, border crossing, where they were let into the U.S. by Border Gate Manager, FASF Trustee, Bill Wallace III. Mexican riders from deep in Mexico joined in this bi-national annual event in this joint Columbus, NM – Palomas, Mexican display of cooperative hands-across-the-border friendship.
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Here, below, is an interesting piece of Columbus history, seen in the town’s weekly newspaper.*
Above is a copy of the upper part of the front page of the Columbus Courier of March 24, 1916, two weeks after the infamous raid on the town by Pancho Villa’s troops. Enlarged below is a larger view of the above enclosed news notice entitled: “No Need For Alarm.”
This statement was on the front page of the Columbus Currier Newspaper, dated March 24, 1916. Notice that it took three issues of the paper to even make note of the horrible raid of March 9, 1916. The issues of March 10th and the 17th must have been away at the printers since BEFORE the raid, or they would surely have mentioned the calamity. Imagine the difference between today and then. Today news is posted immediately on the Internet and within a day for daily news media, not two weeks as in 1916.
* The above two newspaper clippings are thanks to the guidance of Dr. Robert Bouilly, Fort Bliss Army Sergeant Major’s Academy Historian and Advisor to the FASF. These clippings are from the Library of Congress. We were lead to them by Dr. Bouilly.
REMEMBER: To view any of these photos in full high resolution, simply click on it.
What was once called “Raid Day” but is now known as “Camp Furlong Day” has come and gone once again. We have to thank the numerous FASF volunteers for helping the Day go down in the books as another successful experience in both public education and member recruiting.
Above, L to R, are: FASF Aerodrome Site Survey Leader, Bill Madden, of Las Cruces, NM; FASF VP Roy Mantei, of Deming, NM; FASF members Jon Calder of Alvin, TX and Ray Thomas, of Lubbock, TX; and, kneeling, Russell Schneider;, then standing: John Smith; Louis Gonzales and Ira Pinkston, all of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Our own long time member and professional historian, John Deuble, came all the way down from Albuquerque to give a brand new and insightful featured presentation about the First Aero Squadron at Camp Furlong in 1916-17. His pictures included some never seen before by some of our FASF members and by other local history buffs. John explored in some detail the many problems faced by both the young FAS pilots and their support personnel, as they cut their collective teeth on the first sustained combat deployment operation involving American aircraft. Mr. Deuble even described, along with vintage photos, how local industries came to life out of nowhere, simply because of the unique support needs for the FAS, such as their need for large quantities of fresh ice to feed their newly invented propeller “Humidors.” These Humidors were needed to protect the propellers from exploding in the air, because they tended to dry out so badly that their wooden laminated propeller structure would literally come unglued.
Here, below, are more photos taken by your Aerodrome staff to help you see what – and who – you might have missed during this weekend celebration.
L to R: FASF Aerodrome Survey Team Leader, Bill Madden; FASF Members Jon Calder and Ray Thomas; and Roy Mantei, FASF VP.
FASF VP, Roy Mantei signing up Ira and Alice Pinkston of the Las Cruces, NM Re-enactor group.
L to R: FASF Historian John Deuble, featured Presenter from Albuquerque, NM, discussing archeological FAS Airfield site photos with Aerodrome Site Team Leader, FASF Member, Bill Madden, of Las Cruces, NM.
L to R: Bill Madden making a point about his work with FASF VP, Dr. Kathleen Martin, of Deming, NM, and FASF Historian, John Deuble, of Albuquerque, NM. (NOTE:John’s new FAS book is expected to be published this year!)
FASF Aerodrome Editor, July McClure setting up her sound equipment in readiness for the musical entertainment that followed. – At right are John Deuble, Bill Madden and Dr. Kathleen Martin.
L to R above with stacked rifles are: Re-enactors John Smith, Russell Schneider, and Louis Gonzales, all of Las Cruces
L to R above are FAS Members Bill Madden, Roy Mantei and John Deuble, Featured First Aero Squadron Presenter
Pancho Villa State Park Manager and FASF Member, John Read (L) helping FASF Historian and author, John Deuble, set up his presentation. On screen is a 1916 aerial photo taken by an FAS pilot from his Jenny of the airfield’s flight line.
From L to R: John Read operating the slide show’s projector for fellow FASF member, author and historian, JohnDeuble, who closed the Camp Furlong event with his special presentation about the FAS and its accomplishments, day-to-day operations, tribulations and many innovative new aviation firsts during its days in Columbus 99 years ago.
L to R: Dr. Robert Bouilly discussing FAS Airfield history with Bill Madden near the end of the event.
L to R outside the Camp Furlong Recreation Hall (an original building from the Punitive Expedition Days of a century ago), in which the day’s presentations were made), are John Read, Dr. Robert Bouilly and Bill Madden going over the day’s successful events.
Members Bill Madden, our Aerodrome Site Survey Team Leader, our two Vice Presidents, Dr. Kathleen Martín and Roy Mantei, along with President Ric Lambart, helped manage the FASF display table once again, and Trustee Bill Wallace III played a key role in the event by acting as U.S. Mexican Boarder Crossing Gate Master, as he let the many Mexican caballeros, astride their horses, cross into the U.S. to take part in the celebratory event, some pictures of which you’ve seen above. Our newsletter Editor, July McClure, was again busy entertaining visitors with her musical performance. We even had some of our Texas FASF members, Ray Thomas and Jon Calder, both period Re-enactors, come over from distant Alvin and Lubbock, Texas. They joined up with some of the key 1916 and 1917 Calvary Re-enactors from Las Cruces, NM, to help plan for the big Centennial of celebration of the Birth of American Air Power in 2016.
Of course, this big day in Columbus wouldn’t have gone as smoothly without another old FASF member, John Read, who again repeated his skilled organizing and management tasks during the event at Pancho Villa State Park, which is where the public educational presentations again took place. Dr. Robert Bouilly, frequent FASF Advisor and the U. S. Army’s Lead Historian at the Sergeant Majors’ Academy on Ft. Bliss, in El Paso, gave a special presentation about the role of the famous Buffalo Soldiers during the Punitive Expedition and of some of their little known exploits, particularly their prowess at the sport of boxing, both before and after this locally historic event of almost a century ago. FASF Membership Chair, Roy Mantei, reports we signed up some more new members, sold some FASF memorabilia, and helped inform a number of visitors about the important role played by the First Aero Squadron – not just 99 years ago, but in both WWI and during the rapid expansion of American Civil Aviation in the 1920’s and 30’s, prior to WWII.
NMSU Professor, Dr. Jon Hunner, below, delivered a colorful and fascinating presentation about how the combat lessons learned in Columbus and in Chihuahua Mexico, during the Punitive Expedition, were helpful to the U.S Army when the U. S. finally entered the bloodbath going on in Europe and so often called at the time, “the war to end all wars.” Professor Hunner illustrated how interconnected what took place here out of Columbus turned out to be later over in Europe and even the Middle East, where the great war helped cause the breakup of the old Ottoman Empire into modern-day Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, etc. – today’s leading area of U. S. long-running wartime involvement. Dr. Hunner also described how the victory of the Allies over Germany in that devastating war tragically helped lay the seeds that subsequently led to the rise of fascism in Germany, Italy, and Spain – and even of the take over by the Bolsheviks in Russia and the ensuing rise of Communism.
After Dr. Hunner’s treatise is was more clear to many in the audience that the dynamics leading to and following WWI were all intricately interconnected, helping give rise to the greatly changed world of nation states that followed that long conflict – and that consequently also laid the fertile ground that gave rise to both WWII and the worldwide mayhem that has followed that World War.
We can thank the BBC for this fine short (5:30 Minute) video of the world renowned SR-71 speed demon in action – one that shows us what went into flying this sophisticated and spectacular machine to its all-time aviation speed records. Records not broken to this day.
While we all know the veritable Jenny and how it all started with that challenging 90 MPH biplane of its day, less than 50 years after the events of 1916 and 1917 here in Columbus, New Mexico, the FAS was flying that identical early mission, but this time with an aircraft that cruised at the outer reaches our earth’s atmosphere, actually in space, and at three times the speed of sound, or some 2,400 MPH! Watch this unarmed high-powered Jet in action as it fulfilled that same earlier in the century FAS mission of Reconnaissance and surveillance. To experience this video simply click on the photo of the RS-71 above.
FASF President, Ric Lambart, paid a visit to the historic Flabob Airport in Riverside, California, to explore the Tom Wathen Center, set up by and named after the the former owner and Chairman of Pinkerton’s, the oldest Security and Detective firm in the world. Because the FASF also plans to use its future facilites to help inspire and educate local SW New Mexico High School students, it was deemed essential to see how the Wathen Center manages its similar and highly successful vocational educational facilities.
Interestingly enough, Flabob is also one of America’s oldest continuously operated airports, one out of which many of our most famous aviators and race pilots flew. Its hangars, tarmacs and runways were graced by such aviation greats as Frank Tallman(famous movie stunt pilot, who called it home base), Aerobatic Great, Art Scholl, and famous aircraft designer, Ray Stits, who organized Chapter number 1 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA. Chapter #1 is still an active EAA group and helps host some exciting aviation events, such as the Flabob Flying Circus, an impressive gathering and showing of a broad range of vintage airplanes – which take part in both static and flying exhibitions at the field. You might wonder how the renowned airport came to be known as “FLABOB.” The answer is simple: Soon after WWII concluded, it was decided to combine part of the first names of its owners, Flavio Madariaga and Bob Bogen.
Shortly after retiring as CEO of Pinkerton in 1999, Tom Wathen bought old FLABOB, barely saving it from the wrecking ball. An aviation enthusiast and even called by some, “savior,” Tomalso rescued the hi-tech GlasairManufacturing Corporation of Washington, after it went bankrupt, in 2001. That company, which he recently sold after turning it around, is now a thriving and highly successful general aviation kit plane maker.
The Wathen Center was set up for the purpose of helping young and mostly disadvantaged local teens get motivated towards various productive careers, sometimes even in the aviation industry. Students in the Center are able to take and active part in helping restore vintage museum caliber airplanes and sometimes even help build homebuilt experimental aircraft, as well. The Center also hosts an official Riverside Charter School right on the airport property.
Below, several of these student Interns, learning to perform airfield and Center docent roles, walk out to open up their cherished Douglas DC-3 for this FASF visitor’s inspection. The once ubiquitous DC-3 was the backbone of the American Airline industry in the late 1930’s and throughout WWII, as well, during which it was re-named by the Army Air Corps as the “C-47,” or more affectionately, called the “Gooney Bird.” The “Flabob Express” is fully restored and completely operational. This writer had the enjoyable privilege of often flying this veritable twin-engined workhorse, while on active flying duty in the USAF.
Without the last-minute intervention of Tom Wathen, Flabob Airport would have been sold for commercial real estate development as has so unfortunately happened to thousands of similar older U.S. General Aviation Airports since WWII.
Above are two of the student docents leading our way out to the “Flabob Express” vintage DC-3 Airliner.
View of the Flabob DC-3’s “Front Office.” Note the WWII styled “steam gauge” type flight instruments. Present day airliners have large rectangular “glass panels,” which are much like flat screen computer monitors or TV screens.
Above, L to R, are Veronica Nolasco, Tracy Piscopo, Alan Salgado, Kathy Rohm (Tom Wathen Center Program and Tour Coordinator) and James Jordan. All except Kathy are student Interns at the Wathen Center. The group is standing inside the Flabob Airport’s own fully restored and operational DC-3 vintage airliner cabin.
Above, in the Flabob Racing hangar, in its original bright yellow paint, is the famed Schoenfeldt “Firecracker” race plane piloted by renown Lockheed Aircraft Corporation test pilot Tony Levier, back in 1938, when he used it to win the International Air Races at Oakland, CA. Of special note is that the USAF’s one time First Aero Squadron Commander, Major General Patrick Halloran, flew this same replica airship many years later after WWII. Gen. Halloran is also well known for having been one of the few SR-71 Blackbird and early U-2 pilots during his tour as commanding officer of the First Aero Squadron.
This past week, in El Paso, Texas, FASF 1st VP, Dr. Kathleen Martín (R), discussed the upcoming Centennial of the Birth of American Air Power with U. S. Army Colonel Carey Wagen (L), Commander of the U. S. Army’s 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade (“CAB”).
At Left, is Colonel Wagen, being welcomed to her new command at Fort Bliss’s Biggs Army Airfield two years ago. A combat helicopter pilot, the Colonel is only the second woman to command a combat aviation brigade in the history of the U. S. Army. Prior to taking command of Ft. Bliss’ CAB, she was the Deputy Director of Aviation operations for Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. Colonel Wagen has deployed twice to Afghanistan and is presently overseeing some of her Brigade’s operations in Africa, where they are taking care of logistics for the U. S. aid project to assist in the Ebola outbreak. In her private life, the Colonel is an enthusiastic aviator, as well, often flying her own family four place experimental canard winged aircraft with her husband and two young sons. The Colonel’s husband is also a retired Army aviator.
A few Medical Air Evacuation Helicopters of Colonel Carey Wagen’s 1st Armored Dividion’s CAB at Ft. Bliss, Texas.
Your FASF Aerodrome Staff captured this photo of Col. Wagen (Right) during her presentation to a group of former Military Aviators in El Paso, at which she described her unit’s mission, present achievements and coming challenges.
Before coming to Fort Bliss, Col. Wagen commanded the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. Previously, she served in leadership and staff positions all the way up to Battalion Commander at the 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters. The Colonel earned her Master’s Degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, as well. The Colonel obtained her officer’s commission in the Army after her graduation as a Cadet in the Army ROTC program during her undergraduate years in Florida, her home state.
Colonel Wagen’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters), the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO/ISAF Medal, Master Aviator Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
