Here is our new Aerodrome Editor, July McClure (Above), busy at work on your next edition, which should be out this coming May. July is practicing her formatting and arranging skills on the newly donated large dual screen PC computer installation she recently arranged, to help her get the job done more efficiently and accurately.

Coming from a background in journalism, July is more accustomed to working with Apple Computer Systems, which are the predominant type of desktop publishing equipment found in the printing and journalism fields, as well as in the movie industry, so she’s having to learn new techniques and procedures on our new PC computers.

Prior to taking the helm of the “Aerodrome,” July worked as a photojournalist, primarily in the Southwest. For a number of years she served full-time as a reporter for the Deming, NM Headlight, and she still occasionally produces stories for them on a free-lance basis. She also helped staff the specialty Southwestern magazine, “Desert Winds,” as one of its regular contributors.

Our new Editor graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology, while still living in Colorado, but her lifelong love of the theater has kept her consistently playing various roles on stage – and even led her to purchase the well-known dinner stage house in Columbus, the Tumbleweed Theater, which she and her significant other own and operate. Not a slow moving woman, she has also dabbled in local politics, winning a seat on the Columbus City Council on several occasions. She continues to remain active in her community, serving on various boards and commissions.

Almost immediately after joining the First Aero Squadron, July jumped right in by volunteering to help staff our FASF Public Education site at an event. In addition to her love of the theater, Ms. McClure is also an accomplished professional musician, regularly booking and performing in the popular local band, the Desert Trio.

Her late father-in-law, John Two McClure, was a well-known artist from Denver, Colorado who retired to Columbus and painted some highly regarded First Aero Squadron canvas works, which to this day can be found decorating the walls in various local Columbus public facilities and buildings. We hope to have Mr. McClure’s work on display at our future FAS Vintage Aviation Museum, and possibly even for sale.

In addition to her editing work, July also labors at her love of photography, recently taking a fine group photo,  of our new Board gathered together after their regular meeting.  It can be seen in this same “HOT NEWS!” section two stories below, entitled “CREATIVITY AT WORK!“

While she has assembled some new writing talent for the Aerodrome, July, in addition to some of our regular writers from the past, wants it known that she is always looking for more writers to help liven the pages of our FASF quarterly.

While the focus will predominantly remain the history surrounding the local area, in particular the aviation related events that unfolded in Columbus and down into Mexico during the birthing period of American Air Power, other interesting topics of similar inclinations will be met with an enthusiastic welcome.

If you’d like to help us produce the Aerodrome, whether at the publishing and distribution end or by helping with the actual writing of its colorful pages, please contact July at: (575) 494-0009, or at the FASF number, (575) 519-1100, and let her know how you’d like to help.

Pancho Villa State Park (PVSP) Chief Ranger, John Read (L) and FASF Vice President, Roy Mantei (R) at work.

*** Remember – To see any photo full size and resolution, just click on it! ***

While it may be Friday the 13, it’s still a good luck business as usual day for your First Aero Squadron Foundation.

Pictured above (thanks to your Aerodrome staff) is long time FASF member John Read, Left, Manager of New Mexico’s Pancho Villa State Park, and fellow FASF member, Trustee and Vice President, Roy Mantei. Both John and Roy hail from the town of Deming, NM, about 30 miles North of Columbus. John and Roy met to push along planning for both the upcoming Camp Furlong Days event, March 7th, and also to continue planning for the once-in-a-lifetime Centennial of the Birth of American Air Power, the Spring of next year.

If you can possibly do so, try and schedule the morning and early afternoon of this upcoming Saturday, March 7, to take in the Camp Furlong festivities in Columbus. If you’ve never had the pleasure and sheer fun of attending this annual event, you’ve missed out on a good day of festive fun and colorful New Mexican history. There will be the traditional Raid Day Cabalgata, the parading of hundreds of horses from both Mexico and the States through the Columbus streets, which will all terminate for the first time, at the Village’s new Community Center Complex, currently being remodeled from the old Columbus Elementary School facilities located at North Boundary Rd. and Missouri Street in NE Columbus.

Columbus Mayor, Philip Skinner, invites one and all to join in the historic and commemorative festivities, which will include food, music, folkloric dancers, craft displays and more. He and his staff have planned a number of these and other events, all of which will be held for the first time at the old school. The horses and riders from both countries first rendezvous at the border, and then ride the three miles up to Columbus, where they are expected to arrive about 10:00 in the morning.

As a point of special interest, one of our own Trustees, Bill Wallace III, will be officiating right at the border. It will be Bill who actually opens the border gates to let the Mexican horsemen and women cross into the United States.

Later in the morning, down at the Pancho Villa Park, their events will kick off at 11:00 AM, when Columbus Senior Historian, Richard Dean, President of the Columbus Historical Society, gives his presentation and slideshow, “Summer in Columbus in 1916 Through the Eyes of Two Teenagers.” This true life tale is based upon the diary of then young teenager, Alfred Wilson and it’s colorfully documented by photos taken by his brother Harold, during the summer after the infamous raid.

In the afternoon, right after lunch, there will be more informative educational presentations made at the same Park Recreation Hall. Remember to come early for seats, because Mr. Dean’s and these afternoon presentations have proven more than popular, with standing room only crowds this past year.

At 1:00 PM U. S. Army Historian, Dr. Robert Bouilly will speak about the famous Buffalo Soldiers, who fought and won against the Villistas, while outnumbered almost four to one. Even more amazingly, these soldiers were given space to bivouac down in Mexico by our own Bill Wallace’s grandfather, at the family ranch near Casas Grandes, Mexico. Dr. Bouilly will also discuss the 24th Infantry Regiment and the role of Boxing in both Columbus and Mexico by these same troops.

At 2:00 PM New Mexico State University Professor Dr. Jon Hunner, will make a presentation entitled, “World War I and the Raid on Columbus.” Dr. Hunner hasn’t given this presentation in Columbus in many, many years, so it should be exceptionally informative.

At 3:00 PM, long time FASF member and NM Historian and Engineer, John L. Double, Jr., will talk about the “First Aero Squadron’s Aerodrome and Aircraft Shops 1916-1917,” which includes a slide show of old photographs of the Aerodrome – and the FAS activities that took place during the Birth of American Air Power.

After their work session, Roy (L) and John (R) relax in front of the Pancho Villa Park Exhibition Hall, in which a full-sized replica of a FAS Jenny hangs from the ceiling.       If you haven’t yet seen this FAS display, please do!

Contemporaneously, you will find FASF information tables in the Park during the events, which will be there to sign up new members and inform visitors about the Foundation, its goals and purposes.

                                                   Photo by FASF Aerodrome Editor, July McClure                                                                         Seated, Left to Right: Trustees Colonel Ira Cline, Bill Wallace III, and President Ric Lambart.  Standing from Left are:  Board Secretary, Josh Plasencio; 2nd Vice President, Roy Mantei; Treasurer, Alma Villezcas, and 1st Vice President, Dr. Kathleen Martin.

Here they are.  Your Trustees informally assembled after concluding their Board Meeting, trying their best to envision the FASF’s future doings.  You see them above, gathered together to brain-storm for ideas to help the FASF grow faster and stronger, as well as to become ready for the upcoming once-in-a-lifetime Centennial event next year.  Only Megan Wenzel, new Trustee from Deming couldn’t make this post Board gathering.  She had an emergency at work, so had to reign in that business issue, but she did take part in the formal meeting.  If you have any thoughts or constructive ideas you’d like to share with your Trustees, then please simply use your website to share those ideas and thoughts.  Want to address any particular Trustee – or even your Aerodrome Editor, July McClure? – same thing:  Just insert your comments for them where you see the short underscored line of text stating: “Leave a reply” at the top of this group photo.  Rest assured, they’ll get your message!

Meet your new Board of Trustees. Although you can also navigate over to this FASF Website and see more detail on your Trustees and Officers by clicking on the top menu bar’s heading of “FOUNDATION” and then its sub menu of Board of Trustees to see this information, here it is in a news-like format:

The new Trustees for 2015 are the following:

Alma Villezcas, like fellow Trustee, Bill Wallace, shares a special connection to the history of the FASF.  She was born and grew up in the same Mexican City where Bill was also raised: Casas Grandes, Mexico, the home of the first foreign United States Air Base, from which the First Aero Squadron was deployed during the 1916 Punitive Expedition.  Alma left Casas Grandes to emigrate to the United States in her twenties, but before she left, she became interested in the financial industry, based upon her experience working in Banks in Casas Grandes.  Upon arriving in the U.S. Alma immediately started working on becoming proficient in English, later on graduating from the University of Arizona with a Major in Accounting.  Prior to her studies at the U of A, she obtained other degrees in financial service areas, all the time working her way along as a single mother.  Alma has worked in diverse areas of business and the law, from manufacturing, to retail sales and market research.  Alma presently runs her own Accounting and Tax Service in Deming, NM, and also manages a multi-faceted business enterprise in Deming which operates everything from Car Washes and gas stations to a Convenience Market and Restaurant.  With significant experience in Business Planning and Financial Forecasting, Alma is expected to provide some much-needed financial expertise as the FASF continues to grow and prosper.

Bill Wallace III – Although Bill was born in El Paso, Texas, he was raised until his teens in the city which, in 1916, became the first official foreign Air Base for the United States Military: Casas Grandes, Mexico.  When Bill was sent up to the States to obtain some U.S. Schooling, it was to the New Mexico Military Institute, which immersed him in its renowned Leadership training, imparting those skills to this cadet. Later he attended and graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.  Bill’s major career direction has been in Agriculture, primarily in ranching.  He continues to keep his homes in El Paso, TX, Columbus, NM and Casas Grandes, Mexico, where he runs the old family ranch.  Bill is currently running the largest business in Columbus, NM, the Columbus Stockyards, which is affiliated with the CATTLEMEX Corporation.  Both of these operations are right on the U.S. Border with Mexico.  Bill is looking forward enthusiastically to his work with the FASF, since his family had a great deal of actual life experience with the Pancho Villa Raid on Columbus on March 9, of 1916.  General Villa actually murdered some of his grandfather’s employees at the ranch in Casas Grandes and then stole a number of the ranch horses for his men.  Later, Bill’s grandfather invited the famous U.S. Army Buffalo Soldiers to bivouac at the family ranch, where they successfully defeated Villa’s troops in a famous battle, although the U.S. men were outnumbered by more than five to one!

Megan Wenzel comes to the Board with some excellent small business managerial skills and talents.  She is currently a facility manager for an automotive business franchise in Deming, NM, and is continually trained and re-trained my her national corporate headquarters in Marketing and public relations, as well as in the related fields of automotive service and, in particular, the tire industry. In addition to her interest in civic activities and the history of the Southwest, where she was born and raised, Megan has been a life-long equestrian enthusiast, from her younger years as a 4H participant, to her continuing love of Rodeo Competition, which she continued to pursue all the way through her college years, where she graduated with a Major in Agriculture from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, the same school from which two other current Trustees also graduated:  Colonel Ira Cline, and Bill Wallace.  Megan is looking forward to helping with the First Aero Squadron’s Centennial Celebration in 2016, where, among other activities, she expects to assist with the groups of re-enactors engaged at the events in portrayal of both the troops, especially the mounted cavalry soldiers, and that of the Cavalry Officers who, in 1916 were trying to become airmen in their, at that time, brand new  flying machines, those intrepid “Jenny” biplanes.

Roy Mantei hails from the East Coast, where he obtained his schooling, later graduating from the State University of New Jersey, or as it is more commonly known, Rutgers University.  After graduating, Roy immediately went to work in the engineering and technical fields, working primarily in Aero Space engineering areas.  He also served in the United States Navy and became an Intelligence Specialist, with a focus on mainland China.  Roy achieved fluency in Mandarin Chinese during this period, a skill he used later in his various Engineering work, often traveling to China to oversee and explore manufacturing activities in the Far East.  While still living and working on the East Coast, Roy became interested in flying, and became a pilot.  Eventually, Roy moved to Deming, NM, in 2010, where he became the Quality Assurance Manager for Compass Manufacturing of that City.  Active in civic affairs, Roy is also on the Board of Directors of the Luna County Deming New Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Continuing on in office from 2014 are: Col. Ira Cline, Josh Plasencio, Dr. Kathleen Martín and Ric Lambart.  Elected as the new Executive Committee for the Foundation are its new Officers: Ric Lambart, President: Kathleen Martín, 1st Vice President; Roy Mantei, 2nd Vice President; Josh Plasencio, Secretary; and Alma Villezcas, Treasurer.

The First Aero’s own Col. Alan Fisher, of Las Cruces, NM, orchestrated a fascinating and highly educational Annual Conference for the state’s Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Officers and Cadets. FASF President, Ric Lambart, joined two other New Mexican CAP supporters in making presentations to the attendees at the event, held at the Ramada Palms Convention facilities in Las Cruces.  The event managed to fill all of its lecture halls to capacity, reported Col. Fisher.

During the conference, CAP members from around the state, as well as regional commanders, discussed operations affecting the group’s air search-and-rescue missions, a spokesperson from the Las Cruces Composite Squadron said in a news release. The weekend conference also featured aerospace education activities, including actual hands-on demonstrations of a flight simulator, which cadets were encouraged to “fly.”

Guest speakers presented lectures within the theme of “Southern NM Aerospace — Then and Now,” FASF member, Col. Fisher reported. Topics discussed included the first use of air power in the expedition against Pancho Villa in 1916, which of course was the presentation made by Ric Lambart; the development of the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System at White Sands Missile Range, presented by its long time Director, Don Shinners; and the present status and future of Spaceport America, North of Las Cruces, was presented by Bill Gutman, PhD, Technical Operations Manager of the futuristic facility from which the first private citizens are expected to be flown into space.

Above: Active FASF members CAP Captain Brooks Hindes (L) and Colonel Alan Fisher (R) discussing event’s progress.*

Colonel Alan Fisher enthusiastically pointing to some current news clippings about the ongoing Convention.

Ric directing audiences’ attention to his Power Point Presentation on the First Aero Squadron in Columbus, NM in 1916

NASA Director, Don Shinners, addressing the full lecture hall on his NASA operation at White Sands New Mexico

Dr. Bill Gutman describes complex challenges as well as the facilities at NM Spaceport America’s operation and future

Ric (L) and Alan (R) in foreground debriefing after the three “Then and Now” Presenters completed their shows.  Looking on in background are CAP Wing Chaplain, Captain Randolf Nolan and Dr. Bill Gutman behind Alan.

 *  All the above photos are courtesy of CAP Lt Col Michael LeGendre.

           Josh (L) easing into John’s (R) Diamond DA20 Airplane after Saturday’s Board Meeting at Deming Airport

                                     Josh (L) making adjustments to his safety harness under John’s (R) guidance

         Josh and John give traditional thumbs up signal that they’re ready to close canopy and start the engine.

              And “Off they go into the wild blue yonder . . . ” Josh and John head home after day’s Board Meeting

Flying out with the old – – – and in with the new.   Attorney John Orton, both Trustee and 1st Vice President of the FASF, shows Josh Plasencio, our newest Trustee, how he prefers to commute to Board Meetings. This was a sad day for the rest of the FASF, because John had decided to retire from his position on the FASF Board at the end of the year. But, before his departure, John gave the Board some excellent counsel on how to protect itself from any appearances of conflicts-of-interest in the future and of the necessity to have more young people such as Josh, as Trustees, pointing out that the originating and subsequent Boards have been almost exclusively composed of older retired citizens.

Over the past year our previous Board meeting custom of paying for meeting space has given way to our modern era and the more economic practice (free!) of holding meetings at Airport Conference Room facilities, such as today’s meeting, which was held at the Deming, New Mexico airport. The FASF is grateful to the City of Deming for having afforded us this efficient Internet capable and comfortable meeting space. Other meetings this year were set up by president Ric Lambart at other New Mexico Airports, such as the Doña Ana Jetport and the Las Cruces Airport. It has been observed by Ric, that the FASF is all about our American heritage in the history of Aviation . . . and its fascinating history right here in New Mexico . . . so why not continue to hold our meetings at free Airport facilities, whenever possible?

Josh, who is the President of the First Savings Bank of Deming, lives in distant El Paso, Texas. Not far from his home, is Santa Teresa, NM, where John lives. John sits on the Doña Ana County International Jetport’s Advisory Board and flies his plane from that field. Whenever possible, John has chosen to fly to our meetings, particularly when a good distance from his home. This has been Josh’s first commute by private aircraft from his home to Deming and he reports that it’s definitely a preferred way to travel. Far faster and more exciting than the usual commute from El Paso to Deming and work via the I-10 Freeway. The FASF is losing a great Board asset in John, but he has agreed to continue to help in the future by joining our Board of Advisors.