Young Duck Wrangler Arden McWhartersuccessfully cheering her duck to victory at the Races. Photo Courtesy of the Deming Headlight Newspaper and Bill Armendariz, Editor.
Another first for our local FASF Volunteers. Your FASF team took this past weekend off to try something new: A Public Education Booth at the 36th Great American Duck Races in Deming, NM. Principal volunteers for this long day of promoting the Foundation were: VP Roy Mantei, members Doc Edwards, July McClure and Ric Lambart. A number of new members were successfully recruited and our new T-Shirts were one of our more popular sale items. Many Race goers hadn’t heard of the Foundation, but many others had read about us in the Deming Headlight newspaper. Even the Headlight’s Editor, Bill Armendariz stopped by to say hello. While your volunteers were too busy manning the booth to get around and enjoy the actual races, they did have fun meeting the many event enthusiasts who stopped to inquire about the FASF and its historic mission.
While not all the excited contestant “Duck Wranglers” finished in victory lane, it was obvious from these Headlight Photos (above) that they all had lots of fun at the annual event held in Central Deming, New Mexico, each year.
Up bright and early to set up the FASF’s Duck Race Booth, VP Roy Mantei called on his tent raising skills to meet the event’s exhibitor challenges. Tent, tables and sale items were all in place at the opening bell first thing in the morning.
Doc Edwards (at left holding shirt in the above photo) was our official – and successful – T-Shirt Salesman and is here seen folding another of the new T-Shirts, which came to us as the result of VP Roy Mantei’sacquisition efforts.
Roy Mantei kept busy selling local Race goers on the advantages of joining the FASF, as captured in the photo above.
Our Aerodrome Editor-in-Chief, July McClure also signed up once again as one of our loyal Exhibition Booth volunteers. Above she is seen spreading the good word with Amy Black who hails from Columbus, New Mexico.
Doc Edwards, at left above, and VP Roy Mantei at the right, show off some of the items they sold to raise funds for the FASF. When all was said and done, the event proved even more successful than we had hoped. The FASF now has more in its bank account – – – and more members to help us carry the torch forward into our coming Centennial year.
In Memory of Len Zgonina: Fire Fighter, U.S. Army Veteran, Corporate Pilot, Professional Musician, Welder and Steel Fabricator, Machinist, Cabinet Maker, Photographer – – – and friend.
– – – 1972 of Len upon his promotion to Lieutenant in his North West Chicago Suburban Fire Fighting Battalion – – –
[To view any of these photos full-size, just click on them]
Leonard “Len” Paul Zgonina, who was one of the earliest local and active volunteers in the First Aero Squadron Foundation, has just “headed west” on his final flight.
Len was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lived most of his younger working years in that city’s nearby suburbs, where he became a firefighter in the Village of Elk Grove. After 25 years as a fireman, Len retired and moved to an Air Park only 3 miles north of Columbus, NM. He deeply loved flying, photography, playing his trombone in local bands, his discussion groups and his incessant computer research and study. Len was always intent on pushing his boundaries and learning something new. In between his studying, he could almost always be found working to fabricate some new piece of metal art out in his hangar’s machine shop, or working with wood to build someone or a dear friend a new cabinet or piece of furniture.
For a short time he agreed to come out of retirement, and took on the task of Fire Chief, in the nearby village of Columbus. He also personally disassembled for safekeeping the former Columbus Airfield’s Beacon Light and its high tower and volunteered to help move its old FAA flight facility building to its present location at the Columbus Historical Society’s Depot Museum.
Although his children married and remained back in the Midwest, Len nevertheless remained in close contact with them from his Air Park home near Columbus, regularly flying his own Cessna airplane back to Illinois and Wisconsin to visit them. Len will be sorely missed for his memorable sense of humor and good nature. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maria; his daughters: Donna Rausch of East Troy, WI; Janet Fleischauer of Zion, IL and Maria Rausch of Eagle, WI, his grandchildren: Amanda Donnelly, David Daniels, Joseph Fleischauer, April Fleischauer, Timothy Fleischauer, Jessica Fuchs, Elijah Rausch, Leonard Rausch and Isabella Rausch; Great-grand children: Andrew, Connor, David Jr., Lily, Dylan, Jack, Michelle, John, Jonathon, Michael, Evan, Cole and Farrah; his Brother Raymond Zgonina, other relatives and many good friends. He and his wife, Maria, lost their only son, Joseph, still in his twenties, many years ago.
Len, at left by the Singer Corporation’s Twin Beechcraft King Air, started flying seriously in 1969 and became a licensed pilot in 1970, acquiring his Instrument Rating in 1972, his Commercial License in 1975 and his multi-engine Rating in 1979. This photo was of Len as a Corporate Pilot in 1982.
Once he’d earned his Commercial license he began flying the large Beechcraft ‘King Air’ twin engined prop-jet plane at left out of Chicago for the Singer Sewing Machine Corporation. Their frequent trips took him all over the United States. Len had dreamed of flying as far back as he could remember, so this particular job was extremely satisfying for the former fire fighter. In addition to his love of aviation and its history, Len also developed his skill at photography to the point where he actually became a professional in the field, a vocation at which he so excelled, that he even became an instructor. Len also learned to become a welder, finally opening his own business in that trade. He became highly skilled in every specialized welding technique in that profession. In retirement, he also became an expert wood-working craftsman. Len designed and built the entrance gateway to his beloved Columbus Air Park.
At left is Len as a young teen proudly wearing his souvenir pilot wings and at right he is seen working in his High School Physics Lab. At the right below is Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Len (in glasses 3rd from left) instructing his men on the operation of a large artillery piece. At the left below is Len, on far left in photo, being instructed in CPR while a Fireman.
Below left is a photo of young Len as a Commercial Photographer and below right he is shown instructing one of his students in the use of a Speed Graphic News Photographer’s Camera.
Left below is Len and his wife, Maria, on their wedding day in 1954 and below right is a recent photo of one of his grandsons, David Daniels, who worked his way up from an enlisted man in the Navy to become an Officer in the U.S. Navy’s Seabees. Young David learned the construction trades used by the Seabees from both his father and grandfather, Len. In fact, David actually helped his grandfather, Len, build his New Mexico Air Park home!
Below left shows Len atop his scaffolding while engaged in building his aircraft hangar at Hacienda Sur Luna Air Park North of Columbus. He not only built his large home and hangar, but designed them as well, using his steel fabricating experience and drafting expertise. Below right shows one of Len’s other great pleasures, one of playing in a local band, in this case at the American Legion Hall in Deming, NM. When in High School in Chicago, Len rowed on the Lincoln Park Crew’s racing team.
Len fulfilled his dream to retire and move to New Mexico, to build his own home, one of his own design, and which would be situated at an Air Park, one where his plane would be in its own hangar adjacent to his home. With this arrangement, Len could – and regularly did – start up his airplane, taxi to the nearby runway, and take off for distant places.
Len was quite modest about his remarkable and multifaceted careers. While he rarely spoke of his own manifold accomplishments, he was always ready to exult about his children and grandchildren, and their achievements.
Len was the FASF’s official photographer and his advice and counsel on the upcoming FASF Museum was indispensible. It will be difficult to fill his shoes. We wish him Godspeed in his final journey. We will very much miss his positive spirit and uplifting energy.
Len taken during his U.S. Army tour during the late 1950’s
Len’sbeloved Cessna Skylane Parked at his Air Park in Columbus, New Mexico, with Florida Mountains in background
Len was a long time active member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), whose wings are displayed immediately above.
L to R: Aerodrome Editor, July McClure; FASF Treasurer, Alma Villezcas; & Vice President, Dr. Kathleen Martin, stop to pose in Columbus Historical Society’s Depot Museum in Columbus, before leaving for lunch meeting in Mexico.
Dr. Martin (Left above) discusses Punitive Expedition artifacts and her grandfather’s U.S. Army involvement, 99 years previously, in both Columbus and Mexico during Punitive Expedition, with Aerodrome Editor, July McClure.
Above photos show Trustee Bill Wallace at work directing cattle operations on Mexican Border before Trustee meeting at the Pink Store in Palomas, Mexico, less than a mile from Bill’s Cattlemex facilities. CATTLEMEX is an FASF supporter.
Above, L to R: Ric Lambart, Dr. Kathleen Martin, Alma Villezcas, Polly and Roy Mantei, waiting for Bill Wallace to arrive. FASF Art Projects and the upcoming FASF Website Store and the products to be sold were explored.
All photos taken by the Aerodrome Staff, except the last, which was courtesy of the Pink Store.
Dr. Martín just found the above sign near the entrance way to the Biggs’ Airfield Centennial Clubon Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. She took this photo for our archives. The sign is not far from the offices of the Army’s Sergeant Major Academy’s Historian, Dr. Robert Bouilly, a frequent contributor to FASF historical research and reporting. Dr. Martín and Ric Lambartmade a presentation about the FAS and its history to a group of retired Military Officers and FASF members at the club this month.
Sunday breakfast and some of your Board Officers were still at work. Pictured above are (Left to Right): VP Roy Mantei and his wife, Polly, and Treasurer Alma Villezcas, discussing membership and finances. All were guests at the EAA Chapter 555 monthly breakfast event on Father’s Day. Later in the morning some 200 visitors arrived to enjoy the pancake breakfast and take rides in some of the member’s aircraft. Astronaut Frank Borman, of Apollo 8 fame, flew his own plane down from Montana to visit his old Chapter 555 friends the day before this open house gathering. The chapter is housed in Colonel Borman’s old hangar at the Las Cruces Airport. This chapter is one of the most actively productive in the over 2000 chapters of the EAA internationally. Many of its active members are also members of the FASF. Aerodrome Staff photo.
FASF VP, Dr. Kathleen Martín, and President Ric Lambart gave a First Aero Squadron Power Point presentation to an assembly of mostly retired military officers from various branches of the Armed Forces this past weekend at Fort Bliss, Texas. The presentation began with a view of FAS events and personnel from 1916 through the current day Air Force’s First Aero Squadron at Beale AFB, CA. Photos below are courtesy of Major Ed Stone, a Military Officers’ Association of America (“MOAA”) Director and their Legislative Liaison Officer.
L – R: FASF Members, Colonel Bill Moore, MOAA Publicans/Editor & Director, with Ric Lambart and Dr. Kathleen Martin
Not only was the show well attended and received, but resulted in some new FASF memberships and even contributions to the “Buy an Acre” Airfield Memorial Campaign.
The First Aero Presentation continues to evolve as new photos are discovered of the Punitive Expedition’s activities both in Columbus and Mexico. Dr. Robert Bouilly, Historian for the U.S. Army’s Sergeant Majors Academy, also located at Ft. Bliss, has continued to supply new materials to the FASF, further enhancing its historical archives of both photographic historical materials and printed information. In fact, Dr. Bouillyjust located some intriguing 1916 photographs taken on Trustee Bill Wallace’s family ranch near Casas Grandes, Mexico, the town which housed the first foreign Air Base for the United States.
Picture above are Jan Rasmussen, MOAA Vice President and MC for the Saturday event and Ric Lambart
Bill’s grandfather had some serious run-ins with Pancho Villa’s troops, and even permitted the U.S. Army’s famous Buffalo Soldier troops to bivouac on the Wallace Rancho Corralitos during the conflict. In a previous story in the latest Aerodrome FASF Newsletter about the Buffalo Soldiers, our Advisor, John Deuble, of Albuquerque, NM, pointed out we’d erred in identifying those famed African American troops as being part of the Punitive Expedition’s 13th Cavalry, when in fact, according to Mr. Deuble, the Buffalo Soldiers were composed of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, both of which had already seen exemplary service in New Mexico and had first been organized during the Civil War, in 1866. One of the several legends about the source of their name, “Buffalo Soldier,” was that it was reputedly given to these brave cavalrymen by their one-time adversaries, the native Americans they’d so often fought, who admired these black warriors for their prowess and courage in battle.
Above: Gathering for group shot after the event are, L to R: MOAA VP Jan Rasmussen, and FASF members RicLambart, Dr. Kathleen Martin and Colonel Bob Pitt, retired Air Force Fighter Pilot. Ric is holding the latest edition of the FASF Newsletter, The Aerodrome.
This may be a Christmas event, but we would like to dedicate its moving and inspirational music, performed by the young men and women of the United States Air Force (USAF) Band, to the memory of Bill Wehner, one of the FASF’s principal founders, who passed away only days ago. Since Bill’s family will not be conducting a service, we thought it appropriate to honor Bill’s memory with this uplifting music played and sung by the young Air Force men and women who compose the USAF Band – a musical group that evolved from the sparse and crude beginnings of American Air Power and Civil Aviation that took place here in Columbus, NM, back in early 1916.
“Starting with a single cellist on the floor of the National Air and Space Museum’s “Milestones of Flight” gallery, and swelling to 120 musicians, The U.S. Air Force Band exhilarated museum visitors with its first-ever flash mob. The four-minute performance featured an original arrangement of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring/Joy to the World,” led by the band’s commander and conductor, Col. Larry H. Lang. Unsuspecting museum visitors including tourists and school groups were astonished as instrumentalists streamed into the gallery from behind airplanes and space capsules, and vocalists burst into song from the Museum’s second floor balcony.”
Bill Wehner, one of the First Aero Squadron Foundation’s (“FASF”) principal founders, and its second President, has ‘gone west,’ in the favored vernacular of his fellow aviators. Bill died last night at his beloved Airpark home in Columbus, New Mexico. His wife Mary was by his side.
Bill was Founding Chair of the Columbus, New Mexico Historic Preservation Commission (CHPC) under former Village Mayor, Martha Skinner. The Commission was responsible for having the First Aero Squadron Airfield named to New Mexico’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites Register in 2006.
He was the principal organizer of FASF in 2007 and served on the Board of Trustees continuously until 2014, and was its President from 2010 to 2014. He negotiated the first land purchase and runway extension; and is responsible for the current 160 acre site acquisition, which additional acreage will mean that the FASF will finally control and own the entire US Army Airfield, right where it was located back in 1917 – 1917. Besides a replicated 1916 Flight Line, the land is planned to also house a museum dedicated to the pre-World War II era of American Aviation.
Bill served as President and/or CEO of the Village of East Davenport Association, Iowa Nursery and Landscape Assn., and the Scott County Handicapped Development Center, where he was involved in its multi-million dollar expansion. With Texan, John D. Benham, he was co-founder and Charter President of the International Cessna 170 Association. The Cessna model 170 was one of the Cessna Airplane Company’s most popular four place single-engined airplanes.
Always an enthusiast for history as well as aviation matters wherever he lived, Bill served on the Davenport (Ohio) Airport Commission and also on its Historic Preservation Commission. In Iowa, he operated and sold two successful businesses, and partnered with his wife, Mary McClain, in Historic Restoration contracting. He served on the Scott College Board, and taught landscape design there for 30 years. For almost 50 years Bill wrote for his national trade press and for the Quad City Times, and was featured on the PBS show, “About Your House.” He was an instrument rated Private Pilot, long-time airplane owner, and self-confessed history nut. Bill authored and published his first novel, “Tracking Julie Stensvahl,” just a few years ago.
Bill’s first post-High School job was with the US Forest Service in Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest. He and his wife, Mary, relocated to Columbus, New Mexico in 2002, and quickly became deeply engaged in local civic affairs, after having spent some 25 years exploring the Southwest. They made their new high desert home in an attractive and comfortably outfitted airplane hangar just six miles from the Mexican border and only three miles North of the historic Village of Columbus.
Bill’s many local friends and those scattered all over the U.S., those with whom he often became friends through the common bond he shared among his fellow aviators, especially members of his Cessna 170 Club, will miss his dynamic presence. The FASF most likely wouldn’t exist, were it not for the tireless and creative efforts of Bill Wehner.
When Services for Bill are announced, they will be immediately posted here on your FASF Website.
NOTICE:
Mary, Bill’s wife, has just announced that, as Bill wished, there will be no services.
Photo From WWII in Europe. Short 06:11 Minute Video (click Photo) is Sponsored by the Humanity Healing Network.
Thanks to FASF member, Jerry Dixon, himself a U.S. Marine Corp Aviator and Veteran, here is a short video memorial to those who have given so much to protect our freedoms. We traditionally remember them on this Memorial Day, because many gave all they had and many more will never again be the same as they once were, before they left intending to engage in a battle to preserve our liberty. While some of our wars may have been much more clearly of a purely defensive type, and some since may not have been, nevertheless, all those who served took a chance they’d never again see their loved ones. For those who risked so much, this day is dedicated. Our nation’s unique freedoms and governance under law was born out of unbelievable suffering and sacrifice by so many who went before us. May we never forget.
Ninety-nine years ago, here in Columbus, New Mexico, a small group of brave young U.S. Army Officers strapped themselves into the cockpits of those new – and as yet un-proven “Jenny” biplanes – to help their ground-locked comrades of the Infantry seek out the Mexican revolutionary who had just attacked the town of Columbus, killing 18 innocent Americans.
While it’s true that they didn’t achieve their official objective out of the desert Airfield from which they manuevered their fragile craft, they did prove the essential nature of the new flying machines to their U.S. Military brothers-in-arms’ efforts on the ground and on the seas. Some of these same pioneer Army Aviators went on to fly, and some to die, battling the enemy in the smoke filled skies over Europe but a short time later.
Roy Mantei,Fritz Wagoner (seated), Ric Lambart, Mark Drexler, Jerry Graber, Wes Baker and Bill Madden.*
VP Roy Mantei, and FASF President Ric Lambart, spent hours working this past weekend with some of the EAA Chapter 555 leadership, all of whom are active FASF members, planning for the upcoming once-in-a-lifetime FAS Centennial to be held next Spring. A great deal of time was spent focusing on the precise place at the Airfield site on which to locate the First Aero Squadron’s replicated 1916-1917 Flight Line, which is planned to be one of the major visitor attractions during the Centennial event. Actively contributing to the session were the three active members of the FASF Site Survey Team, headed by Bill Madden, and staffed by both FritzWagoner and Mark Drexler (see above photo). Also contributing to the talks were EAA Chapter 555 President, Wes Baker and Jerry Graber, all shown in the above photo, which was taken by the Chapter’s Newsletter Editor, *Carl Bogardus, also an FASF member.
