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I welcome you to the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of the New Pegasus magazine. Much has happened since our last issue was published and you will find all the details on the following pages. If you were present for the return of the C-82 Packet Flying Boxcar on October 15, 2006, you know that it was a fantastic day! The weather was a perfect 68 degrees under a brilliant blue October sky when pilot Frank Lamm, co-pilot T.R. Proven and flight engineer Jack Fastnaught brought our historic icon back to the place of her birth. The crew handled the plane beautifully and everything came off without a hitcha truly marvelous day! You can read all about what it took to get the old girl home as well as some recollections of that wonderful day in two articles, Dreams Do Come True and A Heritage Awakened, The C-82 Comes Home. This issue is also loaded with some absolutely stunning photography from that historic day. The most exciting outcome of the Hagerstown community and aviation supporters coming together to purchase the C-82 was the subsequent donation of three other historic aircraft to the museum - a 1943 Fairchild PT-19A, a 1949 North American AT6G Texan and, the biggest of the three, a 1953 Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar. The PT-19 and AT-6G have pages dedicated to them in this issue, along with a short history. Each will be featured at length in upcoming issues.
The Fairchild C-119 is sitting in Wyoming awaiting overall preparation for flight. A fundraising campaign to prepare and fly the airplane back to Hagerstown by our October 6th annual Fly-In is underway. I ask for your help to accomplish this goal. In this issue you can read a short history of the C-119 and view historic photographs of the Fairchild factory in Hagerstown during pro-
Hagerstown Aviation Museum officers: Left to right, John Seburn, Trea, Jack Seburn, Sec, Kurtis Meyers, Pres, Tracey Potter, VP.
duction of the Flying Boxcar. Also several wonderful full-color pages of photos of our C-119 sitting in Wyoming are included, which, hopefully, will inspire you to help in bringing her home. The museum has also been busy in many other ways. We have been receiving some really fascinating photographs and small arti-
fact donations. One of these donations is an extensive collection of Kreider-Reisner and early Fairchild photographs from the late Theron Rinehart collection donated by his wife, Mrs. Jeannette Rinehart, of Hagerstown. An upcoming exhibit scheduled to open in July 2007 at our Discovery Station location will feature the collection and be dedicated to Mr. Rinehart. Im pleased to announce a new feature in this issue of the New Pegasus, a section titled Remembering Our Aviation Heritage. This section features articles and letters that we receive from those who lived the history and have written in to share their experiences with Hagerstown built airplanes. In this issue two veterans who were crewmembers on C82s have written in with some really fascinating stories of their experiences with the venerable old workhorse. take a look! I invite you to keep abreast of developments at the museum as it continues to grow by checking out the museum website at www.HagerstownAviationMuseum.org. Keep informed, get involved and, with your help, the men and women throughout the community and throughout the nation who made Fairchild aircraft famous the world over will be remembered and honored. Kurtis Meyers President
Richard A. Henson
1911-2002
The New Pegasus magazine is in memory of Richard A. Henson. For many years it was our privilege to work side by side with Dick in creating the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Even though he is no longer with us, his dedication to the cause continues to inspire us.
Dick Henson with the KR-31 Challanger he and Charlie Shue donated to the museum.
Cover Photo:
C-82 fly-by at Hagerstown Airport, October 15, 2006 Photo by: Rhonda Christiano See story on page 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to The New PEGASUS... Page 2
The Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the regions more than 90 years of extraordinary aviation history. Highlights of Hagerstowns Aviation Past
1916-1920 Giuseppi Bellanca builds the CD and CE biplanes for the Maryland Pressed Steel Company in the Pope Building located in south Hagerstown. 1921-1925 Lew & Henry Reisner operate an aircraft repair business and eventually partner with local shoe manufacturer Ammon Kreider to sell Waco Biplanes. 1926 The newly formed Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company designs and builds the KRA Midget to participate in the 1926 National Air Race in Philadelphia. 1927-1929 Kreider-Reisner develops and produces the C-2, C-4 & C-6 Challenger Biplanes that gain them much acclaim. 1929 Sherman Fairchild of Fairchild Aircraft Company, Long Island, NY purchases a majority stock interest in Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company of Hagerstown. 1930s Fairchild Aircraft Company produces the F22, F24, F45, F46 and F92 Amphibian. 1931 Richard (Dick) Henson purchases the Hagerstown Airport and founds Henson Flying Service. 1933 Richard (Dick) Henson becomes Test Pilot for Fairchild Aircraft. 1939-1943 Fairchild develops and produces over 5000 PT19 Primary trainers for the US Army and Navy as well as the AT-21 Gunnery Trainer and UC-61 Utility Cargo Aircraft. 1942-1948 Fairchild develops and produces over 200 of the first all metal cargo aircraft specifically designed for the task, the C82 Packet. 1949-1955 Fairchild develops and produces the C-119 Flying Boxcar of which over 1100 were produced. 1954-1958 Fairchild produces over 300 of the C123 Provider cargo aircraft. 1954-1966 Fairchild helps to develop the Fokker designed F-27 Friendship turbo-prop transport and produces over 200. 1962-1983 Richard (Dick) Henson begins the Hagerstown Commuter which eventually becomes the Allegheny Commuter and Piedmont Regional Airline. 1965 Fairchild purchases Republic Aviation of Farmingdale, L.I., NY. 1973-1983 Fairchild/Republic awarded A-10 Attack Aircraft contract and produces 713 for the United States Air Force. 1984 Aircraft production ends in Hagerstown.
Hagerstowns Aviation Past.......Page 3 Museum Contact Information...Page 3 A Heritage Awakened.....Page 4 Dreams Do Come True...Page 8 Home of the Flying Boxcar..........Page 13 Fairchild C-119 Donated......Page 16 Fairchild PT-19A Donated.......Page 18 North American AT-6G Donated........Page 19 Remembering Our Aviation Heritage.....Page 22 C-82 Crewmember Harold Harvell C-82 Crewmember John L. Taylor Theron Rinehart Photo Collection Donated...Page 24 Expanded Museum Exhibit at Discovery Station..Page 25 Museum Events.Page 27 The Future Museum.....Page 29 Museum Gift Shop....Page 30 Membership / Donation Form.....Page 39
COPYRIGHT 2007 HAGERSTOWN AVIATION MUSEUM, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Contact Information:
Museum Display at Discovery Station: Hagerstown Aviation Museum 101 West Washington St Hagerstown MD 21740 Discovery Station phone: 301-790-0076 Mailing address: Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Inc. 14235 Oak Springs Rd Hagerstown MD 21742 Phone: 301-733-8717 please leave message if no answer Or call: 717-377-3030 Website: www.HagerstownAviationMuseum.org
A Heritage Awakened
The C-82 Comes Home
By Kurtis Meyers
As I lay in bed I tried to shake off the haziness so often associated with a night filled with restless anticipation and that age-old battle between body and mind. It was nearly 5:00am before my mind called for a ceasefire in the fighting, and peaceful rest was finally possible. At 7:30 on this Sunday morning the clock radio made its annoying clicking sound and the musical stylings of Jim Croce and his 1972 hit single, Hard Time Losin Man, filled the room. As it seemed with every morning during the last few nestling moments before arising, the radio was blaring, the blinding sun was bursting through the window, and a shortlegged Welsh Corgi began mattress bouncing at the first sign of human consciousness. Although all of these elements were occurring as per normal, I found them somewhat easier to ignore even with my limited amount of shuteye. In many ways this day was a long time in coming, but in other ways it happened so quickly that I sometimes find it difficult to recount. The date was October 15, 2006, and on this day the Fairchild C-82 was coming home to Hagerstown; and I was a happy man! It had been nearly two months since John, Steve and I had flown to Greybull, Wyoming for the great Hawkins & Powers liquidation auction at which we had purchased the last flyable Fairchild C-82 Packet through the generous help of the Hagerstown community and aviation friends across the country. The first in the series of famous Flying Boxcars produced by Fairchild, the C-82 was historically significant not only for airplane
geeks like myself, but as a tribute to the thousands of men and women in the Hagerstown area who helped to design and build it. Equally, the airplanes military service had created a loyal following of former paratroopers, pilots, and crewmen, many of whom have called the museum since the purchase to relay their enthusiasm for the airplanes preservation. Our early hope was to have the C-82 return to Hagerstown over the weekend of our annual joint venture Fly-In with Hagerstown Aircraft Services, Experimental Aircraft Association #36, and the Hagerstown -Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. This year the fly-in was to be held on October 7th and 8th, and to that end, John, Steve, and I had stayed a few extra days in Greybull to arrange for an evaluation of the airplane and a preliminary estimate of what was needed to wake it up and return it to the air. B&G Industries had taken over the aircraft repair business of Hawkins & Powers in Greybull, Wyoming, and retained many of the employees who were familiar with the Hawkins & Powers fleet of antiquated propeller driven airplanes, of which ours was most qualified. B&G had arrived at a very general estimate of around $25,000 to repair and prepare our C-82 for its flight back to Hagerstown, but a more detailed evaluation would be necessary before we would know for sure what the cost would be. With smiles still on our faces and a preliminary estimate in hand, John, Steve, and I boarded the commuter plane in nearby Cody, Wyoming, hoping that the C-82 would not be far behind, and headed 4
for home. Upon our arrival in Hagerstown, we began to fully realize the magnitude of press coverage that the C-82 purchase had created and, in fact, was still creating. While in Greybull I had called Erin Julius of Hagerstowns Herald Mail newspaper shortly after the auction hammer fell on the C-82. Equally, Tom Riford at the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau was standing at the ready awaiting the auction results. Tom was ready to prepare a press release for distribution to several hundred news, government, and business email addresses. For national coverage, David Dishneau of the Associated Press had shown interest in the story, and he was also on my telephone short list. About twenty minutes after our successful bid, I
began making the calls. For the next half hour I was giving interviews about the days events. Little did John, Steve or I realize how much of an effect all this would have. The next day the Herald Mails lead story was Hagerstown Museum Wins Bid On Fairchild Plane and a huge color picture that Steve had emailed the afternoon before dominated nearly a third of the front page. One outcome of the news coverage was that my telephone began to ring on a nearly constant basis. All kinds of callscalls from newspapers and news stations, calls of congratulations, calls with questions. all kinds, many just wanting to talk! But the calls that really got to me were the calls from people throughout Hagerstown and the surrounding area who picked up the phone and dialed the number just to tell their stories; stories of themselves, stories of their parents, of their grandparentsall the wonderful stories of everyday experiences with the C-82, and generally, of working at Fairchild. But the most amazing, and definitely the most rewarding out of all of these stories, was the underlying message of how important everything the museum was doing was to them. I cant even begin to relay what that meant to me, but I knew from that moment whatever that is its why Im doing this, and at this time in my life that is what my life must be about! But in spite of the elation of acquiring the C-82 and in spite of all the positive publicity and the praise and congratulations being heaped on our efforts, the question was always in the back of our minds: Okay, we bought it, we own it, so now how do we get it home? None of us had experience working with an airplane so old and so big and so far away. But we had met the challenges thus far, and we could meet this one, so we set about the task of figuring out how to get our beautiful machine home. The logistical challenges involved with transporting a large cargo airplane built in the 1940s nearly 2000 miles was, needless to say, a daunting task. Since the airplane had not flown for over six years, it was quite possible that deterioration of exposed parts would be a major factor in our monetary situation and also with time planning. Museum VicePresident Tracey Potter, who owns and manages Hagerstown Aircraft Services, was our in-house expert on aircraft repair, maintenance, and transport. Al-
though the main thrust of his business is with aircraft much smaller in size, his overall knowledge coupled with his extensive list of business and personal connections was just what we needed to get our Boxcar home again. With the evaluation of the airplane comfortably in the hands of our new friends at B&G, and with Tracey as our lead, the board began the arduous task of figuring what needed to be done from our end to fly the airplane home. The tremendous outpouring of support from the public, both in terms of the $140,000 raised as well as the overwhelming reaction to the prospect of the historic airplane coming home, led us to try to create every opportunity for those wishing to get involved to do so. To this end we created a telephone Hotline that was regularly updated with new information concerning the progression of the airplanes maintenance and, with the help of Tom Riford at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, press releases were sent out with updated information and projections. The biggest challenge was in finding a suitable crew to fly the old girl home. We received from the FAA a list of only thirteen people who still retained what is known as a type rating in the C-82, meaning they were approved to fly the plane. We quickly found out that most of the people on the list were either no longer capable of piloting any aircraft or did not want the responsibility of piloting one so complex. There was, however, a pilot Tracey knew quite well who heard of our acquisition and who just arrived at Traceys office one day announcing he would fly the C-82 home. Although Frank Lamm had no time in C-82s, he did have a considerable amount in Fairchild C-119s, which were the same basic configuration, but a slightly larger aircraft with larger engines. As it turned out, Frank definitely had the qualities and qualifications that we had been looking for. But without time in a C-82, it was ultimately going to be up to the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if he would be allowed to fly the plane. As Tracey worked on the crew situation, B&G had begun work on getting the airplane ready for flight. Since the airplane was going to be under an FAA ferry permit, all that was needed was for it to be deemed safe for flight. Simply put, this meant that only certain things 5
were required to work and others could simply remain inoperable. The two most destructive things for our airplane were, number one, time, and at a close second, the birds of Wyoming. The control surfaces on the C-82 are aluminum frames covered with fabric, and
time had taken its toll on most of the control surfaces, nearly all of which needed to be recovered with fabric and then doped. Although you would think that due to the mythical relationship between birds and airplanes, the two would be natural allies, the opposite, in fact, is the case. The C-82s enormous fourteen foot long elevator on the tail must have appeared as the perfect partying place for Pterodactyl size birds. The worst part was that these monsters felt an obligation to leave a bit of themselves behind before venturing on. The acid in these left behinds took its toll on the vulnerable fabric, ate through at several locations, and left thin spots all over the top. If you have ever been close to an elevator of a C-82, you will know that its a gigantic thing running the entire distance between the
booms. As big as the elevator is, it is equally gigantic in terms of money to recover! At first glance, the guys at B&G believed it could be patched, but once they got to working on it, they quickly realized it was beyond safe repair. To recover the elevator alone would be $14,000, but there is no room for second-
guessing when it comes to airplane safety. Our C-82s fuel cells were also of concern and needed to be checked out thoroughly, as did all of the fuel and oil hoses throughout the machine. Some hoses and lines were changed due to cracking and leaking, and others remained good enough for the trip. One of the most worrisome potential problems with any older aircraft is with the retractable landing gear, and with the C-82 this was also the case. The gear works by
electric motors and over time problems can occur. Luckily, no major problems were found and after some minor work by B&G, the landing gear was operating efficiently and the airplane was nearing its final check. Back in Hagerstown, Tracey was busy on the phone trying to come up with a
crew for the historic flight. Working with Frank, the two were able to get Traceys friend, TR Proven to be the co-pilot and Jack Fastnaught to be the flight engineer. TR had a great amount of time in multiple radial engine aircraft, and he also was an accident investigator for the FAA. Equally, Jack Fastnaught had many hours of multiple radial engine time and was a retired FAA Flight Controller. With Franks time in C-119s and over 30,000 hours of logged air time, and both TRs
and Jacks impeccable qualifications, the FAA finally gave the green light to the crew and we were one step closer to the day Hagerstowns C-82 would fly home. The work was nearing completion on the C-82 in Greybull and the cost of repair was mounting up quickly. Several of the larger price items had not been covered in the initial estimate of $25,000. The recovering of the elevator, the replacement of many of the hoses and the time involved with repairing or replacing all pushed the price up to around $45,000 in total. Another major concern weighing on our minds was where we were going to get the money to buy fuel. Although we had talked about this considerably in our strategy meetings, we had not come up with a good solution. And then we received a call from Frank Lamm. It turned out that Frank was at a wedding and was telling an old friend of the upcoming trip. His friend was one of the executives of Landmark Aviation, a major Fixed Base Airport Operator on the East Coast. After hearing the story of the C-82 and that Frank was going to pilot the machine from Wyoming to Hagerstown, the gentleman reached in his pocket, pulled out his Landmark fuel card and said, Here, put all the fuel on this! With the crew in alignment, the maintenance nearly completed, the fuel issue resolved, and an insurance policy in effect, it was the first week of October and the Fly-in was scheduled for the coming weekend. Several of us got together early in the week with Frank Lamm, our volunteer C-82 pilot, and decided that it was not going to be possible to get it home for the Fly-in, but the next weekend would be a good one to shoot for. Frank decided that he and Jack Fastnaught would fly out for a day to make certain everything was on schedule and do any last minute planning. The following week the entire crew would fly out, learn everything that needed to be learned, and then depart on Wednesday, October 11th,with a planned arrival in Hagerstown on Saturday the 14th. On Wednesday the cloud cover over the Big Horn Mountains was low and several last minute items needed to be resolved before departure. Frank, T.R., and Jack had been in Greybull for the last three days boning up on what it was go6
ing to take to get the airplane home. The scheduled flight was to ascend to 13,000 feet and cross the Big Horn Mountains the first day. There would be a fuel stop on the other side at North Platte, Nebraska. From there they would fly to Ottumwa, Iowa, the home of the Antique Airplane Association and Robert Taylor, its founder. Mr. Taylor is both a good friend of Frank as well as a member of our museum, and he had arranged for the local newspaper and television news to be present when the C-82 landed. The next leg of the journey would be the longest and would go from Ottumwa to Culpepper, Virginia. Culpepper would then be the staging area before the air-
planes historic last jaunt into the place of its inception. Hagerstown. On Thursday around mid-day, the crew took one final look over the C-82, climbed inside and buckled themselves in place. They started the engines, went over the final checklist, and taxied to the far end of the runway in preparation for take off. This flight was going to be the C82s first flight in over six years, and, for the crew, their very first flight in a C-82. Frank pulled onto the runway, gently
pushed the throttle forward and began the take off run. As the nose lifted and she began to fly, the camera John Seburn had sent out the day before caught everything on video. Knowing this would be an historic moment, our friends at B&G then sent the camera and footage back to us to
play for the crowd that would gather on Sunday to watch her fly over Hagerstown for the very last time. The trip proceeded without incident and our C-82 was back on the east coast in Culpepper, Virginia where it arrived late on Friday afternoon. All day Saturday it was the highlight of the annual Air Show of the Capitol Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, being the largest and rarest airplane at the event. The airplane was now awaiting its last flight the one that would bring it over many of the homes of those who first dreamed of it, who put form and structure to it, and who put their sweat and labor into building it. Hagerstown was always its hometown, a place where it will be honored and where those who designed, built and flew it will forever be remembered. At 10:00am on Sunday, Oct. 15th, the sun was shining, the wind was calm and the day was one of the most beautiful in recent memory. John Seburn had flown to Culpepper, Virginia to meet up with the crew and arrange any final details before the C-82s historic trip into Hagerstown. A photographer from the Herald Mail newspaper had been invited along to record the entire flight back on film. John would be on hand to witness and record on video the start-up and final take-off and then fly back in the camera plane. He, along with the Herald Mail photographer, would be privy to, and record for all, the most historic sight of the trip; those magical moments when the last flying Hagerstown-built C-82 would fly over the city of Hagerstown for the very last time. In Hagerstown, museum volunteers were preparing the staging area for the historic arrival. Not knowing the number of people who may come out for the event, the lot was cleared and barriers positioned to keep people from getting too close to the runway and taxiways. A small stage had been set up for speeches as well as for announcements that were to
be made by Tom Riford of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lou Scally from WJEJ Radio also was on hand for a live broadcast of the event for those unable to attend in person. 2:00pm had been announced as the probable arrival time for the C-82, but by 12:30 the parking lot outside Hagerstown Aircraft Services began to fill. By 12:45 the lot was full and both sides of Basore Drive and Oak Springs Road as well. A sea of people covered the approach to the observation areas. Some walked briskly, intent on being early, but many made their way the considerable distance with the assistance of a friend, a cane, or a walker. The generations of people who made their way on to the grounds that day, their varied faces and stories, all had a common air of excitement, anticipation, and of wonder about what the day may hold. At 12:30pm the C-82 departed Culpepper and flew to Winchester, Virginia. The airplane circled the Winchester airport where it was joined by two AT-6 Texan escort planes. At 1:20pm, with the C-82 proudly in the central lead position and a Texan on each wing in V for Vic-
Jet Center and along Henson Blvd. A radio receiver had been hooked up to listen to tower talk and at approximately 1:45pm the familiar call came from Pegasus I. Our C-82 was flying over the city of Hagerstown and within a few minutes she would be in our sights. With necks bent back and eyes toward the blueness of the perfect day, the still and silent watched for the first sign of her as if the claim of first sight alone was a prize. As the time passed and anticipation grew, a low drone in the distance was heard and a scream of There it is! from a lady in bright red broke the silence. As the C-82
roared overhead for the first time in sixty years, the emotion of the event expressed itself in the most human of ways. For those who had lived their lives in the hey day of aviation in Hagerstown, the sight of the C-82 brought long overdue tears of pride and of recognition and a beautiful glorification only found in the passing of time. For others, the pride of family, and of community heritage, created the familiar lump in the throat and tightening of the brow. For it was on this historic day that many generations came together, reawakening and rekindling a known but nearly forgotten connectedness in their heritage and, experiencing this moment together, departed as one.
tory formation, the three airplanes began their journey toward Hagerstown. At 1:40pm a crowd of nearly five hundred had gathered at Hagerstown Aircraft Services awaiting the arrival of the C-82. Hundreds more could be seen hanging onto the fence surrounding the airport, still more parked at the Airport Terminal and across the runway at Rider 7
December 9, 1941, two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, my grandfather, Webster Palmer, of Greencastle, PA,
went to work at Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown helping to build the PT-19 trainer. During the war he worked third
shift and farmed the family farm west of Greencastle. As the years passed, he helped to build the C-82, C-119, C-123 and F-27. As I worked with my grandfather when I was a young boy, he taught me how to farm but also fed my passion for airplanes with stories of his years working at Fairchild. He told me how thousands of people from all walks of life came together to build the aircraft that helped keep the freedoms we have today. As a teenager, my love of flight turned into hundreds of scale model aircraft. My bedroom was transformed into an aviation museum with little room for my bed. Mays Hardware in the Longmeadow Shopping Center in Hagerstown was where I found the model of a Fairchild Flying Boxcar, which I built and gave to my grandfather for his birthday. He kept it on a table in the living room with photos of his family. In September, 1995, the Fairchild Homecoming and Air Show brought to-
gether many of those who had worked at Fairchild. A small group came together with the idea of creating an aviation museum to preserve Hagerstowns aviation heritage. While searching for surviving aircraft needed for the future museum, we found that the last flying Fairchild C-82 resided in Greybull, Wyoming and was owned by Hawkins & Powers Aviation, well known for their aerial firefighting aircraft. I called and talked with Gene Powers who had flown C-82 and C-119 Flying Boxcars for many years. He shared his stories, one of which was flying salmon out of Alaska in C-82s. The C-82 wasnt for sale at that time but over the years I would call and check in with Gene. 2002 was the end of government contracts for Hawkins & Powers to use their aging transports for aerial fire fighting. I called Gene and found the C-82 was now for sale for $500,000. The museum was in no position to buy it at that time. In November, 2005, we were informed that the assets of Hawkins & Powers were to be sold off by an auction company. A quick call to the auction company and Im talking with Brent Hoban of Zenith Avition, the company hired to sell off the assets. In chatting with
Brent he told me he worked for Fairchild for 19 years and would love to see the C82 back in Hagerstown. For the next eight months Brent and I call and email each other trying to find a way to make that happen. The asking price had dropped to $250,000, still far out of the reach of the museum checkbook. In midJuly, 2006, Brent informed me the auction company had decided to hold an auction to liquidate the assets, with August 23, 2006 the auction date!! That was in four weeks!! Knowing this would be our last chance to acquire the last flying Fairchild C-82 Flying Boxcar for Hagerstown, we launched into a four week emergency fundraising campaign. Over 100 people donated over $140,000 in those four weeks! (For the detailed story of the auction see Fall, 2006 New Pegasus article, Airplane Auction Anxiety, by Kurtis Meyers). The week of the auction in Greybull, Wyoming, was one of my boyhood dreams come true. I was there with my good friends Steve Christiano, who documented the trip, and Kurtis Meyers, to buy the C-82 and maybe even a C-119 for the museum in Hagerstown. I am so grateful to all of you who gave us this opportunity. I also want to thank the
great folks at B&G Industries in Greybull who inspected, repaired, and made the C82 ready for flight. Many of the B&G mechanics were former Hawkins & Powers employees and had worked on the C82 before. Sunday, October 15, 2006, Culpepper, Virginia Airport. Early Sunday morning, Joe Hart, pilot, Ric Dugan, Herald Mail photographer, and I flew to Culpepper, Virginia, to video the C-82 start up and take off on the last leg of its journey back to Hagerstown. As I watched the two Pratt & Whitney R2800 engines roar to life, great clouds of white smoke rose in the blue sky and the low throaty rhythm of the engines penetrated my soul. Just the sound of old airplane engines can bring tears to my eyes. As Frank Lamm taxied her out I moved closer to the runway to set up the camera for the take off, thinking to myself that this would be the first and last time I would ever see the C-82 roll down the runway and take off. The weather was absolutely perfect as she sat at the far end of the runway warming up her engines, sun glistening off her spinning propellers. As I waited, part of me just wanted her to sit there and not take off. I
thought back over all the years and dreams that had led to this moment, back to my grandfather and his stories of the Flying Boxcars, back to building model airplanes as a teenager, back to all those who helped make this moment happen. But then she started to roll. The engines at full power now, rolling faster and faster, wheels still on the ground, building up airspeed, when right in front of me her nose turns up and she leaps into the sky with a sound that makes me weak in the knees. Climbing, climbing, wheels going up, she banks to the right and is on her way home. Still lost in the moment, my heart stops!!! Did I have the camera recording??? YES! Thank God. I ran to the photo plane and we took off to chase the C-82 to Winchester, Virginia, where she would meet up with two WWII AT-6 Texan aircraft whose pilots had offered to escort the old girl home. We could see from a distance the C-82 circling over Winchester waiting for the Texans and for us to catch up. When we were all in position, Frank, piloting the
C-82, leveled her off and pointed her nose for home. To keep track of our four-plane formation, call signs were given to each aircraft. The C-82 was Pegasus One, the two Texans were Pegasus Two and Three and the photo plane was Pegasus Four. Over the Potomac River, South Hagerstown High School, City Park, downtown Hagerstown, the Fairgrounds, Fairchild Plant 1, and then the airport came into view. As our formation approached the airfield, Fairchild Plant 2 was beneath us. After sixty years of worldwide service, our C-82 was flying over the factory where she was born! There are no words to describe how I felt as I looked down from the photo plane when the C-82 made its first fly by and I saw the hundreds of people who came out to experience that moment. There were many more people along the roadsides around the airport also looking up to the sky to witness the old girl in her element. Like a great silver ghost, she floated in the sky as Frank lined her up
for her last landing. Ever so gently her tires touched the runway.she was home. Standing beside the C-82 on that beautiful October afternoon, I was surrounded by family and friends who knew my personal lifelong journey to this moment. With a look of elation on their faces, they said to me, Congratulations, John.Dreams do come true.
Frank Lamm
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A special thanks to B & G Industries and Landmark Aviation for their contribution to the C-82s historic return flight to Hagerstown.
Thank You to All who made the Oct. 15th Event possible! Members and Supporters of the museum The C-82 crew B&G Industries Landmark Aviation Hagerstown Aircraft Services staff Rider Jet Center Northrop Grumman Hagerstown Regional Airport Air Traffic Controllers Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Tom Riford CVB Lou Scally WJEJ radio Herald Mail and other papers Volunteer photographers Dale Swope Rhonda Christiano Jack Byers B&G Industries Brent Hoban Gena Mills Volunteer videographers Mike Wicklein Dave Kunkle Steve Christiano Rick Hemphill B&G Industries Sound Steve & Rhonda Christiano
DONATIONS OF RECOGNITION
Shelly Kampe in honor of Roy L. Hess Keedysville Ruritan Club in memory of Emma Lou Schwagel
Paul Mummert in honor of Phillis (Crim) Mummert, In memory of Eleanor and Earl Reese
HONOR YOUR LOVED ONE BY MAKING A DONATION TO THE HAGERSTOWN AVIATION MUSEUM
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held. By the early 1950s the company payroll had reached an impressive 10,000 employees. The C-119, which had been in service for only a year or two, was performing well in the Korean Conflict and Fairchild continued to produce them as quickly as possible. The C-119s affectionate name, Flying Boxcar, became synonymous with Hagerstown and quickly became known and in use on all corners of the earth. Production at Fairchild now more than ever defined life around Hagerstown, and everyone
A new C-119 flying over the Fairchild Aircraft factory and Hagerstown Airport in 1951.
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Building the C-119 at the Fairchild Aircraft factory, 1950. Still images from 16mm film.
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Your help will bring the C-119 home to Hagerstown to join the C-82 so Hagerstown will once again be known as the Home of the Flying Boxcars
Join the growing list of honorary C-119 crew members by filling out the C-119 donation form on page 39!
For more information call 717-377-3030 or visit www.HagerstownAviationMuseum.org
With your donation to the C-119 your will receive this 8 1/2 x 11 color photo
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would be interested in his restored PT-19 and, without hesitation, we said yes. The aircraft is fully restored and flyable and an absolute beauty. In early January, museum V.P. Tracey Potter loaned his truck and trailer to drive the eighteen hours to Ft. Pierce. Duane Morral, with Hagerstown Aircraft Services, Landis Whitsel and Rick Hemphill, museum volunteers, and board member Kurtis Meyers took three fun-filled days traveling to Ft. Pierce and back. The full story of the adventure will be in the next issue of The New Pegasus. 18
The aircraft will be brought back to Hagerstown where Mr. Booth grew up watching airplanes at the Hagerstown Airport. The plan is for the AT-6 to undergo a complete restoration and be flown occasionally to keep it airworthy.
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My final flight as a crewmember on the C82 was a mission of ferrying the aircraft to one of our U.S. bases in Frankfort, Germany. We flew some long legs enroute, from Maine, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and France and on to Germany. We were fully loaded with spare heavy engines in the cargo bay, but again, the C-82 performed flawlessly over the North Oceans and Ice Caps. After the Coal Lift in Germany, the larger four engine C-54 aircraft was no longer needed and it became available to other assignments including ours. We traded the smaller C-82 for the C-54 in order for us to perform our increased cargo requirements. In conversations with other airman who flew the C-82 and then moved on to the larger jet aircraft, their enjoyable flying memories are always with the ol boxcar. So I salute you in preserving a great aircraft that performed superiorly for us during the service to our country. I compliment all the folks in Hagerstown who had a hand in building a fine aircraft! The C-82 Flying Boxcar
By John L. Taylor Jr. (Herb) S.Sgt. USAF 1949-1952 (Korea) Air Force Service with the Flying Boxcars
cargo compartment where I had gone shortly before final approach and I knew nothing of the danger. Operation Portrex was concluded at Guantanamo Bay, successfully, despite a missing flight of F-84 Thunderjets which failed to appear as air cover for the C-82s. As a reward for our participation in the operation, we flew to Ramey AFB. Puerto Rico, for some casual time in the tropical sun. After all mission requirements were completed, we prepared for the return flight back to the states. Approaching Florida, we were ordered to tighten the formation and as a result, our echelon of three C-82s increased speed too quickly and we were unable to slow down adequately enough to avoid a possible collision with the echelon preceding us. Our pilot reacted by pulling up hard and increasing power nearly to the point of a stall. Looking out from the left side of the flight deck where I was seated, I looked down directly on the top of a C-82 no more than 15 or 20 feet below us. As we hung on our props in a potential stall position, the aircraft below us pulled away and we reduced power and returned to our proper formation. A potential accident was narrowly averted and the crews of two aircraft missed tragedy by only a small margin. The remaining flight back to Sewart AFB, was completed with no further incidents and we returned to our normal base activities. The C-82 Packets were being replaced by the larger and more powerful C-119 Flying Boxcars as they arrived from Fairchild Aircraft in Hagerstown, Maryland. A final mutual service tribute Operation Swarmer was scheduled, again involving Fort Bragg and Pope AFB NC, now utilizing both aircraft together for the last time. Rumors of an impending change circulated through Sewart AFB and out of the blue, I was transferred from the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron to the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron. The Korean situation had escalated and mobilization began for the American intervention against the North Korean aggression toward South Korea. Soon, the Fairchild C-119 would go to war and for the next two years, I helped support the Flying Boxcars during the Korean War.
Send to: Hagerstown Aviation Museum, 14235 Oak Springs Rd, Hagerstown MD 21742
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sixty years ago. Relive the enthusiasm of the excited crowd as this venerable old workhorse is welcomed home from its final journey. Pilots, and pilots-to-be, can slide into the seat of the museums flight simulator and practice bringing home from Wyoming the museums C-119 Flying Boxcar, sister ship to the C-82. If piloting a fast jet fighter or a little Piper Cub is your preference, the simulator can ac-
panels describe the development of the local aircraft manufacturing industry from Giuseppi Bellancas first biplane in 1916 to the last A-10 Thunderbolt II to roll off the assembly line in 1984. Explore the internal workings of the cut-away Kinner radial engine and compare it to the massive Pratt and Whitney radial. While at the museum exhibit, follow the historic last flight of Ontos, the last flying Fairchild C-82 Packet/ Flying Boxcar, as it makes its way from Graybull, Wyoming, to Hagerstown, Maryland. Watch as this hardworking old cargo plane flies over the place of its birth, the Fairchild factory, for the first, and last, time since it left home
Discovery station, permitting large, heavy artifacts such as radial engines and full size airplanes to be displayed. When you visit the museum exhibit, begin by taking the walk through Hagerstowns seventy years of aircraft manufacturing. Historic film footage, artifacts, photographs and information 25
commodate you. Stop by and give it a try. And for the feel of a real airplane, climb into the cockpit of the museums Cessna 150. This real airplane is really popular with the younger set. They can fly as far as their imagination takes them. Admission to the Hagerstown Aviation Museums exhibit is included in the admission to Discovery Station, and the hours are the same. Check page 35 for specifics.
Hagerstown FlyFly-In
And FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT Family Reunion
ADMISSION IS FREE!
See Historic Fairchild, Homebuilt, Warbird & Modern Aircraft. Historic Aircraft Displays by the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Free EAA Young Eagle Flights For Children 8-17. Bus Tours of Hagerstowns Historic Aviation Sites (Saturday)
Museum Events
Rider Jet Center, Fathers Day Open House, June 17, 2007
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THE FUTURE...
The Hagerstown Aviation Museum plans to locate its main museum on or near the Hagerstown Regional Airport. The facility will house displays including aircraft and historical walk-through exhibits depicting both local Hagerstown aviation history as well as dioramas of aircraft design, development and manufacturing throughout the last century. The museum will be a multi-use facility and will include a large area suitable for wide range of events. The museum is actively seeking the donation of a Fairchild C-123 and F-27 for display. If you have or know of any aircraft or artifacts that relate to the museums mission, call 717-377-3030.
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F-27
The first in the series of paintings depicts the world famous Fairchild Flying Boxcar airplanes that made Fairchild and Hagerstown famous. The large format GiClee color print depicts both the C-119 and the C-82 flying over the Hagerstown Airport with the Fairchild factory in the background. This beautiful image on archival, acid-free paper is available unframed or fully matted and framed and also signed and numbered by the artist.
PRINT Flying Boxcar Unframed 22x 28 Framed 27x 33 $135.00 $285.00
C-82 FLYING BOXCAR HOMECOMING 2006 COMMERATIVE MODEL The first in the series of desktop display models is the Fairchild C-82 Packet affectionately known as the first Flying Boxcar. The mold for this solid resin cast model was created from an original factory display model of the 1940s. It has a wingspan of 8.5 and is mounted on a black lacquered wooden base with laser engraved silver plaque. It is a truly unique art deco sculpture.
MODEL Fairchild C-82 $95.00 Each
Prints and models are individually numbered and available on a first-come-first-serve basis with a total of six different prints and models planned in each series. Models and prints are available for immediate shipment, so order today!
Gift Shop
Order Now !
Fairchild Aircraft embroidered logo. Museum name on back. Tan & Maroon $15.00, Blue & Gold $20.00 Companion book to the documentary. 164 pages. $21.95
FAIRCHILD C-82 PACKET / C-119 FLYING BOXCAR (Aerofax series) by Alwyn T. Lloyd The story of the world famous Fairchild C82 and C-119 Flying Boxcar is presented in this new Aerofax series book. The development, military service and civilian uses are well documented. 8-1/2 x 11", 192 pgs. 250 b/w & color photos plus drawings $36.95
FAIRCHILD-REPUBLIC A/0A-10 WARTHOG - WBT Vol. 20 By Dennis Jenkins Covers the development and service of the Fairchild-Republic A-10 from design to its use in Desert Storm. Includes production line photos, technical manual excerpts, and battle damage photos. 100 pgs., 8-1/2 X 11, 150 b/w photos, 4 page color section. $16.95
To order: Call 717-597-9695 or order online at www.vintagevideo.com Or send check or money order plus $5.00 shipping to: Vintage Video, 11414 Williamsport Pike, Greencastle PA 17225
FAIRCHILD C-82
Experience the Journey on this 3 disc set!
DVD 1
August 23, 2006 the Hagerstown Aviation Museum acquired at auction the last flying Fairchild C-82A Packet. Experience the history, auction and epic last flight of this C-82 from Greybull WY to Hagerstown MD, the place of its birth and to the people who built her over 60 years ago. See: C-82 history, go along to the Greybull auction, look over the other aircraft and parts that were sold, C-82 maintenance, flight to Hagerstown, complete C-82 Homecoming coverage. 2 hours C-82 Homecoming Reception held on March 18, 2007. Learn about recent progress of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Pilot Frank Lamm recounts the last C-82 flight to Hagerstown. See the last flight of the C-82, witness the donation of the C-119 Flying Boxcar and see other aircraft donated to the museum! 1 hour, 40 minutes. Still photos of C-82 history, auction at Greybull, historic flight home to Hagerstown .
DVD 2
Your purchase of this DVD set supports the preservation of the C-82 and C-119.
Last Flight of the Fairchild C C-82 3 disc set $39.95 plus $5.00 shipping. Mail check to: Hagerstown Aviation Museum, C82 DVD 14235 Oak Springs Road Hagerstown MD 21742
Will be shipped late August, 2007
Bonus CD
Flying Horse
Charity Auction
HELP PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITYS AVIATION HERITAGE
By providing goods and services to sell at the
717717-377377-3030 or 301301-733733-8717
YOUR DONATION MAY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE All proceeds less cost of auction go toward the operation of the museum and the upkeep of the museums collection of artifacts and aircraft. Historic aviation artifacts and memorabilia may be donated to become part of the museums permanent collection and will not be sold at the auction.
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PHOTO CHALLENGE
Pick the year of this Hagerstown Aviation Club photo? Send your answer by 9/1/07 to : Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Photo Challenge, 14235 Oak Springs Rd, Hagerstown MD 21742. One name will be drawn from the correct entries to receive a copy of the book, HAGERSTOWN-REMEMBERING OUR AVIATION HERITAGE
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Hours of Operation
Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Sunday
1:00pm - 4:00pm (except July and August) Closed: Mondays, Sundays during July and August, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Independence Day.
Admission
Individuals Children under 2 Free Ages 2-17 $6.00 Adults $7.00 Seniors (55 and over) and Military $5.00 Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card accepted. Group Tours (minimum 10) School Children and Youth group members, 17 and under (each) $2.00 Teachers and youth group leaders, no charge. Adult Group (each) $4.00
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Support The New Pegasus magazine by sponsoring a display ad in the next issue! Call 717-377-3030 for more information
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C-119 Donors
As of 6/20/07
Audrey C. Asbury Charles Batt, Sr. Ted Bauer Davis L. Baughman C. Richard Baumbaugh Charles W. Bert Raymond B. Bottom Jr. David Bragunier Carole S. Brake William C. Butler Don Carty Shirley Cole Nedson M. Crawford Meredith & Doris Darlington Joseph L. Denest Frances Diehl Reginald H. Diller
Steve Drager Lee Engel Robert Enterline Oliver R. Goetz Jacques Hager Roland G. Hebb William D. Heckman Ricky L. Hose Vivian K. Hyde Robert S. Kefauver George Knode Jr. Frank Lamm James M. Landis, Jr. Robert D. Logan Donald Lucas James L. Martin Martins Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc Richard D. McNeal Robert L. Morelli
Paul E. Mummert Arthur F. Pittenger Creighton R. Propps Louise S. Rider Steven C. Roth & Lynn M. Dawson Eloise T. Shaffer Richard Shearman Steve Showers Nevin A. Short Samuel V. Smith Charlene Stoner John L. Taylor Sid Thompson Nelson C. Tillou William Wright
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SUPPORTER Charles Batt Sr. Davis L. Baughman Ted Bauer Carole S. Brake Charles & Barbara Clopper Steve Diedrich LIFETIME BENEFACTOR Allen & Judith Ditto Robert R. Enterline Wayne E. Alter Jr. Experimental Aircraft Assn. J.M. Benchoff Lawrence M. French Donald M. & Jone Bowman Jacques G. Hager Linda Reisner Bracey Eugene S. Haines J. Allen Clopper Jerome K. Harness Stan & Cecilia Crippen Audrey W. Harrell Pauline L. Fogle Brent Hoben Dave Friedrich Vivian K. Hyde Vincent R. Groh Dave Johnson Hagerstown -Wash. Co. CVB Annette Stonebraker Johnson Suzanne & Edwin Hayes Robert Kefauver Chester Kauffman Wayne & Mary Ann Kriner Frank Lamm Martins Famous Pastry Shoppe Maryland Cracker Barrel William McLean Sr. Inc. Stanley & Velena Miller Jaye & Linda Meyers Daryl Monroe Eleanora E. Poffenberger Wallace Moran Dale & Carolyn Seburn Robert & Norma Morelli Eloise T. Shaffer Charles Mueller John & Fran Shore Suzanne & Kevin Ollry Charles Shue Jack M. Phillips Sr. Robert Stanford Brig. Gen. Watson C. Stoner Jr. Arthur F. Pittenger Carol Raffaniello Armand J. Thieblot Jr. Howard W. Reynolds Robert J. Thieblot Connie & Donald Richardson Samuel & Jannette Veneri Steven C. Roth John M. Waltersdorf Robert H. Shearman Ella & James Showers LEADER Donald H. Smith Jr. Wayne J. Gleason Samuel V. Smith David & Barbara Churchill Susan Snyder Douglass C. Reed & Mary Jo Wayne & Mary Sours Clemens Alan Stonebraker Joseph St. Georges PATRON Charlene E. Stoner Charles & Charlotte Bert John L. Taylor, Jr. Edward S. Bishop Jr. Nelson Tillou Robert & Suzanne Cochran Stan & Donna Tissue Stan & Cecilia Crippen Paul Warfield John W. Easton Philip Way Roy & Pamela Ebersole William E. Wright Steven R. Farrow Charles I. Gallagher CONTRIBUTOR Shelly H. Kampe Louis & Beverly Barnes Keedysville Ruritan Thomas & Sylvia Barnhart J. Carl Llewellyn C Richard & Mary Jane Edward & Nancy Manuel Baumbaugh Llynn & Nancy Russell Lester & Betty Ann Burger Scott R. Paddack William C. Butler Nevin R. Short Arnold & Constance Cramer Murray Queen Smith Max & Nancy Creager Catherine Crider
Museum Members
Joe L Denest Frances M. Diehl Steve & Ann Drager Lee Engel John H. Fix Sr. Irvin F. Golden C.F. & M.B Heefner Donald C. Hegebarth Alan Henninger Eugene R. Hornbaker William Hubbell Harold Martin James A. Matus Dennis Nobile Thomas A. Paradis Petes Tavern Creighton R. Propps R.B. Aero Inc. William & Betty Rinn Nick & Susan Rotondo Louise C. Snurr Donald Spickler Tom Stonebraker James P. Walsh Landis Whitsel INDIVIDUAL David & Grace Andrews Audrey C. Asbury John & Virginia Barger John T. Baugh III Davis L. Baughman Karen M. Berger Norman Birzer Leonard E. Bonker Ray Bottoms Jr. David Bragunier Carl Busey Donald Carty James A. Chybicki Gerald E. Cohen Shirley Cole Michael Coraggio Peter L. Cousins Nedson Crawford James E. Crockett Richard W. Currie William M. Curtis III Meredith E. Darlington Frances R. Davies Greg Davis Reg & Shirley Diller Vernon B. Downey Marie & Charles Ebersole Robert Etter Jack Evans Frank E. Gochenaher Eugene & Mildred Goetz Oliver R. Goetz Rod Graham John & Patricia Gratz 38
William A. Guenon Fred Gregory Donis B Hamilton Wilber R. Harris Richard Hawley Lloyd & Evelyn Hayner Roland G. Hebb William D. Heckman John R. Herrera Ricky & Debra Hose Barry Hunt James G. Keller Mike Kelly Jack King Greg Kline Larry Knechtel George Knode Jr. James M. Landis, Jr. Franklin & Virginia Leiter Robert D. Logan Leroy & Shirley Logue Donald & Virginia Lucas Tim Manahan James L. Martin Mary Mattax Richard D. McNeal William Billy Mitchell Paul & Phyllis Mummert Eugene & Bernice Nabors Gary Nicola Steven & Joan Okeefe Maxine M. Palmer Dominick & Ann Pellegreno Arnold & Mary Ann Potter Everett Potter David Raymer James L. Rice Louise Rider Albert A. Roberts, Jr. Stoyan Russell Harold G. Scheck Nevin A. Short Catherine A. Skaggs Kevin L. Spessard Sr. Doris Stonebraker Robert L. Taylor Susan E. Thompson F. Dean Truax Kenneth Tyson Jerry Walbrun Edward C. Wegner Martin & Ruth Weller Wayne & Irene Wentz Charles Wolfe Don E. Wolford Frank & Suanne Woodring Edgar A. Woods
Hagerstown Aviation Museum Membership & Donation Form Name:______________________ Date:______ Company:______________________________ Street:______________________ City:_________________________ State:_____ Zip:________ Phone:___________________ Email:___________________________
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