San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

El Cajon, CA – As some of you know, CAP has been helping out Air Group One, Commemorative Air Force (CAF), in El Cajon since the beginning of their first Wings Over Gillespie (WOG) Air Show twelve years ago. Disestablished El Cajon Composite Squadron 55 led the CAP volunteers until last year when San Diego Cadet Squadron 144 took over on a trial basis on Saturday only. After learning from last year, the Phoenix Squadron took on full leadership and volunteered for both days, 22-23 April 2006, assisted by Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47 from Oceanside, CA.

After an initial brief by Capt Dennis Ammann, Sq. 144 Activities Officer, concerning the air show duties and safety aspects, Chaplain Richard Nelson, Sq. 47 Chaplain was asked to say a prayer for the safety of all pilots, spectators, and the volunteers who would be at the weekend air show.

The following personnel volunteered to work the WOG air show:

Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47
Maj Brian Billing
Maj Michael Woods
Capt Richard Nelson
1Lt Tony Diaz
1Lt Bill Dean
SM David MacGregor

Phoenix Cadet Squadron 144
LtCol Ben Aaron
Maj Daryl Newton
Capt Dennis Ammann
C/2Lt Bobby Coeur
C/CMSgt Matthew Corey
C/SMSgt Joseph Connolly
C/SMSgt Peter Kler
C/SSgt Alex Ramos
C/Amn Chandra Murphy
C/Amn Laura Brown
C/A1c Shawn Bailey
C/AB Clifton Cooper
C/AB Nathaniel Porter
C/AB Alec Jones

At 0730 hours all CAP personnel reported to Mr. Steve Real, CAF Air Boss and Mr. Steve Church, CAF Ground Boss for a safety brief along with all the other community volunteers. Since CAP is known for their experience around aircraft, they were assigned flight line security along with other related jobs that might crop up. CAP is also the only organization to wear a military uniform at WOG and as such, CAP’s presence is appreciated by CAF as people tend to obey/respect authority of uniformed personnel more than the other volunteers. This was also a good opportunity to recruit prospective members during the air show when stopped by the general public to inquire about CAP.

C/2Lt Bobby Coeur, Sq. 144 was assigned as the Cadet Commander with C/CMSgt Matthew Corey as his Deputy. CAP HQs was set up at Bravo 4, a position on the north eastern end of the cross runway 17/35 right next to a huge Antonov AN-2 Colt Russian utility bi-plane (airborne pick-up truck). Comms were established between key cadets, senior members, and CAP HQs using hand held radios, providing flexibility to move personnel around and assigned tasks.

The weather was not picture perfect like it usually is in San Diego each morning. There was a low ceiling of about 3,000’ and slight sprinkles throughout both mornings. At 1000 hours the air show began with CAP personnel proudly standing at attention for the National Anthem while a formation of five North American AT-6 Texans flew over followed by a missing man formation of four Beech T-34 Mentors.

All through the day, various aircraft were running up their engines and taxiing by the flight line. Line ropes were dropped after the display aircraft were ready for viewing and reestablished to prevent incursion onto an active runway/taxiway.

This was the first year that pyrotechnics were set off between runways 27L and 27R for a simulated Vietnam era bombing run. There were two Douglas A-1 Skyraiders that made passes over the runway, simulating bombing with explosions going off. CAP personnel met “Bubba” who was the pilot of the A-1 Skyraider called “606.” Bubba was very friendly and invited everyone over for a personal walk around tour of his aircraft. Unfortunately with so much going on, no one was able to take him up on his offer.

There were two aerobatic acts, John Collver flying his AT-6 Texan and Chuck Lischer flying a Marchett SF-260 military trainer. Both excellent shows, even though they had to switch to their “low vis” routine. There were numerous fly-bys of famous WWII aircraft, Chuck Hall was there with his North American P-51 Mustang (called “Six Shooter”) and the Planes of Fame from Chino, CA flew their Curtis P-40 Warhawk, Grumman TBM Avenger (President Bush (41) flew this light bomber in WWII), and Vought F4U Corsair fighter. The AN-2 Colt demonstrated its short landing take-off (STOL) capabilities. With that huge four bladed engine on the front, large flaps and wing surfaces, plus slats on the upper wing’s leading edge, this Russian “airborne pick-up truck” looked as though it was flying about 20 mph down the runway 27R, just hanging in the air with its propeller! The only jet fly-bys were the “Thunder Delfins”, a group of four Czech L-29 Delfin jets that perform formation demos. This jet trainer was used by Warsaw Pact countries during the cold war. The other jet appearance was a Russian fighter, the MiG-21 Fishbed from Brown Field just to the south of Gillespie; this MiG performed four fly-bys.

Besides flight line security, CAP personnel helped move the AN-2 Colt by working together, pushing it backwards toward the taxi area and chocking the wheels when finished.

The grand finale occurred at 1700 hours each day when the Boeing B-17G Flyingfortress, Consolidated B-24J Liberator, North American B-25J Mitchell and AN-2 Colt took up their paying passengers for a 30 minute flight. After establishing new flight lines CAP personnel watched these four aircraft run their engine checks (eleven total), during preflight with accompanying fuel/oil smell, and deafening engine sounds. All those Wright pistons and turning blades producing that prop wash; just amazing! (Although the Russian AN-2 Colt has a WSK Kalisz engine, it is really a Wright R-1820 Cyclone like the others, manufactured under license). This was CAP’s real payday for the hard work they performed each day, watching these four planes taxi by. One could imagine what it was like at an English air field during WWII with 30 or 40 bombers with engines idling, waiting to taxi and take-off at 0400 hours prior to a bombing mission to the continent! After the four aircraft left, CAP duties were secured for the day. C/CMSgt Matthew Corey, Sq. 144 stated, “There's nothing like seeing the only flying B-24 among many other World War II era aircraft."

Sunday’s activities were the same as Saturday’s with the except of a special treat: Maj Newton befriended the pilot of the Collins Foundation’s B-25 Mitchell named, “Tondelayo" who let everyone sit in the cockpit and also allowed CAP to hand crank the two engine propellers in order to bring some of the oil from the bottom to the top of the engine prior to start-up. This prevents wear and tear on the unlubricated pistons and cylinders. It took at least two people to push each blade so the next two could push the following blade. Each bomber’s engine requires at least seven complete turns before starting engines. One often sees this same task being performed while viewing WWII bomber documentaries.

On a historical note, the Tuesday prior to WOG, during Squadron 144’s 18 April 2006 meeting, the 64th anniversary of Maj Jimmy Doolittle’s raid on Tokyo, Japan was mentioned, little did we know we’d be sitting in the cockpit of a B-25 a few days later. Sixteen B-25s flew off the deck of the USS HORNET (CV-8), completing the first attack on the Japanese home island after Pearl Harbor. One could only think back to what it was like sitting inside that cramped cockpit for so long, not knowing if you’ll make it home alive. There were also many WWII bomber pilots and aircrew with their families, walking about the three WWII bombers with some taking a ride in them, some probably for the last time. LtCol Benjamin Aaron, Sq. 144 commented that, “For those of us who lived through WWII, who heard daily about feats performed by these marvelous planes and aircrews, it was uplifting to see them up close and to enjoy the roar of their engines as they came to life, taxied out, took off and over flew the airfield. They may be superseded technologically, by larger and faster and more sophisticated planes, but they have a permanent place in the history of this great country because they got the job done against formidable enemies and helped preserve our precious freedoms.” Cadet Chandra Murphy, Sq. 144 had this to say, “Getting close to the big bombers when all their engines are running is a unique experience and going inside the B-17 and B-24 was like going back in time and seeing what it was like to be the crew.” Cadet Joseph Connolly, Sq. 144 also commented that, “WOG was an awesome way for the many aviation enthusiasts to get up close and personal to historic aircraft. We worked hard, but the payoff was great, being around those huge bombers and getting to go inside them was truly a unique experience.”

After watching the “heavies” leave, on Sunday, CAP secured and left for the day. The cadets did a great job and received valuable training in flight line security, aircraft placement, chocking wheels, and most importantly aerospace education – HISTORY! Reading about it is one thing, seeing and actually touching the planes is another. This combined CAP effort was greatly appreciated by the Mr. Steve Real and his Air Group One, CAF volunteers. Without the excellent help from the Skyhawk Squadron, the Phoenix Squadron would not have been as effective keeping everyone safe at the air show. Next year the Phoenix Squadron hopes that other squadrons will be able to assist and see what a wonderful “small town” air show is like at “Wings Over Gillespie”, El Cajon, CA.

Posted by Vince at 5:57 PM | Permalink