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This Second World War Flyers Tribute was jointly put on by the Air Force Association and the CAF |
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The program began with a flyover by Pilots Tim Barzen in the Harvard, the Canadian version of an AT-6, Walt Fricke in the T-28 and Paul Ehlen in "Little Horse" a P-51D. Not shown is the B-25 "Miss Michell" flown by Terrel Stern and Brad Pass. |
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A delicious lunch was served before the main event of the day, stories told by a few of the many veterans who gathered for the day. |
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A stage was set up in the hangar so that all could see our honored guests as they stood to speak. |
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Tom Dougherty recounted how he was captured by the French after crash landing his plane off the coast of North Africa. |
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Adam Klosowskey spoke of being a gunner on a B-17 that was shot down. He managed to bail out but was captured by an angry mob of civilians who were going to lynch him. A German officer intervened and saved his life. |
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Seated, listening to another speaker are John Seely, Ken Dahlberg, Wayne Gatlin, and Wayne Johnson. |
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P-51 pilot Ken Dalhberg told of being shot down several times and living to tell the tale. His plane, "Little Horse" has been honored by current P-51 pilot and owner Paul Ehlen. (See pictures at the top of this page.) |
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An attentive crowd listened to the stories and were reminded of some of their own stories and WWII experiences. |
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Wayne Johnson talked about landing himself in trouble when he "liberated" a jeep that turned out to be the base commander's. He was rescued by a timely transfer by an understanding admin. officer who shipped him off to the Flying Tigers in China a nanosecond before the commander arrived. |
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Wayne Gatlin gazes off toward the airplanes on display and back through history as he remembered the many pilots he knew personally who gave their lives in service to their country. |
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Detachment member and president of Cirrus Design Corporation, Alan Klapmeier, spoke of the important mission that the CAF performs and about supporting the Redtail Project, the Minnesota Wing's effort to rebuild our rare P-51C Mustang that honors the sacrifices of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Cirrus Design Corporation is located here in Duluth has been an important supporter of the Wing. |
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A Cirrus SR22-G2 flies in formation with the "Miss Mitchell", our B-25 as it departs for our base at Fleming Field in South Saint Paul. It was a great day for flying!
For more information about the
Commemorative Air Force or the Lake
Superior Squadron, Please Contact
Dewayne Tomasek at
info@cafduluth.com
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