National Buccaneers Newsletter

Transcription

1 National Buccaneers Newsletter Prez Captain Stan Sez January, 2019 Happy New Year to all.. Bob and I are currently formulating plans with the Embassy Suites of St. Augustine for a two day convention in April or May depending on hotel availability and price. This hotel is brand new (December), on the Atlantic Ocean, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Stay tuned for more information in the very near future. Please let us know if you might have any comments or suggestions by sending an to myself (kodiakbigfoot@aol.com) or Bob (Piersonjen@aol.com). Remember the Ocala luncheon at the Ocala Golden Corral restaurant on January 9th. We look forward to seeing you. As always in the Atlanta area, the luncheon will be in Peach Tree City on January 17th at the Taco Mac. Page 1

2 Mystery Section Well, mystery participants, I have to admit a blunder. Having not traveled to Panama City in many moons, they fooled me and built a new airport since the days of our NAL Panhandle Puddle Jumper fl ights. Soooo...I picked the wrong airport picture. Sorry bout that. BUT, the good news is almost all the regulars overlooked my airport ignorance and correctly identifi ed the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. (Panama City). John Wentworth, Jim Gannon, Stan Barfi eld, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Massey, Jim Gettys, Bob and Linda Spencer, Rusty Heard, Vince Wynne, Curt Briggs, Jerome Kline, Alan Gee and Gary Snodgrass. The mystery airplane ended up being a very hard fi nd and I will stay away from the extreme going forward. The Rumpler C.IV, was a German single-engine, two-seat reconnaissance biplane. Even so, Curt Briggs, Vince Wynne, Alan Gee, Jim Gannon, Gary Snodgrass, Rusty Heard, Jerome Kline and Joe Claytor dug it out of the weeds. Way to go. me with your answers! Hart Kelley islandhartjune@aol.com Page 2

3 Obituary of F/A Toni Mamert NAL/PAA/DAL Flight Attendant Maria-Antonietta Toni (Mortalo) Mamert DOB Dec 12, 1948 DOH Dec 15, 1972 DOD Nov 10, 2018 Obituary of Early NAL Stewardess Thelma Mae (Dennis) Teichmann MOB Dec 1926 DOH Mar 8, 1950 DOD Dec 4, 2018 Toni passed away suddenly on November 10th. During her 33 year fl ight attendant career, she fl ew for National, Pan Am, and Delta Air Lines. She is survived by her husband of 33 year and a son. She and her family resided in Miami. Thelma Teichmann (Thelma Mae Dennis), 91, of Ocala, Florida, passed away peacefully on December 4, Born in Detroit, Michigan, Thelma grew up in Florida and Michigan. She studied at Stetson College and later became a stewardess for National Airlines, often fl ying between Miami and Cuba. Page 3

4 Dear Buccaneers: Newsletter Changes After almost two years of producing one of the nicest newsletters in the history of the Buccaneers, Gigi Cockes has decided she will no longer be able to continue as the editor. To say we are disappointed would be an understatement. As we move forward, if Gigi can find the time to send in occasional tidbits, they would be welcome. Bill Mauldin s daughter-in-law, Beth, who is very familiar with web publications has agreed to step into Gigi s very large shoes so we can continue with the newsletter. We are considering going to a bi-monthly format and will keep you informed. Sincerely, Your NAL BUCS Officers Stan Barfield Robert J. Pierson Bob Thrasher December Luncheon Report Good morning Stan, The luncheon went well yesterday although you were missed. We had probably 20 some people participate. Keith Mackey came as did Jim Gannon who brought his son who is now a Delta Captain. Jack and Sandi Gordon were there with their son who is also a Delta Captain. For several years now we have given the club s share of the Christmas 50/50 to Maritza (our waitress) for taking such great care of us. We did so again this year to the tune of $55. I hope that meets with your approval. I told the group that you had set us up for 2019 at the restaurant so they know that the meetings are a go for next year. I also thanked Bob Thrasher for making the effort to come in and be with us. Our group responded very nicely and made an effort to talk to him and wish him well. Hope you re feeling better soon! Bob s Blurbs Dear Nalbucs Membership: My wife Sharon and I have been the Treasurers of our club for a number of years. Unfortunately I am no longer able to perform the job. The doctors tell me that I just enjoyed my last Christmas and New Years so God has blessed me with the time to say goodbye to loved ones and friends. I have given my notice of resignation, and the club still will need a treasurer. I ask for someone to take over the job and I promise to provide the needed help for an easy transition. I have good records both on paper and a computer database. If you think you might be interested in taking over and have any questions, please feel free to call me anytime from 09:00 to 21:00 and I ll be happy to fill you in on the details. Call my landline at (352) or cell at (352) I always enjoyed working with many of you at National and Pan Am. As biology does it s thing, I am just so peaceful about it all thanks to my faith in Jesus. I am not in pain and my mind is still clear but a bit slower, and as my future is uncertain one tends to look back and review ones life. When I do so, I mostly have happy memories about National Airlines and so many of you who I worked with. As the late comedian Bob Hope used to say; THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES Bob Thrasher John Wentworth Page 4

5 We all have memories of a very particular flight, but for some of us there may have been others. My first co-pilot trip on the Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop comes to mind with Art Millard, my first jet (727) takeoff and landing with Captain Bill Archer who was a phenomenal stick and rudder aviator. There were my first trips as Captain on the B-727, DC-10, L-1011, B-747, DC-8, and B-777 (Roy Sellers as my check airman), but the ONE that really stands out in my memory bank happened in my hometown of Ocala, Florida. MY MOST MEMORABLE FLIGHT By Stanley M. Barfield minutes, five aircraft appeared to the North, and I must say it was a beautiful and patriotic sight that I will never forget. A WWII B-24J Liberator bomber accompanied by four P-51D Mustangs flew over the runway at 200 feet passing right in front of the flag-waving, patriotic, and mesmerized crowd. They pulled up and broke right for a downwind and landing on runway 18 with the B-24J being the last to land. It was a beautiful November Friday morning in Ocala, Florida, when I received a call from a fellow aviator friend asking if I would like to go to our local airport, as a WWII bomber and numerous other military aircraft were scheduled to land for a weekend static display. We arrived around 10:30 hours and were amazed at the large crowd that had the same idea. It took us about twenty-five minutes to find a parking spot and reach the roped off tarmac area, whereupon we could watch for the arrival of the aircraft. One could sense that most of the individuals around us were equally excited, as we all anticipated the arrival of military aviation history. Within a short time, we heard the sound of multiple aircraft approaching from the north for an assumed landing on runway 18. Within Page 5 During the B-24J s taxi to the tarmac, a crew member with an American flag appeared from the forward overhead hatch and remained at that point until the aircraft parked and the four large R-1830 engines were shut down. The crowd was clapping and yelling with enthusiastic patriotism as the flag waved in the morning breeze. The nose art had the name ALL AMERICAN in bright red letters and the names of the lead crew. I borrowed some binoculars and looked at the B-24J and names under the left cockpit window, lowered them, rubbed my eyes and realized that I was seeing the name Art Millard, Pilot. Could this be the same Captain that I flew my very first National Airlines co-pilot trip with on the L-188 Lockheed Electra, or could this just be a coincidence? Anxiously, I waited and watched as the crew departed thru the aircraft exits. Within moments, there stood Cap-

6 tain Millard as big as life. It took me a few minutes to get his attention as the crowd was still held back by the tarmac ropes. Art noticed me, came right over, lifted the ropes and allowed my friends and I to enter the ramp area and join him at the Liberator. It had been almost 19 years since we had seen each other. He immediately took us for about an hour personal tour of the aircraft. I had completely forgotten that he was a B-24J aircraft commander in the Pacific during the war. I had stayed about four hours and was walking to the car when I heard someone calling my name. I turned and it was Art walking towards me calling my name. He asked if I would like to fly the Liberator as his co-pilot had been notified by TWA that he was needed for a flight. Without hesitation, I told him I would be proud to fly with him again. He reached into a bag, handed me a leather bound flight manual titled B-24J Liberator RE- STRICTED, and asked me to review it that evening. We agreed to meet the following morning at 0730 for an overview of normal systems, flight controls, emergency/evacuation procedures and a walk around the aircraft. Upon arriving home, I opened the book and read the writing on the inside cover: Dedicated to the Collings Foundation in memory of my son, who was killed during a bombing raid over Germany while flying a mission in the B-24. Needless to say, that was a very touching moment in my life because of all that suffered and/or gave the ultimate in WWII and all wars in later years. May God bless our revered and distinguished veterans.. Art gave me a superb briefing the following morning on systems and emergency procedures, with a departure set for 1400 hours. The flight would be to the Kissimmee airport which is approximately five miles southwest of Orlando. We completed the pre-flight, all appropriate checklists, and were cleared by ground personnel to start #3. As the engine instruments are on the co-pilot s forward panel, it was my job to initiate the start when requested by Art. I leaned out the right window to clear #3 and was star struck at the rare sight for the times, of a ground crewmember with a large fire extinguisher on a cart as he waited for the engine to start. After the remaining engines were started, Art received a chock signal/salute from the ground crew, asked for the taxi checklist as we started our taxi to runway 18. After completing the taxi checklist, the run up of all four 1,200 horsepower 14 cylinder Pratt Whitney super-charged R radial piston engines and the before takeoff checklist, we cleared the airspace and taxied into takeoff position. Art gave the aircraft to me and stated your aircraft, something he had told me many times in the past. As I pushed the four throttles forward, my mind was consumed with the thought of our young pilots doing this on a daily basis over 50 years ago, as they fought for our freedoms. At 800 feet we felt #3 engine running rough possibly due to a degrading magneto. Art and I discussed the problem with the flight engineer who agreed. We proceeded to shut the engine down, feathered the prop and secured the engine. We continued southbound to Kissimmee at 3,000 feet. There we were flying an old WWII B-24J bomber at 3,000 feet with three engines over Florida. Art briefed the crew that he would take the aircraft when northeast of Orlando and we would restart the engine 10 minutes out of Kissimmee. In a short time, he told me that he had the aircraft and asked me to contact McCoy tower for clearance to fly over the airport. As always, the approach/landing was uneventful and professionally done by Captain Millard. This was one of several later flights with Captain Millard in the B-24J over the next few months. I am very fortunate to have flown with the many experienced and professional National Airline captains such as Captain Art Millard in my early years. The intertwining of our paths in life are a constant source for wonder and contemplation. Perhaps it is well that the answers remain elusive so our imaginations can run without inhibitions. Page 6

7 BUCCANEER MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2019 Dues are $ This form is interactive. Place your cursor on any field and type in the information. Name Address City, State, and Zip Phone Position held at National Mail your checks to: Stanley M. Barfield c/o NAL Buccaneers Club 8850 SE 7th Avenue Road Ocala, Florida Page 7