1

Michigan Air Guard Historical Association

Website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org

Email: magha@selfridgeairmuseum.org

April - June 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

Taps 2 - 3

127th Wing Happenings 4 - 8

110th Attack Wing Happenings 9

This Day in History 10 – 11

Museum Happenings 12 – 25

Volunteers 26

Michigan Activity Pass 27

Macomb County Heritage Alliance’s ‘Passport Program’ 27

Reader Information Survey 28

MAGHA Membership Application 29

Memorial Wall Brick Program 30

2

TAPS

NAME MI ANG SERVICE DATE OF DEATH

Lt Col Louis J. Nigro 1967-2000 24 May 2020

Lt Col Robert Farnette 1975-1987 15 May 2020

Selfridge Military Air Museum Volunteers say farewell to our ‘beloved’ Executive Director, Louis J. ‘Lou’ Nigro –

A retired Michigan Air National Guard pilot credited with transforming the Selfridge Military Air Museum into a “must-see” attraction for aviation lovers and patriotic Americans has died. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lou Nigro of Chesterfield Township, who served more than half a century at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, died Sunday, May 24, after a long illness. He was 75. Nigro spent 35 years as a member of the Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard, starting in the enlisted ranks before earning a commission and serving as a pilot in the C-26 Metroliner and C-130 Hercules. Along the way, he held various staff officer positions while serving in the Air National Guard at Selfridge. “He really dedicated his life to the men and women who

called Selfridge their home,” said Brig. Gen. Rolf E. Mammen, commander of the 127th Wing and of Selfridge. In 1994, when Mammen transitioned from the Air Force to the Michigan Guard, he and Nigro flew together several times. “In fact, I believe it was Lou who gave me my first check ride in the Michigan Guard,” Mammen said. “The museum wasn’t half what it was when he volunteered to take it over. He took it from a nice air park to a place celebrating the heritage of Selfridge,” Mammen said.

3

It was Nigro’s tenure as the volunteer executive director of the Selfridge Museum that drew widespread accolades. He spent his retirement years transforming the museum. The museum was started in 1975 by the late Col. (Ret.) Bob Stone, who worked to get donations of aircraft to create the outdoor air park portion of the museum. Nigro became executive director in 2000 and helped guide the museum into a multi-

BG Harold ‘Rudy’ Rudolph with Lt. Col. Louis J. Nigro

faceted organization that not only features aircraft in the air park, but also includes a small research library of Selfridge-related materials, a restoration garage where volunteers restore vintage aircraft and the museum itself, uniforms, pictures and the memorabilia of more than 100 years of military operations at what was once known as Selfridge Field. The museum is staffed by dozens of volunteers, most of them military veterans who continue to serve by lending a hand at the museum. Nigro also co-wrote a book with former Mount Clemens librarian Deborah Larsen titled “Selfridge Field.” Nigro’s proceeds from the sale of the book have all been donated to the museum since it was first published in 2006. Major Gen. (Ret.) Paul Pochmara, president of the museum’s board of directors, said Nigro was integral to all aspects of the museum’s growth over the years. “Lou spent over 55 years at Selfridge with over 35 years in the military and 20 years as the full-time volunteer, non-paid executive director of the Air Museum. No other person epitomizes ‘service above self’ more than Lou. He will be missed by all who served with him,” Pochmara said. A planned celebration of Nigro’s 20 years of service at the museum was postponed several times and ultimately had to be cancelled due to the current restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, the museum board named Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Wayne Fetty as the museum’s fourth director upon Nigro’s retirement. “Under Lou's guidance, the Selfridge Military Air Museum grew and became a 'must see' small museum in the southeast Michigan area. Through his perseverance and hard work, the Selfridge Museum grew in size and scope,” Fetty said. Former Congresswoman and current Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller echoed the thoughts of the military

Lou in Radio Seat aboard the P-3B Orion in Air Park

personnel. “He provided a terrific service to the community by helping to preserve the record of what was accomplished at Selfridge. He leaves a tremendous legacy,” Miller said. ---Norb Franz, The Macomb Daily (Source: The Voice, 26 May 2020)

Our Host Team at the Museum and MAGHA lost another valuable weekend docent recently. Lt. Col. Robert Farnette (MI ANG, Ret) died 15 May 2020. He was with the 191st Fighter Interceptor Group, 1975-1987 and was a docent in our Flight Training Room or SPAD Hangar since 2004, volunteering 15 or more days each season. Bob was a lawyer, in West Bloomfield, Michigan for the past 51 years, practicing in military law and served as a JAG officer with the Michigan Air National Guard.

4

127th Wing Happenings

Selfridge Airman Maintain Combat Readiness

A-10 Operations

Crew chiefs and pilots work on the Selfridge flight

line to prepare for A-10 Thunderbolt II training

missions on June 6, 2020, at Selfridge Air National

Guard Base, Mich. The A-10 is primarily an air-to-

ground combat aircraft, designed to bring lethality

to the battle space in close support of U.S. or allied

ground forces.

Story & Photos by TSGT Dan Heaton, Public Affairs

In the first drill weekend since the coronavirus pandemic, Staff Sgt. Andrew Kolbe got checked out in the basics of the T34 turbofan jet engine, used on the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The training -- and the combat readiness -- of the Michigan Air National Guard has continued throughout the course of the pandemic. Social distancing, remote work and similar measures continue to be taken, but that has not stopped the 127th Wing from maintaining its tradition as America's Minutemen.

For Kolbe, a former jet engine mechanic on F-16 Fighting Falcons with the Ohio Air National Guard, that meant getting checked out on his new engines. As he and his trainer, Staff Sgt. Chris Fisher, worked in the engine shop, A-10s could be heard spooling up on the flight line, ready for the afternoon "go." On the other side of the world, another team of Selfridge-based Guardsman from the base's KC-135 Stratotanker units are on duty in the Middle East. Readiness continues in

ways both small and large. And for Kolbe, that meant getting checked out in the T34. "Obviously, there's a lot of similarities, but also a lot of differences between the two," Kolbe said. The 127th Propulsion Element keeps one T34 on a stand to be used for training purposes. Staff Sgt. Chris Fisher was working with Kolbe on the training. "Initially, its spending time checking a few things on the engine, just familiarizing yourself with where everything is located," Fisher said. For the Airmen of the 127th Wing, the training -- and the mission -- continues, even unusual times.

5

American Strong Photo Contest

The results are in and we have the top three photos from our Michigan Strong Photo Contest. Please help us congratulate Tony Patroske, Heather Ziegler VanHouten, and Russ Way for these great photos!

We would like to thank everyone for their support and all the great photos that were sent in for our Michigan Strong Flyover Photo Contest. The judging was difficult, and we wish we had enough patches for everyone.

6

171st Air Refueling Squadron

Air crew personnel from the 171st Air Refueling Squadron and maintainers from the 191st

Maintenance Squadron place KC-135 Stratotanker air crew in a protective bag during an

exercise to simulate operating in a chemical warfare environment while at Selfridge Air National

Guard Base, Mich., June 7, 2020. In order to provide maximum capability to the national

command authority, Air National Guard personnel train to meet a wide variety of

contingencies, living up to their heritage as America's Minutemen and Michigan's Hometown

Air Force. The exercise tested the units' ability to continue to operate under the threat of a

chemical warfare attack. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton)

Photos courtesy of Ryan Jakubowski of J&C Photography in Tribute to Essential Workers across Michigan.

7

Available at Google Play Store & Apple App Store

8

SrA Leilani Bowles (pictured at left), 127th Force Support Squadron and a Selfridge Military Air Museum volunteer, received a Commander’s Coin awarded by BG Teff for sewing over 2300 masks for free to donate to fellow military members and civilians. The presentation was arranged by SrA Bowles’ former commander, Lt. Col Hay, 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

9

110th Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan

Command Master Sergeant Balabuch

It is with great pleasure that we announce the selection of CMSgt Jenny Balabuch as the next 110th Wing Command Chief. Chief Balabuch has been a member of the Michigan Air National throughout her career, beginning right here at the 110th in 1994.

App is available for iPhone, iPad, and in the Google Play Store.

10

This Day in History…

June 13 1944 Germany V1 rockets / Doodlebugs Crash on London June 14 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill to add the words "under God" to the United States Pledge of Allegiance 1954 Atomic Emergency Civil Defense Drill 1982 The Falkland Islands War ends when Argentina surrenders to Great Britain after a war lasting 6 weeks June 17 1885 The French gift to the United States "The Statue of Liberty" arrives in New York City aboard the French ship Isere. June 20 1910 The First Father's Day was celebrated for the first time in Spokane, Washington June 22 1941 Germany launches Operation Barbarossa the invasion of Russia 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the GI bill of Rights Bill June 23 1931 Wiley Post and his navigator, Harold Gatty, took off for around the world flight in the single-engine airplane June 24 1948 Soviets blockade West Berlin blocking off all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin. June 25 1876 Custer's Last Stand during the Battle of the Little Bighorn

11

June 25 1943 Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower takes command as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe 1950 North Korea Attack South Korea starting the Korean War. June 26 1945 50 nations sign the United Nations Charter, establishing the world body as a means of helping to stop another World War happening 1948 United States begins a massive airlift of food, water, and medicine to the citizens of West Berlin June 27 1944 Allied forces liberate Cherbourg as the first step to liberating France and the beginning of the end for World War II. June 28 1919 Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles with the Allies, officially ending World War I.

12

Museum Happenings

Heritage Day @ Enlisted Heritage House (EHH)

The Selfridge Military Air Museum will be participating with the Enlisted Heritage House for their Heritage Days, scheduled for Saturday, 25 July 2020 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost for this event is $20 and registration is required. A tour of the Selfridge Air Museum will be included for this event and all participants will have to print off their email pass to bring to the Museum for admission. To register, please visitenlistedheritagehouse.com/ehh-events.

Selfridge Retirees Meeting

The Selfridge Military Air Museum will once again be hosting the ‘Retirees’ luncheon and meeting in July. Please plan on joining us for a great time in the Museum’s Air Park. Check out our website (http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SelfridgeMilitaryAirMuseum/) for additional details closer to July. If you were unable to attend last year’s event, or didn’t know about it, check out the Museum’s Facebook page for up-to-date information. This event is open to ALL retirees from Selfridge regardless of branch of service.

Memorial for Lt Col Louis J. Nigro

A memorial service is being planned for Lt Col Louis J. Nigro on Sunday, 30 August. The Museum’s Executive Director, CMSgt Wayne Fetty, (MI ANG, Ret) will update us via email as plans, and time are finalized with the family. Stay tuned….

Base Community Council Meeting

The Selfridge Military Air Museum is on the calendar to host the September Luncheon and Meeting of the Base Community Council. Check out the Museum’s website (http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SelfridgeMilitaryAirMuseum/) closer to September for additional details.

13

Museum Happenings (cont.)

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT WAYNE T FETTY – NEW Executive Director

CMSgt Wayne Fetty is a long term and dedicated member of over 40 years to the 127th Maintenance Group and the Michigan Air National Guard. Starting his military career in 1976 and only 17 years old he completed basic training. In 1979 he hired in full time as one of the first AGRs in the 127th Wing and then, six months later converted to a Title 32 Technician. During his career he has worked on several aircraft to include F-100 Super Saber, A-7 Course Air, F-16 A/B & C/D Falcons and A-10 Warthogs. Supporting the organization and cross training career fields he has held numerous positions; Aerospace Photographic System Repairman, Avionics Technician, A-7 Flight Simulator Supervisor, PMEL Lab Chief, Wing Air Base Operability

Manager, Avionics Branch Chief, Specialist Element Superintendent, Back shop Avionics Superintendent, Production Superintendent, NGB Maintenance Liaison for Theater Airborne Reconnaissance System, 8010 Alert Facility Manager and Component Maintenance Flight Superintendent.

Over the years Chief Fetty has deployed over 100 times both stateside and abroad to places such as Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Italy and in operations such as Northern Strike, Red Flag, Green Flag, Angle Thunder, OIF, OSW, EOF, Combat Archer, Snowbird and more.

In his civilian life, Chief Fetty served as a community leader in various positions: Youth Basketball, Baseball and Football coach; Established a local Cub Scout Pack, holding positions as Chairperson, Cub Master, Treasury, Secretary and Den Leader; Elected School Board member for ten years with six years as School Board President; Catholic Church Stewardship Committee member and Knights of Columbus member. Founder and President of The Enlisted Heritage House.

ASSIGNMENTS: March 1976 – May 1980, Aerospace Photographic System Technician, 127th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan May 1980 – February 1990, Weapons Control Avionics Technician, 127th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan February 1990 – April 1997, Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Chief, 127th Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan April 1997 – February 2003, Specialist Element Superintendent, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan February 2003 – April 2007, Production Superintendent and Specialist Element Superintendent, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan April 2007 – May 2011, Avionics Element Superintendent, 127th Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan

14

Museum Happenings (cont.)

May 2011 – August 2012, Specialist Element Superintendent, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan August 2012 – December 2016, Component Maintenance Flight Superintendent, 127th Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan

Chief Master Sargent Edward Kaminski – NEW Assistant Director

Served for 31 years of professional experience in the 127th Security Forces Squadron, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Sept 1973 thru February 2004. After retirement, CMSgt Kaminski, was hired by the U.S. Army Garrison Detroit Arsenal as the Contract Administrator for the Security Contract and in 2008, he was hired by the G-2, U.S> Army Tank Automotive Command as a information Security Specialist. CMSgt Kaminski retired from the Army in 2014.

- Throughout his career, CMSgt Kaminski participated in many deployments supporting both the 127th Wing as well as USAF Contingency Operations. In 1990, the 127th SPF was one of only 10 Air National Guard Security Police Flights that were activated and deployed to support both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. - After returning from Desert Storm, CMSgt Kaminski expanded his horizons and founded The Military Air Gallery. Working in his gallery in the evenings and on weekends, Ed was able to bring in many famous personalities from World War II Aviation to meet and greet his customers. In 2004, he was offered the position of Contract Supervisor for the U.S. Army Garrison Detroit and decided that he would have to close the art gallery. - Since his retirement from the Army, and after a brief 3-year stint of living in Las Vegas, While there, Ed volunteered to assist in the 2017 Selfridge Centennial Air Show and Open House. As Warbirds Chairman, He was responsible for the procurement of the many historically significant warbirds, representing aircraft that flew from Selfridge during its 100 years as a military flight facility. Ed returned to Michigan with his wife Linda and took up residence in Macomb, Twp. Ed took a trip to the Selfridge Military Air Museum to visit LtCol Lou Nigro. From there, Lou asked him if he would like to come on board as a volunteer at the museum. Ed accepted and has worked as a volunteer since 2017.

15

Museum Happenings (cont.)

Updates to Museum Displays

Many changes have taken place over the past eight months with the displays at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. If you haven’t visited the Museum in a year or two, you will need to put it on your ‘bucket list’ for the 2020 Season, now through Saturday, 31 October 2020. The Museum and Air Park are open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuskegee Airmen

World War II

Selfridge Field – 1920s – 1930s Selfridge Field to Selfridge AFB – 1940s

16

Museum Happenings (cont.)

New Hangar Project Selfridge Military Air Museum

Conceptual Project Description 7 June 2020

The MAGHA Board of Directors has approved $30,000 of funding for Phase I Design and Construction of a new aircraft display hangar on Museum grounds. The hangar will be home to the F4U Corsair currently being restored in the Museum’s Restoration Shop. The Hangar will house up to three WWII aircraft, have 4000 square feet in floor dimension, and be a pre-manufactured steel building in the iconic WWII style of a Quonset Hut.

The ‘New’ Hangar will sit to the west of the existing SPAD Hangar and will house our restored FG-1D ‘Corsair’, T-6 ‘Texan’, and hopefully someday in the future a ‘Spitfire’. The Museum has a Go-Fund-Me page set up for donations to help in funding this project. Please visit the page at the link below.

17

Museum Happenings (cont.)

Museum Fundraising

Go-Fund-Me

The Selfridge Military Air Museum has a “Go-Fund-Me” initiative to raise funds for improvements to the Museum’s infrastructure. We are hoping to

build a “new” home for the USMC FG-1D Corsair that is currently being restored by our restoration team. Please help if you can!! For more information, watch the video by clicking on the link below or copying and pasting the link into your URL bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bRupDKhHHU&feature=youtu.be. If you’re interested in helping us out with this project, you can make a donation by clicking on this link or by copying/pasting the link into your URL bar: https://www.gofundme.com/7tqvzq-maghaselfridge-military-airmuseum.

Kroger Community Rewards Program

HELP Support the

Selfridge Military Air Museum!

Kroger Community Rewards Program:

This program will link purchases made with your Kroger’s Plus Card to the Selfridge

Military Air Museum so that a portion of the sale is donated back to the Selfridge

Military Air Museum. Directions for signing up with this program can be found on the

Museum’s website: https://selfridgeairmuseum.org

Amazon Smile:

For information about the Amazon Smile Program that the museum is enrolled in, check out

the website: http://selfridgeairmuseum.org/support_AmazonSmile.htmClick on the

link here in order to sign into

18

Museum Happenings (cont.)

The Michigan Air Guard Historical Association created a four-volume set of history books covering the periods

1926-2010.

Volume 1 covers the period from 1926 to 1976

Volume 2 covers the period from 1976 to 1986

Volume 3 covers the period from 1986 to 1996

Volume 4 covers the period from 1996 to 2010

Visit the Selfridge Military Air Museum’s website for ordering information at: https://selfridgeairmuseum.org

or stop by the Museum on an ‘open’ weekend and purchase them in the Gift Shop.

PRINTS FOR SALE IN GIFT SHOP and by SPECIAL ORDER

With our eyes on a future home for our beloved FG-1D Corsair that is currently undergoing restoration by our team volunteers, we have available in the Gift Shop or through mail order using the order form from our website prints or Giclee canvas of ‘Corsair Over Grosse Ile’ for sale. The Museum is still in need of funding for the advancement of the proposed “new” hangar to house our beloved FG-1D Corsair and T-6 “Texan”. These prints and canvases would make a great addition to your military art collection in your ‘man cave’ or ‘she-shed’.

Our FG-1D Corsair, when it finally makes it out of Restoration, will be painted in the markings of USMC Squadron VMF 251, who flew the Goodyear-produced FG-1D Corsair from Grosse Ile Naval Air Station from 1946 through 1950. In 1950, the unit was activated for the Korean War. Before deploying to Korea, VMF-251 converted to the Douglas A-1D Skyraider.

Corsair over Grosse Ile

Michigan Air Guard

Historical Association

Michigan Air National Guard

History Books

19

Museum Happenings (cont.)

‘Miller Time’: Lt. Col. Don Miller’s flight to the Smithsonian F-4C ‘William Tell Final’

Prints of the Corsair over Grosse Ile are available in the Museum’s Gift Shop. Prints on Canvas of these aircraft are available as special order. Please see the Museum’s website at: https://selfridgeairmuseum.org. The Museum Gift Shop has coffee mugs to match!

20

Museum Happenings (cont.)

From the Archives By Joseph Mazzara & Lori Nye

The following are items found on some of the aircraft accidents over the decades that have been located thus far in the Aircraft Accident Project Update ongoing @ the Selfridge Military Air Museum Archives. 180626 BOYLE, JOHN P JN-4H AS-38354 SELFRIDGE FIELD, MI

From https://www.127wg.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/443827/selfridge-honor-roll-lts-boyle-eby/: (entire article) SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- Though now mostly forgotten due to the passage of time, the names of Army 2nd Lt. John Patton Boyle and 2nd Lt. Allen Dale Eby should

stand at the head of any military honor roll at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Boyle was killed in an aircraft crash while serving as an instructor pilot near what was then called Selfridge Field on June 26, 1918 -- the first Selfridge-based pilot to give his life in service to his nation. Eby was severely injured in the same crash but survived. He would later go on to serve more than 30 years as a judge in his hometown in Indiana. The two young Army officers were members of a training squadron at Selfridge, preparing for deployment to Europe for

World War I. From 1917, when the air field was first leased for military use, until 1919, when the war ended, hundreds of pilots and more than 1,000 aerial gunners received training at the base prior to shipping overseas for what was known as The Great War. Flying with Boyle on the day of the crash was Eby, an aircraft "observer." According to one account, Eby was "very badly injured and, while living, is likely to die." A newspaper story the next day stated that Eby did indeed die from his injuries, a couple of hours after the crash. That news report turned out to be in error: Eby died June 10, 1966, at the age of 73, back home in Indiana. Though they were on American soil at the time of the accident, Boyle and Eby can rightly be memorialized and honored as early casualties of World War I, as both men were preparing for service in what became the first war to make significant use of military air power. Memorial Day, marked this year on May 30, is a day set aside by Congressional decree to honor the service and sacrifice of men and women such as Boyle and Eby. Though Boyle's death occurred 93 years ago, it is not forgotten. Neither is it the Boyle family's only connection to Selfridge. In the middle 1950s, Patton Boyle's nephew, James M. Boyle, served as an Airman at the base for his first duty assignment. James Boyle eventually retired from the Air Force as a chief master sergeant in 1980.

21

Museum Happenings (cont.)

"I assume my great-grandmother was thrilled when her grandson followed in the footsteps of Patton, because she pulled strings to have him stationed at Selfridge," said Michelle Raine, James Boyle's daughter and Patton Boyle's great-niece. Raine has traced her family history and many of the members of the extended Boyle family are Air Force veterans, with service in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Raine herself is also an Air Force veteran. She and her father now live in the Denver area. At least four newspaper accounts exist of the crash that killed Boyle, two of which appear to come from the Mount Clemens Daily Leader, a forerunner to today's Macomb Daily newspaper. Another account appears to be from a newspaper in Fond du Lac, Wisc., which was Boyle's hometown. An account also appears in the New York Times. Each of the accounts is only a few sentences long. Each of the papers spell Eby's name a different way - Eby, Ebey or Ebby. Two of the press accounts give Boyle's middle initial as "T," but the paper from Fond du Lac, his hometown, gives his middle name as Patton. In fact, Boyle generally went by his middle name, Patton. Eby likewise was generally known as "Dale" - though several of the newspaper accounts listed his middle initial as "B" rather than "D." Boyle and Eby were likely members of either the 8th or 9th Aero Squadron, both of which were part of the Army Air Service and were assigned to Selfridge at the time. While the newspapers don't identify the aircraft they were flying, the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, a biplane, was the primary aircraft at the base at the time. At about 3 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon, the two men were flying at an estimated 1,200 to 2,000 feet when the aircraft dropped from the sky and landed on the Lenfestey farm, according to the Daily Leader story. Today, Lenfesty Drive (note the spelling difference) is located just to the west of the base, between Joy Boulevard and M-59 and between Interstate-94 and Gratiot Avenue. The cause of the crash was a mystery: "What occurred up there in the air may never be told," the Daily Leader reported.

22

Museum Happenings (cont.)

The Selfridge Military Air Museum received a box of photos from William Perkins that had belonged to his father Roger Perkins who was a member of the 107th Observation Squadron during World War II. Here are a few more of those photos for your viewing pleasure.

German half-track Panther tank

Mulberry Harbor on Normandy

23

Museum Happenings (cont.)

Even with the pandemic and temporary shut-down of non-essential places of business,

museums, libraries, etc., the volunteer staff were able to keep up with business either from

home or at the museum on an as-needed basis.

Library Research Team & Uniform Shop:

Though the team chief for the library will continue to assist the new director

administratively, Lori has returned to actively volunteering in the library/archives once again.

Even during the shelter-in-place orders by our governor, the Library Research team was

continuing its work. Joe Mazzara has been diligently working from home on building/updating

our files on the aircraft accidents involving Selfridge aircraft over the decades. Artifacts have

recently been added to the artifact inventory and recently donated uniforms have been added

to the uniform inventory by Jerry Dressig (Major, MI ANG, Ret). Hopefully in the near future,

our volunteers, Frank Brown, Pat Williams, and Mary Lou Pearsall will be returning on a regular

basis and work on the digitization project of the photos and documents in our multiple file

cabinets and the creation of an index of our archival holdings can resume. Our ‘new’ volunteer,

Dawn Dobbelaer, started working on rebuilding the library’s book inventory in January and will

hopefully be returning in mid-June once the shelter-in-place order has expired.

Restoration Team:

Restoration continues on the FG-1D Corsair at a steady progress by the Museum’s team of

experts. The ‘NEW’ hangar to hold the FG-1D Corsair and the T-6 ‘Texas’ is a work-in-progress.

The following images show some of the recent work accomplished on the Corsair.

Engine exhaust manifolds and intake pipes removed for cleaning & painting

24

Museum Happenings (cont.)

Engine exhaust manifolds removed & bead blasted & painted

Propeller dome shell removed, cleaned & polished

Grounds Team:

The Grounds Team volunteers have started their “new” 2020 season of grass

cutting, bush and shrub trimming, and weeding the flower gardens on the

museum grounds. They could always use additional team members with the

never-ending task.

Dave Leasia, Grounds Team Chief

25

Museum Happenings (cont.)

Dan Springer Pete Saldana

Sharron Butala

Denise Ridener and Deborah Triplett

Other teams available to volunteer with for the Museum are the: Weekend Host Team, IT,

Maintenance, Air Park, and Visual Information. So, looking for something to do in your spare

time, consider filling out a ‘Volunteer Application’ from the Museum’s website

(http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org) and starting your career as a Tuesday/Friday volunteer

or a weekend docent. Come on, join our team!!

RV STORAGE

If you have enquiries about the Museum’s RV Storage area, please email library-

archives@selfridgeairmuseum.org or call and leave a voicemail at 586-239-6768 and Lori Nye

will get back to you. To be eligible for RV Storage, one must be a Life Member of the Michigan

Air Guard Historical Association (MAGHA) and have a government ID for base access. Please

visit our website for the membership form: https://selfridgeairmuseum.org/michigan-air-

guard-historical-association/

26

Volunteers Needed!

Please recruit your friends & family to volunteer as a weekend docent in the

Gift Shop, Flight Training area, SPAD Hangar, or as an Inside/Outside floater.

Their volunteering will continue to promote the history of the Air National

Guard @ Selfridge, Romulus, etc., and the history of Selfridge Air National Guard Base for the

next 100 years. We are also looking ‘for a few good men & women’ to serve as volunteers on

the Tuesday & Friday gigs, but our weekend docents really need a “boost” in numbers!!!!!!!! If

volunteering as a weekend docent, standard procedure is about 10 days per season, but if you

can only give the museum four, six, or eight, do not let that stop you from applying. We may

have funds to keep the Museum operational, but without volunteers, we do not have a

Museum! You can obtain the Volunteer Application Form from the Museum’s

websitehttps://selfridgeairmuseum.org/volunteers-2/, or call the Museum Director and he’ll

send you the application (586-239-6768); or email: info@selfridgeairmuseum.org. Our

Weekend Docent Team is shrinking and we are in desperate need of volunteers willing to be a

docent in the Flight Training Room, Gift Shop, SPAD Hangar, and eventually our ‘new’ hangar

that will house the T-6 ‘Texan’ and the restored USMC FG-1D Corsair. Please consider signing

up as a Volunteer on the Weekend Docent Team and help us Support Your Museum!

Please sign up today!

27

Michigan Activity Pass:

The Selfridge Military Air Museum has joined the Michigan

Activity Pass. The pass will be: Buy one Adult, Get One

Child (ages 4-12) Free. Check the Michigan Activity Pass

website: https://tln.lib.mi.us/map/ for locating the

Museum’s available pass for our 2020 Season. If you

haven’t checked-out the ‘Michigan Activity Pass’, you

really are missing some wonderful opportunities. There

are some really great places to visit for free or with

reduced prices with the pass.

Macomb County Heritage Alliance

Passport Program

The Selfridge Military Air Museum

participated in the Alliance’s

‘Passport Program’ at its debut a

couple years ago. The Alliance has

restarted this program and

passports should be ready to be

picked up at the Selfridge Military

Air Museum during our ‘open

season’, which begins on Saturday,

13 June 2020 through Saturday, 31

October 2020. So, grab your

Passport and travel through history

by visiting the local area’s

museums and historical sites. For more information on the program, visit:

(https://www.macombcountyheritagealliance.org/). Obtaining the Passport booklet is ‘free’,

however, some of the locations may charge an admittance fee. Note: Currently the Museum

does not have the Passport Booklets as they have yet to be distributed by the Alliance. The

Museum will have the Passport Booklets by the end of June.

28

READER INFORMATION SURVEY

One of the well-received features of the MANGBANG is information on our individual members that is shared with the at-large membership.

Please help us continue this feature by completing the survey below and mailing it to MAGHA, 27333 C Street, Bldg. 1011, Selfridge ANG Base, MI 48045 or email the information to library-archives@selfridgeairmuseum.org NAME AND RANK _____________________________________

DATE I JOINED THE MILITARY

DATE I LEFT THE MILITARY

LAST UNIT WHEN I LEFT THE MILITARY

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE YOU LEFT THE MILITARY

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY READING IN THE MANGBANG AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN FUTURE ISSUES?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

29

MAGHA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I believe that my support for the goals of the Michigan Air Guard Historical Association and the Selfridge

Military Air Museum will attest to my commitment to the Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge Air

National Guard Base, and the thousands of dedicated men and women who have served our great nation

and the State of Michigan. I wish to demonstrate this commitment by becoming a member of MAGHA as

follows:

NEW MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

RENEWAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

PATRON MEMBERSHIP ($1,000.00)

SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP ($500.00)

LIFE MEMBERSHIP ($250.00)

REGULAR MEMBERSHIP ($25.00)

DONATION ONLY RANK & NAME __________________________________________________________________ UNIT OF AFFILIATION (ONLY ONE PLEASE) _______________________________________ MEMBER OF THE MI ANG (YEARS ONLY) FROM ___________________ TO ____________ ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________ CITY ____________________________________________________________________________ STATE ___________________________________ ZIP CODE ___________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________

HOW WOULD YOU PREFER TO RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER (check one)

BY EMAIL BY US MAIL OFF THE WEB SITE (www.selfridgeairmuseum.org) Complete your payment information below and mail to: 27333 C St, Bldg. 1011, Selfridge ANG Base MI 48045

WE appreciate YOUR support of MAGHA. REMEMBER your membership donation is 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

MICHIGAN SOLICITATION LICENSE NUMBER: MICS 26603

O Check #__________ dated _______________ enclosed. Checks should be made payable to “MAGHA”. Please charge my: O VISA CARD O MASTER CARD O AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD O DISCOVER CARD Account # _______________________________________________

Expiration Date ___________________________________________ CVV: _________________

Signature: _______________________________________________

30

The Michigan Air Guard Historical Association (MAGHA) has completed construction of a Memorial Area in the center of the Air Park at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. The memorial is a place to honor all members of the military who gave their lives in the line of duty and in the service of this great nation, to recognize all those who have in the past or who are currently serving their country, and to acknowledge the contributions made by families and companies to the preservation of freedom. Pictures of the Memorial Area and the Memorial Wall are above. The centerpiece is an elevated F-86 Sabre aircraft, an aircraft flown, maintained, and supported by three Michigan Air Guard units in the mid-1950s. Flanking the F-86 is the Memorial Wall topped by engraved Memorial Bricks such as those shown below.

We invite you to become part of this memorial and to recognize a unit, an individual, or a family by purchasing an engraved b rick that will become a permanent part of the Memorial Wall. Cash donations for the Memorial project are also welcome. All memorial brick purchases and donations for this effort are tax-deductible per Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Engraved memorial bricks cost $100.00 per brick for non-members (cost includes a one-year membership in MAGHA), $75.00 per brick for members, and $50.00 per brick when multiple brick orders are made. For example, a one-brick order from a MAGHA member would cost $75.00, a two-brick order would cost $125.00, and a three-brick order $175.00. Information about MAGHA can be obtained by calling 586-239-6768, by visiting our web site at www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, or by writing to us at the address below.

If you would like to participate in this worthwhile project, please complete the order form and indicate your payment method below and mail this form to MAGHA, 27333 C Street, Bldg 1011, Selfridge ANG Base MI 48045. An asterisk (*) will be added after the honoree’s name for veterans.

MEMORIAL BRICK ORDER FORM

Name: Address: Day Time Phone Number:

Please install an engraved memorial brick in the Memorial Wall at the Selfridge Military Air Museum in honor of the following.

This individual is a veteran. Please add an sterisk (*) after their name. This individual is not a veteran.

Please send me information on joining the Michigan Air Guard Historical Association.

Three lines are possible with a maximum of 12 characters per line and a maximum of 36 characters per brick.

Periods, commas, asterisks, and spaces between words counts as characters. You will be sent a receipt with a

proposed layout.

O Check # dated enclosed. Checks should be made payable to “MAGHA”.

Please charge my: O VISA CARD O MASTER CARD O AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD O DISCOVER CARD

Account# ___ CVV: _________________________ Expiration Date: _____ Signature: ___________________

MEMORIAL WALL

SELFRIDGE MILITARY AIR MUSEUM