WELCOME TO THE WORLD WAR II WARBIRD GROUP

Our Warbird Group meetings are held at the Stockton Field Aviation Museum 7432 CE Dixon St., Stockton Metro Airport, on the third Wednesday of each odd month at 7 PM. This means that the meetings are in March, May, July etc on the third Wednesday. Please note that the group has decided to cancel the January meeting as it is too cold for our older members. Please join us as there is no admission charge. We also have an annual BBQ during the meeting in September and that meeting time is usually an hour early at 6 PM but be sure to check back here for the latest dates and times.

Our guest speaker is Raymond Kinney who has a vast amount of aviation experiences which he will share with us at the meeting. Here is an outline:

c 1939 I became interested in aviation just before and during the Battle of Britain. I began building and flying model airplanes – an activity that continues today.

1949 After high school graduation, I joined the Air Force Reserve at Hamilton Air Force Base. Served as an airborne radio operator in C-46 Commando Aircraft. I also flew in AT-6, AT-7 and AT-11 aircraft.

1950 Enrolled at San Jose State University Department of Aeronautics. I also enrolled in the Air Force ROTC Commissioning Program. Elected president of Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity (Two Semesters)

8 June 1956 Graduated from San Jose State with a BA degree in aviation and a commission in the USAF.

25 Jan 1957 Entered extended active duty in the USAF for officer pre-flight training at Lackland AFB, TX

22 Apr 1957 Assigned to 3301^st Pilot Training Group at Moore AB, Mission Texas for primary pilot training. Soloed the T-34 A on 22 May 1957. Soloed the T-28 A on 8 July 1957. Graduated primary on 15 October 1957 and assigned to 3640 Pilot Training Squadron – T-33 A at Laredo AFB, Texas. I soloed in T-33 A on 15 January 1958. On 10 February 1958, designated pilot – day fighter

16 May 1958 My assignment to advanced training – KC 97 at Randolph AFB was cancelled, and I, along with 2 classmates were eliminated from further flight training

2 July 1958 Assigned to Harlingen AFB Texas for undergraduate navigator training in Convair T-29 aircraft

30 Aug 1958 I joined the first established aeroclub in the USAF. Flew Aeronca 7 AC, Piper PA-12 and PA-22, T-34 A

6 July 1959 I graduated from USAF navigator training and was retained as an instructor, eventually becoming a flight examiner for basic DR, day celestial and night celestial navigation. Elected secretary of Institute of Navigation

28 July 1961 Reassigned to James Connally AFB after Harlingen AFB closed. Served as instructor and flight examiner for DR, day and night celestial and polar grid navigation. I continued to fly with the Connally Aero Club in Cessna 150, 172, 182 and T-34 A, becoming a check pilot in the T-34 and secretary of the Aero Club Board of Governors.

3 Mar 1965 Assigned to survival training at Stead AFB prior to overseas assignment

7 Apr 1965 Reported to 35^th Troop Carrier Squadron at Naha, Okinawa as navigator and instructor in Lockheed C-130 A aircraft. For the next 3 years and 2 months I flew 255 combat missions and 755 combat hours over North and South Vietnam. Returned to the US 21 June 1968.

29 Aug 1968 Reported to Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Training Center, Eglin AFB, Florida as instructor/standardization flight examiner in HC-130 H/N/P aircraft.

15 Nov 1969 Began commercial flight training (GI Bill) at Enterprise Aviation at Crestview, Florida

7 Sept 1970 Passed multi-engine private flight check, Enterprise, Alabama, Hoover Moore DPE

30 June 1971 Reassigned to Hill AFB, Utah – 1550 ARR Training Wing with relocation of rescue school from Eglin AFB

30 July 1972 Reassigned to 41^st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (MAC), Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Served as wing assistant chief of aircrew standardization, chief navigation flight examiner, wing staff navigator. Supervised the activities of 22 wing and squadron navigators in an area from the Mississippi River westward to the Indian Ocean. Flew in rescue precautionary orbit for “Eagle Pull” (evacuation of Phnom Penh). Acted as PACAF Rescue Advisor for “Frequent Wind” (evacuation of Saigon)

30 Nov 1975 Reassigned to McClellan AFB, Sacramento, California as Senior Emergency Actions Officer

2 July 1977 Resumed pilot training for commercial and instruments, Engle Flying Service

15 July 1978 Hired by Engle Flying Service, Phoenix Field, as a flight instructor

26 Dec 1979 Passed Assistant Flight Instructor check Part 141, Bud Andersen ,Sac GADO.

2 Sept 1980 1^st CFI renewal – Awarded Gold Seal. Total time as CFI: 2128 hours

6 Dec 1985 Engle Flying Service closed. Hired by Patterson Aircraft as CFI-Part 141

6 Nov 1986 Appointed Chief Flight Instructor Part 141 at Patterson Aircraft Company, flight check by Richard Neilson, Sac FSDO

26 Sept 1995 Coronary Artery blockage requiring 2-way bypass operation; normal recovery, no heart damage. While awaiting a special issuance medical, I taught private and instrument ground school and simulator training at Paterson and Skywalk School

16 Oct 1997 Received a special issuance Class III medical certificate. I resumed flight instruction at Skywalk and flew another 1000 hours before officially retiring from active flight instruction on 1 June 2002 after 24 years.

18 June 2003 Last flight as a sole manipulator of controls RDD-SAC, T-182 RG 757HF, Dr. Renollett, PIC

22 Sept 2011 Flew at the Salinas Airshow in a Tora Tora Tora modified AT-6 “Zeke” five-ship formation with Commemorative Air Force pilot “Col” Mike Burke

If you, or a friend, would like to be placed on our e-mail list to be informed about upcoming events, just send an e-mail to me at: list@twinbeech.com

THE WWII WARBIRD GROUP IS A GATHERING OF AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS THAT GET TOGETHER EVERY OTHER MONTH AND SHARE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES ABOUT WWII AND OTHER AVIATION TOPICS.

THE MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE STOCKTON FIELD AVIATION MUSEUMS HANGAR AT STOCKTON AIRPORT IN CALIFORNIA. THE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (MEMBERSHIP NOT REQUIRED) AND FEATURE A GUEST SPEAKER WHO FLEW IN ANY OF THE MILITARY SERVICES DURING OUR NATION'S CONFLICTS FROM WWII TO PRESENT DAY.

MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN MILITARY AVIATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, NATIONALITY OR GENDER. YOU ALL ARE WELCOME SO PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US FOR AN INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING EVENING.

WE ALSO HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS BAR-B-Q'S AND THE OCCASIONAL AIRSHOW OR OPEN HOUSE.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING OR JOINING THIS GREAT GROUP PLEASE SEND THEM OUR WAY.

THE WORLD WAR TWO WARBIRD GROUP MEETS BI-MONTHLY (MARCH, MAY, JULY, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER) ON THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE STOCKTON FIELD AVIATION MUSEUMS HANGAR AT 7PM.

REMEMBER THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BA A MEMBER TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS SO GRAB A FRIEND AND COME ON OUT.

THE MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE STOCKTON FIELD AVIATION MUSEUM HANGAR LOCATED AT 7432 C.E. DIXON STREET STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA USA

FROM HIGHWAY 99 NORTH TAKE THE FRENCH CAMP EXIT AND HEAD WEST. TURN RIGHT OR NORTH ON AIRPORT WAY. TURN RIGHT ON STIMSON (AT THE NATIONAL GUARD) AND FOLLOW IT TO THE END WHERE YOU WILL SEE THE BLUE MUSEUM HANGAR ON YOUR LEFT. THE ENTRY DOOR IS ON THE BACK OF THAT HANGAR.

FROM HIGHWAY 99 SOUTH TAKE THE ARCH ROAD EXIT AND HEAD WEST TO AIRPORT WAY (WATCH OUT FOR AND FOLLOW THE DETOUR SIGNS POSSIBLE DETOUR). TURN LEFT OR SOUTH ON AIRPORT WAY AND THEN TURN LEFT INTO THE MAIN AIRPORT ENTRANCE ON C.E. DIXON. FOLLOW C.E. DIXON SOUTH UNTIL YOU SEE THE BLUE MUSEUM HANGAR ON THE LEFT. THE ADDRESS IS 7432 C.E. DIXON STREET. THE DOOR IS ON THE PARKING LOT SIDE OF THE HANGAR

FROM HIGHWAY 5 NORTH OR SOUTH TAKE THE FRENCH CAMP EXIT AND HEAD EAST FOR A FEW MILES. TURN LEFT OR NORTH ON AIRPORT WAY. TURN RIGHT ON STIMSON (AT THE NATIONAL GUARD) AND FOLLOW IT TO THE END. ON THE LEFT YOU WILL SEE THE BLUE MUSEUM HANGAR ON THE LEFT. THE ENTRY DOOR IS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HANGAR NEAR THE PARKING LOT.

The stories of 15 Central California flyers in World War Two are told in this book. Paper back, 138 pages, 8 x 11 inches. Compiled and edited by John V. Schippers, published 2002 by the WW II Warbird Group, Inc.

Quotes from stories in "THE WAY IT WAS, Memoirs of Flyers in WW II, Vol. 2"

Quote from Ed Ah Tye, B-17 top turret gunner, 8th AF: "Before our first mission (it was to Berlin!) the officer at orientation said, 'If you get shot down over France, mix with the civilians and wait to be picked up by patriots who will try to smuggle you back to England. Also act mute so you speech won't give you away.' I was the only Oriental on base and asked the officer in charge; Since I am a Chinese-American, what should I do if I'm shot down and won't blend in with the Frenchmen? The officer shook his head and answered, 'Don't get shot down.'

Quote from Bill Behrns, P-38 pilot, CBI: "I rolled over and rolled out on the target coming down with throttle wide open. Apparently I was looking right down the barrel of an ack-ack gun. All of sudden, BOOM! -- the whole airplane jumped and everything went dead."

Quote from Bill Gaines, B-17 pilot, 8th AF: "One of the other tough missions we had was bombing Munich Greens airfield with frag bombs.

....we got beat up pretty bad and had to make another forced landing. On that one I left the plane in Brussels. The two outboard engines were shot out and we landed with the two inboard engines. Fighter planes escorted me almost all the way in or I wouldn't be here talking."

Copies of "THE WAY IT WAS, Memoirs of Flyers in WW II Vol. 2" can be purchased for $13.00 which includes tax, from John Schippers by e-mailing him at:

Sorry it has been sold out

TO ALL OF OUR COUNTRY'S VETERANS, WE HERE AT VINTAGE AIRCRAFT WOULD LIKE TO SAY:

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR COUNTRY!