Blog Update - February 11 to April 8

Greetings Everyone!
Once again, time has passed... it doesn't mean activity has not taken place!  Far from it indeed.  The hangar is getting closer and closer to being what many of us had only imagined it could be.  Between museum expansion, cleanup, building a new PX and storage zone, and our addition of an Officers Club, it's been a massive undertaking!  Add the sprinkler system being completed, and thinking about what we as a team have accomplished is simply amazing!

The Hangar Dance is approaching rapidly.  We will be visited by two members of CAF Headquarters to witness one of the best Hangar Dances in the CAF.  It will also mark the public unveiling of the new museum, px and hangar as a whole.  Members will have the benefit of using the O'Club (though we still need people to help throughout the night!).  It will mark the return of the dance to our Hangar, and safety is assured through the addition of our sprinkler system!   The dance will have more space due to clearing of lockers and benches on the hangar floor.  The wall that used to separate the museum from the hangar has come down and will allow for people to move freely through the museum.

Before the Hangar Dance, coming this Saturday, will be the State of the Wing address.  Food is being provided by the Motor Pool, who have seen an exceptionally good year already.  We have invited many people who have been instrumental in completing the hangar improvements, or, like Senator Metzen, have been instrumental in helping us reach our goals politically.  It's a time for the membership to get together and celebrate everything that has been accomplished, for those of you who have been unable to make it to the hangar, it is a time to check out all the changes, grab some lunch and learn how you can help make the Wing even better!  There will also be an exciting 2013 announcement!

The Doolittle Raiders Reunion was a resounding success.  Nothing bad can be said about the whole experience.  It was perfect.  The weather held out, the Raiders were honored, 20 B-25s flew overhead, and the MN Wing made $40,000.   GREAT start to the season!  The crew worked their butts off, and a number of members found their own ways down to help out.  It was great to have so many MN Wing members help with all aspects of the operation!  If only all shows could be this well attended and run this smoothly!

Stop by this Saturday for the State of the Wing and see what has been taking place!

Blog Update - October 01 - February 10

All quiet on the MNCAF front? HARDLY! The scant blog is an indicator not of lack of activity at the Wing, but rather an abundance of it! Since October, we closed out our flying season, and began to inspect the aircraft. Around that time, discussions took place about the use of hangar space, and what improvements could be made. That discussion lead to where we are at now. The hangar is in a state of chaotic activity. Walls are going up, others coming down. The PX will have a new home, and the museum will have more space. The machine shop has been moved, enclosed and expanded. Cleaning, organization and consolidation are taking place throughout the hangar. This massive project will lead to a whole new look on the inside of the hangar, and will give the museum and PX the much needed face lift it deserves. The hangar will now also feature a members only O'Club lounge overlooking the aircraft. A place where members can relax and enjoy the CAF after a day of hard work.

The aircraft have their own tales as well. The P-51 is maintenance is winding down, with few inspections left. It will have a propeller spinner change take place later this week. The Harvard engine is still out for overhaul and while it's gone, the airframe is getting a good lookover. The PT-22 is getting new brakes, and most important, a starter. It is flying through it's inspection with very few issues. The B-25 is about half-way through the inspection. It was subjected to a landing gear Non-destructive test, which has revealed a crack. Part of the landing gear will have to be replaced. This concern came after another B-25 operator had their landing gear break and fold forward... not something we want happening!

With all of this happening, the sprinkler system is also going together. Yesterday, the riser (main valves of the system) was assembled and runs were prepared for the office spaces. This is great news, since our dances will take place in our hangar!

I will do my best to deliver more timely updates, but if you can, stop down and see all the changes taking place! Just watch your step and you may want to bring a hardhat!

Fall Bomber's Moon Ball

Our Fall Bomber's Moon Ball took place across the ramp, still hindered by our sprinkler system. Thankfully, this did not seem to deter people. There were a lot of attendees, more than any fall dance in recent memory. The membership help was WAY up as well. I couldn't believe how quickly the whole thing got torn down! It was truly amazing team work!
(Photos Thanks to Gary Chambers)


(Bob Wright directs in traffic, donning safety yellow)


(Margie and Doug Olson manned a CAF Membership table, and were apparently quite successful, signing up a few new members and taking down tons of names for the mailing list!)


(As it is the "Bomber's Moon" ball, Miss Mitchell was the star of the show. Her new nose gun drew quite a few compliments.)


(Mark Erickson, Ron Legg and Keith Struck run the bar and food like pros)


(Gary Stinar poured drinks, and considering the cup with his name on it, a few of those drinks went to him!)


(Nina Myklebust takes donations and sells baked goods to help get Liz Strohfus to Midland for Airsho)


(Of course, some dancing did occur)


(And the dance floor became very full!)


(The most anticipated part of the night is always the B-25 runup. Note the flames from the exhaust stacks)


(Wing Leader Amy Lauria gets into trouble, as per usual!)

Spring Swing 2011

The Hangar dance went very well, and even though it took a lot of hard work, the location suited our needs just fine. It was great to see so many members experience their first dance with the Wing, and just how massive an experience it can be.
(Video Thanks to Max Haynes)

MNCAF Hangar Dance - Spring 2011 from Max Haynes on Vimeo.

Blog Update - 19March to 25 April

Good Afternoon Everyone!
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend!

In the last month, quite a bit has happened... some positive, and some that may not seem as positive. First, the weather... it was positive and now, not so much! Having the hangar door open for such a short time was a horrible tease, and has many of us wishing for summer that much more. None-the-less, having the hangar door open, and comfortably occupying the hangar is such a great thing after the long winter.

When that time rolls around, the pilots get anxious and want to go fly... so that means the end of maintenance season and on to the airshow season. First show of the year was the Doolittle Raider's Reunion at Lincoln, NE. The crew had some problems with the right engine, but worked them out and it was a very successful appearance.

The biggest topic at the hangar has been related to all of the media attention hitting us lately. Yes, we have had our events, private and public (this includes Dances) shut down. It seems that a lack of a sprinkler system is against code, and the building has been deemed unsafe for large crowds. This is something we have been dealing with for over a year now. Our funding (the bonding bill) was rejected by the City of South St. Paul because of the stipulations attached to it. Since that is the case, attention has come our way and the goal is to gain support and funding so that we can improve the hangar with a new sprinkler system. We want to assure everyone that the loss of events will NOT be the end of the Minnesota Wing. There is a plan, and we have a huge amount of support. The media is creating a massive amount of interest, and generating new members as well. This will end up being a huge benefit to us, in the long run!

On to the dances... We plan to have them. We have gotten permission to use a new hangar across the ramp (it has a sprinkler system). It won't be the same feel, but we believe people will be receptive to the goal of getting us back into our hangar, and help contribute. We are in process of finalizing with the City of Inver Grove Heights (this hangar is just across city lines, and is IGH's jurisdiction). So, we'll need help! The Spring Dance will be on May 21st.

Despite the lack of private events, the hangar will have a lot of work going on. This will give us an opportunity to organize and clean. Parts, tools, museum items, everything could use going through. This will be a great opportunity, but will need a lot of support! Even if you aren't sure of the difference between a magneto and can of paint, you can still help!

If anyone has any questions, or suggestions on how to fund the sprinkler project, please feel free to email me (exec@cafmn.org) or Amy (wingleader@cafmn.org) or catch us down at the hanga

Hangar Dance!

The Fall Bombers Moon Ball occurred on a cold but clear day this year. Although the cold had the potential to turn people away, we had a great crowd! One of the things noticed by both members and attendees was the age of the crowd was starting to get younger. High School and College age were common, and dressing the part was also more prevalent than ever before. It was a good night, and everyone had a great time! If you haven't been to a dance, it is well worth it!
(Photos Thanks to Matt Holland and Troy LaFaye. More Photos available at www.matthollandphotography.com)

(The B-25 was front a center, the focus of the Bomber's Moon Ball)


(Fireman posted to make sure we stay safe.)


(A vintage airline pilot and his date)


(Andrew Salih and Matt Stone look the part)


(A Marine shows his dance moves)


(Every where you looked there was an interesting and unique fashion at this dance)


(The crowd enjoys the Bag Pipers)


(It was great to see such a young crowd. It is promising for an organization like ours)


(Miss Mitchell got the crowd all fired up!)


(This must be why we call it the Bomber's Moon Ball)

Blog Update - 29July to 24September

Good Afternoon Everyone!
The airshow and fund raising season is winding down. We've worked very hard this year, and it shows! We've been able to make some safety upgrades around the hangar, been able to clean up and improve the look of the Minnesota Wing! I suspect the momentum will hold and we will see great things in the next few years.

Going back a ways, we held our Open House Charity Event in August. It was a success, attendance was good, and we sold a number of History Flights on the B-25. We had a number of veterans visit as well. Liz Strophus, a WWII WASP, took a flight with Alan Miller in the PT-22. She had a wonderful time!

That evening we attempted the MN Wing Hops and Props for the first time. We had a number of brewers bring in their different flavors of beer for tasting. The event, being new, wasn't very well attended, but we haven't given up on it! We plan to hold a Hops and Props next year, and beef up some of the advertising. It shows promise, just needs a little time.

A good example of how some things need a little time and a little more advertising is the CAF MN Vintage Fashion Show. Last year was the first year, and while everyone enjoyed it, it was not very well attended. We made a number of improvements this year, increased the advertising, and we were able to have a wonderful event, complete with wine tasting and vendor sales. It was very well attended, and incredibly well received. Everyone who helped make the event happen did a wonderful job!

Our Fall Bomber's Moon Ball was, as usual, a smashing success! It was a cold night, but people stayed warm by staying out on the dance floor. We are noticing a shift in crowd, even attendees are seeing it, as the presence of college age and high school age dancers is increasing. This is VERY promising, not only for the success of the dance, but it shows an interest in our history and that era in particular. We're seeing a LOT of people, members included dressing up in period clothing, which is very exciting! Everyone works very hard to put on these dances, and the Wing appreciates all the help. Thank you for making it a success!

As stated, the Minnesota Wing has a great future ahead. We look forward to the next challenges, and have a wonderful membership team that has made all this progress possible! Thank you for all you do!

Dance Day!

As most of us are aware, Dance night is preceded by work, a LOT of work. Setting up the hangar, cooking the food, getting the band ready, and that is just what happens the day of, not the weeks and months prior to the event. The dance itself requires a lot of work as well; parking, counting money, working the gate and the bar are just a few of the jobs. And the end of the dance requires cleanup, which takes until about 2 a.m. Despite all this hard work, we all still manage to have a great time!
(Photos Thanks to Matt Holland, Earl Teporten and Brian Strom)

(A good kickoff to the day was a visit by WASP Liz Strohfus. It is always great to see her!)


(Not only can visitors dance, they can get up close and personal with weapons, vehicles and aircraft from WWII)


(Bob Koelbl directs traffic, there really is nothing else I can say....)


(Dancers enjoying the night)


(The Roseville Big Band played a fantastic set)


(It was a beautiful night for the dance)


(The pipe band always draws the crowd in)


(Honoring our Veterans is a hugely important part of the night)


(Gary Stinar and the girls from With A Twist served the drinks)


(People danced into the night, enjoyed themselves, and made our dance successful once again!)

Blog Update - 01May to 11June

Greetings Everyone!

A full month has passed since the last update... something I never wanted to let happen... I truly have no idea where the month of May disappeared to! At any rate, here we are in June, and the Minnesota Wing is in full swing!

The L-5, BT-13 and Harvard MK IV all participated in Memorial Weekend/Day Flyovers. The P-51 (Red Tail) was at an airshow in Missouri and returned on Monday. The B-25 stayed home and was great to have since we had a number of visitors

The Hangar Dance was a great success! We had around 700 visitors, and everyone seems to have had a great time. We had more members on hand to help set-up, work the dance, and tear-down than I have seen in a LONG time! Thank you everyone who helped!

The motor pool had an appearance and WWII Days in Farmington. A number of the vehicles were displayed and helped add to the flavor of the event! Between donations and giving people rides in the vehicles, the motor pool has begun to pay for the many repairs being performed on the vehicles, including new structure, engine overhauls, exhaust repairs, interior work and paint!

Amy Lauria presented our proposal to the Minnesota Historical Society Grant Committee a week ago. The presentation was for a steel mezzanine and storage equipment to more appropriately house our increasing collection of artifacts. This grant will cover most of the costs, save for work performed by the membership, which will include demolition. Feel free to talk with Amy or myself about the details. We are very excited about the possibilities to expand the museum, and to create a proper space for storage of our artifacts! We received a warm reception from the group who clearly was aware of our existence and our mission!

The L-5 ground school took place last Thursday, followed by a few solid days of training. The L-5 flew more hours in the three days of training than it has in the last two years! The interest level for that aircraft is fairly high, and I suspect we will see it operate a lot more.

Saturday was the MN Wing Awards Banquet! We had a fantastic group attend, and everyone had a great time. Ron Legg made sure the desert was extra special, and had a cake specially designed for the Wing.

One event that we all have been waiting for... the first flight of the PT-22. Chris Hughston, our L-5 trainer from Texas, has extensive PT-22 time, and offered to test fly it. We accepted, and Chris took to the air early on Saturday morning! He did a number of manuevers, making sure that everything was working as it should. When he landed, he stated that it was a very straight airplane, and a great flier! Congrats to Doug Olson (crew chief) and all the members who helped to get the aircraft back to flying condition!

Thank you all for your dedication to the CAF, it has been a great start to the season!

Blog Update - 26March to 30April

Ouch, I look at the last date I did this and it's shameful! My time after work has been spent in working on maintenance and in meetings for the hangar. No excuse I know, but I SHOULD be able to update everyone more frequently with maintenance coming to a close.



Down to business. We are just starting to ramp up our flying and fundraising season. We have had our first even, the garage sale, and our first airshow, the Doolittle Reunion. Both were a huge success, and were so due to the dedication and hard work of our membership!



The hangar updates, being done with the funds made available with the bonding bill, is being worked out with the City of South St. Paul. Once we have reached an agreement for our lease, we will move forward with upgrading the hangar. We very much look forward to the day we begin construction!



In the next few weeks we have a number of activities, airshows, and prep-work to get done. The dance is coming up, and our goal is to have a beefed up marketing campaign, getting the word out to as many people as we can, and bringing in crowds which will hopefully exceed our expectations. If you would like to help us prepare for the dance, contact Amy Lauria!



Information that I received while writing this... After the St. Joseph's Airshow in MO, the P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen" will return with "Miss Mitchell". According to my sources, the Mustang will be home for a couple of weeks, then back on the road. Be sure to stop by!

Halloween Party

The Halloween party was terrific, with great costumes, good music, fun games and food. Enjoy the variety of costumes! More photos available at http://www.matthollandphotography.com/

(Photos Thanks to Matt Holland and Art Minkle)

(Ken Martinson is ready to raid a blood bank)

(Ron "Iron Chef" Legg reminds me of my lunchroom servers in middle school.....)

(It took Steve Shumaker 4 hours to get into this outfit and made-up)

(Tacos and drinks were available to the crowd... operated by a group of members)

(Cadet Don Bystrom will help you taxi in!)

(Matt Holland and Joel Brown take a moment to look at some photos)

(Jazz Etc. played a great set of swing music...)

(...For a great crowd of dancers)

(Amy Lauria gains Klingon support for the Red Tail Project!)

(Bob Koelbl the safari hunter and a google-eyed Tim Gunter serve drinks)

(Aviator and Aviatrix themes fit in quite well here)

(Mike Martin donned perhaps the scariest costume of all... at least to me!)

Dance, Dance, DANCE!

Dance night is a lot of fun... a lot of work but a lot of fun! Everyone put out a great effort, and had a great attitude while volunteering! Some new things for this dance included two food lines (seems to have worked out well) and a photo booth set up, allowing people to take their photos next to the P-51 for a donation of any kind. It was thought up by Matt Holland, was executed by Matt and Gary Chambers and it brought in a good chunk for change! Way to go! Thanks again to everyone for their hard work! Visit http://www.matthollandphotography.com/ to see more dance photos!

(Photos Thanks to Matt Holland and Gary Chambers)

(The Dance kicks off, and what a great start!)

(There were all sorts of people there. Dressed up, in uniform or casual. Young or....)

(... Just young at heart!)

(During the break, the attending veterans were gathered and honored)

(The Memorial Pipe Band played their set of songs... it's always a pleasure to hear them play!)

(Miss Mitchell roared to life, thrilling the crowds!)

(It's always a highlight for people to experience)

(Then the band got back to work, and the dancers danced late into the night)

(Of course there were CAF members working nearby... Amy Lauria and Jerry Hahn all dressed up and looking sharp)

(Robert Hagel, Richard Steineck, Isaac Salinas and Todd Lawrence take orders and deliver the beer)

(Larry Utter keeps an eye on things as the night gets later)

(Bill Atchison looking very appropriate in his British uniform)

(Gary Chambers takes a break from running the photo booth)

(Matt Holland, behind the camera in almost all of the above photos, takes a moment to be photographed by Gary)