Wings of Hope - Open House

This years Charity Open House was a huge success! Large numbers of visitors poured in to see the museum, talk with Living History veterans, donate to charities (Second Harvest Heartland, Casa Guadalupana, Guild Incorporated, Wings with Halo, Minnesota Transportation Museum) , and of course see the vehicles and aircraft. Thank you to everyone who helped put on the event!!!

(The day opened with a presentation by JROTC Color Guard)


(Living History station)


(Re-enactors put on displays of life in the military during WWII)


(A couple of Tuskegee Airmen re-enactors were very popular)


(A 37mm German Anti-aircraft gun on display from Police Officer Wayne Minke)


(A tour lines up for the B-25)


(Tim Gunter and Bob Wright enjoy the event!)


(A constant group of people were around the P-51)


(What a great crowd!)

Missouri Road Trip

The trip to Missouri was unexpected, but Earl Teporten and Dick Leighninger made the best of it, while helping out the wing tremendously! Thanks again all who managed to accomplish this!
(Photos thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Big Dave, Bill Atchison and I prep the Fun Bus)


(Dick and Earl arrive at the Missouri Wing)


(Setting the prop on its stand)


(Show Me is just about ready to fly for the first time in 2 years!)


(Missouri Wing members)

Red Tail Photoshoot

Doug Rozendaal took up the P-51 with Amy Lauria as a passenger. Max Haynes flew back seat in the Harvard, with Tim Barzen as pilot, and came up with these photos... BEAUTIFUL!
(Photos thanks to Max Haynes)

Red Tail Returns!

On Wednesday the 5th, the P-51C Tuskegee Airmen returned to its home base at Fleming Field! It was met by reporters, journalists, fans and a significant crew of CAF members. Tuskegee Airman Kenneth Wofford was on hand as well! It was an exciting moment in the Minnesota Wing's history, and we are very happy that so many people were able to share it with us! Thank you to everyone who helped make the day run so smoothly. A note: There were so many beautiful photos from this event... I was only able to post so many. I wish I could have posted them all! Thank you to everyone who submitted photos, they were terrific!!!!

(Photos thanks to Matt Holland, Earl Teporten, Ken Martinson and Max Haynes)

(Prepping the hangar early in the day - Photo: Ken Martinson)

(Interviews were started before the arrival of the P-51 - Photo: Matt Holland)

(CAF Members Stan Ross and Mel Micheals - Photo: Earl Teporten)

(Janaka Buldoc, Bob Wright and I discuss the days events - Photo: Earl Teporten)

(The crowd awaits the arrival - Photo: Matt Holland)

(Formation Overhead! - Photo: Matt Holland)

(Turning Final - Photo: Matt Holland)

(The Red Tail has Arrived! - Photo: Max Haynes)

(Roll-out - Photo: Matt Holland)

(Amy Lauria and Doug Rozendaal pose for press - Photo: Earl Teporten)

(Doug steps out to a crowd of reporters - Photo: Matt Holland)

(The crowd gathers around Red Tail - Photo: Matt Holland)

(Red Tail press conference - Photo: Matt Holland)

(CAF Members made this possible... THANK YOU! - Photo: Max Haynes)

More B-25 Maintenance

After its return from Sioux City, the B-25 needed some work. The maintenance team repacked the main gear actuator, and changed the tires. During the work, Doug Olson took a funny step and hurt his knee... hope you get well soon Doug!
(Photos thanks to Brian Strom)

(Big Dave and Rob Hardcopf work on the actuator)


(Larry Utter, Rob and Big Dave separate the actuator)


(Re-installation in very tight quarters)


(Earl Teporten and Dave reset Doug Olson's knee... ouch!)


(Removing the brakes to change the wheels.)

Oshkosh '09

A number of members went to Oshkosh to help with the Red Tail Booth. It was not uncommon to see numerous CAF members, Tuskegee Airman Col. McGee, country singer Aaron Tippin, and CAF President Steve Brown. It was a great show to attend! The P-51 won the Phoenix Award, which was quite the honor! Thank you to everyone who attended the show, and made a huge difference at the booth... we couldn't have done it without you!
(Photos thanks to Earl Teporten)

(Aaron Tippin sits in the Red Tail)


(John Beyl, Steve Kaminson, Larry Utter and Kurt Koukkari rest under the wing of the P-51)


(Larry Utter and Mark Erickson at the Red Tail booth)


(Brad Lang, Big Dave, Doug Olson, Larry Utter and Max Haynes discuss the all things relevant)


(Max photographs Col. McGee with a group of young aviation enthusiasts)


(Pilots Doug Rozendaal and Brad Lang)


(The Phoenix Award)

Sioux City Stopover

Miss Mitchell was the main attraction of the Sioux City airshow. The crew gave tours and sold PX, making it a very profitable weekend.
(Pictures thanks to Earl Teporten)

(A line forms to view the B-25)


(Jim Gilmore talks about the aircraft with excited attendees)


(Alan Miller talks with a veteran)


(Mark Erickson and Steve Wagoner talk shop with a veteran)


(As the day goes on the crowd around Miss Mitchell begins to grow)

Weekly Update - 31July to 09August

Good Morning Everyone!
I'm sorry I've had no time to get to the Blog in the last few days. With the major events going on, I figured I would update you all when they had been finished. We left off last week with the arrival of the P-51C at Oshkosh... We had a number of members visit to help with the Red Tail booth throughout the week. On Saturday, the Wing was awarded "The Phoenix Award" for it's amazing rise from the wreckage. It was an honor to be a part of it! While Red Tail took Oshkosh by storm, the B-25 was visiting Sioux City. The show was small but successful. Upon its return, the B-25 had a crew of mechanics go to work on her. Wednesday was one of the more exciting days at the wing... a large amount of Wing Members witnessed the return of the P-51 to Fleming Field. She was met with cheers, excitement and the press! Later in the evening, the P-51 took off with two T-6 trainers to perform a photo shoot that will land her on the cover of some foreign magazines (what ones will be announced later). Thursday a call was received, and the Missouri wing needed their propeller returned (the B-25 was borrowing their prop until we could get ours back). Missouri's "Show Me" is expected to fly very soon, and their prop was key to that happening. A maintenance team removed the prop on Thursday, and prepped the CAF Fun Bus for the trip. Earl Teporten and Dick Leighninger drove overnight to reach the Missouri Wing early Friday morning. I'd like to again express thanks to the Missouri Wing for allowing us to borrow the propeller, and make some very important show appearances! Saturday brough the Wings of Hope Charity Event. Early in the morning we prepped the hangar, set up aircraft and vehicles, and started to cook food. It was a huge success, attracting many more people than we every thought it would! The request for food shelf items was incredibly successful... 5 barrels were brought in, and they were completely filled. In fact, there is a HUGE pile of food beyond the barrels. Donations were high, as were food and PX sales. People were very excited about the event, and it drew a ton of people! Thank you to everyone who made it such a great event!