Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> THIS ORIGINAL WSRE
PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> WE TALK NAVAL AVIATION WITH
AUTHOR HISTORIAN HILL GOODSPEED
A. ON THIS EDITION OF
CONVERSATIONS.
HILL GOODSPEED IS AN EXPERT IN
THE HISTORY OF NAIVELYIATION.
FOR TWO DECADES HE'S AND
HISTORIAN AND ARTIFACT
COLLECTION MANAGER AT ONE
PREMIER AVIATION MUSEUM IN THE
WORLD, THE NATIONAL AVIATION
MUSEUM ON BOARD NAVAL AIR
STATION, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
HE IS AUTHOR AND ADJUNCT
PROFESSOR WHO TEACHES STRATEGY
AND POLICY FOR THE NAVAL WAR
COLLEGES DISTANT EDUCATION
PROGRAM.
HE IS AUTHORED OR EDITED FIVE
BOOKS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM
NAVAL AVIATION TO SKYLINES
AROUND THE WORLD.
HIS ARTICLES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED
BY NATIONAL MAGAZINES AND
EXPERTISE AND COMMENTARY HAVE
BEEN UTILIZED BY THE LIKES OF
THE HISTORY CHANNEL, PBS AND THE
DISCOVERY CHANNEL.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE HILL
GOODSPEED ON THIS EDITION OF
CONVERSATIONS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> WHY INTEREST IN NAVAL
AVIATION IN
>> IT GOES WAY BACK.
MY GRANDFATHER LIKE MANY YOUNG
MEN OF HIS GENERATION CAME TO
PENSACOLA IN 1940 FROM ILLINOIS
AND RESPONDED TO THE AVIATION
CADET PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWED
COLLEGE GRADUATES TO COME DOWN
AND LEARN TO FLY.
SO THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
HE GOT HIS WINGS IN SEPTEMBER OF
1941.
STAYED ON AS INSTRUCTOR AND LIKE
PENSACOLA IS CALLED THE
MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE NAVY, LIKE
MANY OTHERS HE MARRIED A LOCAL
GIRL AND SETTLED HERE AFTER THE
WAR AND HENCE REALLY THAT WAS MY
INTEREST IN MY FATHER BECAME
MARINE OFFICER DURING THE
VIETNAM WAR, MILITARY HISTORY IS
ALWAYS AN INTEREST OF MINE SO
NATURALLY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY
OPENED UP AT THE NAVAL AVIATION
MUSEUM TO WORK THERE IT REALLY
FIT RIGHT IN.
>> BET YOU HEARD A LOT OF GREAT
STORIES FROM GRANDPA GROWING UP,
HUH?
>> UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T.
HE DIED RATHER YOUNG AND I GUESS
A LOT OF WORLD WAR II VETERANS
AT THE MUSEUM FILLED IN AS FAR
AS TELLING STORIES.
BUT I WAS A TEENAGER WHEN HE
DIED AND BEFORE I GAINED TOO
MUCH OF AN INTEREST, IT'S ONE OF
MY REGRETS.
WISH I HAD TALKED TO HIM MORE.
BUT HE'S DEFINITELY ANNOYS
OPERATION, HIS PICTURE IS IN MY
OFFICE.
HE STILL MEAN AS LOT TO ME.
>> WHAT IT'S IT LIKE YOU GET THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH
WORLD WAR II VETERAN?
GLUTENS INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
PARTICULARLY NOW WHEN THEY'RE
PASSING AWAY AT THE ALARMING
RATE, JUST WITHIN THE PAST
COUPLE OF DAYS WE HAVE A COUPLE
OF GIANTS PASS AWAY FROM THE
WORLD WAR IIER RA.
SO I REALLY CHERISH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM
BECAUSE IT -- THEY RELAY
EXPERIENCES FROM THE MOMENT US
TIME IN HISTORY.
IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND
PRIVILEGE AND HONOR WHEN YOU GET
A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM AND
HEAR WHAT THEY ENDURED AND WENT
THROUGH.
AND ALL THE SACRIFICES THEY
MADE.
>> AS A LAYMAN, IT'S A GREAT
EXPERIENCE TO TALK TO THEM BUT I
IMAGINE AS HISTORIAN YOU HAVE A
DEEP APPRECIATION FOR WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING.
>> YOU DO.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
READ FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT, MAYBE
LETTERS WRITTEN DURING A
PARTICULAR BATTLE L OR READ THE
ACTION REPORT FROM AN ENGAGEMENT
WHERE YOU READ THE OFFICIAL
RECORD OF WHETHER WE ON THE.
AND THEN YOU GET THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK WITH THEM AND TAKE THAT
OFFICIAL RECORD AND HUMANIZE IT
BECAUSE YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENS TO
THEM.
THERE'S ONE GUY I LIKE TO TELL
THE STORY, HIS NAME WAS DON
CRUISE AND HE IN THE POST WAR
YEARS BECAME A WEATHER OFFICER.
SO HE WOULD CHART WEATHER
PATTERNS AND HE ALWAYS TALKED
ABOUT THAT, THAT WAS HIS
FAVORITE THING, LOVED TALKING
ABOUT THE HURRICANES HE TRACKED.
HE SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.
SO I ASKED HIM WHAT DID YOU DO
IN WORLD WAR II?
HE SAID I SERVED ABOARD A
CARRIER SUNK AT GUADEL CANAL.
HE NEVER TALKED ABOUT THAT
BEFORE SO I INTERVIEWED HIM
ABOUT THAT AND I SAID HE -- HE
DESCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCES AND
THEN HE WENT TO ANOTHER CARRIER
THAT WAS SUNK IN THE GILBERT
ISLANDS.
SO HERE IS MAN SO SILENT ABOUT
HIS WORLD WAR II SERVICE TELLING
ME SWIMMING AWHICH FROM TWO
CARRIERS.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE
THAT I HAVE HAD THERE, THE
EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD THERE
REALLY HAD BEEN OF THAT NATURE.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW THE
TREMENDOUS THE STORIES YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR.
>> YOU KNOW THEY'RE KNOWN AS THE
GREATEST GENERATION.
I'M CURIOUS AS YOU HAVE
INTERVIEWED THESE GUYS OVER
TIME, WHAT HAVE YOU TAKEN AWAY
FROM IT JUST FROM A PERSONAL
STANDPOINT?
>> WELL, I GUESS IT WOULD BE YOU
REALIZE HOW YOUNG THEY WERE,
THAT IS THE THING THAT REALLY
BOGGLES MY MIND, WHETHER IN THE
MUSEUM LIBRARY WILL GET A
DONATION OF LETTERS OR DIARIES
WRITTEN BY SOMEBODY, YOU REALIZE
THAT THEY WERE ONLY 20, 21 YEARS
OLD.
AND I GUESS THE GREATEST EXAMPLE
OF THAT WE HAD A GENTLEMAN NAMED
ARTHUR RAY HAWKINS, CAPTAIN RAY
HAWKINS WHO WORKED ON THE JIM
FOUNDATION MANY YEARS AND HE WAS
THERE WHEN I GOT THERE.
HE HAD THE EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY
LATER IN LIFE TO BECOME A BLUE
ANGEL PILOT AND FLIGHT LEADER
BUT DURING WORLD WAR II HE WAS
THE NAVY'S 10TH RANKING ACE AND
SAYK A JAPANESE BATTLESHIP AND
RECEIVED THREE NAVY CROSSES.
HE DID THAT ALL BEFORE HE WAS 21
YEARS OLD.
I THINK ABOUT WHAT I COULD HAVE
DONE BEFORE I WAS 21 YEARS OLD
AND IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I TAKE AWAY MOST.
FROM ALL VETERANS REALLY.
BECAUSE ALL THE AVIATORS AND AIR
CREWMEN, SAILORS, YOU REALIZE
HOW YOUNG THEY ARE.
ON THE FRONT LINE TODAY THE SAME
CASE.
SAME INCIDENCE.
AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S STICKS OUT
WHEN I SPEAK, WHAT AMAZES ME.
>> IN YOUR JUDGMENT WHAT MAKES A
GOOD NAVAL AVIATOR?
>> I THINK THE ONES I'VE MET,
THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN DEGREE
OF ADVENTURE, BECAUSE IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT YOUR
STANDARD OPERATING JOB, STANDARD
JOB.
YOU HAVE TO BE A PASSION FOR
FLYING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
CERTAINLY A DEGREE OF NERVE,
PARTICULARLY IN -- A CALMNESS
AND COOLNESS ABOUT YOU
PARTICULARLY BOARDING A SHIP,
LANDING AN AIRCRAFT ON A MOVING
SHIP IS STILL THE MOST
CHALLENGING THING YOU DO IN
AVIATION.
AND JUST I THINK YOU ALSO HAVE
TO HAVE A SENSE OF COMRADERY.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE AVIATION
COMMUNITY AND YOU -- YOU'RE
AROUND NAVAL AVIATION YOU
REALIZE IT'S A TIGHT KNIT GROUP.
THEY RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER, HOLD
EACH OTHER TO HIGH STANDARD
WITHIN SQUADRONS.
SO THAT'S AN ASPECT AS WELL.
YOU CAN LOOK, PEOPLE HERE IN
PENSACOLA YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE
ANGELS.
THAT'S THE EPITOME OF THAT
COMRADERY, AN EXTENSION OF
WHAT'S IN THE FLEET, WHAT THEY
DO.
>> HOW DID NAVAL AVIATION FIRST
COME ABOUT?
>> IT CAME ABOUT REALLY IN 19
WAS A SIGNATURE MOMENT IN NAVAL
AVIATION.
THERE WAS AN AIRCRAFT
MANUFACTURER NAMED GLENN CURTIS.
HE WAS SPECIALIZED IN
DEVELOPMENT OF C PLANE.
AND HE -- SEA PLANES.
HE WANTED TO ADOPT THEM TO USE
WITH THE NAVY OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE
THEY FLEW FROM WATER BUT HAD
TROUBLE CONVINCING THE NAVY.
THE NAVY AT THAT TIME WAS WEDED
TO THE BATTLESHIP.
GIANT VESSELS WITH BIG GUNS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AIRCRAFT YOU
SEE WOODEN FOO BRICK PLANES NO
NAVAL OFFICER WOULD SAY THAT'S
GOING TO IMPACT NAVAL WARFARE.
SO HE HAD TO COME UP WITH AN
IDEA HOW TO INTEREST THE NAVY.
SO WHAT HE DID IS HE ENLISTED A
CIVILIAN PILOT, A GUY FROM IOWA
NAMED EUGENE ELY, I FIND IRONIC
HE WAS FROM IOWA SO FAR FROM THE
OCEAN AND HE MADE THESE LAND
MARK FLIGHTS, FIRST IN NOVEMBER
"OPEN FORUM" 1910 WHEN HE
SUCCESSFULLY TOOK OFF FROM A
SHIP.
THEY BUILT THE MAKESHIFT WOODEN
FLIGHT TECH ON A CRUISER.
THEN IN JANUARY OF 1911 HE
SUCCESSFULLY LANDED ON A SHIP.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING OPERATION.
HE HAD THESE HOOKS THAT WERE
BETWEEN THE WHEELS ON THE AXIL
OF THE WHEEL AND THEY PUT
SANDBAGS AN ROPES SO THEY HAD
THESE ROPES ACROSS THE WOODEN
DECK AND SANDBAGS ON EACH END OF
THE ROPE, THAT WAS THE PRIMITIVE
ARRESTING GEAR THAT STOPPED HIM
WHEN HE LANDED.
SO THAT CONVINCED THE NAVY TO
APPROPRIATE THE GRAND SUM OF
$25,000 TO PURCHASE COUPLE OF
AIRCRAFT AND START TRAINING THE
FIRST AVIATORS.
FROM THAT, WE GET WHAT WE HAVE
TODAY.
>> WOW.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, TAKING OFF
FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARE YES, BUT
LANDING -- KAYIERS BUT LANDING,
-- CARRIER, P BUT LANDING I CAN
ONLY ANIMAL WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
HIS MIND THE FIRST TIME.
>> IT WAS UNHEARD OF WHAT HE WAS
DOING.
BUT TODAY YOU ASK A CARRIER
PILOT TODAY WHAT IS THE MOST
CHALLENGING, IT IS MAKING THAT
CARRIER PLANNING.
DURING THE VIETNAM WAR THERE WAS
A STUDY THAT'S BEEN PUBLYIZED
BEFORE, THEY WANTED TO GAUGE THE
STRESS LEVEL OF NAVAL AVIATORS
DURING THE COURSE OF COMBAT
MISSION.
AND SO THEY HAD THEM WIRED UP
WITH ALL THESE MEASURING DEVICES
AND THE HIGHEST STRESS LEVEL
EXCEEDING COMBAT GETTING FIRE AT
WAS LANDING THIS AIRPLANE ON
THAT SHIP AT NIGHT.
AND THAT -- SO THAT SPEAKS
VOLUMES ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO
PERFORM THAT VERY DEMANDING
EVOLUTION.
>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, KNOWING A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT FLYING
AIRPLANES I CAN ONLY IMAGINE YOU
JUST HAVE THE OUT MOST RESPECT
AND THEN YOU THROW WEATHER AND
REALIZE HOW AMAZING THOSE GUYS
ARE.
>> DEFINITELY A UNIQUE BREED.
>> TRULY ARE.
ANYWAY, HOW HAS -- OR I GUESS
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST THING
THAT HAS INFLUENCED NAVAL
AVIATION OVER ITS LIFE SPAN?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IT IS
CERTAINLY FROM A TECHNOLOGICAL
STANDPOINT IT IS THE AIRCRAFT
CARRIER.
1922, WHICH IS THE FIRST
AIRCRAFT CARRIER WHEN FIRST
COMMISSIONED, USS LANGLEY TO
TODAY WITH THE MODERN NUCLEAR
POWERED VESSELS.
THAT CERTAINLY HAS SHAPED NAVAL
AVIATION VERY MUCH THE NAVY.
THE NAVY IS WHEN THERE'S FAMOUS
QUOTES ALWAYS MADE IN RELATION
TO NAVAL AVIATION.
WHENEVER THERE'S A CRISIS IN THE
WORLD THE PRESIDENT ALWAYS ASKS
WHERE HIS NEAREST AIRCRAFT
CARRIER IS.
SO THAT CERTAINLY RIPINGS TRUE
AND HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR
DECADES.
WHAT HAS ALSO MADE NAVAL
AVIATION SO IMPORTANT FOR THE
COUNTRY IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE A
MARITIME NATION.
WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, WE'RE
SURROUNDED ON TWO SIDES BY
OCEAN, MOST OF OUR GOODS THAT
COME INTO THE COUNTRY, EXPORTS
AND IMPORTS ARE BY WAY OF THE
SEA.
SO AND NAVAL AVIATION IS PART OF
THAT NAVAL FORCE THAT PRESERVES
THOSE VITAL LIFELINES.
>> ANY IDEA HOW THINGS WILL
CHANGE IN THE FUTURE AS YOU HAVE
THE DRONES AND -- WHAT'S THAT
LOOKING LIKE?
>> I THINK DRONES ARE GOING TO
PLAY AN INCREASING ROLE IN NAVAL
AVIATION OPERATION, CERTAINLY
ANY AIR OPERATIONS.
THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR
CAPABILITY.
AND -- BUT I THINK YOU'RE STILL
GOING TO SEE A PLACE FOREMANNED
AIRCRAFT BECAUSE THERE ARE
CERTAIN TYPES OF MISSIONS AND
FOR EXAMPLE LIKE SEARCH AND
RESCUE TYPE MISSIONS TO GO IN
AND RESCUE A DOWNED PILOT OR
EXTRACT AN INFANTRY SQUAD OR
PLATOON, THAT HUMAN DIMENSION IS
GOING TO BE NECESSARY BECAUSE
THAT IS A MISSION THAT THE
PARAMETERS MAY CHANGE ON A
MOMENT'S NOTICE.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IT
BUT I THINK THERE'S A PLACE
FOREMANNED AIRCRAFT BUT
CERTAINLY THE FACE OF NAVAL I
HAVE AIATION WILL CHANGE IN THE
COMING YEARS.
>> FASCINATING.
YOU'RE AT THE NAVAL AVIATION
MUSEUM ON PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR
STATION.
HOW DID PENSACOLA BECOME SUCH A
HOT BED FOR NAVAL AVIATION?
>> IT ALL GOES BACK TO 1914,
REALLY 1913.
AND THE NAVY PRIOR TO THAT TIME
THE GNAW SRI ORDERED THE FIRST
AIRCRAFT TO 191.
SO THE ENSUING COUPLE OF YEARS,
NAVAL AVIATION DIDN'T HAVE A
HOME.
DURING THE WINTER THEY PACK UP
ALL THE AIRCRAFT WHICH DIDN'T
CONSIST OF MUCH AND THE
PERSONNEL MAY JOIN THE FLEET OFF
GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, THAT'S
WHEN THEY DO WINTER MANEUVERS AT
THAT TIME.
THE WARMER WEATHER MONTHS THEY
HAD A BASE ACROSS THE RIVER FOR
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
SO REALLY IT WAS A VAGABOND
EXISTENCE FOR NAVAL AVIATION.
THEY SAID WE NEED TO DEVELOP A
CENTER OF AVIATION TRAINING AND
A PLACE WHERE NAVAL AVIATION CAN
CALL HOME.
AND SO THEY SAT ABOUT LOOKING
FOR PLACES.
THEY SETTLED IN PENSACOLA ON A
NUMBER OF -- FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS. ONE WAS THE WEATHER,
IT'S SEQUENTIALLY YEAR AROUND
FLYING WEATHER HERE.
ALSO THEY NEEDED A PLACE THAT
HAD SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.
PENSACOLA HAD A NAVY YARD SINCE
THE 1800s.
SO THERE WERE BUILDINGS HERE,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO CONSTRUCT
THINGS. MAIN THING WAS SEA
PLANES ARE WHAT NAVAL AVIATION
BUT ABOUT AT THAT TIME SO THEY
NEED AD RUNWAY FOR SEA PLANES, A
PROTECTED BODY OF WATER.
THERE YOU HAD PENSACOLA BAY.
THAT'S OOH WHY THEY CHOSE IT SO
JANUARY OF 1914 THEY FIRST
ARRIVED AND THAT'S HOW PENSACOLA
BECAME THE CRITICAL OF AVIATION.
>> INTERESTING.
AS YOU HAVE WATCHED AND PEOPLE
COMING THROUGH, WHO IS THE MOST
SORT OF FAMOUS PERSON THAT'S
BEEN THROUGH THE NAVAL AVIATION
TRAINING?
>> IT'S TOUGH TO TELL.
IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO
PINPOINT SOMEBODY.
CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE IN THE
POLITICAL REALM, GEORGE H.W.
BUSH.
SPORTS FAN TED WILLIAMS, THE
BOSTON RED SOX SLUGGER.
IF YOU'RE INTO SPACE THE EARLY
ASTRONAUTS WENT THROUGH HERE.
AND EVEN IN HOLLYWOOD, TYRONE
POWER T ACTOR FROM THE 1940s
AND 50s CAME THROUGH HERE.
SO IT'S TOUGH TO PINPOINT
SOMEBODY BUT THERE IS -- THERE
IS A GREAT RANGE OF PEOPLE WHO
WENT ON TO BECOME VERY SUCKFUL
IN OTHER ENDEAVORS THAT GET
THEIR START AS YOUNG MEN IN
NAVAL AVIATION.
>> YOU HAVE THE AIRPLANE THAT
GEORGE H.W. BUSH?
>> WE HAVE THREE PRESIDENTIAL
AIRCRAFTS.
NORMALLY THE PRESIDENTIAL
TRANSPORT IS A LONG DISTANCE
TRAVEL, AIR FORCE 1 BUT WE HAVE
A MARINE 1, THE HELICOPTER THE
PRESIDENT USES TO FLY FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE FOR SHORT DISTANCES
SO WE HAVE THE MARINE 1
HELICOPTER THAT FLEW PRESIDENT'S
NIXON AND FORD AND THEN WE HAVE
TWO AIRCRAFT UNIQUE IN RELATESES
TO PRESIDENTS.
ONE OF WHICH IS A N 2S STEERMAN
TRAINER, A BIPLANE USE AS A
PRIMARY TRAINER DURING WORLD WAR
II.
WE TRACKED IT DOWN WHEN GEORGE
H.W. BUSH WAS VICE PRESIDENT
LOOKING FOR A PLANE HE MAY HAVE
FLOWN.
ALL AVIATORS KEEP LOGBOOKS AND
NOTE WHEN THEY FLEW, WHAT NUMBER
OF PLANE THEY FLEW, SO WE HAD
COPIES OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S
LOGBOOK AND WE SEARCHED CIVILIAN
MARKET AND FOUND THIS AIRCRAFT
WAS A CROP DUSTER AND THE ONE HE
HAD FLOWN TWICE DURING TRAINING
AT NAS MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,
WINTER, DEFINITELY CHILLY
FLIGHTS.
THEN WE HAVE THE FAMOUS AIRCRAFT
THAT PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH,
MADE THE LANDING ON ABRAHAM
LINCOLN, WHERE HE GAVE THAT
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED SPEECH.
THIS IS THE NAVY 1 HE WAS ON
BOARD WHEN THEY MADE THAT
LANDING.
IT'S HUMOROUS.
WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE WAS
TALKING TO THE PILOT THAT MADE
THE LANDING WAS THE PILOT ON THE
AIRCRAFT.
NATURALLY NEVER FLOWN THE
PRESIDENT BEFORE, YOU HAVE THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
SITTING THERE AND I GUESS
PRESIDENT BUSH SENSE PED HE WAS
NERVOUS AND SO HE TAPPED HIM ON
THE SHOULDER AND SAID DON'T
WORRY COMMANDER, I HAVE A GREAT
VICE PRESIDENT.
>> IS THE HELICOPTER, IS THAT
THE ONE THAT --
>> IT IS NOT.
ACTUALLY AT THAT TIME THE
MARINES AN ARMY SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HELICOPTER
TRANSPORT.
NOW IT'S EXCHEW RECEIVELY THE
MARINE CORPS WHO DOES IT.
IT'S AN ARMY HELICOPTER THAT
NIXON WAVED FROM AND GAVE A
FINAL FAIR WELL TO ON THE WHITE
HOUSE LAWN.
>> PENSACOLA IS SYNONYMOUS FOR
THE BLUE ANGELS.
HOW DID THEY COME ABOUT?
Q. RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR II, IT
WAS PERIOD OF TREMENDOUS DRAW
DOWN IN THE MILITARY, IT WAS
OHIO THAT WAS GOING ON.
AND FLEET ADMIRAL THE CHIEF OF
NAVAL OPERATIONS WANTED TO PUT
TOGETHER A DEMONSTRATION TEAM
FOR TWO REASONS ONE WHICH WAS TO
DEMONSTRATE TO THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WHAT NAVAL AVIATION
ACCOMPLISHED IN WORLD WAR II BUT
ALSO KEEP NAVAL AVIATION
CAPABILITIES IN THE PUBLIC EYE
AS WELL TO BENEFIT THE NAVY AS
IT WAS PROCEEDING FORWARD INTO
THE POST WAR YEARS.
IT WAS UNCERTAIN WHAT ROLE THE
NAVY WOULD PLAY AS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS INTRODUCED WORLD WAR II.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY GOT STARTED.
REALLY STARTED OUT IN 1946 AT
NAVAL AIR STATION JACKSONVILLE.
>> WHAT TYPE OF AIRCRAFT DID
THEY USE?
>> THEY FLEW THE HELL CAT, THE
FRONT LINE FIGHTER DURING THE
LATTER PARTD OF WORLD WAR II.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROP?
>> IT WAS A PROP DRIVEN AIRCRAFT
AND RIGHT AFTER THAT THEY FLEW
THE F-8 BEAR CAT, ANOTHER
PROPELLER DRIVEN AIRCRAFT, THEN
TRANSITIONED TO THE JETS AND
HAVE BEEN IN JETS EVER SINCE.
>> YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE, IS
THERE VIDEO OUT THERE OF THE OLD
--
>> THERE ARE SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE
OF THE PROPELLER AIRCRAFT DOING
THE AIR SHOWS.
IT'S THE AIR SHOWS DEFINITELY
YOU LOOK AT THEM, YOUR TYPICAL
GRAINY VIDEO.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE
ORCHSTRATED AIR SHOW EXPERIENCE
THAT YOU HAVE NOW, COMPLETE WITH
THE -- USE ANNOUNCERS AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY MUCH MORE OF
A PRIMITIVE AFFAIR AS FAR AS AIR
SHOWS.
BUT WHAT'S COMMON DENO, MA'AM
NAY TORE, YOU CAN SEE THE
CROWDS, EVERYBODY STARING UP,
LOOKING UPND SEEING WHAT THEY'RE
DOING SO THIS HASN'T P CHANGED
AS FAR AS AIR SHOWS ARE
CONCERNED.
>> NOW, WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING,
WHAT IS THAT PROCESS?
HOW DO YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT,
WHAT'S THE PROCESS UNTIL IT GETS
TO THE MUSEUM?
>> AS FAR AS -- IT DEPENDS.
IF IT'S AN AIRCRAFT THERE'S A
LOT OF AVENUES -- IF AN AIRCRAFT
IS BEING RETIRED FROM ACTIVE
SERVICE, THE MUSEUM WILL SAY WE
DONE HAVE THIS PARTICULAR TYPE
OF AIRCRAFT IN THE COLLECTION SO
WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT PART OF
THE COLLECTION.
SO THE NAVY WILL ACTUALLY
EARMARK THAT PLANE FOR US.
AND MANY CASES THEY'LL FLIGHT
DELIVER THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE THE F-14 TOM CAT
WHICH IS A VERY FAMOUS FIGHTER
OF THE LATTER PART OF THE
20th CENTURY INTO THE EARLY
21st SENRY.
WAS ACTUALLY FLOWN TO US.
IT WAS THE LAST ONE TO FLY
COMBAT MISSION OVER THE SKIES OF
IRAQ AND ITS LAST FLIGHT WAS
ACTUALLY TO THE MUSEUM.
SO WE HAVE THAT OCCASION COME
ABOUT.
WE HAVE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO
WILL ACTUALLY DONATE AIRCRAFT TO
US.
THEY'RE FOR EXAMPLE, LOT O
AIRCRAFT, MILITARY AIRCRAFT HAVE
BEEN USED IN THE FIRE FIGHTING.
THEY'RE USED IN AERIAL TANKERS
TO EXTINGUISH FORCE FIRES IN THE
NORTHWEST.
SO SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FLOWN
TO US AND THOSE ARE ONES THAT
COME FROM PRIVATE DONORS.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY PULLED NUMBER
OF THEM FROM LAKE MICHIGAN WHICH
IS A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WHY IN
LAKE MICHIGAN?
THE NAVY HAD TWO TRAINING
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS IN WORLD WAR
II, THAT'S WHERE MOST ALL NAVAL
AVIATORS LEARNED TO FLY FROM A
SHIP.
NATURALLY THERE WERE ACCIDENTS
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF WRECKS ON
THE BOTTOM OF LAKE MICHIGAN WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL UP FROM
THE DEPTH AND MAKE PART OF THE
MUSEUM COLLECTION. THERE'S NEAT
ONES IN THERE, COMBAT VETERAN
AIRCRAFT THAT WEREN'T THOUGHT TO
EXIST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BUT
THEY WERE IN WHAT WE CALL
UNDERWATER STORAGE FOR MANY
YEARS.
AIRCRAFT PRIMARILY.
>> SO YOU WOULD BRING THAT TO
THE MUSEUM AND START
REFURBISHING PROCESS?
>> WE HAD A RESTORATION GNAT IN
THE BACK. THERE'S NEAT STORYS
FROM THE RESTORATION.
THEY WILL CLEAN A BATTERY FROM
AN AIRCRAFT THAT'S BEEN
UNDERWATER FOR 50 YEARS AND IT
WILL STILL HOLD A CHARGE.
>> REALLY.
>> THERE'S STILL AIR IN THE
TIRES AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
YOU REALLY THINK THAT WHEN YOU
BRING THESE AIRCRAFT UP IT'S
LIKE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE
THEY WENT TO THE WATER IN 1945
OR 44 OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE HAD ONE INSTANCE, THERE WAS A
WORLD WAR II VETERAN, EARL
SUMNER, A MARINE ENLISTED PIE
HOT WHO SPENT HIS CAREER IN THE
MARINE CORPS AND HE'S RESTORING
A AIRCRAFT FROM LAKE MICHIGAN.
HE CHECK HIS LOGBOOK AND HE HAD
FLOWN IT 2 OR 3 DAYS BEFORE IT
WAS IN THE LAKE.
SO THAT WAS A NEAT EXPERIENCE TO
SEE AN AIRCRAFT HE HAD FLOWN.
THEN WE HAVE SMALL ART FACTS
THAT COME IN VARIOUS WAYS.
SOMETIMES WE'LL -- THEY'LL BE IN
A STATE SALE AND OUR FOUNDATION
WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO PURCHASE
AND DONATE TO THE MUSEUM.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WALK IN
THE DOOR AND FOUND SOMETHING IN
THE GRANDFATHER'S TRUNK AND
BROUGHT IT TO US.
THE NEATEST STORY I HAVE HAD AS
FAR AS ARTIFACTS WERE SOME
PAPERS, A GENTLEMAN WORKED AS A
NAVY RESERVIST HERE, WHO CAME
DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS OF ANNUAL
TRAINING, HE'S FROM MICHIGAN.
AND THE COWORKER OF HIS UP THERE
SAYS I JUST BOUGHT THIS OLE
HOUSE AN FOUND THIS BOX OF STUFF
I KNOW YOU NEAT NAVY LAND FIND A
GOOD HOME FOR IT.
HE LOOKED THROUGH AND SAW
INSTANTLY HOW APLAYING IT WAS
AND BROUGHT IT TO US AND DONATED
IT.
IT WAS EVIDENTLY THIS HOME HAD
BEEN OWNED BY THE FAMILY OF A
SAILOR KILLED IN ACTION ON BOARD
THE USS INDIANAPOLIS WHICH WAS
THAT FAMOUS SHIP THAT SANK AFTER
TORPEDOED BY A JAPANESE
SUBMARINE AND HUNTER SCOTT THE
ONE WHO DID HIS PROJECT, THE
HISTORY FAIR PROJECT, HAD GONE
INTO GREATER HEIGHTS WITH THE
HISTORY FAIR PROJECT IN RELATION
TO THAT STORY, IT WAS THE
ORIGINAL TELEGRAM SENT TO HIS
PARENTS SAYING HE WAS MISSING IN
ACTION, KILLED IN ACTION.
AND ALSO THE LETTER FROM THE
CAPTAIN MCVEIGH, YOU LOOK AT
THAT LETTER, IT'S A LETTER OF
CONDOLENCE AND YOU REALIZE HE
HAD TO SIGN OVER 700 LETTERS.
IT REALLY, THAT'S WHAT HIT HOME
TO ME, THE INSTANT I READ IT WAS
THIS BURDEN THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
AS A MANNING OFFICER TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF STORY, THE
NEAT THING AT THE MUSEUM.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
SHOW UP, IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING
A KID AT CHRISTMAS.
IF YOU'RE A HISTORIAN LIKE ME
IT'S LIKE A KID AT CHRISTMAS
EVERY DAY, STEPHEN AMBROSE
TALKED ABOUT IT'S LIKE READING
SOMEONE ELSE'S MAIL.
THAT'S WHAT YOU COA LOT.
YOU GET STORIES FROM READING
THINGS PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN OR
HANDLING ARTIFACTS THEY HAVE
WORN.
'S A NEAT JOB FOR HISTORY BUFFS
LIKE ME.
>> I CAN IMAGINE.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL BOOKS OUT THERE
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
ONE ON NAVAL AVIATION.
GIVE ME THE SYNOPSIS OF THAT.
>> THERE WAS -- THAT'S REALLY MY
SECOND BOOK, THE FIRST ONE WAS
JUST FOCUSING ON THE MUSEUM
AIRCRAFT COLLECTION.
THIS WAS THE GENESIS MIND WAS A
SMALL PUBLISHING COMPANY IN
CONNECTICUT THAT CAME UP WITH
THE IDEA TO HIGHLIGHT THE ARMED
FORCES OR ELEMENTS OF THE ARMED
FORCES IN A WAY THAT HAD NOT
BEEN DONE BEFORE.
A LARGE FORMAT GREAT SHARP
PHOTOGRAPHY AND TEXT DESCRIBING
THE ESSENCE OF THAT SERVICE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE MARINES
WHICH WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND
NAVAL AVIATION WAS I BELIEVE THE
THIRD ONE THEY DID.
AND SO I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EDITOR IN
CHIEF, I WAS ABLE TO WRITE A FEW
CHAPTERS, GET AUTHORS TO HELP IN
THE OTHER CHAPTERS AND WRITE
THEM.
AND PICK THE PHOTOGRAPHY.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO BE A
CELEBRATION OF NAVAL AVIATION
HISTORY AND ALSO CURRENT
OPERATIONS.
SO THAT WAS A VERY FUN BOOK TO
DO PARTICULARLY SINCE THE JOB I
HAVE.
IT WAS A REAL WAY TO TAKE THE
KNOWLEDGE I WAS FORTUNATE TO
GAIN AND BE ABLE TO PRESENT
ANYTIME A BOOK LIKE THAT.
>> YOU ALSO DID BOOKS ABOUT
SKYLINES AROUND THE U.S. AND THE
WORLD.
>> THAT WAS A COMPANY I DID SOME
WORK DO THEING A NAVAL I HAVE
AIATION BOX AND ALSO ONE ON
CHRONOLOGY OF THE U.S. NAVY.
THEN THEY HAD THIS OTHER IDEA TO
PRESENT AMERICAN CITIES IN THE
SAME FORMAT AS A LARGE COFFEE
TABLE TYPE BOOK WITH THESE
BRILLIANT PAN RAMMIC IMAGES.
SO I CHOSE THE TEXT FOR THOSE.
THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST
ENJOYABLE ONE US GUESS BECAUSE
THE OTHERS THROUGH THE NAVY, IT
WASN'T AS NEW AS THOSE TOPICS
WERE.
EACH CITY I WROTE ABOUT WAS A
REALLY VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY AS
FAR AS WRITING IS CONCERNED.
FEW REALLY -- YOU DISCOVER THE
ESSENCE OF THOSE CITIES AN
SUMMARIZE THEM AND JUST TO
CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF CITIES
NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES
BUT AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY ARE FUN BOOKS.
>> ANY BIG SURPRISES?
WHERE YOU GO WOW.
>> I THINK MOST -- SOME CITIES I
HAD NOT EXPLORED THAT MUCH.
CERTAINLY LONDON AND PARIS AN
THOSE RECOGNIZABLE CITIES, YOU
HAVE READ ENOUGH TO KNOW THE
ESSENCE.
BUT IF YOU GET TO OTHER CITIES
THAT HAD NOT COME ACROSS MY
ATTENTION, CAN'T REMEMBER ANY
RIGHT NOW BUT THERE'S NEAT SIDE
FACTS THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK
OF.
>> GETTING SHORT ON TIME HERE.
ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO AS FAR AS THE
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NAVAL
AVIATION IS CONCERND?
>> DEFINITELY.
THIS IS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE MUSEUM.
IT OPENED IN JUNE 1963.
ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE'RE
GOING TO DO EXHIBITS AND STUFF
ON THE WEBSITE AND FACE BOOK
PAGE WHICH HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE
HAVE DONE OVER THE PAST 50
YEARS.
WE JUST ARE REALLY PUTTING THE
FINISHING TOUCHES ON SOME OF THE
ELEMENTS OF THE WOMEN IN NAVAL
AVIATION EXCEPT WE'RE GOING TO
OPEN THIS YEAR AS WELL.
1943, 40 YEARS AGO H YEAR THE
FIRST FEMALE AVIATORS REPORTED
FOR TRAINING AT PENSACOLA.
SO IT'S AN -- AN EXHIBIT TO
EXMOTHER THAT ENTIRE DIMENSION
OF EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN IN
AVIATION AND HOW THE ROLE HAS
EVOLVED.
RIGHT BEFORE I CAME HERE TODAY
AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HAD THE
FIST MEMBER OF THE FIRST ALL
FEMALE COMBAT AIR CREW AN E-2
HAWKEYE THEY FLEW DOWN AND DID
INTERVIEWS WITH US.
THAT'S FEATUREED IN THE EXHIBIT.
SO THAT'S IT'S GOING TO BE
EXCITING.
AN EXCITING MULTI-MEDIA ASPECT
WITH SHORT HISTORICAL FILMS AND
CLIPS FROM INTERVIEWS WITH REAL
NEAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN AND
DONE A LOT IN THE AVIATION IN
THE MODERNER RA SO REALLY
EXCITING FOR VISITORS.
>> THE WEBSITE IS
>>
WWW.NAVALAVIATIONMYCELIUM.ORG.
YOU'LL FIND THE HAPPENINGS AND
GOINGS ON AND LOOK AT EXPLORE
OUR COLLECTIONS AND TOO STUFF ON
THE WEBSITE.
WWW.NAVAL AVIATIONMUSEUM.ORG.
>> WE'RE ONLY CLOSED THREE DAY
AS YEAR.
THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS AN NEW
YEAR'S DAY OPEN 9 TO 5.
WE URGE EVEN IN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY AND WORLD
TO VISIT.
>> IT'S PLEASURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ENJOYED BEING HERE.
>> OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.
YOU CAN SEE MORPH OUR
CONVERSATIONS ON LINE AT
WSRE.ORG/CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
ENJOY THE BROADCAST.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND WE'LL
SEE YOU SOON.
♪♪
[CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WSRE-TV
AND COASTAL CAPTIONING]
♪♪
>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED IN PART BY THESE
CORPORATE SPONSORS.
AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.