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Michigan Air Guard Historical Association

Website: www.selfridgeairmuseum.org

Email: magha@selfridgeairmuseum.org

October – December 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

Taps 2

Honor Roll & Life Member 2

Letters Home 3

127th Wing Happenings 4-6

110th Attack Wing Happenings 7-8

Tom Selfridge Did More than Just Die by Joseph N. Mazzara 9-10

This Day in History: Michigan Air National Guard 11-14

Museum Happenings 15-27

Reader Information Survey 28

Kroger Community Rewards Program 29

AmazonSmile 30

MAGHA Membership Application 31

Memorial Wall Brick Program 32

MI ANG History Books 33

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TAPS

NAME MI ANG SERVICE DATE OF DEATH

Dr. Richard F. Cooper ???? – 1985 28 October 2019

HONOR ROLL

Due to the large number of Honor Roll members, only those who have either become Life Members or who have achieved a higher membership status since the last issue are listed below. A complete Honor Roll membership roster is published annually in the July issue. Please see the complete list at the end of the newsletter.

LIFE MEMBER

Col. Ronald J. Lambert (Ret) – Sustaining

Lt. Cdr. Ed Songer (U.S. Navy) – Life

Available at Google Play Store & Apple App Store

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Letters Home

Email received from Pete Molter: Happy Fall everyone - Hope your year has been good so far. To help get a good start on next year, here’s the information on the 2020

Florida reunion. It is scheduled for Friday, 21 February 2020, 11 a.m. at: Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, 7913 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy (US-192), Kissimmee, Florida 34747 We had a good turn out last year and everyone said they enjoyed the food and visits. Hope you can make it to the next one. Have a Happy Holidays and see you then. Pete and Peggy Molter I’m just letting everyone know that Lou Nigro, Executive Director, Selfridge Military Air Museum (Lt. Col., Ret.) has been out of the Museum office for the past few months. We’re hoping on his imminent return, but the date of his return is still not known. In the meantime, Bob Hudson, Assistant Director and Lori Nye, Library-Archives Team Chief is attempting to keep things running at a smooth pace on Tuesdays and Fridays. Bear with us please, if your phone call or email is not immediately responded to. Lori is keeping tabs of the voicemails and emails and responding as needs be. If you have a payment coming up in the next few months for your RV Storage and/or your MAGHA membership, please just mail it in to the Selfridge Military Air Museum, 27333 C Street, Bldg. 1011, Selfridge ANG Base, MI 48045. Lori or our “new” Admin. Volunteer, Susan Tiley, will process the payments and eventually get you your updated contract. Thank you all for your understanding. Bob Hudson, Assistant Director

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127th Wing Happenings

191st Maintenance Squadron Staff Sgt. Mike Fontana and Airmen of the 191st Maintenance Squadron re-attach the tail cone on a KC-135 Stratotanker after performing preventative maintenance on the aircraft at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 2, 2019. Airmen routinely perform preventative maintainance to Air Force aircraft to ensure the aircraft remains mission ready. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton)

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127th Maintenance Squadron Airmen work together to assemble BDU-33 munitions at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 2, 2019. The BDU-33s are used as a training munition by the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft operated at Selfridge. The small bomb is mostly inert, but carries a small charge that emits smoke when deployed, to help spot where it landed. The bombs are shipped to the base in several component pieces and then assembled by the conventional weaponry maintenance technicians of the 127th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton)

Members of Leadership Macomb Class XXIII pose in front of an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., October 16, 2019. Leadership Macomb brings together leaders from numerous institutions, and disciplines to obtain in-depth information about issue driven, relevant topics in Macomb County.

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2020 Air Show & Challenge Coin Contest Winners

The Selfridge Base Community Council held a design contest for their official challenge coin for next summer's Open House and Air Show. Thirty design submissions were assessed by a judging committee comprised of 12 civic, community and military leaders from surrounding communities of Selfridge ANGB, of which only three designs were chosen for third, second and first place. First-place air show coin design winner, Xandraya Rodriguez, second place winner, Mackenzie Johnson, and third place winner, Charles Zucal

were recognized at the event held at the Selfridge Military Air Museum, which publicly launched the 2020 Selfridge Open House and Air Show. The Selfridge Open House and Air Show will take place 6-7 June 2020, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Keep following the 127th Wing Facebook page for news and updates!

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110th Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan

Governor Whitmer visits Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Facilities

The 110th Wing hosted Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, and State of Michigan Cabinet members during a visit to Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs facilities.

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Invested in the future: Battle Creek ANG finance specialist

finds her niche

Battle Creek, Michigan 09-11-2019 Story by Staff Sgt. Jacob Cessna, 110th Wing

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – “I love finance, I love the complexity that comes with it. When customers have exhausted everyone in aiding them in solving their problems, I’m usually the person to fix it. I’m great at pulling broken programs out of the grave.”

When Tech. Sgt. Joni Jackson speaks about her work, she sounds more like a private investigator than someone newly assigned to the 110th Wing Comptroller Flight, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Initially, Jackson joined the South Carolina Air National Guard to work in personnel, but after cross‐training multiple times into mission support career fields over thirteen years, she believes she finally has found her niche with finance. This job requires not only a methodic mindset to process, submit, and audit transactions accurately, but also a personable demeanor. When disgruntled customers come in, they need someone who can empathize with them. Jackson shows no hesitation for either aspect of her job. “It’s easy for me to come in and read the regulations and the instructions and the policies,” Jackson said. “And sometimes you’re going to have difficult customers, but you have to remember where they’re coming from. If your payment was messed up, you’d be upset too. You have to be able to defuse, assist them, and not take it personally.” Before becoming the lead accounting liaison officer at the 110th Wing, Jackson worked 10 years in the 169th Mission Support Group and is no stranger to dealing with people. In fact, it’s why she joined personnel in the first place. “Everything we do in life is customer service, whether it’s external customers or internal. I love customer service; I love helping people.” Confident in her diplomatic skills, Jackson spends time outside of work studying the nuances of her job. It’s not easy getting acclimated to a new job, but her dedication can be seen in the results. “I was told that it would take a while to get my head wrapped around all of it, but I’m definitely up for the challenge. Now that my kids are grown and out of the house, I have time to come home and read the regulations and try to understand the job more. Along with the training, everything’s coming together.” Jackson’s dedication to the Air Force doesn’t stop with herself. She is passionate about the Air Force's future, specifically female leadership and mentoring junior non-commissioned officers. She rallied her female co-workers to attend a women in leadership symposium that the 110th Wing held Sept. 9th. “The symposium was very informative and organized, Jackson said. "The challenges women in leadership positions faced weren’t surprising, but it reflected their strength and their resiliency. I think the biggest thing for us, regardless of age, is to educate our men. Have that dialogue, have those conversations, ask those questions and be ready for responses. Once more dialogue is started without male peers and leadership, they’ll gain a better understanding of how to take this journey together.” Military operations start and end at finance. Personnel cannot provide their best service if they must worry about providing for their families and themselves. When an Airman goes to see Tech. Sgt. Joni Jackson, someone whose drive and dedication extends past her own career, they should know they’re in good hands.

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TOM SELFRIDGE DID MORE THAN JUST DIE

By Joseph N Mazzara

Visitors to the Selfridge Military Air Museum in Harrison Township, Michigan, often ask why Selfridge Air National Guard Base was named for this virtually unknown Lieutenant Thomas Etholen Selfridge. The standard answer given by museum staff is that Thomas Selfridge was the first person and first U.S. military officer to be killed in the flight of a powered aircraft. Oh, and the airplane on which he died just happened to be designed by the Wright Brothers and piloted by none other than Orville Wright himself. It’s all true, and indeed interesting, but what a sad legacy to be remembered primarily for the circumstances of your death, and not by the accomplishments of your life. As it turns out, Lt. Selfridge achieved quite a bit in his brief but rich life.

Around the time that the Wright Brothers were tinkering with their flying machine at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, others around the world were designing and building their own experimental aircraft. One such group was

the Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) centered in the then hometown of Alexander Graham Bell: Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Among his myriad pursuits, Bell had become interested in the possibility of human flight and had built several early prototypes which he called tetrahedral kites. In the summer of 1907, two engineering graduates from the University of Toronto who were also interested in the dynamics of flight were vacationing in Baddeck. The father of one of the men, John McCurdy, was the personal secretary to Alexander Graham Bell. The newly minted engineers had several opportunities to meet at Bell’s home to discuss their ideas. On one of those occasions, Bell’s wife Mabel suggested that the men create a formal study group. They did, and the AEA was born. In addition to the core group of Bell, McCurdy and Frederick (Casey) Baldwin, they recruited the well-known American engine builder Glenn Curtiss, who would later become known for such famed aircraft as the Curtiss JN-4 (the Flying Jenny), Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver.

As the group was formed, Bell wrote to President Roosevelt to ask for American military participation in the project. Roosevelt sent Lt. Thomas Selfridge who was then assigned to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Army Signal Corps., where he flew dirigibles. Lt. Selfridge proved to be an excellent addition to the group,

Lt. Thomas Selfridge with

Alexander Graham Bell

Bras d’Or Lake, Baddeck Nova Scotia

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contributing both design and flight skills. Each of the men in the group was individually tasked with designing an aircraft. Selfridge’s creation was the AEA Redwing, a biplane configuration powered by a 40 hp Curtiss B8 air-cooled V8 engine with wings covered in red silk. The aircraft was flown once, piloted by Frederick

Baldwin over frozen Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, NY. The craft flew about the length of a football

field at a height of 20 ft. until it crashed and was damaged beyond repair. Lt. Selfridge got his own chance to fly on December 6, 1907. He flew the Alexander Graham Bell designed AEA Cygnet, a tetrahedral kite towed behind a motorboat in Bras d’Or Lake just outside Baddeck. He flew for seven minutes at a height of 168 ft. before crashing into the lake. Although technically an unpowered flight, Selfridge was credited with piloting the first heavier-than-air flight in Canada. Six months later, on May 19, 1908, at Hammondsport, NY, Lt. Thomas Selfridge flew the AEA White Wing, a Frederick Baldwin designed craft powered by the same Curtiss B8 engine, for a distance of 1000 ft. This made Selfridge the first U.S. Army officer to fly a powered aircraft. Those accomplishments alone should have secured Selfridge’s place in the

history books, but a more somber milestone later that year would overshadow his other “firsts.” On September 17, 1908, Lt. Selfridge was dispatched to Fort Myer, Virginia, for a demonstration of the Wright brothers 1908 Wright Military Flyer. The U.S. Army signal corps had been considering a purchase of this aircraft and Selfridge was sent to observe and evaluate. On a demonstration flight piloted by Orville Wright, in which Lt. Selfridge was a passenger, a propeller broke and dislodged a guide wire on the rudder, sending the stricken craft, nose-down hard

into the earth. The crashed killed Lt. Selfridge and put Orville Wright in the hospital for seven weeks. Thus, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge would come to be

forever known as the first person and the first U.S. Army officer to die in a crash of a powered aircraft. So this young man who, by the age of twenty-six, had designed an airplane, was first to fly a heavier-than-air craft in Canada and was the first U.S. Army officer to pilot a powered aircraft, is now known primarily for his death. It is time to give him credit for all that he achieved before that fateful moment: Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge, United States Army, was an accomplished designer, pilot and an all-around pioneer of aviation. Oh yes, and he was also the first to die in a plane crash. For which “first” should he be most remembered?

Lt. Selfridge in the “cockpit” of the Cygnet

The Selfridge-designed Red Wing

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This Day in History… October 1 1961 During the Cold War only the 156th Signal Battalion was federalized on 1 October 1961 at its home stations in response to the Cuban missile crisis. This marked the Michigan National Guard's last call to federal duty for service outside the state for almost 30 years October 2 2008 The Michigan ANG's 127th Wing at Selfridge ANG Base formally relinquished its Air Sovereignty Alert (ASA) mission to the Ohio ANG's 180th Fighter Wing at Toledo. October 5 1813 A combined British and Native American army is decisively defeated by an American army under the command of General William Henry Harrison, a former general of Indiana militia and future president of the U.S. After the British component of the force was broken by mounted Kentucky militiamen, they went on a killing spree amongst the Indians under the war leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh, a Shawnee, built an Indian confederation combining several tribes as allies of the British. When members of these tribes captured Kentucky militiamen first at the River Raisin, Michigan Territory, in January 1813 and again at the siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio in May 1813, they tortured and killed many of them. The Kentuckians thus took their revenge by killing a large number of warriors, including Tecumseh, leading to the dissolution of the Indian confederacy. October 11 2003 Ground is broken for a new $15.8 million, 106425-square foot complex to consolidate National Guard operations in the Lansing area. The new facility, on North Martin Luther King Boulevard, near Grand River Avenue, houses the Joint Forces Headquarters for the combined Michigan Army and Air National Guard as well as several Army National Guard units. October 12 1968 By special order of Michigan adjutant general Clarence Schnipke, Air National Guard Sgt. Mickey Lolich was exempted from "KP duty" for the remainder of his military career due to Lolich's outstanding performance in his civilian job - as a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. The order from Schnipke came in the celebration aftermath of Lolich helping the Tigers to win the 1968 World Series. During the summer of 1967, Lolich missed about two weeks of the baseball season when his unit was mobilized to help quell the riots in Detroit that summer. October 21 1861 A Union assault across the Potomac River north of Washington, DC, at a site named Harrison's Landing or better known to history as "Ball's Bluff" was repulsed with heavy losses. While Confederate losses were rather light, the Union forces suffered 223 men killed and more 700 captured, with several hundred more wounded. Among the dead was Colonel, and U.S. Senator from Oregon, Edward D. Baker. Born in England, he came to America as a child and spent his early life in Illinois, where he met and

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befriended Abraham Lincoln. While in Illinois, Baker was elected to the House of Representatives in 1844. He resigned his seat in 1846 to command the 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Mexican War, commanding the Siege of Veracruz and the Battle of Cerro Gordo. After the war, he moved to California, then Oregon, taking a seat in the U.S. Senate as one of Oregon's first two new Senators. After the Civil War started in April 1861, Baker raised a regiment in New York, but soon after took a commission as the commander of the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry while still seated in the Senate. During the Battle of Ball's Bluff, Baker's regiment found itself backed up against the river by Colonel William Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade (13th, 17th, and 18th Mississippi regiments). Killed instantly by a shot in the head, he was the only seated member of Congress to die in combat during the Civil War. Several other interesting notes stem from this battle. Due to Baker's death and the high losses suffered in this operation, questions were raised in Congress about the Army's leadership. As a result, the "Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War" was established to oversee the handling of the war effort. Barksdale's Brigade would meet some of the very same units it fought at Ball's Bluff again at Antietam and Fredericksburg in 1862. These units included the 7th Michigan and the 19th and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry regiments. October 25 2004 The Michigan National Guard begins a $1.5 million overhaul and renovation of the 21,000 square foot Pontiac Readiness Center, also known as the Pontiac Armory. This is the first major alteration to the building since its original construction in 1973. The readiness center is home to the 1775th Military Police Company. October 26 2010 Members of the Michigan Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team provide guard detail for the casket of former Michigan Gov. Steven T. Mason at the State Capitol Building for one day of public viewing. Governor Mason's was exhumed from Detroit's Capitol Park while the burial location underwent renovation. Mason lay in state at the State Capitol Building for one day and was then transported back to Capitol Park for a re-internment memorial service. In 1830, at age 19, Mason was appointed the Secretary of Michigan Territory and Superintendent of Indian Affairs by President Andrew Jackson. In 1834 he became acting Territorial Governor and in 1835, at age 24, he was elected the state's first governor though Michigan did not officially establish statehood until 1837. Mason led the state until 1840 and, according to Michigan History magazine and other sources, was the youngest state governor in American history. November 1 1918

1st Lt. Harold A. Furlong earns the Medal of Honor for action in combat during World War I. At the time, Furlong was served with the 353rd Infantry, 89th Division in the active-duty Army. He would later serve in the Michigan National Guard, retiring in 1946 at the rank of lieutenant colonel after more than 30 years of combined service. The former soldier served as a doctor in his civilian profession. Furlong, a native of Pontiac, died in 1987 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Pontiac. His citation reads: "Immediately after the opening of the attack in the Bois-de-Bantheville (France), when his company was held up by severe machinegun fire from the front, which killed his company commander and several soldiers, 1st. Lt. Furlong moved out in

advance of the line with great courage and coolness, crossing an open space several hundred yards

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wide. Taking up a position behind the line of the machineguns, he closed in on them, one at a time, killing a number of the enemy with his rifle, putting 4 machinegun nests out of action, and driving 20 German prisoners into our lines." November 2 2008 The 172d Fighter Squadron, 110th Fighter Wing, at Battle Creek ANGB flew their last A-10 Thunderbolt II sortie. November 13 1708 The first indication of an effort to organize a militia is the reference of a proposal made by Antoine de LaMothe, sieur de Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. His proposal, dated November 13, 1708, called for forming four companies of "savages" to act as a militia for the colony. People opposed this idea because they were afraid that if the "savages" became educated in the ways of warfare, they would become formidable. December 3 2003 More than 200 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery, Michigan Army National Guard, depart for the first leg of a deployment that ultimately takes them to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a U.S. naval base. Soldiers from field artillery batteries in Lansing, Port Huron, Alma, and Albion will head to Fort Dix, NJ, where they will spend four to six weeks on mission-specific training and in-processing. Once in Cuba, the unit will serve for six months providing security at the base. December 6 2008 Officials unveiled Battle Creek decals on a newly assigned C-21. It was a bridge aircraft designed to maintain a flying mission at that installation until the planned C-27 (the Joint Cargo Aircraft) was assigned to the Michigan ANG unit, the 110th Fighter Wing, which was losing its A-10s. The Air Force later cancelled plans for the C-27. December 8 2008 The Michigan National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility #1 in Grand Ledge takes possession of new Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60M is an upgrade from the combat-proven UH-60 model. The "Mike" model features improved payload, new digital cockpit displays, a strengthened fuselage, more lift than the UH-60A model, and more powerful engines. The Mike models also feature lower maintenance costs than the current fleet. December 12 1862 Union engineers of the Volunteer Engineer Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Daniel Woodbury, composed primarily of the 15th and 60th New York Engineer regiments; finally succeed in getting two pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock River. For more than a day they had failed in accomplishing this goal due to heavy Confederate fire coming from the town of Fredericksburg. Most of this fire came from Brigadier General William Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade (13th, 17th, 18th, 21st Mississippi regiments), who used houses along the shore as cover. While Union artillery pounded the

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town, destroying many homes and other structures in the process, the rebel fire on the bridge continued. It was only after 7th Michigan and other elements of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division of the Army of the Potomac staged an assault river crossing in the face of enemy fire that the Confederates were compelled to fall back through the town. Soon the bridges were finished and the Union army moved across only to fight one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war on the 13th. December 13 1862 The Army of the Potomac suffers terrible losses as it makes numerous attacks against entrenched Confederates under the command of General Robert E. Lee. The federal army, under the command of General Ambrose Burnside, numbers over 90,000 men. Before the disastrous assaults on this day, Union forces had made a river crossing under heavy rifle fire from four regiments of Brigadier General William Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade (13th, 17th, 18th, 21st Mississippi regiments) while northern engineers, consisting primarily of two New York engineers regiments, constructed pontoon bridges over the Rappahannock River. On this date General Lee had his men well positioned on a high ridge known as "Marye's Heights." Burnside launched wave after wave of Union regiments piecemeal against the strong rebel defenses, all to no avail. By the end of the battle more than 12,600 Union soldiers are casualties while the southern loses were only 5,300. Pre-war militia (Guard) units exist in both armies. Among the most famous are the 69th New York, part of the famed "Irish Brigade," plus the Wisconsin and Michigan troops in the "Iron Brigade" On the southern side there are the five Guard regiments comprising the "Stonewall Brigade" from Virginia along with three batteries of the "Washington Artillery" from New Orleans. Descendent units of these and other Guard units who faced each other on this field remain in the Guard today. December 17 2013 A time capsule is buried at outside the chapel at Camp Grayling in northern Michigan. The burial of the time capsule is the final event in a year-long series of events held at the camp to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the military training center. The time capsule is to be opened in 2113. December 20 1943 The 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly the 107th Observation Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard, commenced combat operations over France from the United Kingdom with its F-6A's in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe.

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Museum Happenings

Museum Fundraising Efforts:

Museum Memorial Wall

If you or a loved one served in any branch of the military, active-duty, reserves or guard, you can purchase a brick in that person’s memory or honor of their time served and have it placed in the Museum’s Memorial Wall. A form for ordering bricks is located at the end of the newsletter. CLICK HERE for a link to the Brick Order Form.

Go-Fund-Me

The Selfridge Military Air Museum has launched a “Go-Fund-Me” initiative to raise funds for improvements to the Museum’s infrastructure. We’re hoping that we will be able 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.

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

UPCOMING FUNDRAISER!!!!

Partnership with Texas Roadhouse, Chesterfield Township

The Selfridge Military Air Museum will once again be sponsoring a fundraiser with Texas Roadhouse, Chesterfield Township, Michigan on Monday, 2 December 2019 at the Texas Roadhouse located on 23 Mile Road (across from Meijer). Our first event partnering with the Texas Roadhouse, Chesterfield Township, Mich., was a success! Please check-out the Events & Fundraising page of the Museum’s website (http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org) for additional details and to print/download a copy of the flyer closer to the date of the event. PLEASE SHARE this upcoming event date with your friends and family and encourage them to come out to support the Selfridge Military Air Museum with our second fundraiser with Texas Roadhouse. Please remember that you cannot pass out these flyers at the restaurant, inside or outside.

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

CORSAIR PRINTS

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.

Corsair Over Grosse Ile

USMC Squadron VMF 251, 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. Our “restored” Corsair will bear the markings of VMS-251 as it appeared while assigned to Grosse Ile.

Items available for purchase in the Gift Shop or by mail using the order from our website, CLICK HERE are:

• 13”x19” Color Print on Paper = $10.00*

• 18”x30” Color Giclee Print on Canvas = $100.00** (Stretched for Framing = $150.00**)

➢ *Please add $5.00 S&H plus sales tax for print mail orders ➢ **Please add $10.00 S&H plus sales tax for canvas giclee mail orders

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

The Selfridge Military Air Museum is working on a major fund-raising campaign for some long-

needed infrastructure improvements, the most important a ‘new home’ for the FG-1D Corsair

that is currently undergoing extensive restoration and our beloved T-6 ‘Texan’, which we’d like

to get out of our Michigan weather. To help raise funds for that future home of the Corsair and

T-6, the Museum has for sale through special order this artist’s rendering of the F-100.

‘Miller Time’

“Lt Col Don Miller’s flight to the Smithsonian’

Items available for purchase in the Gift Shop or by mail using the order from our website, CLICK HERE are:

• 18”x30” Color Giclee Print on Canvas (stretched for framing) = $150.00**

➢ **Please add $10.00 S&H plus sales tax for canvas giclee mail orders

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

SUMMER EVENTS @ THE MUSEUM

Our summer was chock-full of special events this year in addition to our regular open hours at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. In addition to our regular weekend hours, the volunteers hosted numerous plane washes by our Adopt-a-Plane sponsors, special tours, and the following ‘fund raising’ events:

SELFRIDGE RETIREES LUNCHEON

By Edward Kaminski

Thanks to the efforts of CMSgt Beth Sieloff (Ret), on July18th, the Selfridge Retirees Group (Formerly known as the OFC) held their first ever quarterly meeting at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. Approximately 60 members of the Group convened on the grounds to enjoy a traditional outdoor picnic lunch with CMSgt Larry ‘Shorty’ Becker (Ret) manning the grill and CMSgt Keith Edwards (Ret) providing the delicious pulled pork. Col Walt ‘Wally’ Wick (Ret) was there selling his commemorative labeled bottles of wine. That went over quite well in that Wally had very little left-over stock to take home with him. MSgt Ed Kaminski (Ret), welcomed the group on behalf of the Museum Director and gave them a brief history of the Selfridge Museum as well as what to look for in the museum as well as the adjoining air park. For many of the group, it was their first time visiting ‘their’ museum. In fact, quite a few of them have not set foot on Selfridge since their retirement. It was a great trip down memory lane for all. There were many ‘I worked on that airplane’ or ‘Remember when’ moments for all. The Selfridge Museum staff were on hand to help open displays and explain various exhibits. Those in attendance expressed their admiration for the efforts of the museum staff in presenting the aircraft and displays inside in the museum and overall, were very satisfied with the event. We talked with CMSgt Sieloff about hosting the group again next year to which she gave an enthusiastic ‘YES’. The museum is looking forward in having this group back. The Selfridge Retirees Association is open to everyone who retired from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, military and DOD Civilians. Come out and join them at their quarterly luncheons and like their Facebook page by searching for ‘Selfridge ANG Base Retiree Group (OFC) and liking their page.

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

Please consider joining our Docent team during our open season, April through October. We are in desperate need of volunteers!

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

2nd ANNUAL HISTORIC TEA

The Selfridge Military Air Museum held their 2nd Annual Historic Tea on Saturday, 20 July 2019 with two speakers this year. Dan Heaton spoke on Selfridge history “Home of the Generals: Carl Spaatz, Curtis LeMay, and George Scratchely Brown’ to name a few!” Our second speaker was Bill Wellbourne from the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Wellbourne spoke about his experiences as a Tuskegee Airman in the southern states in the 1950s. This year’s event was held on the grounds of museum’s air park in front of the U.S. Navy’s P-3 Orion. The tea was catered by Jen’s Scones & Treats, LLC from Roseville, Michigan: Quiche Lorraine, Salad, and Vanilla Mini Scones. Though the day was oh, so hot & humid with a heat index in the 100s, attendees enjoyed the Peach Iced Tea from Harney & Sons. Our desserts were homemade Brownie Bites with whip cream, strawberry slices, and blueberries; Lemon Cake, and Vanilla Cheesecake Bites; with a special treat of teacup/teapot shaped cookies by Kaitlyn Sienkiewicz. Let your friends and family know that this will be a recurring fundraiser for the museum – we need to get that “new” hangar built to house our FG-1D Goodyear-built Corsair (currently undergoing restoration) and our T-6 “Texan”.

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

BASE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETS @ SELFRIDGE MILITARY AIR MUSEUM By Ed Kaminski

On September 17th, the Selfridge Base Community Council held their first ever monthly meeting at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. Approximately 130 members of the Council convened on the grounds to enjoy a traditional outdoor picnic lunch. While there, these members were able to view and listen to a presentation by Ed Kaminski, giving a history of the Selfridge Museum as well as what to look for in the museum as well as the adjoining air park. It was an ‘all hands-on deck’ effort by our dedicated staff of volunteers in preparing for this first of its kind event. Dave Lesia and his grounds crew had the air park and surrounding area in the best shape it’s been looking in years. Many of our volunteers manned aircraft and various displays, explaining to those attending what they were actually looking at and the historical significance of it. Additional historic military vehicles were also present and we have to thank

Dave McConnell from the Michigan Military Vehicles Collectors Club as well as Bob Causley from the Michigan Industrial and Military Technology Museum for bringing out their fine examples of Vietnam era vehicles. Wayne Hales set up his display of the 1st Special Services Force (Better known as ‘the Devil’s Brigade’) to add to the historical exhibits. Pedro Saldana and Dan Spranger set up a display of Vietnam era equipment in the UH-1D ‘Huey’ helicopter and explained the significant role that iconic Vietnam warbird. After lunch, the BCC members were able to visit the museum, the SPAD Hanger as well as the Air Park. Many of those in attendance expressed their surprise at the quality of the many exhibits in the museum. Some particularly strong comments were made regarding their ability to actually get inside the P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules. To many, it was their first time inside a military aircraft. All in all, it was an outstanding success. Mark Zuccarro, the BCC president asked the museum staff if this was something that they could repeat next year. We’re interested in having this group back.

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Museum Happenings (cont.) Library Research Team:

The Library Research team is continuing work on the digitization of the photos and documents in our multiple file cabinets and the creation of an index of our archival holdings. Regular volunteers, Pat Williams and Mary Lou Pearsall along with Team Chief, Lori Nye are the ones working on this project. Joseph Mazzara completed his task of compiling a Biographical Sketch of the Base Commanders @ Selfridge from 1917 to Present. Though he will still occasionally scour the Internet for additional information, the compilation is available at the Library-Archives, Building 1008. Patrick, our newest volunteer, because of his expertise as an architect, has been re-assigned to the Special Projects Team under Assistant Director, Bob Hudson. Team Chief, Lori Nye has started tackling the inventory of the existing book collection and rebuild an accurate listing of the Museum Library’s reference collection adding in all the new titles that have been waiting while the Library Team waits on the upgrade of software/hardware or replacement of the computer used for this project. The book inventory/listing has been put on hold while Lori handles the financials and emails for our distinguished Executive Director in his recent absence. Library-Archives is still waiting for upgrade/replacement of one outdated computer. Maybe that the ‘open season’ is now over for the year, our IT guy, Dave Leasia, will have the time to work on that project among other projects that he is being asked to accomplish. Several requests have come in for research over the last two months and Lori is trying to fulfill those requests in her spare time: photos of the base fire stations over the years; photos of the General’s quarters in the 400 area (now known as the EHH); information on Glenn Miller being at Selfridge Field, etc. Joe Mazzarra is now tackling the project of organizing and filling in the many holes of the Museum’s Archives on Selfridge-related aircraft that were involved in accidents over the years. Joe will be spending many hours perusing the newspaper files and vertical file at the Mount Clemens Public Library. Restoration Team:

The Restoration Team led by Darrel Rohrbeck is continuing their steady progress on restoring the Museum’s FG-1D Corsair. Steady progress has been made and one wing is done with maybe some additional minor work, ready to paint, and work is progressing on the 2nd wing. Check out the Museum’s website @ www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, if you’re interested in donating to this worthy cause. The Team Chief’s at their last meeting voted to pursue additional fundraising and quotes for the building of an addition to our SPAD Hangar to house the restored Corsair. Visual Information Team:

Jon Earl, Visual Information Team member has kept himself busy this summer when not up at

his summer home in Northern Michigan, scanning and building an index of our large format

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Museum Happenings (cont.) negatives. Hopefully, no that the winter season is coming soon, he’ll be able to spend some

time here at the museum to wrap up his uniform project and pull some additional negatives to

scan and index over the cold, snowy, winter months. This project will benefit both the Library

Team and Visual Information Team in having a digitized copy of the negatives and an index for

easy access to those photos. Team Chief, Rob Sandstrom took the summer off from active, on-

site volunteering, but is expected to return now that his job at the golf course is winding down.

Grounds Team: The Grounds Team volunteers have been busy over the last couple of weeks doing the grass cutting around the museum grounds and trimming the bushes and shrubs in the gardens preparing everything for the winter season. Here are a few photos of some of our Grounds Team members either hard at work or getting ready to go out to the air park.

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

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 and the history of Selfridge Air National Guard Base for the next 100 years.

We’re 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, don’t let that stop you from applying. We may have funds to keep

the Museum operational, but without volunteers, we don’t have a Museum! You can obtain

the Volunteer Application Form from the Museum’s website http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, or

call the Museum Director and he’ll send you the application (586-239-6768; or email:

info@selfridgeairmuseum.org. If you can recruit friends and family, to volunteer as a weekend

docent or on one of our Tuesday/Friday group of volunteer teams, here are the areas where we

desperately need help. Look for the areas with an asterisk *.

Please sign up today!

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Museum Happenings (cont.)

Michigan Activity Pass:

The Selfridge Military Air Museum has joined the Michigan Activity Pass. These passes will be

available at your local public libraries for a 7-day check-out period. 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

beginning 4 April through 25 October.

Macomb County Heritage Alliance

Passport Program Starting in January 2020, the Selfridge Military Air Museum, will once again be participating in the Passport Program sponsored by the Macomb County Heritage Alliance. The Museum will be participating only during their Open Season, which begins on Saturday, 4 April 2020 through 25 October 2020. So, grab your Passport and travel through history by visiting the local area’s museums and historical sites.

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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, S e l f r i d g e ANG Base MI 48045 or e-mail the information to magha@selfridgeairmuseum.org.

FULL NAME AND RANK

DATE I JOINED THE GUARD

DATE I LEFT THE GUARD

LAST UNIT WHEN I LEFT THE GUARD

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE YOU LEFT THE GUARD

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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Kroger Community Rewards Program

HELP Support the

Selfridge Military Air Museum!

Support the Selfridge Military Air Museum & enroll in Kroger’s Community Rewards Program

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.

Please note — Once you have enrolled in the program and identified the nonprofit

organization of your choice, you do not need to re-register annually.

Step by step instructions if you have never registered online 1. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com 2. Create an account by entering your email, a password and your zip code. 3. Select your preferred store location. 4. Click on the “Create Account” button. 5. Enter your Kroger’s card number and your last name. 6. Click the “Save” button. 7. At the bottom of the next screen, click on the “Enroll button” 8. Enter in your contact information. 9. Click on the “Save” button. 10. In the “Find Your Organization” box, enter the number LI431 and click “Search”. 11. Click on circle/dot next to “Selfridge Military Air Museum”. 12. Click on the “Enroll” button. You are now registered to support the Selfridge Military Air Museum.

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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 If you already have an Amazon account, then log in to your account with your email/user name and password from the link on the museum’s website. If successful, you should receive a notice saying “Thank you” and that your purchases will be in support of the Selfridge Military Air Museum. If you need to create an Amazon account, click on the link to “create an account”. You will need to have an email account to participate and have the following information to fill in: Type your name, email, retype your email, create a password, and retype your password. If it all matches, click “Create Amazon Account”. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.

The Selfridge Military Air Museum says, “Thank You for Your Support”!!

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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: _______________________________________________

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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

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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

If you wish to purchase one or more of these volumes, please complete the order form and indicate your

payment method below then mail this form to MAGHA, 27333 C St, Bldg 1011, Selfridge ANGB MI 48045.

Please send the volumes I have circled below to:

NAME: ADDRESS

Volume 1 (1926-1976)

$1.00

Number Requested

Volume 2 (1976-1986) $4.00 Number Requested

Volume 3 (1986-1996) $1.00 Number Requested

Volume 4 (1996-2010)

B&W inside $6.00 Number Requested

Full Color $35.00 Number Requested

Shipping/Handling $4.00 (APPLICABLE TO ALL MAIL ORDERS)

TOTAL REMITTED $

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:

Please mail check to: MAGHA

27333 C Street, Bldg 1011, Selfridge ANG Base MI 48045

Phone: 586-239-768 Fax: 586-239-6646

Michigan Air Guard Historical

Association

Michigan Air Guard

Historical Association

Michigan Air National Guard

History Books