May 2017

In this issue

Page

1—

President Morris Garcia

Eric Krelle is an amateur WWII histo-ry buff maintaining a website on the Marines Corps’ famed 5th Division. He and friend Stephen Foley have researched the famed photo of the Iwo Jima flag raising and have con-cluded, a famous medic, John Brad-ley, long identified as the Navy corpsman standing smack in the middle of the famous photo, is in fact not in the photo at all.

You may recall the book, “Flags of Our Fathers” which was written by James Bradley after his father, John Bradley’s death, was on the “Best Sellers” list and also made into a movie by Clint Eastwood. The book characterizes John Bradley as the glue that held the three surviving members of the six flag raisers to-gether during their U.S. Government sponsored bond selling tour during WWII. The other two were Rene Gagnon and Ira Hayes.

Krelle and Foley did extensive com-parisons of a series of photos taken atop Mt. Suribachi before, during and after the February 23, 1945 flag raising to the iconic photo taken by

war photographer Joe Rosenthal. These comparisons reveal a number of profound differences in the photos of Bradley that morning on Suribachi and the Rosenthal photo:

Bradley’s pants had tight cuffs. The photo shows a marine wearing un-cuffed pants;

Bradley wore no cap under his hard helmet – the photo shows a soft cap under the helmet;

Bradley wore a pistol belt. The pho-to shows the flaps of a standard marine cartridge belt. Bradley carried a 45 sidearm, not an M-1 rifle.

Foley continued studying more photos taken at Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945 and came to the conclusion the Marine with un-cuffed pants, the soft cap under his helmet and the cartridge belt to be PFC. Franklin Sousley whom is identi-fied in the iconic photo as being second from left next to Ira Hayes.

Now, if Sousley replaces and moves into Bradley’s position in the picture, who is the Marine standing in Sousley’s place?

The answer as to who raised the Stars and Stripes at Iwo Jima to be continued to June’s “The Plane Scoop.”

Who Raised the Stars and Stripes at Iwo Jima?

(A Three Part Series by Morris Garcia)

The Plane Scoop

A publication of the Central Valley Aviation Association

Page 2

This month I would like to write about my friend Lawson Bartell. I was very impressed with Lawson when I saw a picture of him dressed in a tux-edo getting ready to take his 10-year-old granddaughter, Piper Lu, dressed in her new fur coat, out for a date for her birthday. Every little Princess should have a Grampa like that. The second picture I saw was Grampa Lawson with Granddaughter Piper Lu having a gourmet dinner (Ice Cream Sunday) at that very exclusive diner called Fat Jacks.

Lawson is not a member of CVAA, however, he supports us. He bought his family tickets to ride our Ford Tri-Motor last year. Lawson also was a partner with Jim Harkness, one of the original CVAA members. Lawson’s mother was a pas-senger in a Cessna 180 and pointed out to the pilot where the family airstrip was on the ranch. She was wrong so they ended the landing up-side down. They weren’t hurt.

The City of Reedley is hosting their annual Airport Day and Fly-in on May 13 from 11 am to 3 pm. As they did last year, they are offering free airplane rides for people from the community that attend and a free hot dog lunch for all. Last year they also host-ed the West Coast Taylorcraft Fly-in the same week-end.

This year, the Reedley Airport Commission is provid-ing free fuel for any pilot that brings their plane to help provide the rides for the attendees. Pilots inter-ested in helping should contact Bob Harris at (559) 977-0223. Just come with your tanks topped off and Reedley will fill them back after the event is over. Below are some photos from last year.

May Activities

May 6– Road trip / fly-out to Estrella Warbird Museum in Paso Robles.

May 11--Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, location is Airport Manager’s Conference Room, Chandler Terminal Building at 510 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA.

May 13--Reedley Airport Day and Fly-in, (KO32), free fuel for pilots giving rides.

Central Valley Squadron of CAF Saturday Lunch. See website for details: http://www.cafvalleysquadron.org/saturday-lunch

Reedley Airport Day (KO32) to Offer Free Fuel for Pilots Giving Rides to

Attendees

The Greatest Grandpa Ever

By John Pugliese

Page 3 The Central Valley Aviation Association

Call to order: 9:04 a.m.

Flag salute: Led by John Durant.

Treasurer’s Report: Cash in bank on 2/28/17:$ 8,046.94. Total income: $200.00. Total expense: $350.00.

Net decrease: ($ 150.00). Cash in bank on 03/31/2017: $7,896.94.

Guest: Anna Leon

Old Business:

Sarah Donaldson told us about the CVAA website.

Sarah also said there are 5 pilots and 12 people going to Paso Robles event.

Arnie Schweer spoke about the cars that will be at the fly-in in September. Both Arnie and Sharon are busy

going to car shows to spread the word.

New Business:

Joseph Oldham introduced the new officers of the CVAA board.

Morris Garcia presented an award to John Durant for his service as president of CVAA.

John Pugliese presented Mable Smith with an award for her many years of service as CVAA treasurer.

Morris asked for volunteers for the September fly-in.

Speaker: Jim Anderson spoke about Code Talkers in World l and World War ll

Adjourned at 10:20 a.m. MSC Ed Sullivan/Jim Shamp

Below is the list of officer and Board positions elected for 2017 to oversee the operations of CVAA . If you have sug-gestions for speakers, topics, events, or activities, please feel free to contact any of the officers or Board members listed. All officers are designated as authorized signatories on the bank account at Westamerica Bank and replace Mable Smith and Doug Betts.

Officers President: Morris Garcia Vice President: Joseph Oldham Secretary: Christie Anderson Treasurer: Sarah Donaldson Board Members Joe Kulbeth Mary King John Pugliese Jim Shamp Rick Emerian Chuck Carson Arnie Schweer Mark Cannon

CVAA 2017 Officers and Board Members

Meeting Minutes for April 1 Meeting

Page 4 The Central Valley Aviation Association

Page 5 The Central Valley Aviation Association

The Aviation Businesses at Fresno Chandler Airport

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Name:_____________________________________________________ Membership: Single____ Family____

Spouse’s Name (If family membership):_______________________________(we encourage family membership)

Address:

Street________________________________________________, City______________, State:____ Zip:_______

Telephone:

Home:_________________, Work:_________________, Cellular:__________________

Email address: ___________________________________________________________(Print carefully)

I would like to receive the Plane Scoop via e-mail: Yes__________, No ___________

Airplane (you usually fly):

Type:___________________________, N number:_______________, Colors):____________________________

Date of birth (just the month and day—not the year):

Primary member:_______________, Spouse:_______________.

How many years have you been a member of CVAA?_____________ (estimates are OK)

CVAA Service:

Please list any offices or committee positions in which you are interested in serving:

Please list any talent or skills you have that you would be willing to use to serve CVAA:

This information will be printed in our Club roster and distributed to members only. Please omit any information you do

not want to appear in the Club roster.

Mail application, with $20 single membership or $25 for a family membership to:

Sarah Donaldson

1959 Gateway Blvd., Suite 102

Fresno, CA 93727

If you have already paid your dues please complete the form anyway and mail it or hand it to Mable Smith.

Comments or suggestions:

Central Valley Aviation Association Membership Application or Update