Hello Everyone! Great news the construction of the restrooms and office is done. All that is left is some painting. I want to thank all the people that made this happen. 

As of Feb. 25th the office is all set up and ready to go, desk, filing cabinets, computer and other items are in place. Soon we meet to start putting all of our paper work in order. This is when the fun starts. It is going to take a few people to get everything in order. So if you would like to help to get it up and running this will be a great help. Give myself or Wayne Swisher a call. 

Other good news, Oscar Watson from Community Development has talked with some of us on two different times about the possibility of raising money for H.A.S. to grow.

The first thing Oscar said was we need to get a good working plan together, to show what we would like to do and how far we want to go. So this is when your ideas can help the most. This plan is going to take some time to put together but with your help this can get done. So for Oscar is very impressed with what we have done with very little. With his help teaching us, this should make a big difference. I will keep you updated what is happening and how as a group we can make it better. 

Until next month, Steve

BT-13 will be next restoration project after A-26 Less mechanical crew needed for Huey helicopter. This will be simple stuff. Disassembly, clean and put back together. Things are happening...Let’s Roll!!!

Volunteer Requests
Still need volunteers to prep planes for the airshows next spring. Crew for simple prep of the Hiller helicopter for static display at the hanger. It’s easy work. Come help. 
Call NOW !! 
Kathy Ridgway,614-899 9690

DID YOU FORGET TO PAY YOUR DUES??
IT APPEARS MANY MEMBERS HAVE.
PLEASE SEND YOUR DUES NOW. 

Oscar Watson reviewing fund raising for squadron.

MEMBERS WHO ATTEND THE MARCH MEETING:

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING CHANGED

They are now on the forth Saturday of each month. The meetings will start at 10:00 a.m. and should be over by noon. Michael Grant stated at the March 23 meeting that he could recruit 4 or 5 more members if the meetings were held on Saturdays. This change will also help Branson by getting more members involved with the A-26 Invader project. The change will be for April and May and if it works out the change to Saturdays will be voted on at the May meeting.

NEW MEMBERSHIP CARDS ARE HERE

With both Steve Clapper and Wayne Swishers blessings two newly designed membership cards have been made. The executive card which sports a large flying star with a blue top border and an associate card which has a smaller version of a flying star and is all white. The new cards better define the difference in membership and will help aid in proper recording of votes. The new cards were passed out on March 23 at the general membership meeting. Members at the meeting appreciated the new cards and commented on the professionalism of the new designs. The new cards, which are printed by a supplier in Columbus, Ohio, cost less than a dollar to make. If you have not received a new card by April 20th, PLEASE CALL Mike Lorenzi at 740-808- 1642 or mail your dues to Melinda.

IT WAS NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS WERE INCORRECT. 
This has been taken care of and a replacement card should be on it’s way shortly. This only affected husband and wife members which were recorded as having the same number. 

A BIG THANKS! Dave Alton, a member of H.A.S since 1996, donated $350 to our general fund at last months Air Show meeting. Some of you know Mr. Alton as the owner of the S2 Navy Tracker which is based in Putnam County, Ohio. Mr. Alton mentioned that his pursuit for pilots to be “checked out” in order to fly the Tracker will be done soon and may number three by this summer. One of which will be Art Moose. Thank you very much from all of us at the Historical Aircraft Squadron. 

VOLUNTEERS SIGN UP FOR MANY PROJECTS

The March general membership meeting yielded much more than just a bunch of smiling faces. Board member Mike Lorenzi, explained to all at the meeting that H.A.S. has an opportunity for everyone to join in and have a little fun at volunteering. A list of activities was passed out among the members wishing to sign up. The list shown below contains the activity, description, name and number of the members which signed up. If your name appears as a volunteer or you would like to join a particular group and help out, please contact the members in that category. This will help out in coordinating the activity. 

AIRPLANE JACKS: 
Wayne Swisher, Bruce Brudzinski & Don Bell 
      The airplane jacks are needed for the testing of the landing gear retraction on the A-26. This is probably the most important project to getting the A-26 back in the air. There are 2 large, 2 medium and 1 small jack. They need to be cleaned, rebuilt if necessary and tested. 

GNAT: 
Rob George, Earl Watkins, Bob DeLay & Don Bell 
     The GNAT needs to have the body work finished and prepped for painting. Tires need to be inflated and decals or markings will be added for a finished product. The GNAT will be used as a static display, taken in parades and as a prop for selling pictures of people sitting in it during our airshow.

TUGS: 
Wayne Swisher, Si Debolt, Bruce Cook, Bruce Brudzinski & Michael Grant 
     The tugs, Little John and Fat Boy, need some tender loving care on a regular basis. Little John has a dragging starter and Fat Boy needs a good once over. 

LANDSCAPING: 
Rob George, Don Bell & Wayne Swisher 
     Spring has arrived. Grass has to be seeded around the hanger. Flower need to be planted and general law care throughout the summer. We d have a lawn mower. 

OFFICE DOORS: Completed
Rob George & Frank Leach  
     The office, bathroom and utility room doors need to be sanded, stained handles reinstalled. 

GROUP ACTIVITIES: 
Earl Watkins  
     This would involve someone pressing to the group information on field trips, cookouts, ball games and anything else members would enjoy doing together as a group. PULLING TOGETHER WE CAN A MAKE H.A.S. SOMETHING WE C BE PROUD OF. 

Thanks to these dedicated individuals.....

After nearly three years of patience and perseverance, the A-26 Invader is progressing towards completion. As Jim Beleshe stated “Everytime we open up a panel there is a new set of problems. Something needs replaced or fixed.” 

But according to Branson they are very close to starting up the engines. Branson says, “Then we’ll be able to check out all the related systems. Electrical, hydraulics and etc.” Spit start scheduled for April3rd with fire in the pistons on Sat. 6th at 1:00 p.m. From a pile of parts to a flying aircraft in record time with mostly a group of 6 or 8 dedicated volunteers. Should be looking good for the Wings of Victory airshow. 

The following are the most active volunteers: Test version of the A-26 during 1943 USAAF photo Branson Rutherford, Jim Ridgeway, Jim Baldwin, Jim Belshe, Ralph Marshall, Tom Palmer, Harold Carpenter, Ralph Woolever, Mike R.

New member Howard Carpenter working on hydrolics one week after joining squadron. That’s dedication. The guys are now working with smiles on their faces as the job nears the exciting time of completion. New tires were recently installed.

The Douglas A-26 Invader was a real hot rod in it’s day. During WWII it would out run many of the fighters and deliver the mail quick and fast before turning home. 

Army Air Corps ordered 3 prototypes in 1941. One with a 75mm cun, one with four 20mm forward firing cannon and four 0.5 in. guns in the upper turret with nose radar. The third wan an attack bomber with optical sighting station in the nose and two defensive turrets. Designated A-26B. Faster than any other tactical bombers with the exception of the Mosquito. Began operations with the 9th Air Force on 19 Nov. 1944.

We can use unskilled labor. Just show up on Wednesday's or Saturday's at 9:00 a.m. and see Branson for He’ll give you a small area to refurbish. JOIN THE TEAM

Schedule to date 
NOTE CHANGE: The Wings of Victory airshow will be held on August 16,17 and 18 Volunteers needed to work at the Squadron tables at other airshows. Call Kathy Ridgeway 614-899-9690. 
All shows are 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sat. and 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. Sun. 
Moraine May- 
Findlay May 17,18,19 
Blue Ash June 8,9 
Toledo Air Show Sept. 7-8 Toledo Airport featuring Blue Angels

April 9, 1946 Pan Am Bids Farewell to Flying Boat Era. Land based aircraft such as the Lockheed Constellation and the Douglas DC-4 have dealt a death blow to the pioneer flying boats for oceanic travel. The great routes laid out by Pan Am are now made obsolete by the long distance land based aircraft. The age of air travel is launched in earnest. The B-314’s are history.

Bob DeLay, Editor;and Graphic Design
  614.846.2876

Mail:
Invader
PO Box 158
Carroll, Ohio 43112

Hanger Phone
740.653.4778
A-26 Project Leader
Branson Rutherford - 740.756.4136

Email
Info@HistoricalAircraftSquadron.com

Steve Clapper, President
614.877.9872

Melinda Rutherford, Treasurer
740.756.4136

Sue Boden, Secretary
740.653.9169

Diane McDaniel, Membership
614.855.2120

Wayne Swisher
740.653.8593

Branson Rutherford
740.756.4136

Kathy Ridgeway
614.899.9690

Robert George
614.491.8916

Jim Belshe
614.833.9561