The Supercruiser
Vol. 17.1
The Western Museum of Flight News & Current Events
Doak-Deeds Bi-Plane
by Donald Spaulding, Museum Docent
While inspecting the documents, photos and blueprints
from the Doak Aircraft Company’s storage boxes, we
were surprised to find the plans for the Doak & Deeds
1926 home-built biplane. Edmond R. Doak and
Woodson “Woody” C. Deeds both worked at Douglas
Aircraft Company during this time. They would work
on this plane, mostly on weekends, in an old garage
behind a barber shop in Culver City. They used many
of the latest Douglas building techniques which included a welded metal tubing frame fuselage and a folding
wings system that was used on the Douglas DT-1 U.S.
Navy torpedo bombers. They finished the plane in 1928
in time to display and demonstrate it at the
National Air Races and Aeronautical Exposition 1928, at Mines Field, Los Angeles,
September 8-16.
The condition of this rare drawing was in
jeopardy of not lasting much longer and
was deemed a valuable part of the museum’s
collection. It has been professionally photographed and preserved for the future.
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Remembering the Doolittle Raiders
by Bill Vas
It was late morning on April 2, 1942 when the aircraft carrier USS Hornet passed under the Golden Gate bridge into the
vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. In addition to her air group, lashed to Hornet’s flight deck were 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers belonging to the US Army Air Corps. Only a handful of nearly 3,000 men aboard knew where they were
headed. Destination: Top Secret.
Aboard the Hornet, 79 aviators and aircrew members of the 17th Bomb Group had volunteered for a special mission under
the leadership of Lt. Col. James Doolittle. Later that afternoon as they sailed westward, the Hornet’s captain announced over
the ship’s PA system that they were headed towards the coast of Japan to bomb Tokyo and cheers arose from throughout the
ship.
Very early on the morning of April 18, the naval task force was spotted by Japanese picket boats while still 400 miles short
of the planned takeoff point. Admiral Halsey gave the order to launch planes shortly before 8 a.m. The aircrews rushed to
grab their personal gear and equipment and headed for their planes. Fuel conservation and management would be critical
for each crew. The bombers took off successfully and headed individually to their assigned targets in the vicinity of Tokyo,
Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe.
After striking their targets, they navigated towards friendly territory. It was late afternoon when the first bombers reached
the coastline of China; most were critically low on fuel and lost in darkening skies over unfamiliar territory. With the unexpected benefit of a strong tailwind, fifteen bombers made it to China, the crews ditching offshore, crash-landing or baling
out over mountainous terrain in the dark. They were scattered over 200 square miles across China. With help from the
Chinese who put themselves at great risk of Japanese retribution, the raiders reunited in Chungking before departing China.
One B-25 landed in Vladivostok, Russia, where the crew of five was interned.
Of the 80 men, one died while baling out. Two drowned. Eight were captured of which three were executed by the Japanese
and one died in captivity; four came home at war’s end. The rest received new assignments and served in various theaters of
war.
Doolittle arrived back in Washington, DC on May 18, 1942 and was promoted to Brigadier General. The following day,
he was ordered to the White House where President Roosevelt awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading
the first attack on Japan’s mainland. At a time when America most needed a boost of morale during those dark days in early
1942 when Japan seemed unstoppable, the Doolittle raiders completed their mission with bravery, honor and distinction.
They had become America’s first heroes of the war. All were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Today, 75 years after completing their mission and holding annual reunions since 1947, there is only one survivor remaining, Richard Cole, age 101. He was Doolittle’s co-pilot on the mission. Their B-25s were built right here in SoCalif. The site
of the original factory building where they were manufactured by North American Aviation, Inc, is now home to a cargo
terminal complex located on the extreme south-east corner of Los Angeles International Airport.
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Wings of Freedom
Apr 27nd Noon to April 30th 5 PM
Ground Tours
$12 Adults / $6 Children under 12yrs.
No Reservations Needed
Thursday 4/27: 2 PM to 5 PM
Friday 4/28: 9 AM to 5 PM
Saturday 4/29: 9 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 4/30: 9 AM to 5 PM
All Flights Before & After Ground Tours
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17 Flights – 30 Min. experience
$450 per person
(min 6 passengers / max 10 passengers)
B-24 Flights – 30 Min. experience
$450 per person
(min 6 passengers / max 10 passengers)
B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Flights – 20 Min. experience
$400 per person
(min 4 passengers / max 7 passengers)
TP-51D Flight Training
$2200 for a half hour of flight instruction
$3200 for a full hour of flight instruction
TP-51D Mustang
B-24J Liberator Bomber
Contact Collings Foundation Direct
978-562-9182 to arrange your flight.
Major Support provided by the Collings Foundation,
The City of Torrance, the Western Museum of Flight and the
Torrance Airport Association
Parking is Free in the Museum lot
and General Aviation Center.
Parking available at Robinson
Helicopter on Saturday and Sunday.
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Patron Society 2017
Jim Brannan
Marcia and Jim Christensen
Donna and Mike Ciminera
Jeff Dahlgren, CEO, Airtech International
Susan and Al Frew
Barbara and Jim Gates
Thomas Gray
Marilyn and Dale Hoffman
Carol Kahler
Chuck Lobb
Cynthia Macha
Phyllis and Ralph Martin
Darren Moore
Barbara and Robert Morel
Terry and Chuck Noone
Sue and Arvid von Nordenflycht
Ann Maria and Stavros Olympios
Ann and Fred Peitzman
Fred Peterson
Linda Pullen-Buehl
Kurt Robinson, President Robinson Helicopter
Gail and Ray Roulette
Rayne Sherman
Linda and Robert Slusser
Michael Stevens
Irene and Barry Tyson
Fred R. Erb
Steven R. Smith
Emeritus
FOR OUR PATRONS WHOSE EXCEPTIONAL GENEROSITY HAS MADE AN
ESPECIALLY LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR WORK.
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Lectures in the Line-Up
FEBRUARY 18
Tony Chong, Northrop Historian and author, will complete the Saga of Northrop’s
secret aerospace projects and
concepts - Flying Wings &
Radical Things.
MARCH 18
Iris Critchell, distinguished
WII military WASP, college
professor, and pioneer aviatrix, will share her experience
from WWII and beyond.
APRIL 15
Paul Metz (pictured on the right) will share
his personal story of the aviation mystery that
ensnared him from childhood into an aviation
career that solved a WWII mystery and launched
one of the most illustrious test pilot careers in
the history of aviation.
Announcements
We have gratefully accepted a generous grant of $10,000 from the Kenneth T and Eileen L Norris Foundation. This grant will expand our ongoing Kids Love Aviation Science program. This comprehensive,
hands-on program will have a special focus on instilling independent thinking in young students while
simultaneously informing them of the challenges faced by women in aviation. It is our goal to inspire
young minds to pursue careers in aviation science and technology.
The Southern California
Historical Aviation Foundation Board of Trustees
welcomes a new member,
Thomas Gray.
A cross section of
museum artifacts
on display at the
Torrance Main
Library.
MEMBERS
If you have not been receiving monthly email notices and announcements, please make sure we have your
current email information. Contact us at [email protected] or call 310-326-9544.
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Despite the threatening weather, we had a very good
turnout for the Celebrity Lecture featuring Joe Orr,
who spoke about the B-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber.
Docent Fred Peitzman explains the history and performance
details of the F-86 Sabre Jet of Korean War fame to PVHS
students.
Museum docent, Kyle Rahill, provides technical explanations
and background on aerospace artifacts and displays to Palos
Verdes High School Aerospace Engineering Students.
Museum Trustee Marty Jones, General Manager of
AVCORP Defense & Space in Gardena, offered an exclusive
reception and tour for members of the Patron Society. Marty
explained the latest manufacturing operations. This special
window into the most modern of current aerospace technology was a special treat for our patrons.
MUSEUM MISSION STATEMENT
“The Western Museum of Flight honors and champions
the Aerospace Industry Heritage of Southern California
and inspires, motivates, and educates the dreamers and
creators of today and tomorrow.”
Apply for the NGFCU™
MasterCard® honoring
Northrop Grumman’s
contribution to aerospace
technology.
Visit www.ngfcu.us or call
800-633-2848.
ADD US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
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3315 Airport Drive Mailbox #6,
Torrance, California 90505
P: 310-326-9544
F: 310-326-9556
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.wmof.com