The Southern Oregon Warbirds, Inc. (SOWA) is a private, fraternal organization composed of veterans who participated in the wars of our country in a military aviation-related capacity. Currently most are veterans of World War II but there are already a number who served in the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars. People who never participated but have an interest in military aviation are also members of SOWA, but in an associate capacity. All are from Roseburg and surrounding southern Oregon communities.
The intent of the history herein is not to document overall war statistics and strategy but to preserve intimate pictures of these Warbirds as they were in action. Hardly any of these brave young people were aware of the Big Picture at the time but, for sure, they all were there. The intent is to document and preserve what it was like to be there, and to do those amazing, courageous things. Hopefully these stories will make you feel that you were there as well.
In addition, the period of World War II was a different era. Morals and ethics and values were so different from today that it seems almost another world. God, country, community and family, in that order, with full, active participation in and responsibility for all. In particular the younger generation needs to see and marvel at such selfless dedication. Hopefully this history will convey that overall feeling as well. Coming generations could easily do worse.
The largest single group in the Warbirds is composed of those associated with the big bombers, the B-17, B-24 and B-29, in World War II. A paperback book about this group, Crews of the Big Bombers has been published and is available from Dykema Publishing Co. (5x8 paperback - $10.00 plus shipping). However, there is nearly an equal group associated with WWII single-engine fighter and attack planes such as the Mustang, and Spitfire and the SBD and TBM and with support aircraft such as transport (the China-Burma-India "Hump") and patrol aircraft (PBY). Finally there are all the stories associated with all types of aircraft after WWII. Books covering these two groups are in writing. However, all stories collected so far are contained herein.
These stories include all types of activities involved in the operation and support of those planes, including pilots, gunners, maintenance, ordnance and, last but certainly not least, the wives that manned the home front and actively supported their men off to war. In most cases the stories were written by the Warbird himself and are included herein with minimal editing. In some cases the Warbird was interviewed by members of the History Committee and their story was recorded and written up by those committee members.
We wish you good reading. We hope that you gain a good sense of what it was like in those vibrant days, and what it was like to man the big, powerful military planes in "The Big One".
History Committee: Owen W. Dykema (Chairman), Terry Waddington and Bill Buckingham.
Individual stories: Copyright 2001 by the authors.
The collection of stories: Copyright 2001 by the Southern Oregon Warbirds, Inc., Roseburg, OR 97470
Published by Dykema Publishing Company, Roseburg Oregon.
All rights are reserved. Neither this collection of stories nor the individual stories herein may be reproduced and/or redistributed for profit without the written permission of the Southern Oregon Warbirds Association (SOWA) or of the affected author(s). Air museums and other non-profit users are permitted to reproduce and/or redistribute this collection and/or the individual stories without the specific permission of the SOWA or of the affected author(s) so long as proper credit is given to the SOWA and/or to the individual author(s).
Primary Editor: Owen W. Dykema, 3264 W. Normandy Avenue, Roseburg, OR 97470