HISTORY OF THE SOUTHERN OREGON WARBIRDS
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ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
The Southern Oregon Warbirds
was unofficially organized by Roy Darby some time in 1995. The earliest
available record is an Employee Identification Number (EIN) 93-1180134, issued
on 17Jul95. The original officers were President: Roy Darby; Vice President:
Bill Young; Secretary/Treasurer: Van Bishop; and Trustees: Owen Dykema and Russ
DeGroat.
Darby's vision was not just a social group but a library and a museum. The Purpose statement in the first draft bylaws, in June 1998, includes "To recognize and preserve the history ..."; and "To procure, restore aircraft and other artifacts for historical educational value, in a Roseburg Air Museum." Basically, his vision was of educational facilities like documented history, a library and perhaps even a full-scale aircraft museum. Very early on they were successful in acquiring an old link trainer and an old R-4360 radial aircraft engine (both in bad shape).
Darby's dream was not shared by all Warbirds. For a couple of years the only real activity was a monthly meeting, at Round Table Pizza in Roseburg, as a purely social group. Nevertheless, in 1997 Darby and a few others were instrumental in bringing the touring Collings Foundation B-17 and B-24 to Roseburg.
From the start Darby recognized that to make a success of the library / museum it would be necessary not only to obtain appreciable donations from outside the Warbirds but, in dealing with the visiting public, to protect the organization and its officers from liability. This meant that the organization had to become a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. In 1998, with the help of local lawyer Gary Hill, Darby formed "Southern Oregon Warbirds, Inc." (SOWINC) (Articles of Incorporation, filed with the Oregon Secretary of State on 01Apr98), and applied with the IRS for the 501(c)3 status.
Darby also recognized that most of the members of the organization wished only to meet periodically and share war stories. Therefore the organization was set up to have all the (boring) business of the educational facilities handled by a Corporate Board while leaving the general membership meetings "the social activity of the corporation". To extend the tax deductible status and the legal protection of the corporation to the general membership the "social activity", the Southern Oregon Warbirds Association (SOWA), was set up as a committee function within the corporation. The IRS had to be assured of that arrangement to qualify for the 501(c)3 status, they would not give such status to a purely or even a predominantly social organization.
Darby was President of both SOWINC and SOWA. He was aided in both aspects by trustees, by an advisory group and by volunteer local attorney Gary Hill. The first advisory group consisted of Jim Barnet, Gary Dahl, Floyd Felt, (Senator) Bill Fisher, Herb Hobi, Don Hughes, George Insley, Rob Paul, John Proctor and Terry Waddington.
At the time, Van Bishop was the Roseburg Airport Fixed Base Operator (FBO), as Adventure Aviation, and operated out of two hangars at the airport. He designated two rooms in one hangar as Warbirds office and "Ready Room". Signs were posted on outside walls of the hangar and the Ready Room was furnished and decorated to double as a (very small) Warbirds memorabilia "museum".
On 28Jun98, one of the Warbirds' Honorary Members, MGEN Marion Carl, was killed in a home robbery. A group called the Marion Carl Memorial Foundation was established to raise the funds for an appropriate memorial. Darby volunteered to head that fund-raising activity and worked hard at it all that year.
Unfortunately the strain of that effort seems to have brought on a heart attack and on 05Apr99 Darby died. In lieu of flowers, approximately $2,000 were donated directly to the Warbirds' treasury, with the request that they go toward Darby's dream, the library / museum. SOWA Vice President Don Toye took over meetings of the social group.
The Warbird History committee was formed, with Owen Dykema as Chairman, and efforts began to develop personal histories of Warbirds in action. Unfortunately, about that same time Sec/Treas Van Bishop shut down his FBO business and left town.
On 04May99 a meeting was held in the offices of Gary Hill, the Warbirds' volunteer attorney, to discuss reorganizing, in the light of the death of the one man who had been both SOWINC Chairman and SOWA President. Present were Owen Dykema, Russ DeGroat, Gary Hill, Mike Phillips and Don Toye. Hill indicated that SOWINC was indeed a recognized corporation but the non-profit 501(c)3 status was still pending. It was concluded that a special meeting of the trustees was needed to prepare a new slate of officers for the upcoming second annual meeting and to begin to revise the bylaws.
On 11May99 the special meeting of the Trustees was held. At that time Bill Young indicated that, because of ill health, he could not take over the SOWINC Chairmanship and, in fact, wished to resign from his position as Vice President of SOWINC. In addition, for the same reason, Russ DeGroat indicated that he would have to resign as Trustee. The Trustees present then elected Mike Phillips and Owen Dykema SOWINC Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively. A new organizational plan was developed and a slate of officer nominees was prepared.
On 12Jun99 the Marion Carl Memorial was dedicated at the Roseburg Airport, now re-named Marion Carl Field. All during the previous year the Warbirds had been participating strongly in the fund-raising. By the time of the dedication the Warbirds had collected a total of $4420 and directly contributed $5,000 to the Carl Memorial Foundation, the largest single donation they received. In addition, largely from members, the Warbirds collected an additional $1750 to buy the gas necessary to bring the Collings Foundation B-17 and B-24 to Roseburg on the weekend of the memorial dedication. Roy Darby was a B-24 pilot in WWII.
On the day of the dedication a very heavy turnout of Warbirds, in their distinctive blue caps, sincerely honored their former honorary member. Unfortunately, the Carl Foundation later strongly and publicly objected to the pervasive Warbird support, apparently fearing that the public would conclude that the memorial was a Warbird project (i.e., "steal the credit").
At the 21Jun99 Warbirds general membership meeting Pat Hazel proposed a new organizational plan. In that plan, as in the original Darby organization, SOWA was a major committee under the overall blanket protection of SOWINC. That organizational plan was strongly endorsed by the membership. The SOWINC Board of Directors elected included: Owen Dykema, Chuck Cates, Marion Mark, Mike Phillips, and Bill Young. In addition, a bylaws committee was formed with the charge to produce bylaws commensurate with the new organization.
On 30Jun99 the new Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the new organization and elected: Chairman Mike Phillips, Vice Chairman Owen Dykema, Secretary Chuck Cates and Treasurer Marion Mark. Bill Young was elected president of SOWA.
In several successive meetings during the summer of 1999 the Bylaws Committee, consisting of Owen Dykema (Chairman), Chuck Cates, Elmer Giles and Bill Young, prepared a new set of bylaws. Gary Hill was consulted frequently. On 28Sep99 those bylaws were unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, and shortly thereafter were informally endorsed by Gary Hill as well. About that time the IRS 501(c)3 non-profit status was received as well.
At a meeting of the SOWINC Board of Directors on 02Nov99, because of Mike Phillips' continued absence it was decided to switch positions with Owen Dykema. Owen was named Chairman while Mike was named Vice Chairman. Then during the 29Jun00 Board meeting Dykema claimed ill health and switched positions with Chuck Cates. The Board named Chuck Cates Chairman and Owen Dykema Sec/Treas.
In September 2000 disagreement arose regarding appropriate Warbirds organization. Basically those who preferred only the monthly social activities and cared little for the other activities of SOWINC preferred to elevate the social activity (SOWA) into control of all activities and to make the corporation (SOWINC) a subordinate activity. SOWINC Chairman Chuck Cates and Secretary Owen Dykema, plus the Warbirds lawyer Gary Hill, departed the Warbirds -- Cates and Hill never returned. All activities regarding the written history, the link trainer, and the memorabilia museum ground to a halt. Subsequent efforts by Don Toye to resolve legal questions introduced by the new organization met with no response from Hill.
For the rest of 2000 there was little activity other than to shut down the written history activity, to move the link trainer to inactive storage and to close down the memorabilia museum at the American Legion Hall.
Spring of 2001 was a bad year for the Warbirds. In January member Skip Mark died (subsequently buried in Arlington National Cemetery). In March former president Don Toye died. In June Roy Darby's wife Faye had a stroke, and in July both President Bill Young and Honorary Member Rex Barber died. Vice president Joe Brumbach took over as president.
In several other
actions later that year:
- Efforts on the written history resumed.
- The Link Trainer was donated to the Grants pass
Chapter of the EAA.
- 100 copies of the Rex Barber story were printed
and handed out at a memorial in Bend, OR.
- An evening Warbirds meeting was initiated, in
an attempt to draw more post-WWII members. First meetings were at the HiHo
restaurant.
- Warbirds participated heavily in the Roseburg
Veterans' Day Parade
In all of 2002 there was little other than social meetings, for lunch at the Moose Lodge on the second Wednesday and for dinner at the HiHo on the fourth Wednesday. In January a few Warbirds set up memorabilia displays at the local junior college (UCC) in connection with a concert honoring veterans. Warbirds again participated heavily in the Roseburg Veterans' Day Parade. In December the evening meetings were moved to Karen's Coffee Cup.
In December 2001 President Brumbach left town for a medical procedure and in January 2002 Vice President Wynne Day filled in. Brumbach returned in May of that year and resumed the presidency. But in November Brumbach indicated that he could not continue in the presidency and initiated a nominating committee. In December 2002 Ralph Bates was elected to the presidency. Thus Joe Brumbach, though not in the best health, became the first Warbird to survive more than a year as president.
The 2003 year started out much like 2002. The memorabilia (from the museum) were moved to heated storage. In March President Bates indicated that he could not continue (again health) and the presidency was taken over by Vice President Don Harmon. Meetings moved to the Sutherlin Country Club. It was agreed to hold no meetings in the summer and to delay new officer voting until September. In July a few Warbirds traveled to Bend, Oregon, to participate in the dedication of the Rex T. Barber bridge across the Crooked River Gorge.
In September 2003
the nominating committee indicated that they were unable to find even one
volunteer, and it appeared that the Warbirds were about to expire. A group of
seven members who wanted to see the organization continue agreed to get
together and form a slate of officers from among them. That group selected Pat
Hazel as the new President and allocated other tasks out to the seven, called
the Board of Directors. The Board settled on certain Warbirds purposes and
direction:
- the 501c(3) corporate organization and
designation should be retained;
- accept the 1999 bylaws (as
"streamlined") as the governing document;
- the history book project should be continued;
and
- efforts should be made to establish an
educational library.
- an aircraft museum is not an attainable goal.
At the October 2003 meeting the new (streamlined 1999) bylaws and slate of officers were accepted by the membership. In addition a dozen Warbird members traveled to McMinnville, Oregon, to witness installation of the two (late) Warbirds Honorary Members Rex Barber and Marion Carl in the new Oregon Aviation Hall of Honor.
In November the R4360 engine was donated to the Cottage Grove Air Museum in exchange for the return of the "Super B" Bonanza donated to them earlier to them by Floyd Felt. Brian Parkinson was named Director of the Evening Program.
In March of 2004 member Herb Alf died, later interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
In June, Ameristar, the new Roseburg Airport FBO, with considerable support from the Warbirds, hosted a "Salute to American Veterans". Three vintage P-51s and an ME-109 flew demonstrations and carried passengers -- $600 for a 45-minute back seat ride. The planes were active all day on both days. Plans got underway to host a bigger, better air show next year.
Then in July both President Pat Hazel and Secretary Keith Riggs moved out of town, precipitating yet another Warbird organizational crisis.
WRITTEN HISTORY
In August 1998 a History Committee was formed, consisting of Owen Dykema (Chairman), Bill Buckingham, Russ DeGroat, Alan Knudsen, and Terry Waddington. That committee started putting together short stories relating the personal aviation experiences of the Warbirds. A letter was circulated to the Warbirds outlining the desired content and format of the stories, and other formal details.
In most cases the members submitted written stories and the committee simply edited them sufficiently to more or less standardize the content and format. In many other cases members of the committee interviewed the Warbird, tape recorded the interview, and either Owen Dykema or Terry Waddington wrote the story. In addition, Dykema established a web site to store and publicize these stories. The web site address is www.southernoregonwarbirds.org .
In August 1999 a team of Owen Dykema, Don Toye and Bill Buckingham were privileged to go out to Terra Bonne, Oregon, to the home of Warbirds Honorary member Col. Rex Barber (USAF Ret.), the man who shot down Japanese Fleet Admiral Yamamoto. After a two-hour interview with Col. Barber and his wife Margaret, Dykema wrote up his story. With Col. Barber's approval the story was included in the Fighter Book taking shape on the web site, to be entitled Warbird History Part II: Fighter, Attack and Support Aircraft.
Col. Barber was said to consider that story the best summary of his involvement in that world-famous event of any written about it. It was only two years later that he passed on. That story has since been published in several military newsletters and journals; some 100 copies were specially published and distributed at his memorial; and, since his death, Mrs. Barber has used at least that many copies, supplied by the Warbirds, in her responses to inquiries from around the world.
By mid 2000 the committee had put together 42 stories and there was talk about publishing at least one book. Enough stories (31) had been accumulated to fill a book relating just to the big bombers of WWII (B-17, B-24 and B-29). Dykema was the owner / editor of a small self-publishing company that could do that job, at minimum cost. However, there was no good way to estimate probable sales, to justify publishing costs.
In September 2000 it was decided to take a gamble and publish a "Bomber Book", entitled "Crews of the Big Bombers: B-17, B-24, B-29". However, the in-house politics mentioned above suspended efforts in this area for more than a year. In November 2001 the first run of 200 Bomber Books was finally accomplished. Sales were surprisingly brisk and in January of 2002 another 200 were published. Of these, 31 were donated to Douglas County libraries. The remainder sold well and in May of that year another 200 were published. These went more slowly, more than a year later there were still 57 left. In these small 200-lot printings, cost were such that the Bomber Books retailed for $10.00 per copy.
Efforts in most of 2002 and 2003 were bent on completing a companion to the Bomber Book, to be entitled "Warbird History Part II: Fighters, Attack and Support Aircraft of WWII" (the Fighter Book). By the fall of 2003, 21 qualifying stories had been written up and posted on the web site. Most of those stories were written by Terry Waddington or Owen Dykema, from tape recorded interviews. The highlight of that book, of course, was Col. Rex Barber's story. In view of the nearly 600 bomber books that were sold, and the likely attraction of the Barber story, it was decided to publish 500 books in the first run.
The Fighter Book was published in November 2003 and not only sold briskly but stimulated sales of the Bomber Book as well. Due to the larger, 500-copy printing, the Fighter Book retailed for only $7.00. By March 2004, over 400 Fighter Books had been sold and the remaining Bomber Books were sold out (a total of 600). In April of 2004, in a fourth printing, another 100 Bomber Books were published.
No special efforts were made to market the Warbird books other than by word of mouth, largely just in Roseburg. However, the Warbirds web site and ads in a few military magazines and organizational newsletters created sales throughout the nation, and even a few in several other countries. A doctor in Germany bought a Bomber Book.
As of this writing, efforts are concentrated on producing a third book, covering all aspects of Warbird Post-WWII involvement in military aviation. There are still not nearly as many Post-WWII Warbird members as there are WWII members. A total of 11 such stories were written up and posted on the web site. It was decided that, together with this history, that would be sufficient to make up a third book, to be entitled "Warbird History Part III: Post-WWII".
The written history project has been eminently successful, in all respects, and represents the only significant contribution by the Warbirds to the community. As of the summer of 2004:
Bomber Book:
- Printed: 704; sold: 649; remaining: 55
- Net cost : $475; value of remaining books:
$550; total net profit: $75
Fighter Book:
- Printed 512; sold: 370; remaining: 142
- Net cost: $273; value of remaining books: $994;
total net profit: $721
Other than to sell the remaining books there is no plan at this time to continue this project.
LINK TRAINER
The Link was obtained by Roy Darby some time in 1997 from somewhere up toward / in Eugene, Oregon. It was brought down to Roseburg on a trailer by Bert Young and others and stored in the Adventure Aviation hangar that was being used by the Warbirds as a temporary "home". In late 1998, when Van Bishop sold Adventure Aviation and left town, the trainer was moved into "temporary" storage in the nearby Murray Electric hangar. After about a year Murray Electric began to urge us to move it elsewhere.
In the spring of 2000 Mike Phillips found a place in a building at Wildlife Safari. However, by mid-summer of that year Safari informed us that we had to have the trainer off their grounds by Labor Day. We managed to find a small space in a hangar at Felt Field, for $30 a month rent.
In August 2000 Bert Young, Skip Mark, Bill Buckingham and Owen Dykema once again loaded the link on Bert's trailer (it weighed about 600 pounds) and took it to Felt Field. Several other Warbirds had been storing parts in their garages, including a set of assembly and operational instruction books, and these were all consolidated at the Felt Field location as well. Each move damaged the Link a little more and by this time it was deemed almost beyond saving.
During summer months the Roseburg chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) met in this hangar at Felt Field. Several members of the Roseburg EAA volunteered to help us renovate our trainer. They also advised Dykema that the Medford EAA had restored a similar link trainer and that another was in a Grants Pass EAA hangar.
A preliminary assessment of the trainer in September 2000 showed that: " The trainer was made by Link Aviation Devices of Binghamton, NY, Trainer No. AN-T-18-8022, side number N36055. " The cab outer surfaces and door were in bad shape but the underlying wooden framework was in good shape. The hood was missing. " All the instruments were in the panel (See adjacent picture) and in the instructor's outside panel was in good shape. " Two large air blowers / compressors, used to drive the link, were apparently in operating condition. " The underlying wooden table, about 2 ft high by 3 ft square, was in very bad shape, mostly from our many moves. It was broken in many places and was near collapse, but could easily be rebuilt.
On September 19, 2000, Dykema stopped in both Grants Pass and Medford to see the EAA link trainers there. The former had no instrument panel at all and no navigational electronics. It did not look like it could ever be returned to an operational status. The latter was stored in the Civil Air Patrol hangar at the Ashland airport. It also did not have navigational electronics. It had been largely converted to a kids "ride" or toy, with a large propeller on the front. Based on observations of these two link trainers it appeared that the Warbird link had far more of the necessary parts and pieces and, with considerable volunteer assistance, might possibly be restored to a full-up, operational trainer.
However, shortly thereafter in-house politics changed the Warbirds organizational structure such that activities dealing with the public left the people involved more legally vulnerable. All work on the Link Trainer ceased. In May 2001 the Link was moved to temporary storage and in October of that year it was donated to the Grants Pass Chapter of the EAA.
MUSEUM
From the very start of the Warbirds in 1997, under founder Roy Darby, there was strong sentiment to establish a Museum, initially to include display of full-size aircraft. But there was still considerable disagreement within the Warbirds about whether the membership wanted to have anything at all to do with a library /museum complex, or whether they simply wanted a social group -- to meet monthly for lunch and then go home.
A written survey of the membership showed considerable support for all of the activities beyond just the social. Dykema asked for donations of personal memorabilia appropriate for a smaller "hands on" (no aircraft) museum and for volunteers to act as docents. Some 23 Warbirds volunteered and of those nine further volunteered to participate in efforts to take selected memorabilia and related educational programs to the local schools, to speak directly to the students there.
Agreement was reached with the local American Legion to convert a corner of their meeting room to a Warbirds memorabilia museum. The Museum was gradually built up to include several bookcases, a computer, and a TV with VCR player. Many old pictures of aircraft were displayed on the walls. The highlight was a full-sized dummy dressed in a full-length winter flying suit, goggles and kid gloves typical of a WWII Navy pilot. The museum actually opened for business, and had it's first civilian visitors.
Then, in the fall of 2000, the in-house politics effectively suspended all but the social activities. The Museum closed and in April of the next year all equipment and memorabilia were removed from the Legion Hall, to various storage locations. In February 2003 these items were further removed to commercial heated storage. At this writing it is all still there.
DEPARTED COMRADES
All of these Warbirds, these comrades-in-arms, were members of a greatest generation. Though spread over half a century they were all part of a common generation, a generation that tended to put God, country, community, and family ahead of self -- the priorities on which our country was founded. Even if they themselves did not fully understand or appreciate the longer range purposes and principles underlying their task at the time they accepted the judgment and the considered direction of others, of leaders in their country and in their community, and even of their family -- and went ahead and did what had to be done, what was right and true.
Early in World War II some climbed into the tiny aluminum cylinder that was a B-17 bomber, crowded with nine other comrades, flew for 14 hours under cramped, ultra-freezing temperatures and near-zero oxygen while flak exploded all around them, fragments rattled on the thin aluminum skin, and angry fighter planes charged at them from all quarters with guns blazing -- got back, got a little chow and a few hours sleep, and the next day did the very same thing. And all the while, in the back of their minds, they knew that their chances of surviving the required 25 missions was nearly zero. Absolutely no place for a self-absorbed person.
All of the Warbirds represent men who in some way, some at high risk some at low, laid their young lives on the line in service to their country and survived -- came back to talk about it. All of these lived to reasonably ripe old age yet never forgot those periods of meaningful service. They are not so young today, not so agile and perhaps not so brave. Yet to a man they represent role models for coming generations. May these new citizens find service at least as full, rich and meaningful.
Many Warbirds are approaching four-score years, and are leaving us at a high rate. The list below names those who made it back, who participated in the Southern Oregon Warbirds -- and passed on. Those of us remaining salute them and wish them smooth-running engines, strong tail winds and CAVU destinations.
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Honorary Members |
Members |
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Col.
Rex T. Barber |
Herb
Alf** |
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SOW Presidents |
Robert Brooks |
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Roy
Darby * |
James
Darley |
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Story in Warbirds book |
Richard Helmboldt |
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Maury
Beck |
Stan
Little |
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Vern
Terwilliger |
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** Buried In Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C.
TIME LINE
Years 1997 - 1998
Years 1999 - 2000
Years 2001 - 2002
Years 2003 - 2004
