Flying With The Aero Experience: Piper Cub Over Salem, IL

By Carmelo Turdo

Salem-Leckrone Field, host to IAC Chapter 61 and the Salem Aerobatic Contest, has a Midwest Aviation legacy stretching back to before World War II.  A walk-through of one of the hangars revealed dates in the concrete floor from 1942, during the period when pilots were being trained by the military at the airport.  The airport was named for Salem, IL resident Phillip Howard Leckrone, a local pilot who was one of the original American volunteer members of the Eagle Squadron of the Royal Air Force after training in Canada before the U.S. entered World War II. He was one of the first Americans trained in the Spitfire fighter and was credited with shooting down or sharing victories for five enemy aircraft while flying patrols over the English Channel.  Leckrone was tragically killed in an in-flight collision on January 5, 1941, while serving in No. 71 Squadron.  Today, the airport occupies 364 acres, offers a 4,098ft. runway and FBO Tate's Flying Service offers 100LL aviation fuel, flight training and other services.  A newly renovated operations building makes any visiting pilot feel welcome.

The Aero Experience went up for a flight in a Piper Cub with pilot Kevin Kegin on October 9, 2016 for a survey flight around Salem.  Kevin's smooth flying made the photo flight fun and productive.  Here are a few photos and a video from the local flight

The Aero Experience: Carmelo Turdo
Pilot: Kevin Kegin
Aircraft: 1946 Piper J3C-65 Cub