Garner Field Airport: From World War II Training Base to Modern Aviation Center

By Carmelo Turdo

Garner Field Airport in Uvalde, Texas offers a unique combination of historic atmosphere and advanced technology businesses serving the local community and aviation industry customers from around the country. The airport is home to the Uvalde Flight Center FBO, Skyway MRO Services, Lancair, Hangar 6 Air Cafe, the Garner Field Aviation Museum and Huff Air Warbird Collection. The meteorological conditions offer the steady thermals needed for glider operations, and Garner Field Airport has previously hosted two World Gliding Championships (with the third coming in 2024). The 5256ft. x 100ft. runway can accommodate most general aviation and business aircraft types.

Garner Field was named for John Nance Garner, a Uvalde, TX lawyer and judge who served as Congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt for the 1932 and 1936 terms. The airport opened in January of 1942 and served as a U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Contract Pilot School until June of 1945. The facility then became a municipal airport and the training buildings were purchased for use by Southwest Texas Junior College. Post-war operations at the airport included flight training for Trans-Texas Airlines, conversion of military aircraft to civilian use, general aviation flight training, air charters and light manufacturing. 

The Aero Experience recently visited Garner Field Airport to cover a future story for our sponsor, Big River Aviation. We were kindly given a brief tour of the Garner Field Aviation Museum and Huff Air collection, located in adjacent hangars. The museum is housed in the remaining World War II-era hangar, and it features a Fairchild PT-19 representing the aircraft used to train USAAF pilots along with more recognizable modern aircraft types. Included here are Burt Rutan's first commercial design, the Variviggen, and a rather imposing LET Zlin Z-37 used for glider towing.

 

The Huff Air hangar contained an eclectic collection of flying aircraft, including the Lancair racer Breathless, two Pitts Specials, a Sport Trainer, SNJ-4 Texan, Arcus M motor glider, a Mooney Mite and Classic Aircraft Waco YMF.

Center for Workforce Innovation Trains the Next Generation of Aircraft Assemblers

By Carmelo Turdo

The Center for Workforce Innovation provides customized technical training courses that best serve the practical needs of manufacturers and industrial services providers. One of the original offerings, the Boeing Pre-employment Training Program, has been a pathway to employment in aircraft manufacturing for nearly fourteen years. Training remains free of cost to those accepted into the program, and those who complete the course are offered an employment interview with the Boeing Company. Over 900 trainees have joined their workforce over the life of the program.

The Aero Experience visited the Center for Workforce Innovation on Monday to get an update on the Boeing Pre-Employment Training Program. In light of the current economic conditions and the ripple effects of delays in manufacturing both military and commercial aircraft, the recent classes have had a reduction in the number of trainees and there will be a pause in training for several months before the next class is scheduled. The standards for completing the training successfully remain high, ensuring that graduates of the course are prepared to perform to Boeing's exacting standards after a short orientation by the company.

David Miller, a Boeing Company retiree and the current Boeing Pre-Employment Training Program Manager, provided an in-depth briefing on the course requirements. The five week (208 hours) Sheet Metal Assembler & Riveter course provides class instruction and practical work advancing to cumulatively more difficult levels under strict time constraints that conform to the production standards required by Boeing. Tools, materials and illustrated instructions are provided for each session. Practical exam projects must be passed before the trainee can progress, and no second chances are offered to re-apply for the program.

The projects increase in complexity as the course continues, requiring the correct use of various fasteners in precisely drilled patterns. Later projects involve attaching nut plates and riveting right angle structures, culminating in the construction of the complex, pre-formed fixture shown at the end of this sequence.

The Boeing Pre-Employment Training Program website gives more details on the program requirements and the application process. The Aero Experience thanks everyone at the Center for Workforce Innovation for inviting us to visit their facility.

Wings of Hope Young Ambassadors To Support Aviation Service Programs in Haiti, Zambia and Ecuador

By Carmelo Turdo

The Wings of Hope Young Ambassadors held their Vote Event recently to determine which aviation service programs to support based on their 2020 fundraising campaign. Six deserving nominees were offered, and three were selected:

Haiti: Haitian Christian Outreach Air Ambulance Program 

Zambia: FlySpec Reconstructive Surgery Services 

Ecuador: Alas de Socorro Medevac Flights for Indigenous Communities in the Amazon

The Young Ambassadors program "supports international programs of Wings of Hope through social, educational and fundraising events." Each year, the Young Ambassadors interact with the community to raise awareness of the mission of Wings of Hope and host three major fundraising events to benefit programs that directly change and save lives through aviation. In 2020, the Trivia Night, Plane Wash and Taste of Hope events (along with memberships) raised over $29,400 towards funding the programs mentioned above.

This year's Vote Event was hosted by Wings of Hope Director of Programs, Tiffany Nelson, and Program Manager, Majd Jmeian.

Tiffany Nelson, who also serves as the Young Ambassador Liaison, opened the meeting for those attending in person and on-line. An active leader, she works behind the scenes and at each event along with the members to ensure that the Young Ambassadors are successful in their mission. Despite the health crisis over the last year, the Young Ambassadors are still able to fully fund three programs through 2021. 

From its inception, Wings of Hope has worked with locally-based groups to ensure the success of humanitarian aviation programs. The programs nominated at the Vote Event were proposed by service providers already in those communities, and so the operational details are custom designed at the local level rather than using the one-size-fits-all approach. 

"This Partnership Model means that Wings of Hope works with local non-profit organizations that are there in-country," Nelson explained, "and we truly believe that this is the most sustainable way to use the resources. Those local organizations know what the community needs... so the Wings of Hope Young Ambassadors support this model in their fundraising efforts."  

Prior to the vote, Wings of Hope President and CEO, Bret Heinrich, addressed the Young Ambassadors membership. 

"I cannot thank you enough for what you do for Wings of Hope," he said in his opening remarks. "The effort, the time and the heart that you put in to save and change lives is so, so important. Tonight you're going to hear about some amazing work happening all around the world, and you have a hand in making that possible." 

Several presentations were made during the meeting, including updates from the 2020 fundraisers and descriptions of the programs under consideration:

Brian McCamley, Young Ambassadors President, thanked the membership and Wings of Hope leadership for exceeding expectations leading up to the Vote Event.

Steve Tompkin spoke about his experience with Kids Against Hunger in Haiti and promoted the food packing day scheduled in June. 

Wings of Hope Program Manager, Majd Jmeian, reviewed the results of the 2020 Young Ambassador fundraising events and assisted with the vote.

Tiffany Nelson returned to review the 2020 Young Ambassador project nominees.

Following the vote, several Young Ambassadors were recognized with 2020 Service Awards: 

Sofie Chkautovich

Ian Smith

Michael Federer

Majd Jmeian

Axayacatl Guerra

Adam Kruger

Liz Burns

Brian McCamley

Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Wings of Hope has the vision of "Changing and saving lives through the power of aviation." Wings of Hope has a rich history of using aircraft to provide humanitarian aid to communities in remote places where it is most needed. In 1959, various Catholic ministries started providing humanitarian air services in the Turkana region of Kenya. Not unlike Charles Lindbergh's preparations for the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, Bishop Joseph Houlihan of Eldoret, Kenya approached St. Louis businessmen Bill Edwards, Joe Fabick, Paul Rodgers and George Haddaway about his need for a new aircraft. They then provided the seed money for the first Cessna U206 used by the newly-minted United Missionary Air Training and Transport. As news of this first successful aircraft service spread, more aircraft were needed. Wings of Hope incorporated in 1967, and has since provided humanitarian and development services around the world through an inter-faith approach to serving the needs of all mankind. Today, Wings of Hope continues to emphasize aviation as the means to achieve their mission and partners with local organizations in the countries served. A complete list of areas served can be found on the Global Programs web page. 

The Wings of Hope facility in St. Louis is impressive - clean, well organized, professional - and contains a mix of aircraft meant for different purposes. Several wear the familiar blue stripes and red cross indicative of the corporate aircraft used for the Medical Relief and Air Transport Program. Other aircraft are being prepared for overseas service. Still others are donated aircraft that will be raffled off or sold to raise funds for future operations.

In the U.S., Wings of Hope continues to provide the Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program from its base in St. Louis. The program was established in 2003 to provide access to life-saving health care within the Midwest to those who are unable to obtain or sustain transportation to specialty care facilities. This is accomplished using corporately-owned aircraft crewed by volunteer pilots and medical staff. In 2019, 218 patients were served. The MAT program is the largest single program measured by total resources committed. 

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery: Airmen Stories

By Carmelo Turdo

Jefferson Barracks was founded in 1826 as a military base strategically located on the Mississippi River south of St. Louis to succeed and replace Fort Bellefontaine. By the 1840s, it had become the largest military base in the U.S. and served as a training and hospital facility for the the U.S. Army during the Civil War. In 1866, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery was established in part to cope with the enormous casualties incurred on both sides during the conflict. Following deactivation of the base, it was expanded again in 1947 as the number of internments increased substantially following World War II. Buried in the cemetery are soldiers, veterans and their family members from around Missouri along with foreign POWs, victims of disease epidemics, mass casualty graves and 3255 of those who remain "Unknown."  

Our first look at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery below attempts to capture just a portion of the hallowed ground that stretches as far as the eye can see. The first known burial at the base was for Elizabeth Ann Lash, the infant child of an officer stationed at Jefferson Barracks, who passed away in 1827. Veterans of the Indian Wars, Spanish American War and the Civil War are also laid to rest in the "Old Section." 

Aviation began to produce its own casualties of war en masse during World War II. The young aviators of the U.S. Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Army Air Forces and the U.S. Air Force, and those of the other services displayed heroism on a daily basis in the skies over Europe and in the South Pacific. Here we include just a few examples of the airmen who are interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

A crew from the 450th Bomb Group, 723rd Bomb Squadron, is memorialized by a single slab marker. The group's B-24 Liberators flew missions to targets in Europe and the Baltics from January 1944 to April 1945, contributing greatly to the defeat of Germany. Major William A. Miller's 10-man crew was lost on a mission from their base in Italy to the Aero Engine Works, Steyr, Austria on February 23, 1944.

The Missing Air Crew Report document and photo of Major William A. Miller shown below are posted on the excellent 450th Bomb Group Memorial Association Official Website. 

Another B-24 Liberator crew is interred together, this one from the 98th Bomb Group and commanded by 1Lt. Donald Pucket on a mission to the Ploiesti Oil Fields in Romania on July 9, 1944. Following a harrowing attack on this vital strategic target, Pucket's bomber was hit and severely damaged. He ordered his crew to bail out, but three were unable to exit the plane. Lieutenant Pucket attempted to land rather than abandon his crewmates, though all remaining aboard were killed in the ensuing crash. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, June 23, 1945. Photo of Lt. Pucket is posted on the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website.

A B-26 Marauder bomber crew, commanded by 1Lt. William D. Collins, was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on December 23, 1944 over St. Vith, Belgium while on a mission to knock out a railroad bridge in Eller, Germany. Bank Nite Betty took a direct hit and broke in two before crashing, with the loss of all aboard. Crew photo is posted on the American Air Museum In Britain website.

Another crew is buried together in a grave marked with a large flat stone. A B-29 Superfortress bomber from the 307th Bomb Wing, commanded by 1Lt. Charles B. Weeks, collided with another B-29 off Okinawa, Japan on a training flight February 1, 1952. The other aircraft returned to land safely. 

Our final featured airman at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery is U.S. Air Force 1Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970 and served in Vietnam flying the A-37B Dragonfly attack jet. 1Lt. Blassie was shot down on May 11, 1972 near An Loc, South Vietnam. His remains were later recovered, and classified as probable for Michael Blassie. However, the identity of the remains were later called into question, and this uncertainty led to his internment as the representative of the Vietnam Veterans in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in 1984. Michael Blassie's sister, Pat, led the effort to reopen the case and use new DNA technology to identify Unknown "X-26." In 1998, the remains of Michael Blassie were released to his family for burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.