The Revised History of Minter Field, 1925 – 2005 ( And Beyond)
by Bill Fant, Original Board MemberWorld Events that will affect Minter Field 1925-1940
It has been said that every place has its moment in history, and Minter Field is no exception. The biggest problem with understanding that moment is where it starts. To better understand the history of Minter Field, one needs to start in 1925 China.
Following the death of Great Leader Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai-Shek became the new Great Leader, angering Mao Tse-Zung and his party. General strikes in China escalated into armed civil war and then the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931. After several years of going it alone, Chiang Kai-Shek appealed to the World community, especially the United States for support. In 1937, after negotiating a truce with Mao, the United States began sending military advisors and intelligence gathering ships. Among the first advisors to arrive are Captains Claire Chennault and Harvey Greenlaw and the USS Panay (which is accidentally sunk by the Japanese).
Meanwhile, closer to home, Colonel ‘Hap’ Arnold, having been recently promoted to the senior staff of the Army Air Services, needing dependable training sites (up to this time, the Army Air Corp rented space from the Navy), begins scouting for dedicated bases. In 1935, under the cover story of working for the Automotive Club of Southern California, Arnold sends Carl Spaatz and Ida Eaker to survey the San Joaquin Valley, initially buying two sites north and south of a small Mojave town (Boron?) for Air Materiel Command, later the SWPA (Southwest Pacific Area) and the Muroc Gunnery and Bombing Range. [It is unclear from records available if this team scouted the Shafter and Taft sites at this time.] Later, under the Defense Landing Area Program, General Arnold would return to Kern County to build Minter and Gardner Fields.
With the threat of a major war crisis looming in 1938, General Arnold, worried about the overall size of the Army Air Services and especially the lack of pilots, helps start the civilian pilot training program (CPTP) to recruit and train future pilots should the United States become formally involved.
In early 1940, the Vultee Company receives an order from Sweden for a modified ATF (advanced tactical fighter) based on their BT-13 design. The United States Government, fearful that the planes may be captured (or traded) to the Germans, cancels the order and transfers the planes to the RAF (Royal Air Force). The P-66 Vanguard (which will later develop into the Corsair F4U) has 6×30 cal guns on the wings and 2×50 cal guns through the nose.
In the closing months of 1940, Western Defense Command creates the 4 USAAF and SWPA to assist the growing operations in China under Chennault.
The Defense Landing Area Program, November 1940
In the spring of 1935, the GHQ Army Air Services under Brigadier General Frank M. Andrews separates from the Signal Corp to become its own branch of the Army. As a senior member of Andrew’s staff, Colonel Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold is given the task of finding dedicated sites for the new air service. Arnold, having recently flown over the San Joaquin Valley and impressed with its large unused areas, begins sending scouting teams to identify areas for future bases. Working under the cover story of looking for sites to develop the Automotive Club of Southern California, these teams select several sites for possible later expansion.
With the promotion of Major General Hap Arnold to Chief of the Air Corp in late 1938, President Roosevelt asks Arnold and his staff to begin planning for a superbase capable of training 20,000 pilots a year. The plans for the superbase funding are approved under the Defense Landing Area Program (DLAP) in November 1940.
While most other countries already had Government sponsored civilian pilot training programs, the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) finally passes through Congress in December 1938, as a response to the Munich Crisis. Following Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September 1939, the program is expanded and moves into high gear. With the approval of the DLAP superbase project in November 1940, the Army waives most of its recruiting rules and requires these pilots to report immediately to various bases, mostly in Western Defense Command areas.
In November 1940, Major Claire Chennault, who has been working as a military advisor in China since 1937, officially resigns to accept an appointment as a Brigadier General in the Chinese Nationalist Air Corp (CNAC) and begins recruiting US reserve pilots (mostly from the Navy and Marine Corps) to join the China Air Task Force (CATF), which will become known as the Flying Tigers. During the summer of 1941, Brigadier General Chennault will tour Central and Southern California looking for dedicated training sites for Chinese pilots and volunteer replacements [according to the Flying Tigers Historian, it is not documented where Chennault looked but as he received his volunteer pilots from Western Defense Command and the Fourth Air Force, he probably looked at resources available to these groups].
Also that month, with war now raging in Europe and the Pacific, General Arnold sends his personal aide, Major General F. E. Harms back to the San Joaquin Valley under DLAP. Arriving at the Glendale airport, Harms is greeted by a citizen group who gives a presentation for a site in Taft, but Harms instead chooses a 945 acre cotton farm along Lerdo Highway near State Highway 99 for the future superbase at the standard military rent of $1/year. In early April 1941, the Taft site would also be added to this lease.
The defense landing area program will officially end with the transfer of Minter Field to the Kern County Airport District in August 1949.
Minter Field, April 1941 -- December 1941
In January 1939, President Roosevelt asked General Arnold’s office to draw up plans for a superbase capable of training 20,000 pilots per year, — the same number as the eleven CPTP universities are currently training combined. By the time Major General Harms arrived in November 1940 to choose the Lerdo site for the superbase project, the number of CPTP student-pilots has increased to 30,000 per year. While Area 19 (the first official name for Minter Field) was originally meant to be one base, the DLAP planners realize by late March 1941 that two sites will be needed to achieve the stated goals and add the earlier rejected Taft site as an overflow training base.
At a cost of over five and a half million dollars, or 14% of the 1941 National Defense Budget, DLAP construction officially begins when Lt. Colonel Carl W. Pyle and his seven aides arrive at Bakersfield Junior College in April 1941. The goal of Phase One is to finish 66 buildings at each site and be operational by the fall of 1941. After learning about the superbase construction, the Navy, who is currently leasing bases to the Army Air Corp in the San Francisco Bay area, begins lobbying Congress to move Western Defense and its Training Commands to the new superbase site, as the Navy argues the need for these bases for improved anti-submarine operations and as an Airship facility.
Known as Area 19 when originally submitted to Congress, the question of a formal base quickly arose after the Navy suggested calling the new base Lerdo Army Air Base (there are also some loose references to the name Shafter Army Air Base). The War Department responded to these names by stating that “bases are not geographically named for security reasons [but] are named for deceased pilots”. For this reason, the War Department rejected the first proposed name of Robinson Field, after Leslie L. Robinson, the first Shafter area resident to die in World War I, as he was not a pilot. The War Department then put forward the name of Lt. Paul Bunch and at about the same time, the Minter Family, whose son Hugh was an Army pilot that had died in 1932 at March Army Air Base, suggested his name. Also, the Minter family had a long established and prominent involvement in the Shafter area (they first arrived in 1854). Until the final decision was made on January 27, 1942, the superbase was officially known as the Army Air Corp Basic Flying School, Bakersfield California, but was commonly referred to as Lerdo Field.
By August 1941, the first cadet classes began arriving at Lerdo Field, despite the fact that there was still several ‘tent cities’ being used by the cadets and staff. Phase One construction is considered officially finished on December 17, 1941 when Western Defense Command takes over the base by removing the 35th West Coast Training Command into any available nearby sites, including tents, high schools, local hotels (like the Padre) and in the Taft area, local residents homes.
On February 7, 1942, Minter Field will be officially dedicated in a closed ceremony, and by the war’s end would train (between the two sites) 20,132 pilots or eleven percent of the total American pilots who fought in World War II.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
Whether you believe that December 7th was a sneak attack, or a formal first strike, this well documented event did propel the United States into the war with Japan and Germany. The other consequence of December 7th was that invasion fever swept over the United States and even infected Homeland Defense Command. In the panicked days that followed the attack, Western Defense Command, having recently lost their lease at Moffat Field back to the Navy, now homeless and desperate, as their plans to move to Santa Ana were being held up due to DLAP funding for Minter and Gardner Fields, begins looking for temporary quarters to house its generals and support staff. Following an air raid scarce on San Francisco, General DeWitt and company quickly move to Lerdo Field.
In the months following Pearl Harbor, rumors deluged the Western States. The biggest public fear at this time is that the attack had destroyed America’s ability to protect itself, as the fleet losses are worse than being reported. This is partly true. On December 11th, following the report of an enemy Aircraft Carrier off San Francisco, General DeWitt wrote to the War Department, stating that he had only 45 modern fighters and some bombers to defend 1,200 miles of coastline. Worse, General DeWitt bomber fleet (originally SWPA planes stationed at Meadows Field in Bakersfield) had no guns, as they were removed for shipping and most of the available fighters at this time were missing propellers and navigation instruments. These facts combined with the general public fears greatly complicated Homeland Defense Commands’ real problems.
Given the weak position of the military at the start of the war, combined with the general panic in both groups, many of Western Defense Command combat actions and military orders which happened at Minter Field during the tense months of 1942 are reflective of the moment. By today’s standards, many were over the top, and this is expressed in the Steven Spielberg movie, 1941, which is based primary on the Battle of Los Angeles fought in February 1942.
Western Defense Command at Minter Field, December 1941 – September 1942
While there had been talk of war planning since 1938, Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 finally forced the United States Senior Commanders to become painfully aware of how unprepared the United States really was. Understanding that our oceans no longer provided a defense shield, Congress quickly approved the Homeland Defense Act in December 1939, dividing the country into five defense zones.
Shortly thereafter, Western Defense Command was established at Moffat Field and the Presidio (which were on loan from the Navy) under the command of the recently promoted Lt General John Lesesne (‘JL’) DeWitt. Along with the Fourth Army already based there, as a provision of the original act, four new Army Air Forces are created to support defense operations, with even numbered units being assigned to the West and odd numbered units to the East.
With the successes of the early European air campaigns, General Arnold again goes to Congress to request funding for the superbase project. With approval secured in late 1940, the Air Corps began a review of plans and site choices. The Navy, upon learning of the Army’s plan to build a base in the San Joaquin Valley area, demands the return of Moffat Field as the ‘Army can use their new superbase for Western Defense Command HQ! – besides, the Navy needs Moffat to house anti-submarine airship patrols.’ On June 17, 1941, at the urging of Congressman Alfred J. Elliott, Congress agrees to end the lease and orders General DeWitt and company to move within six months. Angered over the decision, General DeWitt immediately requests funding for a new command base at Santa Ana, California, which Congress denies due to the cost of the DLAP project.
Even though General DeWitt holds out for staying at Moffat Field during the rest of 1941, he does transfer some Fourth Air Force resources, currently based at March Field in Riverside, California to Meadows Field at Bakersfield and all SWPA operations, which include the 32nd, 38th and 48th SQNs, based in Arizona currently supporting General Chennault AVG pilots in China to the Muroc Gunnery and Bombing Range (aka Edwards Air Force Base today) under the command of Major General George Kenney. [Remember that during the summer of 1941, General Chennault was in California reviewing sites for training Chinese pilots, but there are no official records of where he visited.]
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the fear of an aerial attack in San Francisco on December 9th, General De Witt finally decides to move to the Lerdo Field facility. As most of his nine Generals and 1100 support staff begins arriving over the next several days, all Lerdo Field training operations staff and other personnel are moved into tent cities, local hotels, and high school dorms. Western Defense Command officially declares the base operational on December 17, 1941.
During their brief stay at Minter Field, Western Defense Command will hold two full scale war exercises, the first in late December 1941, which is watched by the Secretary of War, as well as General Marshall and Colonel Doolittle.
Also during this time, the 4th Army, responding to Executive Order 9066, will begin rounding up Japanese-Americans for transfer to internment camps located throughout the nine western states under General DeWitt’s control.
As the Santa Ana facility starts construction in April 1942 with a partial transfer of staff, most of the staff of Western Defense Command will stay at Minter Field until the Santa Ana facility is fully operational on September 3, 1942.
[Shortly after the move to Santa Ana, Lt General DeWitt will be transferred to England as the commander of the fictional First Army Group, with the intension to fool the Germans into believing a second front was coming along the French-Dutch border area. This ruse will allow General Eisenhower to successfully collect forces for the D-Day invasion without detection. He will retire from the Army as a Lt General in 1947.]
The Battles of Western Defense Command
Homeland defense was one of the more boring aspects of World War 2. Little has been written about it and what is available often conflicts with itself. The battles described below are based on information from several sites and limited in scope but necessary for understanding Minter Field and its involvement with Western Defense Command.
The Attack on San Francisco
On December 9, 1941, Western Defense Command responds to reports of a Japanese Aircraft Carrier 20,000 yards off the coast. Fourth Interceptor Command responds with all its working airplanes, the sound of which results in an attempted blackout of the San Francisco Bay Area, a closure of the public school system, and no reported damage. In the days following this attack General DeWitt is quoted in the newspapers as saying, “death and destruction is likely to come . . . at any moment. I do not want to scare anyone, but [those planes] were enemy planes, I mean Japanese planes [and] they were tracked out to sea.”
First Santa Barbara (February 23, 1942)
In an attempt to reduce fears about the war, President Roosevelt devotes a fireside chat to repudiate most of the bogus rumors currently circulating. A Japanese submarine, the IJN 17, upon hearing the speech, surfaces and begins shelling the town of Santa Barbara. Aiming at the Goleta oilfields, they successfully destroy a nearby strawberry farm.
The Battle of Los Angeles (February 24 and 25, 1942)
Clearly the biggest battle of Western Defense Command while at Minter Field and the basis of the movie 1941. Following the attack the night before, the Navy issues a war warning to Western Defense Command for the Los Angeles area beginning at sunset and covering the next 10-12 hours. At the same time, the Navy informs the Coast Guard to round up all fishing ships in the area. Around 2 AM on the 25th, reports of approaching enemy ships and aircraft causes all 4 AAF units to respond – this includes all the B-17s stationed at Meadows Field (sharing 17 bombs) which will fly west then south and all operational ATF fighters from Minter Field which will fly south then west. Upon their arrival, the B-17 bombers will spot the fishing boats, successfully sinking one trawler, and later run into the P-66 ATF fighters resulting in midair collisions with minor damage. Southern Cal Edison aware of the war warning and upon hearing the engine sounds of the American fighters coming over the city, blacks out the LA basin, causing 4 AAF anti-aircraft units to fire all their ammo (1440 rounds) at the incoming planes. The resulting battle leaves one death from heart attack, several major traffic accidents and a major Hollywood intersection damaged by anti-aircraft fire.
In the days following this battle, both services denied responsibility for what happened, the Navy claiming to have informed the Army of the fishing boat recall and the canceling of the war warning at approximately 10 PM that night. The Army claims they received no cancellation notice and were not informed about the trawler round up. Today, most official records are at odds about who knew what and what actually happened. There are even some reports that this was the militaries first encounter with UFOs. Because of this, my advice is just enjoy the movie.
Second Santa Barbara (February 28, 1942)
Supposedly, a Japanese submarine returns for second attack, is immediately spotted and fired upon by 4 AAF pilots. There are questionable reports ranging from no damage to a sinking.
The Attack on Fort Stevens, Oregon (June 23, 1942)
After successfully sinking a Canadian lumber shipment, the IJN 26 attacks a coastal fort, successfully destroying their gymnasium and baseball field.
The Grants Pass (Oregon) Operation
Hoping to start a major forest fire and continue the panic started by the IJN 26 attacks, the IJN 25 launches an incendiary attack near Mount Emily on September 9, 1942. However, due to an earlier heavy rain, the attack failed to start any fires and the IJN 25 was forced away by an aircraft patrol from Western Defense Command. On September 29, 1942, the IJN 25 returned for another attempt to fire bomb the forest and local timber operations. Again, this attack failed due to bad weather and there was no reported damage. After this attempt the IJN 25 returned to surface raiding, successfully sinking two supply ships in early October.
By September 1942, the 4 AAF had left Minter Field with Western Defense Command to be permanently stationed at March Field in Riverside, California. While there are reports of further operations by Western Defense Command aircraft against Japanese submarines after 1943, the Japanese Navy had already recalled the three submarines of the coastal fleet after the Grants Pass attack as it was decided that the group had failed to produce any significant results and their resources were needed elsewhere. [By the summer of 1944, all of the recalled submarines would be lost in Pacific operations in the defense of Japan.]
Waiting to go – The Flying Tigers at Minter Field, DEC 1941 – JUL 1942
While the United States Military had been sending advisors to China since 1937, it became clear that more direct involvement would be necessary. Using the cover story of working for CAMCO (the Consolidated Aircraft Manufacturing Company), the military began recruiting pilots mostly from the Navy and Marines into the AVG (All Volunteer Group). Promised no loss of rank when the United States officially enters the war, 264 pilots formed three SQNs in November 1940 under the command of General Chennault CNAC (who had also resigned his commission that month). Besides the pilots, the Chinese were also promised 144 P-66 ATF fighters located at the Vultee plant in Downey, California as soon as SWPA could ship them.
By the summer of 1941, losses and other operational issues lead to the recruiting of 23 additional pilots as replacements. Trained and housed at Moffat Field, these pilots left by steamer ship for Karachi India on December 6, 1941. As a result of the Pearl Harbor attack, the ship returned to San Francisco on December 9, 1941 and the AVG pilots were immediately shipped to Lerdo Field with the rest of Western Defense Command.
Upon their arrival, the AVG pilots were ordered to put on 4 AAF uniforms and immediately transfer the P-66 aircraft at Downey to Shafter and Muroc. As the planes had suffered weather damage from sitting and were still lacking key parts like propellers and navigation instruments, the pilots were forced to collect about a dozen propellers and other aircraft parts into several trucks which shuttled them with ground crews to the Vultee plant. Repairing a dozen planes at a time, 45 P-66s were flown to Lerdo Field and the rest were flown to Muroc for storage and shipping to China.
Intergraded into the 32nd SQN of the 4 AAF, these pilots were officially organized under the command of Colonel Robert Scott (author of God is my co-pilot) on December 17, 1941 with the rest of Western Defense Command. On that same day in China, General Chennault activated the 23rd Fighter group (now known as the Flying Tigers) with the same commander and pilots. During their time at Minter Field, their official cover story will be the Defense of the Panama Canal Zone.
Also during their brief stay at Minter Field, these fighters and pilots will be the main defense force used in the battles of Western Defense Command. As SWPT (it was renamed a theatre on December 11th) begins moving resources to Asia, most of these pilots will be gone by April and early May 1942 but its last personnel will leave Minter Field on July 2, 1942 — the same day all volunteer operations under CATF ended.
On July 5, 1942 the Flying Tigers units are activated under the 10 USAAF 74, 75 and 76 SQNs until March 1943 when General Chennault is finally reactivated as a US Army Major General and commander of the 14 USAAF.
Minter Field -- The Largest Base in the United States (1942) (include Plans and Real numbers)
Aside from the ‘Special Operations’ briefly mentioned in the Official Histories, 1942 is a very busy year for Minter Field.
AUG 1941 102 cadets/class
Official History 1943 – 600 cadets/class
Official History 1944 – 1065 cadets/class
Radar Base FEB 1945 – Summer 1946
In February 1945, most AAB were being closed down
Minter Field begins RADAR trainings with B-25
Gardner Field last class 8 FEB
Gardner materials transferred to Minter and Muroc
Buildings given to Bakersfield and Taft Junior Colleges starting OCT 1945
The China Connection (1940-1946)
On Stand by – 1946
Wheeling and Dealing with the Navy (1947)
The China Connection, Part 2 (1948-1949)
First Exit, 1949
(China Civil War ends FEB 49)
(DLAP ends AUG 49)
You only Live Twice: The Indonesian Connection (1950-1953)
Planes Out, Cars In (1955)
Out to Pasture (1955 – 1965)
(Buildings go to Support U 2 Program and BC/ TC expansions)
One Last Harrah? The Anna Chennault Affair (1968)
The Fire Department Leaves (1975)
Dept 34
Birth of a Museum 1977-1981
MFAM 1981 – 1997 The Airshow Years
MFAM 1997 – 2002 No Planes, just Change
MFAM 2002 – 2005 Back in the Air
Appendix A: The Generals of Minter Field Ranks given while at Minter Field Between December 1941 – September 1942
LT GEN John L DeWitt Commander of Western Defense Command and 4th Army
MAJ GEN Barton Yount First commander of West Coast Training Center
MAJ GEN Ralph Cousins Second commander of West Coast Training Center
Started as assistant to Yount – 1st CG of Santa Ana Center
MAJ GEN George Kenny Commander of 4 USAAF and SWPA later 5 USAAF
MAJ GEN Fulton Gardner CG of WDC (Flak) 4th AA Units
BRIG GEN William O. Ryan CG of Fourth Interceptor Command
BRIG GEN LeLand Hewitt Started as COL and CO of Gardner Field AAB in April
1941 transferred to Minter Field as Brig GEN on xxxx
1942
BRIG GEN Martin Scanlon Executive assistant to J L DeWitt
BRIG GEN L A Walton Commander of General Staff HQ for West Coast
Brig Gen Claire Chennault Commander of CATF (Flying Tigers)
NOTE: Major Chennault resigned from the AAF in November 1940 and was not fully reinstated until March 1943 but he was directly responsible for ALL Chinese pilot training in USA during the war and also as commander of 23rd fighter group (formed December 17, 1941) in China, he directed Colonel Robert Scott who was commander of 4 USAAF units at Minter Field until July 2, 1942 when the units were returned to China.
Appendix B: Commanders of Minter Field [all colonels unless rank stated]
Commander of the 35th Wing – BG Leland R Hewitt (1942)
— BG James L Grisham (1944)
30 MAR 1941 – 02 OCT 1943 Carl W Pyle
02 OCT 1943 – 15 MAR 1944 James L Grisham
15 MAR 1944 –18 MAR 1944 Robert W Hall
18 MAR 1944 – 06 APR 1944 [MAJ] Marvin G Sturgeon
06 APR 1944 – 05 JUN 1945 Newton H Crumley
05 JUN 1945 — R C Wriston
1945 Lawrence Codington
1946 M D Magoffin
— MAR 1946 Lavar Johnson
— 09 AUG 1949 Albert Leslie
1951 – 1953 (?) [BG] Lawrence Codington
Appendix C: Man-Powered Flight (1977)
July 1, 1977; The Minter Field Air Museum came to be as a result of a small group of people that like to fly out of the Kern County Airport at Shafter, CA.
Minter Field Air Museum was originally organized around a B-25, “The Shady Lady” purchased from the CAF in 1977. On July 1, 1977, the eight buyers convened and formed Minter Field Air Museum.
This aircraft purchase in 1977 was to be the center piece of the Museum. The plane was purchased by the original members and flown to Shafter by Dwight Reimer. The aircraft proved to be an expensive project, as every time that it went out it seemed to need something else repaired or restored. Eventually the aircraft changed hands several times before becoming part of Castle Air Museum.
The members still wanted to have a Museum for the preservation of aviation history, and for the benefits of Museum status, such as the acquisition of aircraft and equipment.
1977 - The Museum is Born
July 1, 1977; The Minter Field Air Museum came to be as a result of a small group of people that like to fly out of the Kern County Airport at Shafter, CA.
Minter Field Air Museum was originally organized around a B-25, “The Shady Lady” purchased from the CAF in 1977. On July 1, 1977, the eight buyers convened and formed Minter Field Air Museum.
This aircraft purchase in 1977 was to be the center piece of the Museum. The plane was purchased by the original members and flown to Shafter by Dwight Reimer. The aircraft proved to be an expensive project, as every time that it went out it seemed to need something else repaired or restored. Eventually the aircraft changed hands several times before becoming part of Castle Air Museum.
The members still wanted to have a Museum for the preservation of aviation history, and for the benefits of Museum status, such as the acquisition of aircraft and equipment.
1978
The Museum held its First Annual Barbecue.
The first board of directors consisted of
Wes Selvidge John Martin Dennis Martin Dwight Reimer Ray Nelson Linda Nelson Peter Crown Jim Foss
1979
At the Nov. 20,1979 meeting after the sale of the B-25 ‘SHADY LADY’ a motion was made and carried to reduce membership dues to $25.00 per year, and to abolish the title of Associate Member thereby making every present member a full and participating and voting member.
The 1980's
1980
The Museum held new elections:
John Martin President,
Ray Nelson Past President,
Dennis Martin Vice President & Past Sec/Treas,
Bob Lansford Sec./Treas,
Jim Foss Member-at Large.
The Museum had a Turkey Drop on Nov. 23, 1980, coordinated by Larry Hughes and Greg Swift. Larry was also the judge. Jim Foss & Dennis Martin sold flour bags and coordinated Take off—Bombing—Ribbon Cutting—Spot Landing.
$3.00 for 3 flour bags
$3.00 for spot landing (entry)
$3.00 for ribbon cutting (entry)
All proceeds donated to the Museum. The Turkey Drop was a success at least no complaints.
November welcomed new members Larry Hughes, Riley Ashby, Andy Sharp, Buck Bailey.
December brought new members Thomas White, and Gene Gunther
And the formation of a committee consisting of the following members:
Tom Schroeter Attorney
Mike Bird Assist. to First District Supervisor
Buck Bailey Truck Firm–WWII Pilot
Wes Selvidge Rancher Pilot
Greg Trebon U.S. Air Force Pilot
Ron Peterman Airline Engineer/Pilot
John Martin, Martin Elec. Pilot
Riley Ashby Mobil Service Pilot
Gene Gunther Postmaster Pilot
Mike Sprague Attorney Pilot
Tom White MD Pilot
Tom Summerville Belridge Emp. Pilot
Ted Sally K.C. Co. Sheriff Dispatcher Pilot
Tom Gray W. Kern Municipal Ct. Administrator Pilot
Members of this group were to try to meet with Stephen P. Schmitt Kern County Airports Director regarding the lease of Bldg T-33 which was leased by Dennis Air Service, Ray and Linda Nelson.
1981
In February, John Martin, Ray Nelson, Dennis Martin, and Bob Lansford met with Mr. Schmitt, and Ralph Rudi Property Management Supervisor. The meeting was positive and encouraging for the Museum.
In April, The By-laws Updating committee, with the advice of Tom Schroeter agreed to set aside the G.B.W. CLUB,INC/MINTER FIELD AIR MUSEUM INC and more simply make application to the Cal. Sec. of State for a new corp. named MINTER FIELD AIR MUSEUM.
Getting back to airplanes Ray Nelson and Greg Swift recently purchased an AT-17 (BAMBOO BOMBER) from a San Diego Museum, it will be restored for private use, still no plane for the Museum.
On Sept. 25,1981, Tom Schroeter received a call from Mr. Dizon of the Exempt-Status Div. of the IRS regarding the Minter Field Air Museums non profit status. Tom was told that the Museum had been authorized to operate as a non-profit corp.
It was suggested that a meeting be held within 30 days to elect the Board of Directors.
On Sunday Nov. 1, at 3:30 PM the following people were nominated and confirmed as Directors.
President Gatchell appointed a 3 man committee of Tom Schroeter, Gene Gunther, and Bob Lansford to inquire into gratis services of an architect to draw up plans for a Museum building.
Ray and Linda Nelson were appointed to prepare an inventory for property accounting and to set property values thereon.
The May 10, 1981 Barbecue / Get-Together generated $100.00 to be added to the Museum coffers. Member Ray Nelson was commended for his hard work in construction of a barbecue pit for the event, as there were none available for loan.
June found the Museum was still struggling for state and federal status for without these there is no possibility of a lease of Bldg T-33. The Museum was at first able to obtain a 60 day continuance, but could only obtain a 2 week continuance this time. This would expire on July 7.
This was not a good time for the Museum. First, the SHADY LADY was lost and now the possibility of no HOME.
July 1981: Tom Schroeter, Ray Nelson , Greg Swift, and Bob Lansford went to the county board of supervisors relative to the extension of time on T-33.
Property Management Ralph Rudi advised the board that his department was in the process of drawing up the leasing papers, long term, for the Museum, on other property on the airport, and that his was also drawing up the bid package for T-33.
Mr. Rudi believed that this process would not be completed until late in 1981 and that in the interim that the Museum be allowed to stay on the premises (T-33) until completion of the paper work.
The board of supervisors concurred and approved the plan. The meeting was very
encouraging.
The other site referred to was going to require extensive work (water, sewage, electrical, etc.) before the Museum would be able to occupy same. It will take a lot of effort on the part of all members to make this new property and building a reality.
On August 12, 1981 the Secretary of State ( California ) endorsed and filed the Articles of Incorporation of the Minter Field Air Museum, and issued corporation number 1086903 to the corporation.
The Museum had finally received recognition , and as a corporation, the work had just begun. Tom Schroeter advised that as the State of Calif. had completed their investigation, acceptance and approval by the federal government should be nothing more than a formality, and it should not take long to receive federal status.
A copy of the Articles of Incorporation was submitted to the Kern County Airports Director, to justify the deeding or leasing, property to the Museum.
The Bakersfield Californian carried a “For lease” on T33 last week end.
The group was close to losing Museum headquarters, and needed some luck!
HOORAY!! Finally, a letter from the IRS dated December 17, 1981. The following is an excerpt from same .
“Based on information supplied, and assuming your operation will be as stated in your application recognition of exemption, we have determined you are exempt from Federal income tax under Sec. 501 (c) (3) of the Int. Rev. Code. …”
1982
The Museum was finally official thanks to the hard work of a lot of people, and especially Tom Schroeter and his staff.
Board of directors for 1982
President: Mark Howell
Vice Pres: Tom Summerville
Secretary: Bob Lansford
Treasurer: Tom Schroeter
Directors at Large: Bill Destefani, Ray Nelson, Linda Nelson, Peter Crown
President Mark Howell , Linda Nelson , Bob Lansford were appointed as a membership committee, and the president has undertaken to rewrite the invitation to join.
On Saturday, May 8, 1982, the First Annual Minter Field “Warbirds Flying” was held. Participating Pilots
Richard Drury Robert Richardson
James Furlong Ray Schutte
Andy Gemerolara Ray Sparks
Merle Gossman Richard Sykes
Edward J. Modes Blue Thrialkill
Ron Hevle The Condor Squadron
And Thank You to all the other pilots, pit crews, flight line personnel, and all hands that made it possible. It was a lot of work, but worth it.
The FAA was well pleased with the manner in which FAA Regulations were followed. “One of the Best ( regulation – wise ) shows that we have seen. Mr. Stephen Schmitt, Kern County Airports Director, wrote us a nice letter of congratulations. This letter, and the FAA comments were very gratifying.
The gross was a little over $11,000. The net is not determined at this time bills should run at least 50% so need better planing and management.
Bills, etc. aside, the Museum made many new friends and a number of new members.
Mr. & Mrs. Charles N. Valentine were at the show. Mr. Valentine was a USAAF Minter Field Cadet, Class 44G, and presented (donated) the following items to the Museum.
Booklet Pictorial History & Happenings at Minter Field
Booklet Echelon Class 44G,USAAF Basic Flying School Minter Field, California
Special Cadet Edition: “Wing Tips” USAAF Mather Field CA. Class
44G Aug. 4 1944.
Booklet, Prop Wash, 8th USAAF Flying Training, Training Detachment,
Visalia-Dinuba School of Aeronautics, Class 44G
Class Book, Visalia CA. Plus an extract of the orders transferring Class 44G from
8th USAAF Flying Detachment Visalia, to USAAF Pilot
School (Basic) Minter Field, Bakersfield, CA. 6 March, 1944.
Also among our distinguished was The Honorable William Thomas U.S. House of Representatives. Also present was The Honorable Don Rogers, California State Assembly.
A note of regret at this time May 1982 – Mark Howell, Museum /corporation president has submitted his resignation president. Mark Howell desires to stay with the Museum, and as active as his new position as reporter/anchorman for KCBS Radio in San Francisco will permit. Mark is a plank owner and will be missed at decision time.
TERRIFIC NEWS – The Kern County Board of Supervisors has approved negotiations between Minter Field Air Museum Inc. and Kern County Property Management/Kern County Airports Director for the vacated Kern County Fire Dept. Building on Minter Field. Commencement of negotiations was set to begin Wednesday 3, Nov. 1982.
Bob Lansford attended the Bakersfield Re-union of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association at the Hill House. They were very encouraging of the efforts of the Museum. They were invited to the 1983 Air Show.
Bob also visited a Member of the HUMP, China Burma India Theater in WWII in Fellows earlier in month. He donated some personal items, a CBI Jacket Patch, Propaganda Leaflet, photos of the Burma Road, etc. to the Museum. A display was prepared.
December 17,1982 marks the First Anniversary of Minter Field Air Museum, Inc as a full fledged and bonifide “tax exempt” Corporation after struggling for four and one half years for direction. Many things done many still to do.
Mr. Steven Cronquist of Bakersfield presented a proposed insurance policy which will satisfy the requirement of Kern County in the lease agreement for the Fire Dept. Bldg.
1983
In January, the following Directors at Large were nominated and confirmed by majority vote:
John Martin Jim Foss
Mark Howell Larry Hughes.
M/S/C Changing by-laws to delete requirement that President and secretary shall be permanent directors.
By majority vote the following people were nominated and confirmed as follows:
President: Larry Hughes
Vice Pres: Jim Foss
Secretary: Bob Lansford
Treasurer: Tom Schroeter
M/S/C To accept Kern County Proposed Lease Agreement for the Fire Department Building. Subject to change or delete requirement re chain link fence.
Bill Destefani gave a P-51ride to Nash Brown and was reimbursed $100.00 for same
In return for an artists rendition of a proposed new Museum building.
1983 Air Show Committees
Air Show Linda Nelson Ground Traffic Barry Wipf
Coordinators Peter Crown Control
Larry Hughes
John Martin Advertising Mark Howell
Jim Foss
Warbird Pilot Bill Destefani Linn Hazel
Contact Linda Nelson John Martin
Visitors Larry Hughes Crowd Control Civil Air Patrol, Accommodations Jim Foss GRP 14
John King Squadron 121,
Denny Art Bakersfield, Cal.
Mark Weidenbach
Ace Nelson Photography Linn Hazel
David Johnson Joe Miller
Ray Nelson Peter Crown
Bob Hicks Denny Art
Peter Crown George Villavazo
Bob Lansford
Financial John Martin Programs Linda Nelson
Planning Peter Martin Linn Hazel
Linda Nelson
Local Trans.. John Martin
Fuel Bill Destefani
John Martin
Beverages Tom Summerville
Air Traffic John Martin Jim Howerton
Control Bill Destefani
Dennis Jennings
Pilots Meals Kiwanis
Aircraft Mark Moodie
Handling Dave Hughes Motel Bill Destefani
Larry Hughes Arrangements
John Rosso
Officer’s Club In “Battle of Minter Field” Larry Hughes, Lucky Fulton, Norm Healy, Bob Lansford, Dennis Jennings, George Villavazo, Bill Fant.
Febuary,1983: Museum accepts Golden Eagle (stuffed) killed in mid-air collision with Dick Sykes at the 1982 Reno Air Show.
May 1983: Conducting work on the New Museum Headquarters in the Kern County Fire Station, which by the way is an Original WWII USAAC Military Fire Station.
A huge THANK YOU to the Members, plus many Friends of the Museum for a well done Air Show operation. The 1983 Warbirds In Action show revenues appear to be about $ 8,000. This amount was placed in an interest bearing account.
Sept. 8 1983 M/S/C by member Ron McLane to open each meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
M/S/C to accept the Resignation Notice of Director Peter Crown.
M/S/C an offer presented by member Ron McLane of the donation of a Fairchild Pt-19 by Mr. Jack Ferdinand of J. & J. Crop Dusters of Arvin , Cal. Mr. Ferdinand would deliver the aircraft which was something of a basket case, but restorable.
Ron & Judy McLane , Mark Weidenbach, & Bob Lansford manned an information booth at Madera Air Show to promote our annual air show. the group was well received and received tremendous encouragement.
Larry Hughes, Ron McLane, Ray Nelson, and Russ Anderson were selected to pick up the propeller donated by member Ike Reimer on Sept. 11.
Work started on the 1940 Plymouth Auto Donated by member
Carl Trinkle Jr. of Lost Hills Cal. Member Russ Robinson volunteered to repair oil leak on the auto.
Ron McLane volunteered to contact Kern County Building Inspector
J.C. Atkinson relative to planning the work on the Museum building.
Ron McLane, John Martin, and Linda Nelson were appointed to coordinate the TURKEY DROP for Nov, 83.
M/S/C a motion to dedicate the 1984 Air Show to the memory of long standing Minter Field Air Museum member JOHN LINN who was killed in August , while returning to Bakersfield from a flight to Lake Isabella .
John was flying his Aircoupe Aircraft and for reasons unknown crashed near Alta Vista, CA.
Thanks to Pioneer Paint of Bakersfield they donated the paint and equipment, and a couple of dozen members donated their time and labor and the Minter Field Air Museum building at Shafter Airport has a fresh coat of paint . We had a Continental Breakfast, a Basque Lunch, and a lot of fun. The outside of the building trim and all was done in about 8 hours . Well Done, Guys & Gals!
The F9F Panther Jet DONATED by Mark Reader 16305 5th Avenue,
North Plymouth, Minn. 55447. This was possible by a lot of hard work by Andy Sharp.
Special Thanks to:
Andy Sharp—- He helped to keep us cool by providing the cooler on the roof, and in arranging the delivery of the F9F Panther Jet.
John Martin & Ron McLane —- Whose Combined efforts are providing us with a huge sign.
Bob Peck —— For delivering a large glass case along with 2 parachutes and other donated items Donated by Marge Shelly of Frazier Park.
Charlie & Barbara Leech —-They Donated the gas range in the kitchen.
Stan Dow——– For saving all those wonderful pictures & papers from the time that he spent at Minter when it was a active Army Air Corp. base.
Dwight Reimer —-For the Donation of a complete TBM Propeller
Vernon Pierce—- He Donated a like new WWII parachute Pack.
Tom Tierney —- For the Donation of an original chair & roster from this base.
October, the Oct. 23 Barbecue was enjoyed by more than 100 people with many participating in the flying games—flour bombing—nerf ball catch, & spot landing.
Jim Foss & Ron Bracken gave rides in a Super Cub & A Bird Dog 2 aircraft that are very comfortable for these games.
Bill Destefani – had Strega & Manga Pane there. Dr. Wm. Casteen &
Kathy Miller were thrilled with their rides in Manga Pane with Tiger at the controls.
Gerald Crown donated the fence that is now enclosing the aircraft outside the Museum, and thanks to the volunteer workers who erected the fence.
November: Good – Bye Shafter Kern County Airport. Hello Minter field Airport District. The people of Shafter and the surrounding area, voted 6 to 1 in favor of an airport district for Shafter Airport.
At the same time they elected 5 new directors for the new district. The directors were:
President: Noel Wilson
Vice Pres: Ray Nelson
Secretary. Tom White
Treasurer. Tom Almberg
Noel, Ray, And Tom are Members of Minter Field Air Museum.
The hand over from the county was completed mid year 1984
Special Thanks to:
Ann Holder—Who Donated a beautiful glass case in the memory of her brother, William A. Turner, a WWII AAC veteran.
Sue Turner —Widow if Wm. A. Turner who donated copies of his military papers and awards.
Stan Dow —Who hustled the body work and paint for the Museum’s staff car & who did the lot cleaning around the Museum with his John Deere tractor and wore out two blades in the process.
Dr. Wm. Casteen — For the commercial carpet that he DONATED
John Martin & Bill Destefani –They DONATED the Super Tug for towing the larger aircraft around.
Gerald Crown –Who DONATED the chain link fence around the yard.
1984
SPECIAL THANKS TO
B & E Insulation and Knights Building Materials for their DONATION of interior wall board and insulation for the Museum building .
Stan Dow, Norm Healy, Russ Robinson, and Ray Nelson For the new look of the Plymouth Staff Car.
April 5 1984; M/S/C motion to accept Permanent Director Bob Lansford’s letter of resignation. Voted to appoint MARK Howell Director at large to fill the Permanent Directors position.
M/S/C motion to accept Bob Lansford’s letter of resignation of the position of Librarian/Historian
The 1984 “Warbirds in Action” was a success about $ 4,000 to put in the building fund.
Ozone Minter was at the show and contacted the Museum to DONATE artifacts .
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Dick Sykes ( of the Condor Squadron) who delivered the American Eagle to the Museum last month. Dick had the eagle mounted at his own expense and the Museum obtained the permit from the U.S. Dept. of Wildlife to have the eagle on display.
All The Museum Members who worked before, during, and after the show. You can be proud “ It is the best I have been to “ was heard many times over.
July 5,1984; Russ Robinson was appointed Librarian/Historian
Mark Wiedenbach was elected Director at Large to replace Mark Howell.
M/S/C motion to accept Ron McLane’s letter of resignation as Director at Large. Ron & Judy moving to Washington, They are missed.
Ron McLane DONATED 4 of his aircraft paintings to the Museum
Gary Stephens DONATED enlarged pictures of the staff car taken at the air show.
Aug. 1984; Tom Tierney ( Tierney Aviation ) retired from the crop dusting business at Minter Field And DONATED two heating units with ducting and security screens from his building. Members had to remove same.
Sam Duran & Bryan Allen DONATED their L-3 aircraft to the Museum .
Sept. 6 1984; Joe Miller elected as new Director at Large to replace Ron McLane.
Barry Wipf presented a wooden prop DONATED by Jack Nikkel.
M/S/C motion to purchase 2 Link Trainers from Denny Art for $475.00
Nov. 1, 1984; M/S/C To purchase 1941 fuel truck in Taft for $500.00 plus write – off
The Museum’s ability to acquire military surplus equipment was discussed.
Mark Howell Notified Museum that a change of jobs may mean resignation as a director .
Dec. 6, 1984; M/S/C to release funds from acquisition account to complete L-3
M/S/C To appoint Russ Robinson as Program & Advertising Promotion Coordinator.
M/S/C To contract with Leo Pike to be A&E curator of donated & display aircraft. Assistant will be David Mish.
M/S/C To appoint Andy Sharp as Designator & Ray Nelson as Designator #2 to acquire government surplus equipment.
1985
1986
1987
Jan. 11, 1987; Election of officers, all incumbents were reelected.
Board of Directors for 1987:
President: Mike Kane
Vice Pres: Marshal Rub
Secretary: Linda Nelson
Treasurer: Gerald Burton
Directors at Large: Stan Dow, Ray Nelson, Andy Sharp, Darrell Walker
Andy Sharp reported that he had been called by the FAA. to testify at a hearing on the T-28 that flew through the 1986 air show in progress.
M/S/C to make payment of $ 350.00 to Sandy Sanderson for Air Show Announcer ($1,450.00 total)
M/S/C to accept value of $290.00 donation for PR work done by Lisa McIntyre.
M/S/C to make payment to Floyd’s of $138.68 for cash register file cabinet.
Mike Patrick asked for vote on type of aircraft for 1987 Buckle The B-25 won.
Feb. 1, 1887; M/S/C to approve the 1987 Air Show budget of $66,150.00.
Directors Mike Kane, Gerald Burton, and Andy Sharp to contact Bill Cance and try to settle the problems arising from TMA’s inability to follow through with the publishing of a book for and about the Museum.
Director Ray Nelson reported that Larry Klassen had an engine and prop for a BT-13 for sale for $7,500.00 for both was decided that this was not a good time to be spending Museum money.
Feb. 15, 1987; M/S/C to appoint Gerald Burton Curator on a volunteer basis, and pay expenses such as fuel, etc. until June 7, 1987.
The need for a business secretary to work with the Curator was discussed and decided that a job description was needed for both positions.
M/S/C to have Mark Wiedenbach clean and restore the Museum shower in exchange for a $500.00 ad in the Air Show program for his company.
Feb. 1987; Feb. 7, 1942 Minter Field was officially named and dedicated. Forty – Five years later, the Minter Field Air Museum was officially opened to the public with a Grand Opening Ceremony. Museum members were on hand to greet the public between 1200Hrs and 1600 Hrs.. Local TV stations attended and recorded the ribbon cutting, which was shown later to the public. Many veterans came to the opening and could be seen and heard talking about their days of serving and defending their country.
March 1, 1987; M/S/C to spend $800.00 for 2 large billboards along Hwy 99 & I-5 freeways for 30 days to advertise the air show.
March 15,1987; Director Gerald Burton gave a report on the progress of the Museum.
Pres. Mike Kane reported that the Museum is qualified with the USAF to receive DONATED aircraft, etc.
M/S/C to approach the Kern County Board of Supervisors for a resolution proclaiming the week preceding the air show Minter Field Air Museum Week.
April 1,1987; Director Burton gave a progress report on the air show and a problem with the cost of insurance, which was almost double the amount budgeted.
M/S/C to authorize Treasurer to either borrow from B of A or to make an early withdrawal of T. D. ( which ever cost less ) for air show insurance. and to limit borrow amount against T. D. acct. to $ 10,000.00.
April 23,& 24; Bill Fant & Gerald Burton were acting like they knew what they were doing, as they were drilling holes through the infield to set the charges for The Battle of Minter Field.
April 25, 1987; This was a day of sadness for the aviation crowd as we all watched Dave Z crash his F-86 prior to the Air Show. Dave had just made a pass over the field when he lost power, declared a MayDay and crashed . We lost a good friend.
After the tragedy of the crash the crew pulled together and managed to put on a very good show. All concerned were to be congratulated for performing well under stress.
May 21, 1987 Linda Nelson resigned from the Board of Directors after many years of service. Thanks Linda. Ruth Sligh stepped in as acting Secretary.
June 4, 1987; M/S/C to get a Corporate Seal.
M/S/C to have Mike & Wanda Kane and Ruth Sligh To operate a booth at the Street Faire. This was to help support the Museum and to create public awareness and to make contact with undiscovered Alumni.
Sept. 1987; Mel Rub stripped the old lawn (weeds ) leveled it installed sprinklers and laid sod DONATED By Zeke Mulder.
Salute to Minter Field Air Racers who won at Reno:
Bill Destefani, Ron Hevle, John Putnam, Eddie Van Fossen, Delbert Williams.
Oct. 1, 1987; Hangers available at Paso Robles, but were post WWII and did not fit Minter Field Air Museum theme. Unable to get permission to put them up at Museum.
Mike Patrick discussed ideas for the 1988 buckle by majority vote the AT – 6 was selected.
1988
Jan. 1988; Election of Board of Directors:
President: Mike Kane
Vice Pres: Gene May
Secretary: Marshall Rub
Treasurer: Sean Hotrod
Directors at Large: Ray Nelson, John Medvigy, Andy Sharp, with 1 position vacant.
Feb. 4, 1988; Gene May reported that the county supervisor visited the Museum on 2/4/88.Ray and Linda Nelson cleaned the Museum prior to the visit. Thanks!
The major obstacle for the air show of 88 was to be insurance. The Minter Field Airport District would not accept the insurance of the previous year. They referenced the crash of the F-86 and the damage it caused.
M/S/C to table the vacancy on the Board of Directors until the May meeting.
M/S/C to appoint Gene May as interim curator, and have Sean Hotrod, & John Medvigy assist on week ends.
M/S/C to allow George Villavazo to use Museum photos taken by him to be used for business outside the Museum. M/S/C to allot $300.00 to restart the L-3 project.
March 3, 1988; Gene May met with Kern County Museum Registrar. They would help to set up inventory system for the Museum. Training for members who wish to work in MFAM is available through K.C.M.
Word processing program purchased to print labels for displays price $5.45.
Andy Sharp gave Air Show report not a scaled down show, just no big name performers.
Mike Kane read a letter of Resignation from Ray Nelson dated Feb. 26,1988. Ray said that he would stay a member but would be too busy to serve on the board.
If it were not for Ray, the Museum would not be were it is today.
M/S/C to accept Ray Nelson’s resignation.
This now leaves 2 positions open on the Board of Directors. Still have a quorum 6 members.
It was suggested that Bill Fant be contacted reference moving the monument as he has the equipment, & skills to do same.
March 17,1988; Gene May stated that the necessary parts & supplies for the L-3 have been obtained to start restoring the L-3.
Mike Kane did some serious bathroom cleaning.
Ruth Sligh did same to office.
Gene May discussed the Flag Pole. The Airport District Was interested in getting the pole returned to Minter Field, restore it and display it either at the gate or the District office. M/S/C to turn the pole over to the Airport District if it would be returned to Minter and restored.
Ruth Sligh said that enlargements of Minter Field photos to sell in the Museum can be done at no charge by Photographic Services – Terri Gamblin, as long as she receive a donation certificate.
Gene May reported that someone wants to purchase the F9F wings, person unknown Pep Duffy is the intermediary. As the F9F is never going to fly again suggested that a set of molds be made to make wings suitable for a static display. Board consensus to keep discussions going.
May 5, 1988; Marshal Rub accepted the position of treasurer as Sean Horton not able to continue due to personal problems.
M/S/C to give Mike Patrick the money to advertise the buckles with a ceiling of $1500.00 or 1/2 of the cost which ever is less..
M/S/C to spend $500.00 in donation for the Police Olympics for an ad for the Museum. This ad would show appreciation for the Kern county Sheriff’s Dept.
Andy Sharp reported that the Air Show made it, and the show made about $9000.00.
Mike Kane thanked every one that worked on the show. Ruth Sligh behind the scenes, Marshal Rub for the concessions, & the clean up. Stan & Norm for all that they did.
Mike Kane also told everyone that a member of the Golden Knights repacked the Museum’s parachutes. THANKS !
June 2, 1988; Mark Howell back on board an as a Permanent Director. Welcome back Mark. Gene May stepped down from the curators position.
Mike Kane showed the baton & the signed poster presented by the Golden Knights.
Discussion on the B T – 13 Gene May said that it was in the Airport District’s maintenance yard for a cosmetic restoration on it to place it as a gate guard. the Museum did not give up ownership it is being leased to the airport.
M/S/C Resolution No. 1: to amend the by-laws to change the number of Directors from 8 (eight) to 9 (nine) and the directors shall be known collectively as the board of directors. Each director shall hold office for a term of 3 years. until his or her removal. The directors shall divide into 3 groups to serve staggered terms so as to provide greater continuity over the management and control of the corporation.
Oct. 1988; Election of 3 board Members Vacancies
The 3 nominations were for Ruth Sleigh, Gerald Burton & John Marcel . As there were 3 nominations and 3 positions they were filled by consensus, Motion made by Marshall Rub and 2nd by John Medvigy, carried.
Oct. 8, 1988; The Bakersfield Community Theater held a WWII USO theme party at the Bakersfield Women’s Club. The Museum furnished the JEEP and The PLYMOUTH STAFF CAR, they were parked at the curb to lend period authenticity to the event. The Museum set up a “ P X “ inside the door which was staffed by John Marcil, John Medvigy and Ruth Sligh. Many of the attendees were photographed with our vehicles for souvenir pictures.
Nov. Dec. 1988; The Minter Field Air Museum hired a business Sec. Candi Downs.
Assistant Curator John Medvigy had to fill in for the Interim Curator John Marcil who was incapacitated by a leg injury.
Bob Unruh was very busy around the Museum grounds mowing our thriving lawns weekly, fertilizing, weeding and generally maintaining the exterior of the Museum.
Stan Dow as usual was busy helping with the grounds maintenance, and just about anything else that needed doing around the Museum.
Dec. 10, 1988; The Museum and The Minter Field Air port District held a Joint Open House at the Museum. It was well attended and proved to be a good day for the Museum as we acquired donations, both monetary and additions to our collection, met new friends, got new members, made contact with potential donors and sponsors and general had a good time. Thanks to the Airport District for including us in the Open House.
1989
Jan. 1989; Election of the Board of Directors:
President: Mike Kane
Vice Pres: Bob Unruh
Secretary: Mark Howell
Treasurer: Marshal Rub
Directors at Large: Gerald Burton, John Medvigy, Andy Sharp, Ruth Sligh.
Air Show planning was in full swing with Andy Sharp as air show coordinator and committee chairman, Bill Destefani was lining up aircraft, Ginnie Cardin and Terry Norton were contacting sponsors, advertisers, and handling P. R. Marshall Rub was in charge of concessions. and dozens of other people handling all types of details.
Feb. 1989; Our latest Major Acquisition A full scale mock-up of a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star Jet used in the 1957 Howard Hughes movie “Jet Pilot” starring
John Wayne. The Culver City Studios DONATED this bit of aviation / movie history, and it was picked up and delivered to Bakersfield through the joint efforts of the Minter Field Air Museum and the Lori Brock Museum, It was on loan to the Lori Brock Museum for display during their “Wings” exhibit in 1989. I hope you had a chance to see it and the rest of the exhibit.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Andy Sharp has put a new Sharps photocopier in the Museum.
Bill Schoneberger DONATED a copy of his book “California wings”
Bob Ogden DONATED a copy of his book “The Aircraft Museums and Collections of North America”
Bob O’Hearn for WWII uniform and a copy of his book “Heroes”
Sergeant Hess for his pictures of Minter Field Air Base.
Culver Studios for the P – 80 mock up.
March 2, 1989; The board approved participation in the April 1, 1989 Street Faire, and the May 20, 1989 Shafter May Festival.
The L-3 project moving slowly due to difficulty of obtaining documentation.
M/S/C to approve the Air Show budget.
April 6, 1989; After discussion it was agreed that the amount which has been reported as the Warbirds Acquisition account would be split into two funds in the future, one for Warbird and one for Hanger acquisition. to reflect donations made for a specific purpose. The total will be reported as the Time Deposit Acct.
M/S/C to authorize an expenditure of a maximum of $300.00 for 4 tires & a battery for the tug.
M/S/C to purchase a new cash register for $450.00.
Andy Sharp reported on the UNOCAL sponsorship, in which UNOCAL would donate fuel and promote ticket sales through discount coupons at Bakersfield area stations.
John Marcil Resigned as Interim Curator due to personal reasons.
John Medvigy was appointed as interim Curator
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Sunny Wagstaff for a new wall clock
Dwight Reimer for a military A.P.U.
May 4, 1989; Andy Sharp reported that the Air Show was held with only a few problems. It appears that the show stayed within budget, all figures not in at this time.
Received letters from Chuck Wentworth & Rusty Scholl praising the show and thanking the Museum for its hospitality.
M/S/C to have a Stearman as the plane on the 1989 buckle and to have if possible Duffy’s plane as the model for the design.
M/S/C to hire Joy Clements as a part time Secretary on contract for $4.25 per hour.
July 6, 1989; Marshall Rub reported that the dispute with the IRS over the filing of the 1987 return had been settled in the Museums favor, with a balance due the IRS of zero.
M/S/C to purchase the post cards that were being sold at air shows and in the Museum on consignment.
M/S/C to increase the curators expense allotment to $100.00 to cover fuel.
M/S/C to adopt revised Resolution # 2
M/S/C to join the Calif. Assoc. of Non – Profit Org.
Mark Howell suggested that the first meeting under the revised by – laws be a social occasion. Gerald Burton suggested a pot – luck.
Aug. 3, 1989; The building committee reported on committees discussion on short and long term goals for the Museum buildings. The committee requested up to $3000.00 for building maintenance projects.
M/S/C to approve up to $3000.00 for building maintenance.
John Medvigy reported concerning incidents that took place in his absence. He said that he gave John del Tour instructions as to what he could and could not do. John Medvigy offered a letter of resignation as curator, director, and member of the Museum.
M/S/C to reject John Medvigy’s resignation as a member of the Museum.
M/S/C to accept John Medvigy’s resignation as curator.
M/S/C to reject John Medvigy’s resignation as a director of the Museum.
M/S/C to declare John Marcil’s seat on the board vacant in accordance with Section 4.11 of the by – laws.
M/S/C a motion to purchase the belt buckle operation from Mike Patrick so the Museum could continue production and sales . The price was $2,700.00 including inventory and mailing list.
M/S/C to disqualify John del tour as a member of the Museum..
Mike Kane presented a letter from the Minter Field Airport District detailing charges for damage to a District owned fire hydrant.
M/S/C a motion to submit a claim to the Museum’s insurance carrier for the total of $1851.45.
Sept. 7, 1989; Mark Howell reported that the cost of the damage to the fire hydrant was not covered by the Museum’s insurance. M/S/C to pay the cost of hydrant damage.
M/S/C to remove Ruth Sligh from the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 4.11.
Mike Kane reported that he had talked to Nyle Monday of Lori Brock Junior Museum about accepting a part time position with the Minter Field Museum.
Sept. 21, 1989; Special Meeting of Board of Directors; The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the appointment of Nyle Monday to the position of curator. Mr. Monday was present, submitted his resume and answered questions from the board. M/S/C to accept the application of Mr. Monday.
Oct. 5, 1989; H. (PEP ) Duffy was elected to fill the position vacated by Ruth Sligh.
Bob Sanford was elected to fill the position vacated by John Marcil.
M/S/C to remove Director John Medvigy from the board in accordance with Section 4.11
M/S/C to set up a separate account for the belt buckle company now that the Museum
has acquired it. Started with $250.00. M/S/C to feature a P-38 on the next buckle.
Nov. 1989: Acquired display cases from CALM hauled same to museum getting ready
for displays.
Brannan & Powell straightened out tax records & filing procedures for the Museum, cleared up Franchise tax board filing procedures.
Dec. 7, 1989: Received airport approval for storage building . Duffy donated screen for
dividing of building and helped get all in order.
Still no air show chairman for 1990.
MSC to adopt collection policy as drafted by curator Nyle Monday.
Shirley Biscar Volunteered to do mailing and calling for the museum .
The 1990's
1990
January, 1990; 1990 Board of Directors:
Pres. Mike Kane, V. Pres. Bob Unruh, Treas. Marshall Rub, Sec. Susan Rongren, Andy Sharp, Gerald Burton, Bob Sanford, Mike Patrick.
1990 was a rocky year for the Museum we came close to losing the air show and just about gave up. There was no one willing to run the show or else they were committed to their jobs.
March 1990: Carol Fant volunteered to put on the show as no one else wanted the job, if someone would help her with the pilots. Pep Duffy said that he would help her in any way that he could. Carol Fant did all publicity, venders designed the program did the paste up for same, made contact with the suppliers for equipment and supplies needed. She and Pep Duffy worked practically around the clock for 2 months .
Chuck Balmer came on board at this time and offered to handle the ticket printing and sales and any other place that he was needed.
The show was a success and actually made money
Many thanks to Carol Fant, Pep Duffy, Chuck Balmer, and the others that managed to find the time to help. The Fants and Duffy both had huge personal expenses in putting the show together, which they DONATED.
Bob Unruh, & Gerald Burton designed a new info booth.
Museum received a new computer Dell 386 started downloading all info to same.
It was a great help in getting records straight.
May 1990: MSC to accept the resignation of Bob Unruh as V. Pres .
May 1990 Eddie Van Fossen volunteered his SNJ for rides the Museum to raffle off as
long as the Museum would have a hold harmless waiver.
Appendix D: Support Center for Project Pegasus XL (1985-1998?)
Appendix E: Larry Bond (1997)
During the summer of 2003, I was asked by the Minter Field Air Museum to conduct a series of oral histories as part of my graduate program in Library Sciences. About the same time, amazon.com began a program called History 2.0, which is known today as ‘look inside the book’.
As a result of searching History 2.0, several new books about Minter Field were discovered. All were non-fiction with one exception: Day of Wrath by Larry Bond. Written several years before the events of September 11th, this book told the story of a rich Saudi businessman, using the cover story of building the CARACO Aviation Training Center at Minter Field, who actually plots to use GPS guided airplanes loaded with explosives to attack major American cities. Mr. Bond’s leading man, Colonel Peter Thorn, working with a FBI liaison discovers the plan and successfully stops it. A best seller in 1997, the book is currently out of print.
As a result of this book, a letter was sent to Mr. Bond in January 2004 asking for more information about his choice of Minter Field and if he used the base in any other novels. Mr. Bond responded by stating that Minter Field was used in this novel only because the base is currently active (as a NATO search/rescue and firefighting facility) but is not tower controlled airspace. Also, Minter Field being located near major urban centers and clusters of operational military bases is a very useful site to launch a major attack.
Mr. Bond did apologize as this was not a glamorous use of Minter Field, and our correspondence ended with an open invitation to visit Minter Field, which the board hopes will happen someday.