Check out WWII-era warbirds at DuPage Veterans Foundation fundraiser
The thunder of a radial engine, the smell of oil mixed with high-octane aviation fuel and the speed and maneuverability of aircraft built to win dogfights are all thrills known to the owners of retired military aircraft.
There’s a passion shared among these pilots to preserve history and pass along their enthusiasm to new generations. A fundraiser sponsored by the DuPage Veterans Foundation on Saturday, May 5, at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago will provide an opportunity for the public to support veterans of The Greatest Generation and experience aviation history at its best. Event proceeds benefit Honor Flight Chicago, which takes World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day to visit their memorial.
The general consensus among the aircraft owners donating their time and aircraft to the event is that they all graduated to military aircraft after aerobatic flight training. Here are the stories of several of the aircraft owners participating in the fundraiser and the backgrounds of their historic aircraft:
John O’Connor
John O’Connor’s 1945 Grumman F8F Bearcat was used for bombing practice runs by the Navy in California near the end of World War II. After the war, the aircraft was used for wind testing and eventually landed as a static display in a museum in Louisiana.
Barely airworthy, the aircraft was ferried out of the region in advance of Hurricane Katrina. Although not an easy task, the aircraft has been fully restored and painted in the Blue Angels paint scheme. According to O’Connor, there are fewer than 10 Bearcats currently flying.
“Parts are difficult to find and must be re-engineered,” O’Connor, of Downers Grove, said.
For example, the four-bladed propeller is hollow and was engineered to reduce weight and act as a wing. It is particularly difficult to replace.
O’Connor’s pursuit of aviation spans 37 years and includes a wide range of experience in WWII-era and civilian aircraft, including Stearman, Super Decathlon, T-28 trainer, P-51 Mustang and F4U Corsair. He also flew T-34 trainers as part of the Naperville-based Lima Lima flight team.
“There is camaraderie among warbird owners,” O’Connor said. “It’s a great group of people.”
Mike Gillian
Mike Gillian’s 1944 FM-2 Wildcat was manufactured by General Motors. The aircraft served at the end of World War II as a trainer on the West Coast, and also at Naval Air Station Glenview in the Northwest suburbs.
A 1987 restoration sent the aircraft to Wyoming and England. It returned to the United States in 2003; Gillian purchased it in 2007.
Like many aviators, Gillian’s desire to learn how to fly had been a lifelong pursuit. He began flying out of Midway Airport in a Cessna 172 in 1987. His training eventually included aerobatic instruction in a Super Decathlon and a Pitts S2-B. Military aircraft are designed to be maneuverable.
“The Wildcat excels at aerobatics, but it’s tricky to take off and land,” Gillian, of Downers Grove, said.
With a narrow landing gear built to accommodate grass runways and carrier landings, the Wildcat was well-known for its difficult landings.
Charles ‘Chic’ Ramsden
A veteran of both the Army and Navy (Korean War), Charles “Chic” Ramsden of Plano owns a Stinson L-5 that saw active duty in the skies over Europe during World War II.
Built in 1942, it was the 398th L-5 manufactured for the military and was used by the Army Air Corps as a reconnaissance aircraft. Ramsden’s aviation experience spans 57 years. His first ride in an airplane was with his family’s insurance agent after the gentleman landed on the local golf course down the street from his boyhood home.
“After that, I was hooked,” Ramsden said.
He learned to fly at Sandwich Airport, where he soloed in a Piper Cub. Among the variety of aircraft he has flown, he later learned aerobatic skills in a WWII-era T-6 Texan trainer and co-owned a B-25 bomber with a group of pilots.
Dave and Richard Artwohl
Dave Artwohl of Sugar Grove co-owns a Yakovlev Yak-52 with his brother, Richard Artwohl, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam and Gulf wars. The aircraft was designed by the Soviets for training both military and civilian sport pilots. This particular aircraft was built in Romania in 1993, where it sat in a crate until it was shipped to the United States in 1997.
Popular with aerobatic pilots, the airplane features a radial engine and inverted fuel and oil systems but is easy to fly and land.
Sparked by a visit to the popular EAA’s Airventure in Oshkosh, Wis., seven years ago, Dave wanted to learn how to fly. A ride in a WWII-era T-6 trainer at Aurora Airport was the deciding factor.
He began taking flying lessons with an instructor who was also qualified to fly jets, which subsequently led to Dave’s purchase of a Czechoslovakian L-39 Albatros. Both aircraft are available to rent with an instructor through Gauntlet Warbirds at Aurora Airport.
Pat Brady
Pat Brady’s PT-17 Stearman was manufactured by Boeing in 1943 and was used during World War II as a military trainer. At a time when many aircraft were not equipped with radios, this Stearman was used to pull a flag indicating to pilots in surrounding aircraft that it was time to return to the airfield.
In later years, it was used as a crop duster and as part of a local wingwalking act.
Brady’s interest in aviation is a family affair. His father was an Air Force pilot in the 1950s, and his brother, Kevin, is also a pilot.
“I just always wanted to fly a Stearman,” Brady, of St. Charles, said. “It’s pure stick-and-rudder flying with minimal instruments.”
The aircraft is currently owned by Pat Brady, as well as Kevin Brady of Naperville and Art Turner of Morris.
One of the fundraiser’s silent auction items is a ride in the Stearman. Proceeds from that, as well as other items, are among the many fundraising incentives aimed at sending World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., through Honor Flight Chicago.
“Honor Flight Chicago is a wonderful program, and it’s an honor to participate in the fundraiser,” Pat Brady said.
See for yourself
These and other historic aircraft will be on display along with military and civilian period vehicles at the DuPage Veterans Foundation’s first fundraiser to support Honor Flight Chicago from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at the DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive, West Chicago.
After gates open at 11 a.m., activities include lunch with the veterans, music by Legacy Girls and a silent auction. Re-enactors will be on hand from the 10th Mountain Division and from the Rockford Peaches as part of the World War II Girls Baseball Living History League. Steve Sanders of WGN-TV will emcee the event.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door, $20 for children 11 and younger. World War II veterans and active duty military personnel are admitted free. Proceeds benefit Honor Flight Chicago. For details or tickets, visit dupageveteransfoundation.org or call (630) 614-4533.
If you go
What: DuPage Veterans Foundation fundraiser for Honor Flight Chicago
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5
Where: DuPage Airport, 2700 International Drive, West Chicago
How much: $30 in advance, $40 at the door, $20 for children 11 and younger, free for World War II veterans and active duty military personnel
Info: (630) 614-4533 or dupageveteransfoundation.org