02DawnPatrol.lt1.doc
Dawn Patrol Rendezvous]
{National Museum of the U.S. Air Force hosts WW I centennial event]
[Author Dennis Norman]
[Photos as noted, no photo credit line]
[sidebar: included in this text file]
[Callouts: additional video and photos]
[sidebar]
Aircraft Present
Owners Aircraft
Phillip Arbie Nieuport 23
Robert Baslie S.E.5a
Rick Bennett Nieuport 23
Marvin Berk Spad XIII
Edmund Borkowski Fokker Dr.I
Dustin Burt Fokker Dr.I
Glenn Burt Sopwith Pup
Dale Cavin Nieuport 17
Joe Cook Nieuport 12
Mike Damiani Sopwith Pup (full-scale)
Gerry Wild Sopwith Pup (full-scale)
Paul Dougherty Fokker Dr.I (full-scale)
Glen Fike Nieuport 11
Charles and Craig Garrett S.E.5a
Gregory Haynes S.E.5a
Mark Hymer Fokker D.VII
Wes Jones Sopwith Pup
Mark Lewis Fokker D.VII
Tom Martin Nieuport 23
Walter McGrady Fokker Eindecker E.III
Darrell Porter Fokker D.VII
Lindsay Stevenson Soviet Sopwith Scout/Pup
Marvin Story Siemens Schuckert D.I
C.D. Walker Curtiss JN-4 Jenny (full-scale)
David Watts Fokker D.VII
Howard Whyte Nieuport 28
Eric Williams Fokker Eindecker E.III
Dale “Butch” Witlock Fokker D.VII
For the last several years, I have been privileged to be a vendor at the spectacular Dawn Patrol Rendezvous gatherings at the National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The Dawn Patrol events were held in two-year intervals until 2011, when the organizers decided to wait until 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. This year’s Dawn Patrol Rendezvous took place on the weekend of September 27-28, 2014.
An estimated crowd of 15,000 came enjoy this splendid event. Ceremonies officially began each day at 9 a.m. with the national anthem and brief introductory remarks. Then the full-scale and nearly full-scale aircraft took to the air for the first of two, 2-hour flying demonstrations. This would be repeated in the afternoon of both days.
Taking to the sky was a magnificent JN-4 Jenny, a Fokker Dr.I triplane, three Fokker D.VIIs, a Fokker Eindecker E.III, a Nieuport 11, a Nieuport 12, three Nieuport 23s, an S.E.5a, a Siemens-Schuckert D.I, three Sopwith Pups, and a Spad XIII. As the air show progressed, it was accompanied by running commentary from experts. After the full-scale flying came hour-long hour displays of RC model flying (there were six RC sessions during the two-day show).
In addition to the nearly constant flying of replicas and models, the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous also featured full-scale static displays of two Fokker Dr.I triplanes, two Fokker D.VIIs, one Fokker Eindecker E.III, a Nieuport 17 and a Nieuport 28, two S.E.5a aircraft, and a Sopwith Scout/Pup in Soviet markings. Also displayed was a Gnome/Omega rotary engine that was periodically started on a static base by Thomas Kozura, of Comstock Park, Michigan.
Fascinating static displays of WW I replicas under construction gave the crowd insights into the techniques and materials of the period. Also included was an unconventional, all-metal, uncovered, S.E.5a frame being built by Gregory Haynes of Saint Johns, Florida.
Each morning and afternoon, spectators were treated to parades of antique vehicles, accompanied by reenactors in period civilian dress. Sixty-seven military reenactors wowed the crowd with highly detailed uniforms and displays of arms and equipment.
Twenty-one vendors offered everything from food to merchandise. Products included such things as artwork, prints, photos, magazines, books, toys, aircraft models and supplies, aircraft parts and reproduction items, uniform items, T-shirts, and other memorabilia. Plenty of children were present and were encouraged to participate in supervised art and craft workshops. As they did so, their families had the opportunity to buy souvenirs for them.
The busy flying field was close to the museum buildings that offered air-conditioned relief and a chance to peek at the museum’s handsome exhibits. A large collection of paintings and drawings by Henri Farré filled the museum’s art gallery and offered glimpses of French WW I aviators and their experiences.
Under the masterful leadership of Special Events Coordinator David C. Thomas, the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous took more than a year of preparation by museum personnel and outside professionals. During the show, 20 members of the museum staff, assisted by as many volunteers, handled myriad details.
Sponsors included the Air Force Museum Foundation, Alley Cat Designs (T-shirts), Balsa USA, the Green County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Holiday Inn in nearby Fairborn, Sopwith Motor Sports, and Robert and Erma Scott.
Twenty-eight owners participated with their aircraft. An alphabetical listing is presented in the sidebar. Seven WW I aviation historians spoke on a variety of topics during the flying demonstrations.
On both days, the last flight of man-carrying replicas enacted an aerial battle in which the losers were “shot down” and “captured” by uniformed reenactors. At the end of Sunday’s show, the museum invited guests to see the movie Flyboys in its theatre. Those not wishing to see the movie were treated to a final session of RC flying.
September 2016, is the next planned Dawn Patrol Rendezvous gathering. It will again be free and open to the public, and will offer even more insight into mid-WW I aviation history. Hop to see you there![dingbat]
—Dennis Norman
SOURCES:
World War I Dawn Patrol Rendezvous
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/wwi.asp
National Museum of the United States Air Force
(937) 255-3286
www.nationalmuseum.af.mil
