Also included in this column:
• Evelyn Fletcher with a
biplane; does that ring a bell?
• Mike remembers Everett
N. Angus …
• … and Toshi Matsuda
A fellow club member’s tribute to Ray Schwind
February 2006 141
Old-Timers Mike Keville | [email protected]
DEPARTING FROM my usual rambling,
this will be a brief column; just prior to
deadline I was heavily involved in what
you might call “other interests.” I had
planned to include something having to do
with rules and those who seem to thrive on
arguing about them, but I don’t think I will.
With this installment I am submitting the
first in a series of old black-and-white
photos I received from Royce Childress of
Kent, Washington. Most were taken in
September 1938 in and around Los
Angeles, California, and they include
contest scenes at the old Rosecrans and
Western flying site. Several of the 67-yearold
photos are in poor condition, thus
creating something of a challenge for the
MA staff.
In most cases the names of the models
and their pilots were not provided. This
will be noted where applicable with future
photos, in the hopes that someone who was
there can identify them.
The first photo in this series is of
Evelyn Fletcher with a biplane that is
painted to resemble Army pursuit
airplanes of the era. I don’t know if she
was the builder or flier, or if she was
merely posing with the model while the
gas-station attendant pretended to fill the
tank.
The location is unknown, except for
being across the street from an A&P
market—probably somewhere in south
Los Angeles. As you can see, a full-scale
aircraft, possibly a Fokker F.32, is parked
behind them.
Does anyone recall the scene? If so,
please contact me with the details.
Indiana’s Ray Schwind is popular with
his fellow club members, as attested to by
Lowell Newton who sent the following.
Evelyn Fletcher with FF bipe in LA in 1938. Notice large aircraft (Fokker F.32?) in the background. Royce Childress photo.
“Ray is 85 years old and still flies regularly as a member of
the New Fowler RC club located in southern Indiana. His skill as
a builder, unflagging enthusiasm for the hobby, and wisdom
acquired since boyhood are generously and kindly dispensed to
fellow modelers.
“His workshop is a wonderland of neatness and order. People
who have watched him fly are amazed at the aerobatics he can
perform without ailerons.
“I am enclosing a photo of Ray with his 1/4-scale TD Coupe to
his left—the viewer’s right. Powered by a Laser 150 engine and
guided by a three-channel, single-knob Kraft radio, the model was
built after scaling up the plans about 18 years ago.
“Ray is a veteran of the World War II battles of Kasserine
Pass in North Africa and Anzio beachhead in Italy. Last August
he traveled to Ireland to visit a woman he’d met when stationed
there during the war. The two have visited on both sides of the
Atlantic ever since.
“We can always expect to see Ray at the field regardless of
whether it’s hot or cold, despite a 10-mile drive on busy
highways. He has owned a 1939 Ford convertible since shortly
after the war, occasionally driving it to and from the flying site.
“Once, when one of our members flew his model into the top
of a tree, our club president—with spiked boots, ropes, and
pulleys—began climbing toward the model. When about 20 feet
up he looked down, and there was then-81-year-old Ray right
behind him, climbing like a youth. Ray’s spirit, sense of fun, and
remarkable self-reliance provide inspiration and an example for
all of us who know him.”
On the subject of grand, old men, mentors, etc., the late Everett
N. Angus was AMA’s president in 1947-1948, and he was
instrumental in organizing and hosting the huge postwar meets at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Fairmount Park. He is also
responsible for my becoming a “lifer” in this hobby.
As the grand prize for winners in a kids’ “shelf model”
(remember those?) contest in June 1950, Mr. Angus flew me and
another young man in his Stinson Voyager to a Triple A meet in
Millville, New Jersey. What an eye-opener that was! Before that I
had no idea that those things could actually fly. The return trip in
his maroon Stinson was sort of ho hum after my first exposure to
the delightful aroma of burned castor oil.
Imagine trying that today. “Hello. You don’t know me, but I
want to take your son to a distant location in my personal airplane
and I can’t tell you when we’ll be back.” It was a different world
then, and if not for Everett Angus I suspect my own world today
would be far less enjoyable.
(It has since come to my attention that MA Aeromodeling
Editor Bob Hunt attended the same contest as a then-small child.
Twenty-eight years later he was crowned the World Champion in
CL Precision Aerobatics.)
Among the many fine club newsletters I receive is The Flightplug
from the Southern California Ignition Flyers (SCIF). Mike Myers
is the editor and is also the current SAM (Society of Antique
Modelers) president, thus he spends more time at the keyboard
than at the building bench.
A fall issue of The Flightplug mentioned the late Toshi
Matsuda. That came as a shock since Mr. Matsuda was someone I
had always hoped to meet and never did. His models were
impeccable examples of craftsmanship and finish—especially the
Zeeks he flew four and five decades ago.
John Pakiz of Omaha, Nebraska, sent a nice letter and some
photos of his Moth, which is a delightful Old-Time design by Herb
Spatz. I will include one of the photos next time. The Moth is a
real favorite of mine.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/02
Page Numbers: 141,142
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/02
Page Numbers: 141,142
Also included in this column:
• Evelyn Fletcher with a
biplane; does that ring a bell?
• Mike remembers Everett
N. Angus …
• … and Toshi Matsuda
A fellow club member’s tribute to Ray Schwind
February 2006 141
Old-Timers Mike Keville | [email protected]
DEPARTING FROM my usual rambling,
this will be a brief column; just prior to
deadline I was heavily involved in what
you might call “other interests.” I had
planned to include something having to do
with rules and those who seem to thrive on
arguing about them, but I don’t think I will.
With this installment I am submitting the
first in a series of old black-and-white
photos I received from Royce Childress of
Kent, Washington. Most were taken in
September 1938 in and around Los
Angeles, California, and they include
contest scenes at the old Rosecrans and
Western flying site. Several of the 67-yearold
photos are in poor condition, thus
creating something of a challenge for the
MA staff.
In most cases the names of the models
and their pilots were not provided. This
will be noted where applicable with future
photos, in the hopes that someone who was
there can identify them.
The first photo in this series is of
Evelyn Fletcher with a biplane that is
painted to resemble Army pursuit
airplanes of the era. I don’t know if she
was the builder or flier, or if she was
merely posing with the model while the
gas-station attendant pretended to fill the
tank.
The location is unknown, except for
being across the street from an A&P
market—probably somewhere in south
Los Angeles. As you can see, a full-scale
aircraft, possibly a Fokker F.32, is parked
behind them.
Does anyone recall the scene? If so,
please contact me with the details.
Indiana’s Ray Schwind is popular with
his fellow club members, as attested to by
Lowell Newton who sent the following.
Evelyn Fletcher with FF bipe in LA in 1938. Notice large aircraft (Fokker F.32?) in the background. Royce Childress photo.
“Ray is 85 years old and still flies regularly as a member of
the New Fowler RC club located in southern Indiana. His skill as
a builder, unflagging enthusiasm for the hobby, and wisdom
acquired since boyhood are generously and kindly dispensed to
fellow modelers.
“His workshop is a wonderland of neatness and order. People
who have watched him fly are amazed at the aerobatics he can
perform without ailerons.
“I am enclosing a photo of Ray with his 1/4-scale TD Coupe to
his left—the viewer’s right. Powered by a Laser 150 engine and
guided by a three-channel, single-knob Kraft radio, the model was
built after scaling up the plans about 18 years ago.
“Ray is a veteran of the World War II battles of Kasserine
Pass in North Africa and Anzio beachhead in Italy. Last August
he traveled to Ireland to visit a woman he’d met when stationed
there during the war. The two have visited on both sides of the
Atlantic ever since.
“We can always expect to see Ray at the field regardless of
whether it’s hot or cold, despite a 10-mile drive on busy
highways. He has owned a 1939 Ford convertible since shortly
after the war, occasionally driving it to and from the flying site.
“Once, when one of our members flew his model into the top
of a tree, our club president—with spiked boots, ropes, and
pulleys—began climbing toward the model. When about 20 feet
up he looked down, and there was then-81-year-old Ray right
behind him, climbing like a youth. Ray’s spirit, sense of fun, and
remarkable self-reliance provide inspiration and an example for
all of us who know him.”
On the subject of grand, old men, mentors, etc., the late Everett
N. Angus was AMA’s president in 1947-1948, and he was
instrumental in organizing and hosting the huge postwar meets at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Fairmount Park. He is also
responsible for my becoming a “lifer” in this hobby.
As the grand prize for winners in a kids’ “shelf model”
(remember those?) contest in June 1950, Mr. Angus flew me and
another young man in his Stinson Voyager to a Triple A meet in
Millville, New Jersey. What an eye-opener that was! Before that I
had no idea that those things could actually fly. The return trip in
his maroon Stinson was sort of ho hum after my first exposure to
the delightful aroma of burned castor oil.
Imagine trying that today. “Hello. You don’t know me, but I
want to take your son to a distant location in my personal airplane
and I can’t tell you when we’ll be back.” It was a different world
then, and if not for Everett Angus I suspect my own world today
would be far less enjoyable.
(It has since come to my attention that MA Aeromodeling
Editor Bob Hunt attended the same contest as a then-small child.
Twenty-eight years later he was crowned the World Champion in
CL Precision Aerobatics.)
Among the many fine club newsletters I receive is The Flightplug
from the Southern California Ignition Flyers (SCIF). Mike Myers
is the editor and is also the current SAM (Society of Antique
Modelers) president, thus he spends more time at the keyboard
than at the building bench.
A fall issue of The Flightplug mentioned the late Toshi
Matsuda. That came as a shock since Mr. Matsuda was someone I
had always hoped to meet and never did. His models were
impeccable examples of craftsmanship and finish—especially the
Zeeks he flew four and five decades ago.
John Pakiz of Omaha, Nebraska, sent a nice letter and some
photos of his Moth, which is a delightful Old-Time design by Herb
Spatz. I will include one of the photos next time. The Moth is a
real favorite of mine.