68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

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gentrysgarage
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by gentrysgarage » Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:33 pm

Funny you mention El Monte today, I was there in the morning getting pricing on replacement frame pieces for my G-7123
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:43 pm

Great minds------------- :wink:
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:54 am

Young WWII Veterans with their WWII adventures still fresh in their minds, all gone now, the ranks older WWII Vets are thinning out now, kind of sad to read obituaries of life long home town acquaintances to realize only too late to ask that they were combat veterans in Army, Navy, Air Force in WWII.
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Oct 13, 2017 3:25 am

Anyone out there who can help me find the "Story of a Jet Pilot" film I mentioned earlier in this topic?
I just realized that tomorrow, October 14th is the 70th anniversary of Chuck Yeager braking the Sound Barrier and the USAF is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Dec 25, 2017 8:55 am

Got a Northeaster blizzard going on today.
Dow Field was located on US Rt 2, one of the main drags on the way thru or out of Maine. There were lots of GI hitchhikers that stood just out the Main Gate, but none were tougher than the Canadian GI's dressed in a kilt and hitch hiking in blizzard like snow and temperatures such as today. It was also during this era that I spotted one of the few remaining Air Sea Rescue SB17's with Red /Yellow hi. visibility trim headed North and passing over Dow.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:01 pm

There are some things I got a late start on and regret not doing it earlier. Dow during it's 14th Fighter Group years (46-49) was home to countless famous WWII pilots and aces. I managed to contact a number of them starting in the 90's and had some precious time with them on the telephone. It was exciting to hear their stories first hand. one very special contact was Colonel Nathan Rosengarten. Col. Rosengarten was a WWII Flight Test Engineer, one of his projects was the P-80 Shooting Star. I spent many captivating hours talking new WWII aircraft with his Wife Erma prompting him on. He helped publish a book "Test Flying at Old Wright Field" and mailed me unwritten manuscripts that he hoped would be added to that book. He also was assigned to "Project Blue Book" which dealt with UFO's
Rosie passed away recently at age 100+ and was sharp as a tack.
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Mar 08, 2018 2:32 pm

Still looking for the film "Story of a Jet Pilot" taken by WPIX back in 1948 showing the 14th FG pilots out West qualifying in the P-84B, and back at DOW in their new Thunderjets. One of the featured 14th FG Pilots was Fred Gleason. During one of my conversations with Col. Lewis Chick, he remarked that some pilots wore "civvies" under the flight suits, and that Fred Gleason was a loose cannon who flew a mission over Korea in his pajamas. Am collecting the weekly 1948-1949 Dow Field Newspaper "DOW THUNDERJET" if any G-503ers know of any, let me know.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Mar 28, 2018 4:09 pm

Still looking for the film "The Story of a Jet Pilot" done by station WPIX showing 14th Fighter Group Pilots from Dow Field transitioning into the new P/F-84B Jet Fighters. It was done during 1947/1948 time period.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:16 pm

Still looking for the film "Story of a JET Pilot".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:46 am

Its' +9F and windy this THANKSGIVING DAY 2018. Am headed out to Hangar 1 at Dow Field to enjoy a coffee and a Bagel. No Jeep or CCKW today, they are asleep til around March. Would like to fire up the CCKW and take it out to the base, it does have the Harrison Heater but I doubt that even my SWB Closed Cab will be warm enough.
Those who drove these WWII trucks in the winter were a different breed of driver and were conditioned to the idiosyncracies of the period vehicles and bundeled up.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 66 CCKW YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Dec 16, 2018 11:00 am

Ben Dover wrote:
Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:42 pm
There was a 1947 or 1948 two part documentary film made of the 14th Fighter Group pilots transitioning to the new Jets taken at I believe Williams Field in Texas, and at Dow with their new Thunderjets. It was called "The Story of a Jet Pilot", filmed by WABC TV of New York. It featured Fred Gleason, as "he had the features of a typical jet pilot"
I tried to find a copy of this film back in 92 and called a few of the former pilots to see if they knew of a copy. One was Lt. Col Lew Chick, former CO. When I mentioned Fred Gleason, Col Chick remarked that "Fred Gleason was crazy, he flew an F-84 fighter mission in Korea dressed in his pajamas".
I have many fond memories of P-47's, P-84's, and a few souvenirs from the 14th Fighter Group era at Dow, My MB, M-1 Bomblift, Licence Topper, and some clothing.
Correction, Williams Field (Williams Air Force Base) is in Arizona.
Made a trip to hangar #1 to enjoy a Tim Hortens Bagle and Coffee. Somehow I was reminded of my search for the public relations movie "The Story of a Jet Pilot" I mentioned previously in this article.
Anyone have any ideas? I previously contacted Maxwell Air Force Base historical office-nothing.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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JENNY MARQUIS-CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE, DOW FIELD

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:42 pm

Construction for DOW FIELD began in late 1940 and it was known then as Bangor Army Airfield. One of the first civilian employees at the base was Jenny Marquis, a feisty little lady. Jenny worked in equipment maintenance from 1941 untill Dow Air Force Base was finally closed in 1968, by then she was a supervisor. Jenny was known for her ability to cut thru red tape and get the job done, when Dow became a SAC Base it was subject to frequent ORI's (Operational Readiness Inspection) which uusully came by surprise. The inspectors would fly in from some headquarters and try to create "gotchas" such as unauthorized equipment, parts hoarding, etc. They never could discover her tricks of the trade as she stashed her goodies in the ladies room and would excuse herself to the ladies room the instant any of the inspectors looked that way and she made sure that the team understood that it was for ladies only. Last time I saw her, was late 1968,she was acting Property Disposal Manager incharge of selling off the last of the excess property. She told me "I opend this place and I always told them that someday I would kick the doors shut".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:19 pm

Still looking for a copy of the film "The Story of a Jet Pilot".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:14 am

Saw my first helicopter an H-5 during this period and an occasional H-19 at DOW. The Army Guard L-19 would occasionaly stop by. There was little general aviation activity as DOW was an active military base. Northeast Airlines did have a passenger terminal over by Hangar 5, they flew DC-3's at the time. Sounds of B-36 Aircraft were a daily event , B-25 and B-26 Aircraft were also a daily sighting. What is neat is that the loaded C-17 Globmaster II Transports. take off in less distance than the C-47/DC-3.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:49 pm

DOW Field still comes alive, the CO of the 506th Strategic Fighter wing at Dow from 1952-1955 was LTC William E. Bertram. The 506th was equipped with the F-84G. Col Bertram was CO of an F-84 Unit in Korea and credited with two MIG 15 kills. I received the gun camera photos of those kills yeaterday, there is nothing more exciting than receiving items from those exciting Korean War days that had ties to those famous names who made aviation history, 1953 came alive again for a few moments. I still have a set of wheel chocks from the 462nd Fighter Squadron of the 506th, I made some copies to use with my MB, M-38A1 and CCKW to use at displays.There was an Airman 1st named Miller that was an F-84 Crewchief in Korea. His F-84 was operational for 90 days. Airman Miller was honored for his efford by Col Bertram with a T-33 flight. Airman Miller had a new 1953 Mercury and had somesort of chromate treatment don to its' engine. I remember A1C Miller telling me that his family owned a Coca Cola Plant in Connecticut.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


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