Michigan Wing was born in a manger

Started by Smithsonia, February 20, 2011, 04:23:40 AM

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Smithsonia

... Well a barn actually. From the collection of Mark Hess and TeamCap, the first Wing meeting in (we think) Utica Michigan. This was spring of '42. The planes are Taylorcraft L-2s. There are a bunch of people there. More than one would expect for early '42. So I am thinking this is a tie-in College CAP Program OR a Civilian Pilot Training Program meeting also.
http://forum.teamcap.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2625
http://forum.teamcap.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2657

These are very rare photos.
With regards;
ED OBRIEN

NIN

That *might* be the old Utica Proving Grounds (once owned by Packard, now its a housing development).

They had a modicum of an airfield there at one point, in the 1940s I have no idea how active or developed it was.

Also, MI Wing had its own airfield during WWII at approximately 18 Mile & Mound Road (which is at the edge of Sterling Heights & Utica, depending on where it was) that had previously belonged to, I think, the Polish Flying Club out of Hamtramck, MI.  It was called "Wings Field" and thats where the Parachute Squadron used to jump.  I am unaware of the actual timing of the transfer of the airfield to CAP, but it could very well have been this field that is pictured.



Darin Ninness, Col, CAP
Wing Dude, National Bubba
I like to have Difficult Adult Conversations™
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Slim

Actually, the Packard Proving Ground is still partially there, or at least a good portion of it is.  The lodge and engineering buildings were Albert Kahn designs, a small portion of the test track and timing tower, as well as what is referred to as the Lindbergh hangar (based on a visit he made to the site in the '20s), and a water tower.  The site is on the national register of historic places.

There was an airfield within the confines of the test track, a 5000x2000 foot turf runway with a hangar.

If I had to take a guess, these pictures were probably taken at the airfield Nin mentioned, and/or possibly at Selfridge Field, which was not too far from where the airfield was located.


Slim

SarDragon

Awesome site. I Looked up a bunch in NJ that I had only heard of from other folks.

Here's one from the Northwestern NJ page:



A circa 1950-54 photo of hand-propping a Civil Air Patrol Cub at Budd Lake.
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
55 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

Al Sayre

Look at the expression on the guy's face in the back:

Holy smokes! They really do have to wind the rubber band!
Lt Col Al Sayre
MS Wing Staff Dude
Admiral, Great Navy of the State of Nebraska
GRW #2787