Flights of Our Fathers Fly-in
Welcome to the 2013 Fall / Winter issue of The BFTS Link. The Flights of Our
Fathers Fly-In and Memorial event was held on September 21 and 22. More than
2,500 visitors enjoyed the day with us, and Mother Nature graced us with moderate
temperatures and light cloud cover. There were vintage planes, a car show, special
guest speakers, a barbeque cook-off and Kids Zone, and much more. It was a very
successful day altogether! Photo credits go to (in no particular order) Dr. Carol
Jessup, Mair Cawston, Don Johnson, Derrick Birdsall, Andy Nixon, David
Stubbington and Gary E. Lindsley of the Terrell Tribune. Thanks go out to all
who posted photos on our Facebook page!
The Trinity Valley Young Marines had the honor of raising the flags of the United
States, Great Britain and Canada while Reveille was played.
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Vintage Aircraft
Among the vintage aircraft that graced the skies were an AT-6, a Russian Hind
helicopter, the Texas V-Tails Bonanzas and the last military PQ13 Ercoupe in existence.
More Vintage Planes
Vintage R4D flown by Commemorative Air Force, Lancaster TX
Historic C-47 flown by Scott Glover of CAF
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Car Show & Military Vehicles
Gasoline Alley hosted the car and motorcycle show
Vintage military vehicles were provided by David DeWeese and John and Jane Snapp
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AT-6 Harvard “Miss Pauline” Project
Carolyn Long and Mrs. Pauline Bond Baxter with her namesake,
the Miss Pauline AT-6. The ongoing restoration project
continues with the support of many, including local businesses,
Museum members and the community of Terrell at large.
Pancake Breakfast
Ray Hicks and the
Civil Air Patrol
Black
Sheep
Squadron,
Texas
Wing, cooked a
pancake breakfast
that was a great
way to start the
day.
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Visitors
Visitors of all ages enjoyed the various displays, vendors and activities.
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Vendors, Participants & Volunteers
Texas Heatwave radio controlled planes, the USO, Terrell
Animal Adoption Center and a Corsair model
Volunteers drove golf carts, answered questions and helped out in the gift shop
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Dedication of the Major Long Historical Marker
The
Kaufman
County
Historical
Commission hosted the dedication of the
Major William F. Long historical marker
during the Fly-In. Major Long operated four
flying schools during WWII, including No 1
BFTS, which ultimately trained one-tenth of
US Army aviators, and one-third of RAF
cadets in the US. Here, Terrell Mayor Hal
Richards and State Senator Bob Deuell
unveil the marker, which is located in front
of the Terrell Municipal Airport terminal.
Sunday Memorial
On Sunday we honored the cadets and
instructors killed while training at the
No. 1 BFTS. Special guests included
former cadet Eric Gill and family, and
former Link Trainer Mrs. Pauline Bond
Baxter and son, as well as State
Representative Lance Gooden and a
host of others. A tribute fly over was
performed by Mike Hardin and Mark
Hardin of Terrell Aviation.
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Remembrance Day Service and Tea
On Sunday, November 10, we gathered at the BFTS
section of Oakland Cemetery, Terrell TX to remember
the RAF cadets who died while in training, in addition
to all fallen service men and women. Museum President
Don Thurman served as MC; Rev. Diana Freeman of
the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and Rev.
Angus Gascoigne of First Presbyterian Church officiated
with scripture readings and prayers. RAF Sqn Ldr
O’Donnell placed the poppy wreath and read the poem
High Flight, by John Gillespie Magee, Jr, and USAF
Crew Chief (Ret) George “Tank” Sherman lowered the
flag. The group met at the No 1 BFTS Museum after
the service for tea and fellowship.
Photos provided by Mair Cawston
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ODE OF REMEMBRANCE
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children
England mourns for her dead across the sea,
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again,
They sit no more at familiar tables of home,
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime,
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires and hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the night.
As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
"LEST WE FORGET"
Chairman’s Corner
The sixth annual edition of the Flights of Our Fathers Fly-in was our most
successful yet. More than 2,500 visitors attended the event this year and I
know all of them went home happy We extend our thanks to Terrell
Aviation, the City of Terrell, the Terrell Chamber of Commerce, the
Terrell Independent School District, the Trinity Valley Young Marines,
the Civil Air Patrol and a host of individual volunteers who contributed
their time and talents to make the event so wonderful. Please visit our
website at www.bftsmuseum.org or our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/no1bfts for more great pictures of the Flights of Our
Fathers Fly In.
We regret to tell you of the tragic loss of our long-time supporter and good
friend, Mark Hardin. Mark and his wife Melissa have owned Terrell
Aviation, the FBO at Terrell Municipal Airport, for over 20 years. Mark
died in an airplane crash on October 18 during a trip from Tallequah,
Oklahoma, to Terrell. Our thoughts and prayers are with Melissa and
their 2 children. An overflow crowd attended the funeral service in
Kaufman on October 29.
Sponsors
Terrell
Aviation
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In Remembrance
Stephen Mark Hardin, b Nov 11, 1958 d Oct 18, 2013
Obituary courtesy of Parker-Ashworth Funeral Home, Kaufman TX
Don Johnson Photo: Mark's Ercoupe cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremonies of the Major
Long Terminal in 2011.
Stephen Mark Hardin was born in Marshall, Texas on November 11, 1958 to Jeanette
Collins and Wylie Audrain Hardin. Mark passed away in Oklahoma on October 18, 2013.
He was raised in Terrell, Texas and graduated from Terrell High School in 1977. Mark
joined the U. S. Air Force serving in Korea and was discharged in 1984. He came back to
Terrell after the service where he worked for Texaco. Mark took his first airplane flight in
Terrell in June of 1975 and received his pilot’s license in 1977 when he was seventeen.
Mark was with Terrell Aviation in 1984 and became the FBO owner and operator at the
Terrell Municipal Airport in 1994. Mark had over 22,000 hours of flight time and was a
Fiber Optic and Pipeline Patrol Pilot and a Corporate Pilot. He was a member of the
Quiet Birdman, lifetime member of the CAF, Board Chairman and Region II Director of
the Ercoupe Owners Club and a life member of the Masonic Lodge. Mark married Melissa
Cunningham on November 16, 1985 in Terrell. He is survived by his wife: Melissa of
Terrell, son: Mike Hardin of Terrell, daughter: Christine Howard of Forney, mother-inlaw: Faye Cunningham, parents: Jeanette and Wylie Hardin of Leslie, Arkansas, brother:
Tim Hardin of Russellville, Arkansas, sister: Tina Hardin of Brooklyn, New York and
many other relatives and friends.
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In Remembrance
Marvin Krieger, b March 21, 1914, d November 2, 2013 at the age of 99.
Marvin taught Meteorology at 1 BFTS. Thanks to his son for this
obituary.
Born in Punxsutawnee, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1914, Marvin
attended Case Western Reserve University, and then moved to California
in 1933.
Settling in Los Angeles, he first worked as an animator, drawing such classic cartoon
characters as Felix the Cat, Heckle and Jeckle and Woody Woodpecker. After leaving the
cartoon studios, Marvin worked as a photographer for Tom Kelly Studios, photographing
celebrities that included Humphrey Bogart and Lana Turner. During his early years in Los
Angeles, Marvin learned to fly, and then earned his instructor’s rating. In the late 30’s he
became a flight instructor, and taught at Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendale.
During WWII, Marvin served in the Army Air Corps as an instructor. He taught fledgling
pilots at Randolph Field and Kelly Field in San Antonio. He later taught WASP and Royal
Air Force student pilots at Sweetwater, Texas and at the British Flying Training School in
Terrell.
Moving to Dallas in 1945, he began a career in advertising and commercial art. He initially
worked for Rogers and Smith, and later co-founded the Portfolio Group. In 1963, he
opened his own advertising agency, Marvin A. Krieger Advertising Design, from which he
retired in 1997. During his fifty-two years in advertising, his clients included Luscombe
Aircraft and Bell Helicopter.
Drawing on his love for aviation, he was a founding member of the Texas Soaring
Association, and the Texas Aviation Historical Society. He was a benefactor and a
volunteer curator with the History of Aviation Collection at the University of Texas at
Dallas. He also designed the logo of the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field, and
served the Museum as a docent and tour guide. During his lifetime, he built numerous
aircraft models, which won awards and national recognition. One of his models is in the
collection of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Marvin was also an
avid photographer, and his photographs have received several awards, including first place
at the 1968 World’s Fair.
Marvin was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, a loyal friend and a
consummate model builder and aviation historian. He is survived by his sons, Jim Krieger
and Tom Krieger of Dallas, his grandchildren, Jason, Alice, Brendan, Susanna and Natalie,
and his nephews Steven Krieger, MD of York, Pennsylvania, and Robert Krieger of
Hackensack, New Jersey. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Elnore
Krieger, his brother, Arthur Krieger, his wife of 53 years, Virginia Jay Tabor Krieger, and
his first son, William Stanley Krieger.
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In Remembrance
Frank Charles Steele: 25th May 1924 to 2nd October 2013 - Course 21, 1 BFTS
Frank was born on 25th May 1924 in Balham, London, the son of Frank
and Violet Steele. A brother, Eric, was born in 1931.
Frank joined the Elliott Central School in 1936 and his talent for sport was quickly apparent. He
was selected for the London Schools Athletic Team, achieving two national records. Later he
played county-level cricket for London. Later still, he met Rita, his future wife, whilst playing at
Lord’s. Much later still, in his 70’s, Frank enjoyed the thrill of running along Saunton Sands, bare
feet splashing in the sea.
But Frank’s story is getting ahead of itself. Back to 1939. There was much talk of war, gas masks
were issued and, like many of his fellow schoolboys, Frank joined the Air Defence Cadet Corps,
gaining his first taste of flying at Shoreham Aerodrome.
In September 1939, along with his brother Eric, he was sent to stay with grandparents in Datchet.
Although his education was disrupted, Frank achieved the highest school results in two
consecutive years. But with no possibility of returning to the Elliott School, at age 16, he became
a bookkeeper for a company on war production.
Still 16, Frank joined the Local Defence Volunteers and trained in the grounds of Eton College,
instructed in the use of firearms by young Etonians!
He enlisted in the RAF and in 1944 was sent across the Atlantic in the Queen Mary, joining the
No 1 British Flying Training School in Terrell, Texas. Here he gained his pilots wings. Frank’s
diary for 1944 is peppered with the word “wizard” – a word applied to spins, stalls, barrel rolls and
night flying – and also to Texan breakfasts, ice skating in New York and seeing the Rockettes
dancing at the Radio City music hall! Frank was assigned to 617 Squadron which had been reformed for action in the Far East but Victory in Japan followed almost immediately.
In the 1990’s, Frank returned to Terrell for a 50 year reunion and was made an Honory Texan by
the Governor.
Frank qualified as an accountant in 1952 and worked for Everett & Son for more than 40 years,
retiring in 1989 with a celebration on HMS Belfast. The loyalty and thoroughness he
demonstrated at work were hallmarks of his character.
Like Rita, Frank was public-spirited. He donated his accountancy skills to the scouts in
Tonbridge, the scouts in Lawford where he was instrumental in securing a Millenium award to
build a scout hall, and, most recently, the local Aircrew Association. Frank was also a member of
Tonbridge Town Sailing Club, becoming a Senior Instructor and founding a weekend sailing
school. Generations of young sailors experienced his enthusiastic and patient teaching.
However, the most important event in Frank’s life was 17th September 1955 when he married
Rita. They were quiet, private and devoted to each other. Frank has always been described as a
“gentleman” but he was first and foremost a gentleman to Rita. Nothing was too much trouble
and he provided happiness and security throughout her life. In retirement, they moved to
Manningtree and, 15 years ago, to Braunton, Devon. For most of this time they went exploring,
walking through Devon’s beautiful countryside.
Rita passed away in April this year and was a loss that Frank simply couldn’t express in words.
But he soldiered on, determined and independent. He leaves a son Philip and fond memories
amongst his family and friends.
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No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum Inc.
Box 6 Silent Wings Blvd
Terrell, TX 75160
Donation Amount
$50.00
$35.00
$25.00
NO.1 BRITISH FLYING TRAINING
SCHOOL MUSEUM
GREETINGS FROM TERRELL, TX!
Visit us at www.bftsmuseum.org
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Membership Renewal
Fall / Winter 2013