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COWL FLAPS
Volume XI
Issue 5
May, 2017 From the editors of Cowl Flaps, the news
Magazine for the Gulf Coast Wing - CAF
WING MEETING SATURDAY May 6, 2017 11:30 AM
Saturday, May 6, is our next wing meeting. The Staff meetings will start at
9:00 AM. Training class for Flight Engineers and Maintenance Colonels will
start at 9:30 AM. All GCW members are invited and encouraged to attend
these classes. The General Membership meeting will start approximately
11:30 AM. All members are encouraged to come out and contribute time, ex-
pertise and camaraderie to the occasion. After the general meeting, we will
have the standard potluck lunch. Please bring something with you: drinks, an
entrée, fruit or vegetable tray, desserts, or any thing you want. While mone-
tary contributions to the lunch are appreciated, we need more people to bring
food, otherwise we will not have enough food for everyone.
Coming Soon…..
May 6: Monthly Wing Meeting
May 11-14: Memphis Millington Air Show
May 15-18: Little Rock Arkansas - Barnstorm
May 19-21: Sherman Texas - Barnstorm
May 26-29: Austin, Texas - Barnstorm
June 2-4: Victoria, Texas - Barnstorm
Photo by Kevin Hong
Wing Leader Report 2
Executive Officer’s
Report
3
Maintenance Of-
ficer’s Report
3
Operations Officer’s
Report
4
FE Training 4
Touring Schedule 5
PX Officer’s Report 6
Fly Day - Conroe 7-9
Gulf Coast Tour 10-
14
PX & Business 15
Wing Staff 16
Inside this issue:
COWL FLAPS PAGE ?? COWL FLAPS PAGE 2
Fellow Colonels, Fellow Team Members,
April was a GREAT month for the Gulf Coast
Wing. On April 8th, we experienced our first
Tours & Ride Day at General Aviation for 2017
and what a GREAT day it was. We ended up
doing FIVE flights with our GCW guests and
fans. Among them was the Mayor of Conroe,
the Honorable Toby Powell. He is a BIG fan of
ours and, like all our guests that fly with the “Queen of the Skies”, had a permanent smile on his
face when he returned from his flight. The local radio station broadcasted from the flight line.
Tony Gullo came out with a couple of his antique cars and had them on display with “Texas
Raiders” during our tours. The 1941 Lincoln Convertible and the 1941 Ford Convertible looked
really great posing with “TR”.
As this article is being written, our crews are in the final stages of a 10 day tour that started
Thursday, April 20th, flying to Tyndall AFB near Panama City, FL for an airshow. The tour con-
tinued to Mobile, AL for a barnstorming stop, followed by flying to Chennault Airport in Lake
Charles for their air show. All indications tell me that this will be a successful tour. I hope you all
have been following “TR” on Facebook. There are some interesting pictures – some you will
probably see later in this issue. A BIG thanks goes out to all who assisted with the tour. You
are the key ingredient to our success!
I look forward to seeing everyone next Saturday, May 6th at our monthly meeting. This is a spe-
cial meeting that will focus on a topic that is very near and dear to my heart and should be yours
a s well – SAFETY. For those that do not know, my career field after retiring from the Marine
Corps in 1993 has been safety. Without stealing any thunder from our Safety Officer, Joe Dun-
can, safety is a culture and a commitment that we all should embrace in every part of our lives,
including working in and around aircraft, traveling to and from our origins and destinations and in
everything we do. Yes – it includes all aspects of T.R.A.C. as well. Each one of the Wing Staff
will be presenting a part of safety in our meeting. Being safe requires a “buy in” from all of our
team.
Thoughts and prayers go out to two of our esteemed staff. Prayers for Col Nancy Kwiecien and
her family concerning health issues with her Mom and Dad. Continued prayers go to Col Joe
Duncan for continued recovery. You two are in our thoughts and prayers. Check six – your team
is with you all the way.
As always, I deeply appreciate everyone’s motivation, espirit de corps, and dedication. YOU are
part of a vital TEAM that we must have to succeed.
Everyone take care and stay healthy and stay safe.
Semper Fi !!! !! !!!
Wayne
Col Wayne F. Kennedy
Wing Leader
CAF – Gulf Coast Wing
TEAMWORK - RESPECT -
AMBASSADORSHIP - COMMUNICATION
COWL FLAPS PAGE 3
Big Picture, Little Picture
Support for what we do comes from many plac-
es – some of them unexpected.
In the Big Picture world, the International Coun-
cil of Airshows (ICAS) has just announced they
will be launching a national campaign to pro-
mote airshows. ICAS is a trade organization intended to protect and promote the interests of air-
show professionals. Early next week, ICAS will launch a national publicity campaign for the 2017
air show season and it offers organizations like the CAF units who appear in airshows additional
support.
ICAS is launching a website that serves as a focal point for the campaign,
www.airshowsareawesome.com. ICAS will distribute a press release about air shows that focuses
particularly on their value as compared to other family-oriented entertainment events and venues.
Airshow organizers can join in this effort and engage the media at a local and regional level, play-
ing off some of the same messages and putting their existing relationships with local media to ef-
fective use in supporting the campaign. So ICAS effectively becomes another channel to help air-
shows promote their events, and more success for airshows means more success for airshow per-
formers, like the Gulf Coast Wing.
On the little picture side of things, a fan in Mobile made an unexpected and unsolicited donation of
$500 during our barnstorming stop. It’s just amazing all the different places that we find support
for what we do. We touch people one individual at a time, we wow huge crowds at airshows, and
everything in between. It’s wonderful that this organization of volunteers has impact that scales
from individuals to big organizations, all of whom, in various ways, assisting us in what we do.
Nancy
Col Nancy Kwiecien
Executive Officer
Gulf Coast Wing - CAF
Hello GCW,
Thankfully we don't have much to discuss as far
as Maintenance this month. The reason for this
is the amount of work and the level of dedication
all your Maintenance Team gives whenever it is
necessary. It was a tough winter due to paint
and repairs that the new paint made necessary.
We just got a new exhaust system for the number 3 engine from Acorn Welding in Canada. It was
quite expensive because of the amount of work necessary to build it but it is all new. Our plan is to
get a new system done for each engine because we need a better supply of good and new parts.
The airplane can't be reliable without quality parts!
Thank you very much for everyone's support and especially our Maintenance Team for all the
hours you put in.
Jed Doggett
281-773-4054
Col Jed Doggett
Maintenance Officer
Gulf Coast Wing - CAF
COWL FLAPS PAGE 4
Hello Gulf Coast Wing!
The 2017 Tour Season is under way! Since the
unveiling of the new paint and nose art, Texas
Raiders has flown several air shows, rides at
Conroe and Hooks, and some Barnstorming
Tour Stops along the way. We have a full sea-
son yet to come... Please see page 5 of the newsletter for upcoming tour dates!
The new bidding process for serving as a Crewmember on upcoming missions is working seamless-
ly... When you go to www.b17texasraiders.org and log on to the members only section, you will find
the option to bid on upcoming missions. Once you place your bid, you will receive a confirmation
email. If you experience any issues with the bidding process, please contact John Alkire at jdal-
The Twin Beech is now on the rides program! Once we get a few minor details worked out, we will
begin training pilots and hope to begin selling rides on the Twin Beech later this summer. Anyone
who works on the Twin Beech or gives rides on the plane will be required to be on the CAF Drug
Testing Program. Stay tuned for more details.
I would like to reiterate to all that it is an "Honor and a Privilege and a Responsibility" to serve as a
crewmember on Texas Raiders and represent the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air
Force. Please conduct yourselves accordingly when around the airplane or representing the Wing -
you never know who is watching or within earshot! Last, and definitely not least, we are all on the
same team and must work together to achieve a successful Tour Season!
Have you had a chance to view the video "Normalization of Deviance" by Charlie Precourt? Charlie
Precourt was a NASA Astronaut who investigated the Challenger and Columbia accidents. He talks
about taking risks and getting away with it and accepting that as normal. However, some day those
small risks can cost you dearly. I highly recommend that everyone go to www.CAFoperations.org,
select the Training button, and view the video...
If you see something that doesn't look right, do not be afraid to speak up!
Fly Safe,
Aric
Col Aric Aldrich
Operations Officer
Gulf Coast Wing - CAF
The FE Training session that was scheduled for April 8th will be held at our next
Wing Meeting on May 6th. The next session topic will be 'Emergency Procedures'
lead by Col. Bruce Guest, A & P. All FEs, prospective FEs and all other Wing
Members are encouraged to attend this very important topic session.
Col Lee Brown
Lead Flight Engineer
Nancy Kwiecien
COWL FLAPS PAGE 5
Touring Schedule May 11-14 - Memphis Millington Airshow, TN
May 15-18 - Little Rock, AR Barnstorm
May 19-21 - Sherman, TX Barnstorm
May 26-29 - Austin, TX Barnstorm
June 2-4 - Victoria, TX Barnstorm
June 8-11 - Whiteman AFB Airshow, MO
June 12-15 - Indianapolis, IN Barnstorm
June 16-18 - Youngstown Airshow, OH
June 19-22 - Pittsburgh, PA Barnstorm
June 23-25 - Columbus, OH Barnstorm
June 26-29 - Louisville, KY Barnstorm
June 30-July 2 - Cleburne, TX Airshow
July 18-21 - Illinois Barnstorm TBD
July 22-30 - EAA Airventure - Oshkosh --
Static Only
July 31-Aug 3 - Des Moines, IA Barnstorm
Aug 4-7 - Kansas City, MO Barnstorm
Aug 19 - Rides at Hooks
Sincerely,
Aric Aldrich
"Texas Raiders" B-17G Flying Fortress
Commemorative Air Force - Gulf Coast Wing
713-305-7363 cell
Welcome aboard Ed Vesely, our newest
pilot on Texas Raiders. (Photo by Aric Aldrich)
Kathy Doucette - Jane Copeland - Larry
Doucette - Photo by Nancy Smith
Jake Doggett found the perfect place to
make a private phone call.
Photo by Kevin Michels
PAGE ???
Kathleen Hanna
COWL FLAPS PAGE 6
Hey, Gulf Coast Wing members. Your newly appointed PX Officer
(Kathy Doucette) is in need of Volunteers. How would you like to
volunteer your time to fly on Texas Raiders on future away mis-
sions?! It just so happens that we have a very busy flying season
ahead of us and “We Need Your Help”.
Go to the wing’s website, www.b17texasraiders.org, and click on
the Member icon in the right hand corner. Then go to Mission Crew
Assignment Request. Review the Mission Selection box for the lo-
cations of our pending mission and select the mission that you
would be interested in participating in. If you have any questions
about any part of a mission, or how to complete the newly de-
signed Crew Request Form, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I am always there
to help you.
Our wing will only continue to grow and prosper because of the help of the many dedicated Colo-
nels who donate their valuable time.
Kathy Doucette
PX Officer
For Aviation merchandise and B-17 collectibles, please visit our Online Store at
#http://b17texasraiders.org/index.php/gift-shop
Fly Day - General Aviation Services - Conroe Texas
COWL FLAPS PAGE 7
Flight Crew L to R: Lynn Nelson, Rick Baker
Jed Doggett, Paul Bienvenu
L to R: Lynn Nelson, Jed Doggett, Wayne Kennedy, Dennis Cantrell
L to R: Lynn Nelson, Rick Baker, Tim Searls, Jed Doggett
L to R: Lynn Nelson, Jed Doggett, Wayne Kennedy, Dennis Cantrell
Tony Gullo - Wayne Kennedy
1941 Lincoln 1941 Ford Delux
Photo Submitted By Nancy Smith
COWL FLAPS PAGE 8
Paul Bienvenu Rick Baker Lee Brown - Lynn Nelson
Jed Doggett Wayne Kennedy Dennis Cantrell
Members of the United States Army Reserve - Aviation Support Facility
COWL FLAPS PAGE 9
Kathy Doucette, Max Spears,
Sterling Paulsen
Ken & Shirley Hyman Kathleen Brown - John Alkire
New Member - Vicki Neu Was Cadet - Now Full Colonel Aubrey Herzog
Nancy Smith
Marty Huvar 101 year old WWII U.S. Navy Veteran Morris Bateman and son, Morris “Butch” Bateman
Jeff Brown
Gulf Coast Tour - Pensacola, Mobile, Lake Charles
Wayne Kennedy
Kathleen Hanna
COWL FLAPS PAGE 10
Left row front to back: Nancy Smith, John Alkire,
Kevin Michels, Tim Searls, Jake Doggett, Jed Dog-
gett - Right Row front to back: Jane Copeland,
Kathy Doucette, Larry Doucette, Kara Hueni, Ole
Nygren, Tim Daggett
Not every day you get to go inside and tour a frontline combat
aircraft. Much less be allowed to sit in the cockpit and have
your picture taken with your OWN aircraft in the background.
Today was that day. Suffice to say, the B-1B is an amazing
aircraft! – Kevin Michels
Chennualt Media Ride, Lake Charles, LA - Flight Crew Left to
Right: Kevin Michels, Aric Aldrich, Ole Nygren, Larry Doucette.
Photo by Kathleen Brown
Photo submitted by Nancy Smith Photo by Kevin Michels
Sometimes accommodation's are not
quite as good as desired, but Jane
Copeland will get the job done no matter
what.
Photo by Kathy Doucette
COWL FLAPS PAGE 11
WWII Bombardier
Richard Orr
Edward Gold - WWII Navy Veteran - First Wave
Normandy
WWII Veteran Col Jim Oakley and
Thunderbird #3 Major Nate Hoffman
B-17 Waist Gunner and Radio
Operator Jim Davis
Flight Crew L to R: Aric Aldrich, Ed Vesely, Kevin
Michels Jake Doggett - Photo submitted by Kevin Michels
Flight Crew L to R: Aric Aldrich, Ed
Vesely, Kevin Michels Jake Doggett -
Photo submitted by Kevin Michels
Flight Crew L to R: Kevin Michels, Ole Nygren, Aric
Aldrich, Tim Searls - Photo submitted by Kevin Michels
PAGE ??? COWL FLAPS PAGE 12
Flight Crew L to R: Ole Nygren, Larry Doucette, Kevin Michels, Aric Aldrich
Flight Crew L to R: Kevin Michels, Ole Nygren, Aric Aldrich, Larry Doucette - Back row far left Edward Gold WWII Veteran
Great view of the Golden Nugget and L'auberge casinos along with their golf course. For those people with a surplus money problem, this is the place to go.- Kevin Michels
Ole Nygren, Larry Doucette, Tim Daggett, Kathleen Brown, John Alkire, Marty Huvar, Nancy Smith, Kathy Doucette, Jane Copeland
Photo by Kevin Michels Photo by Kevin Michels
Photo by Kathleen Brown
Photo by Kevin Michels
Jake Doggett - Kara Hueni - Marty Huvar
USS ALABAMA - Battleship Park, Mobile Alabama This is worth seeing if you are in the area.
Photo by Kevin Michels
Photo by Kevin Michels
COWL FLAPS PAGE /// COWL FLAPS PAGE 13
Amazing that they'll park a gozillion dollar
jet under what amounts to a carport.
Photo by Tim Searls
Well that's one way to put a damper on an airshow. The least we could do is offer some shelter.
– Kevin Michels
Texas Raiders Flight Crew On the Wagon
Photo by Nancy Smith
As always, “The Queen Of The Skies”
drew a large crowd. Photo by Tim Searls
COWL FLAPS PAGE ??? COWL FLAPS PAGE 14
When they say “NO PARKING”, they are not kidding.
John Alkire knows the best way to turn props.
Photo by Kevin Michels
Photo by Kevin Michels
Photo by Kevin Michels
Planes aren’t the only things we are
good at. John and Lee score big at
Concours d'Elegance of Texas in Ar-
lington Sunday with First in Class and
Preservation Trophy. - Photo submit-
ted by Lee Brown
Boeing B-1B Lancer “The Bone”
I bet those Air force Guys were green with envy when they saw our plane.
COWL FLAPS PAGE ???
If anyone would like business cards made for Texas Raiders please email Gulf Coast Wing mem-ber Kevin Hong at [email protected]
The price is $60 for 500 business cards. The cards can be customized if you are a crew member, FE, Loadmaster, pilot, etc. Please contact him for more details.
Kevin Hong
Principal of Sector K Media, LLC
PO Box 672966
Houston, TX 77267-2966
T 281.682.3947
www.sectorkmedia.com
www.facebook.com/sectorkmedia
Front Back
"Please consider volunteering to work the PX on missions! Remember, you must have attended
Ground School to be eligible for "away" missions. Hope to see you on a trip soon!
Col Kathy Doucette - PX Officer, Gulf Coast Wing
Col Annette Doggett - Assistant PX Officer, Gulf Coast Wing
For Aviation merchandise and B-17 collectibles, please visit our Online Store at
#http://b17texasraiders.org/index.php/gift-shop
COWL FLAPS PAGE 15
$20.00 $22.00 $3.00 $30.00
COWL FLAPS PAGE ???
STAFF:
Elections are held each winter (usually in November at the general meeting). Staff members are elected for a two-year
term and elections are held in compliance with CAF Unit Manual Sections 3-8 through 3-23. The current Elected Staff
members for 2015 are:
Wing Leader Col Wayne Kennedy 281-389-4538 [email protected]
Executive Officer Col Nancy Kwiecien 832-444-5043 [email protected]
Adjutant Officer Col Rex McLain 281-251-0138 [email protected].
Operations Officer Col Aric Aldrich 713-305-7363 [email protected]
Finance Officer Col Dayna Salter 281-229-1365 [email protected]
Maintenance Officer Col Jed Doggett 281-773-4054 [email protected]
Safety Officer Col Joe Duncan 713-851-6322 [email protected]
Appointed Staff Members serve at the appointment and discretion of the elected staff:
PX Officer Col Vicki Thomas 281-620-5639 [email protected]
Wings Over Houston Rep. Col Wayne Kennedy 281-855-2520 [email protected]
Supply Officer Col Lee Brown 832-541-8349 [email protected]
Rides Coordinator Col Jane Copeland 936-499-8147 [email protected]
Marketing Team Lead Col Nancy Kwiecien 936-273-4182 [email protected]
Recruiting Officer Col Rick Thomas 281-620-5632 [email protected]
Wing Curator and Historian Col Ben Doggett 832-773-4054 [email protected]
Tour Planning Leader Col Aric Aldrich 713-305-7363 [email protected]
Lead Flight Engineer Col Len Root 214-455-7668 [email protected]
Ground Equipment Officer Col Tim Searls 936-327-6505 [email protected]
Lead Load Master Col Michael Hart 713-409-2494 [email protected]
Web Master Kent Morrison 970-756-0040 [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
Wing dues for CAF Adult members are $50/person and are due the last day of February each year.
Wing dues for CAF Cadet members (ages 12-23) are $35/person and are due on the last day of February each year.
Adult wing members are eligible to vote on committees. Cadets are not eligible to vote or serve on committees..
We welcome any comments, suggestions, and contributions to the newsletter. If you have something to show or tell,
don't be shy...send it in! No article is too short or too long. When sending in photos, please be sure to identify the peo-
ple in them. Also, let us know who the photographer is. We would like to give them proper credit.
Let us honor your veteran. If you have a story about a family member who is or was a veteran, we encourage you to sub-
mit it for a future issue of Cowl Flaps. Send pictures with it. (We can "ghost write" it for you; Col "Doc" Hecker has
also volunteered to "ghost write" for you.)
Send your contributions to: [email protected]
THE COWLFLAPS STAFF:
Colonels Jeff Brown, Kathleen Brown,
Catherine Young And Beverley Brown
COWL FLAPS PAGE 16
