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Living History: The NWHA sponsors several living history units in addition to the regular reenacting groups. These groups focus their efforts on public education through displays, sponsoring speakers, visiting schools, and attending parades. |
Living History Displays
August was a busy month for NWHA flyers, who participated in two field events surrounding period aircraft and flight gear.
On August 3-4, NHWA members participated in the annual "Fly-In" at the Tillamook Air Museum, setting up a field station in a GP tent parked next to the museum's B-25. Members led tours through the B-25 during Saturday, and also conducted photo shoots in the cockpits of the museum's Spitfire and P-51 Mustang.
American and Canadian Pilots
On August 11, the Allied Air Forces set up a display in the main hangar at Pearson Airfield during the museum's "Biplane Fly-In." That event was a bit of a misnomer, as one triplane flew as well. Allen T. of the 1st ID displayed his weapon carrier on the field and the group made a number of excellent contacts with WWII vets, including an A-20 pilot from North Africa and Sicily who entrusted member Dave L. of the 3rd Para with a signed copy of his flight log.
Discuss the Airwar of WWII
The group's next event will be an "All Commonwealth" program at Pearson Air Museum on October 14 at 3:00 PM. Join three Commonwealth pilots as they discuss the colossal airwar from the Battle of Britain to the bombing of the Reich:Oregon's Capt. Pete Hardiman joined the famed "Eagle Squadron" before Pearl Harbor and flew the Spitfire and later the P-51.
Ken Ponton flew Hurricanes at the height of the Battle of Britain with 111 Squadron of the RAF.
Robert Quarterman flew two tours in Bomber Command Lancasters, serving with 101 Squadron and as a Pathfinder.
Captain Pete Hardiman, an American who joined the RCAF as a fighter pilot during Britain's fiercest air battles, later transferred to the fledgling 4th Fighter Group as one of the first USAAF fighter pilots in England. Captain Hardiman is currently president of the P-51 Mustang Pilots Association.
All NWHA members are invited to participate in this event. Uniform of the day will be "Class A" dress of any branch of any Allied country, although RAF/RCAF impressions are preferred. Contact nmaillet2@home.com for more information.
See the following pages of the newsletter for more photos from the Allied Air Forces.
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Interview: The following interview is a continuation of an interview featured in a previous newsletter with a Canadian infantry veteran of the Normandy battles. |
Art Bridge
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada,
1942-46
Interview submitted by Russ B
"Hill 195 was the first real action that I was involved in. We sneaked up that hill in the middle of the night [August 10/11, 1944] and were dug in before the enemy knew we were there. It was quite an exciting occasion. The ground was so hard that digging in was almost impossible. I remember that my slit trench was about 10 inches deep despite all efforts to enlarge it. That was barely enough to protect the crown jewels. And there was plenty of metal flying around once they realized we were there."
"We watched with awe as the tanks of the Canadian Grenadier Guards tried to advance, only to be knocked off one by one. Typhoons were very active trying to knockout the enemy tanks in Quesnay Woods, just off to our left, and they got at least one of them as we saw the cloud of black smoke rising after their attack. We couldn't (or didn't) do much but sit and take it all in and try to avoid their moaning minnies. It was a long day."
Infantry taking cover from artillery
"Prior to becoming an Argyll, I had served with the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders - from June 1942 till January 1944. I was with C Company, 14 Platoon, of the Glens, and we had a platoon Sgt. named Sacco Hummell, who had a voice that only his mother could love, and once heard would never be forgotten. He was a great guy. Late on the night of August 10, 1944, we were notified that we would be relieved soon and would be withdrawing back to where we had started the previous day. It was quite dark when our relief arrived on the scene and of course we could only tell that some bodies had appeared by the shuffling and mumbling that we could hear from these new arrivals. Needless to say we were delighted that we were getting out of that hell hole and didn't really care who our relief was, just as long as they relieved us!! Well, can you imagine my surprise when the group relieving our platoon approached and I immediately recognized the voice of good old Sacco directing his men to their respective locations. Yes, we were relieved in that dark night on Hill 195, during a lull in the shelling by 14 platoon of the Glens. During the brief period in which they took over our trenches I was able to contact three or four other old comrades from my former outfit- in the middle of the night and in the middle of the war. A memorable experience."
"We moved back several miles that night to reorganize, and found ourselves about two hundred yards in front of a battery of medium artillery. It was not a very quiet place to be. They were firing right over our heads and the enemy were firing back trying to knock them out. One enemy shell hit what must have been a powder supply for one of the guns (55's) and I can still see one of the Artillery types running across the field with his clothes on fire. Would you believe that we thought that it was funny at the time and laughed at the poor guy's misfortune?? We stayed there for a couple more days and prepared for what became known as Operation Totalize."
