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Larece Galer brings you the latest military news. To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn.: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Old aircraft keep turning up

It has never been a secret that I am an aviation fan.
I enjoy the old aircraft and their stories with my favorite part of any fly-in or air show being the hangar talk.
Ohio winter weather allows me time to catch up on things happening in the aviation world. And I have noticed in the past few months a number of World War II aircraft have been located either buried as surplus, frozen in ice, submerged underwater or in sand on a beach.
The aircraft buried as surplus were English Spitfires located in Burma and their ownership has been the subject of a legal fight. No small fight, the aircraft are still in crates and in today’s market may be worth as much as $1.8 million each.
A second Spitfire site is in Birmingham, England, not far from where the aircraft were built. Once the war was over the unused, crated aircraft were buried in a huge pit.
Meanwhile, a Lockheed P-38 Lightening was uncovered on a beach in Wales.
The P-38 had made an emergency landing 65 years ago and was left for salvage. The waves and sand covered it over until the perfect conditions recently made it appear again.
In December, an FM-2 Wildcat was found submerged in 200 feet of water at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
I was amazed to learn that there are an estimated 200 World War II aircraft believed to be on the bottom of the lake. Carrier flight training was completed over this lake and many of the wrecks were the direct result of that training.
The United States Air Force considers aircraft lost before Nov. 19, 1961, as abandoned. The directive is the result of a fire that destroyed USAF records.
The only aircraft of interest prior to that time are those containing human remains and the directive makes clear recovery personnel should contact the nearest United States Embassy or military installation and refrain from further recovery efforts pending removal of the remains.
I look forward to the end of each of the stories. Will a family finally be able to bury a lost loved one? Will the aircraft fly again or be on display in a museum? Or will they be parted out to rebuild other historic aircraft? Time will tell

Legion Post hosts Lucky Shoots
American Legion Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison, will host Lucky Shoots every Saturday through March 16 at the post home. Breakfast for shooters will be $2.50; those not shooting can eat for $5. Stop in and join the fun. For details, call the post at 440-428-7893.

Breakfast at Burton Post
Atwood-Mauck Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the post home. For details, call 440-343-1478.
 
Steak on menu in Painesville
Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a steak dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at the post home. For details, call 440-354-9090.

Legion Riders host chili cook-off
American Legion Post 336 Riders will host a chili cook-off 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3 at the post home, 60 Chester St. in Painesville. Cost of the tasting will be $4 a person.
The event will also include a Chinese auction and a 50/50 Raffle. There is no charge to enter and the judging is by popular vote of the tasters.
For those entering, please provide at least two quarts of chili per entry so everyone will get to taste the chili. For details, call the post home at 440-357-7711.

Four Chaplins remembered
Atwood-Mauck Post 459 of the American Legion, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a Four Chaplins program beginning at 3 p.m. Feb. 3 at the post home. For details, call 440-834-1911.

AMVETS Ladies
host annual event

AMVETS Post 109 Ladies Auxiliary, 7847 Lake Shore Blvd. in Mentor-on-the-Lake, will host its annual fundraiser steak dinner and Chinese auction on Feb. 9.
Dinner is served 5 to 7 p.m. and the auction with entertainment by a DJ will follow. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25. Only 100 tickets are sold. Call Sue Makse at 440-257-4342 or the post at 440-257-9217 for tickets.

Junior Girls serve spaghetti
Junior Girls Unit of VFW Post 2595, 570 Liberty St. in Painesville, will host a spaghetti dinner 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 10 at the post home.
The girls are between the ages of 5 and 16 years and are the daughters, sisters, and granddaughters of men and women eligible to join the VFW.
Funds raised will be used for support of the VFW National Military Services Fund which includes Operation Uplink (free call days), Unmet Needs (for families and active duty military) and the Military Assistance Program. For details, call Jill Householder at 440-352-9522.

Boulevard benefit
A fundraiser for the Boulevard of 500 Flags will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the American Legion Hall of Post 678, 570 E. 328th St. in Willowick.
All money raised will be used to replace flag poles and worn American Flags at the Boulevard. Tickets are $20 per person or $35 per couple.
The evening will include dinner, open bar, reverse raffle, Chinese auction and side boards. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at American Legion Post 678 and at VFW 3863, 33641 Vine St. in Eastlake.

To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094, fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.

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