SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

[Joe Gopan]

That good feeling of a Jeep seat, the thrill as the clutch engages to put the Jeep in motion, wind moving thru your hair and the whine of the transfer at 25 MPH, and the sounds of excited youngsters in back enjoying their first Jeep ride.
Some of those youngsters served in the Army when they grew up and got to drive a real Army Issue Jeep with real soldiers in the back seat and the thrill of not only driving the Jeep but making it run good as well.
The cycle goes on.

[stever0_3]

I think this is why we love our G503s!

Regards

Steve

[Joe Gopan]

Dow Field, a busy Air Base from 1940 thru the 60s closed in 1968. Posted Speed Limits were 10MPH and 20MPH. It took me a good 20 years to get used to the Posted Civilian Speed Limits of 25MPH and 35MPH. There is something about the driving regulations on Military Bases that become habit forming. There was a green scotchlite WEAR SEAT BELTS sign at the last corner just past the Main Gate, it took 10 years for someone to jump the curbing and knock down the sign. The corner past the Main Gate was the scene of tire marks from newly discharged GI's who left a strip of rubber while dragging their duffel bag from the rear bumper. .

[stever0_3]

There are old WW2 bases near me, all have but disappeared converted into markets, kids attractions etc. It would be great to have an airfield to drive around.

Regards

Steve

[Joe Gopan]

Presque Isle AFB in Maine closed in 1961, much of it remained undeveloped and intact for nearly 20 years. Many Warbird Historians including myself have had erie feelings while driving around the abandoned buildings. There's something about that place.

[Joe Gopan]

Presque isle Air Field was the planned jumping off point for Glacier Girl, the P-38 recovered from under ice to recreate its flight to England a while back. It did not make it, one engine failed.

[Joe Gopan]

Still find myself doing the 20 MPH thing at Dow, never mind the string of cars following me. The Air Police at the ANG Gat Shack refer to my M-38A1 as my "Dooms Day Vehicle". It feels good to be driving again on a Gov't Reservation with so much WWII-Korean War period heritage. Driving my MB on base brings back vivid memories and sounds of WWII Aircraft and MV's of the 40's-50's period when I was growing up across the street from the base. I can still lookup and sense a P-51 on final. In a couple weeks, May 11, will be the 60th anniversary of the last Coast Guard PB1J (B-17) I watched coming into Dow. The pilot was likely Lester Slate, a local native who piloted these old B-17's on Ice Patrol.
My MB was surplused from Dow 70 years ago in 1946, and 50 years later it was requisitioned by the Air National Guard to escort General Chuck Yeager who was guest of honor at an ANG air show at Dow.

[Joe Gopan]

Dow Field will be blessed with an MB and a CCKW thru out the day today in memory of three old friends and the first WWII GI's to be stationed there. John Foster was first Permanent party enlisted man at Dow, he stepped off the train at Union Station and took a cab to the base. He was assigned to the base weather shack., Ray Earhardt was a B-17 Mechanic with the 43 Bomb Group that was assigned to Dow in 1942 before the unit was ordered to the Pacific, Bill Knight arrived at Dow in June 1941 with a Quartermaster Truck Company after driving his CCKW in convoy from down South. There was a lady named Jennie Marquis who was one of the first Civilian Employees hired at Dow Field in 1941. She was a feisty lady and worked at Base Supply from the opening of Dow in 1941 until it's closing in the Spring of 1968. She was last Civilian Employee and remarked that she "got to kick the gate shut". Jennie was known as the "go to lady" for the ability to save the day by making scarce items appear in supply that were not authorized. Many a SAC Inspecting Officer was told to stay out of the Ladies Latrine where she hid her secret stock.

[Wolfman]

I can get in my Chevy truck and no one pays any attention but when I get in my jeep, a line forms wanting a ride !!
Makes it all worth while !!!

[rondo]

more than one person I know who knows chuck yeager says he is an arrogant man who treats people like crap

[Joe Gopan]

I spent three hours with him and he was the perfect gentleman, good at making small talk, explained flying the P-51 then and now, using MB's to go rabbit hunting during the old days at Edwards, and gave me nice compliments on my MB after opening the hood. I waited over 45 years to meet him, the air show worked out perfect with the pleasant surprise of spending time with the General. The 9th AF Demonstration Team pilots were awestruck when they formed an informal huddle around the General and listened to him explain his current involvement at further refining the F-16's they were flying. General Yeager was 73 at the time and still current in many of the aircraft being flown at Edwards. The Mustang he piloted at the airshow belonged to Ede Shipley. Sadly, the current owner recently was killed in a fatal crash of Ed Shipley's P-51.

[Crasher]

We lived near Presque Isle for several years, my dad flew a Beech 1900D out of the Presque Isle airport, which was formerly Presque Isle Army Air Field. I remember well my dad pointing out where the guard shack used to stand. We also used to drive around Loring AFB, not long after it closed and the gates were left open. It was a ghost town back then.

Presque Isle AFB in Maine closed in 1961, much of it remained undeveloped and intact for nearly 20 years. Many Warbird Historians including myself have had erie feelings while driving around the abandoned buildings. There's something about that place.

[Joe Gopan]

I've rescued a few 4 wheeler types with my M-38A1 who tried to do a mud run over the P.I. Ammo Bunkers with their P.U. trucks to impress their girl friends.

[Joe Gopan]

There is something about going down the hill on the main drag entering Presque Isle that gives one visions of P-38's overhead on final to P.I. Army Airfield.

[Joe Gopan]

Spring's here, first trip out of the stable was to WWII Dow Field to give the little MB a few minute visit to her old wartime home. Paolo's MB Seat Cushions sure give the MB a good feeling.
Couple of loyal WWII/Korea Vets with their wives parked in their usual spot hoping to spot one more B-17, P-51, F-80 Jet land in front of them.
Lotsa transient KC-135 , C-17, EC-135, C-130 activity Saturday. Air Force 1 was here a couple days ago. One can sense that the natives are restless somewhere in the world.
The Air Guard Security has a constant armed perimeter patrol using Staff Cars, Pickups, Snowmobiles, Four Wheelers, etc., using the same route that roving patrol did back in WWII. I would love to make the rounds in my MB just for the Hell of it, but that is not going to happen.