Estrella WarBirds Museum

Director
Aircraft Acquisitions
Funds Generation

Gary Corippo is a lifelong resident of Paso Robles, having graduated from Paso Robles High School in 1957. He then attended and graduated from Coalinga College (now West Hills College) with an AA degree. In 1959, he joined the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve, rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and retired in 1979. Half of the time, he spent as an 0369 (infantry/anti-tank), attended parachute training at Fort Benning with Third Force Recon, took training to be a crew chief (CH-53 helo) and finished as a line chief with the HMH-769, Forth Marine Aircraft Wing at Naval Air Station, Alameda.

Gary worked for San Luis Tank and Pipe Co. for 29 years. His work took him to many places throughout the United States and to multiple countries in Central and South America. Gary retired as the Vice President of the company.

Gary has been a pilot for 38 years and holds a private license and an LOA (Letter of Authority) for T-28B . You can always find Gary flying his current privately owne plane, a 1941 Vultee BT-13 Trainer, which is also on exhibit at the EWM.. He has approximately 8000 hours as pilot in command. He is also part of the Gooney Corporation, which have their C-47 on loan to the museum.

It was Gary, along with Glen Thomson, whom originally started the group that was known as the Estrella Squadron, Confederate Air Force, and then later renamed the Estella Warbird Museum.

Gary has remained dedicated to the preservation of aircraft and the museum. He spends countless hours on the upkeep of the museum aircraft, facilities and grounds. He also has a great talent for acquiring many of the aircraft on display for the museum.