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Glen Thomson
Estrella Warbirds
Museum Founder
1930 - 2010
Last Friday evening, January 8th, 2010, Glen 'Gator' Thomson took his final flight and left the world, as we know it, far behind.
Glen was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan where he lived until graduating from Michigan State Normal College with a Bachelors in Recreation. He moved on to do his graduate studies at UCLA and Long Beach State where he received his Masters in Education.
Although Glen wanted to serve his country in the military, a previous knee injury prevented him from being accepted for military service. He began his working career, first with the Laguna Hills Boys Club, and then as a teacher for Manhattan Beach High School. Glen also spent time as a Real Estate agent while earning his Contractor's Licence for construction work.
At the age of 30, Glen found his passion in aviation when he received his initial pilot's license. He flew his first solo flight after only 9 hours of instruction. His love of flight led to a career with Western Airlines where he served as a Flight Simulator Instructor for Western Airlines pilots.
Glen and his wife Betsy, first purchased property in Paso Robles in 1970 but did not move there full time until four years later. Glen and Betsy established the first commercial pistachio ranch in San Luis Obispo County.
Glen Thomson, along with Gary Corippo had a dream of building an aviation museum in Paso Robles. The two were very instrumental in founding the Estrella Squadron of the Confederate Air Force. Feeling compelled to do more for the community they became the initial founders of the Estrella Warbirds Museum. Last September, Glen helped celebrate the Museum's Twentieth Anniversary.
Glen Thomson was very instrumental in helping to build the museum, and will be sorely missed. His expertise in construction, aviation, power plant maintenance and his willingness to sacrifice both physically and financially, played a key roll in the success of the museum. Several years ago, Glen founded The Gooney Bird Corporation, which had a sole goal of obtaining and restoring a Douglas C-47. He realized that goal at the museum when he recently received license from the FAA to bring the C-47B "Betsy's Biscuit Bomber" to full flight status.
A Celebration of Life honoring Glen Thomson will be held Saturday, January 16th, at 2 p.m. in Thomson Hall, Estrella Warbirds Museum, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles, California. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in Glen's name be made to the Estrella Warbirds Museum or the charity of your choice.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Fellow T-28 Pilots Plan Flyover
Glen was an avid T-28 pilot and organized an annual T-28 Trojans
and Hoovers Fly In each October.
Fellow T-28 pilots have planned a Fly-Over/Missing Man Formation for Saturday, Jan 16th in the skies above Estrella Warbirds Museum
Honoring The Past
Inspiring The Future
Twenty Years Strong!
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