Estrella Warbird Museum News

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Estrella Warbird Museum News

Karl Haeuser to Speak at May 7th Dinner Meeting Estrella Warbird Museum member Karl Haeuser was born in Paso Robles and attended elementary and junior high here in town. He graduated from Concordia College in Oakland, California and started work with Bank of America in September 1939. Karl enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in August 1942 rather than the infantry because he didn’t like to march. He completed primary flying school at Thunderbird Field II, Arizona and then soloed in the BT-13 at Minter Field, (7 miles north of Bakersfield) California. Then Karl was “eliminated at the convenience of the government.” So he completed Armorer and Aerial Gunnery schools and then trained as a turret gunner on the Douglas A-20 Havoc. Karl was sent to England assigned to the 410th Bomb Group of the 9th Air Force. On his 11th mission he was shot down over Roen, France, taken prisoner and spent the rest of the war as a guest of the Third Reich. During the last three months of the war he was forced to march away from the Russian Army until April 26, 1945 when the 104th Timberwolves Division liberated him. Karl returned to the US and went back to work at Bank of America. He married Helen Filipponi in 1946 and has three children and five grandchildren. He retired to Cayucos, California in 1986 and is active in his church, does volunteer work and builds model airplanes as a hobby. RSVP: On line or call 467-3521 Updated photos of April Meeting 04-09-2008.	EWM and Navy League Honor "Willie" Driscoll at special event The Estrella WarBirds Museum and Navy League welcomed Navy Ace, Willy P. Driscoll for a special dinner, Freedom Flight awards, and auction event held on Saturday, April 26th. The Navy League presented the "Bug Roach Prayer Award" to Willie Driscoll. The event raised funds to help the Navy League Sea Cadet Program. Pictures of the event can be seen here. The event started with a special reception in Freedom Hall, hosted by EWM VP Ed Morrison and a presentation of a Freedom Flight plaque by EWM member Oobbie Atkinson. CDR Driscoll is an excellent motivational speaker and thoroughly entertained the audience his personal in site as to what was going through his mind when he became the first Naval Ace of the Viet Nam conflict. A very special "Thanks" goes out to all those whom helped make this a memorable event! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Estrella WarBirds Library will be hosting a grand opening at 6:00 p.m. on Friday May 9th. with a reception and snacks. Plan to attend now! Following the Library Grand Opening, The Great Train Robbery movie will be shown in Thomson Hall on the high definition screen! I can smell the popcorn already! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Congratulations to Lacey Gentry and John Kellerman for winning a 1/2 hour flight on our F-18 Flight Simulator. Drawing was held at the Paso Robles Home and Garden Show, April 26-27th
FA/18 Simulator The FA/18 Simulator located in Freedom Hall is on final taxi, set for take off within the next several weeks. Those who got a chance for an initial flight were impressed with the results. Watch this space!	George Marrett does it again! Estrella WarBird Museum Director, George Marrett, recently released yet another terrific tale from his experiences as as test pilot. Does this confirm his UFO experience? Not to be outdone, his wife Janice, released her own book this month!
Coming in May - The Big Boys! Mark your calendars now for the 14th-16th of May, when the Collings Foundation will bring their B-17, B-24 and B-25 to Estrella WarBird Museum. It has also been rumoured that one of the last two seater flying P-51's will also make an appearance... and provide flight lessons! Check out their website for more information on the tour. We will be posting local information on the site as it becomes available. Throw in a restored C-47 and we'll have a grand old tarmac of memories! It was also announced at the last dinner meeting that you could possibly win a chance to fly from Camarillo to Paso Robles on one of the B planes. You will need to be present at our May dinner meeting!	Coming Events May 9th. Library Event & Movie Night June 7th. Internation Aerial Acrobatics above the Paso Air Field May 14-15-16th at the Paso Roble Airport. The Collings Foundation will be bringing in their B17, B24, B25 and P-51D.
Freedom Flight Veteran's Memorial Honor Roll The Estrella Warbird Museum, located at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, announced the opening of the Freedom Flight Veterans Memorial. This memorial offers an opportunity for Americans to honor our military veterans and the men and women presently serving our country. The Memorial is prominently located in the reception area of Freedom Hall.	Looking for something to do? For those of us with time to space and lack of things to do in our "busy" lives, why not spend a little bit of time each month volunteering by working at the museum as a docent, gift shop, or on the grounds in restoration or cleanup. We can always use new hands and you'll be surprised at the number of new friends you will make. Send us a note or come visit us.

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