IPMS Region 9 Model Display
354th Fighter Ace's Reunion, April 2007
IPMS Region 9 Coordinator Chris Bucholtz and IPMS SR member Randy Bumgardner set up our model display at the 354th Fighter Group Aces Reunion.
On April 22, 2007, Region 9 modelers from IPMS Santa Rosa, Silicon Valley Scale Modelers of Milpitas and the Fremont Hornets, staged a model display at the Northern California Friends (NCF) of the American Fighter Aces Association's 354th Fighter Group Reunion at the Travis AFB museum. The NCF's mission is to present and preserve the history of the American Fighter Pilots and Fighter Aces. They organize several symposia each year that allow fighter aces to share their remarkable histories with the public.
This event offered us a great chance to promote IPMS to an aviation minded audience. Participating modelers included Chris Bucholtz (SVSM and Region 9 Coordinator), Laramie Wright (SVSM), Mike Burton (SVSM and Fremont), and Randy Bumgardner (IPMS SR). The display showcased models of the 354th FG aircraft, including the mounts of four of the five aces present. Handouts included a infomation on IPMS and all the Region 9 clubs as well as a list of resources (kits, books and decals) for modeling the 354th FG. (See the link below.)
The 354th Fighter Group in miniature.
The reunion featured aces Richard Asbury (pilot of "Maureen"), Ken Dahlberg ("Little Horse"), Felix Rogers ("Beantown Banshee"), Lowell Brueland ("Wee Speck, Grim Reaper"), and Clayton Kelly Gross (Live Bait). They shared their extraordinary experiences in a moderated discussion, took questions and signed autographs. This personal view, this living history, is impossible to get from books and one that is rapidly becoming very rare.
(Left to right) Lt. Col. Richard Asbury, Capt. Ken Dahlberg, General Felix Rogers, Col. Lowell Brueland and Capt. Clayton Kelly Gross.
For more information on aircraft of the 354th Fighter Group, please visit our 354th Fighter Group modeling page.
Photos and text by Greg Reynolds.
All photographs copyright by photographer. All rights reserved. All photographs used with permission.
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