THE BUZZ FROM BELOW

BY JAMIESON R. STEELE, VOLUNTEER AT THE NATIONAL WARPLANE MUSEUM

Within a 50 mile radius of Geneseo, I’m guessing half the residents have never been to the National Warplane Museum, and half of that half have never heard of us. ey may have heard our planes and know of the air shows, but there is much more going on down that dusty road.

With 5,000 feet of grass runway, we are an airport. No tower, no lights, no radio, but we are on the map. From WWI replicas to Cobras and Chinooks, all sorts of aircra y at our eld, part of the Wadsworth farm. In the hangar is an astonishing variety of aircra , many owned by private individuals or groups of owners, and most are from the WWII era. ere are several non- ying planes outside as well.

e large hangar is a great venue for events like the Air Force ROTC graduation (pinning ceremony), where cadets are accepted into the service and their 2nd Lt. bars are pinned on their shoulders. We also hosted the ceremony for Geneseo’s Alpha Company of the NY Army National Guard, deployed to a post in Africa. As though planned, the Museum’s crown jewel, Whiskey-7, returned from an away event just as the ceremony closed, a rich reward for all.

e Queen of our eet, Whiskey 7, or just W7, a WWII C-47, is a transport airplane. Not just any C-47, ours was the lead plane of the 2nd wave taking paratroopers into France on the dark eve of D-Day. In 2014 our museum ew W7 back to France for the 70th anniversary of D-Day, passing through Maine, Greenland, Iceland, and into Scotland, a several days’ trip. To top it o , we located the last man alive who jumped out of W7 on D-Day, and Leslie P. Cruise Jr. met our team there, and ew in his old plane over his drop zone 70 years later, this time in daylight with no one shooting at him. Sadly, we lost Les a bit more than a year ago.

, written by Ruth Henry, performed in the hangar several times. In July, the Rochester Area Community Foundation sponsored a free admission day at the museum, which was well

We o en host a gamer group with an event they call War Games Among the Warbirds, with game boards simulating war time action. We host a Fly In breakfast and local VFW chapters’ BBQs. We end our year with a Veteran’s Day ringing of the bell, a reading of ‘In Flanders’s Field,’ and the playing of ‘Taps.’ Many of these events are open to all. Groups such as Rotary, Lions, American Legion, and school and Scout groups meet at the museum, also touring the displays and airplanes.

We have ‘rides days’ when folks can buy seats in various aircra (Great Father’s Day surprise!) mostly done via our web page. We o en combine a rides day with reenactors on the eld in period uniforms and gear, known as Living History Day.

Our annual Air Show in June features a tremendous lineup. e ground shakes as jets thunder in, and spectators gasp watching world champion yers performing acrobatic maneuvers overhead. Also, mark your calendar for Sept. 23 for W7’s 80th Birthday Bash. Don’t miss it! ere will be food, a swing band, lots of ying, fun, and the Living History Day too! Be a part of it.

Model airplane clubs of various sorts frequent the elds to y their models. Some models are rubber band propelled, some are gliders, or have small motors. Many of the groups have dinner or stop by our hot dog shed we put up for various events.

You may see rockets roaring to 9,000 feet and oating down on a parachute. e MARS rocket society is on the eld several times a year. is is not just for fun. Some are involved as students of science, and there are awards and school credits. ey communicate with our active runway movements and follow strict FAA rules.

Last year we hosted the sold-out Glenn Miller Orchestra concert, and folks showed up dressed in ‘40s costumes for swing dancing. e United Way gala and a few weddings have also been held in our hangar. A very moving play based on a WWII diary,

When you visit us, go inside W7, an actual WWII combat aircra . You can also book a ride in her or several other planes. Check the website nationalwarplanemuseum.com or call the o ce (open Wed-Sun 10-3pm) at 585-243-2100 for more information. e Museum is run by volunteers (with one part-time employee), and we need more, so come on down to see what you can add to the team.

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