This just in from Steve Brown, President CAF... Lefty was quite a guy! He'll be missed...
ON THE FLY - Special Edition – The Passing of a CAF Legend
From: Steve Brown
I was notified late Christmas Eve of the passing of a CAF giant – Col Marvin L. (Lefty) Gardner, age 87. Born on September 10, 1921 Lefty was a Founding Member #110 of the Confederate Air Force. There is an extensive article on Col Gardner coming up in Dispatch, but a few details that you should know: According to the History of the Ghost Squadron, the original “blue book”, Lefty is mentioned on page 19 as participating in the third CAF aircraft recovery mission, when “a group of Colonels flew to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to return six North American AT-6’s: purchased from the Royal Canadian Air Force. “ Lefty was involved in most every important aircraft recovery and “CAF Military Airshow” for many years to come. Lefty became well known flying the P-38, “White Lightning”. (Photos attached)
In 1961 the CAF created the Silver Magnolia Blossom award for “Acts of valor above and beyond the line of duty.” Col Lefty Gardner was the first of two initial recipients, “…for the safe return of three aircraft..” the Corsair from Arizona, the P-40 from Florida and the P-38 from California.” So, as you can see, Lefty traveled a great bit in the early quest to collect, what became, the bedrock of the CAF of today.
The CAF was founded with a fabulous sense of humor and plenty of tongue in cheek was found in their earliest communications and citations. Below are excerpts from this first Silver Magnolia Blossom.
18 April 1962
*CITATION*
Lefty Gardner, 60-110, Colonel, Confederate Air Force, for gallantry in action in the heroic achievement at great personal risk, in connection with CAF operations over Union Outposts in California, Arizona and Florida, did under extremely adverse conditions, achieve the following:
Early on the morning of 10 September 1961, weary-eyed from poisonous Yankee whiskey, Col Gardner managed to find his way to the Sacramento Airport to take delivery of one P-38 aircraft on behalf of the Confederate Air Force and deliver said aircraft to CAF headquarters. He surveyed the cockpit and determined the use and purpose of each and every switch – except four – stowed his gear in the proper place, started the engines, roared down the runway and into the blue California sky and headed for DIXIE.
Colonel Gardner had very carefully stowed his magnetic clip flashlight to the side of his magnetic compass. Although there was some doubt as to the location of true north, Colonel Gardner was always able to locate his flashlight. After flying for one hour and 72 minutes along the great circle route at true airspeed of 328 mph, he landed at an airport which was 62 miles from take-off point. Removing his flashlight from the compass, Colonel Gardner, undaunted, proceeded on his journey. While crossing the Sierra Nevadas, Colonel Gardner found that his main fuel tank had become filled with air, at which time both engines quit. With utmost dispatch and cool logic Colonel Gardner, by process of elimination, moved all switches and valves until the engines again began to function. Having surmounted these difficulties he was then, through exceptional skill in the science of navigation, able to locate the State of Arizona. However, it soon became obvious they had recently moved the City of Phoenix to a new location. Whereupon, Colonel Gardner landed at the first available airfield and, as thousands of onlookers admired this dashing Rebel aviator who emerged from his great flying machine, he uttered the famous words of many a pioneer before him: ‘Where am I?’
The citation continues on a bit but ends with what, I think, is a fitting closing tribute for Col Marvin L. “Lefty” Gardner, as he along with the other visionary members set in motion the Warbird movement of today. This tribute, written 46 years ago is most appropriate today as a founding legend of the Confederate Air Force, Heads West - SB
His actions materially aided in procuring three fighter aircraft, thereby saving them from Yankee smelters. His actions will do much to familiarize this and coming generations with these fighter aircraft as well as with superior judgment, tactical skill, and personal courage of the typical Rebel aviator. The high qualities of judgment, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Gardner, and the fact that he got here A-tall, reflects great credit upon himself and the Confederate Air Force.
By the order of:
JETHRO E. CULPEPER
Colonel, CAF
Commander
Lefty’s son, Ladd Gardner passed along the following communication:
My dad's funeral will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 800 Jackson Rd.,
Kerrville, TX 78028 at 2:00 PM on Monday December 29th. Please pass the
information along to everyone that you think may like to attend.
Please keep Lefty’s wife - Sharon, Son – Ladd and brother – Doyle, in your prayers.
Steve
Stephan C. Brown
President / CEO
Commemorative Air Force (CAF)
PO Box 62000
Midland, TX 79711- 2000
o - (432) 563-1000 x 2224
c - (850) 978-2736
www.commemorativeairforce.org
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