Red Tail Squadron on the move...

[Warbirdnerd]

Yesterday I received the unwelcome news that CAF Sr. Management has mandated the Red Tail Squadron re-locate from the Minneapolis area -its longtime home and birthplace- to Dallas Redbird effective 1-1-2015 in support of the Dallas Airbase (DAB).

I have been part of the CAF and the RTS since 2004 and have a lot of wonderful memories working with great people rebuilding and maintaining the Red Tail. A group of us were working the Flightline that sad day in Red Wing when Don Hinz lost his life. Even as we recovered the aircraft from its crash site, our decision was clear; we would do whatever it took to get the Red Tail back in the air and on the airshow circuit and resolved as a group to make that a reality. Over the course of its five year rebirth, a core group of us made the eight hour round trip from Minneapolis to Wahpeton, ND countless times to rebuild the P-51C. During those weekends I was very fortunate to work with an incredible group of people at Tri State Aviation and Odegaard Wings, including Gerry Beck, Bob Odegaard, and Mark Tisler. Memories I will always cherish.

I wish the Red Tail Squadron all the best in the future and offer fair warning to other CAF members and units:

Please recall the words CAF President Stephen Brown sent to the membership while campaigning for support of the a new HQ and Airbase location: “If your unit is successful in what it’s doing, it’s business as usual. No airplanes will be arbitrarily removed and relocated”. Based on the quelled fears of the membership, a ratifying vote to allow the move to proceed was made. In May of 2014 when the new Dallas location was revealed, at the same time it was also announced that certain units within the CAF will be relocated to the DAB. As an odd coincidence, they just happen to be the most successful and financially profitable units the CAF has: Tora, B-24/29 Squadron, Red Tail Squadron just to name the biggest among them.

Enter success at your own peril. Risk factors include but are not limited to: A popular airplane that is easily booked. A record of 100% operational readiness with perfect attendance record extending over over six flying years and more than 180 appearances across the country. A compressive story and valid mission backed by a moving theater to support and share that story.

If your airplane becomes a popular draw, Colonel Brown may just decide he needs it for his new brainchild DAB…

[DH82EH]

I'm sorry to hear this Bryan.
I've enjoyed seeing this Mustang and the crews which operate her at several shows in the north east and Canada.

She will be missed.

Andy

[Warbirdnerd]

Andy~
I'm not sure where you got the impression that the Redtail will no longer be touring. It will. She will now be based in Dallas with a new maintenence crew.

[Matt Gunsch]

What it means is the CAF has ripped the heart out of the Squadron that poured its heart, soul and money into the project, as well as the money the sponsors put into the plane.

I can see pulling a plane from a wing or squadron that is failing, but to pull one from a group that is going strong does no make sense and only creates bad blood.

[kpardon]

While I am sympathetic to the OPs feelings of anger and loss over HQs request to base the airplane in Dallas, I need to ask a question.

Why did you pour your heart and soul into the airplane in the first place?

I hope it was because you wanted to help fulfill Don's mission -- because of your work this airplane and the story it tells impacts children all over the country. I have watched it happen and it's a wonderful thing. That was the goal. You should be thrilled about that accomplishment and proud of yourself and your squadron members. You did your job so well they now want to use it as the cornerstone of this new facility. Do you think Don would be proud about that and grateful to all of you?

When we make these things about ourselves we lose sight of the real reason we do the things we do. Your hard work and accomplishments will never be diminished just because you can't drive over to the airport and rub on the airplane.

It's interesting -- the Tuskegee Airmen did their job so well they were specially requested by others to escort them on bomb runs. See the parallel?

And, again, I get the heartache. Just offering another perspective.

[C VEICH]

While I am sympathetic to the OPs feelings of anger and loss over HQs request to base the airplane in Dallas, I need to ask a question.

Why did you pour your heart and soul into the airplane in the first place?

I hope it was because you wanted to help fulfill Don's mission -- because of your work this airplane and the story it tells impacts children all over the country. I have watched it happen and it's a wonderful thing. That was the goal. You should be thrilled about that accomplishment and proud of yourself and your squadron members. You did your job so well they now want to use it as the cornerstone of this new facility. Do you think Don would be proud about that and grateful to all of you?

When we make these things about ourselves we lose sight of the real reason we do the things we do. Your hard work and accomplishments will never be diminished just because you can't drive over to the airport and rub on the airplane.

It's interesting -- the Tuskegee Airmen did their job so well they were specially requested by others to escort them on bomb runs. See the parallel?

And, again, I get the heartache. Just offering another perspective.

I have no dog in this fight, not being nor ever having been a member of the CAF. However, from my "outside persective" I don't find the above reasoning very compelling particularly if the stated quote of Mr. Stephen Brown is accurate. This is simply my own opinion based upon what has been posted and no offense intended to any of the involved parties.

[RyanShort1]

Have you guys asked HQ if you could have a go at another plane to try and replicate your success?

Ryan

[Warbirdnerd]

Have you guys asked HQ if you could have a go at another plane to try and replicate your success?

Ryan

Not interested. There are many other warbirds in the area we can help out with including other Mustangs. No dues, uniforms, or lies from the Lone Star State.
Heck we might even get a ride too.

The MN Wing is a great group of people and I still have many friends there.
Hopefully Colonel Brown is not eyeing their B-25 for the DAB too.

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Fri Nov 07, 2014 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

So now when's the SoCAL wing moving? That Hellcat leaves CA for good, my donations stop for good. And FWIW I'm not a CAF member. Not interested in traveling to TX to see the thing when it was perfectly fine here in CA
Oh that's right, not my airplane, not my problem. Of course this is all speculation on my part. I'm sure the SoCAL wing is fine ... for now.
Enthusiasm for warbirds lately has been tough.

Sad to hear the news Bryan, but you should have known better than to give a d*mn about an old airplane. Oh wait I've done that too and ended up disappointed. (not too serious a statement there)
You hang your head high, you have a lot to be proud of no matter the outcome.

M

[RyanShort1]

Not interested. There are many other warbirds in the area we can help out with including other Mustangs. No dues, uniforms, or lies from the Lone Star State.
Heck we might even get a ride too.

Is SB from Texas?

[jspott]

Did the squadron leadership approve the move or was the move forced against the leaderships wishes.

[Red Tail]

While I am sympathetic to the OPs feelings of anger and loss over HQs request to base the airplane in Dallas, I need to ask a question.

Why did you pour your heart and soul into the airplane in the first place?

I hope it was because you wanted to help fulfill Don's mission -- because of your work this airplane and the story it tells impacts children all over the country. I have watched it happen and it's a wonderful thing. That was the goal. You should be thrilled about that accomplishment and proud of yourself and your squadron members. You did your job so well they now want to use it as the cornerstone of this new facility. Do you think Don would be proud about that and grateful to all of you?

When we make these things about ourselves we lose sight of the real reason we do the things we do. Your hard work and accomplishments will never be diminished just because you can't drive over to the airport and rub on the airplane.

It's interesting -- the Tuskegee Airmen did their job so well they were specially requested by others to escort them on bomb runs. See the parallel?

And, again, I get the heartache. Just offering another perspective.

Mrs. Pardon,

Having been the Crew Chief for the Squadron since December, 2003 I feel at least somewhat qualified to answer the questions you put to Bryan.

We did this in part to fulfill Don’s vision of what could happen if one applies logic, action and feeling to human obstacles. In many cases a better world is created, even if it’s just one small part of the world. With their permission, full support and cooperation, we used the heck out of the example the Tuskegee Airmen made during World War Two. No one could find a better model. As a side benefit it also proved to be one of our nation’s best attempts to date at recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen. However, at least for me, by far the largest part of the mission, which is all too often lost, is its mission of mentoring at risk youth. This nation suffers a dearth of quality youth guidance. By all accounts we more than succeeded in our goals and without question are thrilled by the results. I sincerely hope and pray for continued success.

The crew that spent five years putting the airplane together and kept it mission ready, with a perfect record for another six years in operation asked for nothing in return other than to continue in support of its mission in the way we best knew how; maintaining her in mission ready condition. To give you an idea of the level of dedication, for some it was a near fulltime job stacked on top of a normal 40 hour a week job…all as volunteers. Nobody ever leveled any serious complaints other than being tired…a good kind of tired. We believed in what we were doing. We took Mr. Brown at his word and in so were fully prepared to continue to supporting the Squadrons mission. This goal was cut short for no valid reason. With only minor concessions from each party we could have easily supported the Squadron and the DAB at the same time by working under the model we had developed and proven successful over our six years of operation. This apparently was not enough to satisfy.

This airplane was never about “Us” as you so incorrectly assume we felt it was. Each member of the team was indeed completely selfless in their contributions. Rather, they took a great deal of pride and ownership in the airplane and its mission. We are fully aware, and justifiably proud of the fact that our mark has been indelibly left on the Squadron. No matter where “Red” is, as long as it’s out there, so are we. It’s the one saving grace in this situation. There are very raw feelings right now because we had so much more to give and were willing and ready to follow through. Make no mistake Mrs. Pardon, that is the very heart wrenching part of this story. While CAF Sr. Management managed to get its way, at the same time it’s proven to me it has lost touch with the human element which is really what the CAF is all about…human beings, not airplanes ma’am, people. In its lustful grab it’s lost a comparatively youthful group of world class fabricators, troubleshooters and mechanics which is not at all in keeping with what is continuously preached to the membership as the thing to be doing.

How do I think Don would feel about this? I’m very glad you asked. On Thursday of this week I had lunch with a very good friend of mine, who incidentally was one of Dons longtime friends, whose friendship predated their days with the CAF. When I asked my lunch partner what he thought Don would do or think in this situation, without hesitating he said, “Don would have put a stop to it. The project, mission and now Squadron has always been Minnesota based, born, bread and largely supported. He would have insured it remain as such. He would have worked tirelessly until he found a solution amicable to all involved”. Don was a man of unmatched moral character, wit, business savvy, intelligence, filled with compassion and feeling for his fellow man from the greatest among us to the least. If you fully understand and grasp that Mrs. Pardon, my question to you would be, do you think Don would be proud of the CAF in this instance? There are a great deal of things that went on “Behind the scenes” to force this issue to the benefit of CAF Sr. Management you are not privileged to, and will not become known to you by me. Moral character is still a creed I hold true to as well.

Honestly, I don’t see any relationship in the parallel you attempted to draw. As I see it, the Airmen did their job and were rewarded with more work that had greater meaning and value, not stripped of their means to contribute in a meaningful way…

Regards,
John Beyl

[jspott]

The caf needs to needs to move forward and grow I voted for the move from midland and still believe it is the right move for the caf but an organization that depends on 99% of its operations from volunteers can't allow its paid staff to discount the passion of its members for the plans of its HQ

[Tim Savage]

In the interest of full disclosure I believe Mrs. Pardon is a member of CAF General Staff or was rather recently when a lot of these Dallas decisions were being executed.

The Dallas decision for the National HQ was smart in my opinion and I voted for it.

The long term question will be if they move units from other locations to Dallas whether they will continue to have broad financial and logistical support from other areas of the country. Steve Brown is a smart guy and I am sure he has thought through that...

Last edited by Tim Savage on Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[DougR]

Bryan

If there is anger, point it at me, not CAF HQ....

First off, I appreciate all the efforts of the small group of dedicated volunteers that have been dedicated to the airplane in Minnesota.

Secondly, it would be much more convenient for me if the airplane continued to live in St Paul...

But here is the deal, the Red Tail Squadron Mission is not about what you or I want, or even what Don would want. The pertinent question, is where can the Squadron be most effective...

Since the second rebuild and the advent of the Rise Above Exhibit the success of the operation has exceeded everyone's expectations in every metric. I think I can say with little doubt that Don would be proud... I can also tell you Don was always pushing to take everything to the next level.

It would be most convenient for me if the airplane lived in St Paul, and did out and back airshows from St Paul and sold a few rides to pay the bills.... But again, this is not about what I want, you want, or what any one person wants. It is about where the unit, can have the greatest impact.

The organization has progressed from a small entrepreneurial operation that scratched and scraped to rebuild an airplane and build a traveling exhibit which has had a major impact on the way Warbirds are used to inspire young people and educate them about the stories of WWII and the role that airpower played in our freedom.

Steve laid out a case for why the RTS should be in Dallas at HQ and it is very hard to argue with his logic. If the leadership had said no, I am pretty sure the RTS would have remained in St Paul, but that would have been in the interest of a very small group of people, not the RTS...

So if you have hard feelings and want to bash someone, bash me. I did not make the decision myself, we had a meeting and while it was a hard decision, the right thing to do was clear, and I was a driver in that decision. But we, the sponsor group, made the decision, not Steve Brown, not CAF HQ. And I am pretty certain that if Don were here, he would have supported it.

Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal