thedrifter
04-09-09, 08:23 AM
Big Bear Valley pilots’ mission accomplished
Published: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 2:24 PM PDT
Two Big Bear Valley pilots recently took part in a mission to introduce wounded warriors to general aviation. The Marines and Army servicemen ranged in age from 20 to 24 and all had been wounded in action.
Big Bear Lake resident Roger Schmidt joined three other pilots to fly eight young Marines from Montgomery Field to Big Bear Airport's Barnstorm Restaurant for lunch.
The Big Bear Marine Corps League and many locals welcomed the Marines on their arrival to Big Bear.
On the return trip to Montgomery Field, the young men traded seats so each had an opportunity to get some right seat time at the controls of the airplane.
Big Bear City resident Don Shade joined five other pilots to fly six wounded servicemen around the Los Angeles basin. Shade and his Marine co-pilot, Grady Arnold, flew from Montgomery Field, up the coastline over LAX and then down to El Monte Airport, where they stopped for lunch at the airport restaurant.
Arnold was born and reared in Trumbell, Neb. He said he had never been on a roller coaster and loved flying over Los Angeles.
From El Monte, they flew the inland route back to San Diego. Schmidt and Shade are active members of the Veterans Airlift Command, a nationwide network of airplane owners and pilots who provide free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families.
Ellie
Published: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 2:24 PM PDT
Two Big Bear Valley pilots recently took part in a mission to introduce wounded warriors to general aviation. The Marines and Army servicemen ranged in age from 20 to 24 and all had been wounded in action.
Big Bear Lake resident Roger Schmidt joined three other pilots to fly eight young Marines from Montgomery Field to Big Bear Airport's Barnstorm Restaurant for lunch.
The Big Bear Marine Corps League and many locals welcomed the Marines on their arrival to Big Bear.
On the return trip to Montgomery Field, the young men traded seats so each had an opportunity to get some right seat time at the controls of the airplane.
Big Bear City resident Don Shade joined five other pilots to fly six wounded servicemen around the Los Angeles basin. Shade and his Marine co-pilot, Grady Arnold, flew from Montgomery Field, up the coastline over LAX and then down to El Monte Airport, where they stopped for lunch at the airport restaurant.
Arnold was born and reared in Trumbell, Neb. He said he had never been on a roller coaster and loved flying over Los Angeles.
From El Monte, they flew the inland route back to San Diego. Schmidt and Shade are active members of the Veterans Airlift Command, a nationwide network of airplane owners and pilots who provide free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families.
Ellie