There are numerous individuals who provided greatly appreciated assistance in the preparation of this work. To all of those and to the honor of the individual pilots and stories relayed about the aviators of the past and present, we offer our profound appreciation. Listed below are individuals who helped immensely in this historical compilation. Prior apologies are offered to any who should be in this listing but does not appear. We have done our best and hope our oversights will be forgiven. To all those listed below the co-authors say, thank you.
* Floyd Johnson – whose stories and first hand observation of the happenings in aviation near his home site at Mexico Farms was relayed and made available to Bob Poling, his life long friend. Even after death Floyd’s aviation stories remain in the forefront of Bob Poling’s recollection.
* Joyce Johnson – the daughter of Floyd, who still resides on the Johnson property.
* Donald Johnson – the only remaining living Johnson brother, who still resides on the original ‘Bogues’ Johnson Mexico Farm property.
* Harold Armstrong – for recollections of the early days of aviation at Mexico Farms and at the Pinto air field, and for his personal experiences and input on names like Herb Wentz, Joe Brown, Tom Barton, and many others.
* David and Tim Long – who provided additional recollections of aviation’s past, some precious photographs, and expounded on the exploits of Dave’s brother, Joe.
* Mrs. Hilda Landis – the widow of ‘Torque’ Landis, the multi-talented pilot who was the most popular and renowned local aviator of the 1920’s through the 1950’s. Torque could put professional stunt pilots to shame with his displays of aeronautical expertise.
* Mrs. Joseph ‘Crissie’ Caldara – the widow of Major General Joe Caldara, who made Mt. Savage and our area proud of his distinguished Air Force service. Crissie’s lucid recollections of her husband’s accomplishments were extremely helpful.
* James H. and Martha Dolly – Their composition of ‘Lily Pad On a Pond – The Golden Days of Aviation at Mexico Farms’ served as background information on the olden days of local flying.
* Bob McBride – whose personal recollections of his own experiences and those of his father were of high value.
* George ‘Slim” McBride – whose friendship with Torque Landis enabled him to recall interesting events.
* James Abe – A former Kelly Springfield pilot, long time flight instructor, and open wheel racing car driver, Jim assisted in the TWA airliner segment and other recollections.
* Bill Holbrook – a unique individual whose talents in aviation and soaring are well known, and whose impact on the Cumberland Airport and his control and leadership of the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company’s Flight Operations is to be commended.
* The Cumberland Times-News – from whom a multitude of references are quoted in this manuscript.
* Gene Kelley – who’s recall of an abundance of humorous incidents from the early days of aviation at Mexico Farms and at Cumberland were available to Bob Poling, who was a great friend.
* Mr. and Mrs. Miles Amick – Their supplying of newspaper clippings and historical letters to Miles’ father, Captain Arthur H. Amick, Sr. was valuable in the early reconstruction of local aviation.
* Mr. and Mrs. Jack Delagrange – who supplied background information regarding both the Cumberland Airport and Mexico Farms.
* Bernice Delagrange Munro – a sister to Jack Delagrange, whose husband’s brother was pilot and captain of the Goodyear Blimp in its Mexico Farms visit in 1937.
* Doug Rannells – son of Bill Rannells who supplied information about his father.
* Earl M. Wilson – an original member of the Alleghany Flying Club.
* Major Kenneth Jewell – prior to his death, Kenny Jewell affirmed his military experiences during World War II. Although he would not term himself a war hero, he certainly proved that he was in that category.
* Elizabeth Wagner – Jack Wagner’s widow who supplied information about her husband, another true hero of World War II.
* Ellsworth Rosenmarkle – an early flight instructor of Bob Poling who served many years with the Alleghany Flying Club.
* Wallace Walker – a brother of Ray Walker, who was helpful in the history of Mexico Farms Air Field and supplied some old photographs.
* Jo Beynon – references from her newspaper column, ‘This-n-That’, were useful in the description of Captain J. Phillip Roman.
* Fidelis ‘Fidel’ Miltenberger – with his knowledge of his brother, Bernie Miltenberger, ‘Fidel’ aided in the description of Bernie as a capable and talented stunt pilot.
* The Keyser, WV News-Tribune – whose 1938 description of the first air mail service in this area was noteworthy. Other news items from this publication were also of great assistance.
* Air Force Magazine – for the descriptive coverage of Kenny Jewell’s hazardous bombing mission over Germany during WW II.
* The Shopper’s Guide of the Bedford County Press – for aiding in the recollections of war hero Kenny Jewell’s flying exploits.
* Bob and Jim Armstrong – These two Armstrongs aided in parts of this recollection and complete the quartet of aviators who Bob Poling terms ‘The Flying Armstrongs’. Jim, Harold, and Bill are brothers and Bob is the son of Harold. All three brothers were Air Force pilots, with Harold and Bill serving long and distinguished careers, both retiring as Lt. Colonels. Bob continues his extraordinary flying career as a corporate pilot. There are other families with multiple pilots that complement this historical undertaking, but this group of aviators has probably done so to a greater degree.
* Joe Brown – whose early flying feats are recalled and who was able to input recollections of other early aviators.
* Chris Mazaika – for her assistance in the research of the history of the local MEDEVAC unit based at the Cumberland Airport.
* Al Feldstein – as an acknowledged local history expert, his research in the naming of the Mexico Farms Airport was helpful.
* The Union-News Sunday Republican – for valuable information regarding the B-52 crash in Garrett County in 1964.
* Gerald ‘Gerry’ Shaffer – for assistance in the recollection of many events.
* Derr Golladay – for greatly aiding in the stating flying facts from by-gone days.
* Stan Leasure – for providing recollections of long ago times that were of great assistance.
* Elwood Rowley – for his recall of early flying days in Cumberland.
* Tom Barton – as a Pinto flyer, his recall of activity there were helpful.
* Herman Melotti – who was instrumental in the recollection of the automobile racing at the Cumberland Airport.
* News Letter, March 1968, West Virginia Pulp and Paper Fine Paper Division, Luke, MD – for excerpts on the segment on Gus Graf.
* Suter Kegg – whose writings for the Cumberland Times-News are referenced several times.
* Vintage Airplane – for excerpts concerning the early history of the Civil Air Patrol.
* National Geographic Society – for photography at the Antique Aircraft Association which included photos of Harold Armstrong’s Waco 10 and other unique aircraft.
* Betty Mullenax Williams – for assistance in the recall of long ago history.
* Dr. Edward F. ‘Ed’ Byars – for twice undertaking a professional proof reading of drafts of the manuscript and initiating numerous corrections, suggestions, and adjustments. The authors are deeply indebted to Ed Byars for this gracious service which he volunteered to accomplish.
* Dr. David Poling – for assisting his father, the author, in several segments of the text.
* Mark Armstrong – for greatly aiding his father, the co-author, in computer assistance, compilation of the Index, offering guidance in photo scanning, and many aspects of the total manuscript. Mark’s computer background and expertise were of tremendous value in this work and without his assistance the final product could not have been accomplished.
* Potomac Highlands Airport Authority – as the controlling entity of the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, the Airport Authority offered strong backing for this project and provided a large financial contribution enabling the final publication of the manuscript. For this the co-authors are profoundly appreciative.
Among the numerous sources of readings about early aviation history, the following books are recommended:
Into the Wild Blue Yonder Gently by Bill Armstrong, Commercial Press Printing Co., May 2000. Written by the co-author of Wings Over Cumberland, this book is described in the Preface of this manuscript.
Close Encounters of a Vagabond Ferry Pilot – A Memoir by Bill Sparks – Self published in 2001. Reared in LaVale, MD and maintaining contact with the Cumberland area over the years, Bill Sparks writes of his varied exposures to the rigors of a nomandic ferry pilot flying aircraft to customers over the globe. Overcoming childhood medical problems and later quitting a steady job, he fulfilled his dream of flying. With flights originating from Lock Haven, PA and with frequent stopovers at Cumberland, he recalls in a humorous and graphic fashion the trials and tribulations of being a vagabond aviator.
Around the World in 175 Days by Carroll V. Glines, Smithsonian Institution Press. This was the first around the world flight by US Army Air Service aviators in 1924, an epic flight in Douglas World Cruisers. Encountering severe weather and other obstacles and facing other competition to be the first to circle the globe via aircraft, this historical recording will hold the interest of any reader.Mason Patrick and the Fight for Air Service Independence, Smithsonian Institution Press. Major General Mason Patrick was the early leader of the United States Army Air Service who was instrumental in the development of a military flying branch of the armed forces during and after World War I. Patrick was a determined and efficient officer in recognizing the full potential of airpower and was remarkably successful in gaining support for aircraft production, and enhanced both military and civilian aviation progress.
Wings Over Cumberland 