The June 15, 1947 souvenir program listed formation aerobatics by PT-19’s, aerobatics by Charlie Bing flying a North American AT-6, Beverly Howard flying a German Bucker Jungmeister, a flaming parachute jump by Dick Millar, a comedy air act by Bernie Miltenberger, Harry Flook crashing a plane through a flaming wall, and mass bombing tactics by twelve Army Air Force Douglas Invader A-26 medium bombers. The first US military jet aircraft, a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, also made an appearance.
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star at the Cumberland Airport.
Charlie Bing thrilled the audience with his snarling, howling, and roaring 650 hp Pratt and Whitney engine in the AT-6 Texan. His precision aerobatics, at times below the level of the crowd on the west hillside, was a thrilling display, especially to the pilot veterans who had flown Texans in flight training during WW II.
Bernie Miltenberger displayed his masterful comedy ‘Flying Farmer’ act. The Municipal Airport is traversed by a Western Maryland Railroad underground tunnel running through the field center. Prior arrangement with the public address announcer alerted the audience that Bernie intended to end his act by flying his Taylorcraft through the railroad tunnel located beneath the airport. The crowd’s attention was directed to the area over South Cumberland where the Taylorcraft could be seen diving down towards the tunnel entrance to disappear as though it entered the tunnel opening which was located below the level of the airport. After a short delay the Taylorcraft zoomed up on the opposite side of the airfield where the tunnel exits the airport, to the amusement and amazement of the assembled crowd. Bernie actually flew extremely low around the east side of the airport hill, unobserved by the audience, making it appear to all viewers as though he had actually flown through the tunnel. A local pilot and superb story teller, Holmes Hinkle, said that one lady once remarked that she knew Miltenberger really flew through the tunnel because she saw mud on the Taylorcraft’s wing tips. Bernie was truly a superb air comedy pilot.
Bernie Miltenberger’s Taylorcraft, which he used in the famous ‘Flying Farmer’ act.
Bevo Howard was flying a German Bucker Jungmeister sport aerobatic trainer, attained from the pre-war German Luffwaffe, in his air show performances. The Jungmeister was brought to the US aboard the German Airship Hindenberg prior to its flaming crash at Lakehurst, NJ, in 1937.
Bevo Howard in front of his Bucker Jungmeister at Cumberland.
Rumanian Air Ace Alex Pompano used the Bucker for his aerobatic performance at the Cleveland Air Races in 1936. The plane was then acquired by pre-war air show pilot Mike Murphy, who gained fame while serving in the US Army Glider Corps. The Jungmeister was then acquired by Howard and was considered one of the best performing aerobatic airplanes of its day. The aircraft’s ability was further enhanced by the addition of a higher horse power Warner 185 hp radial engine. With this airplane Bevo could now expand his aerobatic show to an amazing limit, which was displayed at Cumberland. The last act of his performance was to cut a ribbon stretched between two bamboo poles spaced not much farther apart than the aircraft’s wing span. This feat was accomplished by Bevo with the craft’s propeller while flying inverted in the Jungmeister. It was a thrilling experience to be volunteer holders of the bamboo poles which stretched the ribbon, as the upside down Jungmeister came screaming by and used the propeller to sever the ribbon. This aircraft is now enshrined at the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington DC.
The audience was waiting for another big event of the day. Eighth Air Force veteran and Cumberland Airways pilot Harry Flook flew a Piper Cub through a flaming wooden wall erected in front of the crowd. The Cub used for this act had minimum fuel and was a well used craft with numerous flight hours as a trainer. After Harry’s take off he circled while the mid-field gasoline drenched wooden wall was ignited and then Harry Flook flew the Cub into and through the flaming wooden wall. Fortunately, the daredevil Flook escaped completely unharmed. The Cub, however, did not fare nearly as well and ended up battered and broken, but still intact.
The 1947 Air Show final event was Harry Flook making this spectacular staged crash.
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Wings Over Cumberland 