Infantry veteran makes it off the ground, some 60 years later
By Edward Freundl, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: August 21, 2008
A little-known program to fly in World War II aircraft and raise money for the Yankee Air Museum is creating valuable memories for those who take part.
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It's also bringing back memories for those of "The Greatest Generation" who actually took part in that history-making conflict.
One of those is Leonard Quigley, who, along with his companion, Janet Stull, took a ride July 30 in the museum's B-17G heavy bomber, the "Yankee Lady."
The museum at Willow Run Airport also has a restored B-25D Mitchell medium bomber.
Both aircraft take passengers on short excursion flights around the Detroit metropolitan area every Wednesday afternoon from April through September.
Quigley's flight was arranged by Lew Major of Manchester, a carpenter by trade and a museum volunteer who helped restore the B-25.
"I found out (Quigley) was a World War II vet and asked him if he'd like to come out and take a ride," Major said.
"We've known each other for a couple of years, but he got more interested in the last six months."
Quigley, who retired from the Chrysler Proving Grounds after 33 years, had hired Major to do some work at an apartment house he manages in Chelsea.
"I'm just excited about all this; I know a couple of the crew members from the Proving Grounds," Quigley said while waiting for his flight.
"I asked Janet if she'd like to go up in a bomber, and she said, 'Sure, that sounds like fun.'"
Stull confessed: "I didn't even know at the time what kind of 'bomber' he was talking about."
Stull said she's known Quigley for about 12 years. She was born in Ypsilanti and has lived in Manchester and Jackson.
While the ground crew rolled the B-17 out of the hangar, Major gave the couple an idea of what to expect.
"Quite often they fly over the Detroit River, Toledo or Flint; I think today they are going over to Detroit," he said. "It's a 30- or 40-minute flight."
The flights cost $425 per person, Major said, and are often booked weeks in advance.
The B-17 can carry 10 passengers, while the B-25 can handle seven. Each plane goes up twice each Wednesday.
What is especially noteworthy, though, is that World War II veterans and their guests are treated like VIPs.
"He's the only vet today, so we made sure he got to go on the plane first," said ground crew member Keith Jones.
"Usually one or two vets take the flights every week."
The Yankee Air Museum was located in the northeast corner of Willow Run until it was destroyed by fire in 2004.
It is temporarily across the field in the former Zantop Airlines hangar until the new museum complex can be built.
It will take quite a bit of cash to bring that plan to fruition, which is the reason for these "flights of fancy" in the first place.
In the meantime, it also takes money just to keep the planes in the air.
If you think paying $4 per gallon to fill up your automobile is tough, consider this:
The B-17's four 9-cylinder, 1,200-horsepower turbocharged engines burn about 200 gallons of fuel per hour, and it holds almost 2,800 gallons.
The B-25 has two 14-cylinder, 1,700-horsepower engines that burn 75 gallons an hour with a fuel capacity of 800 gallons.
"The B-17 is our chief source of income because we have no museum that people can tour until it's rebuilt," Major said.
Unlike the dark green or gray usually seen in films, these vintage warbirds are decked out in their original plumage: a highly polished aluminum skin that shines brilliantly in the sun.
It is hard for civilians not to be impressed with the sheer size of the B-17: 74 feet long with a wingspan of 104 feet, and a top turret 19 feet off the ground.
The "Flying Fortress" was aptly named, too: it had a crew of 10, was armed with up to 13 .50-caliber machine guns in six defensive placements and carried up to 8,000 pounds of bombs internally and under the wings.
It is also quite a rarity: Of the more than 12,700 B-17s built, only about 50 remain intact throughout the world.
His own war stories
Quigley and Stull were scheduled for the second B-17 flight of the day, and he passed the time by recalling some of what he experienced during the war.
First of all, he admitted lying about his age to get into the service, something that was not uncommon in those dark days.
"I was born in the Chelsea area and lived here most of my life," Quigley said.
"I was born in 1928, but my birth certificate says 1926 so I could join the military earlier."
The former infantryman said he had never been up in a plane during the war, yet he showed no signs of apprehension about his impending flight.
"Naw, I don't let this stuff bother me," he said. "I've seen these B-17s knock out German troop trains - man, they put holes all over the place."
Quigley was attached to the 309th Infantry Regiment of the 78th Infantry Division.
"I was a .30-caliber machine gunner, and was a section leader," he said.
"I went in in August of '44. We went through France, Belgium and Germany, and I came out a corporal in September 1946."
Even though he downplayed the event, his most harrowing ordeal came when he was injured by the blast from a German 88mm cannon.
"That wasn't real bad," he said. "I also had my watch shot right off my arm one time."
It was January 1945 in Germany, near the end of the Battle of the Ardennes, familiarly known as "The Battle of the Bulge."
"There were 24 of us machine gun teams along this side of a field when we spotted German artillery right across from us," he recalled.
"They were firing over our heads but getting closer and closer to our position. I told our captain, 'Hey, we gotta get the heck out of here,' but he said, 'No, don't worry, they can't see us.'
"About that time I got blown up in the air and when I came to, I saw they'd killed 50 or 100 guys, including that captain.
"There were no medics, so I pulled a piece of schrapnel out of my back by myself. I was kind of dazed, and I guess I had a concussion.
"Me and the other guys who were left wandered around until we could find another unit to join up with; I didn't see a doctor for another two or three days," Quigley said.
He then changed the subject.
Pre-flight
Belching a thick fog of oily smoke, the fearsomely powerful engines roared to life and warmed up while waiting to take the plane on its next mission.
As the flight crew and ground crew went through their checklists, Neil Frank of Dexter gave the group a pre-flight briefing.
"It's a very gentle airplane," said Frank, who is retired from American Airlines and has volunteered with the museum for about seven years.
"Once we get up to altitude, you can move around the cabin," he added. "You're welcome to take pictures - but hang on to your camera!"
Other than Quigley and Stull, all the passengers were middle-aged men; typical for these excursions.
"You'll be flying about 165 mph (a little over half its rated top speed of 300 mph) at an altitude of about 3,000 feet," Frank said, and the route would take them down the Detroit River.
As promised, Quigley and Stull were led aboard the majestic aircraft first, followed by the other passengers.
Quigley sat amidships, while the petite Stull chose the tight quarters but spectacular view in the bombardier's position in the Plexiglas nose of the plane.
Looking like a scene out of any number of World War II movies, the giant plane lifted off gracefully (but hardly quietly) and soon disappeared into the nearly cloudless expanse of blue.
While waiting for the group's return, Major discussed many details of the aircraft, the flight program and the museum.
"These pilots are generally full-time commercial airline pilots; doing this is like their hobby," he said, adding: "Pilots are a pretty unique bunch."
He also noted that the museum has more than 3,500 members worldwide, with about 250 actively volunteering at the airport.
Many of them are retirees, Major pointed out.
"Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are big volunteer days around here," he said. "There's always something to do on the planes."
While the old Zantop hangar remains a beehive of activity, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work being done to rebuild the museum.
"Bob Lutz of General Motors (Vice Chairman of Global Product Development) is a member; GM donated $1 million for the reconstruction of the museum," he said.
"The plan calls for 12 buildings on the new Yankee Air Museum campus."
Back on terra firma
Another component of the museum's VIP service for veterans is to present them with a medal in honor of their military service after their flight.
Suspended from a red, white and blue ribbon, the medal's inscription reads, "Yankee Air Museum WWII Service Award: The Greatest Generation."
Following the landing, the crew, passengers and their friends and family members gathered for the short ceremony.
It was a surprise for Quigley, who reacted with the stoicism and humility characteristic of many survivors of that brutal global conflict.
However, he became more animated when talking about the flight.
"It was great; I didn't even know we were on the ground. It's not like a jet," he said.
"We went up to about 3,200 feet, I think. We followed the river and flew by the Ambassador Bridge and Tiger Stadium."
Stull was beaming with enthusiasm.
"It was very, very exciting," she bubbled.
"That was really an experience - it was a lot different ride than in a regular plane.
"Looking out the windows, it was beautiful."
Quigley said he wouldn't mind a return engagement.
"It was a great experience," he said.
"I'd do it again sometime, maybe in a different airplane."
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