HomeMy WebLinkAbout37- Edward Jeffrey Norton vets eye C-141 now, but it will always be Norton to us,"said
retired Air Force Master Sgt. Ed Jeffries, a 25-
old plane would be .SB year veteran who served in three wars- under
seven presidents- logging 16,000 flying hours as
memorial a flight engineer.
Michel Nolan,Staff Writer Jeffries and nine other"old crew dogs"of the
63rd Military Airlift Wing gathered at the former
=d 0s 212010 10:20:51 PM PDT base on Tuesday to discuss their plan to bring
one of the dwindling numbers of C-141s to the
former base as a memorial.
The four-engine jet cargo plane flew between
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1964 and 2006-an illustrious 43-year career as
_.. _ a workhorse
ern for the Air Force.
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SAN BERNARDINO-Norton Air Force Base will City ClerKDC Seerefary
always live in the hearts of Ed Jeffries and fellow City Of San Bernardino
members of the 63/445 Norton Veterans Group.
"It may be San Bernardino International Airport
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cover the cost of transporting the aircraft.
"Stephen Matich and 1 will go to Tucson to pick it
up," Brown said. "We've worked out the logistics
and are just waiting for the site to be
/r�tA determined."
F• - Added Brown, "It seems it should be a focal
point. These guys are decorated war heroes and
4 are deserving of any support the community can
give."
Matich said the group is trying to gain
possession of the airplane now.
A C-141 Starlifter, the "40614," sits at Davis- Monthan Air
Force Base's 309th Aircraft and Regeneration Center in
Arizona during a memorial and reunion for crew members 'They're working with the U.S. Air Force and
who nearly crashed in Australia on a mission 30 years ago. Homeland Security, trying to get It released," he
This is the type of aircraft being sought by the Norton (Air said
Force Base)Veterans Group to display as a memorial at
San Bernardino International Airport. (Courtesy Photo)
"We're glad to be a part of this. I told Ed if you
can get it off that base, we'll get it here," said
In its heyday in 1964, 60 of the aircraft were Matich, whose grandfather built the base in 1933
assigned to Norton. By September 1993 the last when it was known as the San Bernardino Air
of the C-141s at Norton were reassigned. Depot.
The nonprofit group is making arrangements to To Jeffries' knowledge, there are only four of the
have the first 40 feet of a rare C-141 cargo cargo giants left in "bone yards"across the
aircraft transported from Tucson's Davis- country.
Monthan Air Force Base to the former base as a
memorial honoring those who served onboard 'They're extinct-there are no more flying," he
the aircraft and those who served at the base- said.
both military and civilian.
"The airplane we want was going to be chopped
According to Jeffries, Stater Bros. Markets board up and sold for scrap metal."
Chairman and CEO Jack Brown, and Matich Corp.
President Stephen Matich have volunteered to Raymond Akin, a retired flight engineer and
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former teacher, said, "It happens to everyone in "We've heard the engineers panel on our plane is
the fleet when they get so old-its like us." in really good condition,"he said.
San Bernardino's C-141 of choice has a colorful According to Chief Master Sgt Gil Vanegas, "In
history. In 1977 in Australia, the airplane lost almost every disaster in the U.S. -you name it-
two of its engines and was able to circle around the C-141 and Norton took part. They were part
and make a controlled crash landing-the first of a lot of history."
time a C-141 has lost two engines on the same
side. The plane transported moon rocks, supplies, the
returning Hanoi prisoners, Bob Hope's annual
The crew of seven survived. USO troupe, returning soldiers and VIPs, as well
as undertaking mercy missions and re-supply of
According to Jeffries, "The compressor blades scientific missions in Antarctica and the South
had blown up and were ripping the airplane with s Pole.
hrapnel. The holes have since been covered up."
According to retired load master Paul Pfeifer, the
Frank Reed, a retired flight engineer, defined the C-141 made a lot of air drops as well.
group as"a bunch of old engineers and
loadmasters with a grandiose idea." "Fully loaded, the gross weight of the C-141 on
takeoff was 325,000 pounds," Pfeifer said.
The veterans group, 110 members strong, plans
to recondition the aircraft when it arrives, The C-141 could carry either a dozen Jeeps or
eventually opening it up to the public. three Huey helicopters, two 500MM Howitzers or
two fire trucks, he said.
The goal is to have the aircraft here by July 4.
The exact site at the former base is yet to be Jeffries, 83, said that making the plane a
determined. memorial has been a dream of his since the co-
pilot of the C-141 controlled crash contacted
The memorial will utilize the front fuselage, him in 2008.
including the full cockpit, crew rest and front
portion of the cargo compartment-everything 'This is what keeps me going,"Jeffries said.
forward of the wing.
'The veterans' memorial project will also include
Retired flight engineer Loomas Marshall reported assisting area veterans, funding a scholarship
that the wingspan of the C-141 is 160 feet. program, and even making presentations in
schools,"Vanegas said
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"We're trying to keep the history of Norton alive,"
he said.
The veterans group is hoping for financial
support from the community to get the C-141
ready for the public at the former base.
For more information, call Jeffries at 909-486-
1727. Donations can be sent to: 63/445 Norton
Veterans Group, 7125 Elmwood Road, San
Bernardino, CA 92404.
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