Rochester airport, down in the southwest corner of Koskoland, is operated by Wayne and Helen Outcelt. Wayne, former Warsaw high school star athlete, is a pilot and mechanic. Helen, daughter of public service company's Walter House, has been flying airplanes since they cut her pigtails off.

They have an outstanding, all-over flying field, good facilities and clean equipment. One of their pretty proteges is Peggy Trout, who writes me the following letter:

Dear Mr. Mollenhour: Here is our latest bit of newsy news!

We are very proud of the fact that we are one of the few airports in Indiana to receive the Good Airport Operating Practice Certificate for 1947. It is awarded by the National Aeronautics association once a year to airports which meet the highest standards for safe operation.

We are also an approved flying school now since we received our Air Agency Certificate from the C.A.A., Certificate No. 6112.

Our set of runway lights (24) have caused the greatest excitement about town. On our very first night of flying, the residents of Rochester and vicinity kept calling all evening to see if we had gotten the airplane down "that was in trouble." Our only comment to them was that "it's just some students practicing."

Our greatest pride and joy is the 450-horsepower negative staggered Beechcraft which has been added to the fleet. It's a five-place job with plenty of oomph! (180 miles per hour cruising speed).

Our newest solo student is Allen Miller, of Rochester. Private licenses have been issued to Burdette Walton, of Rochester, Joseph Wildermuth, of Akron, and Carl Zolman, of Mentone. All three men received their primary training here.

Last, but not least, is the sad story of our calico cat, "Squeeky." Maybe she has eloped--maybe she is a stowaway in a transit airplane--anyway she has been missing since January 11. Any information leading to her whereabouts will be greatly appreciated. Raindrop is very lonesome without her playmate. Sincerely yours, Peggy Trout.

Things have been happening at the Warsaw airports, too, during these frosty, but clear winter days. At Municipal last Sunday, I saw insurance-man Ray strayer chewing his fingernails down to his elbows while son-in-law Bill Harvuot soloed for the first time. It won't be long, Bill, until you'll have Ray up there beside you!

And Charley Lemler, cheerful Charley, that is, acquired his private certificate Sunday from Joe Carlin.

Across the road and north a bit at Smith Field, Paul Lowman advanced a student into the glorified ranks of private pilots, when Lake Tippecanoe's Robert Sherman earned his certificate Sunday.

Paul Quillen, hard working A & E mechanic at the field, keeps them running, is now going to fly them himself. Paul soloed last week.

Jay Shue, Winona Lake alderman, brought Sky Writing a clipping of an aviation column from the Fort Worth Press in Texas. Column is written by Jim Mayo, is good. Jay tells about seeing a bus load of men disembark along a road down there, lined up around a field with shotguns. Then over came two small airplanes, hedge-hopping under the phone wires, scooting down gulleys. When he inquired: "What's the rumpus?" he found out they were hunting wolves. (Some of you guys better stay away from Texas). This was the four-legged variety they were after and they actually shot several from the moving planes.

As always happens, however when such things are done with airplanes, someone shot a hole through a wing. Would you weather prophets say a "cold front" had passed through here several days ago? Personally, I think it ran out of gas along about here and is stuck.

Warsaw Daily Times Wed. Jan. 28, 1948