Here's a story for the book. Just happened Sunday. At Rochester a student pilot took off in an airplane with the rudder gone, the left elevator gone, half of the left stabilizer gone, flew once around the field and landed without mishap!

Talk about airplanes being stable and safe, boy!

Elvin Hulse, a student from Indianapolis, and his pal, Jesse Combs from the capital city, flew into Rochester on a cross-country flight in two new Cessnas.

At the time of take-off Hulse taxied out to proper position and opened the throttle. Combs, like some auto drivers, got in a hurry and tried to take off direct from the parking area. He approached the Hulse airplane from the blind side. The fast whirling propeller of the Combs airplane chewed its way right through the rudder, elevator and stabilizer of Hulse's plane.

Hulse already had full speed up and his plane went on upstairs.

In what sounds to me like masterful understatement, the boy later said, "She didn't fly quite right so I came back in." Everyone on the field saw combs' ship come to a stop with the propeller broken clear down to the hub, saw the remains of Hulse's controls flopping on the field.

With bated breath they watched the lad carefully and cautiously nurse the injured ship clear around the field and back in for a landing. He did it and he did it without further mishap. The story stands as a monument to the stability of present-day aircraft. They apparently will fly with more than serious damage to important controls. It also stands as a fortunate warning to all pilots. When you don't observe traffic rules, the results are the same, on the airport or on the highway!

Big, genial "Red" Brown, the contractor on the job at Municipal airport, Warsaw, and City Engineer Don Lessig, were spending Sunday morning running a giant roller up and down the new hard-surfaced runway. The two men donated their time in an effort to assure that the field would be ready for the grand dedication and air show, two weeks from Sunday on July 25th.

They looked so hot and sweaty, and aggravated, too -- I took pity on them and offered each a spin above and around the field in the cool breezes of the upper air to inspect their handiwork. They both accepted, so one at a time up and around we went. From the air Warsaw's new airport really resembles a big city air terminal, with its wide runways, neat taxi strips and black-top.

In the past few days, the aviation board -- always poor as church mice --have begged and borrowed the street department's fine new tractor and grass mower, and with volunteer help, trimmed the ragged edges at the airport. It's beginning to look nice. By dedication day, it will be tip-top and worth seeing.

I'm trying to find out a little more about the rumor that we might have some giant B-29's and speed-of- sound jet planes over the field on that great day. Will let you know more about that later as it develops into a certainty.

Warsaw's Aero club has a new set of officers for the 1948-49 season. Veteran pilot and aviation enthusiast from way back, Jake Menzie is president. Warsaw auto dealer, who owns his own airplane too, Frank Hartsock, is vice-president. Hard working Mrs. E. Kaye-Smith, of Winona Lake, was elected secretary, and Bill VanDoran will handle the group funds, if any, during the year. He's treasurer. Menzie appointed Curt Broughton and Bob Orcutt to the flight committee, which would be known as an activities committee elsewhere. The Aero club is combining forces with the Chamber of Commerce on the Air Show and Dedication, July 25th.

Did you ever wonder how much these boys get for risking their necks in the air shows around the country? They do it as much for the love of flying as for the money, you know, cause money can't buy a life or very much of what goes into a happy one. But the zest and zing, the thrill of their tricks buys a lot toward contentment of these high-strung fellows.

The deals vary from show to show, but for the use of his equipment and ascent in a hot -air balloon and old-fashioned parachute drop, Don Woods will get $175. Out of this he must pay his crew, set up the elaborate balloon-filling rig and pay his transportation.

Bob McCombs, that aerial acrobat from Fort Wayne, will draw at least $300 for doing things with an airplane that it was never made to do. For nearly an hour on and off Sunday, July 25th, Bob will show you how NOT to fly! The high-altitude-delayed parachute jumper, $100.

Nearly $1,000 cash has been poured into the coming event to make it a memorable day for kids from six to sixty.

We loafed all day Sunday. Flew a little bit Sunday morning and marveled at the increasing air traffic. Both fields at Warsaw had tremendous days Saturday and Sunday. I'm fascinated with the progress of new U.S. 30 east of Warsaw and always fly over that way to see the ribbon of the road-bed snake it's bright brown way through the raw countryside.

Maybe you know and maybe you don't, but flying east you can see the road bed where it meets old 30 between Gilliam's pond and Howard Thompson's barn. It swings south toward the Pennsylvania railroad until it parallels the tracks as it passes through the Catalpa grove between Warsaw and Pierceton. Just west of Pierceton it gently curves north again to barely miss the town, then back to the tracks.

At Larwill, the road-builders got tougher and just scooped their way smack through the north side of town, moving houses, barn garages, uprooting trees and all obstructions. It continues its bright tan way in an almost straight line east from Larwill to Columbia City, gradually pulling away from the railroad tracks.

About every quarter or half-mile you can see the big culverts being built which will drain the ditches alongside the highway. It really looks like a big project from the air.

We missed our usual flight at dusk on Sunday evening. Traded it off to watch the sun go down over Winona Lake, behind the band shell where 120 youngsters were performing for their proud Moms and Pops. Our flying friends, the Clarks from Valpo, have a daughter at the band camp, so we made an interested party, comfortably seated in the big outdoor amphitheater.

That is certainly a wonderful setting for any kind of an affair. As darkness fell over the lake, the water reflected the last of the sky-glow. The rim of dark around the edge of the lake was punctured repeatedly by bright pin-points as yard lights and cottage lights were turned on. An occasional motor boat would glide by with its running lights making ripply reflections to each side. The children in the band shell were dressed in brilliant white and under the flood lights made a startling contrast to the deep purple of the darkening lake. The music was good too!.

I can't help but notice lately the heartbeat of so-called "community life" beating strongly here in Indiana. I've marveled at the people who gather at Syracuse for their Fish Festival at Webster for the Mermaid Festival, or at Warsaw on July 5th.

That same evening I had occasion to go to Mentone and in Veterans' Park there I found nearly the entire community congregated in family groups. One night last week I passed the same park and again entire families were there together. The park was packed. It was a nice summer evening and they were yelling themselves hoarse as a good old American ball game was in progress.

Frankly I can't see much wrong with this world today or the people in it. In America, that is!

Warsaw Daily Times July 12, 1948