8 Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, Tuesday, August 2, 1949
Noted Military
Leaders Guests
r? wv
41$ Jill
6 W.rnii iiVi fcnwni'-.iHillMim it1
The "enemy", is finally shot
down, and begins plummeting
to earth in a careening spin. The
"pilot" bails out, and his white
parachute opens with maneuv
ering planes buzzing all about
him.
You'U just have to see it to
capture the ferocious fury involved.
Here They Come, 500 MPH, Blue Angels In Flight Regard
ed as the best precision flying group of all time, the world
famous Blue Angels, pictured here in flight, will appear at
Salem's McNary field at 3 p.m. Friday. Admission is free .
and 1,002 thrills per customer guaranteed.
THRILLS AND CHILLS
Those Blue Angels, They
Will Do the Unbelievable
By CHRIS KOWITZ, JB.
Pull in your chimney, chum; the Blue Angels are coming to
(own.
Four airplanes, flying in such close formation that their wing
tips appear to be bolted together, streak across the sky at 500
miles an hour!
They perform intricate loops,
rolls, Cuban Eights, and other
precision stunts, while main
taining tight formation. And
they do it all at breathtaking
speeds and low altitudes.
Their attack on an "enemy"
plane is so realistic that audi
ences are left limp with excite
ment. The Blue Angels will perform
their full regalia of aerobatics
over Salem's McNary field dur
ing the dedication of the Naval
reserve facilities at 3 p.m. Fri
day. It is an official event of the
3 1st annual American Legion
state convention.
In their demonstration, the
Blue Angels fly the Grumman
Bearcat, the plane that made
them famous, and' vice versa.
The Bearcat, a carrier based
Navy fighter plane, at 500 miles
per hour is the fastest propeller
driven plane in use today.
Climbing Kate Amazing
It has a phenomenal rate of
climb, and yon can bet your
bottom dollar the Blue Angels
know how to climb it. In the
Cleveland air races in 1946 a
standard Nuvy Bearcat took off
from a standing start and exact
ly 100 seconds later was flying
at 10,000 feet.
Though over 10 million spec
tators at leading air shows and
civic events throughout the
country have been scared to
death by Blue Angel perform
ances, the Angels do not con
sider themselves daredevils.
"It's Just precision flying,"
they say.
And precision flying it is, we
assure you. At first you'll see
three planes take off and flit
about the sky in formation.
You'll wonder how in heaven's
skies they fly so closely together
without clipping each other.
Then, believe it or not, a
fourth plane takes off and
squeezes in the midddlc of the
other three, and from there on
spectators hang onto their
hearts and their hats. The boys
cut loose with mad motor may
hem that would make the
Wright brothers' wildest night
made a gentle dream.
Shoot Down the Enemy
One of the highlights of the
routine is a mock attack upon
an "enemy" fighter plane. Paint
ed a brilliant yellow, compared
to the bright blue of the An
gels planes, the "enemy" plane
is the subject of attack of the
roaring Bearcats. Those Angel-
piloted Bearcats dive and loop
around the "enemy," and the
"enemy" goes through all sorts
of action in an aoDni nt attempt
to evade his iuiound.
Legion conventions are tradi
tionally a meeting place of mili
tary leaders, and the 31st an
nual department of Oregon con
vention in Salem this week is
no exception.
Distinguished military men
on hand lor tne anair include
Gen. Robert McClure of Van
couver Barracks, commanding
general of the Northern divi
sion; Admiral Thomas L. Gatch,
of Portland, now retired; and
several commandants of west
ern states military units.
Many more government nota
bles have indicated they "will
attend if possible." Among
these is Gen. Mark Clark, com
manding general of the famous
Sixth army.
Over 1000 officers and en
listed men will participate in
the grand parade, beginning at
7 o'clock Friday evening.
Headquarters in Tent
Convention headquarters for
the American Legion is located
in a tent on the Marion county
court house lawn. There will
be attendants on duty during
every day and evening of the
convention.
And to give you an idea as to
how fast the Blue Angels fly
those Bearcats, they can and
probably will travel the en
tire length of State street, from
the Willamette river to the
state penitentiary in just a
shade over 12 seconds!
Lt. Com. R. E. (Dusty)
Rhodes is leader of the world
famous Blue Angel team. Other
pilots are Lt. (jg) H. C. Mac
Knight; Lt. (jg) H. R. Heagerty;
Lt. (jg) E. R. (Fritz) Roth; Lt.
(jg) J. H. (Jake) Robcke; and
Lt. (jg) G. W. Hoskins.
On Friday Night Show Tato the Clown and his pet chim
panzee, Cheeta, will be featured in the Convention Caval
cade, a stage show production scheduled for the fairgrounds
outdoor stage at 8:30 o'clock Friday night. The show is an
event of the 31st annual American Legion convention.
Communism Seminar
Is 'Secret' Session
One of the "secret" sessions of
the 1848 Oregon state American
Legion convention will be the
seminar on communism at the
Salem Chamber of Commerce at
B o'clock Thursday night.
Only Legion members in good
standing who show their mem
bership cards at the door will be
allowed to enter.
In Legion meetings, during the
roll call of past commanders,
the chaplain answers for all de
ceased past commanders.
Hop la, Vet
Need a ride across town, Le
gionnaire? Just watch for a
"courtesy car" sticker on the
windshield of a ear, and stick
out your thumb. The driver of
that vehicle is one of Salem's
hospitable citizens who offered
to haul you around during your
stay in Salem,
Welcome to 4
to children of all ages. Will see you at ScK
Marion Square all this week 'TOvXll
l f STARTING TONIGHT