Pietenpol-List: Bernard Pietenpol
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:17 am
Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)aol.com
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Bernard PietenpolWent to funeral of my cousin's wife's mother yesterday (Saturday, 3/11) at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wykoff, MN. As we were walking out tothe church cemetery one of my cousin's friends pointed out Bernard Pietenpol's(and his wife's) grave marker...so paid my respects there to the fellow who designed the great little airplane we all love and enjoy. My cousin's friend grew up near Cherry Grove and recalled seeing Bernard and his airplanes during the late 40s, 50s and 60s -- he never got a ride in one though. Maybe when mine is finished.On the way home we drove past Fountain, MN, where they now have one of Bernard's hangars at the Fillmore County Museum...but was closed. I imagine itwill be open during summer months. Some great aviation history in that area...nearby St. Charles, MN, was home to Art Donahue -- one of only seven Americansto fly in combat with the RAF during the Battle of Britain...later earned the DFCflying Hurricanes in defense of Singapore in 1942. He returned to England and went back to flying Spits but was lost over the Channel after shooting up a Ju-88 on 9/11/1942. If anyone is interested, send me a buck ( to cover copyingand postage) and I'll send you a copy of an article that I wrote about Art forthe Battle of Britain Historical Society's annual magazine a couple years ago. By the way, I just finished reading a great little book called "Flyers" about the Wright Brothers by Noah Adams, who used to be on National Public Radio. Barnes & Noble had 'em on their special table for $5.98 (or was it $4.98)...a quick but great read and very interesting...learned a few things about the Wrights I hadn't known. Anyway, for $5 each I bought a few copies and gave 'emaway to friends.It's starting to seem like spring here in the Great White North of the Upper Mississippi River region...As for my Piet, the fuselage is now suspended from basement ceiling joists while the straight axle landing gear spreader bars are being fabricated. This has cleared the workbench and so I have been working on the tail feathers...should have her on the landing gear soon! Regards to all,Fred Beseler1619 Cass St.La Crosse, WI 54601 ________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Bernard PietenpolWent to funeral of my cousin's wife's mother yesterday (Saturday, 3/11) at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wykoff, MN. As we were walking out tothe church cemetery one of my cousin's friends pointed out Bernard Pietenpol's(and his wife's) grave marker...so paid my respects there to the fellow who designed the great little airplane we all love and enjoy. My cousin's friend grew up near Cherry Grove and recalled seeing Bernard and his airplanes during the late 40s, 50s and 60s -- he never got a ride in one though. Maybe when mine is finished.On the way home we drove past Fountain, MN, where they now have one of Bernard's hangars at the Fillmore County Museum...but was closed. I imagine itwill be open during summer months. Some great aviation history in that area...nearby St. Charles, MN, was home to Art Donahue -- one of only seven Americansto fly in combat with the RAF during the Battle of Britain...later earned the DFCflying Hurricanes in defense of Singapore in 1942. He returned to England and went back to flying Spits but was lost over the Channel after shooting up a Ju-88 on 9/11/1942. If anyone is interested, send me a buck ( to cover copyingand postage) and I'll send you a copy of an article that I wrote about Art forthe Battle of Britain Historical Society's annual magazine a couple years ago. By the way, I just finished reading a great little book called "Flyers" about the Wright Brothers by Noah Adams, who used to be on National Public Radio. Barnes & Noble had 'em on their special table for $5.98 (or was it $4.98)...a quick but great read and very interesting...learned a few things about the Wrights I hadn't known. Anyway, for $5 each I bought a few copies and gave 'emaway to friends.It's starting to seem like spring here in the Great White North of the Upper Mississippi River region...As for my Piet, the fuselage is now suspended from basement ceiling joists while the straight axle landing gear spreader bars are being fabricated. This has cleared the workbench and so I have been working on the tail feathers...should have her on the landing gear soon! Regards to all,Fred Beseler1619 Cass St.La Crosse, WI 54601 ________________________________________________________________________________