Gathering
Event Overview
THE THUNDERBIRD, a full-scale B-17, thrilled spectators with a flyby at the fifth annual B-17 Gathering at Bomber Field in Monaville, Texas. The event was held September 17–19, 1993. Where else could a modeler see five B-17 models flying in formation? A crowd of thousands and a host of manufacturers witnessed the events that made up this three-day extravaganza.
There is something about those piston-powered aircraft that makes me feel nostalgic. I love it!
Participants
- 175 pilots
- More than 275 models
- Bombers from across the United States and Canada
Schedule
- Flying began at 8:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
- Four to five aircraft were constantly in the air each day until 7:00 p.m., at which point the field opened for general flying.
Grand Finale
The grand finale began at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday when official flying ended. The show started with a full-scale flyby of the Thunderbird, a B-17 from the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston, Texas.
Awards
- B-17 Perpetual Trophy
- 1st: Dwayne Fosseen, Radcliffe, Iowa
- 2nd: Wendell Maakestad, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- 3rd: Bram DeGidts, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
- Showmanship Award (four-engine aircraft)
- 1st: Wendell Maakestad
- 2nd: Dana Easterly, Clinton, Louisiana
- 3rd: David Klippel, Houston, Texas
- Best Multi-Engine Aircraft
- Tom Holmsley, McAllen, Texas — Trans-Texas DC-3
- Best Military (Pre-1935)
- Tom Kenny, Houston, Texas — Curtiss Falcon
- Best Military (Post-1935)
- Jack Larsen, Pearland, Texas — Hawker Sea Fury
- Best Civilian (Pre-1941)
- Lee Moore, San Antonio, Texas — Bulldog
- Best Civilian (Post-1941)
- Jim Marshall, Mission, Texas — Ag-Commander
- Best of Show
- Rick Michelena, McAllen, Texas — C-130
- Hard Luck Trophy
- Tom Street — C-45 Beech (lost its ailerons)
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
