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WWII Memories Take Flight at MAPS Air Museum

From Left to Right: Dutch Schwalenburg, Betty Cousins, Fred Rouse,
Nick Lanzalatta, Bill Bergman (seated), Harry Thomas, and Larry Bishop.

In the warmth of the summer sun, goosebumps rose as a World War II B-24 and B-17 taxied down the runway at MAPS Air Museum. Awaiting a closer look, several residents and a volunteer from St. Luke Lutheran Community - North Canton and The Waterford at St. Luke gathered for a photo that included dozens of World War II Veterans.

"I crashed a plane just like this one during training. Oops!" said Dutch Schwalenburg as he stood before the AT-6 on display at MAPS. "This is like the engine I dropped. Oops!" he added as he continued through the exhibit. Betty Cousins fondly remembers her job building the B-24, "I loved my job. One time I refused to let a plane leave the shop because the door wouldn't open right. My boss was mad but I told him I wanted it fixed right or he could scrap it. I didn't care how much it cost. What if my boys were in that plane and couldn't get out? I stood my ground and he listened."

Some stories were followed by laughter, some a tear. "I haven't thought of that probably since the day it happened," said Larry Bishop as he recalled a particular night in town for a cold one. Memories tucked away over time readily returned. Special thanks to MAPS Air Museum for bringing bits of the past to life again. For more information about MAPS Air Museum, visit them online at www.mapsairmuseum.org.