By John Andre, EAA 578155
On December 12, 1969, EAA Chapter 339, The Old Dominion Chapter of Norfolk, Virginia, was awarded its charter by EAA President Paul Poberezny. That is right, Chapter 339 celebrated its 52nd anniversary a couple months ago.
Many of the 19 charter members were already affiliated with EAA well before the formation of Chapter 339. Founding President Henry Proescher was working with the EAA Museum on aircraft restorations. Many, like Joseph Mathias, were involved in projects prior to EAA 339. Joe was recognized at the 1959 Rockford National EAA Convention for his Druine Turbulent, the first VW conversion to fly with dual ignition running on the back of a phenolic accessory case of his design.
The chapter membership came from all walks of life: veterans, airline pilots, aircraft mechanics from the Norfolk Naval Air Rework Facility, NASA Langley, and folks just interested in airplanes.
An interesting personal glimpse can be found in the story of two charter members who were hometown high school buddies, Jim Hanson and again, Joe Mathias. They grew up fascinated by airplanes and building flying model aircraft. They were good at it — so good, they both got jobs building aerodynamic shapes for testing at the Langley National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) wind tunnel, later NASA-Langley. With all the savings they could put together, they went out and invested in flight training at the local Glenrock Airport in Norfolk, Virginia, and eventually pooled their money together and bought a used 1940 J-3 Piper Cub for $800. They flew this airplane all over the local area. In November 1941, they flew to New York City to get a taste of the big city life. This was an epic journey at that time and their last hoorah for quite some time, as the world changed drastically for these two fliers a month later. Both entered the Army Air Corps through different paths and went their separate ways. Jim became a P-51 fighter pilot attached to the 505 Fighter Squadron and Joe became a combat glider pilot who later flew in Operation Varsity, the largest airborne invasion of WWII when the allies crossed the Rhine for the final push into Germany. Both men became airline pilots for Piedmont Airlines, later USAir, B-737 captains, and charter members of EAA Chapter 339. Joe was also a Charter Member of EAA 156 and 1377 supporting all three at one time as a Technical Counselor, Flight Advisor, and Young Eagles Pilot. He was also recognized as an FAA Master Pilot and by EAA with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and is an inductee into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.
So many of our members have a unique story. I wish there was time and space to tell them all.
Since 1969, the chapter membership has fluctuated from the modest charter membership of 19 to a high of 70 at its peak. Folks come and go, but it has always been an extremely active organization building a vast array of plans-built designs and kit aircraft. I joined the chapter in 1997 and in that time, I am aware of more than 80 aircraft built or restored and flown by our members. Considering the 27 years prior to my indoctrination, the chapter could easily be responsible for the manufacture of over 200 aircraft. Many members are serial builders and/or restorers. So many of us have been there. You know that emptiness you feel when the project is finally done, and you are going through withdrawals because you have never had this kind of spare time before? The only way to cure that is to start fabricating pieces again.
When we aren’t building, we are flying and promoting aviation. We have supported the Young Eagles program since its inception. If I have done my math correctly, we have flown more than 2,300 Young Eagles, including EAA Chapter 339’s all-time record of 438 Young Eagles flown by Russell Page. When you consider that many of our Young Eagles pilots have two-place airplanes with tallies of considerably more than 100 Young Eagles each — that is an indicator of a lot of flying.
Also related to our chapter flying activities is the Chesapeake Wing of EAA Chapter 339 known as the Dismal Swamp Rat Squadron (DSRS) because of its proximity to the nearby Great Dismal Swamp. The Swamp Rats have a motto, “We Fly for Food.” If the weekend blesses us with clear skies, we are typically fly somewhere within a 150-mile radius to sample the ample area restaurants situated near an airfield. We specialize in evaluating breakfast, seafood, and barbeque cuisine.
Our chapter is comprised of members from across the extreme southeast corner of Virginia, not just Norfolk. We are supported by six local airfields: Chesapeake Regional Airport, Hampton Roads Executive Airport, Suffolk Executive Airport, Norfolk International Airport, Patrick Henry International Airport, and the Military Aviation Museum and Airfield located in Virginia Beach. Also, our proximity to Naval Air Station Oceana, Langley Air Force Base, Army Felker Field, and a few other military fields in the area, makes for busy skies and heavy emphasis on aviation interests. Today, we are hosted by the Chesapeake Regional Airport, a very EAA-friendly airport whose management went out of their way years ago to welcome us onto the field after Hurricane Ivan destroyed our chapter hangar at another local field. Just about everywhere you look on the field there is an airplane that originally took shape in someone’s garage.
Any discussion of our chapter and membership would not be complete without mention of the husband-and-wife team that has been with us for the second half of our existence, Nick, EAA 523914, and Connie Jones, EAA 582001. Connie has served in every chapter officer position and is also a member of the Ninety-Nines organization. When a volunteer is needed, she is the first to raise her hand whether it’s Young Eagles, state fly-in, field trips, etc. It doesn’t matter what the task is, she is there coordinating. If a kick in the pants is required, she is motivated to get the cats herded. Nick, the other half of this couple, serves in the seemingly lifetime positions of chapter webmaster, IT specialist, and audio/visual operator. Chapter meetings could not take place without Nick. Nick is also always there to lend a greasy hand and oily rag when it comes to helping build or maintain aircraft. In their spare time, the Jones are also the caretakers of the local club PA-28 Cherokee, and they are now flying their recently completed Velocity. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses unless you have lots of rest.
Today, I have risen to the rank of the retired “old-timer.” I was in junior high school when the chapter was formed. NASA had just landed on the moon. A lot of water has gone over the dam since then. I was fortunate to know Henry, Joe, Jim, and Bob Edwards, my designated pilot examiner, who brought me into this world. Most, if not all have original members, have “gone west” but they live on with us in our memories and deeds. Sometimes, we look back and sadly lament about the changes we observe, but when you make an honest assessment, when have there been more young people flying? When was the last time the airlines were hiring like this? Hangars are filled to capacity. The homebuilt aircraft industry is leading the way with aircraft designs, new kit models, and innovation. I believe aviation and EAA Chapter 339 are here to stay.
For those interested in stopping by, the chapter meets at the Chesapeake Regional Airport on Airport Drive off of West Road in Chesapeake, Virginia, on the first Tuesday of every month at 1930 hours. But if you really want to see us in action, come out to Chesapeake Regional Airport on any sunny weekend. We would love to show you around.
The author is a past EAA Chapter 339 president and vice president. He served as a member of the Virginia State Fly-In Council for six years and is an EAA technical counselor, flight advisor, and Young Eagles pilot (more than 125 flown). He holds repairman certificates for a TEAM MINI MAX and an Acro Sport II.