Author Topic: Anyone Remember the Nats at the Glenview NAS? (Read 1248 times)

Robert Zambelli · « **on:** June 18, 2023, 03:37:11 PM »

For the oldtimers.
We visited the Glenview NAS Museum today.
A bittersweet experience as we found out from the guide.
The base was totally closed and mostly destroyed in 1995.
The chapel still exists but for occasional events only.
They built a small shopping center and a store around the original control tower.

How many of you participated in the Nationals when it was held there?

Bob Z.

Ty Marcucci · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2023, 04:04:48 PM »

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) act passed by the Senate started all the closures and turning the land back to the original owners or local cities.. This caused Mary and I to move from ST. Louis to Huntsville, AL. All part of the peace dividend.
With the closing of most Naval Air Reserve Air Stations, the NATS could no longer be run by the Navy and Exchange Club for one. The irony for me was I made the only Navy team to go to the NATS, only to be stopped by my command as too essential to be let off for the 2 weeks needed.. Oh, well.
How the Navy got involved in the NATS is due to Fleet Admiral Nimitz, as CNO, having a survey of all Naval Aviators (USN,USMC & USCG) as to why they picked aviation. The main finding was 82%or so built and flew model airplanes as kids. Thus this became the recruiting effort, subtle, and education of the nations youth, only to run out of youth in the later NATS, as we all know.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2023, 05:08:23 PM »

Twice, 1970 and 1971. Third in Senior combat in 71. Down a little further in stunt behind Denny...can't remember placings. Sad to hear about the base. Will never forget the mess sergeant .....he taught sailors how to cuss....

Dave

Ty Marcucci · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2023, 05:20:22 PM »

The mess "sergeant" was not a sergeant, but probably a first class or chief petty officer.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2023, 05:23:05 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on June 18, 2023, 04:04:48 PM

The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) act passed by the Senate started all the closures and turning the land back to the original owners or local cities.. This caused Mary and I to move from ST. Louis to Huntsville, AL. All part of the peace dividend.
With the closing of most Naval Air Reserve Air Stations, the NATS could no longer be run by the Navy and Exchange Club for one. The irony for me was I made the only Navy team to go to the NATS, only to be stopped by my command as too essential to be let off for the 2 weeks needed.. Oh, well.
How the Navy got involved in the NATS is due to Fleet Admiral Nimitz, as CNO, having a survey of all Naval Aviators (USN,USMC & USCG) as to why they picked aviation. The main finding was 82%or so built and flew model airplanes as kids. Thus this became the recruiting effort, subtle, and education of the nations youth, only to run out of youth in the later NATS, as we all know.

This is very cool, Ty, thanks for posting!! If the Air Force or Marines were involved and you asked them the same question, I'll get they would get similar answers. As a kid reading about the Navy BATS in the magazines, I thought my only chance of ever getting to one would have been Glenview because it was the closest of the Naval reserve Air Stations to St. Louis in my estimation. I didn't have the slightest clue how I was going to do that at the time, though!! I heard several stories from members of the Thermaleers about attending those events. Chasing and retrieving lost models was a bit of a challenge.

Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2023, 05:52:00 PM »

Yes, attended 1970,71 and 72 NATs. Three in a row at Glenview. Flew Open Combat and in 72, we also had profile combat. The guys I went with decided to stay at motels and enjoy the pool and amenities. That after we sweltered on the base at Olathe in 1968 and Willow Grove in 69.

Trostle · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2023, 06:01:29 PM »

I was at Glenview in '66 and '70. Was a "mechanic/runner/chaser/standing in line/worker in the hangar as part of the five person helpers/mechanics group to the Champion Air Force team in '74. Got to fly CL Scale and Open Stunt (5th), my first Nats. Was on the five person Champion Air Force Team in '70, flew 9 events, placed in several events including receiving the Walker Cup.

Keith

Les McDonald · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2023, 06:13:35 PM »

My very first Nationals was Glenview 1971 and my second Nats was 72. Exciting times!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2023, 07:59:28 PM »

I was there both years. First in 70 brother and myself in a camper. Was woke up in the middle of the night when a navy jet almost landed on the runway that was assigned for campers. I also remember in 71 when Dave's plane flamed out on him during a round. And Keith the 64 NATS was Grand Prairie Texas. That was my first.

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2023, 08:18:36 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on June 18, 2023, 07:59:28 PM

I was there both years. First in 70 brother and myself in a camper. Was woke up in the middle of the night when a navy jet almost landed on the runway that was assigned for campers. I also remember in 71 when Dave's plane flamed out on him during a round. And Keith the 64 NATS was Grand Prairie Texas. That was my first.

Yeah I was flying my Ares in the rain. Pulled up for the reverse wingover and the engine took a swallow of water. It turned around and went straight in to knock the nose off at the wing. Back at the work hanger Bob Baldus, Johnny Carr and Fred Miller worked like demons to put it back together including new motor mounts and I got in my second round flight!. The wings were silked which saved them from shattering on the concrete.

Dave

Trostle · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2023, 09:01:51 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on June 18, 2023, 07:59:28 PM

And Keith the 64 NATS was Grand Prairie Texas. That was my first.

Doc,

You are correct. My first Nats was 66 at Glenview, not 64. In 66, it was still my first time with the Air Force Team. These memory cells are not working very well all the time.

Keith

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2023, 09:13:31 PM »

Went to Glenview in 66 (see pix below), 70, 71, & 72.

Trostle · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2023, 09:26:57 PM »

Quote from: Dennis Adamisin on June 18, 2023, 09:13:31 PM

Went to Glenview in 66 (see pix below), 70, 71, & 72.

Dennis Adamisin went to Glenview in 72. Didn't something happen then? Something about winning the Walker Cup. He was the last Senior to do so.

Keith

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2023, 10:24:31 PM »

Quote from: Trostle on June 18, 2023, 09:26:57 PM

Dennis Adamisin went to Glenview in 72. Didn't something happen then? Something about winning the Walker Cup. He was the last Senior to do so.

Keith

It WAS a very good year!!!

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2023, 06:28:28 AM »

Thanks for all the interesting replies.
I never attended any event at Glenview.
In the mid/late 60's, I was in college and after college, I was completely out of model aviation until 1990.
Other things got in the way - career, skiing, windsurfing, motorcycle and car racing and such.
I guess I missed a lot.
I did, however, have one very memorable experience. In the early 50's, my Father took me to the nats at Willow Grove, PA.
The bleachers were full of spectators and the entertainment was provided by the Blue Angels, a B-25 JATO takeoff and the special guest was Jim Walker.

Bob Z.

C.T. Schaefer · « **Reply #15 on:** June 19, 2023, 06:30:27 AM »

My first Nats was '72. Camped in a pup tent beside the runway. Got pretty wet a couple of times! Ate in the mess. Saw the French Connection at theater. Took several of Larry's Super Satans out so he could demo them with Duke. Flew profile carrier. Missed landing. Learned a whole lot. Had a great time. TS

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #16 on:** June 19, 2023, 06:55:32 AM »

Olathe Naval Air Station, site of the '48 and 68' Nats is also a shell of what it was then. What is left is the main runway which is now a small community airport and a couple of the original buildings. The rest was absorbed into the private community. My daughter's house is about a mile off the south end of the runway.

Dave

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2023, 04:45:34 PM »

"...only to be stopped by my command as too essential to be let off for the 2 weeks needed."

Ty, it seems I have a similar excuse to missing all of the NATS during my Air Force years. Permissive TDY in the fighter weapons field was met with a huge belly laugh. I envy those of you who could participate. At least most of the bases had a super hobby shop so I got to fly alot, especially overseas.

Ken

Bob Heywood · « **Reply #18 on:** June 20, 2023, 07:53:04 AM »

'62, '66, '70, '71, and'72. Lots of wonderful memories. The lawn behind the work hangar and all of the after hours flying, especially killer Combat. And yes, the mess hall. There was absolutely no doubt the Chief was in charge.

Robert Zambelli · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2023, 08:47:16 PM »

If anyone is interested in what's left of the base looks today, check out the photos.

First photo - the original chapel as it stands today. No regular services, only used for special events.

Second photo - the original control tower, with some stores built around it.

Third photo - The department store, Von Maur, built right next to the tower.

Fourth photo - A full scale Stearman hanging inside the atrium of the department store.

Sadly, Bob Z.

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2023, 12:23:06 PM »

I lived with the family in Lombard, IL and went to Glenview 1966. I was 7 years old. I didn't fly but helped Speed flyers Charlie Searie and Harry Latshaw in practice especially their Jets. On the closing weekend we all went to the airshow and saw the Blue Angel's in Grumman Tigers, an RAF Vulcan (and longed for an Aurora plastic model of it available on field hobby shop!), and Bill Fornof demonstrating his F8F Bearcat and recalling my dad not liking his steep dives at top speed and low pull outs!

My parents moved us to California and I competed at the Nats in '67, '68 and '69 by virtue of my dad being and airline pilot he provided the means of travel. I flew Speed at Glenview in 1970,1971 and 1972. In 1970 I rode on the brand new TWA 747 from Los Angeles to Chicago. In 1972 (I think) Bob Whitely and Tom Lay went to Glenview. I spent a lot of time with them. First we stayed in the barracks, but then we stayed in hotels. I think dad got tired of 'indoor camping'. Food was usually from the chow hall, which I thought was great.

Chris...

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2023, 04:37:15 PM »

In 1962, I lived in Wood Dale, just south of Chicago. I worked as a Research Engineer at Teletype Corp. in nearby Skokie.

I had recently crashed my only stunter, so I quickly built a pair of Voodoo combat ships to enter in the 1962 Nats at Glenview NAS. Combat was a disaster, as I was wiped out by the Mexican combat team. So I had plenty of time to watch the other events. i somehow missed much of the PA events, but I was fascinated by the R/C flying.

My wife soon got tired of Chicago winters, so we moved back to California.

Bob Heywood · « **Reply #22 on:** June 25, 2023, 03:06:12 PM »

Quote from: FLOYD CARTER on June 24, 2023, 04:37:15 PM

In 1962, I lived in Wood Dale, just south of Chicago. I worked as a Research Engineer at Teletype Corp. in nearby Skokie.

I had recently crashed my only stunter, so I quickly built a pair of Voodoo combat ships to enter in the 1962 Nats at Glenview NAS. Combat was a disaster, as I was wiped out by the Mexican combat team. So I had plenty of time to watch the other events. i somehow missed much of the PA events, but I was fascinated by the R/C flying.

My wife soon got tired of Chicago winters, so we moved back to California.

Those Mexican guys were fantastic!!!

Jerry Eichten · « **Reply #23 on:** June 25, 2023, 10:37:43 PM »

I was at Glenview in '72. Slept in a small tent, flew a Banshee in Junior. I struggled to do a pattern, but it was lots of fun. The huge model hangar was awesome.

bob whitney · « **Reply #24 on:** June 27, 2023, 09:30:08 AM »

first Nats was either Glenview or willow Grove as a JR what a great week,being let loose on my own for a week of nothing but airplanes.ate a lot of hot dogs as i never made it to the chow hall for dinner as people were still flying until dark.made it to Los Alamitos twice ,once by plane and then by car.
66 made the Air Force team at the A F world wides in San Antonio as i 2 striper .had a Captain chasing free flights for me. Did u light the Fuse ,no i thoight u did .last time we saw that one .i got a 5th in 1/2A speed and got to launch Keiths 5 place stunt flight.68 Nats got a 5th in combat..took a 10 year break racing motorcycles .when i returned Navie Nats were gone. they have never been the same since. RAD