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Museum Staff-The 95ers Click on photos and documents for full size viewing
The 95ers are a group of volunteers who devote their time, energy, and resources to preserving the former air base history and to honoring the memory of those persons who are serving, or who have served our Nation. The organization has its origin in the year 1993 during the process of planning Celebration 95, the event to observe the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II, and to honor those who served in that conflict. Most of the museum volunteers are veterans although some are citizens who devote their time to honor and preserve that history.
Major General John Hoff, USAFR (Ret.) presents Brigadier General Jonathan D. George, USAF, a set of General Hoff's sterling silver Command Pilot Wings. BG George was recently promoted to flag rank and is Commander of the 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Pictured behind the museum sign is museum volunteer John Walter, J. David George, brother of BG George and Major General John Hoff, (Ret.). David George, a friend of John Walter asked John to help him locate a set of sterling silver Command Pilot Wings for his brother as the Air Force now issues only silver plated wings. General Hoff was gracious enough to give General George a set of his wings. General George was on leave visiting Lawrence County, Indiana, so the arrangement was made to make this July 21, 2006 special presentation at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum on the site of the former Bakalar Air Force Base where General Hoff once commanded the base and 434th Troop Carrier Wing.
Museum 2005 Open House special guests. Photos left to right Indiana 9th District Congressman Mike Sodrel with museum volunteers Tom Vickers and Wendell Ross. Former Indiana Governor Ed Whitcomb. Tuskegee Airman Walter Palmer, Columbus Indiana Mayor Fred Armstrong with his granddaughter and Major General John Hoff (Ret.). State Senator President Pro Tem Bob Garton with Governor Ed Whitcomb.
Museum volunteers L to R, Bob Henry, Pete Jenkins and Gordon Lake man the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum information table at a community volunteer originations event. Over 60 Columbus, Indiana area volunteer organizations were showcased. Photograph by museum volunteer Jim Porter.
Museum Spring 2004 Open House with museum volunteers Gustav Potthoff and Jim Sellars manning the souvenir booth. Volunteer Gordon Lake mans the PA booth. The Civil Air Patrol Cadets helped out. Vintage and unique vehicles displayed on Bakalar Green in front of the Museum.
Museum Volunteer Gustav Potthoff returned to South East Asia with a film crew to the place of his captivity during World War II, the infamous Hell Fire Pass and Bridge over the River Kwai where so many POW's perished under brutal and inhumane treatment by their captors. The photo on the left is Gus with one of the film crew, the second photo is a one elephant powered mode of transportation, the photo is of Gus, his wife and some of the film crew in Thailand and the two photos on the right are of the real Bridge over the River Kwai. According to Gus, the original wooden bridge that would have been to the left of the current bridge was bombed in 1942 and they were forced to build the concrete and metal bridge which was also bombed by American B-24 Bombers and the center span was knocked out during the war. Click on photos for full size viewing.
The Museum Volunteers gather at the Jeanne Lewellen Norbeck Memorial Chapel for a meal. Chaplain/Reverend Dick Yeaton at the pulpit with a few good words. The Chaplain keeps this group of veterans on the straight and narrow. Chaplain Yeaton is on call at Camp Atterbury to assist in the mobilization and demobilization of soldiers.
Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong and the Mayor as a young Vietnam Veteran speaking to Columbus Brownie Troop #145 in 1970. Three term Columbus, Indiana Mayor, Fred Armstrong, Vietnam Veteran, is a great friend of the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum. The Mayor has participated in and supported many museum events along with his continued support and participation in community Veterans events and programs. The Mayor was assigned as a gunner on an armored personnel carrier sent on search-and -destroy missions in Vietnam. His APC hit a mine and Fred was blown out of his carrier. The Mayor received two Bronze Stars and Purple Heart as part of his many U.S. Army awards and decorations.
A 38th Infantry Division Army National Guard UH1 "Huey" flew the Celebration 2000 Veterans Welcome Home Parade route in honor of the Vietnam Veterans as seen in this photograph. There were tears in the eyes of these veterans and the onlookers as they received a standing ovation from the crowds and as the sound of the Huey brought back memories to the Vietnam Veterans. Some of the vets said they wanted to "pop smoke" and wave him in. Celebration 2000 honored all veterans and those who were still serving in uniform with particular focus on the Vietnam and Korean War Veterans. Any interested person, willing to work, can become a 95er. The group meets each Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum while taking a break from project work. 2005 Honoring Veterans Banquet and Patriot Awards
Honoring Veterans Committee Gordon Lake, Kathy Duffer, Harry McCawley and Jim Griffin. 2005 program featured speaker Major Kirk White who recently returned from Operation Enduring Freedom.
2005 Patriot Award Recipients Kathy Duffer, George Budd, John Walter, Alice Curry and David Bowden both of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Hope, Indiana American Legion Post #229.
2004 Honoring Veterans Banquet
Photos L to R: Museum Director Bob Henry, Gustav Potthoff and Chaplin Dick Yeaton in photo one. Major General and Mrs. John Hoff and Major General and Mrs. R. Martin Umbarger. Museum Volunteer Gordon Lake presents the Patriot Award to Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong. Patriot Award recipient and Museum Volunteer Bruce Dalton.
Major General R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General State of Indiana the featured speaker at the 2004 Honoring Veterans Banquet. Museum Board member Tom Vickers, Patriot Award Recipient Gustav Potthoff with his granddaughter and daughter. Mayor Fred Armstrong with General Umbarger. Posthumous recipient of the Patriot Award Carl Miske. Ten of Carl's family were present for his tribute. 2003 Honoring Veterans Banquet
2003 Patriot Award recipients, the Bartholomew County Color Guard, Bartholomew County Commissioner, Larry Klienhenz and Columbus businessman, Jim Griffin.
Museum Board of Directors member, Tom Vickers addresses the gathering. Columbus, Indiana Mayor Fred Armstrong, a strong supporter of Veterans events at the podium. White River Broadcasting's John Foster is event MC. Photographer, author, Tom Casalini gives the keynote address. Tom has a standing room only line to autograph his book with Zack and Glinda Ellison getting their copy signed. "Ordinary Heroes" about the living Congressional Medal of Honor
Gordon Lake shakes hands with Tom Jester, VFW Commander and Marine Corps League Commander. Museum Director, Bob Henry with Britte Potthoff and Dominee Clark, daughter and granddaughter of museum volunteer, Gustav Potthoff. Gus was in Thailand with a film crew working on a documentary about Gus' time as a POW that worked on the Bridge over the River Kwai during WWII. Margie Janes, John & Geneva Foster at the buffet line. Chaplain Richard Yeaton chowing down. He asked, "where are the chow trays?" Committee member Harry McCawley with his son and daughter-in-law. 2002 Honoring Veterans Banquet
2002 Patriot Award recipients Wendell Ross and Major General John Hoff receive their awards from the committee. Tom Vickers also a recipient was not pictured. Ron Shadley in the second photo, at the podium thanks the crowd for his Patriot Award. Gordon Lake speaking to the crowd upon receipt of his Patriot Award. From left to right standing is the Honoring Veterans Committee, Kathy Duffer, Gordon Lake and Harry McCawley. The Patriot Award recipients are nominated by their peers and by the community.
Columbus Mayor, Fred Armstrong speaks at the 2002 Honoring Veterans Banquet. Mayor Armstrong, a Vietnam Veteran, recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart is an avid supporter of veterans events in Columbus and a good friend of the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Volunteers and 95ers. Brigadier General Mark Pillar the featured speaker at the banquet. Major General John Hoff updates the crowd about the museum's activities in 2002 and plans for 2003. Brigadier General Pillar and his family at the head table.
The Patriot Award recipients at the first annual Honoring Veterans Banquet hosted by the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum Volunteers and 95ers on November 10, 2001. Wes Roy, John Foster, Director of Programming of White River Broadcasting, Harry McCawley, Associate Editor of The Republic Newspaper and Chaplain Dick Yeaton were the recipients of the award. Signs placed at the entrance of the Columbus Indiana National Guard Armory where the program was held. You can see some of the hangers near the armory which is on Columbus Municipal Airport property. The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum is just to the east of the armory. It is rumored that one of the museum volunteers snap-rolled his airplane on take off just over the armory in salute to the participants. This is just a rumor or at least the guys in the tower didn't see him!
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The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum was
dedicated November 11, 1992
