December 7 Remembered
Santa Paula News
Published: December 14, 2012
Shortly before noon this past Friday, Santa Paula Airport closed to regular air traffic for a couple of hours so the famed Condor Squadron from Van Nuys could do some flyovers to remember the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
In addition to the memorial flights, the Condors kept alive the tradition that goes back more than 40 years started by their founder, the late Richard T. “Dick” Sykes, of an annual competition among their members with a contest for the most accurate bombing runs.
A target by Santa Paula Airport was the goal and five-pound flour bombs were the medium. Each of the eight WWII aircraft made five runs at the target. Two Santa Paula pilots, both members of the Condor Squadron, Will Tinsley and Will Kalbermatter competed at the event.
The Condor Squadron was founded in 1965 and based at the Van Nuys Airport. The vintage planes are familiar sights around Southern California as they frequently fly over memorial services, parades, and events to help “preserve the memory of those who have served our country over the years.”
For more information about the Condor Squadron, visit their website at: http://www.condorsquadron.org.
