[WWI] Vernon Castle/Benbrook Airfield

[J.R. Boye]

    This is an interesting site, Mike. 
     I noticed the photo of the Jennies from Benbrook displaying both types of U.S. markings. 
     The DH-4 photo is also great.
     The Astaire movie depicts Castle flying an S.E. 5 in the RFC, but movies are almost always incorrect. 
      Someone as famous as Castle was probably photographed during the war standing next to a plane. Now I'm thinking a model of one of his planes would be interesting, even to my wife. Some more research is in order. knowing the squadron he served in would help a lot.
     I found a photo of Castle with his pet monkey,"Jeffrey"(who apparently survived Castle's crash) in the "Wings of Honor" book. (This reminds me of Eugene Bullard who also flew with a pet monkey, "Jimmy")The caption claims he was killed at Taliaferro, but the memorial is at Benbrook reputedly within 50 ft. of the actual crash, so that is probably correct.
     That an Eagle Scout restored the obscure memorial makes me proud to be a scout leader!

                                                     J.R. Boye

----- Original Message ----
From: Michael McMurtrey <skyking918 at verizon.net>
To: wwi at wwi-models.org
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2007 9:56:39 AM
Subject: Re: [WWI] Vernon Castle Crash Site

See:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_FtWorth_SW.htm#benbrook

Paul Freemans's "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields" is an excellent 
web site for those interested in American aviation history and airport 
archaeology.


Michael McMurtrey
IPMS-USA #1746
Carrollton, Texas





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