AUGUST 2019 FLYINGMAG.COM | 59PHOTO^ COURTESY^ MARTHLUNKENthat glorious maneuver. Billy, by
then flying exquisite aerobatics in
a Decathlon, put that same rolling
360-degree turn into his act. I like to
think it was for me.
There were subsequent squabbles
about FBO ownership at Moraine
(like most airports), but it didn’t spoil
the mystique. You’d drop in anytime
to hang out with friendly but highly
talented guys tinkering with clas-
sic Wacos and other exotic antiques.
Harold always had projects going and
successfully campaigned in the 1934
UMF-3 Waco he restored, becom-
ing the longtime “Flying Mayor of
Moraine.” He was also the only guy in
existence who knew and could explain
the intricacies of all those weird and
wonderful Waco designations.
He was a second father and mentor
to Bill Bruns, taught wing-walker
Jimmy Dorsey, and every night for
six straight years f lew Snoopy and
the Red Baron airshows over Kings
Island amusement park with another
protégé, Darrell Montgomery, in a 450
Stearman named Miss Piggy. Harold
was among the original organizers of
the Dayton Air Show and a founding
member of the National Aviation Trail
and National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Somehow, I never got used to seeing
him in a tux at NAHF enshrinement
ceremonies; he probably never got
used to seeing me in an evening dress!
He’s gone now. But anybody who
knew Harold Johnson loves and
misses him. I sure do.
It was different at Moraine this
year. The frequency was pretty quiet,
which didn’t mean a lot—this is still
antique and experimental coun-
try, and some locals don’t believe in
radios. But there wasn’t much traf-
fic, and the line of parked airplanes,
while respectable, was nothing like
the olden days.
Once on the ground, there were
some fun airplanes, familiar faces
and old friends. And the pancakes and
sausages had vastly improved since
the days when I ranked the Moraine
breakfast just ahead of last place
(Urbana Grimes). Everybody seemed
more mature. Many had obviously
not seen the left seat of an airplane
in some time. No airshow, and no
airplane rides, food trucks or trinket
stands, but everybody seemed to be
heading for an outdoor classroom
under a nearby tent.
Dear God, it was a genuine FA A
safety seminar with a real, live FA A
person, a screen and a projector. I
think...I kept my distance.
See, here’s a confession about how
I worked the FA A safety program.
When an airport in our district had
any kind of event, I’d send a f lyer
advertising a “Wings” safety semi-
nar. These mailings would reach all
pilots in the counties I’d selected, and
people would f ly in—certainly not
for a lecture or a film but because of
the beautiful airplanes, old friends
to swap stories with, plenty of food
and usually an airshow. I’d find a
helper to set up the FA A seminar
in a back room, pass out signed
“Wings” cards and keep an eye on theprojector. Sometimes people—rarely
active pilots—actually watched them.
OK, it probably wasn’t the best use
of FA A resources, but pilots gathered
at airports because of that flyer. And
I’d hang out all day, mingling, talking,
eating, answering questions and,
yeah, having a great time.
On this Sunday, three FA A Master
Pilot Awards were being presented,
and somebody commented that Patty
Wagner (a much-deserving recipient)
and I were likely the only two “Female
Master Pilots” in the area.
“Uh, no. See, besides 50 years of
civil or military f lying, for the award
you have to show dedication to safe
f light and professionalism. Prior acci-
dent history can be disqualifying...”
I’ve crashed too many times to
be eligible.Harold Johnson, the Flying Mayor of
Moraine, “wore” this UMF-3 Waco.