Written by RS (c. 2013); Reformatted and edited by JS (11/2013)
Auglaize Buzzard Baiters History
In May 1975, an article in the local newspaper invited anyone interested in remote control airplanes to a meeting. Sixteen people attended and they decided to form a club and find a location where they could fly.
By July, they had received permission to fly at the south end of the New Knoxville airport sod runway and sent for a charter from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). A special meeting was held to elect officers and select a name for the new club. They chose the name Auglaize Buzzard Baiters. The nineteen original members elected Dave Giboney as president, Harold Keller as vice president, Robert Marshall as secretary, and Larry Curts as treasurer.
In August, our new charter arrived with insurance from the AMA and members started flying. The early meetings were held at the airport VIP office and hangar. Soon we were asked to find a new flying location due to the model engine noise near the town of New Knoxville.
By January 1976, permission was received to fly at the Wapakoneta South Industrial Park, but by March we were again being asked to relocate since the property was to be sold for industrial purposes.
Finally in April, after inspecting several locations, a field on the Vernon Kemmann farm six miles north of St. Mary’s was selected, and it remains there today. Vernon, a charter member, also provided the equipment to help members prepare and seed a 250- x 300foot area for the new field. The first flights at this field were in May of 1976. Monthly meetings were held at the field on the second Tuesday of each month, and that still continues today. A tradition of a family picnic was also started at that time and also continues today.
In the early years, winter meetings were held in members’ homes. More recently they were held in a room provided by the St. Mary’s Eagles.
Over the years, the club has participated in local parades with floats, held swap meets and given exhibitions. The field has been enlarged twice and is now 300 x 400 feet. We continue to make improvements to our field. We have added a safety fence, built 10 safety tables, and installed a metal roofed sun shelter that replaced a canvas-topped temporary one.
We continue to try to keep up with all the new technology like the helicopters, electrics, ARFs, and transmitters and receivers. We also have buddy cords to help beginning flyers. In 2008, the club implemented a program we call Life Membership for members who no longer fly but still enjoy coming to our meetings. Their stories and companionship is mutually enjoyed by all. At present we have two living Life Members, Charlie Ross and Gerhard Kuhr, and two whom are deceased, Harold Keller and Vern Kemmann. We are indebted to Vernon Kemmann and his heirs for a permanent lease for our field and hope that the current members can continue to excite and encourage new interest in our hobby.
Respectfully submitted, Robert Sudman, Secretary AMA #667776
A busy day at the Buzzard Baiters flying field. (Photo courtesy Robert Sudman.)
Our club float, which was entered into the 2012 local Summerfest parade. (Photo courtesy Robert Sudman.)
Summerfest display to encourage more interest in our
Auglaize Buzzard Baiters flying club. (Photo courtesy Robert Sudman.)
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