Whirlwinds Club History & Other Information
These pages will have information and links to information about the history of our club and it's members. Please email me to add information or links.
Recent Newspaper articles, click here.
While surfing the internet one day, I came across some information on a sailplane contest the Whirlwinds sponsored back in 1973. I have heard stories about these contests from many of the members who were in the club at the time. This page was created by Ray Hayes and has a couple of pictures from the contest.
Whirlwinds Club History
Many thanks to Norm Hetfield for putting the following historical information together.
The model Airplane Club known as the Twin City Whirlwinds, came into existence on September 27,1960. Prior to that time, a Model Airplane Club existed in Benton Harbor under the name of Sky Hawks. The Club was sponsored by the Whirlpool Corporation. It was felt that the formation of the new Club (Twin City Whirlwinds), which combined members from the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas, would result in a larger organization, together with a greater amount of activity. The membership of the club in 1960 consisted of 45 members in good standing with a potential membership of approximately 70 persons.
The Whirlwinds is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (A.M.A.) and requires all members in good standing to be members of AMA also. The insistence on the individual AMA membership is for a number of reasons, the main ones being; all Model Airplane contests sponsored by the Club are conducted in accordance with AMA rules. In addition, AMA membership also includes individual insurance coverage. As indicated in our constitution, the Club is directed by the elected officers together with a Board of Directors. The officers in 1960 were:
Martin Mak President
Dennis Mcdowell Vice President
John Lauck Secretary
Roger Shawl Treasurer
Roger was a pilot for the Whirlpool Corporation Jet.
During the next few years we find the Whirlwinds entering into society with demonstrations of flight at the Pipestone Mall, the local High schools, and holding many Open Flying and Fun-Fly events at the clubs official flying field.
A chronological order of events shows the growth and evolution of the Whirlwinds newletter:
May, 1963 brings about the first Newsletter called the "Newsletter" with Jim Alaback as the editor.
September24, 1963 Andy Lukazewski is the president and also edits the newsletter. Andy says that it will be called the "POLISH GAZETTE" until a permanent editor is chosen. (Andy used this title every time he produced the newsletter thereafter)
October, 1963 Meetings are held at the St. Joe High Cafeteria, and also at the Whirlpool Hangar at the airport.
February, 1964 Don Parr is the Secretary and Editor of the new "GASHOUSE GAZETTE"
May, 1964 Don renames the newsletter to the "BREEZE". Meetings are held at the high school, Whirlpool Credit Union on Main St. in St Joe, and in the homes of officers and members.
March, 1965 Andy Lukazewski is the editor again the will hand it off to Red Sage in April of 1965. Red was the permanent editor of the "BREEZE" for the time being.
1966 We find Harry Bishchoff as the editor to the Breeze. The monthly meetings were being held at the Dee Color labs.
January, 1967 This is the first time we see the newsletter called the "BREEZE" being called the "Official Newsletter of the Whirlwinds".
March 18, 1969 The Twin City Whirlwinds change their name to Whirlwinds of Southwestern Michigan. Whirlwinds becomes a non-profit Corporation in the state. This year also is the first time the Club adopts their Roundel Logo Emblem, which is displayed today.
1970 We find Bill Hannah as the Editor of the BREEZE.
1972 Whirlwinds are having Fun-Fly events at fields in Benton township. One field is called the "Happy Landings Field".
1973 Terry White is the Secretary and editor of the Breeze reporting the club activities. Terry reports that one member received 353 points for flying and joining club activities for the year of 1973.
1979 Butch Lester joins the list of editors for the club newsletter now called the "WHIRLIGIG"
1982 Alan Phillips is the next editor of the "CRASH CHRONICLES"
The list of newsletter editors goes on with Steve Harder, Tom Conrad, Norm Hetfield, Brian Lewis, Bob Christiano and Drew Menser.
I dwelled on the Newsletter as a focal point as it is the information highway of the Club. The Clubs activities, successes, and events are chronicled and recorded from this source of communication.
Whirlwinds members have acquired several airfields over the years. It is said that Whirlpool allowed the club access to land north of the Benton Harbor Airport. One Airfield was near the Lake Michigan College, and the Happy Landings field off the Benton Center Road South of Red Arrow, in 1972. Flying took place from an Airfield located off Meadowbrook Road in Benton Township between Dewey and Yore Avenues. More recently an Airfield was leased off Keehn Road in Baroda in the mid 1980's. Noise level's bothered several of the neighbors and Whirlwinds moved to the present location in Sawyer Michigan.
This new field is called the "BUCK ZEHR MEMORIAL FIELD". The field is grass about 600 feet long and 275 feet wide. The club now has 53 members.