Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed WWII Holocaust Survivor Alter Wiener. Alter was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his book and life story. In this four part interview Alter will talk about what his life was like and his experiences during the Holocaust.
“I cannot even measure how privileged I feel to have had the chance to meet Alter Wiener, read his book “From a Name to A Number: A Holocaust Survivor’s Autobiography“, and learn of his story and life. You can find a lot of history about WWII, you can read and research endlessly, but you cannot learn about what the holocaust was really like until you have heard it from Alter’s book and lectures.”
“Many things touch our lives, but Alter’s story is one that will touch your life forever; how he lived, how he lives, and how he will be remembered.”
“My life has been blessed with Alter’s book and story. I promise you will not want to put it down, and that says a lot from a person who doesn’t really read books. You will want to hear what Alter has to say!”
Bryan Heim
Living History Project Reporter
Part One of Four: (Part 2 coming soon)
Flightline Fabrications is proud to offer autographed Paperback & Hardcover copies of Alter’s book with all profits going directly to Alter Wiener.
We would like to express our deepest thanks to Alter for taking the time to participate in our Living History Project. His experiences both good and bad and those of so many others are the treads that form the rich tapestry that is our common history.
May 30, 1958 - The remains of two unidentified American servicemen killed in action, one during the second World War, one during the Korean War are laid to rest at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, Virgina. These two men join their fellow “unknown” from World War One.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented each unknown serviceman with the Medal of Honor.
The Tomb is inscribed with the words “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD” and is guarded, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (rain or shine) by members of the US Army’s 3rd US Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”. The author, one of Flightline Fabrications’ owners served proudly with “The Old Guard” from 1993-1995 (though not as a Tomb Guard).
May 27, 1941 - German Pocket Battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic. Fairey Swordfish torpedo planes from HMS Ark Royal attacked the Bismarck late on May 26, jamming the rudder and steering gear of the mighty ship and rendering Bismarck virtually unmaneuverable and only able to steam in a large circle. On the morning of the 27th, Bristish Battleships Rodney and King George V as well as heavy cruisers Norfolk and Dorsetshire began firing apon the stricken ship. Bismarck slipped beneath the waves at 10:39am local time taking 1,995 of her 2,200 men with her to the bottom.
May 27, 1958 - The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II makes its maiden flight with pilot Robert C. Little at the controls. The Phantom II was developed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy and would enter service in 1960. By 1963 the F-4 was also serving with the US Air Force as a fighter-bomber. 5,195 Phantoms were produced over 24 years serving in the US Navy, Marine Corp and Air Force. At one point both the US Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds demonstration teams flew this aircraft.
We at Flightline Fabrications hope you will join us this Memorial Day in remembering and honoring those men and women who have given their last full measure of devotion to our great country.
On this day we all should take time to remember those great Americans who sacrificed their tomorrows so that we might enjoy our freedoms today. As we travel or spend time with family and friends, grilling in our back yards or walking the golf course we should pay the respect due to those past and present whos service preserved the lifestyle we enjoy.
Flightline Fabrications salutes all veterans and thanks you one and all for your service and sacrifice. To those friends and families of America’s honored dead, we thank you for the costly gift you have laid apon the alter of freedom.
As members of our military forces serve at home and abroad whether in garrison or in harms way our prayers and hopes go with you as does our respect and gratitude. We sleep safe because you are on watch. Thank you.
May 25, 1961 - United States President John F. Kennedy announces during a speech to a special joint session of Congress his intention to begin a project which will place a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
This goal would finally be accomplished on June 20, 1969 when American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of the Apollo 11 mission land upon the moon.
May 25, 1977 - The movie “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope“ is released in the Unites states and is destined to be a cult and cultural classic. Some 31 years later my 4-year old son still thinks it is “the most awesome movie”.
Acquired in 2006, this Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fuselage artifact was recovered from a junk pile in Alaska during the 1960s. During the restoration of this panel the original factory paint was uncovered to be green, brown, and tan.
This camouflage paint pattern adorned planes of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) “Flying Tigers” (Fei Hu), a group of American pilots who flew combat in China before the United States entered WWII. After careful research and consideration the panel was restored in the likeness of P-40 Warhawk #88, Flight Leader Ken Jernstedt’s assigned plane for the 3rd Squadron “Hell’s Angels”.
Flight Leader Jernstedt was credited with destroying more than 10 Japanese Aircraft in aerial combat while the Flying Tigers were active in China during late 1941 and early 1942. Destroying five enemy aircraft qualified pilots as an “ace” during WWII. This Fuselage panel was painted with five Japanese flags to honor his accomplishment and is one of a kind.To the right is a reference photo of an actual P-40n Warhawk outlining the position this fuselage panel is from.
While the AVG flew P-40B aircraft, artifacts from that particular model are nearly impossible to find as only one such aircraft survives today.
May 24, 1930 - British Aviatrix Amy Johnson becomes the first woman to fly from England to Australia. Her historic flight began on May 5 in Croydon, England and ended May 24 in Darwin, Australia. She flew the 11,000 miles in a DeHavilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth nicknamed “Jason”. In recognition of her achievement, she received the Harmon Trophy and a CBE.
May 24, 1941 - German Pocket Battleship Bismarckshells and sinks the British Battlecruiser HMS Hood, sending all but three of the ill-fated ship’s crew to the bottom of the North Atlantic. HMS Hood served the British fleet over two decades and was the pride of His Majesty’s Royal Navy.
May 24, 1949 - The Soviet Union ends it’s 11-month blockade of the city of Berlin. To overcome this blockade allied aircraft flew 278,228 flights, delivering 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies to the besieged city, mostly in C-47s and C-54s in what would become famous as the Berlin Airlift. 101 lives were lost in the effort including 31 Americans and 39 Britons mainly due to crashes. 25 planes were lost.
May 24, 1962 - NASA mission Mercury-Atlas 7, utlizing Mercury Spacecraft #18 “Aurora 7” piloted by American Astronaut Scott Carpenter, orbits the Earth three times in a flight lasting 4:56:05 and covering a distance of 76,021 miles with a maximum speed of 17,549 mph.
May 24, 1976 - Concorde supersonic service begins between London, England and Washington, DC, USA. Washington, DC was one of only two cities in the United States to accept regular Concorde flights, the other being New York City. Concorde was operated by British Airways and Air France until it was retired due to environmental and economic concerns on November 26, 2003.
May 23, 1939 - The US Navy Sargo-Class Submarine USS Squalus sinks off the coast of new Hampshire during a test dive. 26 sailors are lost in this incident while 33 people including 32 crew members and one passenger are rescued the following day. The ship was raised, renamed and recommissioned as the USS Sailfish (SS-192). USS Sailfish went on to earn 9 battle stars during World War II and a Presidential Unit Citation on her tenth patrol.
On May 22, 1906, Orville and Wilbur Wright, inventors of the first successful heavier than air flying machine - better known as an airplane - received United States Patent No. 821,393. The beginning of the patent reads:
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that we, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Dayton, county of Mongomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification:
Our invention relates to that class of flying-machines in which the weight is sustained by the reactions resulting when one or more aeroplanes are moved through the air edgewise at a small angle of incidence, either by the application of mechanical power or by the utilization of the force of gravity.
May 22, 1939 - Germany and Italy sign the “Pact of Steel“, a military and political alliance which formed the foundation of the Axis Powers which would eventually include Japan. This agreement will ultimately lead the world into the dark days of World War II.
