CAF Capital Wing Host Major John "Jack" Elliott
Culpeper, VA - January 19, 2024. Recently, the Capital Wing had the privilege of hosting Maj. John "Jack" Elliott, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, at their Culpeper facility. Elliot enlisted in 1942 and served in ordnance with SBD Dauntless dive-bombing squadrons in the Pacific Theater. His dedication continued as he served in Korea and Vietnam, eventually retiring as a Major in 1966.
During his visit to the Capital Wing, Major Elliott had the opportunity to explore all the aircraft assigned to the Wing, including the TBM Avenger Doris Mae and combat veteran L-5 Sentinel F4u Pocket Edition.
The Capital Wing offers docent-led tours of their hangar at the Culpeper Regional Airport on Saturdays starting January 20 and continuing through April 27. Visitors have the opportunity to see five warbirds and one helicopter in various stages of maintenance before they start flying this summer. The Capital Wing hangar open for tours is a working maintenance facility, allowing visitors to see panels and hatches open showing fuel lines, wires, rods, ignition cables and other “innards” never visible during rides or at an airshow. Tours are from 10-2 p.m. every Saturday and parking is free. Tours are $10 per person or $30 for a family. Reservations for large groups may be made at the Capital Wing's bookings website https://www.capitalwingwarbirdrides.org/
Last year, a historian uncovered the fascinating history of the Capital Wing’s L-5 Sentinel. The Capital Wing thought the L-5 was just painted to look like a World War II veteran; it turns out the aircraft has actual combat experience. This Sentinel served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an OY-1 and flew off the Escort Carrier White Plains (CVE-66) in the Battle of Saipan on June 17, 1944. The aircraft entered service at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico and was assigned to Marine Observation Squadron 4 (VMO-4) in 1943. Upon learning that information, the Wing wants to paint the aircraft in the livery it had when it flew in the Battle of Saipan and recognize the unique combat history of the "*F4U Pocket Edition*." There are only three combat Sentinels known to have survived World War II and are still in airworthy condition. To learn more about the Capital Wing's recently featured L-5 project, please visit https://fundrazr.com/PocketCorsair
While visiting the Capital Wing, Major Elliot had an opportunity to see all our aircraft, including the TBM Avenger, Doris Mae. Also in this photo is his friend Annette and CAF Capital Wing volunteer, Barry Toms.
