SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017

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1 SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 The DeLand Naval Air Station Museum is celebrating the roll-out of our restored WWII Grumman TBF Avenger and the dedication of our new pavilion. RESTORED TBF AVENGER READY TO SPREAD HER WINGS NEW PAVILION DONATED BY ALL QUALITY PRODUCTS

2 PAGE 2 D ELANDINGS APRIL 2017 NAVAL AIR STATION MU SEUM, DELAND, FL ORID A DeLAND NAVAL AIR STATION MUSEUM 910 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD DeLAND, FLORIDA (MUNICIPAL AIRPORT) April 22, 2017 * 10:00 AM GATES OPEN * 10:45 AM COLOR GUARD * 11:00 AM GUEST SPEAKERS * TBF AVENGER DEDICATION * PAVILION RIBBON CUTTING SPONSORS

3 PAGE 3 D ELANDINGS APRIL 2017 NAVAL AIR STATION MU SEUM, DELAND, FL ORID A FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH & SATURDAY APRIL 8TH, :00AM 1:00 PM DNASM Annual Yard Sale Fundraiser See Flyer SATURDAY, APRIL 22, :00AM RESTORED TBF AVENGER ROLL-OUT & PAVILION DEDICATION SPECIAL GUESTS BOB BANTA & RONALD HERMAN FAMILY April, 2017 is another busy and eventful month for the Volunteers at the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum. Please stop by the museum for our annual yard sale fundraiser on Friday, April 7th and Saturday, April 8th, We are excited to invite our community to join us on Saturday, April 22, 2017 as we roll-out our TBF Avenger and thank our great and determined Volunteers who completed the 14 year restoration project. Our special guest will be WWII Veteran Robert W. Banta. Mr. Banta served in the United States Navy as Lieutenant Naval Aviator from He was assigned to the USS Randolph (CV 15), 5 th Fleet, flying a TBF Avenger. On June 11, 1943 during a carrier qualification exercise on the USS Wolverine in Lake Michigan, the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger Torpedo Bomber, Serial #01747 that he was flying caught on fire and he radioed the flight tower that he needed to land the aircraft. Because the USS Wolverine had a wooden deck, for safety the flight crew signaled for him to make a water landing. The TBF Avenger water landing was accomplished and he was taken to safety by the chase rescue boat personnel. The TBF Avenger then sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan where it would remain for over 50 years. Lt. Robert W. Banta was able to continue his distinguished military service during WWII where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals for heroism in carrying out his missions. In 2003, after being retrieved from Lake Michigan, the same TBF-1 Avenger that sank on June 11, 1943 was assigned by the U.S. Navy to the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum ( for the purpose of restoration and public display in DeLand, Florida. Museum Volunteers were able to locate Robert Banta and he visited the museum several times to see the progress of the restoration efforts of the TBF-1 that was delivered as wreckage in several sections, as a result of deterioration from being under water. For the past 14 years, Veterans, Volunteers and Community Partners shared their expertise, donated equipment and supplies and have worked with determination to rebuild and restore the aircraft wreckage of the TBF Avenger inside the Ronald N. Herman Restoration Building. On April 22, 2017 the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum will hold a public open house to roll out and fully open the wings of the restored TBF Avenger. Robert W. Banta, was invited to be the guest of honor to celebrate the years of hard work by many Veterans and Volunteers, some no longer with us, to preserve the historic aircraft for the education of future generations. Ronald Herman and family will also be our special guests as we dedicate our new pavilion donated by All Quality Products & Millshop of DeLand. We look forward to a great event and hope everyone will join us.

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5 PAGE 5 D ELANDINGS APRIL 2017 NAVAL AIR STATION MU SEUM, DELAND, FL ORID A PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO SUPPORT DNASM (I can t actively participate but join as a supporting member)

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