Two individuals were inducted into the EAA Warbirds Hall of Fame in 1999. Richard Ervin and William Grant Dodds.
Richard Ervin
Like many youth of the era, Dick Ervin, an Iowa native, got his first airplane ride at 12 years old, after riding his bicycle to the local airport. His lifelong aviation interest was influenced by the Navy Primary Flight School in Ottumwa.
He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and qualified as an aviation cadet while in basic training. Just to show how small the warbird community really is, his first checkride was administered by Hal Weekley, a long time active member of the EAA Warbirds of America. Ironically, Hal flunked Dick on his ride. While demonstrating spin recovery, Dick’s input caused Hal to come out of his seat and he hit his head on the frame of the T-6! Lucky for us, though, Dick passed the next checkride and later he became an instructor in the T-28 and T-33.
A small world it is indeed, for while Dick was stationed with the Iowa Air Guard and attending Iowa State University, he had the opportunity to meet Paul Poberezny when he delivered the first F-89 to the unit. The rest, shall we say, is history.
Currently the treasurer of the EAA Warbirds of America, Dick has served as president and vice president, and has chaired and/or served on the Convention, Nominating, Strategic Planning, Squadrons and Judging and Awards Committees. He also organized the first meeting of warbird museums, collectors and owners; this meeting was the forerunner of the current annual National Warbird Operators Conference. Further, he is a charter member and board member of Indiana Squadron 3 of the Warbirds of America, as well as a past officer of EAA Chapter 67 and the Indianapolis Aero Club.
Throughout their 35 years of marriage his wife, Joan, has been right there with him. In fact, their first date was an airshow! Today they reside in Indianapolis and Fort Myers, Florida, and own a T-28 and a Piper Vegabond under restoration.
William Grant Dodds
Bill Dodds’ first flight, at the age of 10, was a birthday present from his father. That was the spark that started the aviation fire in him. At 14, he was taking lessons and saving his money so that by 17, he had enough to send himself to the American Flyers School in Fort Worth, Texas. He returned to his native New Jersey at 18 and ran the entire Hadley Airport
Not content to stop there, he shortly thereafter was hired by Seaboard and Western Airlines, which became Seaboard World, Flying Tigers, and then Federal Express. During this time, he began flying warbirds. His true love was his T-6, “Squeeze”, which he flew with the Six of Diamonds flight team, but he also flew many other types, including those in Jeff Clyman’s (Avirex) collection of warbirds, as a result of skill and charm. His son David related, “Given the opportunity, he would charm the keys away from many a warbird owner.”
Bill’s passion for flight – safe flight – became an asset to the warbird community. Bill Harrison said it well, “He loved to fly and he loved to teach others to fly and to fly safely. His checkrides and instruction were thorough, fair, but most of all, fun.” Bill did train many to fly warbirds, including his two sons, both of whom are now airline flight officers. He was an integral part of EAA’s National Designated Pilot Examiner Program. He also was an energetic member of the EAA Warbirds Aerobatic Competency Evaluator program.
The aviation world lost a great member and friend in Bill, who died of a heart attack at an airshow in 1997, but his spirit lives on in those who continue to fly warbirds.