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World War II Group Has High-Flying Plans

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By GREG CARR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

DAVIS ISLANDS - Carl Boenig Sr. is a man with a mission.

The 77-year-old plans to create a World War II aviation and re-enactment group to pay tribute to the 56th Fighter Group, which was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.

'The 56th Fighter Group was where the top aces of Europe were assigned,' he said.
Boenig (not to be confused with Boeing, the aviation company) is commanding officer of the Thunderbolts of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit group dedicated to re-creating an era of aviation history that gave rise to American patriotism and spirit.

He said the organization hopes to build six half-size replicas of the P-47 Thunderbolt 'Jug' fighter plane as part of a mobile fighter squadron re-enactment unit.

'The P-47 fought around the world, in France, Italy and the South Pacific,' said Boenig, of Palm River. 'It could take a beating.'

The half-size replicas, which will use aircraft or converted automobile engines, will be flown and displayed at fairs and other events.
Boenig grew up in New Jersey and joined the Air National Guard in 1947, starting as an aircraft and engine mechanic before moving to ground safety. He said his last assignment was creating a disaster control office.

After retiring from the Guard, he became a fire safety technician and moved to Florida in 1980.

'My family is all military,' he said. 'My brother was in the fourth wave on D-Day.'
Boenig formed the Thunderbolts in 1997. Its handful of members hail from across Hillsborough County and meet monthly at Peter O. Knight Airport on Davis Islands.

The group hopes to enlist members for the re-enactment unit, which will use authentic military vehicles to transport equipment and a portable museum. Members will wear World War II clothing and use memorabilia to help the audience step back in time.

'You have to have people interested, and we need willing workers who want to make this happen,' Boenig said. 'We need 72 different skills, including secretaries, welders, drivers, cooks, maintenance people and pilots.'

He said he has spoken with military re-enactors about using their vehicles.

'We need two or three trucks, preferably World War II-era vehicles, a Jeep, a machine shop trailer and a fueler. We also need a trailer if a plane has a problem.'

Of chief importance is the construction of the six P-47s.

'The plane is constructed using a wooden frame covered with thin plywood,' Boenig said. 'The mechanical landing gear and electrical hardware is added, and then formed polyurethane foam is added and contoured and then covered with two coats of fiberglass.'

He can supply most of the components through his home-based company, War Aircraft Replicas, which sells plans and parts for replicas.

'I haven't physically built one of these planes, but after 11 years of operating the business there's no question I can build one,' Boenig said.

He said space has been donated for the assembly work.

'But we've got to find some support,' he said.

'I find that anyone under 40 years old has no idea of what happened in World War II,' Boenig said. 'It's important.'

TAKING FLIGHT

WHAT: Thunderbolts of Tampa Bay

WHEN: Meets at 1 p.m. the last Saturday of the month; the next meeting is Oct. 27

WHERE: Conference room, Peter O. Knight Airport, 825 Severn Ave., Davis Islands
INFORMATION: Call Carl Boenig Sr. at (813) 620-0631 or e-mail waraircraftreplicas @msn.com.

Greg Carr can be reached at (813) 835-2106 or gscarr@tampatrib .com.

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