Frank Borman

[edmundcammack]

Hello,
I own N27619, a 1940 BC-65 that was featured in EAA Vintage's magazine in the 1990s after a complete restoration by Tom Macarios, a well known tube & fabric restorer. I have been told that Frank Borman, astronaut, soled in my Tcraft. Does anyone have any contact with Mr. Borman? i have sent him letters at the addresses I have found online with no response. I would like to verify if he did solo in N27619.
Thank you.
Edmund Cammack

[Hank Jarrett]

I never got to meet him but I think he retired to Arizona or Montana. Like a lot of the astronauts I think he is a fairly private man. You might try to contact Jim Lovell or Bill Anders through the NASA PAO. He may not be getting or opening your letters but your request could get his interest since it is about your possibly shared plane. I have never met any astronaut who wasn't a great person but they do get a LOT of mail. I have always wondered who ended up with John Glenn's Schweitzer 1-26 sailplane. Having a plane with some history is just that much icing on the cake. Let us know what you find out!

[edmundcammack]

Hank,
Thank you for your quick reply. I did find addresses in Montana and Arizona. I also contacted EAA since Mr. Borman donated quite a bit of his personal effects to them. I didn't hear back from the EAA either, even though I am a member of EAA and Vintage. I'll try your suggestions and am hoping by posting on different forums, someone will put me in touch with him.
Thank you and will update if I find an answer..

[Peterroy]

Ed. I sent yo a PM.

[edmundcammack]

Peter,
i received your PM and will send a message to Sally.
thank you very much.

[edmundcammack]

and I will follow up if I get any more info.

[Peterroy]

Ed,

I talked to Sally today. She did not get your query. I told her you may not have sent anything to her yet. She said to contact her through the NovaSpace site. She said to be sure to use email. Say what you need to say in the email and she will "... forward your email to Frank".

Peter

[edmundcammack]

Hi Peter,
I have been tied up the past few days but sent Sally an email this morning. Looking forward to her response and will post again once i know something.
Thanks.

[Peterroy]

Good. I don't know if she will respond to you. She said she would forward your email to Frank. Let us know what he says - if he says anything.

Peter

[edmundcammack]

Sally forwarded my email to Mr. Borman, I'm hoping he responds.

[edmundcammack]

Update. Mr. Borman replied to my email. He did solo in a Tcraft at Gilpin Airport in Tuscan in 1944 but he didn’t have the tail number. Walter Douglas bought N27619 new in 1940 and put it in the civilian pilots training program at Gilpin Airport, which he owned and operated from 1936 to 1959. While not definitive, there is a good probability Mr. Borman soled my Tcraft. He also said his instructor was Bobby Kroll, one of the first female flight instructors for the CPTP program.

Walter Douglas was a well known figure in aviation in Arizona and his personal and business correspondence was donated to the Arizona Historical Society by his son. If I get out that way, I plan to look up the records of the CPTC, the instructors and students, which are part of the donated materials.
Thanks again for the help. Do any of you venture to Delaware? I am based at DE25, a grass strip fly in community near Rehoboth Beach. If your travels bring you this way, send me a message.

[Hank Jarrett]

This is outstanding information. it makes our planes so special when we learn some of their history. Hope to hear more when you get more research!

[Peterroy]

Mr. Borman gave the following interview at a signing event hosted by Novaspace a few days ago. I especially like his answer to the question at 3:30. (Ed, that's Sally giving the interview.)

I don't have the link. To see it, search: Apollo 8 Astronaut Frank Borman Q&A 2020 - YouTube

Peter

[astjp2]

Too bad there are not any pictures available of your airplane in 1940. I had a cranky old fart stop by one day and told me he flew my airplane in 1951, 6 years after it left the cptp.

[edmundcammack]

all the records from 1940 to 1959 are at the Arizona Historical society and I bet there are many photos as well. Someday I'll get there to peruse the files. I wonder how many from that era who flew my Tcraft are still alive?