Soaring through the clear blue sky at The Dune Climb in Glen Haven, Cedar resident Ted Lanham could see a model airplane gliding through the air as family and friends gather to see a surprise for Lanham.
“I love to see the planes fly,” Lanham said.
Lanham’s, 98, first surprise was the refurbishment of a model airplane that he built 12 years ago when he was 86 thanks to member and friends of the Little Finger Thermaleers.
The plane dotted back and forth, display many aviation maneuvers for roughly 15 minutes before landing at the feet of Lanham at the bottom of the dune.
“It’s a real pleasure. It’s going be hard for you to understand this but I don’t expect that I can see this sort of thing ever happen again. I didn’t think it would ever happen, period. This is a high for me. I’m pleased, Very pleased,” Lanham said.
Lanaham sat joyfully with his wife Tali. LIFT member Peter Baumeler launched and glided the plane from atop of the Dune Climb, where it flew with little Glen Lake distinctly in its background.
“I flew it the first time a few years ago, and then (Ted) gave it to me because I helped him build it and fly it,” Peter said.
“God, it’s beautiful, it’s been a great experience to have Ted see this plane fly again.”
After the flight, LIFT officer Phil Diamond presented Ted with a relic copy of the January 1942 L’Aquilone magazine in Italy, featuring the original designer Aironem D.L. This particular magazine featured an airplane design that Lanham eventually built several decades later. Diamond got his hand on the actual newsprint magazine from 1942 after a long search process.
Aviation has been a lifelong passion for Lanham as he’s spent his entire life fascinated by airplanes of all kinds. Born in 1925, Lanham found his interest in airplanes ever since he was 5 years-old.
While in high school he operated a model airplane storefront in Indianapolis at the young age of 17, selling model airplanes and parts.
Lanham served 26 months and flew 30 missions as a topturret gunner and flight engineer in a B-17 over Germany during the tail end of WWII. One of his last missions in the war proved to be the most difficult. The bomber he was operating in was preparing for a mission to strike an industrial facility called Skoda Munition in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia that the Germans used. As they got to the initial point, to get well organized and possibly confuse the enemy, they were preparing for what turned out to be an intense ground and air fight sequence. The bomber received tremendous flak that was of serious concern. But the bomber stream turned around anyway and did it again and went through another firestorm of flak. The overcast sky on that day led the crew to circle for a third round. At that time, the sky had cleared, and they successfully hit their target.
He continues his passion for aviation as a senior member of the Little Finger Thermeleers (LIFT) who fly radio-controlled model sailplanes in the area. He got introduced to the club in the 90s while strolling passed Peplinski field near M-72 while driving another one of his many fascinations, a classic MG car.
