Tailwinds: Adventures of a Young Aviator

By Dan Poynter

Rusty Martin is born to an aviation family and grows up in Casselberry, Florida, in the 1930s. He is an entrepreneur and a self-starter who loves to fly. Rusty is 12 at the outbreak of WW-II. Flying takes the young man to many fascinating events of the time.

You will discover:
* Many significant events in 1939 through 1943.
* The stories behind the stories.
* What aviation was like in the 30s & 40s.
* How young people can start and prosper in a business.
* An inspirational story that could have happened.

This is a work of historical fiction and it is a new type of fiction: it is illustrated.

Most of the places, events, and people are real. Much of the dialogue is presumed. The main character is fictional—but he could be real.

This book describes an interesting time and celebrates the people who lived it.

Fascinating, inspirational, educational, and a great read. You will love following Rusty’s adventures.

This ebook is a multimedia presentation. Employing maps, photographs, videos, audios, and written references, this enhanced ebook tells a story in a way that a print book cannot.

Read this novel on a device connected to the Internet to take full advantage of this enhanced ebook’s capabilities.

Readers may find some of the incidents described difficult to believe. The references testify to the ebook’s factual accuracy.

Most of the photographs and videos in this book are in black and white. That is because they are circa 1940. I have done my best to be faithful to history—to show and describe events and places as they were.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dan Poynter
• Release date: Oct 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781568601618

Dan Poynter

Dan Poynter is a pioneer in book writing, producing and promoting. His New Book Model or “Simultaneous Publishing” is revolutionizing the book industry and information dissemination. He is a frequent speaker, successful publisher and renowned book publishing consultant, who has a unique, pioneering approach to marketing books—which he so generously shares. Since 1969, Dan Poynter has written and published more than 100 books including Writing Nonfiction, The Self-Publishing Manual, The Skydiver's Handbook and The Expert Witness Handbook. He has also created more than 50 reports, nine audio CDs, four video programs, a dozen eBooks and more than 500 magazine articles. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). Dan is an author and he is a publisher who has experienced every phase of the book publishing process. He has sold his manuscripts to other publishers, he has published other authors, he has published his own books and his books have been translated and published in seven other countries. Dan does not just work in the book publishing business, he studies the book publishing business. He doesn't just talk about book promotion, he teaches book promotion. He is an evangelist for books, an ombudsman for authors, an advocate for publishers and the godfather to thousands of successfully-published books. Dan Poynter's seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in U.S. News & World Report. The media comes to Dan because he is the leading authority on book publishing. A well-known aviation speaker, Dan is a licensed pilot, a skydiver with all the ratings and a Master Parachute Rigger. He has served as vice-president of the Publishers Marketing Association as well as president of the Parachute Industry Association, chairman of the board of the US Parachute Association and president of the international hang gliding commis¬sion. Often described as “Mr. Publishing,” Dan Poynter shows publishers how to sell more books using some surprisingly simple marketing concepts. No one gives away more help, advice and expertise than Dan Poynter. He is a caring, sharing publisher who is dedicated to putting more than just something back into the system. Dan shows people how to make a difference while making a living by coaching them on the writing, publishing and promoting of their book. He has turned thousands of people into successful authors. His mission is to see that people do not die with a book still inside them. Book Writing-Publishing SizzleReel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWl0fnBu7bs Full CV http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Poynter Aviation career in Pictures. http://www.slideshare.net/Dan_Poynter/dan-poynterparachutes-skydiving-aviation

Book preview

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This is a work of historical fiction and it is a new type of fiction: illustrated.

Most of the places, events, and people are real. Much of the dialogue is presumed. The main character is fictional—but could be real.

This book describes an interesting time and celebrates the people who lived it. If they did not say and do some of the things described, I hope they would agree that they could have.

This ebook is a multimedia presentation. Employing maps, photographs, videos, audios, and written references, this enhanced ebook tells a story in a way that a print book cannot.

Read this novel on a device connected to the internet to take full advantage of this enhanced ebook’s capabilities.

Readers may find some of the incidents described difficult to believe. The references testify to the ebook’s factual accuracy.

Most of the photographs and videos in this book are in black and white. That is because they are circa 1940. I have done my best to be faithful to history—to show and describe events and places as they were.

This book is based in the late 1930s and the early 1940s, much of it during wartime. People in the United States were scared. Our enemies were not the friends they are now. References to them were rarely nice. I am being accurate as opposed to politically correct.

Newspapers referred to the Germans as Nazis. The Japanese were called Japs. This is probably because those alternative words have fewer characters and made for larger headlines. They are also the terms that were spoken at the time.

The main character in this novel is Rusty Martin. He is reasonably smart, and very resourceful. Most of all, he was in the right places at the right times. Rusty reads, Rusty listens, Rusty studies, Rusty learns, and Rusty acts.

Measurements in this ebook are in English units not metric or nautical. Normally my aviation books reference all three measurement systems. For example: miles, kilometers, and knots. Being faithful to history, miles, gallons, feet, etc., are used in this ebook. That is the way it was in the United States at that time.

Aviation is the future though much of the Army and Navy leadership resisted that thought in the 1920s, 1930s, and even into the 1940s. President Roosevelt, on the other hand, saw aviation in the future.

If you are old enough to have been in these places during the times discussed and if you have additional or corrected information, please contact me. This book is a growing work. It will be updated from time to time. Books reflect on their authors and this author wants this ebook to reflect positively.

With your help, the readership of this book will climb like a Homesick Angel.

Dan Poynter

Santa Barbara

[e-mail]

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is a group effort. Many thanks for the advice received from Mike Turoff, author, chemist, pilot, and skydiver; Dan Snow, publisher and pilot; Karen Ramsdale, historian and director of the Santa Barbara Airport; Robin Cederlof who loves Santa Barbara history; Smokejumper Pat Wilson; publisher and pilot Ellen Searby Jori; Lilian Casselberry, Hib Casselberry, Jane Casselberry, and Len Casselberry, who were there.

Copy Editor, Joyce M. Gilmour, Editing TLC.

Maps and much other material are from Wikipedia. Many videos are referenced to YouTube. Google helped me find these references.

Some photographs were supplied by Rick Carter.

I sincerely thank all of these fine people and I know they are proud of the part they played in the development of aviation and Central Florida, and/or as well as their contribution to this work.

WARNING / DISCLAIMER

This ebook is a work of fiction. The purpose of this book is to educate and entertain. Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible. However, there may be typographical or content errors. Furthermore, this ebook contains information available only up to the publishing date.

Most of the events and places mentioned are real. Many of the people are real. Most of the dialogue, and the main character, Rusty Martin, are fiction.

Para Publishing warrants this ebook to be free of defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty shall be in lieu of any other warranty, express or implied.

The author and Para Publishing LLC shall have neither liability for, nor responsibility to, any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

If you do not agree with the above, you may return this ebook to the publisher for a full refund.

Warning / Disclaimer

DEDICATION

Lilian Casselberry (Selph)

Daughter of Hibbard Casselberry. Lilian’s stories of her remarkable father and hometown led me to build the story around Casselberry, Florida. She is a very good friend who has been a tremendous help with historic details.

Bob Bloch

This book could very well be about Bob Bloch. He is the epitome of the main character, Rusty Martin. This book was conceived and first drafted when I was fortunate to meet him at the Veteran Speakers’ Retreat in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, in 2012. He verified much of my writing and supplied inspiration and many new ideas.

CHAPTER 1

CASSELBERRY, FLORIDA

In 1926, Hibbard Casselberry of Winnetka, Illinois, visited his wife’s aunt in Winter Park, Florida, when he met Gordon Barnett. The effervescent Casselberry saw an exciting business opportunity at Barnett’s Fern Park Estates Real Estate Company and signed on as an exclusive sales agent.

Hibbard Casselberry

Casselberry and Barnett split soon after, but Casselberry purchased land surrounding Fern Park Estates and began platting his own subdivision, Winter Park Ferneries.

(Platting: To plan or make a map of an area of land for a proposed site for construction.)

The red area on the map to the right shows Seminole County. The red area on the county map to the left shows the current boundaries of the town of Casselberry.

See Current Map of Casselberry

At Hibbard Casselberry’s office, five years later, 1931, Mr. Martin introduced his family: "Good morning, Mr. Casselberry. We are the Martin family, and like you, we are also from Illinois. My name is Frank, this is my wife Margaret, and this young man is our son, Russell. He’s nearly two years old.

My wife’s cousin is Harry Blake, who owns a flower shop up north. He buys ferns from you and gets your advertising circulars. Harry said you’re a good man, and that you have a great place here.

Hibbard made a note to thank Harry with a few extra bundles of ferns in his next shipment.

Anyway, Mr. Casselberry, we have come down to see you about the land you have for sale, and to talk about possible options.

That is a long, arduous drive from Illinois. How long did it take you?

We didn’t drive, sir, we flew down. My wife and I are pilots and we have our own airplane. We’re not just looking for a home; we want one with an airstrip. Do you have a plot of land where we could build a site to take off and land?

How many acres will that require?

"We’ll need a few acres of flat land, with enough room for a grass strip. The area would need to be large enough for a runway area 1800 feet long and 300 feet wide. It should face into the prevailing wind.

It’s always been our family’s dream to live on an airport. We want to build our home with a garage for our car and a hangar for our plane.

Hibbard explained that ordinarily he would not have this type of land available. Most of his properties were dedicated to either large tracts for fern production or home sites. However, he had just been given a tract of land about a mile to the east. He loaned a local man some money, and for collateral, Hibbard took over the mortgage on the property. The man recently died. Instead of wanting the land or paying back the debt, the heirs gave Hibbard the land.

We do have such a spot. There is a relatively flat, dry area, south of Seminola Boulevard. It is just outside of town. But you will have to clear the land. It is undeveloped scrubland with a trail leading to it.

Hibbard thought: This is very interesting. I wonder if I could talk the bus company and railroad into stopping here. With an airstrip, this can become a real town. The airstrip can grow into an airport. That will make us important.

Would you like to see the site, Mr. Martin?

Sure, let’s take a look.

Mr. Casselberry, this is a gorgeous area. It occurs to me that you would reach more people if you ran advertising in some of the movie theaters up north.

Great idea, Mr. Martin. Film would be a good way to show off the beautiful land that we have down here. I’ll add your idea to my advertising to-do list.

The Martin family moved from Illinois to Florida to build their dream.

Hibbard Casselberry continued to develop and expand his fernery and his real estate business throughout the 1930s.

Because of this building and other signage, people began referring to the growing town as Casselberry.

Casselberry Ferneries had 3-million sq. ft. of lath houses filled with asparagus ferns.

Boxing Ferns

In 1936, Hibbard Casselberry focused his attention on the railroad company. Smudge pots guarded the ferns against damaging winter freezes. If he could convince the railroad to make this town a local stop, then fuel oil could be delivered on a regular, efficient basis. A local train stop would also increase passenger traffic and help accelerate the growth of the town. He would need to build a railroad siding off the main line so the train could stop to load and offload cargo. And so he did.

Hibbard was now ready to choose a name for his new railroad siding. He wanted to call it

Winter Park Ferneries, after his fernery, but the rail stop five miles south was named Winter Park, and he didn’t want the confusion of similar names.

He chose Casselberry Siding. This simply identified Hibbard as a customer located in the four-mile stretch between Altamonte Springs and Longwood. With that problem solved, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad began delivering fuel oil, fertilizer, and lumber.

The little area was beginning to be even better known as Casselberry.

The following year, the railroad began picking up fern shipments for transportation north.

Testing Fertilizer

Casselberry City Hall

See and Hear about Casselberry Video

Buckhorn Bar

True History of Casselberry with Rose Tucker

Mr. Casselberry, meeting you and moving down here are the best things to happen to us, said Mr. Martin. Our family has achieved our dream to live on an airport in the middle of paradise.

"I understand, Mr. Martin. Florida is indeed a paradise. I’ve never heard of anyone retiring and moving up