Camarillo veterans help get aviation museum on the map
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

MUSEUM GUIDES-Frank Doerfler, Charlie Valentine and Craig Tynan stand in front of a "Terrible Texan" warplane on display at the World War II Aviation Museum at Camarillo airport. The three and Bill Main, who is not pictured, were instrumental in getting the state Assembly and Senate to okay a freeway sign for the museum.

The Camarillo Airport turns 30 this year, and Frank Doerfler and his fellow members of the Southern California Commemorative Air Force may have found the perfect birthday gift.

Don't look for it to be wrapped, though. Doerfler, a Korean War veteran and a resident of Thousand Oaks, wants to be sure everyone will see the two brand new signs along the 101 Freeway that'll guide motorists to the World War II Aviation Museum at Camarillo Airport.

Although the size of the signs and when exactly they'll be installed are still up in the air, one sign will be for southbound motorists and the other for those heading north.

A bill authorizing Caltrans to add the signs was given the goahead by the state Senate last week on a 26-5 vote. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to give the final approval later this year.

Doerfler, who was named an honorary colonel by the nationwide Commemorative Air Force, said he began working on the bill in November 2001. Since then, Doerfler said he has written a lot of letters, placed many phone calls and made several trips to Sacramento to turn the signs into a reality.

"It's been a tough job," said Doerfler of the effort to get the signs.

He's quick to point out, though, that he shares credit for the signs with his fellow honorary colonels-Bill Main, Charles Valentine and Craig Tynan. The three Camarillo residents traveled with Doerfler to the state capital to lobby for the bill's passage. "They were sure tickled it got through the legislative part," Doerfler said.

When the idea first came about to have a sign placed along the freeway, Doerfler said he asked state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) to write a letter to the California Department of Transportation requesting the signs.

That request was quickly shot down when Caltrans informed the senator that a museum must draw at least 500,000 visitors a year to warrant a highway sign.

Unfazed by Caltrans' rule, Doerfler turned to then-Assemblymember Tony Strickland (R Thousand Oaks) to write the first bill supporting the signs. The bill was killed before it reached the Transportation Committee.

To help push for the bill's passage, the four honorary colonels realized they needed to make a personal appearance and headed to Sacramento at the invitation of Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark), who had been elected to her husband's Assembly seat.

"We couldn't have done it without (Strickland)," Doerfler said. "She gave us a lot of guidance on who to contact and so forth."

With Strickland's help, the bill passed the Assembly in April and was introduced by McClintock for the Senate vote.

"I am pleased the legislature - in a bipartisan manner - was able to honor the men and women who are frequently referred to as the greatest generation in our country's history," Strickland wrote of the bill's passage.

"The signs point the public toward a very important project that provides a tangible, physical link between our generation and the men that fought and bled and died to preserve our liberty," McClintock said.

Doerfler said he hopes his  next trip to Sacramento will find him standing at the governor's side when he gives his approval for the signs.

The museum's collection includes a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber, a Grumman F6F5 Hellcat, a 1933 Russian Polikarpov I-16 Ishak fighter, a Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Zero Japanese fighter and a Convair C-131.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The public is welcome to view plane restoration and maintenance work which is done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the restoration hangar.