Chicago Aeronuts, circa 1946-1949

Here’s the second photo I started this website with, circa 1946-1949. Again, if you have any additional information, please leave a comment or contact me!

Photo by Jack Jenkins

 

Back row: Carl Goldberg, Joe Vermoch, Pete Vacco, Leo Vartanian, Carl Haas, Bob Piper, Leon Klesman, Wally Fromm, Sid Axlerod
Third row: Alvin Fritz, Gerry Ritz, D. Weiler, Frank Garcher, Otto Curth, Carl Canfield, R.G. Schmitt, Chas. Bell
Second row: Jules Carrett, Chuck Klivans, Joe “Pappy” Matulis, Allen Galloway, Myron Hoffman, Wally Simmers, Stan Yeager
Front row: Gene Schapp, Bill Ehrlich, Dick Crenshaw

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Chicago Aeronuts group photo, 1936

Here’s the photo I started this website with. I’ve decided to move it into the blog format for consistency. This and the later photo made the rounds around the 1990s, and many of the people were identified. If you know anyone else, or have corrections, or have more information, leave a comment!

Back row: Tom Cunningham, Joe Konefes, Alex Johnson, Joe "Pappy" Matulis, John Bock, Frank Nekimken, Carl Goldberg, Sid Axlerod, Leon Klesman, [unknown

Back row: Tom Cunningham, Joe Konefes, Alex Johnson, Joe “Pappy” Matulis, John Bock, Frank Nekimken, Carl Goldberg, Sid Axlerod, Leon Klesman, [unknown]
Front row: C Bell, Dick Obarski, Gerald Ritz, [unknown], Elic (Alex) Nekimken, [unknown], Milt Huguelet, Ed Kovaleski

 

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Class A Glider Contest photo, 1937

Here’s a Chicago Park District photo of some young modelers at a Class A Glider Contest at the 124th Field Artillery Armory. The photo appears to be dated 10/19/1937, but typed caption attached at bottom identifies the contest date as 3/6/1937.

Elic Nekimken, Frank Midough and Chester Czyryk are identified in pencil on the back (and I’ve identified them on the photo). Please let me know if you can identify anyone else (you can click on the photo to enlarge it).

Chicago Park District Junior Contestants in Class "A" N.A.A. Sanctioned Indoor Glider Contest. March 6, 1937.

 

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulleting Vol.V No.I (Feb. 23, 1940)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulleting Vol.V No.I (Feb. 23, 1940)

Article by Alex Nekimken on Carl Goldberg’s idea to hang a “tail” from the rear of each helicopter blade, to “prevent the blades from twisting into negative under full power.” Ends with, “Remember that this has not been tried in actual practice, so don’t take its success for granted.”

Some examples from the Downdrafts on the Weathervanes section:

Overheard somewhere-”Yep, I’ve got a swell flying model – and a gas job”

And then there’s the ever timely remark, “To h-l with a Leutrel, I’ll buy M.R.L. (Sorry, Wally, Midwest doesn’t rhyme.)

Yippeee – a new joint to howl in!! The meeting of Feb. 24 will find us as permanent fixtures in Spark Plug Nekimken’s paradise —- Garfield Park

Last page is a full page anti-war editorial. An interesting view into the minds of young men (or at least one young man) while the Germans and Soviets were settling into Poland. A few years later, many Aeronuts would be in uniform. I may post it separately at a later date.

As with all Bulletin posts, you can download the entire Bulletin as a PDF using the link at the top of the post.

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 5 (Feb 1940)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 5 (Feb 1940)

First issue with the new header artwork (“outdoor-fuse design”) that was the result of a contest spanning several issues (won by “Sinny”).

Lists the results of the election held at the last meeting in 1939:

President: Joe Matulis

Vice-president: Ed Lidgard

Secretary: Walter Fromm

Treasurer: Pete Vacco

New council members: Frank Nekimken and Carl Goldberg

Robert Wolsey announces he’s stepping down as editor to finish school in June, to be succeeded by Joe Redman.

Contains a very short introduction to helicopters by Alex Nekimken, promising to explain “just how to use a tail” in the next issue.

Last page is scale drawings of “BIRDIE #1″, an indoor Class A glider by V.M. Garofalo.

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol IV. No. 4 (Dec. 14, 1939)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulleting Vol. IV No. 4 (Dec 14, 1939)

This is a one-page special edition featuring a description of a night on the town with Milt Huguelet along with a call for more articles.

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 3 (Nov. 1939)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 3 (Nov. 1939)

Members as of this issue:

George Ahlander
Charles Belsky
Robert Crowly
Robert DeBatty
Dushan Desich
Walter Fromm
Vito Garofalo
Sam Gibellino (?)
Carl Goldberg
William Hollis
Milton Huguelet
Alex Ligas
Ed Lidgard
Joe Limosani
Joe Matulis
Alex Nekimken
Joe Redman
Gerald Ritzenthaler
John Rosen
Marvin Setzke
Henry Shaperio
Wally Simmers
Armando Sinibaldo
Louis Tucker
Pete Vacco
Robert Wolsey

"Our Favorite Outdoor Sport" Wolsey/Fromm

 

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 1 (Sept. 1939)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. IV No. 1 (Sept. 1939)

Contains an article on rubber motors, “MATH FOR DURATION OF MODELS”, by Raoul J. Hoffman.

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 7 (March 1937)

Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 7 (Download)

Editor-in-chief……Tom Cunningham

Technical Editor……Edmund Swort

Circulation Manager..Richard Worel

Feature Editor…….Charles Belsky

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ‘NUTS

It was on a very dark Saturday evening, in November 1935, when a group of eight young men met in the field house of Dvorak park, with but one intention. That of forming and organizing the foremost model airplane organization in the United States. At their first meeting they chose the name Chicago Aeronuts, and as their leader they chose Carl Goldberg, who because of his executive ability and extensive knowlege of aeronautics has been retained in that office since that date.

A few of the early members were Joe Matulis, Charlie Bolsky, Wally Simmers, Bernie Schwartz, Johnny Kubilis and Sid Axelrod. Through Frank Nekimken the 132nd Armory was obtained for flying purposes. Later when through no fault of their own this privilege was withdrawn.

Again Frank Nekimken and the Park District went to bat and secured the 124th Armory for flying purposes, and Gage Park in which to hold their meetings. This satisfactory arrangement has remained in effect up to the present. The membership has grown to 35, with a long list of prospects attempting to fill the entrance requirements.

At the present time they are on the top of the list of National Aeronautical Association record holders, holding more records than any other city in the U.S.

Chicago’s Nation Record holders include: Goldberg, Matulis, Becksted, Simmers, Huguelet, Gelbard, Axelrod, Obarski, Decker, A. Nekimken, Kubilis, Swort and Turner…….

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Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin

I just finished scanning eleven issues of the Chicago Aeronuts Bulletin from 1937-1946. I’ll start posting them as soon as decide on the best format to do so. I found a couple more to scan as well, including one from 1950.

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