Camarillo’s Old Planes a Labor of Love and War

The way volunteers at the Confederate Air Force Southern California Wing see it, the World War II planes on display are a perfect Labor Day symbol.

“That’s how these planes were built,” said Chuck Tully, operations officer. “World War II was won by working people--either in the factories or on the battlefields.”

Added Joe Peppito, the wing’s maintenance officer: “A lot of the work was done by people who normally wouldn’t be working.”

They were high school students, senior citizens, women and disabled persons, he said.

On a serene, picture-perfect holiday that saw people flock to the county’s beaches and parks, about 200 chose to visit the organization’s hangar at Camarillo Airport on Monday to inspect five vintage World War II planes, with several of the wing’s 250-member volunteer staff on hand to answer questions.

“Our main purpose is to educate the general public as to what we did during World War II and what [aircraft] we had to utilize,” Peppito said.

The national organization was established in Mercedes, Texas, in 1961 with the goal of locating and preserving one model of every plane designed, built or flown by allied or enemy forces from 1939 through 1945.

Peppito estimates there are 250 to 300 planes in existence.

The 90 “wings,” or chapters around the world, own a combined 140 models, he said.

The Camarillo Airport wing, established in 1981, has five planes on display: a Curtiss C-46 Army Air Corps Commando transport plane; a Grumman F8F-2 Navy Bearcat fighter; a North American SNJ-5 Navy training plane; a Fairchild U-61K Army Air Corps utility-liaison plane; and a North American B-25 Army Air Corps Mitchell bomber.

They range in value from $125,000 to about $1 million when in flying condition.

“It’s the law of supply and demand,” Peppito said. “There’s not many left.”

Mark Shenton, a Camarillo resident, said he has been a plane lover for decades, and once took flying lessons. He took great pleasure in inspecting the planes on display.

“It’s history,” Shenton said.

Navy Lt. Glenn Albrecht took the day off from his Port Hueneme base to view the last genre of planes before jets.

“They are American drive and ingenuity,” he said.

Many people chose to spend Labor Day weekend close to home, enjoying perfect temperatures.

The National Weather Service in Oxnard reported temperatures reached the low 80s in Ventura County’s coastal areas, and the high 80s to low 90s inland by afternoon.

“It’s a gorgeous Labor Day,” said Gary Ryan, a National Weather Service meteorologist. “We didn’t even have any fog [Monday] morning.”

Back-to-work temperatures today are expected to be in the mid-70s to low 80s for coastal areas and in the lower 90s inland, he said.

From 6 p.m. Friday through midafternoon Monday, the California Highway Patrol reported making 321 drunk-driving arrests throughout the county.

By 6 p.m. Monday, lifeguards had made nearly 120 rescues on the counties’ beaches, with only one requiring hospital attention, according to authorities, who said she was expected to make a full recovery.

“We are overstaffed today,” said John Higgins, senior lifeguard for Port Hueneme beaches. “We have three lifeguards at every tower.”

Some people decided to forgo the packed beaches, choosing instead to spend the holiday in the park.

Hamid Babaeian, who picnicked at Conejo Creek Park with 20 family members and friends, said Labor Day is a time of reflection and showing appreciation for everything he has.

“It’s a Thanksgiving [Day] for workers,” he said. “Not everybody is thinking what it is about.”

Babaeian, who owns Pacific Dental Inc., a Westlake Village-based manufacturer of dental crowns and bridges, said he can not think of Labor Day without thinking of his family.

“I feel I am very happy and lucky that my family is healthy and that we live in a nice environment,” he said. “My children are receiving a great education and I am a good enough provider.”

Frank Lewis, a Thousand Oaks civil engineer, said Labor Day holds no special symbolism for him--it’s day off. Lewis said his family usually avoids traffic on three-day weekends by staying in the area doing spontaneous activities.

“There are no thoughts of the labor movement,” he said. “I’m a professional. I’ve never been in a union and don’t envision being in one.”