Our first featured speaker of 2014 will be Chapter 431 member Doug Tomas of East Troy, Wis. He will be giving a presentation on his great-uncle, who was a flight engineer on a B-24 and shot down over northern Italy during WWII. His research turned up some surprises, correspondance with surviving crew members, a special connection with a B-24 in the National Museum of the US Air Force and ultimately a trip to Italy for a special dedication in 2011.

Doug’s presentation will be held in conjunction with the Brodhead Historical Society on Monday, March 31st at the Bank of Brodhead after a short business meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Doug Tomas grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and from an early age had a love for aviation. He earned his private pilot’s license at age 17, attended his first EAA fly-in and convention in Rockford, Illinois, in 1969, and has been hooked ever since. Doug is an A&P mechanic with and IA certificate, working mostly on antique/classic aircraft, and maintaining and flying his 1949 Piper PA-16 “Clipper”, in East Troy, Wisconsin. He also is a co-owner in an Aeronca 7AC Champ in Stoughton, Wisconsin.