The South Dakota Pilots Association promotes the active support of the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame through the SDPA newsletter.

The SD Aviation Hall of Fame is a non-profit South Dakota corporation with federal tax-exempt status, established to honor the pioneers and contributors to South Dakota aviation. Their history, accomplishment, impact on South Dakota, and memorabilia will be on display and available for inspection in the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame building to be located on the Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD.

If you know of someone from South Dakota who you believe would be a good nominee for the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, please complete and submit the Nominee Application or contact Ted Miller at 605-642-0277.

• The Inductees
• The Home
• Building Fund
• Contacts
• 2007 Raffle & Winner (No raffle held)
• 2008 Raffle & Winner
• Donated Aircraft
• Inductees in the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Combat Air Crew Memorial
• List of all Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees
• List of all Combat Air Crew Memorial Members
• Application Forms
  • South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame nominee form
  • Combat Air Crew Memorial nominee form

The Inductees

Famous inductees such as Clyde Ice, Joe Foss, Duane Corning, Nellie Willhite, Charles Gemar, and more have been honored by the SD Aviation Hall of Fame.

Over 200 combat aircrew members have been inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, and were residents of South Dakota who served their country with honor while flying combat tours in the many wars of the United States, from World War I to the present.

The Home

Presently, the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, Inc. has an exhibit of Aviation Hall of Fame members and combat aircrew members at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, SD.

A new home (shown right, drawn by Claudette Miller) is planned in the future at the Black Hills / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD, to house the exhibit, aircraft, and memorabilia of the Hall of Fame members for future generations.

Building Fund

A building fund has been established and donations are solicited for this unique South Dakota institution. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. A contribution wall will be constructed and consist of plaques showing the donor’s name and section.

Building Fund Contributions

• Platinum Eagle $5,000.00 or more
• Golden Eagle $1,000.00 or more
• Silver Eagle $500.00 or more
• Bronze Eagle $100.00 or more
• Annual Membership $35.00

Contacts

South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame
Black Hills / Clyde Ice Field
424 Aviation Place
Spearfish, SD 57783
Phone 605-642-0277 (days)

President
Ted Miller
Black Hills Aero
424 Aviation Place
Spearfish, SD 57783
605-642-0277 (days)
Email: bha@mato.com

Vice President
Rich Krogstad
320 N. Tinton Road
Spearfish, SD 57783
Home 605-642-5385
Email: c21rich@mato.com

Board of Directors
Ted Miller, Spearfish
 Rich Krogstad, Spearfish
Pearl Gulbranson, Spearfish
Tami Schroeder, Brookings

Selection Committee
Ted Miller, Spearfish
Rich Krogstad, Spearfish
Leon Basler, Bismarck, ND
Grove Rathbun, Rapid City
Denny Martens, Vermillion
Bobbie Potts, Gettysburg
Norm Telkamp, Sioux Falls

2008 Raffle & Winner
The SD Aviation Hall of Fame is searching for a “Light Sport Plane” to use in the 2008 Raffle.  If you know of a light sport plane like a J-3 Cub or PA-11, PLEASE contact Rich Krogstad at 605-642-5385 or email c21rich@mato.com, or Ted Miller at 605-642-0277 or email bha@mato.com -- at your earliest opportunity!! 

Once a plane has been secured for the 2008 Raffle, flyers about the raffle will be mailed through out the state and advertised in the newsletter of the South Dakota Pilots Association. 

Tentatively, the 2008 Raffle drawing to be held on September 6, 2008.  Raffle tickets will probably cost $50 each.  MORE DETAILS LATER.  Make checks payable to the SD Aviation Hall of Fame, and mail to SD Aviation Hall of Fame, 424 Aviation Way, Spearfish, SD 57783.  Your raffle ticket will be mailed to you.  Need not be present to win.  Proceeds to the SD Aviation Hall of Fame, non-profit 503-C.

Donated Aircraft
If you have artifacts or an aircraft to donate to the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame, please contact Ted Miller.

Make & Model: Stits Playmate built by Henry Conrad Balcer
Year: 1968
N number: N6515
Donator: Charlotte Andersen, MD, Badger, SD
Location: Black Hills Aero, Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, SD

When my Dad started welding chromoly steel in our one-car garage, my 6 year-old eyes were wide with excitement -- this pile of metal was going to be our airplane?  I spent every evening with him "working" on the airplane.  I really could help with some things, like stitching the Dacron covered wings, but I'm sure he put up with my assistance, hoping that I would love it as much as he did.

It worked.

My Dad finished the Stits Playmate in just under 2 1/2 years, the fastest time to date for one to be finished.  N6515 was the first to fly after Ray Stits flew the prototype.  The Playmate made its first trip to Rockford, Illinois in 1969, coming home with a trophy. 

My Dad and I flew many more years to Oshkosh.  We had the airplane in parades, in malls, almost anywhere anyone invited us.  The folding-wing design made it easy for it to be transported as well as allowing it access to places where many other aircraft cannot go.

It had the engine updated early on to the Lycoming 150 hp, which gave it more power, and makes it quite a peppy little craft to fly.

Dad and I rebuilt the Playmate in 1990, giving it all new fabric, new interior, and new avionics.  This time I could participate much more fully, and my Dad and I had a wonderful time doing it together.   What a joy it was to receive the first Paul Poberezny Founders Award for classic custom homebuilt in Oshkosh in 1991. 

While flying with my Dad all those years, I got my license, graduated from medical school, completed my psychiatry residency, got a Skyhawk, and missed Oshkosh only twice in all those years.  I then married the most wonderful man, Art, a pilot, who lives in Badger...on SD19. 

My Dad died in 2002, and I want a place for the Playmate to live forever. 

Charlotte Andersen, M.D.
Badger, SD

Make & Model: American Triwing
Year: 1952
N number: N6001V
Donator: Vern Kraemer, Nemo, SD
Location: being restored in Nemo, SD

Comment 9/25/05: The American Triwing was the first licensed homebuilt in South Dakota.  It was donated to the EAA  Museum in 1959 in Hales Corners, WI, the second plane donated (Steve Wittman's Bonzo was the first).  When the EAA Museum moved to Oshkosh, WI, in the late 1980s, the Triwing was inexplicably destroyed by EAA (burned up the wings).  After some persistence on Vern's part, they returned the fuselage cut in 3-ft pieces in the box.  They kept the engine and instruments without permission. Vern has since welded the fuselage back together.  He has reconstructed the wings from his blueprints and is currently welding up the struts for the wings.  Once everything is in the proper position, he will begin covering the plane with fabric.  He is restoring it for display purposes only, not to be airworthy. 

Inductees in the Aviation Hall of Fame and the Combat Air Crew Memorial

The SD Aviation Hall of Fame inducted four people during ceremonies held at Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field on September 7, 2007. 

Robert (Bob) W. Erlandson was born in Miller, SD, where as a young child he flew in his dad’s Monocoup.  He soloed in 1952 in an American Champion, which he later used for uranium prospecting in the Slim Buttes area of northwestern SD.  Bob owned and flew several planes over the years including an Aeronca Sedan, Taylorcraft BC12D, Cessna 120, Piper Super Cub, Aero Commander Shrike, and Cessna 195.  He started Miller Spraying Service, Miller, SD, crop dusting business in 1964.  In 1968 the family relocated to El Centro, CA, where Bob aerially sprayed for the Imperial Valley Crop Service, flying Stearman, Snows, and Steercats.  Later in life he tried hot air ballooning.  Mr. Erlandson was nominated for the SDAHF by Bob’s daughter Barb Pflaum. 

Ola Mildren (Rexy) Rexroat moved to South Dakota in 1918 at one year old.  She was the only Native American to fly in the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) program.  Rexy graduated from the WASP program on September 8, 1944, and later towed targets for aerial gunners at Eagle Pass, Texas.  She remembers being shot at and having the cables shot out of the plane on more than one occasion.  When the WASP disbanded in 1944, Rexy served as an Air Force reserve officer and air traffic controller at Kirkland, NM.  She currently lives in Edgemont and was recently treated to a ride at Hot Springs Airport in a AT-6A by Harry Thompson of Brookings.  Rexy flew a T-6 in the WASP program.  Ms. Rexroat was nominated for the SDAHF by Tammy Schroeder.

Helen Jo Severson was born in Marvin, SD, and completed high school at Summit, SD, later graduating with a Masters degree in Library Science at the University of Illinois.  Completed the Civilian Pilot Training program at SD State College, Brookings, with instructor Cecil Shupe.  She later was the airport co-manager at Urbana, IL, and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.  She joined the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in April 1943 at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, TX.  Helen was featured in Life magazine.  She was killed on August 30, 1943, with Margaret Seip and their instructor on a training flight in a UC-78 about 10 miles north of Big Springs, Texas.  She was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Brookings.  Her silver WASP Wings were awarded posthumously to her parents.  Her husband pilot Captain Robert Severson, was shot down on a volunteer mission over Germany (“He volunteered as he felt he had nothing to come home to since the death of his wife, Helen Jo,” according the Life magazine article).  Mrs. Severson was nominated for the SDAHF by Tammy Schroeder.

Thomas C. Walenta was born in Dupree, SD, and raised near Cold Springs/Glad Valley, SD.  He began his flying career in 1945 learning to fly in a J-3 Cub, later earning several certificates including ATP, A&P, CFI, and Designated Pilot Examiner.  He worked for Timber Lake Flying Service, served during the Korean War, instructed at the SAC Aero Club on Ellsworth AFB, and flew charter for Weber Aviation (Rapid City).  Thomas founded Black Hills Airmotive, Inc., in 1960 providing flight instruction, charter service, and aircraft sales and maintenance.  In 1966 he sold his business and joined the FAA as a general aviation operations inspector at Fargo, ND.  Thomas retired from the FAA in 1994 after working at Fargo, Billings, MT, FAA Headquarters, Washington, DC, Albuquerque, NM, and Houston, TX.  He held positions of aviation safety inspector, unit manager, aviation specialist, assistant manager, and office manager.  After retirement in 1994, Thomas continued working as an aviation consultant and freelance flight instructor.  He was an accomplished pilot – flying single and multi-engine aircraft, reciprocating and jet engines, helicopters, and gliders – accumulating over 9,600 hours of flying during a 60-year period.  Mr. Walenta was nominated for the SDAHF by Burdette (Ben) Thompson of Springfield, IL. 

Six people were inducted into the Combat Air Crew Memorial during a ceremony at Black Hills Airport / Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, on September 7, 2007.

Henry A. Potter, Lt.
Quentin G. Eymer, 2nd Lt.
Joseph (Joe) M. Gamet, WO JG
Howard E. Winstead, 2nd Lt.
Roger D. Root, Lt. Col.
Robert A. Severson, Capt.

List of all South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees

List of all Combat Air Crew Memorial Members