Remembering Hickory Area Heroes
Hank Avery
Here is an one from the archives! Standing in front of Hank Avery's mighty A-1E Skyraider preparing to head up to Oceana NAS for their open house, this was in the heyday of the Sabre Society! Kregg, Kyle, and Tommy put together the entire static warbird display for the show. These were the halcyon days where we were learning with each step we took and making awesome contacts in the process. From left to right, me (Kyle Kirby), Hank Avery, Tommy Hennessee, "Doc" Sinden, Kregg Kirby, and Greg Deal. The Skyraider was a brute and carried all six of us up to the show. The center seats in the "blue room" could be turned fore or aft!! We had them aft for this flight. Doc was a naval aviator and flew the A-1, FJ-3, and F-8 in service. He still hasn't lost his touch!! Kregg and I were in the aft facing row and some of Doc's "tricks" could really take you by surprise!!! You should have seen the maintenance guys run out from under the F-14s and F-18s when we arrived and folded the wings up!!! I just can't say enough about Hank Avery. This man flew SBDs and R4Ds in WW II. He and Paul Cash (B-24 driver) started Silver Creek airport in Morganton. When we were doing the airshow, Hank's aircraft were always there (and there were several including his equally awesome TBM) and he never charged us a dime! He was always behind us each step of the way and enough can't be said of his support and graciousness. He passed just after our F-14 arrived and I think he realized we were on our way! There are very few people you will ever meet in a lifetime of Hank Avery's stature. We miss you Hank. Our current facility at the terminal building is dedicated to him. It was also a wonderful opportunity to fly in his aircraft and he allowed it willingly. Also, he let a rookie like me mask off the numbers and markings that adorned the Skyraider. It is now at the Cavanaugh Museum and still wears Hank's colors! Also, I have to give great props to Greg Deal. He is literally a genius and kept all of Hank's birds in tip-top shape. He has helped us get several of our aircraft and I would put him up against anybody for skill!! He always pitched in and helped fix several aircraft that needed attention at our airshows!! Also, Kregg and Tommy were the principal 'plane-getters' for Warbirds Over Hickory. Those were just incredible days back then. To give you an idea of Greg's skill, he constructed "dummy" 5-inch rockets for the A-1 and they knocked off a lot of speed because of their drag. Current Museum Director Jeff Wofford flew Frank Drendel's T-28 up and beat us there! Many wonderful things lay ahead for us here at the museum, but many wonderful things also lurk in the not too distant past. Geez, I wish I still looked this young! I think this was in the late 90s when this shot was snapped. One night in our trailer, Hank, Paul Cash, Max Freeman, and a few other gathered to discuss the museum. This was in the early nineties. Max had trained pilots in WW II and flew B-29s in Korea. He and Korean ace Dolph Overton were nearly court-martialed together for breaking some pretty stupid rules. Paul Cash flew B-24s and was shot down to become a POW, where he had some very interesting cell-mates. It was pretty rarified air to be a part of this meeting and have their support!! These guys started talking about their experiences before they got in the war. I'll never forget Hank and Max talking about a guy named "Crab" Lail. He was the first local friend they new who was killed in action. He was lost in a B-17 in the Eighth Air Force. Our direct heritage with the museum includes some really influential locals who helped shape our very airport we call home. Max has passed too and leaves a great legacy behind. Our friend Joe Miller knew Max well through the Quiet Birdmen and he lived in Winston-Salem. We have a wonderful priviledge here in what we do, but we also have a lot of responsibilty. It has been a very fun ride thus far!!! Farewell Hank, I hope we can live up to the wonderful times you helped provide!
Joe Icard
Joe Icard grew up just below the Pepsi plant on Duke Street in Granite Falls. Not only did Joe become an ace in WW II, he did it with one of the most famed outfits of the war. Joe flew with the 56th Fighter Group of the 8th Air Force in the United Kingdom. The group was known as "Zempke's Wolfpack" after their legendary CO "Hub" Zempke. The 56th was the first 8th AF unit to get the mighty P-47 Thunderbolt. Not only that, they were the only unit in the 8th to fly it throughout the war. After Gen. James Doolittle mandated a change to consolidate all 8th AF fighter units on the new P-51 Mustang, the 56th said they wanted to keep their P-47s. They finished the war flying the "hot-rod", 470+ mph P-47M. The unit shot down more enemy aircraft than any other 8th AF unit. Not only that, they produced the highest scoring aces in the ETO. Frances "Gabby" Gabreski and Robert Johnson lead the way with 28 kills apiece!!! These are just two of the legendary pilots of the unit. I encourage you to do a little further digging on your own to find out more. Now for Joe Icard.
Joe Walter Icard completed Army Air Forces pilot training on 1 Nov. 1942 and was warranted a flight officer. He transitioned into fighter aircraft and was assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, on 27 Aug. 1943. When Joe arrived in England, the unit was flying from Halesham. They flew their first "ramrod" to Germany on 3 Nov. They were escorting bombers to Wilhelmshaven. It took Joe eight days to get his first kill. On a withdrawal mission from Munster, his White Flight bounced four FW-190s. Three of the four enemy fighters were destroyed with Joe claiming one.
Joe was soon promoted to second lieutenant. It took a while to get his next kill although he flew consistently. Joe damaged a FW-190 near Albert, France on 6 Feb. 1944. Flying his assigned P-47, coded LM*I, he downed a Me-109 near Cambrai, and followed with another 109 downed near Bierset on the 11th. The period known as "Big Week" took place between Feb. 20th through the 25th. The plan was for the Allies to have a concentrated effort to destroy the Luftwaffe. The 56th "jugs" were fitted with 150 gallon drop tanks to extend their range. On Feb. 21st, Joe was escorting bombers back across the Zuider Zee. The 62nd claimed 10 enemy aircraft in a melee involving many aircraft. Icard claimed one of the ten.
Joe Icard reached ace status on March 6, 1944. He destroyed another FW-190 over Dummer Lake. On the 8th, the 56th was tasked with providing penetration aid for 400 B-17s and 200 B-24s assigned to to bomb the VKB ball bearing factory in Berlin. The 62nd Thunderbolts rendezvoused with the bombers near Dummer Lake at 12:42. At around 13:00, the P-47s engaged the first of three waves of over 20 German fighters. Near the spot where he became an ace, Joe was seen to engage the enemy. Everyone in the flight was very busy. Joe Icard from Granite Falls, NC was never seen again. He will always be remembered here at HAM.
Out of curiosity, I began a search to find Granite Falls ace Joe Icard's grave. With a tip from cousin Tom Whisnant, it didn't take me too long!! Here is Joe's resting place and I was flooded with emotion when I came upon it. Joe got 5 aerial victories with the mighty 56th FG under "Hub" Zempke!! He was lost over Dummer Lake on 8 March 44.
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