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Donald
E. Hinz
Commander USN (Retired)
April 10, 1944 - May 30, 2004 |
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 The
P-51C Mustang Tuskegee Airmen was tragically lost,
along with it's pilot and the leader of the Red
Tail Project, Don Hinz, on May 29, 2004 due to a
mechanical failure and subsequent off airport landing
near Bay City Wisconsin. Don had just completed
a high speed pass at an airshow with Tuskegee Airmen
when the sudden and unexpected failure of the Y
drive caused the engine to suddenly and completely
stop. All of us associated with the Red Tail Project
send our heart felt condolances to Don's wife Pat,
their four sons, and the rest of the Hinz family
for their tragic loss.
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This is the crew that participated
in the flyover at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
during Don's internment ceremony.
From left to right--- Craig
Rodberg (crew), Spook Johns (Harvard Pilot),
Larry Lumpkin (P51D Pilot), Bob Odegard (Corsair
Pilot), Bruce Olson ( AT6 pilot), Joe Romuld
(crew), Scott Romuld (SNJ4 Pilot), John Sinclair
(crew) |
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Some people have asked if there is a way to include
a remembrance. A website has been created to honor
the legacy of Don Hinz. We encourage you to visit
the site, sign the guest book, and add your comments
and images to it. Click
on this link to go to Don's legacy site.
It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually
in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat
and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who
comes up short again and again, because there is
no effort without error and shortcoming; but who
does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows
great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends
himself in a worth cause; who at the best knows
in the end the triumph of high achievement, and
who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who neither know
victory or defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt.
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 Download
the Memorial Page
Don Hinz was performing at the 2004 Wings of Freedom
Air Show in the CAF P-51C “Tuskegee Airmen”
when the aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine
failure. Don executed a forced landing in trees
near the airport and was fatally injured.
Don gave selflessly of his time, resources, and
ultimately his life in his effort to tell the story
of the Tuskegee Airmen. This is a story of hope
and opportunity, through self-discipline and perseverance.
Don believed the aircraft was a powerful tool telling
this story “in a museum without walls.”
In this spirit we are restoring the aircraft. Currently,
restoration of the fuselage is near completion.
The unveiling of this major milestone will be at
the Wings of Freedom Air Show. The airplane will
soon be flying again continuing Don's vision that,
“this airplane will travel the country and
maybe the world telling youth that they can follow
their dreams, overcome obstacles and be contributing
members of their communities.
Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature... Life is either a
daring adventure or nothing at all - Helen
Keller |
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