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Major Paul Meyers
And The 126th Observation Squadron-1941
Winner of a 2003 EAA Art & Aviation Merit Award in
Oshkosh, WI.
Major Paul Meyers was the first winner of
the Croix de Guerre from the French Government in World
War 1 and as an Aerial Observer, he was asked to form
the 126th Observation Squadron in World War 2. The
squadron was formed in Milwaukee, WI at the Wisconsin
Army National Guards' Richards Street Armory and what
was then General Billy Mitchell Field in 1940.
The plane is the North American 0-47B
Observation plane. It was obsolete before the war began,
and was given to the Army National Guard Air Corps as
"hand me downs". These planes were flown to the
Louisiana/Carolina War Maneuvers in 1941 to photograph
maneuvers and to test the Marston Mats. These were the
perforated metal planks used in all theaters of combat
as temporary landing strips. They were manufactured in
Milwaukee.
Stencel exhaustively researched this
painting, tracking down Squadron members who could
possibly shed some light on this little known unit.
Stencel was blessed with the opportunity to meet and
work with Mr. Jake Skocir. a member and aerial
photographer with the 126th, who shared his extensive
collection of memorabilia and photographs with Stencel.
Mr. Skocir is 90 years young, has the
mind of a 30 year old, and is one of only a very small
handful of veterans left from this little known but
important squadron who contributed tremendously to the
war effort.
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