Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West

55 years of research and field experience!

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G. Pat Macha
Mission Viejo, CA

November 22, 2014 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Redlands, CA.
I am available for public speaking on the topics of aviation accident history, archaeology, and safety. My programs feature PowerPoint presentations and graphics. I enjoy speaking to audiences of all ages, junior high to senior citizens. Human interest stories highlight all presentations.
 

  See this review of Pat's speaking engagement / .PDF 
From the EEA Chapter 845 January 2015 Newsletter

SPEAKING EXPERIENCE

  • 5/11/19 Laguna Woods Aero Club, Gate 12, in Club House 2, Noon. Days It Rained P-40 Tomahawks
  • 5/9/19 Association of Naval Aviators: Historic Aircraft Accidents of Orange County, CA
  • 4/20/19 Western Museum of Flight: Days it Rained Tomahawks 10/24 & 11/2 1941
  • 3/22/19 Laguna Woods Aero Club Club House 2, Gate 12 at Noon. New program: Aircraft Wrecks of Orange County, CA
  • 2/23/19 D.A.R., at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Mar Vista, CA 11:00 a.m. Program: Mysteries Mitigated
  • Association of Naval Aviators in Garden Grove
  • Wrightwood Public Library
  • Quiet Birdmen, Long Beach Hangar
  • Probus Club, Alta Vista Country Club, Placentia
  • Roosters Club Morton’s Steak House
  • The Adventurer's Club of Los Angeles
  • Men’s Club of Morningside, Fullerton CA
  • Harry’s History Buffs, Rancho Santa Margarita CA
  • Airventurers, Santa Monica CA
  • San Bernardino County Sheriffs Aero Squadron HQ, SB International Airport
  • Laguna Woods Aero Club
  • Quiet Birdmen Ventura Hangar
  • Quiet Birdmen Santa Barbara & Oxnard Chapters
  • March A.F.B. Officers Club
  • Northrop Corporation Boosters Club
  • Western Museum of Flight
  • Tustin Unified School District
  • Author's Day Speaker - Long Beach City School District
  • Ocean View School District
  • Huntington Beach City Schools
  • San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Aero Squadron
  • Experimental Aircraft Association Chapters: Long Beach, Compton
  • Fighter Pilots Association, El Toro M.A.S.
  • Rockwell International Management Club
  • Parker Hanafin Management Club
  • Curtiss Wright Historical Foundation
  • Civil Air Patrol Squadrons
  • San Diego Air & Space Museum
  • Orange Coast College, FAA Pilot Safety Workshop
  • B-17 Combat Crewmen and Wingmen
  • National Aerospace Education Conference
  • Ventura County Aviation Association
  • Museum of Flying Santa Monica
  • Natural History Society of Orange County
  • San Diego Flying Club - Plus One Flyers
  • American Legion Post 266
  • Old Bold Pilots Association
  • Red Baron's Luftwaffe
  • San Bernardino National Forest Off Highway Volunteer Group
  • Palos Verdes Breakfast Club
  • Grampaw Pettibone Squadron Association of Naval Aviation
  • Commemorative Air Force 3rd Pursuit Squadron, Cable Airport
  • Ding Hao, 3rd Pursuit Squadron, Upland
  • Military Officers Association of America
  • 8th Air Force 2nd Division Association Debriefing Team
  • International B-24 Liberator Club
  • MOAA South Coast Chapter
  • Saddleback Kiwanis Club
  • Aerospace Club of Leisure World, Laguna Niguel
  • United Methodist Men's Club of Torrance
  • Exchange Club of Newport Harbor
  • Del Amo Flyers
  • Southern California Prospectors Club
  • Western Museum of Flight - Flight Forum
  • Retired Public Employees Association
  • Little Landers Historical Society
  • Bolton Hall Museum
  • Newport Harbor Yacht Club
  • Airventurers of Southern California 5/21/98
  • Barnes & Noble Huntington Beach 7/29/98
  • Skylarks Flying Club 5/19/99
  • Cleveland National Forest Annual Volunteer Workshop 2/10/07
  • American Aviation Historical Society SoCal meeting 2/24/07
  • American Legion Post 295 & Chapter 78 Special Forces Association 3/10/07
  • La Cresenta Valley Historical Society 3/19/07
  • Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula Seniors 4/25/07 (AM)
  • Society of Allied Weight Engineers
    4/25/07 (PM)
  • Los Angeles Breakfast Club 5/16/07
  • 82nd Airborne Association on 6/12/07
  • Qualcomm Sorento Valley, San Diego  7/18/07
  • San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron, Rialto 8/15/07
  • Los Angeles Chapter of the American Helicopter Society El Segundo 9/19/07
  • Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego, San Diego Aerospace Museum 9/25/07
  • Costa Mesa Historical Society 10/14/07
  • Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana 11/28/07
  • Rotary Club of Mission Viejo 12/4/07
  • Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades 2/5/08
  • Professional Business Group at the Ebell Club in Fullerton 3/6/08
  • Sierra Club, Cresenta Valley Chapter 3/11/08
  • Mohahve Historical Society in Victorville 3/27/08
  • California State Park Rangers Association, Lake Tahoe 4/1/08
  • High Desert Flyers Apple Valley Airport 5/7/08
  • Orange County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron Reserve Unit 6/17/08
  • Mission Viejo Kiwanis Club, 9/16/08
  • Rotary Club of Santa Ana 10/15/08
  • Gertrude Tompkins Silver Memorial and WASP Tribute, Proud Bird Restaurant 11/11/08
  • Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana 11/19/08
  • Qualcomm Sorento Valley, San Diego 3/9/09
  • Lakeside Historical Society, San Diego County 3/23/09
  • Old Bold Pilot’s Desert Willows Golf Resort Center 4/30/09
  • Pasadena Group of the Sierra Club, Eaton Canyon Nature Center 5/6/09
  • High Desert Chapter Society of Materials & Processing Engineering 5/27/09
  • Rotary Club of Sebastopol, CA 6/19/09
  • Orange County STAMPE Meeting, Anaheim 7/15/09
  • Prospectors Club of Southern California Downey, CA. 7/19/2009
  • Planes Of Fame Air Museum 8/1/2009 See Flyer
  • West Coaster Treasure Hunter Club, Garden Grove 8/12/2009
  • EAA Chapter One, Riverside, CA - FLABOB Airport, 9/26/2009   See Flyer
  • Press Conference, re: Gertrude Tomkins Silver search, Western Museum of Flight, Torrance Airport 10/4/2009
  • Western Museum of Flight, Torrance, CA 11/11/2009   See Flyer
  • American Aviation Historical Society Speaker Series Luncheon at the Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley, CA. 1/23/2010
  • Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino, CA. The Search for Gertrude “Tommy” Tompkins and her P-51D in Santa Monica Bay 2/6/2010    See Flyer
  • Newport Harbor Exchange Club 8/19/2010
  • Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana 10/27/2010
  • Daughters of the American Revolution Redondo Chapter 11/13/2010    See Newsletter
  • Daedalian Society at Los Angeles Air Force Base  3/26/2011
  • Aviation Archaeology and Heritage Association Las Vegas Nevada. 4/29 to 5/1/2011
  • Red Baron’s Alpine Village, Torrance, CA 5/20/2011
  • Sons of the American Revolution in Torrance, CA. 6/7/2011
  • Second Air Division Association, luncheon Palos Verdes Estates, CA 6/15/2011
  • Inland Empire Aviation Round Table March Field Museum 6/28/2011
  • Civil Air Patrol Group 3l Banquet in Corona, CA, 7/9/2011
  • Group 1 Civil Air Patrol Banquet Proud Bird LAX.7/30/2011
  • Boeing Employees Recreation Club in Fountain Valley, CA 8/2/2011
  • San Jacinto Mountains Historical Society in Idyllwild, CA 8/7/2011
  • B-17 Combat Crewmen & Wingmen Long Beach Airport 9/11/2011
  • Western Museum of Flight Torrance Airport. 10/15/2011  See Flyer
  • T-34 Flight Group Gillespie Field. 11/4/2011
  • San Diego Hanger of the Quiet Birdmen. 3/12/2012
  • Quiet Bird Men Long Beach Chapter, Cypress, CA.  3/14/2012
  • Estrella Air Museum, Paso Robles CA. 4/4/2012
  • Western Museum of Flight, The Vultee Legacy, 4/21/2012  See Flyer
  • 4th Annual Symposium Aviation Archaeology and Heritage Association, Nellis AFB, NV., 4/27/2012 – 4/29/2012
  • West Coasters Prospectors & Treasure Hunters Association, 5/9/2012
  • Daedalian Society at Edwards Flight Test Center 6/26/2012
  • Two-Block Fox Squadron, Association of Naval Aviation, Inc. Granada Hills, CA. 7/19/2012
  • Red Baron’s Alpine Village, Torrance, Ca.
    The History of Vultee Aircraft Company, 8/17/2012
  • Pomona Valley Pilot’s Association, 9/20/2012
  • La Cresenta Valley Historical Society, 10/15/2012
  • Fullerton Airport Pilots Association, 1/15/2013
  • Palm Desert Historical Society 1/25/2013
  • QB’s Long Beach Chapter Cypress, CA.
    Vultee Aircraft History 7:00 p.m. 4/10/2013
  • Del Amo Flyers, Palos Verdes Golf Club, reservations required, dinner meeting. 4/16/2013
  • Peninsula Veteran’s Group, Rolling Hills Estates July 24, 2013
  • Red Barons San Pedro Elks Lodge, 10/18/13
  • AIA Flight Center Chino Airport 11/2/13
  • Hiller Museum, San Carlos, CA, Aviation Author’s Day 11/9/13(& book signing)
  • Barnes & Noble Redlands, CA 11/16/13 (book signing only)
  • Adventures’ Club of Los Angeles. 12/5/13
  • Commemorative Air Force at the Riverside Airport, Hanger S on Flight Road. 1/8/14
  • Boeing Employees Recreation Club in Fountain Valley 2/11/14
  • San Bernardino City Historical Society 3/6/14 See Flyer
  • Palos Verdes Breakfast Club, at the Proud Bird 3/22/14 Restaurant.
  • Mohahve Historical Society in Apple Valley 3/27/14
  • Wrightwood Historical Society 4/4/14
  • La Crescenta Historical Society 4/21/14
  • Aviation Archaeology and Heritage Association Conference at Travis Air Force Base Museum, CA. Contact David Trojan at davidtrojan@earthlink.net for more information. 4/26/14
  • A.K. Smiley Library 125 W. Vine Street in Redlands 5/6/14
  • Long Beach Chapter of the OB’s Cypress, CA. 9/10/14
  • San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron at Rialto Airport 10/15/14
  • Wrightwood Public Library, Historic Aircraft Wrecks of San Bernardino County 10/18/14
  • Author’s day at Planes of Fame in Chino Airport 11/15/14
  • Book signing at Barnes & Noble in Redlands 11/22/14
  • Experimental Aircraft Association meeting Redlands Airport 1/17/15
  • Laguna Woods Aero Club 1/23/15
  • Distinguished Flying Cross Society Inland Empire Chapter, Men & Women of Courage 3/19/15
  • Western Museum of Flight on Historic Aircraft Wrecks of L.A. County 3/21/15 .PDF Flyer
  • La Cresenta Historical Society. Historic Aircraft Wrecks of Los Angeles County
    See Flyer     4/20/15
  • Grampaw Pettibone Squadron of the ANA. Garden Grove Elks Lodge. 5/14/15
  • Red Baron’s at Alpine Village, L.A. County Historic Wrecks 6/19/15

  • Mission Viejo Rotary Club 8/12/15

  • Laguna Woods Aero Club 9/15/15

  • Del Amo Flyers, 10/20/15

  • Orange County Sheriff Aviation Unit,10/29/15

  • Planes of Fame Air Museum Author’s Day & Book Sale, 
    Power Point presentation on Historic Aircraft Wrecks of Los Angeles County. 11/21/16
  • The Distinguished Flying Cross Society Inland Empire Chapter. 1/21/16
  • Civil Air Patrol Squadrons 40 & 50, Fullerton Airport. 2/4/16

  • EAA Chapter 96 Hanger Compton Airport, Saturday June 18, 2016

  • Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club May 26, 2016

  • Grampaw Pettibone Squadron Association of Naval Aviators, Garden Grove Elks Lodge July 14, 2016

  • Aviation Archaeology & Heritage Association Pueblo, Colorado September 24-25, 2016

  • The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park October 9, 2016

  • Quiet Birdmen, Palomar Hangar November 7, 2016
  • Authors Day & Book Sale at Planes of Fame Museum November 19, 2016
  • Authors Day & Book Sale at Planes of Fame Museum November 19, 2016

  • 1/27/2017 Laguna Woods Aero Club at Noon, Historic Aircraft Wrecks of San Diego County will be featured

  • 3/9/17 Daedalian Luncheon, 11:00 a.m., Officer’s Club, MCAS Mira Mar

  • 4/13/17 Association of Naval Aviators at Garden Grove Elks Lodge 11:30 a.m.

  • 4/20/17 Association of Naval Aviators at 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant dinner meeting

  • 6/28/17 Harry’s History Buff’s 6:45 p.m. at Park Terrace in Rancho Santa Margarita

 

ASSOCIATIONS

  The following Power Point presentations are currently
     available for interested audiences:

  • Historic Aircraft Accidents in Orange County, CA  (40 minutes)

  • The Days It Rained Tomahawks 10/24 & 11/2 1941 (50 minutes)

  • Historic Aircraft Wrecks of San Diego County (50 minutes)

  • Men & Women of Courage (55 minutes)

  • Mysteries Mitigated  (55 minutes)

  • Historic Aircraft Wrecks of San Bernardino County
    (55 minutes)

  • Historic Aircraft Wrecks of Los Angeles County
    (55 minutes)

  • History of the Vultee Aircraft Company (40 minutes)

I was humbled to receive this nomination to the Wall of Honor at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Sincere thanks to Steve & Lauren Tabor.

 

All members of UB88.Org and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who investigated and recovered the T-33A were presented with this certificate of commendation by USMC SSgt. Ernesto Gutierrez on behalf of Congresswoman Jane Harman. The presentation was made on the evening of March 5, 2010 at a dinner of thanks and remembrance provided by Tom Theiler at the Proud Bird Restaurant near LAX.

 

 


 

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Pat Macha in right seat of Beechcraft D-18 N480DB of Alaska Coastal Airlines en route from Juneau, Alaska to Ford's Terror Wilderness in 1995.

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N480DB and DHC-2 Beaver at Ford's Terror at start of five day expedition.

Flying in George Peterson's Super Cub, spring of 2009.

The thrill of a life time as I ride in the Ward Family P-51D Man O'War en route from Torrance Airport to Cable Airport on January 10, 2010.

G. Pat Macha on the Mojave Desert micro crash site in January 2014 (Photo courtesy Dave Mihalik)

G. Pat Macha looking for an Inyo County County crash site in 2013.

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PUBLICATIONS

 

TELEVISION

  • History Channel program "Broken Wings", hosted by Pat Macha.
    BROKEN WINGS joins noted California aviation archeologist Pat Macha as he tries to piece together the answers to mysteries like the 1957 loss of Lt. David Steeves and an USAF Lockheed T-33 Jet; the 1944 disappearance of a P-51 and WASP pilot Gertrude Tompkins Silver, the Army's only female World War II pilot to remain unaccounted for.
     
  • Smithsonian Channel The Mystery of the Nevada Triangle

DVD

  • This DVD is no longer available.

EDUCATION

  • Masters of Arts degree - Azusa Pacific University
  • Bachelor of Arts degree in History - California State University at Long Beach

FIELD WORK AND RESEARCH TRIPS

  • United States:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington
  • Canada, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, United Kingdom

     

 

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