Man instrumental in Castle's success has a homecoming

While the annual dinner commemorated the Castle Air Museum's 30th anniversary, it was more like a family reunion for supporters of the organization that is home to 60 historic aircraft.

Retired Gen. James P. McCarthy, a former wing commander at Castle Air Force Base, was the guest of honor at the Saturday dinner attended by about 130 museum supporters at the Italo American Lodge in Merced.

Joe Pruzzo, the Castle Air Museum's chief executive officer, said McCarthy, now from Monument, Colo., was 93rd Bombardment Wing commander in 1979 at Castle. He was the visionary for what has evolved into the air museum.

Pruzzo said this was McCarthy's first time back here in 12 years and he was amazed at the museum's progress. There are 55 vintage military aircraft on display at the former air base and five more being restored.

John Sundgren of Merced, chairman of the board of directors of the Castle Air Museum Foundation, was a KC-135 instructor pilot at Castle when McCarthy was commander. He said McCarthy got local staff members behind an Air Force heritage program that led to the museum's founding.

"It (dinner) was almost like a family reunion with a group of people who have been here since it started. There was a lot of reminiscing going on," Sundgren said. "It was pretty much his (McCarthy's) idea from the get-go."

Cliff James of Merced was on active duty at Castle when McCarthy was here. James has been on the museum board for 26 years and chairman three times. He said McCarthy was a very motivated individual. Within two years' time, more than 50 aircraft were located; 35 of them were moved here by 1986, he added.

"He (McCarthy) gave a wonderful presentation," James said. "It was an enjoyable evening."

Pruzzo said McCarthy, then a colonel, flew a B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft to Castle from Southern California.

McCarthy has flown many of the vintage aircraft now on display at the museum.

McCarthy also was instrumental in the last flight in May 1986 of a B-47 Stratojet to Castle from China Lake, after a five-year restoration.

"He (McCarthy) was the founder and catalyst who got the museum going," Pruzzo said.

McCarthy is the ARDI professor of national security at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Since he retired in 1992 after a 35-year career, he has taught advanced courses in public policy and decision-making as well as contemporary political issues in the Department of Political Science.

He is engaged in research on information technology applications, their role in combat operations and the design of educational web formats. As well as holding a number of commands, he flew 152 combat missions in Vietnam.

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dyawger@mercedsunstar.com.

This story was originally published November 26, 2011 at 1:09 AM with the headline "Man instrumental in Castle's success has a homecoming."