We are currently working on the Chapter 864 History. If you have information or pictures from the early history of Chapter 864, please contact the chapter at eaa864info@gmail.com.
Do you know how we became Chapter #864?
EAA Chapter 864 was the fourth chapter to incorporate with the national Experimental Aircraft Association in 1986.
Early Beginnings and Incorporation
The earliest efforts to form what would become EAA Chapter 864 began with informal meetings among pilots and builders in the area. Initial discussions involved roughly 10–12 individuals, many of whom worked at or were connected to the Shell Refinery. Rick Koschak (from Gillespie) was a key early figure and is believed to have served as the first chapter president. Other early participants included John Harding and several Shell employees, along with an engineer temporarily assigned from Baton Rouge.
EAA Chapter 864 was officially incorporated on November 8, 1986. The names listed on the original Articles of Incorporation were:
- Rick Koschak
- Floyd Blaine Jr.
- John Harding
- Thomas Saathoff
- Robert McClintock
- Lowell Grisham
For reasons that are not entirely clear today, the chapter was refiled on January 19, 1989, a period that coincides with renewed activity and growth.
At the time of the original incorporation, the chapter still struggled with low membership numbers. Phil Sisson—working at Shell through an electrical contractor—became involved during this period and likely wrote the first chapter newsletter.
Merging of Groups
At the same time, another group of pilots had been meeting at the local airport for several years. Since many of the individuals knew each other, the two groups eventually merged. With the combined membership, there were finally enough active participants to sustain regular meetings and activities.
Early meetings were held in the old Walston office rooms and were informal gatherings centered on flying and aircraft building. Over time, meetings shifted to members’ homes and garages, often focused on project work.
Notable Early Members and Meetings
Several individuals stood out during these early years:
- The McClintock brothers, who attended nearly every meeting. Bill McClintock was the younger brother; the elder brother’s first name has unfortunately been lost to time.
- Bill McClintock had a remarkable World War II history, having conducted extremely dangerous low-level parachute insertions behind enemy lines while carrying heavy ordnance.
- Don Delay of Wood River, who was building a Smyth Sidewinder; several meetings were held in his garage.
- Jerry Friend (also referred to as Jerry Frye), who was building a WWII-era trainer / 2⁄3-scale P-40 with an inverted Ranger engine; the aircraft was eventually completed and flown or transported elsewhere.
- Other early members included Rick Huebner, Dale Rust, and many others whose names appear on early rosters or charter paperwork.
Meetings were often held in members’ garages with hot dogs, and the chapter hosted memorable Christmas parties—usually at the local restaurant when it was still open.
John Hammet – “The Old Guy”
The “old guy” frequently mentioned in early recollections was John Hammet, a remarkable aviator with a deep and fascinating aviation history.
John’s first flight took place at the old Midway Airport in Chicago. It was a night flight in a Ford Tri-Motor, and he was about 15 years old at the time. Charles Lindbergh had just completed his transatlantic flight, placing this event around 1927.
John attended Parks Air College and became an Air Mechanic. He later worked for the CAA, the forerunner of the FAA, and in the 1930s was sent to Brazil to help establish that country’s civil aviation authority. He documented many of his experiences with photographs.
John worked for Bevo Howard and personally knew Paul Mantz and Steve Wittman. Later, he worked for J.I. Case as a regional sales manager covering Wisconsin and regularly visited Steve Wittman when traveling through Oshkosh.
John owned Piper Cub N92624 for many years. He eventually sold it to Rainey Bell at Flying Dutchman. After Rainey’s passing, the Cub was sold to a buyer in California. Sometime later, Kevin Kegan of Greenville purchased a Cub from California. When it appeared back in Greenville, it was recognized as N92624, John’s old Cub, returned home.
John also owned a Cub and an RLA based at a private strip in Godfrey, later impacted by the construction of the Beltline Highway. At least one chapter meeting was held there while John was recovering his Cub.
Influence of the Illinois Pilots Association
Before Chapter 864 fully took shape, there was an active local chapter of the Illinois Pilots Association. Several of its members later became part of the early EAA group.
One notable figure was Ernest “Pinky” Opp, a widely respected CFI and aviation personality. Pinky flew airshows in a T-6 and was known for performing snap rolls on takeoff—an exceptionally high-risk maneuver for those familiar with the aircraft.
During World War II, Pinky also served aboard a U.S. submarine that suffered serious damage after being depth charged by a Japanese ship. Though the Illinois Pilots Association eventually dissolved, its members—including Pinky and John Hammet—played a key role in the foundation of Chapter 864.
Newsletters and Growth
Dale Rust wrote the monthly chapter newsletter for over a year beginning around 1988. These newsletters were critical—they served as meeting reminders and helped keep the chapter alive during a period of low activity. Even after Dale began working in Springfield in March of 1989, he continued producing the newsletter.
The chapter remained small but persistent until Gene Helmkamp became involved. His participation brought renewed energy and additional members, marking the beginning of steady growth.
Formalization and Activities
Phil Sisson traveled from 3LF to the Alton area to help get the chapter started sometime in mid-to-early 1988. Dale also attempted to initiate Young Eagles activities and completed the required paperwork and insurance arrangements with EAA headquarters in Oshkosh.
Chapter 864 Today
Today, EAA Chapter 864 has grown by leaps and bounds, hosting a wide range of aviation activities throughout the year. The chapter proudly supports Young Eagles flights, introducing young children to aviation and inspiring the next generation of pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
The chapter also hosts pancake fly-in breakfasts, welcoming not only the flying community but also the local community, helping strengthen ties and share the joy of aviation with the public.
As part of its commitment to youth and education, the chapter offers scholarships to help fund private pilot licenses, actively investing in the future of aviation.
As Chapter 864 continues to grow, we invite everyone—from experienced pilots to future aviators, or anyone simply looking for a fun and welcoming group—to attend one of our upcoming meetings and become part of our aviation family.
EAA Chapter 864 would like to thank Nicholas Hobbs, Dale Rust, Phil Sisson, John Harding, and Rick Huebner for their hard work in gathering the history of our chapter and for their perseverance in preserving it for future generations.
