Consolidated Aircraft Corporation

Title: You Think Captions Are Easy?

Author: Staff Writer

Publisher: Pacific Flyer

Date: November 2008



One of the most difficult jobs in writing is trying to cram all your pertinent information into readable, interesting and inclusive captions or "cutlines" as we in the biz refer to them.



One of the most accomplished at this arcane skill is 37 year-old Katrina Pescador, head archivist at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park, where she oversees more than two million valuable documents. A cheerful mother of two, married to a Navy helicopter pilot(and daughter of an Army helo driver), Pescador recently penned with co-author Mark Aldrich a fact-filled book called "Consolidated Aircraft Corporation."



It recounts the history of San Diego's most famous aircraft industry, better known as Convair, builders of the PBY Catalina and the B-24 Liberator. (Some might argue that Ryan is more famous because it built Lindbergh's plane, and that's another book Pescador is working on for the future, along with one on PSA.)



In this case, the book is being used to raise money for the air museum, which is always trying new ways to keep the doors open, since it gets no federal assistance. The entire book is composed of photos from the museum's collection, many probably never seen in public before, of the men, women and machines that made Convair what it was.



In Pescador's case, it was right up her highly-trained alley. Holder of a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in history with a focus in archival administration

from Cal State Northridge, her dream was to work at the Air & Space museum.



It took a year and a half after she applied but one day she got the call to come on board and, she says, she couldn't be happier. She credits co-author Aldrich with providing an equal amount of effort and talent and the results speak for themselves. Each caption tells a minor story and all the photos are clear and detailed. You'll see historic aircraft, famous aviators and aircraft

ranging from early fabric and wire biplanes to spaceshuttle parts.



"The main point (of the book) was to let people know

we have them," she said. "They're not on display KATRINA PESCADOR (but) we're thinking of putting up an online photo store where people can purchase the images (duplicates, of course)."



Although as a historian she leans toward the books, documents, logbooks, letters and diaries the museum owns, when asked its most valuable possession, she concedes it might be the PT-I airplane, one of only two known to exist

(the other's at the Air Force museum at WrightPatterson). She believes it to be the first airplane to land at Lindbergh Field back in 1928.



The $19.99 publication is available at book stores, the museum and the publisher at www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Title: Convair Is Subject

Author: Staff Writer

Publisher: Pacific Flyer

Date: November 2008



Founded by Reuben H. Fleet in 1923, Consolidated Aircraft

Corporation (later Convair) became one of the most significant aircraft manufacturers in American history.



For roughly 60 years, this prolific company was synonymous with San Diego. New from Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series is "Consolidated Aircraft Corporation," a pictorial history chronicling the company's growth and development.



This 128 page softcover book boasts more than 200 vintage images, some of which have never before been published. It reveals that whole sections of the city were designed to provide homes for tbe Convair workers and their families.



These men and women were responsible for building some of the most significant aircraft in aviation history, induding the PBY Catalina, the B-24 Liberator, F-102 Delta Dagger - as well as the reliable Atlas missile, which was vital in launching America into space.



More than a decade after the company passed from the San Diego scene, lOs of thousands of San Diegans still celebrate today a seminal connection with Reuben Fleet, his company, and his popular slogan, "Nothing short of right is right."



It was researched and written by Katrina Pescador, head

archivist for the Air and Space Museum, and Aldrich, a volunteer historian and archivist there. Pescador oversees the third largest collection of aviation materials in the nation and is married to a Navy helo pilot. Aldrich is a member of the Tailhook Association and the Naval Institute.



The book is a collection of historic photos and captions featuring the important people, places and planes of San Diego, from tbe 1928 dedication of Lindbergh Field to the DC-IO fuselage. Everyone who drives down Interstate 5 into San Diego will see the old plant and now they will be able to realize the history invested in it.



The profits from tbe book sales will benefit the San Diego

Air and Space Museum's Library and Archives. It's available

at area bookstores, independent retailers and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.



It would make a great Christmas gift, especially if you know someone wbo worked there.