When Sarah Ann Loreth of Talkeetna-based K2 Aviation posted informational history online about one of their current aircraft, she had no way of knowing what opportunity that simple post would create. As media manager of the company, which offers Denali flight seeing and climber transport in the Alaska Range, Loreth thought the information might be interesting to the public.
“One of our maintenance staff sent us a website with the history of all the De Havilland Otters, all the De Havilland Beavers, and I started posting the stories with photos on social media and the I started getting comments… ’Wow, this is the plane I used to fly, this is something that I transported, I flew this in Vietnam.’ ”
The Canadian-based De Havilland Aircraft Company only built 466 single engine Otters between 1952 and 1967. Currently, around 160 are still in active use. Most of those have been converted from a radial engine to a turbine engine. Sarah discovered that K2’s turbine, N424KT, was flown by the US Army in Vietnam and she posted that online.
Glen Johnmeyer saw the post. He recognized the aircraft and he contacted Sarah at K2. The 18th and 54th divisions of the US Army, or the “Otter Guys” as they like to call themselves, were planning a reunion in Alaska. The veterans expressed that they’d like to see the aircraft that they flew in the war.
This week, their wish came true. K2 Aviation hosted the divisions’ reunion and the veterans were presented with quilts made by the Quilts of Valor Association. Quilts of Valor honors veterans for their service with a homemade quilt to comfort them and welcome them home.
Veteran Dick Lochner, remarked that except for the turbine engine, the Otter is basically the same as when he flew it.
“I’ve never flown one with the turbine. But I’ll betcha I could get in an Otter and I believe I could do that. I’d remember that.”
Lochner celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year but during the reunion he scrambled easily into the cockpit and waved at onlookers on the tarmac.
The Veterans were able to take another flight in 424KT, but this week they flew as passengers. K2 Aviation pilots flew the 18th and 54th division pilots around Denali in honor of their service and in honor of the De Havilland Otter aircraft that once served them well.
In Talkeenta, I’m Colleen Love
