Our History
In 1999 four modelers from the Little Rock area came together along with HobbyTown USA owner Roger Ellenburg, to take the first steps in creating what has since become IPMS Central Arkansas Scale Modelers - Lt. j.g. Nathan Gordon. Meeting at McDonalds on Rodney Parham Bob Patton, Ron Leker, Ed Swaim and one other initial member first met in the hopes of finding other folks in Central Arkansas with an interest in building plastic models. They selected officers at the meeting and Roger Ellenburg put up the funds for the original club charter with IPMS. From those meager beginnings CASM has grown from the original five members to a membership approaching 40 today.
In 2014, the CASM members decided to broaden our base and become a dual charter club and affiliate with the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society, or AMPS for short. While IPMS caters to a very broad spectrum of model interest, AMPS targets the armor-modeling genre specifically.
The club first met in the upstairs area of HobbyTown USA on Bowman Curve. While meeting here the club's first contest was held in 2000. The club has held an annual contest and show each year since then and in 2008 and 2009 CASM played host to the IPMS Region 6 Convention. In 2008 CASM was also selected the IPMS Region 6 Chapter of the Year.
Through the years the work of CASM members have been part of displays at the Arkansas Aerospace Education Center, the State Capitol Christmas Display, the movie "Injury Slight", and many other displays and programs.
In 2016 CASM saw the closure of HobbyTown. Thanks to the generosity of The Innovation Hub, a Makers Club, CASM found a new home to meet monthly. With this partnership CASM learned many new techniques that could be used in modelling like 3D Printing. This partnership led CASM to host its annual show Sproo-Doo at The Hub
Late 2019 into 2020 saw the rise of the COVID Pandemic. Out of safety and the closure of the Innovation Hub, CASM decided to hold off on monthly meetings. When meeting were allowed again CASM found a new home at the new HobbyTown that opened in 2018.
In 2014, the CASM members decided to broaden our base and become a dual charter club and affiliate with the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society, or AMPS for short. While IPMS caters to a very broad spectrum of model interest, AMPS targets the armor-modeling genre specifically.
The club first met in the upstairs area of HobbyTown USA on Bowman Curve. While meeting here the club's first contest was held in 2000. The club has held an annual contest and show each year since then and in 2008 and 2009 CASM played host to the IPMS Region 6 Convention. In 2008 CASM was also selected the IPMS Region 6 Chapter of the Year.
Through the years the work of CASM members have been part of displays at the Arkansas Aerospace Education Center, the State Capitol Christmas Display, the movie "Injury Slight", and many other displays and programs.
In 2016 CASM saw the closure of HobbyTown. Thanks to the generosity of The Innovation Hub, a Makers Club, CASM found a new home to meet monthly. With this partnership CASM learned many new techniques that could be used in modelling like 3D Printing. This partnership led CASM to host its annual show Sproo-Doo at The Hub
Late 2019 into 2020 saw the rise of the COVID Pandemic. Out of safety and the closure of the Innovation Hub, CASM decided to hold off on monthly meetings. When meeting were allowed again CASM found a new home at the new HobbyTown that opened in 2018.
Lt. j.g. Nathan Gordon
Lt. j.g. Nathan Gordon
Nathan Green Gordon is one of only 6 naval aviators to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II, and the only Arkansan to receive the medal for participating in air combat against the enemy.
Born September 4, 1916 in Morrilton, Arkansas, Gordon enlisted in the US Navy in May 1941 and was in Jacksonville, Florida training until February 1942. He joined VP-34 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon completing training on the Catalina, Gordon’s squadron was sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Black Cats flew both day and night missions to protect convoys against U-boats.
In June 1943, VP-34 was transferred to San Diego, where they picked up PBY-5's on their way to Kaneohe, Hawaii. From Hawaii, Gordon and his squadron found themselves flying missions from Midway, Australia, and in January 1944 on to Samaria Island near New Guinea. It was from here that Gordon entered the hall of Navy heroes when he and the crew of “Arkansas Traveler,” Bu No. 08139, flew a mission supporting a bombing raid on Kavieng.
On February 15, 1944, while on a mission to Vitu Island with an escort of four P-47 Thunderbolts, Gordon and his crew received a call that an A-20 had ditched and to go to Kavieng for a rescue.
Born September 4, 1916 in Morrilton, Arkansas, Gordon enlisted in the US Navy in May 1941 and was in Jacksonville, Florida training until February 1942. He joined VP-34 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon completing training on the Catalina, Gordon’s squadron was sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Black Cats flew both day and night missions to protect convoys against U-boats.
In June 1943, VP-34 was transferred to San Diego, where they picked up PBY-5's on their way to Kaneohe, Hawaii. From Hawaii, Gordon and his squadron found themselves flying missions from Midway, Australia, and in January 1944 on to Samaria Island near New Guinea. It was from here that Gordon entered the hall of Navy heroes when he and the crew of “Arkansas Traveler,” Bu No. 08139, flew a mission supporting a bombing raid on Kavieng.
On February 15, 1944, while on a mission to Vitu Island with an escort of four P-47 Thunderbolts, Gordon and his crew received a call that an A-20 had ditched and to go to Kavieng for a rescue.
Crew of 'Arkansas Traveler'
Flying in to the closed harbor at Kavieng Gordon and his crewmates had to face 15 to 18 foot swells.
When they arrived, they were unable to tell if anyone was alive near the wreckage so they put the plane down to assess the situation. After marking the area with smoke, Gordon put his Black Cat down between the swells to search for the crew. Gordon’s crew found some debris, two life jackets and a half inflated raft.
Once airborne again a second call, this one from a B- 25 that was serving as a spotter aircraft, about another B-25 that had gone down. Provided with coordinates for the downed B- 25 Gordon went in search of the crew. Setting the Catalina down in the rough seas once more, Gordon’s crew spotted six crewmen from the bomber in the water.
Gordon had to shut down one of the Catalina’s two engines to pull the crew from the sea to keep the downed crew from being hit by the prop in the high seas. “Arkansas Traveler” was under fire from shore the whole time they were loading the crew.
Gordon fired up the engine again and put the Black Cat back into the air. Once airborne, Gordon turned the ship towards home, only to receive another radio call about a downed bomber.
Having lost two of the escort fighters to low fuel, Gordon headed back in to pull another crew from the sea.
On this, their third landing, the Black Cat crew lost their last two escorts as they headed for home with low fuel. Landing within a mile of the shore the Arkansas Traveler crew pulled three bomber crewmen from the waters.
Having survived three landings under enemy fire, and in high seas, the now overcrowded Cat turned towards home once more.
When they arrived, they were unable to tell if anyone was alive near the wreckage so they put the plane down to assess the situation. After marking the area with smoke, Gordon put his Black Cat down between the swells to search for the crew. Gordon’s crew found some debris, two life jackets and a half inflated raft.
Once airborne again a second call, this one from a B- 25 that was serving as a spotter aircraft, about another B-25 that had gone down. Provided with coordinates for the downed B- 25 Gordon went in search of the crew. Setting the Catalina down in the rough seas once more, Gordon’s crew spotted six crewmen from the bomber in the water.
Gordon had to shut down one of the Catalina’s two engines to pull the crew from the sea to keep the downed crew from being hit by the prop in the high seas. “Arkansas Traveler” was under fire from shore the whole time they were loading the crew.
Gordon fired up the engine again and put the Black Cat back into the air. Once airborne, Gordon turned the ship towards home, only to receive another radio call about a downed bomber.
Having lost two of the escort fighters to low fuel, Gordon headed back in to pull another crew from the sea.
On this, their third landing, the Black Cat crew lost their last two escorts as they headed for home with low fuel. Landing within a mile of the shore the Arkansas Traveler crew pulled three bomber crewmen from the waters.
Having survived three landings under enemy fire, and in high seas, the now overcrowded Cat turned towards home once more.
Black Cats patch
After only a few minutes and about 20 miles, the radio crackled to life once more with the call for pick up for another downed B-25 crew, this time even closer to shore than before.
Now without an escort, and fearing being jumped by the enemy floatplanes they had been warned about, Gordon asked the crew of the spotter aircraft, "Are you going to stay with me?" and he replied back "Yes."
Going in for a fourth landing, Gordon knew he would have to set down even closer to shore than before.
Landing only 600 yards from shore, Gordon had to bring Arkansas Traveler in for the approach over the town, and some very heavy AAA fire.
Once down the crew pulled the five surviving bomber crewmen in through the waist position. This time Gordon saved the hide of a fellow Arkansan, the pilot was Captain William Cavoli, of Newport, Arkansas.
With 15 rescued crewmen aboard and the Black Cats own crewmembers, Gordon now headed for Finschafen where they dropped off the rescued airmen. Many of the bomber crewmen were injured and required attention by the “Arkansas Traveler” crewmen.
Gordon’s entire crew was flown to Brisbane, where they received the Silver Star, and Gordon was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor in September 1944.
Upon the end of the war and his return to Arkansas in 1946 Gordon served the State of Arkansas as the longest serving Lieutenant Governor in the state’s history. Gordon served as Lt. Governor for 20 years, 1947- 1967, serving ten two year terms as a Democrat under four different Governors: Benjamin Travis Laney (1947-1949), Sid McMath (1949-1953), Francis Cherry (1953-1955), and Orval Faubus (1955-1967).
During the integration of Central High School in 1957 it was Gordon that ordered, during the absence of Gov. Orval Faubus, 50 Arkansas State Troopers to the school to act as security. He also said that if necessary he would call out the Arkansas National Guard in order to prevent violence during that crisis.
Nathan Gordon died Sept. 8, 2008 in Little Rock at the age of 92.
Now without an escort, and fearing being jumped by the enemy floatplanes they had been warned about, Gordon asked the crew of the spotter aircraft, "Are you going to stay with me?" and he replied back "Yes."
Going in for a fourth landing, Gordon knew he would have to set down even closer to shore than before.
Landing only 600 yards from shore, Gordon had to bring Arkansas Traveler in for the approach over the town, and some very heavy AAA fire.
Once down the crew pulled the five surviving bomber crewmen in through the waist position. This time Gordon saved the hide of a fellow Arkansan, the pilot was Captain William Cavoli, of Newport, Arkansas.
With 15 rescued crewmen aboard and the Black Cats own crewmembers, Gordon now headed for Finschafen where they dropped off the rescued airmen. Many of the bomber crewmen were injured and required attention by the “Arkansas Traveler” crewmen.
Gordon’s entire crew was flown to Brisbane, where they received the Silver Star, and Gordon was presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor in September 1944.
Upon the end of the war and his return to Arkansas in 1946 Gordon served the State of Arkansas as the longest serving Lieutenant Governor in the state’s history. Gordon served as Lt. Governor for 20 years, 1947- 1967, serving ten two year terms as a Democrat under four different Governors: Benjamin Travis Laney (1947-1949), Sid McMath (1949-1953), Francis Cherry (1953-1955), and Orval Faubus (1955-1967).
During the integration of Central High School in 1957 it was Gordon that ordered, during the absence of Gov. Orval Faubus, 50 Arkansas State Troopers to the school to act as security. He also said that if necessary he would call out the Arkansas National Guard in order to prevent violence during that crisis.
Nathan Gordon died Sept. 8, 2008 in Little Rock at the age of 92.