Martin State Airport

Navy Lt. Mark Tedrow has no problem reconciling an air show with a commemoration of the War of 1812, an era that precedes flight by almost a century. The Blue Angels pilot said he looks forward to flying over the Inner Harbor, Middle River and Fort McHenry - birthplace of the national anthem - during a bicentennial celebration in June. "It will be outstanding to perform multiple maneuvers over Fort McHenry," he said. "It will show just how far we have come. " Tedrow and his co-pilot flew into Martin State Airport in Middle River on Thursday to give a small preview of what the Navy's renowned flight team will do for the bicentennial maritime and air festival that kicks off June 13. "Stake out your places on the waterfront so you don't miss a thing," said Lt. Cmdr.

Members of the Maryland Air National Guard and their A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft -- no strangers to the skies over Bosnia-Herzegovina -- have been tapped to join the NATO peacekeeping mission there, officials said yesterday.As part of a two-month rotation, the first contingent of the guard's 600 members will leave their base at Martin State Airport next Saturday and will operate out of Aviano, Italy -- a 45-minute flight from Bosnia.The deployment of the 175th marks the second time the unit has served in and over Bosnia.

Years after a multimillion-dollar contract to replace the state's fleet of aged medevac helicopters caused controversy in Annapolis, two newly purchased aircraft arrived Tuesday at the aviation command of the Maryland State Police. Four more are expected to fly into the police facility at Martin State Airport in Middle River this week, state police said — behind initial schedules for the new fleet's arrival. The four remaining AW139 helicopters of the 10 purchased by the state for $121.7 million also will arrive soon, said Greg Shipley, a state police spokesman.

On Friday, May 9, 2008, GLENN PEREGOY, 51, of Bradshaw, MD, died at home. Born in Baltimore, he worked at Martin State Airport over 30 years. He was survived by his loving wife, Margie, his loving daughter, Melisha, his step-daughter, Amanda, and his grandson, Christopher. He was also survived by his siblings, Charles of Taneytown, MD, Diane White, Palestine, W. VA., Sandra Walters, New Port Richey, FL., David, Holiday, FL., Brian, Masaryktown, FL., and many close friends. He will be greatly missed.

Marvin Merryman Jr., a former worker at the Glenn L. Martin aircraft plant and a World War II aviator, will speak at 7 p.m. today at the Lockheed Martin Auditorium, 2323 Eastern Blvd., next to Martin State Airport. Merryman's talk, sponsored by the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum, will trace his 60 years in aviation - including his first job at Martin, building bombers and seaplanes, and his career with NASA's manned space program. Information: 410-682-6122.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday released the closure dates for 149 air traffic control towers - including five in Maryland - affected by federal budget cuts. Martin State Airport in Baltimore County, Frederick Municipal Airport and Easton/Newnam Field in Easton will close on April 21. Hagerstown Regional Airport and Salisbury- Ocean City Wicomico Airport will close on May 5. In a memo to affected airports, the FAA outlined two options for the operator: Continue as a non-towered airport, relying on pilots to communicate takeoffs and landings on a common frequency, or provide and pay for tower services.

More than 100 firefighters spent much of yesterday fighting a brush fire that charred about 15 acres in Chase and sent smoke drifting for several miles. Acting Lt. Tim Robinson of the Baltimore County Fire Department said emergency dispatchers began receiving reports of smoke in the area around Earls and New Bengies roads in the eastern part of the county about 6 a.m. Heavy fog made it difficult to find the source of the fire, which was in an uninhabited area east of Martin State Airport amid thick woods and marshes, Robinson said.

As a Baltimore resident, taxpayer and furloughed city employee, I have a hard time understanding why city police officers were assigned to escort the CEO of a private company from Martin State Airport to M&T Bank Stadium Sunday ("Two Baltimore officers hurt in motorcycle accident on way to escort NFL commissioner," Sept. 12). My first concern, of course, is for the officers, to whom I wish a speedy recovery. But I can't help but wonder in this time of doing more with less, who is actually covering their medical expenses.

The Maryland Air National Guard will honor World War II's famed Tuskegee Airmen at 3 p.m. Sunday at Martin State Airport, 2701 Eastern Blvd. in Middle River.The Tuskegee Airmen -- members of the all-black 99th and 302nd Squadrons -- compiled a distinguished combat record in more than 1,500 missions over Europe and North Africa.Among veterans of the two squadrons at the tribute will be guest speaker Ira O'Neill, one of the original Tuskegee pilots. O'Neill left the service as a first lieutenant at the war's end. He rejoined later and spent 30 years in the Air Force as a noncommissioned officer before retiring at his officer rank.

A two-alarm fire burned for nearly three hours yesterday at a Baltimore County junkyard before firefighters from two counties controlled it, officials said. Dispatchers received a call at 2:06 p.m. of a fire, which investigators believe started at a mulch company in the 11200 block of Philadelphia Road in White Marsh. Sparks from a welding job there ignited the blaze, which quickly spread to the adjacent Vince's Auto Parts, according to Elise Armacost, a spokeswoman for the Baltimore County Fire Department.