Martin State Airport

An angry crowd of Bowleys Quarters residents demanded last night an end to a popular air show in the wake of the crash of a stealth fighter jet in September."

When a single-engine airplane sputtered and stalled twice in the autumn sky over Martin State Airport recently, Tom and Rosemarie Lehner cringed below in their back yard.Nearby, members of the Bongiorno family feel their Bowleys Quarters home tremble when military jets and cargo planes take off from Martin. Across the street, John Hammen's horses and dogs get the jitters during takeoffs.Skittishness in eastern Baltimore County has intensified in the two months since an Air Force F-117A Stealth fighter jet crashed into Bowleys Quarters during an air show.

The Air Force, which descended on Bowleys Quarters with an earthshaking bang more than a week ago, left quietly before dawn yesterday.Workers finished cleaning up debris from a stealth jet fighter that crashed into the Baltimore County community Sept. 14, and guards handed over security of the area to local police. Residents, meanwhile, set about making repairs to their yards and houses."One resident said he wanted his old boring Chester Road back, and we want to return them to the same old boring Chester Road," said Air Force spokesman Lt. Jeff Legeer.

The pilot whose stealth fighter slammed into an eastern Baltimore County neighborhood returned to inspect the plane's charred remains yesterday and, in a gesture of thanks, gave his flight suit name tag to a woman who had come to his aid.Before touring the crash scene, Maj. Bryan Knight was questioned by investigators, who said a report on the F-117A fighter's crash may be completed within 60 days.Col. Mark E. Dougherty, a former stealth pilot who is heading the search for the cause of the crash, gave few details from the interview with the pilot.

Dennis Perry and his wife, Grace, watched the Chesapeake Air Show from the back yard of their home on Galloway Creek in Bowleys Quarters.They watched intently as the arrowhead-shaped stealth fighter made one circle, then another, rising high in the sky above Martin State Airport in Middle River to circle once more.Then part of the black jet's left wing fell off.And Dennis Perry, 50, a retired Baltimore County police detective, turned to Grace, 45, and yelled, "Gracey, run!""We hit the ground.

An item in the Fun Book, a special section that appeared in The Sunday Sun, provided incorrect information about the rate charged by Helicopter Transportation Services at Martin State Airport in Middle River. Helicopter rides cost $350 per half-hour.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 9/10/97

An article in Sunday's editions about the display of World War II aircraft at the Glenn L. Martin State Airport misidentified the Grumman F4F Navy Wildcat fighter.The Sun regrets the errors.Pub Date: 7/31/96

An article in Sunday's editions about the display of World War II aircraft at the Glenn L. Martin State Airport misidentified the Grumman F4F Navy Wildcat fighter.The Sun regrets the errors.Imagine standing on the catwalk of a B-29 bomber as bombs hurtle toward enemy territory or climbing into the cockpit of an F-15 Navy Wildcat to battle Japanese Zeros.Such flights of fantasy have drawn hundred of visitors to Martin State Airport in Baltimore County this week.Six World War II aircraft, including the only B-29 still in flying condition, are on display today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The planes arrived last week and will fly to East Hartford, Conn.

MIDDLE RIVER -- Forty-one members of the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing returned yesterday to Martin State Airport after 30 days of flying transport planes to support NATO peacekeeping forces in Bosnia. One hundred state Guard members have rotated duty for 90 days in the support mission called Operation Joint Endeavor.The lights came back on, the seas calmed, the sun shined and the beach beckoned Marylanders yesterday.Vacationers jammed the beach and boardwalk in Ocean City, only a day after Tropical Storm Bertha blew through the resort.

Chuck Bock wrapped his arms around his wife and daughter yesterday, happy to be home after two months as part of the U.S. peacekeeping force in Bosnia."