EAA North Georgia Warbird Squadron 17 has it roots and beginnings from a group of aviation enthusiasts known as “The Georgia Boys”.

In the early 1980’s a group of guys who flew Warbird, Vintage and Aerobatic airplanes on a small grass strip in Woodstock, GA. known as Air Acres, conceived the idea of an aviation museum. The concept was to restore and fly vintage military aircraft, making the  airplanes available for view by the public at airshows and eventually at the Museum. Jack Jordan, Duane Roberts and Randall Porter started the museum on the grass strip and it quickly became a growing concern.

As the museum and its participants grew, it became apparent that a larger space and area of operations was necessary. The number and size of the aircraft increased as well as the Georgia Boys participation in regional and national airshows and aviation events.  By this time, David Brady of Cartersville GA had entered the picture and he, Randall, Jack & Duane went searching for a bigger nest for The Georgia Boys flock of chicks.

To house the growing collection of flying Warbirds, Porter, Roberts and Brady built a large hangar and ready room at the Cartersville Airport (VPC) in 1986 and named it the Air Acres Museum to honor their beginnings on the small grass strip in Woodstock.   The Museum Hangar was later christened the “Jack Jordan Memorial Hangar” in memory of their good friend and Museum Cofounder who had passed away during the course of the endeavor.

Thousands of people visited the Museum over the years, including many veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars and scores of school children. The museum was very active in the presentation of these aircraft to veterans and civilians alike to permanently preserve their memory and place in history.  It was during these years that the fellowship and camaraderie of the Georgia Boys was established and spread across the Southeast. Many a fond memory can be conjured up of all the activities and “antics” experienced or perpetrated by this group of men & women at airshows, charity events, cookouts and gatherings.

While there is the odd baseball cap, shirt or other items with the C-47 as their logo, you couldn’t necessarily tell a “Georgia Boy” from anyone else in the crowd - - - until there was something to be done. If you had to summarize what makes a Georgia Boy (or Girl) you could say it fairly simply: They believe that: “If you can ... You should”. You can also usually tell a Georgia Boy as they are always the ones to “Step Up” instead of back when it comes to participating, and ... “They don’t Keep Score”.  The Georgia Boys symbol has always been a pair of miniature Snap-On pliers.  This symbol of the group is highly coveted and rarely bestowed unless you fit the mold and would preserve the integrity of the group. (In fact, Paul Poberezny himself has a set of pliers, although we are not at liberty to disclose how he came to have them.) Responsibility comes with having a set of Georgia Boys pliers as you are expected to have them with you always. In fact, any Georgia Boy has the ability to call for a “Pliers Check” anytime there are Georgia Boys present. If you don’t have your pliers when a “Pliers Check” is called - - - It’s $5.00 to every Georgia Boy present who does!  Over the years a few things have been added to the inventory of Georgia Boy stuff. You might have seen the  “Airshow Survival Kit” on the belt of a Georgia Boy at an airshow or related event. This consists of a pouch that contains a Mini-Mag Lite, Tobasco Sauce and a miniature of Jack Daniels. (Of course there is a story behind it.) Just recently, the Georgia Boys have minted their own “Unit Medallion”. They are one of the few, if not the only civilian group we know of to have their own unit coin. It is made of spun brass and has the impression of the groups flagship B-25 “Georgia Girl” on one side and the Georgia Boy Pliers on the other.

At its peak the Air Acres Museum had a large number and wide variety of aircraft associated with it. The flagship B-25J, “Georgia Girl” being one of the most recognized Warbirds in Southeast, led a pack that included: A Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, North American T-28 Trojan, Fairchild C-119 Boxcar, Lockheed P2-V Neptune, Cessna T-37 Tweet, Douglas A-26 Invader, Cessna U-3B, Piper J-5, Piper J-3, Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, Stinson L-5 Ambulance, Navion L-17, Cessna O-2, Grumman S-2 Tracker, Grumman C-1A COD, Boeing PT-17 Stearman. There were also numerous nonmilitary aircraft as well to include a Twin CamAir, Ultralights, Gyro-Copters, etc.

After the death of Museum partner David Brady in 1991, coupled with other circumstances of the time, the Museum collection was eventually reduced over the next few years and people began to go their own way in the world of aviation.. The Museum moved back to it's place of origin, the grass strip at Air Acres in Woodstock and has placed more emphasis on the restoration of vintage aircraft.

Even though there were still very close ties with all the people associated with the Georgia Boys, there was something missing. Many of us continued to attend and participate in Airshows throughout our region but there was no single identity. The Georgia Boys continued to individually support local activities and youth oriented programs but with no real organization and there was still a desire to contribute to our community and aviation.  That’s where Warbird 17 came from.

Bill Johnson, Liz Porter, Duane Roberts, Debra Freeman and Don Johnson, with the support of Randall Porter, started the EAA North Georgia Warbird Squadron 17.  We were able to take the years of experience, participation & relationships and quickly establish a highly effective entity that brought aviation and related aspects to the youth of our community. We once again had an identity or moniker to rally around at airshows & aviation events. The squadron has proved to be highly visible & capable and is known for its “Can Do” attitude towards getting the job done.  We adopted the image of the “Georgia Boys” C-47 as our logo to provide some continuity for the groups and you see it in the design of our logo and squadron patch.

“The Georgia Boys” are still very much around and we are proud of our heritage and accomplishments. Indeed, the squadron core is largely composed of original Georgia Boys & Girls who’s thoughts and ideals permeate the operation of the squadron. So, while not entirely a make over and certainly not a replacement, Warbird 17 goes forth and the legend of The Georgia Boys lives on. As a result EAA and Warbird 17 benefit as do the kids and associations we work with.