Page 2                                                                    The TMCA News                                                   Volume 34, Issue 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the Monthly club meeting on Tuesday March 10th, about 25 club members made there way over to the home of TMCA member, Pony Maples.

Pony has an extensive collection of WWII Army Air corps memorabilia, and invited the group of club members to come view his items.

Pony’s collection is not just your run of the mill stuff you see at all the military and gun shows. When was the last time you saw in somebody's personal collection a P-51 Mustang, the full cockpit and nose section of a B-24 Liberator, a working Norton  bombsite, maybe even a B-17 door gunners outfit complete with a .50 Cal BMG?

The P-51 is probably Pony’s favorite project. As a former Fighter Pilot himself, Pony flew F-86 Sabre Jets during the 1950’s with the US Air Force. Currently Pony is having the wings rebuilt and has hopes of one day getting his “Mustang” back into the air.

Pony is currently retired from Military Systems Group, a company he founded in 1984 right here in Nashville. MSG provides all kinds of support equipment to the U.S. Military, Gun Mounts, Armour, Swing Mounts, Tripods etc.

You can visit their web site at:  www.milsysgroup.com 

 Military Systems Group Inc. Founded in 1984 by Pony Maples and his late wife Kathryn. Located in Nashville, Tenn., MSG is an enterprising company experienced in the design, testing, manufacture and system integration of minor caliber weapon systems for various applications. In 1977, the two MSG principals formed a company that was the first to manufacture the .50 caliber M2HB machine gun since 1945. Between 1977 and 1984, more than 3,000 M2HBs were built along with major parts of the MK19 MOD3 40 mm grenade launcher under contract to the U.S. Navy.

Pony has been a long time member and great supporter of the TMCA from it’s early days back in the 1970’s. We all really appreciate all he has done for our group, and for giving our members the opportunity to visit and “play” with his toys. I just have one regret; I was working and unable to attend Tuesday night, maybe I can get a “rain-check”  :-)

 

    Pony Maples

   P-51 Mustang Fuselage

Tucker Hamer and Steven Burton, check out a real B-24 Cockpit

Mike Ezell checks out a B-24 WWII Waist Gunners display Complete with a .50 BMG

TMCA Club members

Take a visit to see:

The Collection of

E. R. “Pony” Maples