Fortune 1000 CEO, warbird collector, former fighter pilot welcomes Ohio cadets

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(Standing, below, from left) Cadet Airman Basic Jacob Waters, Cadet Master Sgt. Nicholas Miner, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Hockman, Cadet Basic Rebecca Doud, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Moriah Efries, Cadet Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith, Cadet Airmen 1st Class Cody Howell and  Nathan Crist, Cadet Airman Basic Jacob Chesbrough, Cadet Airman Senior Chris Ward, Cadet Airman Basic Jacob Waters, (standing on wing, from left) Cadet 2nd Lt., Trevor Baier, Cadet 1st Lt.  Jim Norton and Cadet Senior Airman Douglas Woischke.
 
Photo by Pam Ward


1st Lt. John Morgan
Public Affairs Officer
Group VIII
Ohio Wing

OHIO -- Cadets from two units recently visited former U.S. Air Force Capt. James Hagedorn – now the chief executive officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. – and his collection of aircraft in Marysville, where he told them about his experience as an F-16 pilot, his education and his background as head of the nation’s leading lawn and garden company. 

The cadets, members of the Columbus Composite Squadron and the Union County Flight, were especially intrigued by Hagedorn’s accounts of some of his close calls as a fighter pilot.

They were able to take a close look at some of his vintage aircraft, such as a 1947 T-6 Texan, a McDonnell Douglas helicopter, a 1940s Piper Cub and 1960s-era Cessna 185. 

The star of the night, however, was their host’s famed P-51 Mustang “Old Crow,” the original of which was flown by World War II fighter ace Col. Bud Anderson of the 357th Fighter Group.  Anderson, a good friend of Hagedorn’s, has flown this particular Mustang as well. 

Two years ago Hagedorn was instrumental in organizing the largest and most likely the last assembly of surviving P-51 Mustangs and their famed pilots, the “Gathering of Mustangs and Legends,” in central Ohio.  

“The cadets had a great time and learned a lot,” said 1st Lt. Jim Ward, Union County Flight commander/ “They were allowed to climb in the planes and ask as many questions as they wanted.”

Also on hand to answer questions from the eager cadets were some of  Scotts-Miracle Gro’s corporate pilots.

Along with the two units’ members, Marysville Mayor Chris Schmenk, Union County Sheriff Rocky Nelsom and Lt. Col. Jenny Baker, Group VIII commander, were in attendance as well.