By Bob Offen

As a young boy growing up in Astoria Queens, New York, Ernie Treff would often venture to nearby North Beach Airport (known today as LaGuardia International). There he would spend countless hours watching aircraft taking off and landing.   He dreamed on one day becoming a pilot.

Ernie pursued that dream by attending Manhattan High School of Aviation Training, graduating in 1940 at age 17 as a certified aircraft mechanic. When the United States became involved in World War II Ernie became eligible for the draft.   With high demand for military pilots, the United States Congress passed a law requiring the training of 50,000 pilots per year to support the war effort.   Included in the law was a provision that eliminated the requirement that all pilots had to have a college degree.   That was all Ernie needed to hear.

In December 1942, at age 19, Ernie joined the U. S. Army Air Corps. He flew his first airplane, an open cockpit biplane. From there he progressed to more modern fighter planes and graduated from flight school earning a commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant in, April of 1944. He attended gunnery school at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., where he learned to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt the plane he would later fly in combat.

In December 1944, at age 21, Ernie was shipped overseas. Stationed in England he was assigned to the 56^th Fighter Group, 61^st Squadron. Ernie flew numerous missions over Eastern Europe, Germany and France. By the end of the war he had amassed over 120 combat hours. His missions included air support for bombing missions and patrols over enemy territory. One of the more memorable missions was when his squadron destroyed 95 enemy aircraft over Eggenbach, Germany.

After the war Ernie returned home, married and began raising a family while at the same time serving in the reserves and National Guard until 1955. Ernie earned his engineering degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He worked in the aerospace industry for Rockwell Corporation becoming Assistant Chief Engineer. In 1965 he took a job with Cottrell/Harris Corporation in Pawcatuck. He along with wife Muriel and five children moved to Mumford Cove in Groton. In 1985 he retired as Vice President of Engineering for Harris. Ernie never lost his passion for flying. He continued to fly his own aircraft for both business and pleasure until 1999. Muriel passed away in 2012 after 60 years of marriage.

At age 90, Ernie continues to live a very active life. He is always willing to share his vast knowledge of aviation history. An avid photographer since his teens he can often be found in his office going through his massive collection of photos including many he took during the war.

 

 

Groton – Chelsea Groton Bank saw its profits increase by 17 percent last year, according to financial results released Thursday, thanks largely to one of its best years ever for loan originations.

The Groton-based bank’s profits of $4.75 million last year compared with net income of $4.06 million the prior year.

“We’re sticking to our core business and executing very well,” B. Michael Rauh Jr., Chelsea Groton’s president and chief executive officer, said in an interview this week at the bank’s headquarters on Poquonnock Road. “We focus on customer service.”

Rauh said 2013 was the bank’s second-best year ever for loan originations. Total loans approached $592 million, up 5.5 percent on the year.

Rauh said last year featured strong interest in mortgage refinancing – accounting for more than three-quarters of all residential loan activity. This year, with rising interest rates, he said the bank’s home-purchase loans are accounting for 75 percent of mortgage activity, with refinancing down to 25 percent.

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union may have accounted for about 100 more mortgages than Chelsea Groton last year in the region, but Rauh said the Groton mutual bank’s $117 million in originations made it No. 1 in total dollar volume. Chelsea Groton has 14 local branches.

Rauh said he is proud of the bank’s continued ability to fund local business projects, including Thames Edge at Fairview in Groton, a Starbucks franchise in Norwich, Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream and Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson in New London.

“As a local company, that’s kind of what we do,” he said.

Rauh added that the bank’s financial-services group had one of its best years ever.

In addition, the bank has seen a dramatic dropoff in nonperforming loans, Rauh said, with no need to set aside additional money for loan losses last year. The bank and its foundation donated more than $300,000 to local charities in 2013, he said.

In addition, Rauh said, the bank’s capital position continues to grow, with 14.1 percent of its assets held in reserve. That’s far above the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s 5 percent minimum for well-capitalized banks, he said.

“We are laying the groundwork for continued success in the years to come,” Rauh said in a statement.

To celebrate its 160th year in business in 2014, Rauh said, Chelsea Groton is giving each of its employees $160 to donate to a cause that they choose – whether it be a homeless shelter, a food pantry or supplies for a classroom.

At its 159th annual meeting Thursday at Mystic Marriott, members of the mutual bank heard a recap of last year’s financial highlights. They also elected Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba, 18th chief of the Mohegan Tribe, as a new board member, while choosing as new corporators Michael Alfultis, director of the University of Connecticut at Avery Point campus, attorney Ellen C. Brown of Groton and financial expert Fred A. Conti of Mystic.

As Worshippers gather atop Meetinghouse Rocks at the Avery Memorial Chapel of First Congregational Church of Norwich, they were greeted with this beautiful image for Easter mooring sunrise services Sunday.  The Rev. William Dunlap commented on the vision by saying “God is good, and blessed us with this vision of hope for the rest of the year to come.”  He went on o say “We have all Become a Different Person This Morning.”