Wisconsin Aviation Revenue and Competitors

The Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association (WATA) was founded on February 9, 1945, as an organization intended to look out for the interests of fixed base operators and their customers. The First general membership meeting was held the following month on March 1, at which time elections were held. Edward Knaup of Milwaukee was elected president, and James Mattson was elected secretary. Directors elected included Louie Wuilleumier of Four Lakes Aviation, Madison; Jack Fanta of LaCrosse; and William McBoyle of Reedsburg. Other operators who got involved on committees and later as board members included Steve Wittman of Wittman Aviation, Oshkosh; Max Sagunsky of Fond du Lac; Harry Chaplin of Chaplin Aviation, Sheboygan Falls; Bill Lotzer of Gran-Aire, Milwaukee; Howard Morey of Morey Airplane Company, Middleton; Lyle Grimm of Wausau; Noble Lee of Lakeland Aviation, Minocqua; Boyd Miller of Green Bay; Art Hodge of Hodge Aero, Janesville; and Carl Guel and Fritz Wolf of the Wisconsin Division of Aeronautics.