SEDONA AZ  April 27, 2010–Retired WWII Air Force Captain Edward R. Betts has loaned a small collection of historic ship models to the Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, from now until the afternoon of May 13, 2010.  Betts, the father of Sedona local Dr. Ellen S. Betts, built the models during his early retirement in the 1980s and into the 90s.   Noteworthy vessels in the collection are a Chesapeake Oyster Dredge—the last wind-powered style vessel built to plunder the Bay’s riches;  Chebec—a “day-job” pirate ship (the pirates lived on land); and The Sir Winston Churchill—a female-crew sail training vessel that also participated in the Bicentennial flotilla in New York Harbor which was sailed to the Harbor from England by its traditional women-only crew.

Betts, 92, lives in Northridge, California. Additional biographical information along with a box for comments accompany the display.