NAAA member Jeff Chorman graces the cover of the book “Flying Over Delmarva: Spray Planes, Banner Planes & Bi-Planes,” a richly illustrated historical account of military and agricultural aviation along Delmarva, a peninsula occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia.

Along with exploring the history of aviation in Delmarva, author Joanne K. Guilfoil’s book features stunning photos, tales about ag aviation, airshows, aerobatics, barnstormers and banner tow jockeys, and chapters on father-son aerial applicators.

The book is filled with mentions of past and present NAAA members and their aviation stories, including:

• “Crop Dusting” Joe Hudson of Harbeson, Del., one of the first crop dusters on the Delmarva Peninsula. Hudson first flew as an aerial applicator in 1948. He started his own aerial application operation in 1950 with two WWII vintage airplanes. Eventually, he owned and operated seven Stearman spray planes. Allen Chorman flew one of Hudson’s Stearmans and served as his chief pilot for 21 years before buying him out. Hudson told Guilfoil that aerial application is a “very interesting business, with the emphasis on business.” Hudson was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013.
• “Gentleman” Jimmy Vreeland of Milford, Del., a longtime ag pilot, operator and respected flight instructor. Vreeland started Delmarva Ag-Aviation Inc. in 1977 and earned a reputation of being an extremely safety-conscious ag pilot. A former university agricultural extension herbicide specialist told Guilfoil that Vreeland “flew like no one else, with accuracy, safety, and respect for the neighbors.” Vreeland retired from ag aviation for good in 2014 and was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame in 2016.
• Father and son aerial applicators Carter and Matt Crabbe, of Melfa and Mechanicsville, Va., respectively. Matt followed in his father’s footsteps, but not before selling medical supplies for five years, attending college and becoming a charter pilot. Matt decided that corporate life didn’t suit him, so he returned to his roots, starting Crabbe Aviation with locations in Hanover County, Va., and Elizabeth City, N.C. Carter Crabbe continues to fly an Ag-Cat and treat small farm plots on the Virginia portion of Delmarva.
• Father and son aerial applicators Allen and Jeff Chorman of Greenwood, Del. Allen Chorman bought Joe Hudson’s aerial application operation in 1987 and renamed it Allen Chorman Inc. After his son, Jeff, graduated from college Allen renamed the business again, changing it to “Allen Chorman & Son Inc.” Allen retired from flying fulltime in 2016. Son Jeff manages the Greenwood, Del., while Allen oversees another location in Milton. They also work off of nine satellite strips. Allen Chorman was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013, along with Hudson, his mentor.