WWII shop ready for takeoff



February 28, 2008
By Denise I. O'Neal Chicago Sun-Times

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richard a. chapman / Chicago Sun-Times W. Karl Lau has a World War II memorabilia shop in Glenview named On Final Approach, which includes items such as a re-crafted Tuskegee P-51 Fighter, used in the European theater.



Among Lau's most unusual items are handcrafted lamps made from the cockpit parts of World War II fighter planes.

Lau's quest began when old planes were being scrapped. His good fortune was finding workable cockpit instruments, an element that makes his lamps truly unique.
With the flip of a switch, the red, yellow and green lights of the Identified Friend or Foe (IFF) system flash. Put on the headset and the high-pitched voice of Tokyo Rose can be heard. Even the firing mechanism is intact.
It took Lau nearly two decades to build 20 lamps, 10 from Navy aircraft, the others from Army fighters.
"I can't build any more because there are no more parts to be found. These are truly one-of-a-kind items," he said.
One of Lau's most treasured lamps is one designed from the cockpit of the P-51 Mustang, the aircraft that was flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. Lau has one curio dedicated to the group of black fighter pilots.
"I've had members of the Tuskegee Airmen come through, and it brought tears to their eyes," Lau said.
Picture frames and calendar holders designed from the aluminum of period planes also line the shop walls.
To achieve a more complete sense of the 1940s, Lau has turned a small room at the back of his shop into a replica of a dance hall. He hopes to transport people back to the era with period music and movies - and to get people back to dancing cheek-to-cheek. The room features an overhead revolving glass ball.
Lau's other mission in life is to help lead the young back to basics. He dubs this mission "back to the future," and hopes to start model-building classes soon.
"Kids need to get back to creating things with their hands," he said. "It builds self-confidence." Lau welcomes tours of On Final Approach, 2032 Lehigh Ave. in Glenview. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call 847-998-1980; Home.

WWII shop ready for takeoff :: Bolingbrook Sun :: Entertainment

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman