In October 2002, I began working for MMD/Squadron - the oldest and most reliable mail order model hobby supplier in the US (which I had never heard of before). I had been working at Taylor Publishing in Dallas, but I decided to look for a new job after the company switched my hours to the 2nd shift. Squadron was a unique experience from the very beginning. I was used to working for a company that was bought and sold by larger corporations so often that you never really knew who owned it. Squadron was literally a mom and pop company and it was very old school.

I saw an ad in the Dallas Morning News for a graphic designer and decided to call. After telling the receptionist what I was calling about, I was transferred to Jerry Campbell, who was the founder and owner of MMD/Squadron. Jerry spoke in a gruff voice and asked me about my work experience. Then he told me a little about the job and asked me if I smoked. I told him that I don’t smoke and he said, “Well, this is a smoking building. I allow people to smoke in here so they won’t take smoke breaks.” At that point, I lied and told him I wasn’t bothered by smoke. I also paused to ask myself, “What exactly are you getting yourself into?” Mr. Campbell asked me to come in for an interview.

Jerry Campbell

Squadron was a large beige warehouse. At the time, the building was in the middle of a major refurbishment. There was quite a bit of construction going on. The main entrance was sealed temporarily awaiting the installation of new doors. So, I found my way to the only entrance that had a makeshift wooden staircase in front of it.

I met with Jerry Campbell in his office. Jerry's wife, Judy had a desk in the office as well. This was certainly a mom and pop operation. However, the Campbells had started out with just a small hobby shop in Detroit in 1968 and grew it into the 51,000 square foot wholesale and direct mail order business that I was standing in on that day in Carrollton, Texas. So they, the mom and pop of this shop, definitely knew what they were doing.

The interview went well. I didn't know how well until I was called back for a second interview. That was when I met John Lowe, the art director. John was very impressed with my portfolio. He showed me around the art department where I met Sharon and Betty - they scanned a lot of the products and also worked on the catalogs and flyers. Then, back in Mr. Campbell’s office, I was offered the job.

At Squadron, Jerry had a policy for all newly hired employees: They had to spend the first week in the warehouse. So, even though I was hired as a graphic designer, I had to begin work in the warehouse - filling orders for customers, restocking shelves and packing orders to be shipped. It wasn't easy. In fact, as I was told later, they had hired two other graphic designers a few weeks before me and they both quit the first day because they didn't want to work in the warehouse...wimps. I actually liked Jerry's company philosophy. He made everyone start out in the warehouse because he wanted everyone who worked for Squadron to know how it operated - to know the products and to be able to find their way around if necessary. There were many occasions where I had to go back into the warehouse to find a particular model kit to scan for a catalog picture or a magazine ad. So, it really did help to know your way around.

That first week in the warehouse was when I met one of the guys I would be working with in the art department: David Gebhardt. David was and still is quite a character. He and I were both hired at the same time. So, we spent our first week in that miserable warehouse. The warehouse manager was a British guy named Richard. He had a remarkable ability - He could always come up with something to keep me and David busy.

After the initiation, David and I finally got to set foot into the art department. We were thrust head-first into laying out pages for November’s Squadron Mail Order flyer. For one week, each month, the entire art department (all six of us) had to work on the flyer until it was done - and approved by Jerry. The art department consisted of two designers: me and David, two scanners/production artists: Sharon & Betty, art director: John and cover artist extraordinaire: Don Greer.

Don Greer had been working for Jerry for over 30 years at that point. He was actually Jerry's first employee and he followed the company to Texas from Michigan. Before teaming up with Jerry, he worked at Ford, creating art for magazine ads. Don is an amazing illustrator. When Squadron/Signal Publications began, Don was the only illustrator. He painted beautiful covers and color profiles.

Squadron/Signal Publications has been publishing books for military model enthusiasts for nearly 40 years. Each book contains several historical photographs and illustrations. They also contain pages of color profile illustrations. When we weren’t busy working on flyers, catalogs, magazine ads, decal sheets or package designs, David and I were illustrating books for Squadron/Signal.

On most of the books, we did the black & white line drawings and Don did all of the color work. But, there were a few books that David and I got to do color art on as well. Don always did the covers - he was the master of covers.

I did both the black and white and color art on one book. It was the French Bombers of WW II. They are some of the ugliest planes ever made. No wonder Don let me color that one. I actually only completed the first page of five color profiles in that book - Don did the other page. But, I did all of the black and white line drawings (I think David was busy working on a ship book while I was working on the Frenchies).

There were two books I remember that we all did the color profiles for: U.S. Armor Camouflage & Markings of WWII and the B-24 Liberator book. In the Liberator book, we had to re-create close-ups of the nose art on those planes. That was a nice break from the more technical illustrations.

Because all three of us (David, Don and I) had the same first and last initials, we became known around Squadron as “The Three DGs”. I was surprised to see a review of the B-24 Liberator book in which the author even referred to us as “The Three DGs”.

The Three DGs – Clockwise from top: Don Greer (back of room), Darren Glenn (in foreground, using the large scanner) and David Gebhardt (wearing headphones).

During my three and a half years working at Squadron, I illustrated over 40 books. I don’t remember the exact number, but I counted over 40 that I know I worked on. It might be over 50...it was a lot, I know that. It was an experience I will never forget.

In 2006, Jerry Campbell sold the company and retired. Mike McMahon was the new owner and he had big ideas for the future of MMD/Squadron. These ideas included turning Squadron Mail Order’s monthly 12-page, 2-color flyer into a much larger full-color catalog.

The art department was down to five people. So, the additional work would require hiring more artists. Instead, we were asked to work longer hours and weekends. After two weeks of 11-12 hour days, plus 8-10 hours on Saturday and Sunday with no overtime because we were on salary, I decided to find another job. My daughter was just a baby then and not getting to see her was not working for me. Fortunately, I was able to find a new job quick that not only paid more but was also closer to home. I left Squadron in April 2006.

Before I left Squadron, I created new logos for MMD, Squadron, Squadron.com, Squadron/Signal Publications and Carter & Crowley (the new line of resin figures).

The photos on this page were taken by Michael Benolkin. He wrote an article on Internet Modeler’s website about his visit to Squadron in 2003.