Click on any photo you would like to see close up.
Please be patient, they have a lot of detail.
September 27 - October 1, 2007
I am pleased to report that they treated me very well, like a colleague in spite of the time differences of our services, aircraft and duties.
They had set up their reunion to coincide with a very special, probably once in a lifetime, gathering of a host of aircraft. I have no listing of the attendees but I saw a P-38, a P-63, a P-40, 2 P-47's, an Avro Lancaster, and at least 30 P-51's, even a P-51A. I was so busy gawking that I did not try to make a comprehensive list.
It is my understanding that the Stallion 51 Corporation in
Kissimmee Fl was a major force in the creation of this "Gathering of Eagles". They have a group of
aircraft including two, full cockpit, two place P-51D25's named Crazy Horse I & II. I had the
privilege of flying Crazy Horse I in December 1990. It was a wonderful experience and I was shocked
at how well I did, even two beautiful landings! It was still "there"! I hope all old WWII pilots
will give it a try. Here is a picture of Crazy Horse I from the Stallion 51 postcard.
That isn't me in the backseat but it could have been. The illusion
of being there by myself was great! The only fuel selector was in the front seat so the "owner" was
required to fly there (insurance!)
We had an incredible display of the present and future Air Force. Two F-16's gave an impressive look at its flying abilities and it gave a nod to us oldsters by flying in formation with two P-51's.
And then our minds were absolutely blown away by an unbelievable demonstration of the present and future protector of our way of life. The F-22, Raptor. It absolutely beggars belief with its power and maneuverability. He pulled it straight up and went out of sight! And later he pulled it straight up and slowed till it just held its vertical position!
It really appeared that there was nothing it couldn't do.
Just when we thought nothing better could come along, we had a flyby by the Stealth Bomber, the B-2 "Spirit".
I told everybody around me that it did not exist, that we were subject to a mass hallucination! It is so unbelievable that this seems more reasonable than the reality.
My only regret is that Jack Northrop never got to see it fly and ride in it! I believe they showed him the plans when he was on his deathbed. He must of smiled as he passed on to the great hangar in the sky.
Click on the thumbnail if you would like to see an 4 x 6 inch picture.
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The first picture is the entrance gate that the huge crowd had to
pass through on the way to their treat!
The second picture shows the general attitude of the crowd,
straining skyward in disbelief and amazement. Of course they were also looking at the little planes'
"death defying" stunts with their loops that came out 50 feet above the runway. I'm sorry but I find
this kind of flying repulsive. Unfortunately they cater to a natural feeling of the public. It is
very tempting to push the envelope beyond the plane's or pilot's capability and provide the crowd
with something terrible. The crowd does not want anyone to be killed but if it is going to happen
anyway, they don't want to miss it. If a person goes to three airshows (or car races) and there is a
crash in one of them, that is the one they will talk about 40 years later.
Please excuse my attitude.
Number three was a real treat for me. It was Britain's version of
the B-17, the Avro Lancaster. They did mostly the night raids to Berlin. They did a tremendous job
as the B-17 did in the day!
Number 4 is the Lancaster taxiing.
And number 5 was taken as it flew proudly by. It eased the ache in
my bones a bit to see it fly by!
Number 6 shows the F-16, Fighting Falcon, showing off its amazing
power in an almost vertical climb.
Number 7 is the F-22 in a FAST pass.
Number 8 shows a formation of the F-16 and two P-51's. It is giving
a kind of respectful nod to the glory of the past!
Number 9 is a similar tribute by the incredible F22, Raptor. I
wonder how the F-16 and the F-22 managed to fly so slowly!
And number 10 proves that the Spirit, the B-2 stealth bomber, is
real. Unless there is a way the camera could also be hypnotized!
Number 11 is me with one of the Tuskegee Airman. He looks much too
young to have been in WWII but I hope to contact him to get his name and what he flew and when. When
I get it I will put it here, of course. I apologize for not writing down his name at the time. But
what do you expect from an 85 year old!
Number 12 shows me with another Tuskegee Airman whose badge says
Thomas Austin. I will have to confirm that and will place it here.
I would like to mention the accommodations. They had huge tents they
called "Chalets". This one was shared by the Tuskegee Airman and the 506th Fighter Group so of
course I piggy-backed as a representative of my group, the 27th Fighter Bomber Group of Italy,
Corsica and Southern France.
They had another tent called "Legends". Friday I went over to get a
little lunch that I heard they had. I went in with no problem and before I got to the food, someone
stopped me with a book for my autograph. Being sufficiently flattered by the request, I sat down at
a table and gave it to him. Before I got up there was another one. I sat at that table from about
1:00 till 4:30 signing many kinds of memorabilia. One person even presented a piece of aluminum skin
from a P-51, about 18 inches by two feet which I dutifully signed, with another smile, of course.
Finally two members of the 506th found me and collared me with a laugh because I had forgotten I was
supposed to be at the bus by 4:30! During this session I finally realized that i had been promoted
from Icon to Legend!
On Sunday I went down again and they would not let me in. They said
I had to have a ticket to enter the "Legends Chalet". I asked how much it was and they said $350. I
gulped and said I couldn't afford that. I asked if the Legends Chalet was there so the people that
could and did afford the ticket could meet with the "Legends". They agreed and I asked how they
could meet me if I was not allowed in. I asked them how many of the Tuskegee Airman or the 506th
would be able to enter under the conditions. They said it was the rule. I told them that the rule
was stupid, that they were taking money under false pretenses if they were promising "Legends" and
then making it impssible for the Legends to come in! I can be a bulldog sometimes when I feel
something is ethically wrong, so when they saw I was not going away, the "boss" gave me two names up
at "headquarters" and that I should see them.
So I faced an ethical dilemma. I could throw the pass in their faces
or I could swallow it and go to the tent and try to give the people a little of what they paid for.
I chose the latter.
I went down to the "Legends Chalet" again, gave them my "pass" and
they let me in. I let them know however, with a smile, what I thought of it! I hurried to the food
table and got a bowl of potato soup. As I sat down at a table, almost immediately, more memorabilia
appeared. It took me an hour to eat the soup. I didn't mind because that is what I was there for. I
was dressed in a khaki jumpsuit with my wings and rank and a military cap with the right insignia. I
also had the obligatory well beaten A2 Pilot Jacket with the squadron insignia, name plate, XIIth AF
patch and the painting on the back. It apparently was warm out, but I didn't notice. I'm originally
from North Dakota and I don't notice temperature unless it is above 100 or below zero! It made me
easy to spot which is what I felt was appropriate in these circumstances. Again I signed things till
4:15. I did not want to be late this time. I accepted a good bit of ribbing for almost missing the
bus on Friday. I didn't want to do that twice. I went to the main gate. Nobody there and I got
worried that they had promised to meet somewhere else and I was doing the 85 year old thing again.
Finally, after 4:30 another one showed up so I was no longer alone. We started walking around, found
another couple of people, grabbed another one of the ubquitous carts and headed to where the bus was
supposed to be. And, Lo and Behold, there it was, and we were the first ones there. The others
finally got there and I let them know in no uncertain terms that I was one of the first ones this
time! With a smile, of course.
I felt good about my actions.
And number 13 shows the entire Tuskegee Airman group on a trailer
they paraded down in front of the spectators to applause and salutes.
I love the old planes. Some of my favorites are the gullwing
Stinson Reliant, the Ryan ST, the Staggerwing Beech and the Ford Trimotor that gave me a ride in
1929 when I was seven years old. A barnstormer landed on a hayfield outside our little town (pop
800) in North Dakota and took people up for 2 cents a pound, a dollar minimum. I weighed 47 pounds!
None of them were here though. Too bad! But they weren't military!
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It is hard to believe. It looks like it is still in the packing
crate it came in!
I accepted the new rank with the realization that it was not me
there, that I was simply a representation of all the others that could not be there for one reason
or another.
I grabbed one of the little carts that were all over (a very nice
service) because I cannot walk that far anymore and they took me to the office. I asked for the two
names and I got a representative instead. She explained that it was a rule. I gave them my spiel
about the stupidity and virtual fraud perpetrated by the "rule". They appeared to agree with me but
saw no way to get around the "rules". Finally, when she got tired of my smile, after she consulted
with someone, she gave me a "pass" so I could enter. I told them I would take it although it was
fundamentally unacceptable. I asked if this would let in all the others and they said no.
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