Saw My Favorite P-47 Pilot Today

[Jack Cook]

B/G Staryl Austin a friend for years (decades) caught me by surprise at the grocery store today. It was great to see him!!!!
Proof to the world that if you have good friend then you're rich. I'm very rich!!
Randy, did you ever get in touch with him???
Martin, he's going to dig out a bunch of postwar P-51 shots for you!

1Lt Staryl Austin 410th FS 373rd FG

In his P-47D 1945

With his ground crew

R3+A bar getting some maintenence

Gal-O-My-Dreams

[Zachary]

Very nice guy! I met him at the 2005 P-47 Pilots Association Reunion in Seattle (unfortunately the last for the whole group). Mr. Austin gave me permission to attend to record some oral history interviews. He had a really fantastic P-47 model about the size of the 21st Century 1/18 stuff that was made entirely out of aluminum. It was to be raffled off during the banquet on the last night of the reunion, but some thieving bastard stole it from the hospitality room of the hotel.

I had brought one of Damon Rarey's books "Laughter and Tears" about his father George Rarey along with some Rarey prints with the hopes of perhaps running into some of the guys that flew with Rarey. I gave the book and prints to Mr. Austin and he raffled them off instead of the model. Sure made me feel good to contribute to the reunion in some small way.

Zack

[Jack Cook]

Zack,
If you want some pics drop me a email. He commanded Randy's squadron the 492nd in the 50s flying F-84s and also commanded the OR ANG. One of the finest friends and neighbors a fellow could have!!!
His brother was a submariner in WWII and his dad was a Handley-Page gunner in WWI.

[Swiss Mustangs]

Martin, he's going to dig out a bunch of postwar P-51 shots for you!

you got my attention, Jack.....

Martin