The Moon landing 20 years later.
Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:16 am
July 20, 1989.
The 20th Anniversary of the Moon Landing, was marked at the Johnson Space Center, Clearlake, TX with ceremonies that included a fly over by aircraft from the West Houston Squadron, Confederate Air Force, as well as a couple of privately owned aircraft.
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in this fly over.
We left around 9:00 AM from the West Houston [Lakeside] Airport.
The Douglas C-39 "Draggin Lady" was piloted by Col. Fred Thompson (RIP) and had Col. Ronald Fountain, as co-pilot. Col. Tulio Soto was their sole passenger on the trip to Ellington Field.
Also accompanying the Draggin' Lady were the ex-Aggie Squadron AT-6D "101" flown by Col. John Stofer, and Col. David Hammond [who was wearing a helmet with oxygen mask attached!!] Dave Hammond by the way, was an accomplished aviation artist, and had presented very well done oil paintings at different West Houston Squadron meetings as well as Wings over Houston airshows.
"101" became the "Ace in the Hole" and it is still flying with the West Houston Squadron.
Col. Anita de Villegas met us at Ellington, and she was flying a T-6 marked "99"
Col. Ray Jones (RIP) flew his T-34, with Col. "Mad" Mike Von Trytek (RIP)
Col. Harold Wilson flew Col. Bill Stuessy's (RIP) T-34.
At Ellington we met Anita de Villegas, as well as Col. Chick Hartnett who flew his Stearman, and --- here memory fails me- I believe that we also met Col. Mike McGlothlin, who -If I am not mistaken- flew his Stearman, too.
I do not remember if Col. Jimmy Levine (RIP) and Col. Joh Dazio (RIP) were also part of the group.
While the briefing for the fly over was being conducted at the FBO, I managed to snap a couple of pictures of a McDonnell Douglas A-4 that belonged to ... Jim Robinson?? Jim Reynolds?
When the time came for the fly over, I switched to Bill Stuessy's T-34, and flew with Col. Wilson.
We basically flew two formations; one composed by the Stearmans and the other by the Draggin' Lady and the two T-6s and two T-34s.
Upon the timely completion of the flyover, we broke formation and began to head back to West Houston. Aircraft constantly changed positions, and I just wished that I had a better camera and lenses to shoot good pictures. Alas, what you see, is what I got...
After landing and securing the aircraft, we had a long and very liquid debrief at a Steak House on Highway 6 and I-10.... 'nough said.
Saludos,
Tulio
The 20th Anniversary of the Moon Landing, was marked at the Johnson Space Center, Clearlake, TX with ceremonies that included a fly over by aircraft from the West Houston Squadron, Confederate Air Force, as well as a couple of privately owned aircraft.
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in this fly over.
We left around 9:00 AM from the West Houston [Lakeside] Airport.
The Douglas C-39 "Draggin Lady" was piloted by Col. Fred Thompson (RIP) and had Col. Ronald Fountain, as co-pilot. Col. Tulio Soto was their sole passenger on the trip to Ellington Field.
Also accompanying the Draggin' Lady were the ex-Aggie Squadron AT-6D "101" flown by Col. John Stofer, and Col. David Hammond [who was wearing a helmet with oxygen mask attached!!] Dave Hammond by the way, was an accomplished aviation artist, and had presented very well done oil paintings at different West Houston Squadron meetings as well as Wings over Houston airshows.
"101" became the "Ace in the Hole" and it is still flying with the West Houston Squadron.
Col. Anita de Villegas met us at Ellington, and she was flying a T-6 marked "99"
Col. Ray Jones (RIP) flew his T-34, with Col. "Mad" Mike Von Trytek (RIP)
Col. Harold Wilson flew Col. Bill Stuessy's (RIP) T-34.
At Ellington we met Anita de Villegas, as well as Col. Chick Hartnett who flew his Stearman, and --- here memory fails me- I believe that we also met Col. Mike McGlothlin, who -If I am not mistaken- flew his Stearman, too.
I do not remember if Col. Jimmy Levine (RIP) and Col. Joh Dazio (RIP) were also part of the group.
While the briefing for the fly over was being conducted at the FBO, I managed to snap a couple of pictures of a McDonnell Douglas A-4 that belonged to ... Jim Robinson?? Jim Reynolds?
When the time came for the fly over, I switched to Bill Stuessy's T-34, and flew with Col. Wilson.
We basically flew two formations; one composed by the Stearmans and the other by the Draggin' Lady and the two T-6s and two T-34s.
Upon the timely completion of the flyover, we broke formation and began to head back to West Houston. Aircraft constantly changed positions, and I just wished that I had a better camera and lenses to shoot good pictures. Alas, what you see, is what I got...
After landing and securing the aircraft, we had a long and very liquid debrief at a Steak House on Highway 6 and I-10.... 'nough said.
Saludos,
Tulio
Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:07 am
Great shots my friend...,
here we are 20 years later!!
eeeek!!!!!!!!
here we are 20 years later!!
eeeek!!!!!!!!
Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:54 am
Great pics!
Is Anita still flying T-6's?
I flew in her six at the 1988 50th Anniversary of the T-6 as a photo ship following the huge formation.
Jerry
Is Anita still flying T-6's?
I flew in her six at the 1988 50th Anniversary of the T-6 as a photo ship following the huge formation.
Jerry
Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:00 pm
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! It was depressing to see so many (RIP)'s behind so many of my old friends names though. Some I had lost touch with years ago, but would wonder what was up with them from time to time. Now, in some cases, I know.
Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:08 pm
bluehawk15 wrote:Thanks for the trip down memory lane! It was depressing to see so many (RIP)'s behind so many of my old friends names though. Some I had lost touch with years ago, but would wonder what was up with them from time to time. Now, in some cases, I know.
Mike you beat me to it. I was about to say about the same thing!!!!
Good memories but some bittersweet.
Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:52 pm
Karen,
I guess that says something about us, like we've been around the pattern too many years! I guess that's the price we pay for getting started with warbirds when we were in elementary school!
I guess that says something about us, like we've been around the pattern too many years! I guess that's the price we pay for getting started with warbirds when we were in elementary school!
Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:57 pm
I find this to be actually, a good feeling. Yes, it is sad that they are no longer with us, but I can say without any doubt, that they were true friends, and the memories of so much laughter, jokes and aviation events shared with them, makes their departure a little -not much though- easier to carry.
Saludos,
Tulio
Saludos,
Tulio
Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:54 am
Jerry O'Neill wrote:Great pics!
Is Anita still flying T-6's?
I flew in her six at the 1988 50th Anniversary of the T-6 as a photo ship following the huge formation.
Jerry
I don't know. Last I heard about Anita was more than 10 years ago, and I believe that she had moved to Florida.
I have somewhere, photos of a Piper Super Cub in Italian markings, and also a Piaggio, that she flew to meetings at the West Houston Sqdn.
Saludos,
Tulio