Memorial fly over in Phoenix SUCCESSFUL!

[Jerry O'Neill]

Sadly, my friend Bernard "Pete" Peterson, USMC Corsair pilot in both WWII and Korea, passed away the night before last.
His wife and son just called me and would like to set up a memorial fly over in North Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday morning, Aug. 19.

They would like a Corsair to fly-over and if not a bent winged bird, at least an SNJ/T-6.

Can any of you on WIX help me out in trying to set this up?

Pete was a great guy, author of several books, and was one of our honored guests at the 2005 Corsairs Over Connecticut show.

Please, anybody with any contacts please PM me as soon as possible.

I'm sure there are some SNJ/T-6's in that area and I thought that the F2G "57" is now based in Arizona. I'm just not sure of where to turn.

Thanks, I know you guys we help get it done for them.
Blue skies,
Jerry O'Neill

airdales@att.net

Last edited by Jerry O'Neill on Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Matt Gunsch]

Jerry,
PM sent

[flyingsailor]

Jerry
I would check with AZ Wing of the CAF they have a T-6 if nothing else

Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force
2017 North Greenfield Road
Mesa, Arizona 85215

Phone:
480-924-1940

[Jerry O'Neill]

Jerry
I would check with AZ Wing of the CAF they have a T-6 if nothing else

Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force
2017 North Greenfield Road
Mesa, Arizona 85215

Phone:
480-924-1940

Thanks guys!
I just called the CAF and they are contacting their SNJ pilots to see if they can work something out.
It may not work if they can't schedule a pilot for it, so I'll be happy to have any contacts from you guys as a back up.
Jerry

[Lynn Allen]

Jerry let us know how it went. My Uncle passed a few weeks ago as well and he also flew Corsairs in WWII and Korea......

Lynn

[Jerry O'Neill]

Thanks to everyone on WIX for their help on this.
I handed everything over to the CAF in Mesa and as of last Monday they had an SNJ for the flyover all set to go.

After the ceremony, I got a call from Spud Peterson's widow saying that it was absolutely a wonderful fly over, timed perfectly and a formation of three SNJ's! Three!
Awesome tribute to an American hero of two wars!
Thanks you WIX'ers and Thank you CAF!

Jerry

[Owen Miller]

Is this the Pete Peterson that was in VT-3
early in WWII????

[Jerry O'Neill]

YES!
He wrote several books about his time in the service.
Amazing story. Started as a Mechinist Mate and in the back seat of SBD's as a gunnery, two carriers shot out from under him, and then invited to go through pilot training and finished the war on Corsairs!
Later, they dragged him back for Korea, where he flew Corsairs and was a FAC for the Marines. Fantastic guy. One of the Corsairs he flew in training is hanging in the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico in it's markings when he flew it.
He and his wife, Marion, were our guests for the 2005 "Corsairs Over Connecticut" show. She, BTW, was also a Marine from WWII!
Blue skies Pete!
Jerry

[N3Njeff]

Good going for all involved in this!

[Owen Miller]

Yes, REALLY good guy. I knew him pretty well until a few years ago
when we lost touch. He was married to one of the FEW female Marines
of WWII. And he was good friends with Bill Esders during their time
together in VT-3 which is how I first got to know him.

Another of the Greatest Generation flown west to eternity....

Godspeed Pete....you are missed..........

Owen

[Scott Rose]

Glad this worked out!

[mazdaP5]

glad it all worked out.

[flyingsailor]

Glad it worked out. We must remember the quality men who served in our time of need!