Remember the Alamo!

[bluehawk15]

In San Antonio, Texas, today...as well as across Texas...we celebrated the 175th anniversary of the battle at the Alamo. Now what's that got to do with warbirds? It seems the people putting the event at the Alamo together wanted the USAF to do a fly-over, as they were honoring ALL people who have worn a uniform, defending our freedom. The USAF wasn't able to do it, so someone suggested they contact the CAF. They contacted CAF HQ, who put them in touch with the CenTex Wing leader. He sent out an E-mail blast late Friday afternoon, calling for planes/pilots who could make a short-notice flight. Finally, about noon today, he heard from them and let us know it was a "go". Unfortunately the T-34 scrubbed when the "go" call went out, but the SNJ-4 "Ol' Yeller" and the U-boats (U-11A and U-3A) were still able to make it.

The main reason I say it was unfortunate that the T-34 scrubbed wasn't because we could only field a three-ship formation, which was a shame, but it was unfortunate because I had to lead the flight! Time Over Target was 1745 (5:45pm), and they wanted an East to West pass over the top of the Alamo. Guess where the sun was at that time? Right you are if you guessed just enough above the horizon to be in our eyes, and making it almost impossible to see the target!

Using the Tower of the Americas as a landmark, and the GPS, we were able to turn in at the right spot, and then got a visual on the Alamo. We passed overhead and I checked my cellphone....5:45pm exactly! Hey, I'd rather get lucky than be good any day! On my left wing was the SNJ-4 as #2, and the U-3A was #3 on my right wing.

As a native Texan, it was a great honor to be part of this flight...even if I had to lead it!

[RyanShort1]

Wish I'd known.
It was REALLY windy today here!

Ryan

[agent86]

I hate driving into the rising or setting sun,couldnt imagine flying in similar situation.good for you for going.be proud of yourself

[bluehawk15]

Trying to find the Alamo with the sun in my eyes was bad, but I think it was worse for my #2 on my left wing. He had the sun in his eyes all the way from San Marcos to downtown San Antonio, and he didn't need to see the target, just me so he wouldn't run into me! I noticed though that while we were in cross country spread, he dropped down a little and let me block the sun from his eyes.

Yeah Ryan, the wind was brutal! Thankfully it was almost straight down 35 for the SNJ. When we took off it was 27 gusting to 40mph! Calmed down to a steady 21mph when we got back. I take it you didn't do any taildragger flying today? You could have flown the Cub backwards!

[RyanShort1]

I take it you didn't do any taildragger flying today? You could have flown the Cub backwards!

Actually, I did - on both counts - and very nearly regretted it. I'm uploading a video now. Besides what the video shows, a viscous gust of wind literally ripped through the cockpit, and flung open my kneeboard (which is a Jeppesen tri-fold and was closed ), taking out my 2 week old sectional, and - worse - about three weeks worth of student notes, flight times, and landings on legal pad paper that I was going to enter into my logbook this evening. They're somewhere scattered around Boerne, and I'm NOT happy.

Ryan

[agent86]

I hate when that happens,freakin wind

[Invader26]

Who won the battle of the Alamo?

[Holedigger]

"Bravo Zulu" Bluehawk15! You would think with ALL the AF bases around that someone would have been available to fly a "Training mission", ah well, red-tape!!! Job well done! I may have to pull out my "ALAMO" dvd and commemorate, myself being from a town named for one of the Alamo heros, Juan Seguin !

[Cvairwerks]

Invader: The Mexicans eventually did. We Texans kept them at bay for 13 days, despite the attackers having better than 15 times the manpower that we had. By the time the Alamo fell at the end of the third assault on the final day, the manpower differential had grown to over 20 to 1.

[Pat Carry]

My wife and I visted the Alamo this past December. A very cool place we thought.

[Jesse C.]

If you go the Alamo, make sure to check out the basement!

[Lynn Allen]

Well done Mike...

[CAPFlyer]

All we're missing is pictures.

[RyanShort1]

As far as flying backwards in the Cub is concerned - here's the video.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1887888203134

Ryan

[the330thbg]

Who was the gentlemen who used to read the 'Thirteen Days of the Alamo' on WOAI?

Frank Guerra?

I know he is now gone., but I remember that on the radio from when I was a kid growing up in San Antonio.

Does WOAI ever replay those anymore?

Thanks for the memories!

Stephen