Bill Greenwood's Passing

[cu360r6]

My name is Charles Greenwood, I'm Bill's son. I lost my father yesterday. His passing was as unexpected as it was sudden and painless. I realize he posted here from time to time a few years ago, and I could use some help from this board's members now.

He loved to fly his Spitfire and was perhaps the most experienced pilot in the world in that aircraft. God has no idea the use Bill will get out of the wings he was just given, and knowing he is free to soar gives me great solace.

It seems to be the job of sons to give their fathers grief, and I certainly never failed at this responsibility. I thought of my dad as a bit too eclectic, a bit too disorganized, and a bit too impersonal with some. However, he is the greatest pilot I will ever meet. He bought the Spitfire the day before I was born and flew it for 26 continuous years without a fatal accident. He survived engine loss, bad weather, air system failures, mountain flying, and a rude Hurricane ground looping in front of him, all without injury. There are tragically so many 'better' pilots that did not make it as long flying warbirds, and I wish this was a level of greatness to which more aspired.

An brief obituary is available here: https://www.aspentimes.com/obituaries/o ... greenwood/

Here are the two areas members can help.

First, a memorial during these times is impossible to hold in person so we are planning an online virtual one in the next couple weeks. Please send me a message if you would like the info on how to participate. Bill's flying friends spanned the globe, but I am not aware of many. If anyone can send this message to someone they think would like the memorial info, I will be eternally grateful.

Second, his Spitfire TE308 was almost entirely restored by QG Aviation after the Hurricane accident and was recently purchased by a British buyer who completed the work. I understand it is flying and Bill wanted to see it back in the air when he could do so after the pandemic. He won't be able to, but my wife and I would like to. Can someone put me in touch with the buyer?

Bill always loved the poem High Flight that was written by a Spitfire Pilot in 1941 and later quoted by Reagan after the Challenger disaster. It seems fitting to include it here now.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Last edited by cu360r6 on Fri Dec 18, 2020 2:19 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Decamara]

Blue skies

Tailwinds forever

Loved seeing pics of that Spit when Bill had it

God bless

[Scott Rose]

Sorry for your loss Charles.

Bill was a good man and quite the character, he will be missed.

[blurrkup]

Hi Charles,

Sorry for your loss. Though I never knew your father, I always enjoyed reading his posts here.

These are the guys you would need to contact re TE308 https://flyaspitfire.com/ or https://bigginhillheritagehangar.co.uk/

[Hooligan2]

Charles, so very sorry to hear that Bill is no longer with us. I never met him, but I remember seeing the Spitfire at several events in the US and perhaps interacted with him on here in the past. I certainly gained an impression of a kindly, humorous, generous and passionate man.

The Spitfire is now based at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, just five miles from me, and is flying regularly; indeed I heard the growl of its Merlin just a few days ago - a glorious sound. I'm quite sure they would welcome a visit in due course when Society is fully open again - hopefully soon! https://bigginhillheritagehangar.co.uk/

RIP Bill...

[Sopwith]

Really sorry to hear of your loss.My condolences to you and your family.

[mazdaP5]

Rest in peace Bill. When I was a kid, we were leaving Oshkosh driving home to Michigan, and bill buzzed one of the farms on southbound 41, low and fast. That image has been with me ever since, all of these years later. Bill also reached out to me complimenting me about a Spitfire model I built about 15 years ago. That's twice Bill impacted me. Quality.

[Ken]

As you say, some make better use of their angel wings than others. Sincere condolences for your loss.

Ken

[DH82EH]

Charles, I am so saddened to hear about the passing of your father.
I am fortunate to have met him on a few occasions. the first was Oshkosh, 1984.
TE308 was quite new to him then and by the sound of your message, you were quite new as well .
He was quite happy to chit chat about the aeroplane. I commended and congratulated him.
I met him later on at Geneseo New York in 2007. He was quite interested in the Tiger Moth I was involved with at the time.
We had a bit of fun teasing him about swapping rides! You can just hear a bunch of pilots egging him "C'mon! C'mon, it'll be fun!!"
I also saw him at Niagara Falls airshow sponsored by Ed Russell. He did not bring his own Spit to this one, so Ed Russell loaned your dad his Spitfire. Who gets to say that?!
Since I have been flying my own Tiger Moth, I had always hoped to run in to Bill again. I would have loved to let him fly my Tiger.
These things are the most fun when shared.

Please accept my sincere condolences Charles.

Andy Scott

[Pat Carry]

Sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I always enjoyed his posts here. Blue skies Bill.

[TAdan]

So sorry for your loss. While I never met Bill I certainly enjoyed his posts here.

[Chris Brame]

Sorry to hear about your dad, Charles - I enjoyed his postings here on WIX about his adventures with TE308. My condolences and blue skies to Bill.

[Jesse C.]

Sorry to hear this

Condolences and Prayers to you and yours.

Vaya Con Dios

Jesse Chavez

[Randy Wilson]

Charles, I'm very sorry for your loss. I first met your Dad in the mid-1980s, I think at one of the Breckenridge, TX air shows. Again, I'm sorry to hear of his passing. All the best, under the circumstances.

Randy

[phil65]

Sad news...R.I.P. Bill....

Phil