Warbird Information Exchange

Albert Ball, Werner Voss, Robert Stanford Tuck, Doug Bader, Marion Carl, Gabby Gabreski, Jesse Brown, Tom Hudner, Phil Wood, Dick Bellinger.

[quote]I'm surprised Jack Cook didn't choose Pappy Boyington.
[quote]
PLEASE-not to mention that name

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Thanks for those, Jack. Yes, unmistakable 'Lanny'. I'd never realized that he flew with the 354th as well.

Robin Olds
Robbie Risner
Bud Anderson
Jeff Leblanc
James Swett
Frederick "Boots" Blesse

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Some people are like slinkys, good for nothing but bring a smile to your face when pushed down stairs.

My father, Billy Hovde, Tex Hill, Henry Brown, Clay Kinnard and Robin Olds - plus Gunther Rall.

I was in a cocktail circle with all of the above )except Kinnard) at Dallas fighter Aces Reunion during an interview by Channel 8. The question was " what does a great fighter pilot have to possess".. around the circle, first Tex, until the last - Billy Hovde.

Every one talked about tactical awareness, aggressiveness, knowing the relative strengths and weaknesses of the aircarft, etc... the reporter stuck his mic in front of Billy who just said simply - "well first of all - you can't want to live forever - but the rest of what you heard will help you do that"..

Hovde won his DSC taking his 358 squadron down over Berlin to attack 75-100 Fw190s on 5 December, 1944 - shooting down five, sharing a 109 and broke the attack up completely with no losses to his squadron which accounted for another 5.5.

Helluva man as they all were.

Regards,

Bill

The Navy is under-represented!

Joe Foss; 'nuff said.

All the guys from VF-15 that I hosted here in Midland at the CAF: Ralph Foltz, Jim Duffy, John Strane, from VF-41 Diz Laird, and from the Marines, VMF-214 Jim Hill, Tom Emrich and Ed Harper. Unassuming modest guys all.

My dad, VF-15...three-fifths of a Japanese ace (one N2S, one SNJ on the USS Wolverine, one SNJ at Corpus) but he's still the greatest to me!

Old Shep

Wasn't Joe Foss a Marine?
BTW, I had two Navy guys on my list!
I think my favorites were ones that I had read about as a teenager and have always admired. Strange how they stay with you even though over time, you often get the chance to meet many other pilots of equal stature.
Of my favorites, I never had the chance to meet any of them!
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

"you're lookin' at him, baby"

Seriously, though...my hero is Robin Olds.

Randy Haskins post reminded me...

I forgot to mention a comment made when Chuck Yeager and Bud Anderson were here...Yeager said that Anderson called him the greatest fighter pilot he ever saw and then Anderson said except when I look in the mirror to shave every morning....I imagine that has been cited previously...at this point (four plus years ago) they were on good terms and liked poking fun at one another. I understand that is not the case now.

Old Shep

Sounds like a story in their somewhere

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Thanks for a giggle, Randy......and Thanks for your service !!!!

My favs.....my Dad and Robin Olds...both deceased....and a bunch of FACs who will remain nameless as they are still alive and kicking and I get to spend time with them often at Reunions and they're great !!!

Robin Olds
Bud Anderson
Joe Foss
R.S. Tuck
Douglas Bader
Guenther Rall
Erich Hartmann
Randy Haskin

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

Gunther Rall and Douglas Bader-who i was fortunate enough to meet at Blackbush England when he came out with my dad to look over the Ju52s back in the late '70's. They along with Galland have amazing stories of what can be done under duress, and how no matter which "side" you were on, what one did for "duty" and "honor" back then.

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"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Walter C. Beckham

Everyone's posted their favs but no one really said why.
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/gladen.html
Without a doubt, my favorite ace is Cy Gladen of the 44th FS 18th FG.
A lifelong friend, he was one of the most decent men I've ever known.
He was assistant crew chief of Maj. Aaron Tyer's P-40 in the 15th Pursuit Group and was on duty on Dec. 7th at Hickam Field where he was commended for his bravery. He graduated from Moore Field, Texas with class 42G and proudly reported back to L/C Tyer now 18th FG CO. He flew 164 missions in P-40F/Ms and P-38Hs in the 44th FS including some of the first sweeps over Rabaul. Credited with 5 kills, he claimed 5 Vals on 8-31-43 and received his Silver Star 50 years later. He was a sportsman, civic volunteer and always ready to help his fellow man. He was tireless in down playing his exploits, but was always eager to talk about the heros he served with. He spent countless hours beating into me that these things were of far greater importance than how many flags were on the side of his P-40.

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