A couple of days ago Lynn Allen made this post in Gary's diamond Lil thread.
Quote:
I was going to run the Yellow Rose one Saturday when a old man walked up with that look in his eyes. He smiled and said that he flew B-25's in the Med's. I told him that I was going to run the engines to check the hyd system and could use his help with the checklist. Before I was finished asking him, he was in the right seat with the checklist waiting for me. With the engines running, you could see in his eyes, history was passing him by once again. Yes, its really great when a vet tells you thank you and you tell them, no, thank you.
I immediately knew who Lynn was referring to because he's a friend of mine. So here's the rest of the story. He fellow is Rev. Glenn T. Black and during WWII he flew B-25s in the 310th BG 12th AF from Corsica. On June 22, 1944 Lt Black led a mission to bomb shipping in Leghorn Harbor, Italy. The German were attempting to sink ships to block the harbor. Just has the bombardier calls bombs away there was a tremendous blast (it it believed that flak hit the bombs leaving the bomb bay) shook the B-25 wounding everyone in the forward part of the airplane. The left engine was knocked out, hydraulics disabled, fuel system damaged flooding the a/c with fuel, instruments damaged, prop control on the right engine shot away, and over 150 schrapnal holes. The co-pilot had a bad hip wound and Lt Black had his right elbow shot off and had numerous wounds on his torso. Vision was limited because the plexi was covered with Glenn's blood and flesh. He asked God to help him have the strenght to get that B-25 home and he'd take the calling. Not to help himself but rather to save his crew. Glenn got his crew home, they all survived and Glenn received the Silver Star. At the last stage of a long recovery he was asked in what position he wanted his arm fused? going out to the local airport he sat in a J-3 and figured out a good position for his arm so he get full play on the stick and it that position his arm was fused. He became a flying minister serving people in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. He also was a CFI and taught many people how to fly. He sold his C-152 and quite flying a couple of years ago. We had the honor of putting Glenn in the left seat of his B-25 a couple of years ago. Let me tell you that he gave us a real flying lesson. He flew that bomber like a master!!! He smoked Lenhardt's Airpark were he lived a couple of times and really racked the 25 around. He then made numerous runs at JCW's place a little east. I was standing behind him and was holding on for all I was worth!! What a great ride he gave us and a memory to last a life time!!! That's Lynn for sharing you story of Glenn and bring that day to the top of my memory bank. Rev. Glenn lives now with his wife of 64 years, Carmen, in Canby, OR. Sharing these aircraft is truely a gift.
Lt Glenn Black 310th BG in his B-25
Glenn's B-25J "Cowgirl" back from Leghorn Harbor
On it's gear again and ready for salvage
Flak damage to the bomb bay area.
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........... Possibly a porrnn star.
There's yet another fine example of why warbird pilots and maintainers spend the time, effort, and money to keep 'em flying!
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