Warbird Information Exchange

My Dad related a story to me about an ex-Flying Tiger that showed up at Napier Field in 1944 (late summer/early fall) for refresher training in the parrott head P-40's. He doesn't remember his name but said that he had been burned on his face and neck(visible scars) bailing out of a P-40. He also remembers the pilot talking about "when his chute opened his shoes kept going".
I know alot of the 'tigers re-enlisted later in the war. I know this is a long shot, but do any of you Tiger experts (Jack?) have any info about who this could have been? Thanks in advance.

Steve G

Charlie Bond perhaps? I've read he was burned on the head and neck while bailing out at around 500 feet once. He also re-enlisted in the USAAF.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I read about Bond. I need to figure out if he went to Napier. I know he wrote a book. Don't know if it covers his post AVG career.

Steve G

Charlie Bond is a regular at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.

My wife and I ran into him in the museum store there while he was chatting with one of the cash register folks. At the time, we didn't know who he was, just recognized the fact that he was of the proper age of a WWII vet and accorded him the proper respect. He seemed like a very nice and personable guy, asking us if we had enjoyed the museum. Once he left, the bookstore folks giddily told us who he was; I ran outside, hoping to catch him and shake his hand - to my amazement, he was in his convertible Jag, peeling out of the parking lot and waving to me as he shot down the road.

We later bought his book "A Flying Tiger's Diary", it is a great read.

Mike

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"So there I was, knee deep in a river I couldn't pronounce..."

Dad just told me that whoever this ex AVG guy was, he had to bail out
of a P-40 at Napier also.

Steve G

Charlie Bond is awesome, the real deal.

He used to drive a supercharged Riviera with TX plate FLY TGR. IIRC