Warbird Information Exchange

Lots of warbird operators talk about how they're commemorating the sacrifice, or remembering the veterans, but they sure seem to find flying the aircraft fun, and I betcha some of them got into it because they wanted a Sierra Hotel toy, and the veteran thang rings good with the babes and the tax guys. Whaddya think?

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Raven

I love flying the L-5. It is a total blast. It has been a challenge to learn tailwheel and as I am approaching that moment where I have more tailwheel than tricycle time, I am feeling the stones of personal accomplishment.

That said, while I was casting around looking for information on how L-5's were employed in WWII, I found a terrible number of misconceptions of how the aiplanes were used and who flew them. With no prior knowledge of the units' existence, I discovered the history of the Liaison Squadrons, and the 14th in particular, to be absolutely fascinating. There aren't too many real good accounts of what they did. And there are plenty of L-5 pilots out there (I would estimate 2/3) that don't know squat about what their airplanes did during WWII. I started out wanting to just put some display context with the airplane while showing it. I proceeded to wanting to find a way to get people involved in the airplane that would enhance the display. It has culminated in the re-creation of the 14th Liaison Squadron to portray the history of those particular men, and to fulfill the mission of preserving that history and getting other people involved and assisting me in accomplishing those things.

With all that said, I would consider that my creation of the re-enacting unit has been as much of an accomplishment as learning to fly the airplane, and probably more important than me actually flying the airplane. While the total context of the squadron has been well re-created in the two field maneuvers we have done to this point, we have also taken that culmination of building the squadron to the new level of creating a new event and public face for the Liaison aircraft of WWII, an area which is overlooked in popular history and which is fairly important as it was the ancestor of modern US Army Aviation.

At the time we re-created the squadron, we were getting in touch with the few people who are remaining. I went to their re-union at KOSH this year, taking the plane, and was universally thanked by the families and original squadron members for doing what I have done. It has not just been me- we have over 30 members who do this, and the pilots were amazed that we have actually done something to educate people on what they have done- they have historically been completely un-recognized for what they did, which was to heavily support and facilitate the big armored dashes across Europe.

My point is that these airplanes would not exist today without the history which they wrote being important. They all would have been scrapped a long time ago. Planes (back then at least) didn't operate without pilots, mechanics, and leaders to have made it happen. So in doing anything in the future with the L-5, that context is at the face of the airplane, and at the most prominent spot that we can feature it. When these guys are all gone, and that will be soon, what we will have left is a bunch of the icons of their era. And if we forget that these people were what made it all happen, shame on all of us.

So, to wrap it all up- I have a blast flying the L-5, but everything I do is by choice colored by the deeds of the 14th Liaison Squadron as a tribute to them.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Personally I have to agree with FF. It's a great history, but one also can't deny the fun you have while working around and flying in these planes. I think it's unfair to ask if they're one or the other when they're really both.

Many people get involved for many reasons,...initially. Might be a childhood interest in history, technology, or flying. People become fascinated with what they were a part of, of what they represent historically. Probably the thought of honoring the veterans isn't a big part of it, unless like Eric and others here, you've lived some of it. But as you are around the planes, you begin to be around the veterans. You see their eyes light up when they are around the planes, you see the years melt away, you see them reliving their youth, you see the memorys come flooding back, the good and sometimes the bad.This all happens right before your eyes. It happens everywhere these planes go, it happens with younger and younger generations, used to be it was mostly the WWII Vets, then you started seeing the Korean guys around their aircraft, now we get the Viet Nam Vets around the F-4 and A-4, the Huey is particularly appreciated by these guys. The first time a guy comes up and thanks you for helping keep one of these birds alive because if it wasn't for the (insert aircraft type here ) he wouldn't be here today, you understand what a priviledge it is to be associated with them and how lucky you are to be a caretaker of history for the next generation. On top of all that emotion it's also a heck of a lot of FUN!

You're close...the tax guy (bamboozled into multiple veteran-commemorating deductions) is impressed that the chicks are so impressed, he's eager to help on the veteran-commemorating tax writeoffs. The chicks for their part aren't as impressed with the veteran-commemoration lines so having a tailored flight suit and an Italian accent are some of the essential elements to success in this department. Flying the "sierra hotel" toy is more work than fun, and mostly a good excuse to have a sweet call-sign and again, wear the tailored flightsuit. I'll concede that sadly, too many warbird pilots wear a flightsuit that's a size too small...kinda like there's a couple cats fighting underneath or something...

Paul, the flight suits are not one size to small. We are all participating in a Govt. sponsored zipper load test !

It's all for fun, but if you can tie in a redeeming social value more the better.

Never once during my flying career did I ever tell anyone I learned to fly to salute the veterans or impress women. I am not restoring my T-6 because I want to reflect upon the sacrifices of war or salute the training command. It is a fantastic challenge and accomplishement (if and when I ever finish) and will be a hoot to fly. I am very selfish in this respect.

If someone gave me the keys to their Mustang, I would gladly fly it to airshows to salute the veterans on their behalf, but I'm doing it because I want to fly not for some altruistic motive.

This isn't to say that I do not have the utmost in respect for veterans because I do. I've met quite a few over the years and appreciate their sacrifices greatly, perhaps even more so for the ones that never came back. Does flying in an airshow actually salute a veteran, or do most of the spectators just think the SH toys are cool too? Are warbird bomber pilots really saluting the veterans or are they just fulfilling their own Walter Mitty fantasies?

Hmmmm... Looks like I rambled a bit there! Interesting question.

Not sure it is an either or.

I started because I was obsessed with flying from babyhood and had two roles models...my Dad and my Uncle. When I started flying warbirds it was to honor my Dad (then deceased) who started his long miltary flying career in WWII and ending it after Vietnam. Did I say I didn't have fun while honoring Dad....sure I did it for the fun

When I bought the O-2, I got a crash course or more like immersion into the world of the Vietnam War and the FACs. Thankfully I met a bunch of FACs (and continue to do so) and they all remain close friends today. When I was able to start doing the FAC mission during shows it was and is to honor those men and their ground support who didn't get the thanks or recognition they deserved back in that era. Did I say I'm not having fun doing that kind of flying??? I'm having the time of my life. However, I still remain mindful that I would like to tell the FACs' story especially to young people who get pablum in their history books in school.