Warbird Information Exchange

Sorry guys if this is a repost but my dad sent it to me and I needed to share!!!!! I dont remember seeing this on WIX but its worth a read!!


Jim



This was so beautiful that I tried to copy it for you but the print was too small so I re-typed it so you and perhaps your sons could enjoy.



This was written by Dutch and read at his service.



Holland "Dutch" Redfield

1916-2008



"The Final Touchdown"



During a lifetime in aviation, I have experienced only one forced landing. It was not difficult. The dead-stick glide began at three thousand feet. There were several suitable fields from which to choose. Things worked out nicely. Yet I know that I have one more forced landing lurking and waiting for me out there. I believe that at this stage of my life, I am ready for it. Perhaps there will be warning, maybe not.



Will there be time for me to plan a good approach to this final touchdown? Will it be a hasty no power, no options, straight ahead steep descent to a walloping hard touchdown? Or will it be a soft afternoon peaceful glide?



Whatever, for this final glide, I ask only for an open cockpit, so I can, however briefly, savor for the last time the feels of flight, as biplane wings forward of me exquisitely frame and record the slowly changing, tilting scenes as I maneuver and silently bank and glide onto what I have long known will be my very final approach.



Please, no helmet, so old ears can best sense vital changes in speed, relayed through the lovely sounds of whistling interplane struts and wires, and so cheeks and bared head can best read changing airflows swirling behind the cockpit's tiny windshield.



Below, in a forest of trees lies a grassy field long ago set aside for biplane flyers of old. It looks small, tiny. With lightly crossed aileron and rudder I'll slip her a few inches over the fence. I'll level her off, then hold her off, with wheels skimming the grass tips. The lift of the wings, the sounds of flight, rapidly diminish. With stick full back, lift fades, a slight tremor, then she and I are bumping and rolling across the beautifully sodded field. The wooden propeller remains still.



We roll to a stop. I have no belt to loosen. I raise goggles and slowly climb out. Suddenly there is applause, then bear hugs and slaps on the back. "Hey, you old goat, you really slicked that one on!" I am with old friends.



Dutch Redfield



Dutch passed away in his sleep on November 13th.





Best regards.



Jim Waugh

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

darn.....

What can you tell us about Dutch? Did he write any books? If not, he should have...Thanks,

_________________
Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Dutch was a long-time member of the National Waco Club. He shared many of his stories and photos with me over the years. He even sent me a great video of home movies of him flying his Waco UBF-2 on floats along with a Fleet 2 on floats. He was there in the Golden Age of Aviation and flew into the 1970's as a check airman on Pan Am's B747's. He was a true gentleman with a huge love of flying. He did publish a book about his flying career and I have an autographed copy at home.

Blue Skies and Tailwinds old friend....

Andy

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President National Waco Club
Curator for the Waco Historical Society Air Museum
Writer for VINTAGE AIRPLANE, SKYWAYS, BARNSTORMERS.COM EFLYER

Yes, indeed. Dutch was a Pan Am pilot. He did publish a small paperback which he sent me, with several letters from him placed inside. I'm sorry to hear of his passing. A wonderful fellow.

Fare thee well old pelican.

For those interested,

"Dutch" (Holland Redfield) published several books. He had an Instrument Flying book published circa '44. In the early Eighties, he published "Thirty Five Years at the Outer Marker" and lastly, "The Airmans Sky is not Blue".

Among a host of light aircraft, (Dutch loved seaplanes and that was how we found each other), he flew the DC-3, DC-4 (although separated by 40 yrs of age, we shared that too) DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, the B-23 Dragon, the 707, 720, 747 and he flew the L-49 Connie too.

The last I was aware, he lived on Long Island just east of Mattituck. We hadn't communicated for the last 8 years or so. Time flys...