Yesterday i experienced the extremities of this life we live in and especially aviation. It was a beautiful clear day here in central texas. We took off from Georgetown and flew to Kerrville for Lefty's Funeral. You could not have asked for a more perfect day for such. The Viking cruised along in the smooth air allowing for reflection and remembrance. Lefty and Sharon Sponsored my Parents to emigrate here in the late 70's. My dad was ferrying old warbirds across the pond from England to the states and decided to move in '79. It took 4 years of paperwork and we arrived at Old Rebel Field in may 1983. What a Place!, we lived with Lloyd Nolen and my dad worked for Lefty. I spent all my time in the hangars also making as much airplane noise as possible. My ( to date) only flight in a mustang was also with Lefty in the back of Thunderbird, this type of event tends to seriously effect a 13 year olds mind!!!!
and i will forever be grateful for that ride.
Being around Lefty and Lloyd was a most memorable experience and i believe that most of us owe much if not all to the dedication and patriotism of these 2 ( and of course the others) that started the CAF.
I did not realize that lefty flew 34 missions in B-17's and B-24's, then volunteered for secret duty flying supplies into Sweeden and occupied territories for another 12 missions, also that he was highly decorated.
Many old friends gathered yesterday, i met people that i had not seen in 5, 10, and 25 years!, so good to reconnect. The funeral was well attended and all who spoke did so eloquently, Ladd especially. The video that was shown of lefty is online and is probably the most beautiful marriage of music and flying that i have seen. Silence and sniffles were all that you could here after it finished.
After the service all exited outside whereby a 4 ship of 3 mustangs ( including Thunderbird) and "White Litnin" ( in new red bull guise) provided 3 passes with the '38 pitching out to the west for missing man on the 3rd.
a final tribute and no better plane to see it through.
And so as old friends parted ways again, we climbed back into the Viking and a equally satisfying short trip back to Georgetown. Let us not forget these veterans regardless of nation served, their stories must be told and passed on. Thank you veterans old and young, Thank you Lefty, that i may live and fly in this great country, Godspeed.
Simon Diver
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
