Hi guys;
I've been reading the post occasionally, but I've been so busy, I haven't been able to spend a lot of time on the message boards.
I thought you'd all like to know that at present, we will have the following WWII Marine Corps Veterans as guests of our event:
Jim Hill, VMF-214
Tom Emrich, VMF-214
Henry Bourgeios, VMF-214
Bob McClurg, VMF-214
Archie Donahue, VMF-112
Dean Caswell, VMF-212
Bernard Petersen, VMF-223
Yogi Irwin, VMF-223
It should be pretty neat, and all of them could barely say yes fast enough!
Thanks to Mint for help in contacting them!
In addition, for you lovers of the bent-winged bird, there will be many factory workers on hand who were all insturmental in making the Corsair what it was. Don Richardson, Flight Test Insturment Division, was on the Corsair from almost day one, and was a key player in the development and testing of almost every modification that went into the Corsair to help make it a better tool for the pilots. He helped create the shape and placement of the famous "stall strip". Real neat guy to talk to.
We've still got eight Corsairs coming. We had nine for about one week, but the CAF's FG-1D had a gear up landing (no injuries thank goodness) so we're back to eight. Jerry Beck's F4U-4 is planning to attend. I know the disscussion has mentioned all the Goodyear birds coming, but here on the Eastcoast, real Vought examples are hard to find. Even the Dash-5's we have coming may all have been built in Dallas! If Beck makes it, at least we're guarenteed one Stratford, CT built airframe!
Also, as a side note, the CT State House of Representatives is now deciding on a bill that would make the Corsair the "Official Airplane of the State of Connecticut". If it happens, May 29th will be forever "Corsair Day" in the state. (Date of first flight was May 29, 1940)
She's sixty-five years old this year, so the Corsair is now an "Official" Senior citizen! I hope you all plan to attend and if anyone lives in CT and would like to be a part of the event as a volunteer, just let me know!
We could always use the help.
I'll try to answer any questions as the come up, but forgive me if it takes a bit...I have a real, paying job besides "Corsairs Over Connecticut"!
Blue skies.
Jerry O'Neill
Corsairs Over Connecticut Display Coordinator.
_________________ Please pray for good weather!!!
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