Warbird Information Exchange

I'm in. I'm from Milwaukee, am 58 and grew up in the Air Force. Pop as you may know, was a fighter pilot in WWII. Flew P-40's, P-47's, & P-38's in CBI with the 60th FS of the 33rd FG.

I spent 15 years in Indy racing as a wrench and fabricator with the likes of Mario Andretti, Al Unser Sr. & Jr., Parnelli Jones, Danny Ongais, etc. I drove midgets, and sprint cars in USAC, CRA, and outlaws. Road raced in the SCCA and got to run historic tracks like Riverside and Ascot Park on a regular basis.

I came back to Milwuakee in the mid 80's and went to work for Excalibur Automobiles where after nine years, designed four cars for them, a four door sedan, limousine, the Limited Edition, and adapted a Shelby Cobra to their manufacturing line.

I am nearly finished with my PPL and did it Pops way in a Citabria. No steering wheel or nose gear for me (unitl I get to a P-38 )

I have been married for 30 years and have three great sons, all musicians and currently jousting knights at the PA Renaissance Faire.

I am a warbird fanatic and can't get enough. Really enjoy this forum and all of you guys. Thanks for sharing.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Yeah I remember that.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

OK…Here goes…I’m Mudge the (place appropriate adjective here). My name is James Bradley (Brad) Eney (As in “EANY”-MEANY- MINEY…you get the picture.) I turned 74 last month.
My first airshow was at Andrews AFB but I don't remember the year. (When you get to be my age, memory is the second thing to go. )

My wife is Linda (aka Lin)


and is as supportive of my warbird obsession as I could possibly want. She’s actually the reason we go to all these airshows and museums. She tells me about all the stuff I missed ‘cause I had a camera glued to my face.
Lin teaches 4th grade in Loudoun County VA.
(Before you ask...that picture was taken 2 years ago when she was 55.)


Got into airplane watching during WWII. The ceiling of my bedroom was black with silhouette models.
Literally…these things were black. Either heavy cardboard that you put together or the REALLY cool ones that were a material that was molded like the “diecasts” of today.

Joined the USAF in 1955. Was in one of the last training squadrons to go through Samson AFB before it closed. Nov., Dec., and Jan. Colder than a witch's thorax.
Did my Tech. School at Keesler. Learned to be a “scope dope”. Never saw a radar set the entire time (3 1/2 years) I was stationed at Kirtland. So much for training.
Was 34th AD(D) (That’s Air Division (Defense)) Airman of the Month twice. Base Airman of the Month once. Got a ride in a T-33 for that one.

Discharged in 1959 and went to work for Capital Airlines. Capital was bought out by United in 1961 so I worked for them for 34 years, retiring in 1993. With UAL I did pretty much everything you can do in public contact. Ticket Counter, Sales Rep., Sports Rep., Cargo Sales. Never did reservations though. Thankfully.

Retired in ’93. Got some Temp. jobs to help with the pension.

My first date with Lin was on May 4th ,’97. We were married on Aug. 1st, ’97. Guess she thought I was a keeper. 3rd marriage for both of us. We both drove H-Ds before and after we were married.


Mine was a ’95 Road King.


Hers was an ‘88 Low Rider.
In ’05, decided it was just too dam dangerous and sold ‘em.

OUr first airshow together was Frederick, MD in '97 and I've heard nothing but "When's the next airshow?" ever since.

It's a tough row to hoe, but I'm bearin' up under the stress.


Mudge the fortunate

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Land of the free because of the brave

It's still there... at the very top of the page. "WIX Mugshots" http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... php?t=6403

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

Something I forgot in my original post...

My mother's cousins were both USMC. Richard Richison was killed at Saipan, and apparently before he made it to the beach, as near as we can figure. He's buried at teh Punchbowl, where I have yet to make it (but will). His brother was at Iwo and several others, but passed away before I could really ask him about his experiences.

On my father's side (the peace-loving Quaker side), I had three great uncles...one whose farm was considered vital to the war effort, so he didn't serve.

The second brother filed for Conscientious Objector's status, and later served as the head of UNICEF for many years...Uncle Lloyd was one of the most eloquent men I've ever known. In his retirement years, he taught an Alternatives To Violence program at Graterford Prison in Pennsylvania to convicted murderers serving life sentences. At his funeral the statements that were written by the prisoners as to how he had deeply affected their lives were an incredible tribute.

The third brother went into the Army immediately after high school (the same Quaker boarding school I attended), landed on D-Day, was wounded immediately, and evacuated right away. He swore that he walked more steps in the landing craft than he did on French sand. He never spoke about it other than that, and even his kids haven't been able to learn much about his service.

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

That's not it Ryan.
It was a thread where everyone gave a little background and named all the cool planes they've flown in. The Photo ID thread is differen't.

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Don't touch my junk!!

There is the Welcome: Introductions sticky
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... &start=165
But that does not seem right either!? Perhaps I'm loosing it too Jack!

Jack, is this what you were thinking of?
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18221

Randy

Yep, that is the thread we're all thinking of. Here is the link to page one: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... sc&start=0

Scott

Since I'm pretty new to WIX, here goes! I'm 35 with wife and 2 sons. I grew up in Phoenix, AZ. My Dad joined the CAF Arizona Wing when I was 14, and I went with him every weekend and then some. I always liked airplanes and warbirds! I really grew up at the AZ Wing. Got my A and P after High School, and started working GA. I also have my IA. I've worked and crewed on the B-17 Sentimental Journey, He-111, B-25, SNJ-5, C-45, 02A, and several others. I maintain Corporate aircraft for a living, and have been Director of Maintenance for several Corporate operators.

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Scott Apple
Experience on the following aircraft: B-17, B-25, He111, T-6/SNJ, C-45/D18S, O2A, L-19, Various General Aviation, and Corporate Aircraft.

I guess I should add a few cents ... Guess I'm a little older that most here as I'll turn 77 next month .. Drafted way back during the Korean War and enlisted in the AF the next day ... basic at Sampson and Radio Operator's school at Keesler Field .. First assignment in Korea was with an Army outfit, 417th EAB (Scarwaf) ... after we moved the unit to Japan (via LST across the sea of Japan) It was here that I had some flying time in the "Boxcar" and therefore my favorite plane. I was in short time transfereed back to Korea with a fighter wing ... spent some 7 month at an outpost on the banks of the Yellow Sea (Koo-ni Range) Suwon Bomb and Gunnery Range known as "Turkey Trot" ... we handle F-86's in various modes of bombing and gunnery.

Some of the planes I flew on were C-47, C-119, C-124. .... Also the Collings B-17 when I was converting my cousin's home 8mm films he took on a few bombing mission during WWII with the 381st BG.

Born and raised in NJ, spent 25 years working in lower Manhattan and watched the building of the World Trade Center from my 40th floor window of 120 Broadway. Moved to Ohio a little over two years ago.

Spend every Friday morning volunteering at the AF Museum. Having grown up during WWII, and seeing neighbors go off to war and not return, my time at the museum is both an honor and a privilege. The time spent with visitors from all over the world is more than rewarding and especially the wide eyed youngsters.

We do embroidery as well as personalized sublimation ... included in designs for hats are too many warbirds to mention here.

Enjoy this site and while I agree with many and disagree with a few ... it's what makes this country so special.

Always remember ... "Freedom isn't Free" ...

Thanks for reading if you took the time.

Jerry

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Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Hi Jerry...Geez...I thought I was a geezer. So you're a Sampson/Keesler graduate, too. Hope you weren't at Sampson in the winter. We had to take the brass monkeys inside every night there.

Mudge the whippersnapper

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Land of the free because of the brave

Hi Mudge,

It was your reply that made me add mine ... No winter in Sampson ... However, after 50 below (no wind chill) at Great Falls AFB (Montana) I thought I would never see anything colder ... and then came Korea ... some called it hell froze over ...

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Jerry
S/Sgt. - USAF Radio Operator '52-'56
C-119 "Flying Boxcar" - Korea & Japan

Volunteer: National Museum of the US Air Force (2007-2016)
LTM 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association

Leo Smiley, 51, married 27 years with a son, 18, and currently in Reno, Nevada. I am the drafting and graphics manager for an engineering design firm with several offices on the west coast. I dabble in avition art and have been slowly working towards my own line of art prints. Someday!
Got my aviation interest from a father who worked for Lockheed at Ontario, Calif. and drug us out there to watch planes every chance he got. After he and my mom divorced it was the fallback thing to do with the kids. I remember the Air Museum when it was just a hanger at Ontario and a bunch of plnes tied down on a far off ramp. My step father flew C-130's in Vietnam in 66-67 and I also grew up with his stories, pictures and friends.
Got interested Warbirds in the early 70's and Air Racing about the same time. A family friend had flown mustangs in WW2 and Korea and had a ratty one he kept at Oakland. Talked about it all the time and got me hooked. Been going to the Reno Races since 1976. My son joins me now and the wife has resigned herself to being an airplane widow for several weeks a year.
Started flying as a teen by washing and fueling to earn glider lessons. Flew sailplanes off and on for years, accumulationf about 300 hours. i decided to go for my private in 2000 and had a nice 172 taildragger conversion picked out to purchase. Before I could get my ticket I had to pass a medical which I failed due to minor but chronic health issues. End of flying! Got into Corvettes to ease the pain and have owned several since I bought the only one I seem to keep, my '01.
This site has the best pool of knowledge about the warbird end of aviation than any other I have been on, and much less flaming than most.

I'm Matt Vader, 20 years old from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Currently attending Western Michigan University pursuing a degree in Journalism with a double minor in Imaging and Marketing. I also have an internship with WMU Sports Media Relations.

My interest in warbirds goes as far back as I can remember. My father started taking me to the Air Zoo before I could walk. That definitely started an interest in aviation, but I think I became hooked on warbirds more specifically when the museum started hosting Warbirds Over Kalamazoo and I got to tour the B-17 "Fuddy Duddy." That and going for my first Trimotor ride at that show really got me hooked. I basically grew up hanging out at the Air Zoo and watching the Flight of the Day there.

I am currently a member of the Air Zoo and Yankee Air Force. I'm hoping to start working on a private pilot's license after I graduate.

Some of my other interests include sports and sports memorabilia, writing, rock concerts, and photography.

Hope to meet a few more WIX-ers at some point in the near future.

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Matt