Tue May 31, 2005 8:54 pm
I just talked to the Col. I can't make it. Other pressing money commitments had to be made. But, Hopefully, I'll be seeing you guys at the Collings Foundation deal in a couple of months.
Sorry,
Orvis
Sorry,
Orvis
Wed Jun 01, 2005 6:43 pm
Okay, talked with Rob. General consensus is that we meet up at 1pm at the Collings Foundation Corsair (I suggest Marines Dream as a backup if the CF Corsair is missing for some reason).
Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:41 pm
Which day?
Thu Jun 02, 2005 5:39 pm
Saturday 
Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:38 pm
The weather report is not looking too good for Saturday. Unless it changes I'll probably head up on Sunday......and I was looking forward to finding out about this "Moxy." 
I guess I'll have to wait until Geneseo.
I guess I'll have to wait until Geneseo.
Thu Jun 02, 2005 7:21 pm
Map Quest tells me 98 miles to Reading and 104 to Bridgeport CT.
With weekend weather forecast, planning Corsairs on Friday and Reading Sunday.
Will try to post report after returning tomorrow night.
Bill
Besides if I meet up with the Col. this weekend I loose my bet with him.
I'm not ready for that.
As Yogi say's "It ain't over till it's over."
With weekend weather forecast, planning Corsairs on Friday and Reading Sunday.
Will try to post report after returning tomorrow night.
Bill
Besides if I meet up with the Col. this weekend I loose my bet with him.
I'm not ready for that.
As Yogi say's "It ain't over till it's over."
Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:51 am
Does anyone know what time the gates open. I see stuff for 8:30 and 9 am. Is it 8, 8:30, or 9?
I guess I'll shoot for 8 anyway.
I guess I'll shoot for 8 anyway.
Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:24 am
Have fun everyone, I'll be thinking of you and wishing I was there.
Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:06 pm
Friday Report.
4 Corsairs at field. 5th stuck in Virgina, weather.
Added many more Corsair pilot signatures to my copy of Black Sheep One.
Real good photo ops., static and flying. Lots of history.
Here is a taste.
Have fun tomorrow.
Bill
4 Corsairs at field. 5th stuck in Virgina, weather.
Added many more Corsair pilot signatures to my copy of Black Sheep One.
Real good photo ops., static and flying. Lots of history.
Here is a taste.
Have fun tomorrow.
Bill
Last edited by wls3 on Sat Jun 04, 2005 7:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:05 am
Well I'm off in a minute to pick up Larry Webster and head out. See you guys in a few ours
Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:35 pm
It was a fun day baking out in the sun. Kelly & myself are a bit sunburnt.
5 Corsairs where there, 4 flew. A bit slow in the action action but it seemed everyone had a great time hanging out.
Anytime 5 Corsairs are together is a great day.
Off the Reading at Zero-Dark AM on Sunday.
5 Corsairs where there, 4 flew. A bit slow in the action action but it seemed everyone had a great time hanging out.
Anytime 5 Corsairs are together is a great day.
Off the Reading at Zero-Dark AM on Sunday.
Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:39 pm
Tim,
We are heading to Reading in AM also.
Will look for you.
Bill
We are heading to Reading in AM also.
Will look for you.
Bill
Last edited by wls3 on Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:11 am
Though a small event on an airport populated by a small air force of gnats I had alot of fun. It helped having so many WIXers turn out for the event which filled the down time with conversation and stories. I think I speak for everyone when I said we all had a blast.
Thanks to Broken Wrench for attending, I always like to meet WIXers face to face.
Next WIXer event.... Quonset Point, RI?
Thanks to Broken Wrench for attending, I always like to meet WIXers face to face.
Next WIXer event.... Quonset Point, RI?
Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:21 pm
Hello,
We are finally home after our journey to the Warbird events.
Sundays CoC was the same as the postings said for Saturday.
5 corsairs, Panchito, 4 T-6s and a few Warbugs.
Great displays and items for sale, we even used the coupon in the program to buy a Bridgeport Harley Davidson T-shirt with the Corsair in the logo as we were getting out to the highway.
Not alot of flying and a whole bunch of sun. We are also roasted and dehydrated. We left after the 3 corsairs landed and drove back to Bedford.
(We were offered a flight back in a Turbo Commander, how come it never happens when we are going to, not already at?)
Several T-6 rides and other arrivals and departures including a Mallard and a Caravan on floats entertained us in between all the other activities.
Harland even took several former Corsair drivers for rides in the PT-23
The departure of the 4 Corsairs for the Missing Man over the parade was OK, no formation passes with all 4 just a loose couple of flybys, and the group leaving the area for the MM. After that was completed one Corsair departed for home, then the other 3 did a few trips around the pattern and landed.
NICE JOB GUYS! That was an interesting event! THANKS!
We are finally home after our journey to the Warbird events.
Sundays CoC was the same as the postings said for Saturday.
5 corsairs, Panchito, 4 T-6s and a few Warbugs.
Great displays and items for sale, we even used the coupon in the program to buy a Bridgeport Harley Davidson T-shirt with the Corsair in the logo as we were getting out to the highway.
Not alot of flying and a whole bunch of sun. We are also roasted and dehydrated. We left after the 3 corsairs landed and drove back to Bedford.
(We were offered a flight back in a Turbo Commander, how come it never happens when we are going to, not already at?)
Several T-6 rides and other arrivals and departures including a Mallard and a Caravan on floats entertained us in between all the other activities.
Harland even took several former Corsair drivers for rides in the PT-23
The departure of the 4 Corsairs for the Missing Man over the parade was OK, no formation passes with all 4 just a loose couple of flybys, and the group leaving the area for the MM. After that was completed one Corsair departed for home, then the other 3 did a few trips around the pattern and landed.
NICE JOB GUYS! That was an interesting event! THANKS!
Thank you!
Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:21 pm
Thanks to everyone who made it to the event. It was better than we could've hoped for, the weather was spectacular all three days, and the 5 Corsairs looked great on the line: Fighter Factory (David Morss), Skyboss (Jim Vocell/John Peck), Gerald Beck & his F4U-4, Collings Foundation (Rob Collings), Tom Duffy & Marine's Dream.
I wish more of you had stopped me to say hello.
I admit the flying display was slow, as we had to disperse displays over many hours, but remember, this was an event to salute all veterans and home front participants from WWII, so there were a few other things that were happening on the field. Contracts generally allow for one flight perday unless negotiated, so we had to use them carefully. Formation flights all depend upon pilot skill levels and were not attempted unless all were qualified for those manuvers. Remember, safety first, so out of the five, we only had three that had the proper qualifications. Our tough luck.
It was incredible to see that many Corsairs back home on the ramp. Not since Vought moved to Dallas in the late 1940's has Connecticut seen this many Corsairs. There were incredibly moving stories, reunions and a lot of tears. (and not just from me!) Members from the Sikorsky and Vought families were in attendance, relatives of Rex Beisel, Boone Guyton, and hundreds of veterans and factory workers were there to celebrate and share their experiences.
Remember, the Corsair didn't do anything. It was simply a tool. It was a tool used to write history. The people we were honoring wrote the history.
I love the "birds" on the ramp as much as everyone on this site, but if you didn't spend some time speaking with the people who actually were there, then I feel sorry, as you missed something special.
The woman who, with tears in her eyes, reached out to touch the flap that she had rivited so many years ago.
The pilot who came wearing his war-worn G-1 jacket, proudly standing next to his old battle horse.
And Hugh "Yogi" Irwin, Marine Fighter pilot, who came to thank the people who built the Corsair that saved his life when a 500lb bomb, hung-up on the rack, jettisoned on landing and blew his plane up. He came to Connecticut to thank them for his 6 children, 21 grand-children and his beautiful wife, for without that armour plate behind the seat, it would have been over for Yogi way back then.
Though I was very close to this event, I have never been so moved.
It was my privilage to have been charged with putting on this event to honor those of the "Greatest Generation".
Jerry
I wish more of you had stopped me to say hello.
I admit the flying display was slow, as we had to disperse displays over many hours, but remember, this was an event to salute all veterans and home front participants from WWII, so there were a few other things that were happening on the field. Contracts generally allow for one flight perday unless negotiated, so we had to use them carefully. Formation flights all depend upon pilot skill levels and were not attempted unless all were qualified for those manuvers. Remember, safety first, so out of the five, we only had three that had the proper qualifications. Our tough luck.
It was incredible to see that many Corsairs back home on the ramp. Not since Vought moved to Dallas in the late 1940's has Connecticut seen this many Corsairs. There were incredibly moving stories, reunions and a lot of tears. (and not just from me!) Members from the Sikorsky and Vought families were in attendance, relatives of Rex Beisel, Boone Guyton, and hundreds of veterans and factory workers were there to celebrate and share their experiences.
Remember, the Corsair didn't do anything. It was simply a tool. It was a tool used to write history. The people we were honoring wrote the history.
I love the "birds" on the ramp as much as everyone on this site, but if you didn't spend some time speaking with the people who actually were there, then I feel sorry, as you missed something special.
The woman who, with tears in her eyes, reached out to touch the flap that she had rivited so many years ago.
The pilot who came wearing his war-worn G-1 jacket, proudly standing next to his old battle horse.
And Hugh "Yogi" Irwin, Marine Fighter pilot, who came to thank the people who built the Corsair that saved his life when a 500lb bomb, hung-up on the rack, jettisoned on landing and blew his plane up. He came to Connecticut to thank them for his 6 children, 21 grand-children and his beautiful wife, for without that armour plate behind the seat, it would have been over for Yogi way back then.
Though I was very close to this event, I have never been so moved.
It was my privilage to have been charged with putting on this event to honor those of the "Greatest Generation".
Jerry