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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
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Please pray for good weather!!!
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