Warbird Information Exchange

Hi folks,

I've been swamped in all kinds of work & house & family things lately, so it
was the CAF email that initially caught me off guard as I was reading up on
my work email that I had missed during this afternoon's drive.
I've had a bad case of blues since just before dinner time as I've just finished reading 15 pages before I could bring myself to write this.

Thanks guys for your tributes. It helps. Brad, wow, Thank you.

Gary did a lot for the CAF, and made me comfortable through his knowledge,
and his inspections and his assurances that as these things go, our PT26
was safe for us here in Waukesha. At the time his assurances made the
difference and I signed up. I'm happy I did. And I will forever treasure
his advice, his PM's and the few phone conversations we shared.

We thank you for your time, efforts and pleasures you've given by
helping us here in WI.

One of our friends has gone West.. Blue skies and Peace Gary.

Henning

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"The best way to control the future is to create it".

I feel like I am going to be sick to my stomach.....

I just found out about this, this evening. I had not checked in on WIX in a day or two. This afternoon I found out one of my dear friends' college apartment burned down over the weekend and then to learn about dear Gary.......

I never met Gary directly, but like so many on WIX, I corresponded with him, via the private messages. What a gentleman. I very much wanted to meet him and hoped that he would be traveling with Ol' 927 or another CAF aircraft in the future. Alas, this is not to be.

As many others have stated in this thread, I was captivated by the in depth accounts of the conversion of Lil to her current state. I have yet to see the finished product in person, this will only add to the emotional sentiment. With each post of Gary's highlighting the latest detail or hurdle, I kept thinking of my father, who would have loved the conversion.

Gary was very receptive to the many questions, suggestions, jokes and what ever other varied antics I threw his way. He encouraged me to post at least one question I have been terrified to ask, for fear the content would be missed and the thread would result in a flame war. I will definitely ask now.


I am sorry that Gary felt this was the best way out and I hope he is at peace. We are truly the poorer for this loss.

For whichever reason, every time I would read about Gary working on Ol 927 into the wee hours, I would think of CSN's "Daylight Again". Well, I'll give it a listen for you, bud.

Daylight again following me to bed...........




God speed, my friend.

I hadn't checked the WIX board in a couple of days. What a terrible, tragic shock.

My condolences to the entire Austin family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Sad, so sad.

I never met him, only knew him (well, a little) through what he wrote here. Always willing to help, to explain things, answering questions patiently, always respectful, never bragging about his accomplishments.

In my opinion he must have been one of the luckiest men on earth. He could do what he loved the most: being a great help in keeping some beautiful old aircraft in the air and restoring others.

He did the things that I always wanted to do: being in and around those old planes, fixing, maintaining and flying them. A great life, you'd say.

How wrong can you be. All these good things overshadowed by dark clouds in his head.....

I have seen a severe depression overcoming my wife. I was powerless in helping her. That was something only a professional could do. Not just a professional, but also a caring professional, and it took her years to climb up again. She's fine now, but I'll never forget how I felt to look in the face of someone I deeply love, but who is in in that state of panic about never being able to be happy again.

So, to all who were near Gary and loved him: family, friends, workmates, I hope you will find the strength you will need so hard now.

And for Gary: just a cliché -but a well meant one: Rest In Peace, you Good Man.

Tillerman.

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Jets are nice. Props are nicer.

Terrible news. Nothing to say that probably hasn't already been said. Godspeed Mr Austin.

Unfortunately, I never got to meet Gary, and due to a screw up in my login I never was able to talk to him either. I did, however, try to read virtually every post of his and respected and admired him greatly. My dad (RickH) was fortunate enough to meet Gary on several occassions, and although I wanted to, I was never able. I was looking forward to seeing the B-24 and getting to meet Brad this weekend in Houston. Both those events just took on a completely different meaning now. Over this past weekend, I noticed that the board seemed slow and was missing something. It hit me on Monday that it was Gary's posts I was missing. This board and more importantly this world will forever more be a little less without that aviation wizard from Yeehaw, TX. I hope he knew how much he will be missed.

I'll leave with some lyrics of one of my favorite bands that is from Oklahoma and frequents Texas alot. They are called Cross Canadian Ragweed and the song is On A Cloud. It seems fitting for a man who I hope is flying low and tight on the course and still figuring out how to make that Stratolina fly. We'll miss you Gary.

On A Cloud-Cross Canadian Ragweed:

I was a wise man
I lived my life
As if tomorrow wasn't there
I loved my people
I walked the line
Now I'm flyin' through the air

Chorus:
On a cloud
On a cloud
On a cloud
Lookin' down

Tell my brothers that I love 'em
Tell my sisters that I'm free
Tell my children, oh how I miss 'em
But Heaven's waitin' there for me

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:
And I'm flying like a bird
It's everything that you heard
Keep your eyes up in the sky
You might see me sailing by

Farewell fine people
We'll meet again
In a better time and place
A look toward the Heaven
When I cross your mind
You just might see my face

(Repeat Chorus)

This is truely a sad story, I don't know the details of Gary's life. It's too bad he couldn't get down to exactly what was bothering him with one of his friends. Maybe he was trying to reach out, but couldn't find anyone who could help him solve his problem. Whatever problem he had, I'm sure there was someone with the insight to help him solve it. If it was strictly a chemical imbalance, there only would've been a professional for that. It must have been very hard to live with that sort of depression, and not have an answer to it.

Martin Luther had severe internal struggles, and he was obsessed to find certain answers in life that he couldn't find in the church. From what I've heard a monk helped him by teaching him self discipline to not think about it until the answer someday comes. It's too bad one of us couldn't have been Gary's monk to guide him.

I am sure, now that Gary is free from the difficulties of this life that he is much happier now. We should be very happy for him in that respect.

_________________
"No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!" R.R.

Welcome to the USSA! One Nanny State Under the Messiah, Indivisible with Tyranny, Higher Taxes, Socialism, Radical Environmentalism and a Loss of Income for all. Boy I'm proud to be a part of the USSA, what can I do to raise taxes, oh boy oh boy!

Gary...I've been in denial since page one of this thread.....just too much for this fat man to comprehend.....But one things for sure....you sure had the love! May we all be so fortunate !
I didn't get a chance to say "thank you" for turning me on to the Lodestar....so..Thanks.....I'm going to miss turning the wrenches on the Lockheed with you....With no doubt, I would have learned a lot.
I hope you've found your valley with the purple flowers and the wide, blue shallow river, in the shadows of the magestic mountains...RIP Bro..

I've just found this out... Very sad indeed, I always enjoyed his posts, though I never knew him personally. Tragic loss..

May you always have angels on your wings and blue skies Gary...

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"A B-24 was the box a B-17 came in!" - One crew teasing another circa 1944!

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... ght=#46552

G-d Speed!!!!!

_________________
S.

I've not visited WIX in a little while (been out of the country) and was extremely shocked to hear the news.

My thoughts go out to all of Gary's family and friends; I think that everyone here counted Gary as a friend and even though I never met Gary in person, I'll miss his posts here hugely.

Blue Skies Gary

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http://www.mossie.org
http://www.museum-explorer.org.uk

I am Alan's daughter, the 1st time I met Gary was when we worked on Ol 927, we picked on each other like crazy. I did all the little stuff like removing decals and spray painting things so Gary could do the big things like the engines. He was the only guy I've ever heard of that just by looking at a picture of a part, he could make it and it'd actually work. I guess I'll have to get someone else to make that KITTY QUARTERS sign we had talked about putting above where the cats go in and out of. I'll miss you

Steph

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Just call me Al.

This is devastating news. I am sorry to hear of Gary leaving us. I have read this and I am saddened. He will be truely missed. Godspeed and may the skies be bluer wher you are. Keith G

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Some people are like slinkys, good for nothing but bring a smile to your face when pushed down stairs.

Shocked and terribly sorry to read this news. This is the third time I've had the same incomprehensible report about someone fine with whom I've been (however remotely) acquainted. It floored me the other two times, as it does now.

I can't add a thing to what has already been said; will settle for echoing much of it. Lyrics have already appeared on this thread in apposite tribute. Here's another, an excerpt of a song by Dan Fogelberg, a favourite singer/songwriter of mine who also left us all far, far too soon.

...There is a gamble in each proud act of flight
But the losses pale before the winnings
Circling and diving with this freedom you've found
Illusion blows apart and scatters
There is no darkness in this place that we're bound
Love is the only thing that matters
Don't look down...

(from "Icarus Ascending")

S.

Wow, this really hit me hard as I have been busy with flying stuff this week and now to read this really tonight makes one to think about helping your friends and keeping in touch with them. I have known Gary for a long and I'm really taken with this news. I wish my prayers to the man, his family..

R.I.P. Gary