Bill Lear Jr.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:03 pm

I just got the very sad news from his wife, Brenda, that Bill Lear Jr. passed away yesterday. He was a wonderful chap, a fine aviator, and a hell of a great story-teller. I will miss knowing he's out there in the world. He passed away quietly in his hangar with his family around him, just as he'd wished to go. Blue skies Bill....

Richard

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:26 pm

A true aviation legend, P-38 Vet too.

God speed.

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:35 pm

Ztex wrote:

A true aviation legend, P-38 Vet too.

God speed.

IIRC he bought a P-38 post war as a teenager.
I don't believe he was in the service during WWII.
Is this correct?
Rich

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:56 pm

51fixer wrote:

Ztex wrote:

A true aviation legend, P-38 Vet too.

God speed.

IIRC he bought a P-38 post war as a teenager.
I don't believe he was in the service during WWII.
Is this correct?
Rich

Rich, that is what I remember, he brought it to race. He wrote a great book that I wish I could find to read....

Lynn

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:01 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

51fixer wrote:

Ztex wrote:

A true aviation legend, P-38 Vet too.

God speed.

IIRC he bought a P-38 post war as a teenager.
I don't believe he was in the service during WWII.
Is this correct?
Rich

Rich, that is what I remember, he brought it to race. He wrote a great book that I wish I could find to read....

Lynn

I believe he showed up to buy the P-38 but the window to purchase had closed and he started to cry so the guy there let him buy one anyways.
Don't recall all the details but that is part of the story as i heard it.
Rich

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:56 pm

Ah...so sorry... I had heard that he was a P-38 pilot so I ass-u-me-d that he was a Vet....kinda hard to do being born in 1928....But he did fly F-380's and F-84's in the USAF

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:05 pm

A true aviation legend.

bipe215 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:21 pm

The book is called 'Fly Fast-Sin Boldly' and is a fantastic read. He used to inscribe them with whatever words you wanted. I bought several. Check his website. I'll bet the family continues to sell them.

http://www.billlear.com/inside_cover.html

Steve G

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:29 pm

There would be whine with the cheese as I would also cry if I couldn't buy a P-38 or a P-51 dirt cheap back then.... :wink:

Steve, thanks for the link as I just ordered a copy.

sdennison · **Posted:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:21 pm

OK, urban legend or not? Bill, Sr. or Bill, Jr. named their children "Shanda" and "Gonda"? Seriously, I have heard this story for 30+ years.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:10 am

I thought her was Crystal Shanda Lear??

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:16 pm

Definately a great character gone west. I contacted him a few years ago (actually through his brother John) regarding his P-38s and P-51D, and received an e-mail saying he had sent me a copy of his book in the mail. I kept in touch with him through e-mail for some time afterwards. He sent this photo in late 2005 of him and his Canadian goose, Clyde.

RIP

T J

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:19 am

Just think standing there looking at 450 P-38's to choose from, P-38 L's and F-5G's. Like his, all about 20 hours total time for $1250.00. I was born in the wrong era...

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:37 pm

Blastphemy!!! Lynn lusting after a forked tail devil.......................what will all the Mustangs think?

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:00 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:

Blastphemy!!! Lynn lusting after a forked tail devil.......................what will all the Mustangs think?

A pilot must always have a back up plan.... :wink:

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