A True HellHawk

cluvara · **Joined:** Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:19 am **Posts:** 100

I had the honor to take Archie Maltbie, a 365th FG P-47 pilot in WW2 up in the T-6 yesterday. He hadn't been in a T-6 since 1943, but he still flew it like a champ! It got even better when we had a short P-51 escort during our flight.

Archie was part of the "HellHawks" squadron, had 2 confirmed aerial kills, earned a distinguished flying cross, was shot down and evaded capture during his 100+ missions.

At 86, he's a hell of a guy and a true legend. These guys are getting even fewer and far between these days, and I feel privileged I could make his day.

Chris

Stoney · **Posted:** Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:46 pm

You have to buy everybody a beer for parking with the flaps still down

cluvara · **Joined:** Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:19 am **Posts:** 100

Stoney wrote:

You have to buy everybody a beer for parking with the flaps still down

Actually, they were down for preflight, I hadn't started up yet. I guess you owe me one?

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

Outstanding Chris, great story!

Was that your T-6 and when was the last time that Mr. Matlbie flew an aircraft of any type? He is current on flying anything?

cluvara · **Joined:** Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:19 am **Posts:** 100

warbird1 wrote:

Outstanding Chris, great story!

Was that your T-6 and when was the last time that Mr. Matlbie flew an aircraft of any type? He is current on flying anything?

Not my T-6, it's owned by California Warbirds in Hollister, Ca. http://www.californiawarbirds.org

He quit flying after the war and only recently did he get up again and get some stick time with a friend of mine.

Django · **Posted:** Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:40 pm

That's very cool.

wls3 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:35 pm

Believe the HellHawks had a re-union at Thunder over Michigan in 2008.
Didn't know much about them before that.
Nice book on them by Bob Dorr and Shuttle Astronaut Tom Jones.

cluvara · **Joined:** Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:19 am **Posts:** 100

wls3 wrote:

Believe the HellHawks had a re-union at Thunder over Michigan in 2008.
Didn't know much about them before that.
Nice book on them by Bob Dorr and Shuttle Astronaut Tom Jones.

There's a few stories in the book about Archie. For anyone on the west coast, they are having a symposium of Hell Hawk pilots in Vacaville, CA. July 18th.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:46 am

Well done Chris, good to hear from you...... :wink:

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