Atta Boy Charlie Cartledge!

[Warbirdnerd]

Events like this make me proud to be even a small part of the Warbird Community...

BLASDELL, N.Y. -- A Navy veteran of World War II, who passed away last month, made a final trip home to Western New York, and it happened thanks to the plane he flew during the war.

Clifford Klein, who was 89 when he passed, lived most of his life in Blasdell. He lived there with his wife and children.

A few years ago, with his health deteriorating, he moved to Ohio to be closer to his family. He passed away March 12.

Cliff, as he was most often called, never talked much about his time in the war. But then his curious 11-year-old grandson Victor started asking questions.

That led to them going to an air show, where they met Charlie Cartledge , a pilot who owns an Avenger airplane, similar to the one Cliff flew in the war.

Cartledge volunteered to fly Clifford's ashes back to Western New York, and Monday, he did just that. The plane passed over several spots important to Mr. Klein, including the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company, where he was a firefighter for many years.

Clifford Klein will be laid to rest this weekend

Found it here:
http://www.wgrz.com/story/life/2015/04/ ... /25379823/

[Robbie Stuart]

Outstanding Charlie! That was very generous, & honorable thing to do. I am sure that Gentlemen s family are proud & thankful. Class Act!
Robbie

[TAdan]

Nice job Charlie.

[K5DH]

Outstanding! Way to go, Charlie!

[Mark Allen M]

Very nice mission well done ...


A TBM-1C Avenger of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 20 pictured after recovery on board the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV 6) on October 10, 1944


TBM-1C Avengers, SB2C Helldivers, and F6F-5 Hellcats of Air Group 20 are spotted on the forward flight deck of the Fleet Carrier USS Enterprise, Aug-Nov 1944

[tom d. friedman]

very nice gesture!!

[Chappie]

This gesture reminds me of the final words of any award given in the military. I put a warbird spin on them here...

For his selfless act, Charlie Cathledge has reflected great credit upon himself, the warbird community, and the United States of America.


Chappie

[SaxMan]

...and that is the reason so many of us have picked up this hobby. As much as it can be about the hardware, Warbirding is really about the PEOPLE...those who flew these planes for their originally intended purposes and those of us who have chosen to preserve that history.

I can't speak for Mr. Cartledge, but I'm sure he would probably say that it was the least he could do to show his appreciation.

[Triplane102]

Thank You ! Mr. Cartledge

[hang the expense]

Charlie, I don't know you but that was an extremely kind gesture on your part. That's one to the good column for sure.

[Russ Matthews]

Bravo Zulu, Mr. Cartledge ..

.. and thanks to Warbirdnerd for posting the story here.

[lmritger]

I am not one to get misty about news articles, but the dust is certainly swirling a bit in the room after reading this. What a beautiful gesture.

Well done Mr. Cartledge- well done indeed, sir. Thank you for that.

Lynn