Yeah, Tom Wolfe was quite a dandy. If I could afford tailoring like his I’d go for it.
Aviators like Jesse Brown and the Tuskegee Airmen have been heroes of mine for a very long time. I first discovered the Tuskegee Airmen when I read the novel The Homestead Grays many years ago. The novel was a fictionalized account of their exploits but a very capitvating story. After reading the novel, I was prompted to learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen but I could never find more information. At Stallion 51’s second Gathering of Mustangs and Legends in September 2007, I had the honor of meeting a few of them. I was very humbled to be in their presence. True American heroes. I have a DVD of the Lawrence Fishburn made-for-TV movie Tuskegee Airmen and I have the Red Tails DVD as well.
I first became aware of Ensign Jesse Brown watching a program on the Military History channel about black aviators. It began with Bessie Coleman, America’s first black aviator. She lived for a time here in Orlando. Part of Robinson Street near the Orlando Executive Airport is named for her. Jesse Brown’s and Tom Hudner’s story is told in that program. I’ve seen that program maybe three times. I cried each time I watched the program. I almost cried when I bought the book Their story is heart wrenching. I know reading Devotion won’t be easy and it may take a while, but I will read the book.
The realization that I could build a model of Ens. Brown’s Corsair was too important to pass up. I’ll start a W.I.P. thread in the Aircraft forum very soon.