I had just read Blackwolf’s post about the passing of a man who was a WWII P-47 pilot and it reminded me about the times I’ve spent at the New England Air Museum in Winsdor Locks, Connecticut.
I’ve been able to listen to pilots and crews from B-29’s, P-47’s, F-4Us and more durring the Veterans Day Sundays at the Museum. Durring that Sunday they have a model show and have veterans come by and set tables up by aircraft types they flew and serviced and it’s been an amazing experience. They’ve had pilots and crews from WWII through Vietnam.
The first time I went they unveiled a special display for Tuskagee Airmen and 3 pilots from the group appeared and acted as honory judges at the model show. Talk about the best of both world’s! -modeling history and hearing from those who lived it!
It’s great to meet the people in the flesh and be able to talk with them. It’s a better experience than any documentary could recreate. So if northen Connecticut is not to far a trip for you to make for a Sunday day-trip, come over the museum this Veteran’s Day. This year the 58th Bomb Wing get’s a new building at the museum that houses a newly restored B-29, “Jack’s Hack”. Here’s a link to the Museum:
Hey Aurora;
I’ve had the honor of speeking with a few Tuskagee Airmen and a B-17 pilot that was saved by them, as they spoke of one of the fighter pilots said that the bomber pilot was in his 3rd grade class and they showed the pix and would you know, the bomber pilot was just behind the fighter pilot, they spoke of how small the world was and how you’ll never know who from your past will come and save your butt in the time of need, both of the former pilots are best of friends now and they never found out until the bomber pilot went to a reunion for the Tuskagee Airman to personaly thank them for saving his crews life and escorting their plane to safety,
I also had the honor to speek with Greg “Pappy” Boyington at an airshow just months before he past, like actor Tom Hanks said " we are lossing our history of the great war (WWII) by the thousand daily", we just lost Gabby resently, who was another aviation great, and Ace of both WWII & Korea, we just don’t make 'em like they used to
For those who haven’t had the opportunity, even if you aren’t the greatest conversationalist in the world, if you do meet a vet, shake their hand and at least say “thanks”. It means more to many of them than any of us will ever know.
Got to met a “plank owner” from the original Yorktown. He had dozens of pictures and stories to go with them all. He was surprised that anyone would be interested. I thanked him, and he was genuinely shocked. He told me that no one had ever done that before. These guys won’t be here forever. Find them and let them know how much they are appreciated now, before it’s too late.
PS: this gentleman has decided to donate his photos and oral history to the National D-Day Museum.
I found a book in our local library about a B24 crew who was shot down in 1944.
Low and behold it was written by a local gentleman, and yes he was in the phone book!
He gave me a signed copy of his book and I presented him with a B24 model in 1/48 scale.
His wife asked me to do one smaller as they were moving to Florida to be closer to family. . .sadly in an effort to make it “perfect” I took too long. The day after I sent it out I found out he had passed away.