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wcm(at)tampabay.rr.com
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 Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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George sent this to me, I would like to share it with everyone.
The words describing the scene were better than a video.
They turn on the images in our minds.
Enjoy the writings of a Canadian who remembered and relived the event.
PS : I don't know who wrote the piece but he's a good wordsmith.
It was noon on a Sunday as I recall, the day a Mustang P-51 was to take to
the air. They said it had flown in during the night from some US airport,
the pilot had been tired.
I marveled at the size of the plane dwarfing the Pipers and Canucks tied
down by her, it was much larger than in the movies. She glistened in the sun
like a bulwark of security from days gone by.
The pilot arrived by cab paid the driver then stepped into the flight
lounge. He was an older man, his wavy hair was grey and tossed . . looked
like it might have been combed, . . . say, around the turn of the century.
His bomber jacket was checked, creased, and worn, it smelled old and
genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a
quiet air of proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick
flight plan to Montreal (Expo-67, Air Show) then walked across the tarmac.
After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check the pilot
returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand
by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up . . just to be
safe." Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an
extinguisher after brief instruction on its use -- "If you see a fire point
then pull this lever!" I later became a firefighter, but that's another
story.
The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes
as the huge prop started to rotate. One manifold, then another, and yet
another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the
Packard-built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar, blue flames
knifed from her manifolds. I looked at the others' faces, there was no
concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled to
walk back to the lounge, we did.
Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre flight run-up.
He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for
several seconds, we raced from the lounge to the second story deck to see if
we could catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway, we
could not. There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then a
roar ripped across the field, much louder than before, like a furious hell
spawn set loose---something mighty this way was coming.
"Listen to that thing!" Said the controller. In seconds the Mustang burst
into our line of sight. Its tail was already off and it was moving faster
than anything I'd ever seen by that point on 19. Two thirds the way down 19
the Mustang was airborne with her gear going up. The prop tips were
supersonic; we clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellish fast into the
circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze.
We stood for a few moments in stunned silence trying to digest what we'd
just seen. The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston radio
calling Mustang?" He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment.
The radio crackled, "Kingston radio, go ahead." "Roger Mustang. Kingston
radio would like to advise the circuit is clear for a low level pass." I
stood in shock because the controller had, more or less, just asked the
pilot to return for an impromptu air show!
The controller looked at us. "What?" He asked. "I can't let that guy go
without asking . . . I couldn't forgive myself!" The radio crackled once
again, "Kingston radio, do I have permission for a low level pass, east to
west, across the field?" "Roger Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to
west pass." "Roger, Kingston radio, we're coming out of 3000 feet, stand
by." We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the
eastern haze.
The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a
distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze . . her
airframe straining against positive Gs and gravity, wing tips spilling
contrails of condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic as the burnished bird
blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the
air.
At about 400 Mph and 150 yards from where we stood she passed with an old
American pilot saluting . . . imagine . . . a salute. I felt like laughing,
I felt like crying, she glistened, she screamed, the building shook, my
heart pounded . . . then the old pilot pulled her up . . . and rolled, and
rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelibly into my
memory.
I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day. It was a time
when many nations in the world looked to America as their big brother, a
steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political
water with grace and style; not unlike the pilot who'd just flown into my
memory. He was proud, not arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest
projecting an aura of America at its best. That America will return one day,
I know it will.
Until that time, I'll just send off a story; call it a reciprocal salute, to
the old American pilot who wove a memory for a young Canadian that's stayed
a lifetime.
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flht99reh(at)netzero.net
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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Made me wet my eyes. This was even better than the stuff Beuford dose!
Thanks.
The good Ralph from Ohio
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George Myers
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 76
Location: San Marcos, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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Perhaps as good but not better
George
do not archive
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blackbird
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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Wow......Chris, that was worth the read...........Shoulda been John Wayne
flying it.....LOL
Wayne McCullough
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Wish I lived in the American REPUBLIC!!! |
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a58r(at)verizon.net
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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Great story. Check pg2 on my website for an even longer story,
probably too long for here. but has flying in it.
Bob N.
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy
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John Hauck
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:06 pm Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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| Great story. Check pg2 on my website for an even longer story,
| probably too long for here. but has flying in it.
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| Bob N.
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| http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy
Hi Bob N/Gang:
Enjoyed your tale on page 2.
Clear and cold in Alabama.
Take care,
john h
MKIII
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John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama |
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edchmiel(at)mindspring.co
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| Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:10 am Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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What a great story, Chris!
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pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:33 am Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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.Shoulda been John Wayne flying it..>>
Hi,
it must be nice to have a real local hero to sort out everything. It seems
to be a general atitude in the US.
I was standing in the crowd waiting to see Apollo 17 launch. After a
faultless countdown there was a hold at minus 12 minutes.
A guy in the crowd in front of me said " They wanna get John Wayne down
there. He will fix it"
I have no doubt that he would.
Cheers
Pat
do not archive
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blackbird
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 5:35 am Post subject: long but Worth the read |
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Everyone has to have heroes..................John
Wayne......................was a true all American who did not let fame go
to his head.............EVER.
Wayne
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Wish I lived in the American REPUBLIC!!! |
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