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My father was a crew chief in the USAAC, serving with the 36th and 432nd fighter squadrons in the South Pacific. Dad started his aviation career in 1940 at Langley AFB Virgina. He worked on P-40s, P-39s, P-38s, B-24, and other various aircraft. Even though Dad was assigned to these squadrons, he served most of his time on detached service going wherever there was a plane in need of repair. He often talked of the pilots, Bong, McGuire, Lindberg, McDonald and many others who flew his plane at one time or another.
In wanting to assure that the historical time in which he served would not be forgotten, Dad utilized various methods to impart it into each of his three children. He would often take us to the museum at Wright Patterson and spend the whole day watching movies in the theater or discussing the various aircraft with us. We would also attend as many local airshows as possible. We would spend hours going through his photo album and often times he would buy model planes that he want me to assemble for him. It was neat to walk into the house and see whole squadrons of aircraft hanging from the ceiling.
Today after retiring from a 34 year career in the USAF I am now crewing a P-51 Mustang along with a T-6 Texan. Both are painted with the historical 325th checkertail markings. For the past three years, both aircraft have been at Oshkosh. You may also have seen the Mustang at the Gathering of Mustangs two years ago in Rickenbacker AFB. OH. Dad was overjoyed when I took him to see the planes and without missing a beat at his age of 95 he asked where we kept the P-38.
I enjoy being around the old warbirds and listening to the veterans who contributed to the efforts that give us and others the freedom we share today. May their efforts never be forgotten and their aircraft maintained for as long as time allows.
Remember its a Spit Cockpit and it didn't have self sealing tank in the fuselageI would have loved to have a bedsheet like that!