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  #11  
Old 12-20-2017, 11:45 PM
CAVU Mark's Avatar
CAVU Mark CAVU Mark is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 135
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Ok. Here is my tale.

My Museum buddy Jim flew F6Fs and F6F drones out of Brown Field in San Diego in the 50s. We met at the Midway Restoration Hangar. Jim also flew Skyraiders, helicopters for dusting and C-130s for fire bombing. Jim's friend Ken Bemes lives in the El Centro Valley. Ken was a tech rep for Consolidated and was in the UK for the entire war as a B-24 rep. England used the B-24 for coastal patrol. Ken has pictures of the noses of many of the 24s that he encountered. He delivered planes as flight engineer to Africa and Europe and would fly home to Laguardia on the Boeing 314. After the war Ken owned the FBO in Brawley CA which he donated to the City so the City named a street after him. Ken was the go to guy for all things Stearman.

Jim and I would visit him every 6 weeks or so. We really did not know his age but one visit we saw a number of birthday cards on the fireplace mantel. 100 years old. The only guy I know personally who is 100.

The same visit we learned he had an accident during the summer. He drove himself the the post office to drop off some mail in the drive through. He dropped a letter, placed the pickup in REVERSE, got out and rolled over his right leg. Life flight to San Diego and he was back home soon there after.

True story.

Jim and Ken are great friends who tell tales of a time I can only imagine.

I took pictures of his 24 nose art and have a pdf of them. You can seem them here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x6...2wPvHgkaQMoVSw

P.S. Jim did tell me it is possible to fall asleep when flying a Skyraider.
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  #12  
Old 12-21-2017, 06:41 AM
Tomcat RV4 Tomcat RV4 is offline
 
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Location: Jacksonville,Fl. 32246
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Not aftraid to admit these posts bring tear to my eyes !
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  #13  
Old 12-21-2017, 07:28 AM
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LouFly LouFly is offline
 
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Location: St. Louis MO
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[quote=
P.S. Jim did tell me it is possible to fall asleep when flying a Skyraider.[/QUOTE]

I remember hearing a story of a guy going #2 in a skyraider. canopy opened and wing saw crumpled maps flying out. :-)
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  #14  
Old 12-21-2017, 07:30 AM
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LouFly LouFly is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: St. Louis MO
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Default VF80

Longshot but if anyone knows of any VF80 survivors, please PM me. http://www.cv14.com/vipers.html. my buddy is John D Foy
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  #15  
Old 12-21-2017, 01:19 PM
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Jerry Fischer Jerry Fischer is offline
 
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I had the distinct privilege after my multi engine check ride of having a Pacific Theater PT boat mechanic as my co-pilot. He was 78 then and 95 now & still plays golf about 4 times a week down in New Port Richey, FL
Keep on keepin on Joe.
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