danielabernath
Well Known Member
When I was negotiating to buy the RV 12, I just knew the gentleman by his name, "Wes." He put his initials on his call sign and I though I'd change the last two letters to RV so I wouldn't have to repeat myself when making radio calls. But then, I stopped off at a air strip in Washington State that had another RV 12 sitting there at the restaurant.
I had a cheeseburger and three pilots came up to me and asked "did you buy Wes's plane?" I said yes.
We all agreed it was a shame that he passed away.
I told them that I was thinking of changing the call letters to RV and one of them spoke up and said, "Do a Google search on Wesley D. Schierman. You won't change the call letters. You'll be honored to be flying Wes's plane. He was an Air Force pilot over Vietnam and was shot down. Instead of hide, he made radio calls to the pilots in the sky to sharpen their attack. He was captured and spent 7 and a half years as a prisoner of war. He was awarded the Silver Star-TWICE."
So, yes. Wes, I am honored to fly the plane you build. I am sorry you only got to put 50 hours in the seat. But, I'll be making radio calls for as long as I've got to live and honoring your name "number, number number, WHISKEY SIERRA" It is my tribute over the air to a pilot, an RV lover and a patriot.
A picture of Wes putting in a few of those 50 hours in his RV 12.
Wes in his much faster F 105
Says Wesley D. Schierman "During my almost 7 1/2 years in North Vietnam my greatest tribulation was
that of overcoming my grief at having subjected my wife and children to the
painful and difficult experience that they were to undergo. However, I had
great faith and confidence in my wife's ability to overcome these
difficulties and that faith has been rewarded by a strength and steadfastness
that far exceeded my greatest expectations.
Throughout many years of torture, exploitation, deprivation and degradation,
my will to live was sustained primarily by this faith and love for my
family. I vowed that if it was humanly possible for me to return to them and
still do my duty to my country, I would do so. Through this faith and the
Grace of God I have been fortunate enough to have endured this trial.
Generally speaking, I was quite impressed with the ingenuity and tenacity of
the men I served with while imprisoned in North Vietnam. However, I feel that
the real heroes of this war are those who unfortunately will not return -
those many thousands who gave their lives that we might enjoy the benefits
and way of life of this wonderful country in which we live. I must also
mention the great sacrifice of those who have been maimed and incapacitated
as a result of this conflict. I pray to God that these men will be able to
bear their burden and continue on with the same spirit that gave them the
courage to participate in this very difficult conflict in the first place.
I have enjoyed my homecoming, return to freedom, and reunion with my family
more than words can describe and l look to the future with joyous
anticipation! My future plans are to return to my previous employment as a
pilot for Northwest Airlines which I look forward to with great anticipation.
I am definitely willing to serve my country again should it become necessary,
although I pray to God that it will not.
I will conclude with this one thought which is a quotation by William Allen
White. "Liberty is the thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it
to others." <>
I had a cheeseburger and three pilots came up to me and asked "did you buy Wes's plane?" I said yes.
We all agreed it was a shame that he passed away.
I told them that I was thinking of changing the call letters to RV and one of them spoke up and said, "Do a Google search on Wesley D. Schierman. You won't change the call letters. You'll be honored to be flying Wes's plane. He was an Air Force pilot over Vietnam and was shot down. Instead of hide, he made radio calls to the pilots in the sky to sharpen their attack. He was captured and spent 7 and a half years as a prisoner of war. He was awarded the Silver Star-TWICE."
So, yes. Wes, I am honored to fly the plane you build. I am sorry you only got to put 50 hours in the seat. But, I'll be making radio calls for as long as I've got to live and honoring your name "number, number number, WHISKEY SIERRA" It is my tribute over the air to a pilot, an RV lover and a patriot.
A picture of Wes putting in a few of those 50 hours in his RV 12.
Says Wesley D. Schierman "During my almost 7 1/2 years in North Vietnam my greatest tribulation was
that of overcoming my grief at having subjected my wife and children to the
painful and difficult experience that they were to undergo. However, I had
great faith and confidence in my wife's ability to overcome these
difficulties and that faith has been rewarded by a strength and steadfastness
that far exceeded my greatest expectations.
Throughout many years of torture, exploitation, deprivation and degradation,
my will to live was sustained primarily by this faith and love for my
family. I vowed that if it was humanly possible for me to return to them and
still do my duty to my country, I would do so. Through this faith and the
Grace of God I have been fortunate enough to have endured this trial.
Generally speaking, I was quite impressed with the ingenuity and tenacity of
the men I served with while imprisoned in North Vietnam. However, I feel that
the real heroes of this war are those who unfortunately will not return -
those many thousands who gave their lives that we might enjoy the benefits
and way of life of this wonderful country in which we live. I must also
mention the great sacrifice of those who have been maimed and incapacitated
as a result of this conflict. I pray to God that these men will be able to
bear their burden and continue on with the same spirit that gave them the
courage to participate in this very difficult conflict in the first place.
I have enjoyed my homecoming, return to freedom, and reunion with my family
more than words can describe and l look to the future with joyous
anticipation! My future plans are to return to my previous employment as a
pilot for Northwest Airlines which I look forward to with great anticipation.
I am definitely willing to serve my country again should it become necessary,
although I pray to God that it will not.
I will conclude with this one thought which is a quotation by William Allen
White. "Liberty is the thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it
to others." <>
Last edited: