saw this posted on another forum, well worth a watch, I think the best part is how genuine his reactions are, it puts a smile on your dial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ie3SrjLlcUY&sns=em

Great stuff...
Thanks for putting it up.

Thanks! Since my Dad flew in WWII (C-47s in New Guinea) and afterwards he flew with the Wyoming ANG and was killed in a P-51 training accident, I have an affinity for such things. I'm always amazed at the bravery of the young kids who did these things--can any of us imagine flying an unarmed photo reconnaissance aircraft over hundreds of miles behind enemy lines, multiple times?

Cary

I enjoyed that very much. When I started flying these guys were everywhere. B17 pilots where extraordinary too. I think the mortality rate was highest amongst them. I used to fly with a P-38 instructor pilot based in SoCal. I also knew a Mosquito recon pilot.

Anyway, that was great. Most of these guys are gone.

EB

My flight instructor when I got my private license was a P-47 pilot in WWII. He pushed me way beyond what was required in the syllabus, including full spin training. I dreaded his calls on windy days when he would suggest it was the perfect opportunity to practice crosswind landings. It wasn't easy, but I can't count the number of times that training saved my bacon. It is sad that the current generation of students doesn't have access to that experience base. They are a lost treasure.

Flyhound They are still out there but few and far between. My CFI was training tailwheel primaries all the time in winds 25g30 as long as it wasn't going to be over 45 deg x wind. and after you soloed you would sometimes be flying in 25g30 45 deg x winds. Hey i even flew in a 40knot head winds that was variable... made for good stol.

I'm going to miss that generation of veterans when they are gone. One local guy trained pilots in WW2 and has been instructing here since 1947. He is the best pilot I have ever flown with and I learn something every time. At the end of this October he is going to hang it up and let his CFI expire. I'm going to get his signature in my log book one more time before then.

That was a great video and a great piece of history!