Thank you for posting this.
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WANT!
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Thank you for posting this.
RoyJackson
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No Doubt!
Scooby074
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Henri88
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Ive heard of old cars being found in barns, but an Astar?
Ya, pretty cool! My son is an Aircraft Technician working for an helicopter company. This Astar just happen to be in the region when it was due for it's 500 hrs inspection, so he use my garage to do the job. Took about 5 days. Of course, we had to go and test it out. :cool2:
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VTtractorguy
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Well to further hijack this thread (sorry, I can't resist), here is what my dad flew in WWII - B29 over Japan.
I would have followed in his footsteps and gone into the Air Force. But physical condition didn't allow it. My hats off to all you military guys & gals!!
I would have followed in his footsteps and gone into the Air Force. But physical condition didn't allow it. My hats off to all you military guys & gals!!
ovrszd
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Careful Roy is in charge and he'll slap your hand..... It's okay to talk about any type of aircraft on this thread as long as it's not military....
My Dad drove a truck in support of the 8th Air Corps stationed in England for 4 years. If you've saw the movie Memphis Belle you've saw the life he lived on the airbase he was stationed at. I've listened to hours of stories about the bombers coming back across the English Channel shot full of holes, parachuting out the crewmembers that were able and crash landing on the runway with the rest. Firetrucks racing alongside trying to keep them from burning up. His tour started with B-17s and ended with B-24s. When he came home the ground crews were flown in gutted B-24s. No guns or unnecessary bomb racks. Made the plane lighter so they could carry more men. They landed in Greenland to refuel. Several crashed trying to get out there because of short runways and mountain ranges to clear. Those Soldiers made it thru the War and then died trying to get home...
VTtractorguy
Silver Member
Careful Roy is in charge and he'll slap your hand..... It's okay to talk about any type of aircraft on this thread as long as it's not military....
My Dad drove a truck in support of the 8th Air Corps stationed in England for 4 years. If you've saw the movie Memphis Belle you've saw the life he lived on the airbase he was stationed at. I've listened to hours of stories about the bombers coming back across the English Channel shot full of holes, parachuting out the crewmembers that were able and crash landing on the runway with the rest. Firetrucks racing alongside trying to keep them from burning up. His tour started with B-17s and ended with B-24s. When he came home the ground crews were flown in gutted B-24s. No guns or unnecessary bomb racks. Made the plane lighter so they could carry more men. They landed in Greenland to refuel. Several crashed trying to get out there because of short runways and mountain ranges to clear. Those Soldiers made it thru the War and then died trying to get home...
That's an amazing story, Rich. Your dad was a hero.
You and I can talk for hours (no, days) about this stuff. I love it. It’s an era gone by and a generation & time lost to American society. I find it very sad. I actually get angry when I see all these self-centered kids so concerned about their stupid smart phones and ridiculous TV shows – oblivious to the problems of our proud country and the world… Don’t get me going…
My dad was trained on B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and then was transferred to the Pacific Theater in ’44 where he was one of the first pilots to fly the B-29 when it was not truly ready for service. Those Wright Cyclone engines were initially very unreliable and dangerous – lots of engine fires. The stories he told me were riveting. As if those brave men didn't have enough to worry about. But the government and Boeing had no choice but to get that plane into service ASAP. They needed a long range very heavy bomber as soon as possible.
He was eventually based in India (snakes and all), then China and flew the ‘Over the Hump’ missions to bomb Japan. Then when the Mariana’s were taken, he was transferred to Tinian where he served in the 20th air force under General Curtis LeMay. That picture is his group. From Tinian they did low level night runs over Japan because the bomb drops were more accurate – again very dangerous. It’s amazing he made it through alive. Later, he was somehow involved with General Paul Tibbets (Enola Gay) – top secret. I never found out before he passed exactly what his role was, but I surmised that he was a backup crew for the Enola Gay. The whole era amazes me. Needless to say, I am very proud of him and our country.
Sorry for my history lesson. I just find it fascinating.
ovrszd
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A retired School Teacher and later Superintendent decided a few years ago to honor the WWII Vets of our area. So she scrounged the local courthouse records and spread the word that she wanted to interview Veterans. She published an interview each week in the small local paper. Then she compiled all those interviews into a book that she sells locally. Turned out men that I had grown up around had served heroic service during WWII and I had no idea. A very close friend of mine, Bobby Richardson is of those. He's a very polite, soft spoken man that made his living small farming and doing odd jobs. He's 96 now. He was a Bomber Pilot in the European theatre. He told me the other day he has 250 hours of combat flight with the B-24. I'm not sure what the criteria is for that.
Today less than 5% of our society is involved with the military. We've been at War for 12 years. You would think the number involved would be higher. But today our society doesn't want to be involved. They want certain things to happen and want revenge for any attacks on our nation, but they don't want to be the one executing that revenge. They almost treat the military as hired guns. Someone to go do the dirty work, come home or not, and don't talk about it. That mentality started in Korea actually, but came to light in Vietnam. It's made brief changes over the years and shortly after 911 there was a surge of society involvement. But that has dwindled.
During WWII the society involvement was 100%. Every person in this country gave in some manner to support that effort. Try to get that support today. The percentage of people on this website that supports our military is unnaturally high compared to the general population. I think that's because of the rural mentality of the people here. But alas, we are the minority.
Most of this nation thinks of the military today like they think of their weedeater. Great tool when it's needed. Put away dirty when the job is done. Not thought about again until needed. Then expected to function flawlessly and without any maintenance.
We will likely see a period of low military action over the next few years. During that time funds will be cut, personnel numbers will fall and society will not expect to hear anything from the military. Until the next crisis.....
I too find it fascinating.
Today less than 5% of our society is involved with the military. We've been at War for 12 years. You would think the number involved would be higher. But today our society doesn't want to be involved. They want certain things to happen and want revenge for any attacks on our nation, but they don't want to be the one executing that revenge. They almost treat the military as hired guns. Someone to go do the dirty work, come home or not, and don't talk about it. That mentality started in Korea actually, but came to light in Vietnam. It's made brief changes over the years and shortly after 911 there was a surge of society involvement. But that has dwindled.
During WWII the society involvement was 100%. Every person in this country gave in some manner to support that effort. Try to get that support today. The percentage of people on this website that supports our military is unnaturally high compared to the general population. I think that's because of the rural mentality of the people here. But alas, we are the minority.
Most of this nation thinks of the military today like they think of their weedeater. Great tool when it's needed. Put away dirty when the job is done. Not thought about again until needed. Then expected to function flawlessly and without any maintenance.
We will likely see a period of low military action over the next few years. During that time funds will be cut, personnel numbers will fall and society will not expect to hear anything from the military. Until the next crisis.....
I too find it fascinating.
VTtractorguy
Silver Member
Great thoughts, Rich. I couldn't agree more with your sentiment. What's the name of that book and the author? I'd like to read it. I love talking to WWII vets and have had the opportunity to interview a number of them in my career (television broadcasting.) They are amazing people - selfless individuals who truly care about helping others and working for the greater good of the nation. Today's soldiers and vets are the same. Not enough people appreciate or respect them. Your metaphor of the weed eater is appropriate.
Yes, today our society is very much out of touch with what it takes to preserve freedom. Sometimes it takes a major calamity to bring people together. You're right about 911. For a limited period people came together but it fell apart in short order. I think about this a lot - sometimes too much. On September 10, 2001, I was driving on I-89N and some young arrogant fool blatantly cut me off in what was a totally unnecessary maneuver. He did it because he could. I came home to my wife and kids and at the dinner table pontificated about how people in this country are self-centered and don't care much about their fellow citizens. I said to them that it will take a catastrophic event like the knocking down of the World Trade Center and many lives lost to make people wake up to the threats in this world and pull them out of their self-fixation. The next morning - WHAM. 911. I was not one bit surprised... shocked at the terrible loss of life, but not surprised. I expected it. Ramzi Yousef, the main perpetrator of the 1993 WTC bombing, said to the FBI agent escorting him to NY for trial as they flew over Manhattan, 'See those buildings we will be back to finish the job.' I thought of those words for years leading up to 911... told many of my friends 'it's coming.' I just hope we don't have a much bigger devastating event due to our complacency. People and ultimately societies rise to the level of their incompetence. It happened to Rome.
I guess I'm an old timer, stuck in yesteryear. Oh well. My new tractor will be here on Friday. I'm going to put my headphones on, listen to music and spend a few relaxing hours mowing the lawn and enjoying the new rig.
Yes, today our society is very much out of touch with what it takes to preserve freedom. Sometimes it takes a major calamity to bring people together. You're right about 911. For a limited period people came together but it fell apart in short order. I think about this a lot - sometimes too much. On September 10, 2001, I was driving on I-89N and some young arrogant fool blatantly cut me off in what was a totally unnecessary maneuver. He did it because he could. I came home to my wife and kids and at the dinner table pontificated about how people in this country are self-centered and don't care much about their fellow citizens. I said to them that it will take a catastrophic event like the knocking down of the World Trade Center and many lives lost to make people wake up to the threats in this world and pull them out of their self-fixation. The next morning - WHAM. 911. I was not one bit surprised... shocked at the terrible loss of life, but not surprised. I expected it. Ramzi Yousef, the main perpetrator of the 1993 WTC bombing, said to the FBI agent escorting him to NY for trial as they flew over Manhattan, 'See those buildings we will be back to finish the job.' I thought of those words for years leading up to 911... told many of my friends 'it's coming.' I just hope we don't have a much bigger devastating event due to our complacency. People and ultimately societies rise to the level of their incompetence. It happened to Rome.
I guess I'm an old timer, stuck in yesteryear. Oh well. My new tractor will be here on Friday. I'm going to put my headphones on, listen to music and spend a few relaxing hours mowing the lawn and enjoying the new rig.
