He wears a pair of silver wings

[Toad]

62 years ago today, my Dad won his wings at Brooks AAF, San Antonio.

He survived 2 crashes in training. The first was a BT-9; he was flying under the hood in the back with another student up front as "safety pilot".  The motor packed in on a low-level nav leg, the guy up front yelled "I got it" and immediately stalled/spun the aircraft in from about 1200 feet.  Fortunately it was a flat spin and it pancaked in a plowed field. Parts went flying. My Dad jumps out, pulls the unconscious front seater away from the plane and then collapses himself with a serious back injury. He didn't quite break his back but he compressed some disks and had hairline fractures. He lay flat on a board for 4 weeks, washed back two classes and went on to win his wings.

In multi-engine training, he was out paired with another student pilot and three (IIRC) student Navs in the Cessna "Bamboo Bomber" (Remember Sky King's Songbird?) The gear is operated with motors, sprockets and bicycle chains. The chain came off a sprocket and it's not accessible in flight. This was not exactly a rare thing. Unfortunately, belly landings usually resulted in the airplane bursting into flame with attendant total loss of the crew. Ulp. They foam the runway, Dad lands... plane doesn't catch fire, they walk away. The week before, same scenario foam and all... entire crew dies in the fire.

One combat related........... B-25 strafing run on a Jap DD tied up at a pier against a hillside, in a three ship, flying standard 345th "tight" formation. Lead gets flak in the cockpit, rolls left into Dad's right wing. Right wing bent down something like six inches, Dad clips trees getting over hill, clips trees sliding down hill, airplane trying to roll inverted all the way. Full opposite aileron, opposite rudder and one engine at idle the other a firewall, both pilots exerting max pressure to hold the controls. They fly nearly 5 hours to get home like this. Less than a mile out on final, they drop the gear and the full throttle engine chooses that moment to quit. Into the drink, only one minor injury. Superb piece of airmanship.

After the war, day of squadron party, he's out instructing instruments in a B-25. Hydraulic failure, gear won't come down. Fly around for hours, trying everything, even pissing in the resevoir for more fluid. Dad belly lands that one... no injuries whatsoever. Well, except my Mom. Rumor is she drank a bit too much at the squadron party and didn't feel well for days.

So here's to Dad.... I couldn't be prouder of this man.

Some of you have "met" him here as "Panther". He'll be 85 on Dec 30... he still does lovely lazy eights in a PT-26 too.

He sent me a note mentioning this song today.

He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings

-Artist: Kay Kyser as sung on "The Best Years Of Our Lives"
-Adam VIII, Ltd.  A-8042
-peak Billboard position # 1 for 4 weeks in 1942
-competing version by Dinah Shore charted at # 16
-Words by Eric Maschwitz and Music by Michael Carr




Although some people say he's just a crazy guy
To me he means a million other things
For he's the one who taught this happy heart of mine to fly
He wears a pair of silver wings

And though it's pretty tough, the job he does above
I wouldn't have him change it for a king
An ordinary fellow in a uniform I love
He wears a pair of silver wings

Why, I'm so full of pride when we go walking
Every time he's home on leave
He with those wings on his tunic
And me with my heart on my sleeve

But when I'm left alone and we are far apart
I sometimes wonder what tomorrow brings
For I adore that crazy guy who taught my happy heart
To wear a pair of silver wings



For I adore that crazy guy who taught my happy heart
To wear a pair of silver wings


Transcribed by Robin Hood

These lyrics were transcribed from the specific recording mentioned above
and do not necessarily correspond with lyrics from other recordings, sheet
music, songbooks or lyrics printed on album jackets.

Now Pyro... when you going to get his B-25 in the game?  

[Beefcake]

As much as I love the 25, you'll never see it in the game. HiTech told me about 4 years ago in the MA that he hates the plane and will never make it. Plus I think he does it to spite me.


Anyway nice read Toad!

[eddiek]

to your Dad, Toad!

I have the book "Warpath Across The Pacific", which I am sure you know is about the 345th.  What is your dad's name, if I may ask?
That group of went through living hell as they went across the Pacific, supporting the ground troops.  Much of the book reads like a tragedy, with a LOT of stories of lost lives and planes.
But they kept on fighting, despite the losses, despite the hardships.  
Don't remember ever meeting up with him in AH, but if and when I do, I will be sure and offer him a heartfelt for his service for his country.

[NUKE]

Very interesting Toad and a big salute to your dad.

I can't imagine flying that B-25 like that for 5 hours. That must have been grueling to say the least.

I'm always amazed at the great people who have served our country, and they all deserve the highest respect from us all.

Didn't you say that he still flys? That's pretty neat.

[Steve]

One combat related........... Superb piece of airmanship.

Fantastic.

[Hawklore]

wow.. I'd love to sit down and talk with him..

[rabbidrabbit]

[Toad]

My father's name is in there. Rather than post it here, look for what happened to "Quitch". The story of the crash of Nerdlinger (flight lead) and the resultant damage to Quitch is all laid out, after a fashion, along with his name.

I contacted Hickey about the version in the book. The source for the story in the book is apparently my father's copilot. My Dad read it and snorted "hah". That was his only comment with respect to the book. Let's just say his version is a bit different than the one in the book, particularly the aftermath. It is true that my father was extremely shook up after the mission. Nerdlinger was a buddy of his and to this day I think my father feels he holds some responsibility. He keeps wondering if he jinked into Nerdlinger.

I have corresponded with others of his crew and/or surviving wives. The story there is that the top turret gunner saw Nerdlinger's airplane get hit in the cockpit and immediately roll hard into Quitch. The crew story is that my father saved their lives. Period.

I passed all this to Hickey and he said if the book ever went into reprint, he'd edit the account. However, he could no forsee another print run. Says it won't happen.

I still think that he should have gotten a DFC for that. He asked me not to do it when I mentioned contacting the AF. He said just let it lie, the past is past.

[Toad]

Originally posted by Hawklore
wow.. I'd love to sit down and talk with him..

I could probably arrange E-mail if you like.

[Hangtime]

Amazing... and 'routine'; if your father was to describe it. "Just a job that had to be done. So we did it".

My father-in law is getting on a bit now, but I still take a few hours a week to go sit with him. He's 81 now, AA gun talker on one of the little tin cans that charged the entire japanese navy at San Bernardino Straights. Went on to Okinawa.. his version is diffeernt than the Navy's.. "they kicked our asses. 60 ships sunk. scared the hell outta all of us. Skipper was a tiger tho, we'd a' steamed right into Tokyo bay with him if he wanted'.

Heluva guy. A hero in my eyes.. 'just 'doin the job we had to do' is his story. I'm proud of him. His kids don't get it.. pretty soon nobody will 'get it' but the folks that lived it with 'em. Damn few of 'em left.

to yer dad, Toad. He's a hero. The nation should know, and say thanks. While they still can.

[Airhead]

Men of quality have fathers who are also men of quality. to you and your Dad, Toad. Great read.

[sling322]

You should bring him to an AH con.  I tried to get the father of an older lady I worked with a few years ago to come be a guest speaker at the AH con the last time it was at the Embassy Suites.  I couldnt convince him to come though.  He kept telling me that nobody wanted to sit around and listen to him talk and tell stories of what he did.  

Its hard to explain to a man who didnt think he was a hero in any way that some of us do indeed look up them as heros for what they did back in the day.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

To Toad's father: <>

Thanks Toad, and thank you father for his service to our country for me.

[rpm]

<> Great definition of "that pilot s**t". Sounds like he truly had the right stuff back in the day.

[Guppy35]

Wow!  Almost missed this.  A big salute to your Dad Toad.  Easy to see why we refer to them as the 'Greatest Generation".

Gonna have to go dig for more 345th stuff I see

Dan/CorkyJr