Chance meeting.

[colmbo]

I had a short break in the chemo treatment so my wife and I drove up to Talkeetna, AK, quaint little town north of Anchorage that is the staging point for folks climbing Denali.  We had lunch in a little pizza place there that we would visit when we flew our airplane up for lunch.  On the wall I see a photo of John Basilone along with a couple frame posters featuring Basilone and other decorated Marines.  When we asked why the waitress told us the owner/manager is the nephew of Basilone.  Wow.

Today while having a chemo treatment and gentleman walks by wearing a ball cap with Master Aviator wings (flight engineer).  When I asked what he flew he told me C-124s!!  Never met anyone who had flown them.  We started chatting, he joined the Air Force in '52 and flew the 124, Hercs, VIP airplanes.  He flew Hercs with rescue units in Vietnam, awarded DFC for a mission where they helped to save an infantry unit.  He also worked on the development of the Fulton Recovery System.  Very interesting talking to him and he allowed us to look at his scrapbook where he documentation confirming his career.  Nice guy, his wife is being treated for cancer....if she needs more treatments I hope to be able to talk to him more.

[colmbo]

I forgot the best part.  His crew were involved with the rescue of the crew of a Marine F4 that was shot down I think in '69.  In '73 he was visiting family in Oklahoma and as his brother was driving him to the airport they were stopped for speeding.  His brother told the office he was taking his Air Force brother to the airport, the officer asked what Bobby did and when he explained he flew rescue this guy asked if they had picked up anyone near Laos.  The officer was the pilot of the F4!  He didn't give a ticket.

[Puma44]

That’s some fantastic stuff Colombo!  Just goes to prove, that you never know who you may be in the presence of in the most random of places.

[Blinky]

Very interesting story. Was great to read, quite the chance encounter indeed!

[Shuffler]

Great read.... hope you see more of him. Would love to get more stories.

[Nwbie]

Colmbo
I went to college with a guy who is a bush pilot out of Anchorage, Bart Tiernan- any acquaintance?

NwBie

I forgot the best part.  His crew were involved with the rescue of the crew of a Marine F4 that was shot down I think in '69.  In '73 he was visiting family in Oklahoma and as his brother was driving him to the airport they were stopped for speeding.  His brother told the office he was taking his Air Force brother to the airport, the officer asked what Bobby did and when he explained he flew rescue this guy asked if they had picked up anyone near Laos.  The officer was the pilot of the F4!  He didn't give a ticket.