Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: A8cole on November 27, 2009, 04:21:11 PM
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Don't get on the boards much in the 8 years that I have been playing this game but stumbled upon Oboe's Itsy Bitsy II skin and saw some other stuff he has done. My Grandfather was in the 9Th Fighter Squadron, 49Th Fighter Group (Lt. James Haislip). I have been looking a lot for paint schemes for his 38 and the closest I have gotten is the 49Th Fighter Group: Aces of the Pacific, written by William N. Ness, along with Flying Knights webpage (http://www.flyingknights.net/) . The Itsy Bitsy II is actually shown right below his planes paint scheme in the book listed above. It has his P-40 and p-38 paint schemes, but the 38 paint scheme is covered up somewhat in the drawing from the book. Wondering if anyone can help me with reference material for the paint scheme or any special websites that I have not found yet referencing either the 49Th Fighter Group or the 9Th Fighter Squadron?
Salute,
A8Cole
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I have the 49th FG history at home. I'll check when I get off work tonite.
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Grandpa have a photo album? :)
No photos of his 38 in the 49th history "Protect & Avenge" by S.W. Ferguson and William Pascalis but 4 images with grandpa in them including one next to his Jug. I left the captions on when I scanned them for obvious reasons. He was in some select company. I hope he recorded his memories somewhere!
Turns out grandpa was a picker and a ganger too! His kill on July 28, 1944 was a Val, one of two that 7 38s dove on. He got credit for the kill. The other got away into the clouds :)
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Hais1.jpg)
I bet someone could do his Jug
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/HaisJug.jpg)
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/Hais38.jpg)
That's some crowd he's a part of this photo.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/HaisMob.jpg)
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More on "Grandpa"
James C. Haislip Jr. enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on July 11, 1942. He was a Staff Sergeant and flew as a Gunner in a Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber during the Solomon Islands and the Bismarck Archipelago battles.
(http://www.shortsnorter.org/sitebuilder/images/James_Haislip_Devil_Dog_Avengers_photo-683x564.jpg)
Photograph of VMTB-143 Devil Dog Avengers. James Haislip is sitting on the wing all the way to the right in the photo.
Printed text on the back: "Marine Aircraft Group-11 - 1st Marine Aircraft Wing - Fleet Marine Force"
this citation still around?
http://www.shortsnorter.org/files/James_Haislip_Commendation_Admiral_Nimitz.pdf
(http://www.shortsnorter.org/sitebuilder/images/James_Haislip_Commendation_Photo-453x645.jpg)
Staff Sergeant James C. Haislip Jr. received a Letter of Commendation from Commander-In-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, in 1944. His citation read:"For meritorious and efficient performance of duty as an aerial gunner attached to a Marine torpedo bombing squadron operating in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago areas from July 20, 1943 to March 2, 1944. During three tours of duty Staff Sergeant Haislip participated in 31 bombing and strafing attacks against Japanese installations, frequently being subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire and heavy fighter plane opposition. His courage and accurate marksmanship contributed materially to the defense of the plane on all missions and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.
His P-38 was #73 and named "Jo"
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Must be two Jimmie Haislips then? He could not have been both a Marine gunner on a TBM and an AAF P-38 pilot.
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Thank you all for posting that information. Long story short when he died my father was only able to get a fraction of his personal belongings. We have all of his medals, flight logs, recon photos and some other photos. I had originally emailed Oboe and he said I should post the question here and probably get more of a response. Yeah it looks like there were two James C. Haislip, but that is weird, the pictures that Gruppy35 posted, I have seen all of those at my parents house. So that is definitely him, the Marine photos I have never seen so not sure on that? Salute to all of you for looking into that for me. I will continue to look and try and find more information on his P-38 paint scheme. :salute
Salute,
Cole
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Just a little update on this, I have not been searching that much but i did come across this website today. I have no idea how or why they are making a sticker kit for the plane, but i am going to try and order it so i can see exactly what the image is. Pretty interesting and figured i would share it with you all.
Salute,
Cole.
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/SS481187
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That is very interesting, A8cole. Thanks for posting the info. I see this markings kit offers 3 P-38 schemes - the 'G' ("Beautiful Lass") is already in AH2.
I do question whether the red/white flag-striped rudders are correct for the 475th FG bird. Based on Osprey's profile of Gerald Johnson's P-38L, it was the 49th FG that used the red/white striped rudders, not the 475th. I have never seen a 475th bird image with striped rudders. I wonder if they mixed up the two schemes?
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/SS481187.jpg)
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Well I found something else that shows the paint scheme. I have never been to this site before, but looks like someone has already created a paint scheme...
http://downloads.flightsimfiles.com/package/899
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Outstanding stuff thanks
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*73 LilJo nose art
(http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz281/Megalodon2/LilJop38-1.jpg?t=1282855397)
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Thanks Megalodon and A8Cole for the links to the noseart and previously done skin. Here is what Haislip's skin looks like in AH on my 49th FG base skin:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38L-49FG-9FS-Lil-Jo-Lt-Ji.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38L-Lil-Jo-promo1.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/tjlaven/P-38L-49FG-9FS-Lil-Jo-Lt-Ji.jpg)
*Disclaimer: These screenshots have been adjusted for contrast and color saturation levels.
There still are a couple P-38L slots open for new skins, but I feel like I have too many '38 skins in game already. I still hope a skinning master will take on a '38, but's always cool to provide a skin for someone's relative. I would go back add try to adjust weathering/dirt/grime/scratches to try to give this skin it's own look if you'd like to see it submitted.
I really liked the color balance and detail on the Lil Jo skin done by Rogue Snake. What game is that from?
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Oboe has asked if I'd like to do this skin. I plan to "Make it so".
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Good luck cactus! Keep us posted. :)
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Cactus will do a first-rate job. Looking forward to seeing his work!
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Megalodon, where did you find that photo? I have never seen that in all of my searching? Oboe thank you so much for following up with all of this, my Grandfather would be blown away! I cannot wait to see what cactus does and from the current set up, it looks amazing. Once again thank you to all of you who have taken the time to post and follow up with me and hopefully one day we can have this skin in the game, that would be an unbelievable tribute to him. :salute
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Megalodon, where did you find that photo? I have never seen that in all of my searching?
49th Fighter Group
by Ernest R. McDowell
:salute
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Ok thanks I will have to check that out!
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Megalodon, where did you find that photo? I have never seen that in all of my searching? Oboe thank you so much for following up with all of this, my Grandfather would be blown away! I cannot wait to see what cactus does and from the current set up, it looks amazing. Once again thank you to all of you who have taken the time to post and follow up with me and hopefully one day we can have this skin in the game, that would be an unbelievable tribute to him. :salute
<S> sir, happy to do it. Do hope to see it in game one day soon!
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Well here she is. Done, apart from any last minute changes or some slight color adjustments.
Scratch one Val.
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss16.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss17.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss18.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss19.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss9-1.jpg)
I have some concerns about the noseart colors. The description in the nose photo, and the profiles, say "Jo" and the lightning bolt are red with "Jo" outlined in white. It just doesn't look like that to me. It looks a lot more like they are black with "Jo" out lined in the same color as the Wolf's lapel; which I have shown as red but could be something else, such as yellow. Or perhaps the picture was taken with some fancy filter that turns red to black. Any opinions?
Here's two examples.
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss8-1.jpg)
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss10-2.jpg)
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That was quick! Very nice- I like the look of the red bolt with white outline better, but I can't say which is historically accurate.
You could lighten the shade of random metal panels, e.g. the inner wing fillets, gun bay hatches, boom hatches, ailerons or trim tabs to make it look less uniform. Also see this thread http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,277468.0.html (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,277468.0.html) regarding the underwing fuel pump blisters on the L.
Nice looking 'dirty' bird. She really looks well-worn.
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Great job, Cactus!
Hopefully, this one will get in the game much sooner than 'Uncle Cy's Angel's release in AH.
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:aok
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:salute Cactus, it looks amazing! The Val pictures were a nice touch as well. I can't thank you guys enough for taking the time to do all of this, it means a lot not just to me but to my Dad as well. Looking forward to flying this bird in the MA.
Once again thank you so much for everyones hard work
Salute,
Cole.
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The decal set has the hat band and the lapel as yellow. The bolt and Lil JO I like the red as it is supposed to be.
:salute
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Cactus, any word on if or when this might make it to the MA?
:salute
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Stuff like this always puts a smile on my face. Good work guys! :aok
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Cactus, any word on if or when this might make it to the MA?
:salute
Assuming it gets accepted, it should be ingame with the next skin update. I don't know when they're planning on doing the next update though. It's been a few months since the last update, so I hope it won't be too much longer. Probably a bit more of a wait to go.
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Assuming it gets accepted, it should be ingame with the next skin update. I don't know when they're planning on doing the next update though. It's been a few months since the last update, so I hope it won't be too much longer. Probably a bit more of a wait to go.
Got ya, just have to wait a little longer. :pray Once again, thank you very much for taking the time to make this little dream a reality! :salute
Salute,
Cole
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Friday, July 28, 1944 was also the date that Charles Lindbergh shot down a Sonia ( looks like a Val ). Here's his account,
Up at 5:30. Breakfast with pilots, and to the strip at dawn. Off at 0740, flying Blue 3. Squalls and high cumuli begin building up as we parallel the north New Guinea coast. We keep climbing. I put on my oxygen mask at 15000 feet. Major [Warren] Lewis starts down through a hole in the clouds with Red Flight. Colonel MacDonald continues climbing with Blue. We reach 18000 feet. Long discussion between fighters, rescue planes, and strafers about whether to turn back or try to make the target. Reconnaissance plane ahead reports weather fairly good in vicinity of target. We decide to go on.
We pass over the Pisang Islands, our point of rendezvous. Weather improves constantly but still large areas of overcast covering the sea and Ceram Island. We pass over the Boela strips without any sign of ack-ack fire or air interception, although the Japs reportedly have fairly strong fighter forces in the area. The interior of Ceram is covered with a solid cloud layer. We fly above it at 10000 feet. Twenty miles or so on our right two high peaks project through the clouds. On each side strings of fighters, sleek and powerful, bore their way to the target - the Japanese airstrips on the south coast of Ceram.
The clouds break as we approach the strips. We push our air speed up to 250 miles and hour indicated; there may be enemy fighters out of sight above us. We fall into string formation and weave over the strip at Amahai. No sign of enemy aircraft, even on the ground. We are too high to see what the revetments on the dispersal taxiways hold, but the strip itself is clear. We cross Elpaputih Bay. The airstrips on its west coast are clear also. We turn southwest to Haroekoe Island; no sign of Japanese activity in the air; none at Haroekoe strip, nor at Lianga, nor at Ambon. Apparently the enemy has no intention of opposing us by air.
We circle northward and start back toward the east when the radio, which has been filled with mostly idle chatter, suddenly springs to life. " Captive " Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group has made contact with enemy aircraft and gone to the attack. We listen to the messages of the pilots making their passes. Apparently they are in contact with no more than a few enemy planes. We try to get the location, but everyone is too busy to answer or to hear.
" There he is now! Go in and get him. "
" Can't somebody shoot him down? "
" God-damn! I'm out of ammunition. "
" I'm out of ammunition, too ! "
" Somebody get him who's got some ammunition. "
" The son of a squeak is making monkeys out of us. "
" Who's got some ammunition? "
Another calmer voice breaks in, annoyed at not being able to get the location, and at "Captive" cluttering the air with conversation.
" What's the matter, Captive, having trouble? "
Meanwhile, we have been weaving in and out around the clouds, trying to spot the Captive fighters. We finally locate them over Elpaputih Bay. The air above Amahai strip is black with antiaircraft bursts of the heavy calibers. Down below we see two enemy planes. A P-38 has just completed an unsuccessful attack on one of them.
We jettison our drop tanks, switch on our guns, and nose down to the attack. One Jap plane banks sharply toward the airstrip and the protection of the antiaircraft guns. The second heads off into the haze and clouds. Colonel MacDonald gets a full deflection shot on the first, starts him smoking, and forces him to reverse his bank.
We are spaced 1000 feet apart. Captain [Danforth] Miller gets in a short deflection burst with no noticeable effect. I start firing as the plane is completing its turn in my direction. I see tracers and the 20's [20-mm cannon] find their mark, a hail of shells directly on the target. But he straightens out and flies directly toward me.
I hold the trigger down and my sight on his engine as we approach head on. My tracers and my 20's spatter on his plane. We are close - too close - hurtling at each other at more than 500 miles an hour. I pull back on the controls. His plane zooms suddenly upward with extraordinary sharpness.
I pull back with all the strength I have. Will we hit? His plane, before a slender toy in my sight, looms huge in size. A second passes - two - three - I can see the finning on his engine cylinders. There is a rough jolt of air as he shoots past behind me.
By how much did we miss? Ten feet? Probably less than that. There is no time to consider of feel afraid. I am climbing steeply. I bank to the left. No, that will take me into the ack-ack fire above Amahai strip. I reverse to the right. It all has taken seconds.
My eyes sweep the sky for aircraft. Those are only P-38's and the plane I have just shot down. He is starting down in a wing over - out of control. The nose goes down. The plane turns slightly as it picks up speed - down - down - down toward the sea. A fountain of spray - white foam on the water - waves circling outward as from a stone tossed in a pool - the waves merge into those of the sea - the foam disappears - the surface is as it was before.
My wingman is with me, but I have broken from my flight. There are six P-38's circling the area where the enemy plane went down. But all six planes turn out to be from another squadron. I call " Possum I ", and get a reply which I think says they are above the cloud layer. It is thin, and I climb up through on instruments. But there are no planes in sight, and I have lost my wingman. I dive back down but all planes below have disappeard, too. Radio reception is so poor that I can get no further contact. I climb back into the clouds and take up a course for home, cutting through the tops and keeping a sharp lookout for enemy planes above. Finally make radio contact with "Possum" flight and tell them I will join them over our original rendezvous point ( the Pisang Islands ).
The heavies are bombing as I sight the Boela strips; I turn in that direction to get a better view. They have started a large fire in the oil-well area of Boela - a great column of black smoke rising higher and higher in the air. The bombers are out of range, so the ack-ack concentrates on me - black puffs of smoke all around, but none nearby. I weave out of range and take up course for the Pisang Islands again. I arrive about five minutes ahead of my flight. We join and take up course for Biak Island. Landed at Mokmer strip at 1555.
( Lieutenant Miller, my wingman, reported seeing the tracers of the Jap plane shooting at me. I was so concentrated on my own firing that I did not see the flashes of his guns. Miller said the plane rolled over out of control right after he passed me. Apparently my bullets had either severed the controls or killed the pilot. )
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Stuff like this always puts a smile on my face. Good work guys! :aok
+1 Great community of guys here :salute
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Agreed! Nice job on the skin as well!
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Really nice work Cactus! You sure made it look like metal
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is this a p38l or p38J?
and is it in game yet?
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Believe it's a L, but it's not in game yet.
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i request this p38Lskin be submitted to replace 475fg/HQ by warhound. we have multiple 475thfg and this is the worst 475th skin
(http://www.netaces.org/skins/p38l/skin1.jpg)
the other worst p38L skin is
475fg/432fs by knite. losing either one of these eyesores... well if you have a problem with it you are legally blind and not playing anyway.
(http://www.netaces.org/skins/p38l/skin7.jpg)
the cactus skin wins by a mile and will be the first high fidelity p38L in game once added.
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh473/cactuskooler/ahss8-1.jpg)
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This is a L and should be in game with the next skin update, assuming it's accepted.
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Now, I'm all for saying "this is better than that" but let's not get too insulting here.
It's one thing to say "It's not that great" but to go so far as "eyesore"? Let's be a little supportive lest we stiffle future creative growth.
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lets call them outdated then. which would be accurate. the origional p38 default skins they are based off of was based on the 512x512 standards of detail in some ways kind of like these skins.
im sad you are not supportive of my Simon Cowell approach to judging abstract displays of talent or lack thereof krusty
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Heh... well oppressive atmospheres stifle creativity :)
I think technically they are all at 1024 resolution. It's also possible they are earlier works and represent "learning" stages for some skinners.
I just recently redid my JG11 Fw190A5. It's light years better than my earlier attempt! The issue now is going back and redoing all those "early" works of mine, such as the B-17G (which was early in my bare metal understanding, and is flawed)
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i can relate.
theres very few of my skins im happy with and my older stuff i want to burn.
so if people feel im hard on them im just as critical of my own stuff.
except for greebo... freak of nature. but even a progression in craftsmanship is visible in his stuff too. except it went from really good to retardedly good
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i can relate.
theres very few of my skins im happy with and my older stuff i want to burn.
so if people feel im hard on them im just as critical of my own stuff.
except for greebo... freak of nature. but even a progression in craftsmanship is visible in his stuff too. except it went from really good to retardedly good
As much as you may hate some of your work, "Fester" is the first skinner I look for in the skins in the game.
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I have to agree with Citabria on his suggestions in these threads he has posted. Even from a business standpoint it makes sense. The higher quality skins, even on an aging polygon like the P-51D, make a huge difference in how good the game looks graphically and graphics are a major initial draw to any game.
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The skin finally made it into the game :cheers: Just want to thank each and every person that helped this little dream of mine come true! I appreciate all of your hard work and to see the smile on my Dad's face was priceless. Thanks again guys, you have no idea how much this means to me! :salute
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lets call them outdated then. which would be accurate. the origional p38 default skins they are based off of was based on the 512x512 standards of detail in some ways kind of like these skins.
im sad you are not supportive of my Simon Cowell approach to judging abstract displays of talent or lack thereof krusty
Outdated is preferrable to eyesore.
And contrary to your opinion, it was completely made from scratch as a 1024x1024 skin. To add to it further, it also took a lot of work, research, and many adjustments based upon community input on this here messageboards.
If you don't like the style, that's perfectly fine. Everyone has a different style, and heck some (like myself) even have a different style between skins (compare Cracker (the one you so non-eloquently used as an example) vs. Kiwtcherpis'n, vs. Billy's Filly). But there's a difference between disliking a style, and calling something an eyesore lacking of talent.
Oh, and also, you'd likely get better response by explaining what style choices you'd prefer to be updated, than just dismissing something that had over 40 manhours of time sunk into it.
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You know what? As someone who stands by my work from the standpoint of always trying to please and make the best I can... I'm gonna take this one step further...
Ok Citabria,
What would you do to "fix" this eyesore and "other worst P38L skin" ?
(http://khrymsyn.infinited.net/Aces%20High/2011_Apr/Florida_20110415.jpg)
Oh, and Cactus, I apologize for the threadjack. I should have started a new thread for this and by the time I hit submit, it was too late. Congrats on getting another beautiful skin in game! :salute
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Very Interesting string here. Congrats A8COLE for getting your grandfather's paint scheme in the game. I know this is an older thread but found it while looking up info on my father. My father, Wade B. Lewis was Red Flight leader mentioned in the Lindbergh excerpt. A bit of confusion in the names and rank. Dad was a 1st Lt. and his wingman's name was Warren Curton. I believe Warren Lewis is actually the confusion of the two men's names by Lindbergh as my father told me about this mission. Just so you know, my father mentioned "Jimmy Haislip" often in conversation about his time with the 49ers in WW2. He and my father were good friends and I do have an original photo of your grandfather seated in the cockpit of the P-38 in case you don't have it, I can share file. If you would have any pictures of my father I sure would like to see them. Most of Dad's stuff from the war including his combat footage were lost soon after the war except his flight log and some pics. He started out flying P-47's of which I have no pictures and transitioned to P-38s later. His plane number was 76. Other close friends he had were Howard "Doc" Oglesby and Jimmy Poston who he went through flight school with, His wingman Warren Curton and your Grandfather. My name is Dave. Please message me if you would like. I lost my Dad in 2008 and sure would like to have some more pics to pass down to his grandchildren who are probably your age now. Thanks.
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Because I didn't bother to read the 'hijacked' posts in this thread, it is one of the very best I've read on these boards. Ever.
I know this is a combat simulator 'game'. The only thing that makes it greater than that is the opportunities to pay homage to the men and women who courageously fought World War II. It becomes 'family' when members like Cole share their histories.
:salute
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A8Cole i didnt know had a REAL 49r in the family. Thats reall cool. We need 49r skins in the J model there are NONE preferably one for the 7th, 8th and 9th FSs'. If i recall correcty Bong borrowed itsy bitsy II when they were in AUS.
Any who Ill let the guys know that your a grand kid of one of the pilots we represent in the game and P-38WBL whats your callsign in game?
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Thank you all for posting that information. Long story short when he died my father was only able to get a fraction of his personal belongings. We have all of his medals, flight logs, recon photos and some other photos. I had originally emailed Oboe and he said I should post the question here and probably get more of a response. Yeah it looks like there were two James C. Haislip, but that is weird, the pictures that Gruppy35 posted, I have seen all of those at my parents house. So that is definitely him, the Marine photos I have never seen so not sure on that? Salute to all of you for looking into that for me. I will continue to look and try and find more information on his P-38 paint scheme. :salute
Salute,
Cole
Read the Book Aces high by Bill Yenne it follows bong through his tour tracking all his kills i believe it mentions your grandfather and the USMC sgt in it due to some confusion IIRC the USMC Sgt was shot down and someone thought it was your Grand father or something like that. <S> 49Boob
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Read the Book Aces high by Bill Yenne it follows bong through his tour tracking all his kills i believe it mentions your grandfather and the USMC sgt in it due to some confusion IIRC the USMC Sgt was shot down and someone thought it was your Grand father or something like that. <S> 49Boob
49Boob, will definitely check out that book. Thank you for the information. :salute
My ingame name is A8Cole.
Salute,
Cole