Makes you think...

[SgtPappy]

Just how lucky we are.

I know we here it a helluva lot, but we are so remarkably lucky for what we have today, and I think this story of Jim Brooks and his P-51D can't stress enough how we take our lives for granted. When the woman thanks Brooks for his war efforts and he simply replies a humble, "Nice to see ya." Talking to Spitfire, Mustang and Lancaster pilots here in Canada, they always just talk about their war efforts as doing their part. They're so humble, yet sometimes, I myself go on about my successes, which pale in comparison.

So for you P-51 lovers, WWII enthusiasts and kids out there,

http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434&br=500

[CAP1]

Just how lucky we are.

I know we here it a helluva lot, but we are so remarkably lucky for what we have today, and I think this story of Jim Brooks and his P-51D can't stress enough how we take our lives for granted. When the woman thanks Brooks for his war efforts and he simply replies a humble, "Nice to see ya." Talking to Spitfire, Mustang and Lancaster pilots here in Canada, they always just talk about their war efforts as doing their part. They're so humble, yet sometimes, I myself go on about my successes, which pale in comparison.

So for you P-51 lovers, WWII enthusiasts and kids out there,

http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434&br=500

(Image removed from quote.)

i've met several heros.(in my eyes) from some fighter pilots, to top turret gunner to bombadiers from b-17's and b-24's.
 a friend is a marine, and flew phantoms in vietnam.

without exception, every single one of these heros have just viewed it as "doing their job". they all think they did nothing special. that's part of what makes them heros in my eyes.


<<S>> to them all

[colmbo]

I used to fly the B-17 and B-24 for the Collings Foundation and talked to many WWII 8th AF vets.  As you've said, the common theme was "I was just doing my job".  It just so happens their job was saving the world!

Here's one of the first guys I met: 

Left was a togglier in the 95th BG.  He told me he only got to fly seven missions because he was wounded by a piece of flak.  You can go here to read a bit more about him and others I met.  Sadly I only got info from very few of the many, many men I talked to.

[DmdJJ]

Hi ya Col. Still have not run into you flying in AH, thank god.
JJ

[CAP1]

I used to fly the B-17 and B-24 for the Collings Foundation and talked to many WWII 8th AF vets.  As you've said, the common theme was "I was just doing my job".  It just so happens their job was saving the world!

Here's one of the first guys I met:  (Image removed from quote.)

Left was a togglier in the 95th BG.  He told me he only got to fly seven missions because he was wounded by a piece of flak.  You can go here to read a bit more about him and others I met.  Sadly I only got info from very few of the many, many men I talked to.

one of our CAP members here in nj used to fly them too......i think he was out of the cape may squad/? but not sure.

[SgtPappy]

great read, colmbo. a great scotsman i know has written a memoir of his experience as a lancaster pilot. he was flying when he was 21 in 1943 (very old for apilot at the time) but he told me about his wireless operator, "Blondie," who didn't yet know to drive but knew how to fly!

[Masherbrum]

I used to fly the B-17 and B-24 for the Collings Foundation and talked to many WWII 8th AF vets.  As you've said, the common theme was "I was just doing my job".  It just so happens their job was saving the world!

Here's one of the first guys I met:  (Image removed from quote.)

Left was a togglier in the 95th BG.  He told me he only got to fly seven missions because he was wounded by a piece of flak.  You can go here to read a bit more about him and others I met.  Sadly I only got info from very few of the many, many men I talked to.

Thank you for sharing the link and getting as many remembrances as you can.   

[Templar]

  to all those people out there who "just did their jobs" and another  to all those people who are still out there "just doing their jobs".