Met Some Heroes Today

[Jon Jordan]

I was fortunate to meet five of the surviving Tuskegee Airmen today - two pursuit pilots, one bombardier (B-25), and two ground crewmen. The men ranged from 85 to 97 in age, and all but one were vibrant and cheerful.

The more I see of men from their era - the ones who still have the energy to engage with younger folk - the more I think it may have been a better time. (The realist in me knows that is not really true, but it's hard to shake that notion when men who refer to ME-109s as "bad boys" but can still give you a warm smile when you meet them.)

Any day I can shake the hand of a genuine war hero is a good day.

PS - They said "Red Tails" was an "enjoyable Hollywood production" but a companion film, "Double Victory," gave a much better picture of life for the 332nd Pursuit Group.

[wayneok]

Its always a pleasure to talk to "Real Vets", at least for me.

[ossian]

Originally Posted by Jon Jordan

I was fortunate to meet five of the surviving Tuskegee Airmen today - two pursuit pilots, one bombardier (B-25), and two ground crewmen. The men ranged from 85 to 97 in age, and all but one were vibrant and cheerful.

The more I see of men from their era - the ones who still have the energy to engage with younger folk - the more I think it may have been a better time. (The realist in me knows that is not really true, but it's hard to shake that notion when men who refer to ME-109s as "bad boys" but can still give you a warm smile when you meet them.)

Any day I can shake the hand of a genuine war hero is a good day.

PS - They said "Red Tails" was an "enjoyable Hollywood production" but a companion film, "Double Victory," gave a much better picture of life for the 332nd Pursuit Group.

Congratulations! I have only met a couple of veterans from that war (not including my uncle), and I felt immensely privileged each time.

[Roadkiller]

Congrats Jon! Such moments are to treasure.

I once had the privledge of having a wet with the final three survivors of HMCS ATHABASKAN (sunk in the English Channel, 1944). I can recount most of their tales word for word

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by Roadkiller

Congrats Jon! Such moments are to treasure.

I once had the privledge of having a wet with the final three survivors of HMCS ATHABASKAN (sunk in the English Channel, 1944). I can recount most of their tales word for word

They were interesting I bet!! I tell you one thing though,call them heroes and they would vehemently deny it.You will find that most in the UK will laugh off in embarrassment such a title! lcm1

[Jon Jordan]

Originally Posted by lcm1

They were interesting I bet!! I tell you one thing though,call them heroes and they would vehemently deny it.You will find that most in the UK will laugh off in embarrassment such a title! lcm1

Quite true - though these men probably get that more than most because of the attitudes on race they had to struggle with in 1940's America. Many of the civilians (and some officers) they dealt with would make John Terry look like a liberal, open-minded hippy by comparison. Like black athletes such as Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson, the Tuskegee Airmen had to be good at what they did (flying and shooting) and deal with an overtly racist system.

The irony is that the reluctance of the War Department to send their pursuit squadron into action from 1941 to 1943 meant that when they finally did go, they were some of the best trained pilots on the planet.

[Roadkiller]

Originally Posted by lcm1

They were interesting I bet!! I tell you one thing though,call them heroes and they would vehemently deny it.You will find that most in the UK will laugh off in embarrassment such a title! lcm1

We were just sailors sharing a salty dip (sea stories), they seemed as interested in mine as I was in theirs. But theirs were better

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by Roadkiller

We were just sailors sharing a salty dip (sea stories), they seemed as interested in mine as I was in theirs. But theirs were better

Known in the RN as 'Swinging the lamp". When that type of conversation started somebody would yell out, "Big ships"!! lcm1

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by Jon Jordan

Quite true - though these men probably get that more than most because of the attitudes on race they had to struggle with in 1940's America. Many of the civilians (and some officers) they dealt with would make John Terry look like a liberal, open-minded hippy by comparison. Like black athletes such as Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson, the Tuskegee Airmen had to be good at what they did (flying and shooting) and deal with an overtly racist system.

The irony is that the reluctance of the War Department to send their pursuit squadron into action from 1941 to 1943 meant that when they finally did go, they were some of the best trained pilots on the planet.

And the most inexperienced in actual warfare? lcm

[skiplc]

Originally Posted by lcm1

They were interesting I bet!! I tell you one thing though,call them heroes and they would vehemently deny it.You will find that most in the UK will laugh off in embarrassment such a title! lcm1

Probably so.

You fine men of WWII are heroes though. Wrap your head around it 'cause it will never change.

[Jon Jordan]

Originally Posted by lcm1

And the most inexperienced in actual warfare? lcm

True - though everyone has to start somewhere...

[lcm1]

Originally Posted by Jon Jordan

True - though everyone has to start somewhere...

Also true, I was not trying to belittle, just trying to be funny. It was better than some of the young RAF pilots during the BofB,straight from tiger moths to spitfires and hurricanes.Some of them a very short life. lcm1

[Jon Jordan]

Originally Posted by lcm1

Also true, I was not trying to belittle, just trying to be funny. It was better than some of the young RAF pilots during the BofB,straight from tiger moths to spitfires and hurricanes.Some of them a very short life. lcm1

LCM - I figured as much. It is interesting how even at the top levels, the war leaders kept track of pilot losses and pilot quality as the war progressed. Planes, of course, could be replaced much easier than skilled fighter pilots. (Similar to, as you've aptly pointed out before, landing craft are not very maneuverable, and are slow and unresponsive, if they don't have a crew to operate them.)

[ShAA]

[Desiree Clary]

That must have been a real experience, JJ. I envy you it. When I was 8 my Daddy took me to a book signing where I met Paul Tibbets, a real gentleman. My Dad still has the copy of "Curtains of Fire" that he autographed that day, along with another crewman of the "Enola Gay" and 3 other B-29 aircrrew.