Gray Eagles Foundation

[Gadget (fmr Marine)]

What a powerful video.

Amzing piece of machinery, and what noble men. I had the honor of introducing my son to his great-grandfather before he passed away last June. Any chance I have to honor these fine men is time well spent.

http://www.grayeagles.org/video.htm

Take a look, and let me know if your eyes get a bit leaky, too.

[Dilloduck]

What a powerful video.

Amzing piece of machinery, and what noble men. I had the honor of introducing my son to his great-grandfather before he passed away last June. Any chance I have to honor these fine men is time well spent.

http://www.grayeagles.org/video.htm

Take a look, and let me know if your eyes get a bit leaky, too.

Beautiful---thanks !! :salute:

[Psychoblues]

It is moving,,,,,,,,Thanks, gadget!!!!!!!!!!

[Sitarro]

Yeah, the Greatest Generation for sure. Thanks for such a great find Gadget. And yeah, I cried watching it, made me think of my dad....... he would have been 83 this year and never did get to see a National Memorial for the World War Two veterans. He was 19 when he flew the P-51 out of England, he felt the same way about his girl..... T-Lou.

This is he at 20 years old....... they had the best uniforms.

[Psychoblues]

He could've passed for Rudolf Valentino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Yeah, the Greatest Generation for sure. Thanks for such a great find Gadget. And yeah, I cried watching it, made me think of my dad....... he would have been 83 this year and never did get to see a National Memorial for the World War Two veterans. He was 19 when he flew the P-51 out of England, he felt the same way about his girl..... T-Lou.

This is he at 20 years old....... they had the best uniforms.

Was he Italian, zero?

[Sitarro]

He could've passed for Rudolf Valentino!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Was he Italian, zero?

French, Cajun French.:salute:

[Psychoblues]

Ain't nobody more Patriotic than any average Lousiana coon ass!!!!!!!!!!!



French, Cajun French.:salute:

:salute:

God bless your Dad, zero, and btw, you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Psychoblues]

'nuff said, zero. Get your at least half coon ass to the Lounge and have a drink on me, OK? Sprite, Coke or a triple shot of Jack Daniels or Jim Beam, your pleasure is the order of the day/night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[namvet]

great post. that was the biggest air battle in history. bomber crews referred to the 51 as their 'little friends'

[Sitarro]

My Dad used to say that they would fly 5-7 hour missions escorting B-17s to Germany from Martlesham Heath Air field in England, he called them ''2 coke bottle missions'' for the empty bottles they would take to relieve themselves in during the mission. No rest stops on those missions. This is a shot I found on the 356th Fighter Group site by chance....... he is the guy in the middle with his hat cocked a bit. Is the internet amazing or what?

[Psychoblues]

The "cocked hat", the swagger, the power of a P-51 in WWII!!!!!!! That's the American spirit I miss even if I've only read about it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[namvet]

that war was an adventure for most young guys. just coming out of the depression. many were poor and this was their big chance to see the world. even if it was in flames.

[Psychoblues]

Sooooooo, you think most of the young guys thought they were going on an "adventure" in WWII, nm?




that war was an adventure for most young guys. just coming out of the depression. many were poor and this was their big chance to see the world. even if it was in flames.

Your ignorance is astounding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sitarro]

that war was an adventure for most young guys. just coming out of the depression. many were poor and this was their big chance to see the world. even if it was in flames.

I saw an episode of Wings when they spent the hour on the P-51. One pilot said....... " I know we are suppose to say that War Is Hell but when you see a enemy's steam locomotive down below you and you roll your Mustang over to hit it with a stream of 50 caliber fire till it explodes....... that is nothing but a serious kick in the ass!".

My Dad lied about his age to get into the Army Air Corps at 17, by the time he was 19 he had flown the P-40, P-47 and was finally in his beloved P-51.:salute:

[Psychoblues]

Somehow, I doubt all that. Nonetheless, God Bless the WWII Veterans!!!!!!!!!

[emmett]

Somehow, I doubt all that. Nonetheless, God Bless the WWII Veterans!!!!!!!!!

Ah............Why would yopu doubt that Dave. There were actually many documented cases of young servicemen flying as teenagers. Of course we know that many youngsters enlisted at below age req's. I know an elderly felloe here in our town in jefferson, Ga who flew at 20. Incidentally for those of you history buff's, this is the hometown of Major damon Gause. His son was my landlord of our commercial location here at the trucking/repo company. Can any of you tell us who damon Gause was and what particular feat he is famous for?

[namvet]

Ah............Why would yopu doubt that Dave. There were actually many documented cases of young servicemen flying as teenagers. Of course we know that many youngsters enlisted at below age req's. I know an elderly felloe here in our town in jefferson, Ga who flew at 20. Incidentally for those of you history buff's, this is the hometown of Major damon Gause. His son was my landlord of our commercial location here at the trucking/repo company. Can any of you tell us who damon Gause was and what particular feat he is famous for?


An American pilot escapes from a Japanese prison during World War II, sets sail in a 20-foot skiff and—dodging sharks and submarines—arrives 3,200 miles later at the northern shore of Australia.

that him????

[emmett]

Damon Gause (then a captain) engineered the longest distance escape from the enemy in history. It is a fascinating story,one that I know of very well as I have spent many an hour sitting with damon Jr. in his little yardshack next door to my company chatting about items of the day and world history.

Ironically, Mr. Gause never knew his father as Major Gause died shortly after returning home. There is a book about the story that is a wonderful read. Look it up, get it and enjoy.

[namvet]

Damon Gause (then a captain) engineered the longest distance escape from the enemy in history. It is a fascinating story,one that I know of very well as I have spent many an hour sitting with damon Jr. in his little yardshack next door to my company chatting about items of the day and world history.

Ironically, Mr. Gause never knew his father as Major Gause died shortly after returning home. There is a book about the story that is a wonderful read. Look it up, get it and enjoy.

3200 miles is the great escape.............

[Psychoblues]

Age 17 - 19, obviously ill educated, going through 3 substantially different airframe training exercises and assignments, even in WWII I doubt that happened.



Ah............Why would yopu doubt that Dave. There were actually many documented cases of young servicemen flying as teenagers. Of course we know that many youngsters enlisted at below age req's. I know an elderly felloe here in our town in jefferson, Ga who flew at 20. Incidentally for those of you history buff's, this is the hometown of Major damon Gause. His son was my landlord of our commercial location here at the trucking/repo company. Can any of you tell us who damon Gause was and what particular feat he is famous for?

Even military managers back then very meticulously and selectively chose candidates for pilot training and even then most flunked out within the first week. It's a nice romantic story, but, I just don't believe it. Perhaps some other documentation concerning the records of WWII and the selection of fighter pilots is in order?

[Sitarro]

Age 17 - 19, obviously ill educated, going through 3 substantially different airframe training exercises and assignments, even in WWII I doubt that happened.




Even military managers back then very meticulously and selectively chose candidates for pilot training and even then most flunked out within the first week. It's a nice romantic story, but, I just don't believe it. Perhaps some other documentation concerning the records of WWII and the selection of fighter pilots is in order?

My father was easily the most honest(to a fault) person I have ever known. He also couldn't have given a shit about telling stories to impress anyone. He told me he enlisted as a 17 year old and was the youngest pilot in his squadron flying the P-51 at 19, I have absolutely no doubt that what he said was true.

He was also the most thorough pilot I have ever seen, he would show up an hour and a half early to preflight the Saberliner he flew as a corporate jet pilot. I witnessed him find a cotter pin inside the nose gear-well that wasn't bent correctly and had an A&P mechanic come out and redo it before his flight. Growing up I remember the huge manuals for each aircraft he would fly........ he studied them to be thoroughly familiar with the workings of each aircraft. He flew numerous models of the F-86, the F-100, the F-89, the F-101 as a fighter pilot. Then for his career as an instructor in the Air Force he flew the T-33 (also as a member of the Lackland Air Force Base demonstration team "The Warhawks"), the T-37, the T-38 and the T-39 which also readied him for corporate pilot life upon his retirement from the military.

In civilian life he flew Saberliners(including the one that picked up Gary Hart in Bimini after the "Monkey Business" trip with Donna Rice), Lear Jet 25s and a Turbo Commander. He also flew the CEO of Riviana Foods to Houston from Lafayette, Louisiana in a Steerman biplane(basically the same aircraft he learned to fly in at 17 in the Army Air Corps) when the Saberliner was suffering from a mechanical problem.

My Dad was a great pilot and his love for flying was as great as the love he had for my Mother who he was married to for 57 years, the anniversary they celebrated the day before he died. Your doubting his story and demanding proof is an insult to him and his memory.

[namvet]

I see Psycho is still jackin' off the board. what a cheese dick :lame2:

[Psychoblues]

You still trollin' for strange meat, nm?



I see Psycho is still jackin' off the board. what a cheese dick :lame2:

Thanks, but really, no thanks. I'm happy with my wife. She has a smoother chin than yours, don't you know!??!?!?!?!!??!?!?! Sheesh, wut a f**kin' wus you are!!!!!!!!!

[namvet]

say what???? can't see you. your on ignore punk

[Psychoblues]

And I see you're still the liar that you've always been, punkass nv.



say what???? can't see you. your on ignore punk

Can you ignore that, too?

[Psychoblues]

You must've missed it, zero.



My father was easily the most honest(to a fault) person I have ever known. He also couldn't have given a shit about telling stories to impress anyone. He told me he enlisted as a 17 year old and was the youngest pilot in his squadron flying the P-51 at 19, I have absolutely no doubt that what he said was true.

He was also the most thorough pilot I have ever seen, he would show up an hour and a half early to preflight the Saberliner he flew as a corporate jet pilot. I witnessed him find a cotter pin inside the nose gear-well that wasn't bent correctly and had an A&P mechanic come out and redo it before his flight. Growing up I remember the huge manuals for each aircraft he would fly........ he studied them to be thoroughly familiar with the workings of each aircraft. He flew numerous models of the F-86, the F-100, the F-89, the F-101 as a fighter pilot. Then for his career as an instructor in the Air Force he flew the T-33 (also as a member of the Lackland Air Force Base demonstration team "The Warhawks"), the T-37, the T-38 and the T-39 which also readied him for corporate pilot life upon his retirement from the military.

In civilian life he flew Saberliners(including the one that picked up Gary Hart in Bimini after the "Monkey Business" trip with Donna Rice), Lear Jet 25s and a Turbo Commander. He also flew the CEO of Riviana Foods to Houston from Lafayette, Louisiana in a Steerman biplane(basically the same aircraft he learned to fly in at 17 in the Army Air Corps) when the Saberliner was suffering from a mechanical problem.

My Dad was a great pilot and his love for flying was as great as the love he had for my Mother who he was married to for 57 years, the anniversary they celebrated the day before he died. Your doubting his story and demanding proof is an insult to him and his memory.

I never doubted your father as being a great pilot. But your memory and the facts just don't add up is all I'm trying to say. Take it as an insult or however else you choose. I think your father was probably a good pilot. It is you that I think is full of shit.