[skydriver]

I did get to fly in a C-130 during my AFROTC days at the University of Georgia in 1984 ( GO DAWGS ). But my most exciting flight was in a T-34 doing air combat manuvers. I did manage to get 4 kills that day, but never got the 5th.

I envy all of you who got to fly military. My eyes were just not good enough even though I qualified for a pilot slot after taking the Air Force Officers Qualifying Test ( I think that was what it was called ). My commander even tried to get me a waiver through the AF Surgeon General, but still a no-go.

Now I get my thrills by flying C-172's and Piper Warriors.

Well, at least we can all dream.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Elmer,

In 1981-82, there weren't many F-16 units. So based on your indicated location at the time, I would say they would have been from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, 388 TFW (tail code HL). Can't tell which squadron, though, unless you can remember the color at the top of the vertical fin...

FVD

That makes perfect sense, since my CAP unit was / is in Utah. At the time, I knew nothing of tail codes or other markings... have since learned. So no, I remember nothing of markings. I would love to have a diecast Viper with markings of the 388th. I have never seen one; anyone know if there is one out there?

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Warhawk

Hey Elmer, I just noticed your sig. I have a good friend that was a pilot in the 458th BG. Here is a short Bio. I put together when he was my guest at an autograph event recently. He still has his yoke from his bomber when he was hit by flak. The shrapnel went through his thumb and took a chunk out of the yoke, but he was able to complete the bomb run!



Capt. Birt Brumby
Was a B-24 pilot with the 458th Bombardment Group In WWII. As a flight leader, he led missions to tough targets such as the industrial area of Saarbrucken, oil refineries at Hamburg, an airfield at Brunswick, aircraft factories at Oschersleben, a fuel depot at Dulmen, a canal at Minden, aircraft works at Brandenburg, marshalling yards at Hamm, and an aircraft engine plant at Magdeburg.

Wow! Is this Birto R. Brumby, 755th Squadron? If so, I know someone who wants to speak with him (if he hasn't already). Many of the above targets listed were also targets bombed by the Nelson Crew (754th Squadron), but since the 458th hit these targets multiple times, it is difficult to say if the Brumby Crew and Nelson Crew flew together on same missions.

BTW, the reason I posted the web-site to the Nelson Crew and 458th web-pages in my sig. is because I was hoping one or more of you out there would check it out and have information that I could connect to. Thanks Warhawk (PM me if Mr. Brumby can / will give contact information and if he would be willing to tell his story to strangers, albeit, strangers who are attempting to preserve the history of the 458th)!! If anyone knows Lt. Col. Earle Q. Hagen (USAF retired--resided in Sacramento area), I am trying to find his family, please PM me; he was navigator on the Nelson Crew.

Also BTW, if you are interested, check out the link in my signature; you will see where the name "ELMER" comes from.

[Warhawk]

Spoke to Birt last night, he is expecting a call, check your PM. Here is a crappy pic. of his B-24 yoke damage from the shrapnel that went through his hand.



Birt recovered the piece of shrapnel and glued it in the center of the yoke. I asked what happened to the center cap, he explained that his crew chief modified this yoke to hold a clock for timing bomb runs

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Warhawk

Spoke to Birt last night, he is expecting a call, check your PM. Here is a crappy pic. of his B-24 yoke damage from the shrapnel that went through his hand.



Birt recovered the piece of shrapnel and glued it in the center of the yoke. I asked what happened to the center cap, he explained that his crew chief modified this yoke to hold a clock for timing bomb runs

Great pics! Thanks Warhawk! PM received and replied to. I sent off an e-mail to the 458th BG web-site manager. I will let you know how it goes.

[b24man]

Only one...a B-24 of course.

Kyle

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by b24man

Only one...a B-24 of course.

Kyle

Hey Kyle... what crew / unit is that in your avatar pic?

I had a chance to ride in "The Dragon and His Tail" but I looked in the eyes of my wife when she very timidly said, "ok" to the price. Dang it! I wish I hadn't looked in her eyes (we were kind of poor then also)!

[wellredman]

when i was a kid my dad's idea of a holiday was to leave off fixing 747's and go to oshkosh and fix warbirds for a week.
so you can imagine how stoked a 11-13 year old was to be able to blag rides in T-6's (many) T-28's (including aerobatic) a T-34 with special forces markings and best of all, a ride in the tail turret of the b17 "Aluminium Overcast" during the airshow, which included 4 p51's in formation close enough that the pilots could wave to me, and simulated bombing run with pyros

my ambition is to ride in a huey or cobra, as choppers are what i'm really into but so far all i've managed is jetranger and hughes md500

[Sluf01]

Hmmm, lets see out of my 28 years in the AF I have flown in: A-7K (Twice), C-5 (Twice), C-141 (Once), C-123 (Twice), C-130 (Numerous), KC-135A (A Few), KC-135E (More than a Few) C-17 (Once).. Yep that pretty much sums it up..

[Sluf01]

Yeah, I knew I forgot something (Senior Moment Strikes Again!): Huey (US Army) low level (REALLY Low) out and back thru the Panana Canal, Canadian Forces Huey up in the wilds of Cold Lake Canada chasing Elk and BIG Bears!!