[skysurfer808]

The Kostylev story is a great one Sergey, and as for Blakeslee, I've admired him both for his leadership of the 4th FG, but also for his exploits on the ground. My favorite Blakeslee tale is when General Monk Hunter, chief of 8th Fighter Command got wind that Blakeslee had spent some quality time "entertaining" a pair of beautiful nurses. Intead of grounding him, the Great Monk, who was a WW1 ace is reputed to have said "two of them...we ought to promote the lucky SOB"..or words to that efffect.

Skysurfer808

[stalag8611]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

"The first time I saw a jet, I shot it down."-Chuck Yeager, Ace in a day.

Dittos on Chuck Yeager. He did it all, he ran the board.

[Ara1]

Lt. Cmdr. John C. Waldron, skipper of VT-8, USS Hornet.

KIA w/ crew June 4, 1942.

"If we run out of gas, we'll piss in the tanks..."

"If there's only one man left, I want that man to go in and get a hit..."

[trex0770]

For me it's gotta be General Robin Olds who passed away a few months ago..

A true Man's man: son of an aviation pioneer & disciple of JImmy Doolittle's airpower philosophy, college football All-American & College football hall of famer, triple ace who flew in two wars, Commandant of the AF Academy, innovative tactician, personality as big as his frame and loved by everyone under his command! He was a triple ace with 17 kills who gave credit for shooting down Migs in Vietnam so that the brass back in Washington would not pull him from frontline duty.

His was a life more interesting and colorful than fiction. IMHO, he was a real leader and an American hero!

Besides, how could you not like someone who partnered with General Chappie James (one of the first black Generals in the USAF) as wingmen, calling themselves "Blackman and Robin" and terrorizing the North Vietnamese AF enough where they stopped sending up MIg-21's for fear of being shot down?
RIP General Olds.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by Gort

Hans-Ulrich Rudel. The guy was an enthusiastic Nazi, which, frankly, turns me off totally. But what impressed me about this pilot was his refusal to quit, even in the face of exasperating failure. Apparently, this Stuka ace of aces was maladroit to a fault: He was so gauche and blundering, his instructors laughed in his face, held him up for scorn, and swore he’d never make a pilot no matter what.

But Hans didn’t give a spit. He put his head down and learned flying by the seat of his pants. He was slow by anybody’s standard, but he was also deliberate, dogged and patient. So much so that once he mastered flying, he eventually creamed all kinds of Soviet hardware. More than any other Stuka pilot.

I guess unyielding, herculean effort in the face of severe resistance is inspiring.

I read his book as a kid, but I didn't get the impression he was an 'enthusiastic Nazi'. Actually, I thought he despised the whole rot, but was obsessed with flying. Am I wrong? Perhaps I should re-read his biography, eh? For a guy with one leg, I got sort of a Douglas Bader image of the fellow.

/end

[Old Crow]

For me, 2 of my favorites are Bud Anderson, whom I met, and Butch O'Hare, who, of course, I did not. I connect with these 2, in particular, for different reasons. Bud Anderson's amazing record is similar to others but I had the chance to meet him in person and he was an absolute gentleman and completely modest. Butch O'Hare's story and background, including the lesson he learned from his father, just strikes a chord with me. Of course, his aerial exploits were not half bad either.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, VC, DSO, DFC -- RAF Bomber Command

One of the biggies for me is Leonard Cheshire, VC, DSO, DFC. Below is a VERY brief bio . . .

'After the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Air Force. He was posted to 102 Squadron and by August 1942 had been promoted to squadron commander of of 76 Squadron. In March 1943 at the age if twenty-five he became the youngest group captain in the RAF.

As one of the most courageous and determined bomber leaders of World War II, Leonard Cheshire was given command of 617 Squadron. During this time he led the squadron personally on every occasion. In September he was awarded the Victoria Cross for four and a half years of sustained bravery during a total of 100 operations, leading his crews with careful planning, brilliant execution and contempt for danger, which gained him a reputation second to none in Bomber Command.'

If you can get your hands on the book 'Bomber Command 1939-45' by Richard Overy, you can also find out more about Leonard and his Brother Christopher, also a famous Halifax Mk I pilot (MP•L, L9530). There is also a cracker companion DVD, but it is in PAL format, so I no-gottz. In the book, Leonard is quoted as saying:

“I loved flying. I found the dangers of battle exciting and exhilarating, so that war came easily to me.”

He flew over 100 missions spread over 4 tours. Two of those tours were in Halifaxes, one in Lancasters and the other in Whitleys. As C/O, he also personally flew as a target marker in Mosquitoes for his squadron, and later did it in a 'borrowed' P-51. After marking the target at roof-top level with flares, he would then circle around in a figure eight and guide in his bombers and -- vamoose! You can also read about his RAF life up to 1943 in his self-authored book 'Bomber Pilot' available used from Alibris. Fascinating read!!

Of course, what he did AFTER the war was probably more important by establishing the Leonard Cheshire Disability Foundation. Sadly, Baron Cheshire of Woodhall, better known as Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, DSO, DFC, the founder of the Cheshire Homes and a great humanitarian, passed away on 31 July, shortly before his 75th birthday.

Not a lightweight -- by any means.




PHOTO: 'Bomber Command 1939-45' by Richard Overy 1997, page 64. Cheshire middle front. I suspect this aircraft to be a Halifax Mk I, with squadron markings of: TL•P L9503, which is one that Cheshire is known to sometimes fly.

/end

[planenutsfrog]

Very difficult question to answer : There are so many pilots that deserve admiration...

Because I know them better thanks to their facinating books : Pierre Clostermann, Heinrich Rudel, Saburo Sakai...

[stalag8611]

Very, very hard to respond to; so many brave men. However, I'd nominate Colin Kelly, a B-17 pilot stationed at Hickham Field, Oahu at the time of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Kelly and his crew searched for, found and attacked the Japanese Imperial Floeet. The attack did not succeed, and the crew died. A brave gesture when we really need one and I believe he received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

[Cavtanker]

Claire Chennault!