ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Yesterday, 8-11-12 I had the honor of meeting a WW2 P-47 Thunderbolt pilot at our local fly-in. After talking with him for some time about his adventures over Europe chasing Messerschmidt's and train busting I offered him a ride in my C172. He accepted and off we went. At 2000' I gave him the controls and looked over at him; he had the biggest grin on his face. It had been a long time since he had been flying, but even at 90 he still had "the right stuff." After we landed he thanked me for taking him up and told me it brought back a lot of memories. I can't imagine being 20 years old knowing that every time you went flying there was someone trying to shoot you down. He scored several air-to-air kills but told me the majority of his missions were ground attacks shooting up up air fields and trains. I wonder if there is a way to look up his gun camera footage? I'm sure its archived somewhere.  

That's awesome. Memorable flight for both of you.

Finding the old records and archives isn't that easy. My grandfather was also a P-47 pilot in WWII. Mostly Italy if I recall correctly. Most of the stuff I've seen was from his own collection of photos and memorabilia. He retired after flying everything up to F4 Phantoms.

Here's a picture of him after a mission. AA blew out the rear spar on his wing. Flew it back and landed safely. His wing man landed with several cylinders missing on his engine and oil all over the canopy. He pulled off the landing by flying tight formation until touch down. Amazing.

Those flights are to be cherished.  Not many  WWII guys left flying but when you find one, most still have the touch when they get their hand on the stick.  My father turns 90 shortly and still  flys.  He  was  in one of the first carrier squadrons for the Marine Corps during WWII.  He flew Corsairs, TBM's SB2C, and Hellcats.  Later, he was called back to Korea and flew 100 missions in AD Skyraider'swhich became his favorite plane.  He now has turned his hanger  into his own private museum ffilled with pictures of his life as a pilot.  Twice a year he has a flyin for local pilots to drop by his field and tell their own flying stories and listen to some of his.  Last  year, one of his old squadron members Jack Benton from Ft Smith, Ark. Made it up to Kansas  and the two of them jumped in dad's Clipped Wing Cub and flew their 101st mission.  It was a site to be seen.  Two old Marines in their late 80's going up and doing wing overs and low passes down the runway.  When they landed and pulled up to the hanger all you could see were smiles.
Dad's still flying today and I fly with him in our 46 Champ every chance I get.  If you want to hear his story, look on the EAA web site and search Lawrence Alley in the timeless voices videos.
Terry Alley