My name is Charles Greenwood, I'm Bill's son. I lost my father yesterday. His passing was as unexpected as it was sudden and painless. I realize he posted here from time to time a few years ago, and I could use some help from this board's members now.
He loved to fly his Spitfire and was perhaps the most experienced pilot in the world in that aircraft. God has no idea the use Bill will get out of the wings he was just given, and knowing he is free to soar gives me great solace.
It seems to be the job of sons to give their fathers grief, and I certainly never failed at this responsibility. I thought of my dad as a bit too eclectic, a bit too disorganized, and a bit too impersonal with some. However, he is the greatest pilot I will ever meet. He bought the Spitfire the day before I was born and flew it for 26 continuous years without a fatal accident. He survived engine loss, bad weather, air system failures, mountain flying, and a rude Hurricane ground looping in front of him, all without injury. There are tragically so many 'better' pilots that did not make it as long flying warbirds, and I wish this was a level of
greatness to which more aspired.
An brief obituary is available here:
https://www.aspentimes.com/obituaries/o ... greenwood/Here are the two areas members can help.
First, a memorial during these times is impossible to hold in person so we are planning an online virtual one in the next couple weeks. Please send me a message if you would like the info on how to participate. Bill's flying friends spanned the globe, but I am not aware of many. If anyone can send this message to someone they think would like the memorial info, I will be eternally grateful.
Second, his Spitfire TE308 was almost entirely restored by QG Aviation after the Hurricane accident and was recently purchased by a British buyer who completed the work. I understand it is flying and Bill wanted to see it back in the air when he could do so after the pandemic. He won't be able to, but my wife and I would like to. Can someone put me in touch with the buyer?
Bill always loved the poem High Flight that was written by a Spitfire Pilot in 1941 and later quoted by Reagan after the Challenger disaster. It seems fitting to include it here now.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
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Who gets to say that?!
