Harvards, T-6s and spurious SBDs
Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:03 pm
After almost nine years on the road, my wife and I have decided to stay put for a while and this has given me a chance to rummage through boxes and boxes of long-unseen material.
Back in 1983, I started my research on that Harvard book that so many of you have made kind remarks about and one of the people that was most generous with his assistance on that project was William (Bill) T. Larkins. Since then, Bill and I have exchanged photos and other materials on an erratic but steady basis and I just spent several pleasurable moments going through an album of T-6 slides that he gave me 20 years ago.
Here are the first four (I don't want to be responsible for any serious heart palpitations, so I'll scan a few at a time). I have never been one for spurious markings on a warbird that had its own identity (an SBD!?) but how can I argue with a guy that's so well known in his own right!? By the way, does anybody recognize the much younger, bushy haired soul that is occupying the front seat of Lusty Lady in 1984?
The last two shots were taken at Reno in 1987 and Bill was really unhappy about the new 'black as the ace of spades' surface, which spoiled a lot of shots - but these look okay to me!
Enjoy!
Doug
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Back in 1983, I started my research on that Harvard book that so many of you have made kind remarks about and one of the people that was most generous with his assistance on that project was William (Bill) T. Larkins. Since then, Bill and I have exchanged photos and other materials on an erratic but steady basis and I just spent several pleasurable moments going through an album of T-6 slides that he gave me 20 years ago.
Here are the first four (I don't want to be responsible for any serious heart palpitations, so I'll scan a few at a time). I have never been one for spurious markings on a warbird that had its own identity (an SBD!?) but how can I argue with a guy that's so well known in his own right!? By the way, does anybody recognize the much younger, bushy haired soul that is occupying the front seat of Lusty Lady in 1984?
The last two shots were taken at Reno in 1987 and Bill was really unhappy about the new 'black as the ace of spades' surface, which spoiled a lot of shots - but these look okay to me!
Enjoy!
Doug
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Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:08 pm
That isn't Stoney is it?
Jerry
Jerry
Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:17 pm
Thanks for posting those pics. I've been doing the due diligence on Lusty Lady and wondered whether she was ever a racer. Guess that answers my question!
Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:27 pm
Oh, all right, you silver-tongued devils, I'll post a few more. This jamaican rum sure does put a boy in a mellow mood! 
All from 1987....
cheers
Doug
All from 1987....
cheers
Doug
Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:10 pm
Yes, that's me in Lusty Lady 1984, I didn't qual because of the left brake freezing in the open position. I don't do Xwinds with one brake. By the time I fixed it, qual was over. It did give me a good spot to watch the races and met Randy Presley.
Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:31 am
Those last three look like their from the good ole Gathering of Warbirds at Madera shows, of which I too attended.
Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:51 pm
Hi Roger: As I said in another thread, I have limited data on some of these shots. I certainly bow to your superior knowledge of the California scene.
cheers
Doug
cheers
Doug
Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:18 pm
In the second to the last photo, is that the ex-Champlin P-38M in the background?
Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:41 am
Looking back through my pictures for that period, I think that was Lefty's P-38 "White Lightning"
Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:22 pm
Roger Cain wrote:Looking back through my pictures for that period, I think that was Lefty's P-38 "White Lightning"
Ah, you're probably right Roger. At first glance the airplane looks to be natural metal or silver but it very well could be white as well.