How The Experts Did It

[Jack Cook]

Capt Don Gentile 4th FG

Capt Duane Beeson 4th FG

[Randy Haskin]

That's the sign of a real hardcore aviator -- doing it without gloves. darn the cold!

And with a mighty death grip on the throttle!

Yep! my dad did it too, but I don't do it. If I had a set of gloves on to saddle up in a cessna or swift! ... well, I'd never get L**D again ...

[Chicoartist]

Anybody else notice that's the same airplane in both shots?

... and make sure you press the right button! If you've read about the 4th, you know what I mean!

Hint:



Wade

[aeroeng]

Anybody else notice that's the same airplane in both shots?

Good catch. I guess the pilots took turns getting photographed .

[Chicoartist]

. . . I guess the pilots took turns getting photographed .

My guess as well. I'd lay $10 down that they are both in Gentile's Shangri-La. This was late March, early April 44 - the 'ace race' was in full swing. Beeson was shot down (POW) on 5th April. From a couple of pics Jack has posted lately ... notice 'Bee' has his gloves handy, as seen in the cockpit shot -







Wade

[Saville]

That's the sign of a real hardcore aviator -- doing it without gloves. darn the cold!

And with a mighty death grip on the throttle!

Yeah you can practically see the black juice oozing out of the throttle.