Some days you just never know...

[F4U-1]

Today we had an elderly visitor walk up to the hangar doors at Vultures Row Aviation and he looked inside with a bit of a bewildered look. I approached him and introduced myself. He replied with a soft voice and said “My name is Roy Coverdale”. I shook his hand and said “Nice to meet you Roy. Are you a pilot?” He said “Well yes I am now but in WWII I was a gunner in the SBD.” I looked at him and shook his hand a second time, thanking him for his service to our country. I invited him into the shop and gave him a tour of both our SBD and SB2C. He was amazed that here in front of him was a plane that he fought in. I asked him what years he flew in the Dauntless and he replied with “1942 and 1943.” He put up his hand over his mouth and said quietly “I was only 17 when I started shooting from the Dauntless” and he laughed. I asked him what squadrons he was in and he rattled off 3, the 2nd one being VB-5. “Wait a minute Roy, This plane was in VB-5, when were you assigned to VB-5?” His reply was the summer of 1943. I showed him the history card of our SBD and he laughed, “Yep I was in VB-5 the same months as your plane.” After a few minutes talking I asked Roy if he could walk upstairs. He said he’d try and asked why. I said I would like to show you your “old desk” while you were in VB-5. He looked at me and said, “what do you mean?” I took Roy up to see this planes original Douglas SBD rear gunners ring right out of this very airplane. He seemed a bit taken back as he walked over to it and stood there. I kid you not, for probably 30 seconds he stood there and just stared at that gunners ring seat. He didn’t say a word or even look up at me. I could see him recalling memories of long ago. I just stood there and said nothing, giving him time to reflect. I myself was speechless as I watched this man drift back some 69 years in thought. I honestly think I re-lit a spark in this man. He left a while later saying “I’m going home to dig out all my old photos. I’ll get copies made and be back.” Sometimes you just never know what life is going to throw your way. All the guys in the shop were so excited and they all shook his hand and said thanks. To be continued…


Chuck
http://VulturesRowAviation.com

Last edited by F4U-1 on Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[carlisle1926]

Amazing!

[Mark Allen M]

Outstanding!!! ... My father flew both types, he would have looked the same as the gentleman in the photo. Great job and can't wait for your hard work to be completed.

M

[Liberator]

Now that is why history needs to be told and shared. Make sure you can get him to share his experiences as much as possible.

[TAdan]

That is fantastic Chuck! Any idea how Mr. Coverdale came to know about your shop? Please keep us updated.

[K5DH]

Wouldn't it be super-cool if Mr. Coverdale had actually flown in that particular aircraft?!?!?

Keep us posted on this one! Another example of why we do what we do.

[Zachary]

Thanks for sharing this Chuck - it's what it's all about!

Zack

[Dan Johnson II]

Wonderful story and just another example of why warbirds and their preservation is so important.

Back in the early 1990s a chance meeting in the bomb bay of the Colling's Foundation B24 with the brother of a B-24 co-pilot who had been killed and MIA in WW2, led me on an ongoing project to fill out that story. It led to the reuniting of the three surviving crew members of that particular crew. It led to two separate memorial services for two of the MIA crew, including the placing of a marker for the co-pilot in our local National Cemetery, and it led to some friendships that continue to this day. All because of that B-24 making the rounds.

I bet the Collings Foundation folks have no idea any of that happened and how much it all meant to both me and the family of that crew as we were able to finally learn the story of that day in 45 when they went down.

You described the look on Mr. Coverdale's face as he went back in time. I knew exactly what you meant remembering how the brother of that 24 co-pilot looked when he paid for time in the co-pilot's seat of the Collings B24. It was like he'd finally been able to reach the big brother he'd lost so many years before.

[Ztex]

Greatness!

Thanks for sharing the story!

[51fixer]

These are really heartwarming stories.
When I worked at Fighter Rebuilders back in the 80s these were great encounters and I have great memories from some of the visitors to POF, particularly those who worked in the many aircraft plants and supporting industries located in Southern Cailf during the war.
At one point we had issues with how to run the control cables and pulleys in the P-38 that was under restoration. A gentleman happened to come in with a P-38 shop floor booklet from Lockheed that pertained to every pulley cluster and control cable in the P-38, its routing, length and for those that were clocked to a pulley for throttles and such it gave the offset for the cable ends. It was priceless.
Glad to see this visit happened.

[lmritger]

What a truly wonderful story, in every respect. Well done, gentlemen.

Lynn

[Fouga23]

Fantastic

[Dan Jones]

Good show!

[Russ Blow]

Wow. Thanks for sharing that. Chances like that are becoming harder and harder to come by. I remember going with my dad to Hump Pilots Association functions years ago and now so few of those guys are still with us.

Keep us advised when he returns.

[Warbird Kid]

Thats what its all about.... Thanks for the story Chuck!