I got this enail this morning from Jack Lenhardt.
Jack,
These are very kind words. I have printed them and put them on my
bulletin board in the office for all to see along with your photo.
Thank you. Jack
-------Original Message-------
From: JOHN COOK
Date: 08/17/06 09:58:39
To: Jack Lenhardt
Subject: Re: Pictures
Hi Jack,
I found a bunch of slides over the weekend and will make some prints for you.
I did find one of me in the cockpit and one sitting on the left main. I was maybe 9 or 10 and remember it has a magical moment in my life.
I remember it took a while to work up my courage to ask if i could sit in it and you said if I could make it up there I could climb in! I took some doing but I made it.
I also got a ride in your T-6/SNJ I think a purple or dark blue
one? That was a great place for a young kid to be growing up! In almost 30 years since then I spent 10 years in the Navy, became a
Navy aircrewman on P-3s, did 2 cruises on carriers, was a A-6 Intruder weapons loader and served in Desert Storm.
I've also flown in many different warbirds and antiques. But, I always remember where it all started for me.
Best Regards..................Jack
Jack was a real unknown warbird pioneer. His FM-2 restoration in the 70s was one of the first to have an accurate warbird paint scheme. It still flies today
exactly has he restored it (same motor/prop ect) At his grass strip in Hubbard, OR in the 70s you could find his FM-2, 2 SNJs, Beaver, DC-3, various vintage
helicopters and Bill Compton's F6F. Nowadays, how many guys would let a 9 year old climb over their freshly restored warbird with or without supervision?
Answer-nobody I know of!
Jack Lenhardt flying his freshly restored FM-2 N20HA
Me and my FM-2 taken by Jack Lenhardt