Warbird Information Exchange

Since I really don't need to be on the receiving end of a defamation lawsuit, I will not be posting the involved individual's actual name.

I never quite know how I feel about these kinds of claims. On one hand, I feel pity for someone who appears to be at least borderline delusional. On the other hand, I feel disgust that the reputation and fame of those who actually achieved success in the aerial theaters of combat are being used for another's advantage. Today this individual is fairly well-known in the circle of movers and shakers in the world of NYC's entrepreneurs and patrons (such as being a long-time member of The Explorers Club).

I do assure you all that the following is from a book entitled Wisconsin at War: Through the Eyes of Veterans by James F. McIntosh, M.D. (ISBN 1-931599-10-6) The excerpt is obviously the result of an interview conducted by the author.

___________, of Verona (WI), grew up in military families and developed an interest in aviation while growing up in California. He soloed at age 12 and his interest in airplanes continued for many years. He heard about the civilian men who fought as volunteers for the Chinese and applied for a job, even though he was only 18 years old. He was accepted and paid his way to China and began training with the Flying Tigers, most of whom were ex-military. Then, in 1941, America was brought into the war and _______ returned home and joined the Navy. Because he'd already had 600 hours flying time, he qualified as a fighter pilot in six months. His first duty found him on the carrier Essex (CV-9), in the Pacific.

Before the war was over, ________ had duty on both the Lexington (CV-16), and the Enterprise (CV-9). He achieved 14 victories in the process. He stayed in the active reserve following the war and was recalled to active duty in 1951, serving off Korea on the USS Boxer (CV-21), flying a variety of jet aircraft and adding four more victories to his career totals. Following that war, ________ became a test pilot and helped develop the course for the Top Gun School. His last duty was as the commander air group aboard the John F. Kennedy (CV-67). He received the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Air Medals, a Purple Heart, and a Navy Commendation.

Reference to the same individual is made in the following on-line article concerning The Explorers Club. I will leave it up to the reader to determine which person that is.

http://outside.away.com/outside/culture ... lub-2.html

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

You smell that?

I can't seem to find his name on any list of Aces from World War Two. hmmmmm??

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Wow! That's scary how much BS is being shoveled.

Wonder how he's managed to make that sell for so long?

[quote="Shay"]

I can't seem to find his name on any list of Aces from World War Two. hmmmmm??

Not on any Navy Cross lists either. Shocker, huh?

http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/0_NC/ ... Alpha.html

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

I'm not afraid to name-names...Its Mr. Walter Mitty of course!
aka "Captain America!"

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"WHAT ME WORRY?"

Gee...I only found a few discrepencies in the timelines of the story. The biggest being... if Weise Sr. was the "Flying Tiger", "WWII ace", "Korea
vet" and only 76 in 2006, he would have been born in 1930. That would have put him in the Flying Tigers at age 9 or 10, and in WWII at somewhere between 11 and 14. Oh well...self aggrandizement being what it is...

Mudge the calculating
(Did I say that right?)

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Land of the free because of the brave

The holes in the story are apparent . How could he serve on 2 CV-9s ? The correct number ,as we all know, would be CV-6 for the Enterprise!

How could he train for 6 months with the Flying Tigers before Pearl Harbor, when the first ones left San Francisco on July 10, 1941?

Seems like he forgot to add travel time. How many more blatant errors can there be ?

Hmmmmm. then he must have known my Uncle.

I'm surprised there's nothing in there about him coddeling Tom Cruise for his role as Maverick while advising on the set of Top Gun.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

I've heard this yarn before. This gent owned Willis & Geiger Sporting Goods. Here's my opinion on his story

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Don't touch my junk!!

Someone should really call him to carpet on this publicly.

It's disgraceful

There is a group of former Navy SEALS that goes around and looks into people claims of being a SEAL. They're not really interested in the guy who is trying to impress the girl at the bar, but it's ones that are impersonating a SEAL for personal, professional as well as finacial gain.

There needs to be a watch dog group for this as well.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

I was well aware of the original incredible and that story by RT Smith was the funniest aviation story I ever read. Just a few months after publication, Incredible was at it again and I wrote to Smith to let him know and I also let the organizers of the airshow know they had been conned, as his incredible record was listed in the show guide. I'm sure they heard from Smith about it as well. I once had Smith rolling with laughter when I approached him and told him my uncle was in the Flying Tigers and his name was "Billy Joe Blow" the same name Smith used in his article. That was hilarious. In the rock and roll world we have the same problem. I recently had an individual sit in with my band that proceeded to tell me he worked with Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow, of course it was totally untrue, and being a superfan that really ticked me off, because it was as stupid (and researchable) as saying he was one of the Mercury 7. What planet are these delusional losers living on?

JH

I orginally told RT about Roland Sperry aka Capt Incredable and he just went nuts over that! It's actually a sad story has Sperry really was a hero! He was a gunner in the 308th BG 14th AF CBI and flew over 100 missions earning the DFC, Purple Heart and 4 air Medals!!! I guess he felt it wasn't enought and if he wasn't a fighter pilot he wasn't anything that counted. The one part that really upset me was that he used the picture of a deceased 118th TRS P-51 pilot Glen Guyer has his own in books, mags and flyer he submitted info to.
There was a fellow up here in Hillsboro that claimed to be x-Eagle Squadron, 4th FG 355th FG and 18th FBW in Korea. He was THE founder of the P-51 pilot association. He never even had a pilots license or was in the service!!!!! Beat that I challenge you!!!

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Don't touch my junk!!

I think they're talking about Burt Avedon, the guy quoted in the article -- not Richard Wiese.

Oh...OK...The article was so long I kinda' lost my place now and then.

Mudge the confused

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Land of the free because of the brave

That's really a shame. Sperry was actually a very personable, nice guy and one of the best airshow announcers I ever saw. He didn't need to make anything up, he would have made it on his own merits as a person, war or pilot experience or not. I loved his announcing.

John