Warbird Information Exchange

I've been to a few but not in recent years.
Nowadays the Aces, Doolittle Raiders and AVG reunions
are more like Star Trek conventions or a rock concert.
The last Doolittle reunion had 6-8 Raiders and hundreds of fans.
Jake DeShazer was so worn out from signed hundreds of
autographs he ended up just writing the letter 'J'.
I was ordered to attend the the 354th FG reunion the
year before last. One very pushy guy brough 50 different
books to get everyone to sign and it nearly ruined the affair.
One 90 year old pilot became so ill in the effort he went to
his room not to return. It was his last reunion has he passed
away 2 months later

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Don't touch my junk!!

A buddy that was a pilot for Texas Air Aces took him up for some dogfighting several years ago and Tex came out the winner every time!

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"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

I have attended the last seven or eight AFAA reunions. While there have been some problems with over zealous autograph seekers for the most part they have been dealt with. There are now guidelines as to when and how the "friends" interact with the veterans. Violators can now face revocation of permission to attend events. For the most part I see only respect and honor towards the veterans. I kind of object to the notion that these events have a "rock concert" or "star trek" convention atmosphere.
As for my vote for greatest combat pilot I will take Blakeslee, hands down.
Gary

Not necessarily the aces Gary. But, when you have 8 vets and 1000
fans it's not really a reunion. In my mind reunions are for comrades in arms to reunite and share memories and enjoy each others company.
I always felt that I was intruding on that. Visiting people individually has
always been more enjoyable for me.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack, you are correct.
I feel blessed to have had the opportunities the interact with these great men in a relatively controlled environment.
Gary

I'm assuming these pilots are aware of what they are getting into at book signings. They can be real hectic. But reunions should be different, there really shouldn't be much of an autograph frenzy going on. But I've always had a problem with these fools that collect autographs and don't even really care about who's signing them, so they can run home and place it on ebay.

I'm lucky living where I do that the Northern California Friends of the AFAA have regular symposiums where we can get to hear panel discussions by Aces, with a question and answer session and autograph opportunity afterwards.

So far I've attended ones comprising P-38 Aces (from Pacific, European and N.Africa-based units), 354th FG Aces, and Naval Aces (mainly Hellcat, including Alex Vraciu). Next month's is 56th FG P-47 Aces.

A fascinating opportunity, and they are all videoed for posterity as well.

I'm also hoping to visit a P-40 Ace who lives nearby to interview him for a magazine feature.

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

Could I just post a vote for a non-American? Like 'Pat' Pattle....or Bob 'Sailor' Malan, who Al Deere said was the best Ace?

John D. Landers.
Ace in the PTO and the ETO, a leader, and apparently a pretty fair pilot.
One of my favorites, anyway.

Dave

My submission is Johnnie Johnson. R.A.F. 38 accredited victories.
D.S.O and two bars. D.F.C and bar. American D.F.C. Legion of Merit.
Air Medal. Belgian Legion of Honour. and tbe Croix de Guerre.

Ken

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Ken Garner

Heinz Bar

For me it’s Chuck Yeager.

About the autographs that Jack mentioned, I think most “fans” that attend to these reunions are only gold diggers and you can see the result of their digging everyday on eBay. My father, as reclusive as he is, went to one and never ever again went back.

SC.

Well I agree about Yeager. No one can deny he is a great pilot. As for the autographs it depends. I collect autographs from pilots, but STRICTLY for the use of putting them in my gameroom. I am not a fan of people going to these events just to make a buck. I have heard the stries of an ace signing for a kid, to turn around and see it on e-bay later, or even what happened to some, they turned around and sold the newly signed item, in line infront of the pilot! TO me that is no class. If only the people interested in getting a signature for their own private use, showed up, it would be a different scene. I agree with jack in many ways. I went to the Doolittle Reunion, and I felt bad for those guys. It was like jack said, a Star Trek convention. I have had many one on one interviews and meetings and they are great. I think that getting autographs is cool, just as long as respect is shown, and don't get in line if you just want to make a buck. Leave your 20 books at home.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Werner Voss