Warbird Information Exchange

My very dear friend Ed Schiess passed away Friday evening after a couragious battle with brain cancer. I last talked to him Monday and he was his usual gregarious self.
Ed flew SB2Cs with VB-83 and then jumped ship when the order came through to establish VBF-83 to increase the fighter strenght on US carriers to counter the kamikaze threat. Ed downed 3
Japanese planes (2 Zeros and 1 Val making a suicide dive) and sank a light cruiser with a salvo of 8 rockets. He received the DFC and 7 Air Medals.
After the war he flew FG-1Ds, F6Fs, TBMs, SNJs and Twin Beeches in the reserves out of Salem. He last flew about 10 years ago went he quit flying a friends Breezy.
Ed's uniform and effects are on loan by me to the Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia, WA. He was a very modest & generous man with a heart of gold.
BTW Brian here's the perfect paint scheme for your FG-1D

"Hollywood Ed" Schiess in a SNJ-4 after getting his wings in 1942

Ltjg Schiess taxies forward after trapping on the Essex July 1945

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

Sorry to hear of the loss of yet another hero. I also agree that the paint scheme for the Corsair looks great.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Hey Jack,

Sorry for your loss as well as ours. I was lucky enough to be able to "chat" with two of my father's compatriots, one crew chief and one class mate from basic. To know and share their lives will always be a special event in my life.

I am sure your relationship was special. These people are.

Thanks for sharing the news, difficult as it may be. You are a great contributor to this forum!

Regards,
Scott

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Makes me sad that these guys are going...You were fortunate to have known him.

_________________
Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Join us for the Texas Warbird Report on WarbirdRadio.com!
http://www.facebook.com/WarbirdRadio
Listen at http://www.warbirdradio.com

Brian,
I'll second that paint job. My grandfather (he passed two years ago) was on the Essex, VF(N)-83 at that time and I've always loved the "butterfly" Essex markings. They would be unique, and a fine tribute to a great and under recognized ship and her crew.

_________________
Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Jack, sorry to hear of your loss. Godspeed to your friend, & thank God for men like him.
Robbie

_________________
Fly Fast Make Noise!

Jack,

Do you have a photo of VBF-83 FG-1D BuNo 76732 in your collection? Or, do you happen to know the side # of it? It's the plane that Lt(jg) Clem Wear was killed in.

Thanks,

Mac

I am sorry to hear of your friend's passing - that is a generation that really shows what's great about this country of ours.

Goodspeed to you Ed, may you continue to fly high above.....

Mark

Note the mask line and overspray.
A excellent pic for modelers or restorers who are looking for details and accuracy.

Jack I am truly sorry about your loss of your friend and hero.

I know when I go to the VA Hospital here in Minneapolis for my medical treatments and such, I see the folks there, and I feel like such a young punk and I see those WWII Vets getting older each day I go there.

I love to just sit and talk to the older gentlemen there, let them open up a bit and tell some stories to me, reminds me of my grandfather sitting around the living room telling me stories.

I take those stories and put them in my head forever, so that I can remember them and share them with my children.

It is sad to see our aging Vets slowly fading west and the stories and history passing with them as well.

I wish I could just go to everyone that I meet there and get the stories documented and told, so that I can keep a piece of them alive for generations to come.

God Bless them all and a big Thank you to Vets before me that stood up against evil to make Freedom our way of life.

Paul,

Bring a tape recorder. It's easy to set and forget as you just have a conversation. Then the stories are recorded in a way you can share. Just remember to get their name on the tape as well.

_________________
Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

I know I should, but when your down there getting medical attention, I tend to forget that, and I go there not just to get stories. Good Idea, thanks!

Understood, I am guilty of very often not practicing what I preach in this respect. What I wouldn't give for a tape of the many stories my grandfather shared with me.

_________________
Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

I am really glad that I am getting to spend as much time with WWII vets as I am. I consider an honor to thank the men who saved the world. This is stuff that I will tell my grand kids about.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Went to Ed's services yesterday and has I expected it was jammed. He was that kind of guy. Not many flyers left around these parts I'm sorry to say.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!