This strongly resembles a story from "Unsolved Mysteries" in which some fellow from the Midwest, who was always terrified of water and drowning, found out through hypnosis that he was one of the sailors who died in the loss of the USS Shark in 1942... I'm sure some of us have had a curious dream or two, or maybe had weird vibes at a museum or airshow which we could attribute to such a thing (like General Patton did, for example), but in the end, who knows? If it was true, and the last moments of my previous existence were spent horribly wounded in a blazing Corsair - or Kate! - spiraling into the ground, I don't think I'd want to remember anyway. And if it wasn't - well, we all love a spooky ghost story now and then, right? I just wish the kid's parents hadn't bothered the loved ones of the dead pilot... just seems cruel.
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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)