Warbird Information Exchange

Bob Odegaard...fine gentleman indeed.

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

Junior Burchinal.

Lynn your list is remarkable for who is not on it!

Bill Ross, Bob Knoll, Jack Rogers. Earl Rienert

Bill Dodds, Jeff Ethell, Coke Stuart.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Bob O., Mr. C., Nelson, HP, Guy Joe Smith (guy who introduced me to what a warbird really was - at 10 feet and full throttle), Steve H., Gary Austin, and several others I could think of if I wasn't half brain fried right now.

However, special mention does need to be given to the entire CAF DFW Wing current & former staff, ground and flight crew, and general members over the years who've always been an inspiration of being able to do anything they set their minds to, whether it be taking the R4D to Eindhoven and back without a major hitch or putting 2 new engines on the airplane in the same year and paying for them in full out of their own pockets. I know Charlie (our Wing Leader) always gets a bit chuffed up about it, but it really is amazing that our wing has done what it has in it's existance.

For me, Nelson Ezell, hands down.

Gary

John Herlihy (RIP) also beings back some good memories

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Don't touch my junk!!

Peter Arnold for all his work locating Spitfires around the world.

Cheers Dave C

Dave I'd have figured you'd say Jerry Billings

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Don't touch my junk!!

Steve Hinton

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"Keep 'em Flying!"

I'd probably have to say either Bud Granley or Jerry Janes.

I can remember Jerry doing a low and over of Langley Airport and from where I was all I could see was the vertical stabilizer of his Albatross above the hangar line. I think he liked that airplane...

And Bud Granley, we'll everytime I've had the chance to talk with him he's been a really great guy. I also like hearing over the loud speakers at airshows to not leave your airplanes unlocked, because Bud Granley will be sure to jump in your plane for a run around the patch.

-David

The late, great Merle Gustafson. Some of my best teen years & early 20s were spent around 'Angel of Okinawa' & around & in his T-6, when it was painted like a warbird (Markings of an FW 190). I remember when I graduated high school in '79, he brought me a gift, a big ol' beach towel. He said, 'this is from me & Sylvia & Steve, but I'll get Robbie's (Robbie Jones) Mustang (it was a 2 seater) one day & I'll take you up in it. That'll be my present to you." Obviously, I couldn't have gone in the Corsair & I already had flown his T-6 some with my dad. Various things happened & I never got that ride before he died in '84. Maybe one day..........

Paul Polidori. He opened his home and his property to young folks who otherwise never would have been able to even see a warbird. That's where my dream first saw the hardware up close and in person.

Also Dennis Firestone for giving me my first T-6 ride, Rick Brickert for my first Mustang ride and Larry Doudt for letting me fly dual in Bob Pond's P-40 (and Steve Hinton for setting that up).

The only one of the folks mentioned that I've met is Steve Hinton so he's gotta' be mine. Every time we've run into each other, (Chino, Duxford, Thunder, and some others) he's treated me as though I was the only one on the planet at the time. My point being, here's (in my opinion) "Mr. Warbird", treating me (the geezer nobody) as if I'm somebody he's known forever.

I refer to him as "Mr. Warbird" 'cause he's the only guy I know that seems to be able to get into ANY warbird and fly it. I'm sure there are a lot of others, but I don't know them.

Mudge the respectful

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Land of the free because of the brave