Warbird Information Exchange

Could never name just one. Steve Hinton very high on the list, along with his father in law Ed Maloney. Bob Love for his racing, P-51 aerobatics and great story-telling. The late Gerry Beck for building a brand new Mustang and for graciously giving me a tour of it. Nelson Ezell for what he does, though I don't know the man. Got to mention Gary Austin, if just for his ability to modify a B-24 and a Cassutt racer at the same time, and take detailed and informative photos of the process!

One not mentioned so far is John Paul. I dearly love P-40s, and John was saving and flying them back when nobody much cared. There would be far fewer flying Hawks if not for this guy! Plus he's a great story teller and giver of parties, and always seems to have Scotch whiskey available when needed.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Without a doubt, Charlie Hillard.

I went to Sun N Fun for the first time in 1996. I had never even looked at a warbird before and didn't know a Sea Fury from a Mustang. I met Charlie on the warbird ramp and he talked to me for an hour, answered every stupid question, and explained that if I wanted to fly a fighter, the T6 was the first step. An hour later I watched Charlie's beautiful routine in the Fury, it was his last. A year later I bought the Yale and got my first hour of warbird time. None of this would have happened for me, but for an hour conversation, with Charlie's on his last day.

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Eric

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

...and your memory reminds me of "Pappy" Spinks. Sharp old gent. "Doc" Almand for introducing me to
the Mustang & E2*C and all her coloured controversy. Bill Fornof for one h3lluva' Bearcat flourish the
same day Bob Hoover flew the field in the 'Yeller '51...and the Navy, Air Force and Army folks who were
flying "top" for us in the Cold War in the DFW area!

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Vernon Thorpe

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

There are two more people that I would like to mention among those who have been important to my warbird involvement. Bill Ross was a WW II vet and warbird owner, and was nice enough to answer a letter from me and to encourage me that a Spitifire would be fine for a novice pilot to start with. And then Warner Giles, ex USAF Major and Nam combat vet, who flew with me to many airshows, as Spitfire co pilot, and supporter. We also skied and built a homebuilt plane together.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Jaybo Hinub

A really great guy. He flew all of the major WWII fighters which is especially impressive considering he was a crew chief while on active duty. The fighter experience came during his years associated with john Silberman. He called most people chief, if he really liked you it was chiefy. A friend still has the last empty bottle jaybo and the airport bunch consumed the day prior to his final ill fated AT-11 flight. You don't get any better than Jaybo.

Mike