43-12252 and Dean's story

[Jack Cook]

I thought that this explains things fairly well.
I learned a few weeks ago that when Dean's Mustang, 43-12252, is finished being rebuilt it is going to be painted to match the other two Mustang's Mr. Roush already owns. To say I have been heartbroken is truly an understatement. I fully understand, acknowledge, and freely admit that Mr. Roush is free to paint HIS property anyway he chooses.

To my family this Mustang is not a "Thing" it had the chance to be a tangible tribute not only to a brave young pilot who sacrificed his life for the rest of us, but as a tribute to ALL who gave up their young lives so long ago. She is not some twisted piece of metal that was scrapped after the war ended. She was the last thing my Uncle touched before he left this world. I am a little less enthusiastic about today's warbird world then I was before, or maybe a better way of putting it is I'm a little less naive.

[The Inspector]

Using that logic Jack immediately repaint your house in it's original colors so we can honor the original builders vision, tear down the fences and remove the patio....lose the tree-
Mr. Rousch is more than entitled to anything he sees fit to do WITH HIS PROPERTY including having it hammered flat, shredded, and turned into beer cans-it's time to move on............

[Jack Cook]

Since the subject is a heroic young pilot who died in the service of his
country during wartime perhaps a little more respect would be in order
People's feeling are what they are and I'll will respect that.
If someone recovered my KIA cousin's Corsair and restored
it has Pappy Boyington's I'd probably go rabid.

[visaliaaviation]

Perspective?

In this discussion, it has been stated over and over that the young man who died must be remembered. Now that the discussion has gone on here, no one who knows of the aircraft's origins, how it was lost , and who and how it was resurrected, will exclude pertenant details in the retelling. It will/has already become a foonote that will follow the aircraft for as long as it's known in "warbird" circles.

Is the footnote important? I would like to think so, but but the realist in me knows like the aircraft, it too will eventually fade from living memory, perhaps to be dredged up from time to time. None of us can predict how long"warbird" circles will even exist. At least the young man get's a footnote, if ever so brief. How many of all the millions who haved died in all the wars since history began get even that?

[airnutz]

Sorry, but I fail to see why..

Yepper..and there's no way you could understand in a coupl'a days.

My post was more of a lament rather than a gripe. When 43-12252 rolled out completed in NMF a chance was lost to roll 'er out in her last colors..red spinner..red L5 and 54th FG rooster decals..Deans name under
the canopy rail.

Flying off her time...make a pass over his memorial in Florida...family photos..15 minutes of fame..

Roll'er back into the paint shop..peel stickers, and paint her anyway you want.

True he owns her, but isn't he the caretaker of her history too? Her dataplate is 'his' provenance. Google
43-12252...Dean's there..

Last edited by airnutz on Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

[visaliaaviation]

airnutz,

You have made an EXCELLENT POINT, Mr. Roush IS the caretaker of the aircraft's history! But then so are you and I, and all the wixers who post. So are all the people ever interested in the HISTORY of whatever.

In future discussions about this or that detail, we might want to ask ourselves is it important and how committed am I to the HISTORY? the stuff that really happened, in the context of real individuals and not just the stuff we want to see and remember.

My heart goes out to the family over the percieved slight. But in all honesty there's been little evidence that Mr. Roush is the cause.

[Django]

I think it would have been really neat to have it in Dean's markings temporarily but it still wouldn't have been "correct" with the Malcolm hood anyway.

Was this plane Dean's plane, or just the one he happened to be assigned that day? I would think it would be more "marketable" in his markings if it were painted up as his MTO ship. You could tell his story about his tour and how he was killed in this plane in the states after completing his tour. Or do "civilians" at airshows want to hear stuff like that?

Obviously Mr Roush and Mr Andersen are close friends. I don't know that the world needs another D model, but this one being Old Crow doesn't make me loose sleep at night. It looks fantastic.

How many different Mustangs have been Old Crow at one point or another? Aside from the original ones...

[The Inspector]

Airnutz,

Thanks for taking my comment out of context. Over the decades I've been in aviation, don't you think I've lost friends and loved ones? My High School sweetie was an F/A on an ALASKA AIRLINES 727 that splattered itself on a hill side outside of Juneau AK. Over the years I've lost lots of friends, saw one blown up in a planted bomb in a SABRELINER in New Orleans, I have friends who came back in rubber bags, as part of the twisted remains of an airplane, and I've got a couple of lifelong friends that I went through school from 1st grade to High School graduation who are in a rice paddy or somewhere on a karst ridge, I have missing friends that I sincerely hope get found before I pass on-so donot try to pass me off with 'yeah you wouldn't understand' because buddy I'VE GOT THE PICTURE

[airnutz]

My heart goes out to the family over the percieved slight.

Percieved? Maybe so..

[airnutz]

Airnutz,

Thanks for taking my comment out of context.

Ummm..no..Wrong 'em boyo..strike 2! Wanna go for the 'hat trick', Inspector?

I hoped Jack Cook would've chimed in by now with his implied knowledge of the 'back channel' chatter back then??

He pulled the pin on this grenade...I figured he would be more active in this conversation....

[Jack Cook]

I hoped Jack Cook would've chimed in by now with his implied knowledge of the 'back channel' chatter back then??

The only back channel message I got back them was one from someone working on it telling me to "bleep" off. "It's our a/c and we'll do what ever we "bleeping" want with it!"

[P51DFltLn]

I hoped Jack Cook would've chimed in by now with his implied knowledge of the 'back channel' chatter back then??

The only back channel message I got back them was one from someone working on it telling me to "bleep" off. "It's our a/c and we'll do what ever we "bleeping" want with it!"

I know I'll get flamed for this, but, to be fair - they were absolutely correct. While Mr Roush (please at least spell the name right if you are going to bash him) knows Col Anderson very, very well, he probably has no clue who Dean is.

Could he have taken the time to learn? sure. Did anybody approach him when he first recovered the a/c with the story? It doesn't sound like it. If the family wanted the a/c restored as Dean's, they should have purchased and restored it themselves. Too much money, you say? well, then I guess we allow those who have the money to restore them however they wish.

And we will simply enjoy seeing a B-model with a Malcolm Hood flying in the skies, evoking memories of ALL who flew those aircraft.

[Jack Cook]

If you're referring to the PM I received around 2+ years ago. I would say that you can voice a opinion without being a #ss about it and using profanity.
I don't really think anyone excepts any less than Mr Rousch doing what he wants (and BTW I don't recall anyone bashing him). But, at the same time a acknowledgement of the history of the a/c and it's pilots would be both appropiate and cool! On a webpage, a display board by the a/c or in the numerous articles i'm sure we'll be seeing

they were absolutely correct

I don't view swearing at someone is correct i'm sorry

[bdk]

Did anybody approach him when he first recovered the a/c with the story? It doesn't sound like it.

As I recall, Jay Wisler received the parts from the local authorities that did the recovery to clean up the lake when the wreckage was rediscovered. Mr. Wisler provided the history to the papers at the time. Not sure that any later owners were told, knew or cared about the aircraft's previous history. I'm sure the value and provenance of the aircraft was in the paperwork, not the few recognizable parts that were recovered.