Tuskeegee Airmen

[mlenoch]

I just spent a hot afternoon with 6 pilots who were being interviewed for a local cable access channel. Their stamina is amazing. One of whom is 93, still mustered the energy to participate in recording his experiences while on a hot airport ramp today. Another pilot described his experience as a L-4 pilot. One event he described, when he happened to be parked next to the new P-61s that just off loaded at Guadacanal; he related that Lindberg flew one the next day & shot down 2 attacking aircraft. They all had many stories. FYI for all.

[Tulio]

Thank you for sharing, Vlado.

I would guess that you get more contact with guys like them, because you are at the airport and you have your Mustang, so logically, people will tend to tell you more about themselves.

I feel privileged to have met several guys over the years, who shared with me a few of their WWII experiences while having a beer or a soft drink; it is most a matter of someone wanting to hear what they have to say.

A guy visited the West Houston Squadron, CAF to donate a watercolor of himself flying a P-51 and shooting down a Japanese airplane, during the last days of WWII.

After he made a short speech, he was basically left alone. I came over, offered him a cold drink, and asked about his shoot down.

He said he was very lucky not to have been shoto down himself, and this was his only air to air victory; when the war ended a few days later, he was demobbed to Corpus Christi, where they had nothing to do but to fly and shoot the breeze while awaiting for discharge.

One of his squadron buddies was also a painter, and he listened to his story and painted the watercolor of his victory.

Nice gentleman, had a lot to talk about regarding his flying experiences but no one in his family seemed to care anymore about what he had to say . . .

To all of you guys out there:

Thank you for your service and your sacrifices.


Saludos,


Tulio

[tom d. friedman]

i never heard of any occaison that lindbergh flew a p-61 black widow in his few secret combat missions in the pacific. corsair, p-38 most definetely. he was really their to train crews in fuel economy, & naturally pulled a few strings to quietly get in a few missions & claimed a japanese sonia. i've read just about everything on lindbergh, & i know of nothing of his involvement with the widow. anybody know something pertinent about this statement? regards, tom

[HarvardIV]

Hi Vlado:

I didn't hear about that either. I think Lindbergh only had two kills total, and those where while he flew the P-38s. Maybe that vet got the P-61 confused w/ the P-38. I've met at least 1 WW2 vet who gets things mixed and matched.

[mlenoch]

Glad you brought up this question. I also thought Lindberg's flying was limited to P-38 & Corsair. Yet, this veteran had a photo of a fresh P-61 parked next to his L-4 on Guadacanal. I know the photo does not define events away from that base, but I posted the conversation to verify what facts are commonly known. Is there any info that suggests he flew a P-61 at all? Also, was his kill tally at 2 or 4 enemy aircraft?; The vet. described that Lindberg bagged two with the P-61 and later got 2 more in the Corsair. This bit of info did not seem correct. Thx.

[tom d. friedman]

chris, the sonia is well documented, what was the possible 2nd kill???, i never heard of that 1 either. i do know lindy almost bought the farm on a mission against a japanese adversary, & described it as the most fearful encounter with death in his life. he shook the opponent off with his posterior narrowly intact, & actually took some hits on his plane. regards, tom

[Jack Cook]

There were no P-61 victories over or anywhere near the Guadalcanal area. The 2 NFSs (6th and 419th) scored a few kills flying P-70s and P-38s. The 6th transfered to the 7th AF and moved to Saipan while the 419th received P -61s around May/June 44 but encountered no Japanese a/c until moving to New Guinea and then the Philippines. They scored 6 kills with the P-61 the first by Capt Al Lukas in August. Lukas's first kill was over France while flying a Boston (not A-20!) night intruder with the RAF in 1941.

[tom d. friedman]

yeah, i figured that too. but what of lindy's mystery 2nd kill?? any documentation??

[Tim Landers]

I just spoke to a friend named Lt. Vince Lipovsky about this discussion. Col. Lipovsky flew Corsairs with VMF-223 and took Liindberg on strafing missions while on Green Island.
Ed Firestone (KIA), Vince Lipovsky, Lindberg and Hank Emry. He did say they did not encounter any aircraft in the air. Vince said he saw a couple of P-61's at Guadalcanal, but wasn"t aware if Lindberg flew them or not.

Tim Landers

Last edited by Tim Landers on Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[tom d. friedman]

great pic. which is your friend?? can any body elaborate as to chuckie's supposed 2nd kill??

I thought the only combat kill Lindberg had was July 28 1944 in a P-38

[Jack Cook]

Tim,
I believe I have a photo of Lt Lipovsky in a F4U-1A in my collection.

[Tim Landers]

here are more pics of Vince

[tom d. friedman]

fabulous pic, but doesn't answer question as to 2nd lindy kill claim. regards, tom

[Tim Landers]

As far as confirmed kills by Lindberg, I have only seen one on a search of the internet. If anyone can find info. on a second that would be great. Hi Jack, is this the pic?

If not, feel free to add these to your collection, giving credit to Lt. Vince Lipovsky. Tom, he is standing on Lindberg's right. Here is one of his favorite memories, My squadron shared an airstrip with Boyington’s Black Sheep squadron and flew missions with Boyington as flight leader. On one occasion a drunk Boyington came into Vince’s tent wanting Vince’s liquor. However after a stare down and some minor threats, Boyington left my tent without incident not realizing that he had been sitting on the 30 bottles of liquor he sought. God Bless Our Veterans!

Tim Landers