A True HellHawk

[cluvara]

I had the honor to take Archie Maltbie, a 365th FG P-47 pilot in WW2 up in the T-6 yesterday. He hadn't been in a T-6 since 1943, but he still flew it like a champ! It got even better when we had a short P-51 escort during our flight.

Archie was part of the "HellHawks" squadron, had 2 confirmed aerial kills, earned a distinguished flying cross, was shot down and evaded capture during his 100+ missions.

At 86, he's a hell of a guy and a true legend. These guys are getting even fewer and far between these days, and I feel privileged I could make his day.

Chris

[Stoney]

You have to buy everybody a beer for parking with the flaps still down

[cluvara]

You have to buy everybody a beer for parking with the flaps still down

Actually, they were down for preflight, I hadn't started up yet. I guess you owe me one?

[warbird1]

Outstanding Chris, great story!

Was that your T-6 and when was the last time that Mr. Matlbie flew an aircraft of any type? He is current on flying anything?

[cluvara]

Outstanding Chris, great story!

Was that your T-6 and when was the last time that Mr. Matlbie flew an aircraft of any type? He is current on flying anything?

Not my T-6, it's owned by California Warbirds in Hollister, Ca. http://www.californiawarbirds.org

He quit flying after the war and only recently did he get up again and get some stick time with a friend of mine.

[Django]

That's very cool.

[wls3]

Believe the HellHawks had a re-union at Thunder over Michigan in 2008.
Didn't know much about them before that.
Nice book on them by Bob Dorr and Shuttle Astronaut Tom Jones.

[cluvara]

Believe the HellHawks had a re-union at Thunder over Michigan in 2008.
Didn't know much about them before that.
Nice book on them by Bob Dorr and Shuttle Astronaut Tom Jones.

There's a few stories in the book about Archie. For anyone on the west coast, they are having a symposium of Hell Hawk pilots in Vacaville, CA. July 18th.

[Lynn Allen]

Well done Chris, good to hear from you......