2 More Heros Are Gone

[Jack Cook]

In the past week 2 more of America's greatest have passed on.
I was lucky enough to know both and consider them friends.

Capt Frank L. Gaunt 8 aerial kills 44th FS/68th FS/318th FS

RADM Roger "Rog" Hedrick 12 aerial kills XO VF-17 Jolly Rogers/CO VF-84/Air Group 84

[Dan Johnson II]

Also heard that 8 kill 38 Aces Warren Lewis of the 433rd FS, 475th FG and Paul Murphey 80th FS, 8th FG passed away within the last week.

Dan

[Andy in West Oz]

They will all be sorely missed. I've recently got back into Warbirds after other interests dragged me away. I hope we never forget what these men did for us.

Cheers

Andy

[corsair166b]

Hedrick once filled his commander's plane full of bullets after mistaking him for an enemy plane....once back on the ground, Tommy Blackburn's Corsair 'Big Hog' had several holes in it just below the cockpit....Blackburn commented to Hedrick, "Rog, you lousy shot....when those 50 cal bullets hit my plane, they moved it SIDEWAYS....!" Kind of a funny story from WWII...and now both of them are gone.....

Mark

[Jack Cook]

The patches over the .50 cal holes in "Big Hog" at Ondongo, New Georgia.
(L-R) Ens. Whit Wharton, LTjg Doug Gutenkunst-KIA, LT "Dirty Eddie" March-ace, LCDR Tom Blackburn-CO & ace,
Ens. Tom Killefer, Ens "Big Jim" Streig-ace, Dr. Lyle Hermann-flight surgeon & Cpl Jim Taylor USMC-plane captain.

[Andy in West Oz]

I'd forgotten about that incident. Looks like I need to read "The Jolly Rogers" again!

Excellent photo Jack, thanks for taking the time to post it.

Cheers

Andy