A Question for Art
Rob Arndt
Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
that is above Art in either or both categories)... so I wondering if
you dreamed of aviation while you were growing up?
I ask b/c I am currently reading a book on the beloved JN-4 "Jenny"
and was surprised by how many Americans cherished it, especially
postwar where almost every air show and aerial acrobatic/stunt pilot
was flying a Jenny.
Did you develop any love of aviation from that plane? Did you ever go
to see any of the shows the book speaks of involving Jennys?
If not, what did inspire you? And why did you choose bombers?
Rob
Bombardier
Rob,
Intersting quesations all. First let me point out that the Army Air
Corps in WW II did what it had to do no matter what. If lots of
gunners got kiiled in action and they were desparate fpr gunners when
you went through training you would damn well be a gunner no matter
what your other qualifications were, If they needed pilots to fly the
hump, you might have fighter pilot abilities but you would damn well
end up in C46's over the hump. I volunteered for the Army Air Corp as
a high school senior. I couldn't wait to get there. The thought that
the war woiuld end before I got there was unthinkable. As a kid I made
model airplanes etc and I was unhappy until the day I was called to
active duty as an Air Cadet.I flew my first mission as a teen ager 19
years old.When I joined the 344th BG the guys there would say, "the
war is lost. Did you see that 12 year old bombardier that they sent
us". I barely shaved at the time, But when I finally graduated and got
my wings it was the proudest day of my life..And I am still proud of
it..
Art
Jack G
sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as something
that you were not... Right?
Jack G.
"Bombardier" <artk...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1173891855.2...@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
nmg175
"Jack G" wrote in message
> Art - you forgot to correct Rob's statement that you were a Pilot...
> I'm sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as
> something that you were not... Right?
>
> Jack G.
What a dreamer you are!
>
>
>
>
> "Bombardier" <artk...@aol.com> wrote in message "Rob Arndt"
> <teuton...@aol.com> wrote:
Art,
>>>
>>> Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
>>> the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
>>> that is above Art in either or both categories)... >>>
.I flew my first mission as a teen ager 19
>>
>> Art
>>
>
>
Bombardier
> Art - you forgot to correct Rob's statement that you were a Pilot... I'm
> sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as something
> that you were not... Right?
>
> Jack G.
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
Absolutely. I was NOT a pilot. I was a Bombardier. Thanks for the
correction
Bombardier
Bombardier
> "Jack G" wrote in message
> > Art - you forgot to correct Rob's statement that you were a Pilot...
> > I'm sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as
> > something that you were not... Right?
>
> > Jack G.
>
> What a dreamer you are!
>
>
>
> > <teuton...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Art,
>
>
>
> >>> Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
> >>> the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
> >>> that is above Art in either or both categories)... >>>
>
> .I flew my first mission as a teen ager 19
>
>
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
I was NOT a pilot. I was a bombardier.
Art
Rob Arndt
> On Mar 14, 9:37?am, "nmg175" <nmg...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Jack G" ?wrote in message
> > > Art - you forgot to correct Rob's statement that you were a Pilot...
> > > I'm sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as
>
> > > Jack G.
>
> > What a dreamer you are!
>
> > > "Bombardier" <artkr...@aol.com> wrote in message "Rob Arndt"
> > > <teuton...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> > >>> Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
> > >>> the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
> > >>> that is above Art in either or both categories)... >>>
>
> > .I flew my first mission as a teen ager 19
>
> > >> Art- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I was NOT a pilot. I was a bombardier.
>
> Art- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Sorry Art, I didn't remember.
So, who was flying "Willie" through the flak then?
Rob
Bombardier
>
> - Show quoted text -
It was Paul Shorts in the left seat and Bob Monson in the right seat.
I have pictures of both of them on my website. Paul and I are the last
survivors of Willie's crew, The others have all passed on quite a
while ago. But when Paul and I get together they all live again in our
memories, Fine men all.,Absent friends fondly remembered
Bombardier
Bombardier
I didn't choose Bombers.bombers chose me. (grin)
Art
Rob Arndt
>
> - Show quoted text -
But what of my original questions regarding the airshows and the Jenny
a/c?
Did you ever get to see one growing up?
Rob
Bombardier
>
> - Show quoted text -
I lived within walking distance of the Floyd Bennet Naval Air station
and we used to go to the civilian section and watch the Stinsons,
Aeroncas, Pipers, Beechvrafts and some Curtis biplanes taking off.
Great fun.It was one of our favorite places Never saw a Jenny, Our
favorite planes were of WW One. Spads, Fokkers etc, but I never
sawany of those either.But when you are young you have a rich
imaginations (s)
Art
George Z. Bush
I used to fly Brooklyn College AFROTC cadets out of there on C-45s for
orientation flights during the mid to late 50s. Small world.
George Z.
Stephen Harding
>
>>On Mar 14, 8:28?pm, "Bombardier" <artkr...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Mar 14, 8:45?am, "Rob Arndt" <teuton...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>>>Art,
>>
>>>>Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
>>>>the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
>>>>that is above Art in either or both categories)... so I wondering if
>>>>you dreamed of aviation while you were growing up?
>>
>>>>I ask b/c I am currently reading a book on the beloved JN-4 "Jenny"
>>>>and was surprised by how many Americans cherished it, especially
>>>>postwar where almost every air show and aerial acrobatic/stunt pilot
>>>>was flying a Jenny.
>>
>>>>Did you develop any love of aviation from that plane? Did you ever go
>>>>to see any of the shows the book speaks of involving Jennys?
>>
>>>>If not, what did inspire you? And why did you choose bombers?
>>
>>>>Rob
>>
>>>I didn't choose Bombers.bombers chose me. (grin)
>>
>>>Art- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>>- Show quoted text -
>>
>>But what of my original questions regarding the airshows and the Jenny
>>a/c?
>>
>>Did you ever get to see one growing up?
My father grew up in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Quite rural
at the time and one of his sisters had a boyfriend who flew [I
think] a JN-4, doing air shows which were quite popular in the
late 20's/early 30's. I believe he also made money charging
for airplane rides.
Needless to say, that pretty much clinched my Father's determination
to be in the AAC when war broke out.
SMH
Rob Arndt
>
> - Show quoted text -
Anyone ever see Katherine Stinson in her Jenny or Curtis Special?
Her story: http://www.downtowntucson.org/downtowntucsonan/july05/historic.html
Rob
Stephen Harding
> Anyone ever see Katherine Stinson in her Jenny or Curtis Special?
>
> Her story: http://www.downtowntucson.org/downtowntucsonan/july05/historic.html
I'd heard of her and based on the link, perhaps she was a bit too
early on the aviation scene to become a real national figure. Seems
she had largely "retired" and moved on by the 20's.
But being the first "sky writer" is a record they can't take a way
from you!
Locally, we had Amelia Earhart who learned automotive mechanics here
in Northampton, MA in the teens while her sister was a student at
local Smith College. There's an historic marker on a local grass
field where an airport used to be that claims she flew out of from
time to time.
Old Rhinebeck airdrome in NY has a genuine, flying JN-4 used for weekend
air shows. If anyone is in the area check it out. It's a fantastic
place from pre-WWII aviation with weekend airshows during the summer
(flying Sopwith camels, Fokker DVII's and the Jenny (possibly the only
original flying Jenny in the world) as well as early motorcycles,
ambulances and even a French WWI tank driving around!
My visit there in 2001:
http://dandenong.cs.umass.edu/~harding/Rhinebeck/index.html
SMH
Jack G
Jenny - currently at Arlington Airport - The Collection is Moving to Paine
Field This Summer. http://www.flyingheritage.com/
Jack G.
"Stephen Harding" <smhar...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eOyKh.7$DX5.1@trndny06...
Keith Willshaw
The UK equivalent is the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden
just outside Bedford
Keith
Bombardier
I spent lotsa time at Rhinebeck before the war while I was still in
High school. Great place that I remember fondly.
Bombardier
Bombardier
> > Art - you forgot to correct Rob's statement that you were a Pilot...
> > I'm sure it was an oversight and not an intentional attempt to pose as
> > something that you were not... Right?
>
> > Jack G.
>
> What a dreamer you are!
>
>
>
> > <teuton...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> Art,
>
>
>
> >>> Since you are probably the most experienced veteran here and one of
> >>> the oldest living pilots on this NG (forgive me if there is anyone
> >>> that is above Art in either or both categories)... >>>
>
> .I flew my first mission as a teen ager 19
>
>
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -
"What a dreamer you are! "
What did you mean by that?
Bombardier
guy
<nospamforke...@kwillshaw.nospamdemon.co.uk> wrote:
> "Stephen Harding" <smhardin...@msn.com> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Absolutley Essential Visit if you are in the UK
guy
Robert Sveinson
"Keith Willshaw" <nospamf...@kwillshaw.nospamdemon.co.uk> wrote in
message news:etee9k$rdt$1$8302...@news.demon.co.uk...
And Amy Johnson would be another equivalent!
http://www.ninety-nines.org/johnson.html
> Keith
>