bargain kilts?

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

He'd been discharged honorably from the US Navy for some drinking escapade in 1939...he'd taken that civilian flying training in University in Montana. He enlisted with the RAF in Spokane, Washington, trained down in the Imperial Valley of California, then took a train to Canada and ship to Scotland. He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

When the U.S. got over there in Sept 1942 they took him into the Army Air Corps. He flew a P-39 from England to North Africa (they'd been in crates on the way to Russia, Mechanics assembled them in England). He flew the P-39 in North Africa, got shot down at Kassarine Pass. Walked out with the 1st Armored.

They sent him stateside to train pilots. Seldom talked about it, but left a treasure of notes and records when he died.

Ron

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

He'd been discharged honorably from the US Navy for some drinking escapade in 1939...he'd taken that civilian flying training in University in Montana. He enlisted with the RAF in Spokane, Washington, trained down in the Imperial Valley of California, then took a train to Canada and ship to Scotland. He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

When the U.S. got over there in Sept 1942 they took him into the Army Air Corps. He flew a P-39 from England to North Africa (they'd been in crates on the way to Russia, Mechanics assembled them in England). He flew the P-39 in North Africa, got shot down at Kassarine Pass. Walked out with the 1st Armored.

They sent him stateside to train pilots. Seldom talked about it, but left a treasure of notes and records when he died.

Ron

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

He'd been discharged honorably from the US Navy for some drinking escapade in 1939...he'd taken that civilian flying training in University in Montana. He enlisted with the RAF in Spokane, Washington, trained down in the Imperial Valley of California, then took a train to Canada and ship to Scotland. He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

When the U.S. got over there in Sept 1942 they took him into the Army Air Corps. He flew a P-39 from England to North Africa (they'd been in crates on the way to Russia, Mechanics assembled them in England). He flew the P-39 in North Africa, got shot down at Kassarine Pass. Walked out with the 1st Armored.

They sent him stateside to train pilots. Seldom talked about it, but left a treasure of notes and records when he died.

Ron

[Jerry]

Just my opinion, but going from flying Spits to P39s must have been a bit like giving up your sports car to drive a truck. Anyhow, your dad sounds like he was a great guy.

[Jerry]

Just my opinion, but going from flying Spits to P39s must have been a bit like giving up your sports car to drive a truck. Anyhow, your dad sounds like he was a great guy.

[Jerry]

Just my opinion, but going from flying Spits to P39s must have been a bit like giving up your sports car to drive a truck. Anyhow, your dad sounds like he was a great guy.

[macwilkin]

He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

Your Dad must have been one heck of a man, Ron. The Dieppe Raid was nothing to sneeze at. Too few Americans know about the gallantry and loss at Dieppe. They should make a movie about it like "Saving Private Ryan".

A lot of those P-39 Aircobras ended up in Russia on Lend-Lease. Not the most attractive plane.

My grandfather was in the 14th Air Force in the China-India-Burma (CBI) theatre.

Cheers,

T.

[macwilkin]

He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

Your Dad must have been one heck of a man, Ron. The Dieppe Raid was nothing to sneeze at. Too few Americans know about the gallantry and loss at Dieppe. They should make a movie about it like "Saving Private Ryan".

A lot of those P-39 Aircobras ended up in Russia on Lend-Lease. Not the most attractive plane.

My grandfather was in the 14th Air Force in the China-India-Burma (CBI) theatre.

Cheers,

T.

[macwilkin]

He flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes, was on the Dieppe raid.

Your Dad must have been one heck of a man, Ron. The Dieppe Raid was nothing to sneeze at. Too few Americans know about the gallantry and loss at Dieppe. They should make a movie about it like "Saving Private Ryan".

A lot of those P-39 Aircobras ended up in Russia on Lend-Lease. Not the most attractive plane.

My grandfather was in the 14th Air Force in the China-India-Burma (CBI) theatre.

Cheers,

T.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks, he seldom talked about the war except when drunk, then didn't make a lot of sense. Family kept his letters home but the censor's butchered them.

He kept his flight records, so between that, his unit history, the regular history books, and the notes he kept after engagements I've been able to piece together a lot for the family.

He was eager and "in it" early when we were learning the hard lessons of Dieppe and Kassarine Pass. Ran into a Navajo guy in a jacket with a 1st Armored patch on. Thanked him...he's kind of puzzled looking until I explained that my dad was shot down at Kassarine Pass and was able to hook up with the retreating 1st Armored and not get kilt so he could get back stateside and give me life. As soon as I said Kassarine he knew what I meant about his old unit's history.

Only thing this has to do with kilts is that I'm alive to wear one today because one of Rommel's gunner's wasn't a better shot.

Ron