Racing
Aug 14th, 09, 4:09 PM
We had a great time at AirVenture this year. It was a busy few days and just now getting back to my daily routine. The narration is by my son 'Chance' and I had the honor of photographing the event.
Sorry for the length, but even if typed twice this amount, I couldn't fully convey the uniqueness and specialness of these events. We build these airplanes to honor WWII heroes and acknowledge their brave service. I hope me sharing these photos and stories can further that cause.
Most times when you look forward to a big event that is years in the making and is the culmination of a tremendous amount of time work, it can be a big letdown. That was not the case at Oshkosh this year. The airshow and our time with these two WWII legends far exceeded even my wildest dreams. They were AWESOME. Funny, lively, and absolute gentleman. When people speak of the Greatest Generation, I now know what they mean. It is Bill and Buck Pattillo they are referring to. These men are warriors and patriots, and it was a special honor to meet them and spend so much time in their company. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:forums.corvetteforum.com/get/images/smilies/patriot.gif
I could write a novel about the stories they told (Bill being shot down in Sweet and Lovely, the POW marches he was led on, Buck bailing out of airplanes on fire, his engine flaming out on takeoff in a plane loaded with napalm, the formation of the Thunderbirds demonstration team, and on and on...) but I'll just get right to a few pictures.
This is the moment Buck Pattillo saw his Little Rebel for the first time in 64 years. The last time he stood next to his P-51 was in England in 1945.
When he arrived at the airplane, a silence came over the crowd and everyone backed away to give him time and space. He was very quiet, and at first would touch just the wing and the drop tank. I have my back to the camera in that red shirt. I encouraged Buck to stand up next to the nose of his airplane and touch it. He did that, and when he turned back to face the crowd, the cameras and flash bulbs came alive. It was a special moment.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/SDC1014374.jpg
We gave Buck his space, and he slowly made his way around the Mustang.
"This is my airplane," he said softly. "This is just how she looked."
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10177.jpg
Buck is in the middle, I am at the left. The airplane's owner/builder/pilot is at the right.
The emotion on Buck's face is apparent.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10182.jpg
As we worked around the airplane to the other side, I opened up the gun bay for Buck to peer inside. He placed his hands inside and touched one of the Browning .50 caliber machine guns. Once again, it was a very poignant moment.
"Now these aren't live are they?" he asked.
"No, they won't fire," I said. "We didn't want any funny business between you two brothers when we took you flying."
"Good," he responded with a hearty laugh. "Sweet and Lovely is a beautiful airplane. I'd hate to shoot it down."
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10200.jpg
The next few pictures need some set up. What we did was re-create a 65-year old photograph.
This picture, featuring the Pattillo brothers was taken in Bodney, England in 1944.
http://www.highironillustrations.com/rogues_pics/pattillo_twins.jpg
65 years later, we found the old, original pilot gear and re-staged the scene.
The crowd around the airplane as we set this up was incredible.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10242.jpg
Sorry for the length, but even if typed twice this amount, I couldn't fully convey the uniqueness and specialness of these events. We build these airplanes to honor WWII heroes and acknowledge their brave service. I hope me sharing these photos and stories can further that cause.
Most times when you look forward to a big event that is years in the making and is the culmination of a tremendous amount of time work, it can be a big letdown. That was not the case at Oshkosh this year. The airshow and our time with these two WWII legends far exceeded even my wildest dreams. They were AWESOME. Funny, lively, and absolute gentleman. When people speak of the Greatest Generation, I now know what they mean. It is Bill and Buck Pattillo they are referring to. These men are warriors and patriots, and it was a special honor to meet them and spend so much time in their company. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:forums.corvetteforum.com/get/images/smilies/patriot.gif
I could write a novel about the stories they told (Bill being shot down in Sweet and Lovely, the POW marches he was led on, Buck bailing out of airplanes on fire, his engine flaming out on takeoff in a plane loaded with napalm, the formation of the Thunderbirds demonstration team, and on and on...) but I'll just get right to a few pictures.
This is the moment Buck Pattillo saw his Little Rebel for the first time in 64 years. The last time he stood next to his P-51 was in England in 1945.
When he arrived at the airplane, a silence came over the crowd and everyone backed away to give him time and space. He was very quiet, and at first would touch just the wing and the drop tank. I have my back to the camera in that red shirt. I encouraged Buck to stand up next to the nose of his airplane and touch it. He did that, and when he turned back to face the crowd, the cameras and flash bulbs came alive. It was a special moment.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/SDC1014374.jpg
We gave Buck his space, and he slowly made his way around the Mustang.
"This is my airplane," he said softly. "This is just how she looked."
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10177.jpg
Buck is in the middle, I am at the left. The airplane's owner/builder/pilot is at the right.
The emotion on Buck's face is apparent.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10182.jpg
As we worked around the airplane to the other side, I opened up the gun bay for Buck to peer inside. He placed his hands inside and touched one of the Browning .50 caliber machine guns. Once again, it was a very poignant moment.
"Now these aren't live are they?" he asked.
"No, they won't fire," I said. "We didn't want any funny business between you two brothers when we took you flying."
"Good," he responded with a hearty laugh. "Sweet and Lovely is a beautiful airplane. I'd hate to shoot it down."
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10200.jpg
The next few pictures need some set up. What we did was re-create a 65-year old photograph.
This picture, featuring the Pattillo brothers was taken in Bodney, England in 1944.
http://www.highironillustrations.com/rogues_pics/pattillo_twins.jpg
65 years later, we found the old, original pilot gear and re-staged the scene.
The crowd around the airplane as we set this up was incredible.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n46/Banshee55/Oshkosh%202009/SDC10242.jpg