A couple of things as an add on: Bubbie Erick Hartman actually had around 550 kills but most were Russian which back then some thought did not count: The faulker D-7 made famous while in the flying circus of Red Baron fame... I have actually flown formation with one that was based in Tenn. The thing could turn on a dime but golley Gee it would only do about 87 MPH straight and level... Had a friend who flew BF-109s for the Germans during WW2 and have been all over the Spanish BF-109s while in our local paint shop... Never got a chance to fly one .... Same with the Spitfire.. Workmanship back then was a little rough but still beautiful birds in my mind. I grew up around aircraft and actually flew an American Airlines DC-6 (or 7 ?) while sitting in the Captains lap when I was about 5 or 6 years old.. All I ever wanted to do was fly... Funny now I really don't miss it. Some where between 25,000 and 30,000 plus hours will do that to you I suppose.. Actually airline flying which is Boring probably had more do do with getting my fill than anything. Now I just hit little golf balls...
A couple of things as an add on: Bubbie Erick Hartman actually had around 550 kills but most were Russian which back then some thought did not count: The faulker D-7 made famous while in the flying circus of Red Baron fame... I have actually flown formation with one that was based in Tenn. The thing could turn on a dime but golley Gee it would only do about 87 MPH straight and level... Had a friend who flew BF-109s for the Germans during WW2 and have been all over the Spanish BF-109s while in our local paint shop... Never got a chance to fly one .... Same with the Spitfire.. Workmanship back then was a little rough but still beautiful birds in my mind. I grew up around aircraft and actually flew an American Airlines DC-6 (or 7 ?) while sitting in the Captains lap when I was about 5 or 6 years old.. All I ever wanted to do was fly... Funny now I really don't miss it. Some where between 25,000 and 30,000 plus hours will do that to you I suppose.. Actually airline flying which is Boring probably had more do do with getting my fill than anything. Now I just hit little golf balls...
Years back a friend of mine flew one of the B-25's off the deck of a carrier in San Diego for the Doolittle reenactment it is from his page I got the info. Great guy like you funny as hell. Glad you enjoyed it.
