Posted on 10/25/2016 10:03:09 AM PDT by EveningStar
One of the greatest pilots in the history of aviation died this morning, according to reports.
Bob Hoover, a World War II fighter pilot, a former Air Force test pilot, and the chase plane pilot for Chuck Yeager when he broke the sound barrier for the first time, was 94.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.mprnews.org ...
Looking for “stealing a German fighter”
And found this bit of fun.
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/grand-theft-aircraft.13591/
“Someone else is guilty of Grand Theft Aircraft...
Not long after scrambling into their dingy after the crash Ted and his crew where picked up by an Italian sea plane and made prisoners of war.
It did not take them long to learn that they would be taken to Taranto in Italy where they would spend the rest of the war as prisoners.
The thought of their approaching doom spurred them into taking action against their captors. With the watchful eyes of the guard on them and limited communication the worlds first skyjack swung into action.
They started straight for the radio operator, clearly to make sure no contact was made to the base and successfully took him out. They then overpowered an unexpected guard and managed to get his weapon off him. The first part of their attack was successful but the turning point came when the co-pilot pulled a pistol on them. Luck was on their side however as it was one the Italian’s own comrades that knocked the weapon from his hands in the frantic struggle to regain control. It was after that bit of fortune in the frenzied chaos that they knew the plane was theirs, and Ted wasted no time in taking over the controls.
New problems now became apparent. The first and more immediate issue was that they were fast running low on fuel. After asking the Italian Engineer kindly (at gunpoint) to switch to reserves and by changing their route, flying rather to their base at Malta instead of the African coast, this first problem was quickly taken care of. Next was the problem of flying an Italian plane. Ted’s experience was sufficient to fly an Italian plane but to the allies this was an enemy aircraft fast approaching the Malta coast. Soon there were spitfires gunning them down. Normally the sight of spitfires off the wing of his torpedo bomber would have been comforting, however this was clearly not a Bristol Beaufort bomber and with holes being shot in his tail this was definitely not comforting. Ted hurled the first pilot back into his seat and ordered him in hurried sign-language to land in the sea.
One of the men then whipped off his shirt and took his vest — the only white article he had — and waved it out of the window making it clear that they had come to surrender — albeit to their own side!
The first wave of spits managed to do fair damage to the plane but they landed safely and the worlds 1st skyjack was over.
Astonished to see four RAF’s in the Italian plane a member of the launch team towing them back to St Paul’s Bay said “We thought it was old Mussolini coming to give himself up!””
Bob could do things with an Aero Commander Shrike that would leave the crowd with their mouths agape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc
Recall the ruckus when the FAA tried to pull Bob Hoover’s ticket in the early 90’s... about ‘94? Was it just before an Oshkosh event?
I think that was mentioned or alluded to in John Ross’ “Unintended Consequences” (1996).
Oh, almost forgot. RIP Bob, you did good. Godspeed.
RIP Mr. Hoover. Been a fan since I had the opportunity to watch him “waltz” his P-51 in time to music down the runway at Tyndall airplane patch in the early ‘60’s. What a stick!
That sounds familiar.
Got a chance to shake his hand at an Airshow when I was a teenager. He used to do Stunts using an Aero Commander Business Plane. He would be wearing a Business Suit while doing it. lol
I had the pleasure of drinking with him and tex hill one night in Scottsdale Arizona 20 plus years ago needless to say it was a long night and a lot of fun rest in peace Bob
I had the pleasure of drinking with him and tex hill one night in Scottsdale Arizona 20 plus years ago needless to say it was a long night and a lot of fun rest in peace Bob
Sad to hear that. He used to fly an Aero Commander and did some crazy things with it. Rest well,sir.
RIP to a great pilot.
Drinking with Hoover.. lol. The first time I had the pleasure was at the Acey Duecy bar in Oshkosh WI during the fly in. I was a young LT and had brought an F4 to be a static display. Went to the bar in the evening figuring I would be the coolest hot shot pilot in a flight suit there. But there was Bob, holding court from a bar stool. I was in awe of the great man. I ran into him again just this last August at Oshkosh. A life well lived!
At NAS Miramar I saw him shut both down, do loops, a cuban 8 then glide in at 90 degrees to the runway, enter the pattern then land and stop on center runway without ever restarting his engines.
The man could not only fly he was the best pilot I ever knew. He was the maestro. RIP Bob.
R.A. “Bob” Hoover was the best stick and rudder ever
Yeager apparently had it much differently. Celebrity has sat on his shoulders in a very different way, being more of a burden to him. He never wanted it, but Hoover seemed quite at home with it, at least at his level of celebrity.
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That’s what I figured. I’m aware of some introverted people, who attained celebrity, but didn’t want it. They end up getting a reputation for not being friendly even though that isn’t the case. They simply can’t get used to strangers coming up to them as if they are long lost friends.
I enjoyed Yeager’s books.
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