For 30 minutes, former WWII pilot flies back in time

St. Petersburg Times ^ | January 30, 2010 | Bill Stevens

[shredderman]

Great thing to hear and see when a Vet gets to sit in his former “Front Office” and you can watch them get that far away look, and the stories start to come out.......

Thank you, Sir, for your sacrifice and service. As long as US History is taught the correct way, the following generations will know of your generation’s actions to keep the World free.

Fair winds and following seas...

[Blackwatch2]

The Mighty Eighth...you know once sortied and committed, NO combat mission by the Eighth turned back??? EVER...NOT one....

to say ‘Progressives/ or communists/ or Liberals or what ever you call them as Americans or as men compared to these men (and the women that backed them)...well Progressive men are cowards and W.I.M.P's men

[11Bush]

My father was the last of the family that served in WWII to pass away. He was a Navy pilot in the Pacific and flew TBMs among others off the deck of several carriers until he was shot down and suffered a back injury.

I miss him every single day. He was, and will always be my greatest hero.

Some don’t consider that they were the ‘Greatest Generation’ and point to FDR and social programs that were enacted. I however dare anyone of them to point to a more courageous, honest, and hardworking generation. Of course they can’t.

We owe everything to these men, and they are slowly disappearing. One day soon we will look around and they will all be gone, and the world will be a little less for it.

[11Bush]

My father was the last of the family that served in WWII to pass away. He was a Navy pilot in the Pacific and flew TBMs among others off the deck of several carriers until he was shot down and suffered a back injury.

I miss him every single day. He was, and will always be my greatest hero.

Some don’t consider that they were the ‘Greatest Generation’ and point to FDR and social programs that were enacted. I however dare anyone of them to point to a more courageous, honest, and hardworking generation. Of course they can’t.

We owe everything to these men, and they are slowly disappearing. One day soon we will look around and they will all be gone, and the world will be a little less for it.

[11Bush]

Sorry for the double post. My first ever in almost 11 years. lol

[onedoug]

12 O’Clock High. Thanks LT Radosevich.

‘Hope I hear from Dale. I’ll call tomorrow.

[usconservative]

Got hard to read at the end, with the blurry vision and all...damned allergies.

Yep ... (sniff.....cough....) I had the same problem. Must be mold or something down here ... (wiping eyes.)

What do you say to a man like him other than "thank you" from the bottom of one's heart? He's seen things that by the grace of God none of the rest of us will ever have to see. God bless and keep him.

[EternalVigilance]

Thank God America has had men like this.

[Maverick68]

ditto...

[tanknetter]

so he could fly on the last remaining operable B-24

Nitpick: the Collins Foundations B-24 "Witchcraft" is NOT the last operational B-24. Kermit Weeks has one in operational condition, although it is rarely flown. More importantly, however, the Commemorative Air Force has their B-24A "Ol'927" (formerly "Diamond Lil").

There have been a number of disputes between Collins and the CAF over the last several years, with Collins claiming that "Ol'927" is really an "LB-30" (designation of the Liberator when flown by the Brits). The CAF counters that their paperwork shows she was bought and built as a B-24A, given to the Brits as an LB-30 under lend-lease, then reclaimed by the USAAF for use as a transport. They've been actively working to restore her to being a B-24A, and my understanding is that Collins has backed off their "only B-24" claim in the face of the CAF having facts on their side.

[Blue Ink]

Thank you for my country.

[mom aka the evil dictator]

God bless you and all of our heroes, the ones who made it home and those who gave all for their country. There will never be enough words to say how grateful we are for your service.

[Tainan]

Thank you for posting this story.

[SatinDoll]

What a wonderful story! I’m glad he had a long and fulfilling life after surviving the air war over Europe.

[octex]

Is that the new name for the CAF that was in South Texas for years and known as the Confederate Air Force? I don’t know if they’re still located there, but they really had some great restored planes and put on air shows here near the DFW area in the past.

[Professional Engineer]

ping

[Liberty Valance]

Wonderful story. They don’t make’em like that anymore. Thanks for posting.

[Shadowstrike]

God Bless you sir. Thank you for my freedom.

Semper Fi.

[A.A. Cunningham]

As long as you're nitpicking, it's The Collings Foundation, not Collins.

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. Friday afternoon at his new home in Summertree near Hudson, Nick Radosevich, 92, slipped into his old flight jacket, which still fits. Marilyn's sister, had paid $425 for a ticket so he could fly on the last remaining operable B-24. The nonprofit Collings Foundation, which renovated the plane, would be offering tours and rides at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport. Word got around quickly that the old man with the wooden cane had flown during the war. Nick told his story to TV reporters and then climbed aboard Witchcraft. In tight quarters, he managed to pull himself past the 50-caliber waist guns and up some steps toward the cockpit. It is restricted to most visitors, but not this man. Chris Bahan, 33, who helps fly Witchcraft around the country, helped Nick into the pilot's seat. Outside on the tarmac, Marilyn beamed as she watched her husband reaquaint himself with an old friend. He hadn't been in a cockpit in some 65 years. He sat there for a half-hour, explaining all the gadgets, recalling some battles... Nick and Marilyn strapped on seat belts and the B-24 roared down the runway, heading west over the Gulf of Mexico. A half-hour later, it returned to the airport. Nick Radosevich beamed. Others surrounded him, wondering about such things as memories and emotions. "I forgot how loud it was. That's why I wear these,'' he said with a smile, pointing to his twin hearing aids. "This was a good plane. We did a lot of damage.'' To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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