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To: kingu

My father always used to say he was a WWII pilot but didn’t know the details but I just looked it up and he was. He flew B-17s for 29 missions and was an acrobatics champion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Worthington

RIP and now the jingle will go through my head for the rest of the day.


35 posted on 09/09/2013 1:25:33 PM PDT by Lx (Do you like it? Do you like it, Scott? I call it, "Mr. & Mrs. Tenorman Chili.")
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To: Lx
He flew B-17s for 29 missions and was an acrobatics champion.

Wow. Worthington really has my respect. You had to be extremely skilled... and fortunate... to survive 29 missions in a B-17. The Memphis Belle became a household name after completing 25 missions, although her crew actually flew 4 more missions in other aircraft.

43 posted on 09/09/2013 2:13:27 PM PDT by justlurking (tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
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To: Lx; All
Cal had quite a distinguished military career. I like him more now.

Worthington served in the United States Army in World War II, flying for the Army Air Corps. He served as a Second Lieutenant and was the aerobatics champion at Goodfellow Field in San Angelo, Texas. During the war, he served as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 390th Bomber Group, flying 29 missions over Germany, and was discharged after the war as a captain. He was awarded the Air Medal five times. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was presented to him by Jimmy Doolittle. Worthington's military service was revisited during the 21st century in articles in aviation magazines, for his role in having trained individuals who later became some of America's earliest astronauts.

51 posted on 09/09/2013 2:43:12 PM PDT by South40
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To: Lx

Makes me like him even more. God bless Cal Worthington. Cal, thanks for fighting to defend my freedom. May you rest snug and secure in the love of the Lord.


54 posted on 09/09/2013 3:28:04 PM PDT by Finny (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -- Psalm 119:105)
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