Posted on 04/05/2020 11:15:46 AM PDT by Borges
Rear Adm. Edward L. Feightner, a Navy air ace of World War II who shot down nine Japanese planes while flying propeller-driven fighters, then played a prominent role in the testing and development of postwar Navy jets, died on Wednesday in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was 100.
His death, at a senior living facility, was confirmed by his nephew Jim McBride, with whom he had been living in Coeur d’Alene.
In his 34 years of Navy service, as a combat pilot in the Pacific, an instructor and a test pilot, Admiral Feightner flew more than 100 types of planes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
There are old Pilots and there are bold Pilots, but there are no Old Bold Pilots. This guy was the exception to the Rule.
Another true American Hero gone.
RIP
yeah a few get through to be the old and bold. :)
RIP You we’re an American hero.
High Flight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qqVRBZO5gc
RIP.
General Yeager is still with us. Outlived the actor who played him in “The Right Stuff.”
n January 1952, Feightner received orders to the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron—the Blue Angels. The squadron had been directed to add the Cutlass to their performance although neither Feightner nor Blue Angels commander “Butch” Voris believed the aircraft was ready for formation flying.[52] The F7U was the Navy’s first operational aircraft fitted with a hydraulic flight control system and reliability was still poor.[9] In the event of failure, the mechanical backup system required eleven seconds before control was restored.[53] The solution was to fly the F7Us separately from the rest of the team thereby creating the diamond and solo roles that remain to the present day. Feightner recruited former Blue Angel Lt. Harding C. “Mac” Macknight to fly the second Cutlass.[5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_L._Feightner
Well done!
RIP
I loved reading his Autobiography.
The guy got nicknamed by Butch O’Hare?! Pretty high end credentials, RIP Sir!
There was an F7U at a park in Fort Lauderdale that kids could play on, but there were too many injuries. They removed it and stored it at an airport for many years. It was eventually sent to Avon Park bombing range to be used for target practice.
We met him at one of the “Heritage Dinners” at the Officers Club on McChord AFB a few years ago. He didn’t look as old as some of the Vietnam guys who were heavy drinkers... and he outlived quite a few of them.
Thank-you for your service! Rest in peace. (RIP) Memory Eternal.
We live on an airport. Our neighbor Amelia took pictures with him at an air show she flew her T6 to. She emailed them to us this morning.
Look at his serious looking official photo as an admiral and contrast it with the grinning idiot just thankfully removed from the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Not to be confused with Eddie FEIGNER, the softball pitcher who struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew all in a row. (True story).
Rest in Peace sir, you’ve earned your eternal wings.
Mayhe be reborn into the Space Force.
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