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The Freepr Foxhole Profiles Clarence "Kelly" Johnson March 10, 2006
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Posted on 03/09/2006 7:15:31 PM PST by alfa6



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.



...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

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Clarence "Kelly" Johnson




"Be Quick, Be Quiet, And Be On Time"




I knew I wanted to design airplanes when I was 12 years old" says Johnson. "I read every Tom Swift novel I could get my hands on. I read "Tom Swift and his Airplane"; "Tom Swift and his Electric Car" ; "Tom Swift and his Submarine" and I said that's for me."

A native of Michigan, Johnson was born in the remote mining town of Ishpeming on November 27, 1910 to immigrant Swedish parents. Kelly was born seven years after the Wright Brothers made their first successful flight.

While attending grade school, Kelly was chided by some classmates for his name; Clarence. The other boys started calling me "Clara". One morning while waiting in line to get into a classroom, one boy named Cecil started with the normal routine of calling me "Clara". Kelly tripped the boy so hard it broke his leg. The boys then decided that I wasn't a "Clara" and looking for a new nickname started calling me "Kelly". The nickname came from the popular song at the time.."Kelly With the Green Neck Tie". From that time forward it would always be "Kelly Johnson".

After making his decision at the age of 12 to design aircraft, he went ahead to design his first airplane. Kelly called his first design "The Merlin 1, Battle Plane". Several weeks later he saw his first airplane; a World War I Jenny. His decision was confirmed.

He later moved to Flint where his father had a construction business. Kelly graduated from Flint High School, working summers with his father and in the motor test section of the Buick Motor Car Company. By graduation he had saved up $300. He tried to give it to an Instructor at the Flint Airport in exchange for flying lessons, but the Instructor shook his head and probably changed the entire course of Kelly's life. "I've always had the greatest respect for that man," Kelly said later. "He needed that money more than anything else in the world. But instead of taking it, he said, "Look kid..save that money and go to school."

Kelly graduated from Flint Junior College and completed his education at the University of Michigan, where he received His Bachelor of Science Degree in 1932. Kelly Johnson worked his way through school by picking up scholarships, washing dishes and helping a professor; Edward Stalker, as a Teaching Assistant. He went on to received his Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1933. During this period he picked up small teaching fellowships and augmenting his income by renting the University's wind tunnel to run tests as a consultant on models of Indianapolis racing cars, trains and aircraft. "I made more more money that year than any of the first 10 years I worked for Lockheed." Kelly grins.

After graduating froom the University of Michigan in 1932 Kelly Johnson wenr out West to look for work in the aircraft industry. No work was to be found. Ther only encouragement Kelly recieved was from the Lockheed Company which had just come out of bankruptcy. No jobs were available at the time but engineering executive Richard von Hake suggested to Kelly. "Why don't you go back to school and come out again next year? I think we'll have something for you."

So back to the U of Michigan for a year to get a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering. Kelly's tuition was paid in part by a $500 fellowship grant and lots of hours at the wind tunnel. Among the projects that Kelly helped with in the wind tunnel was a model of the Lockheed Electra. The aircraft had some stability problems but the university professors and Lockheed execs thought that they were. Kelly Johnson thought otherwise.



He left college in 1933 with a master's of science degree, a used car, and plans to return to Lockheed and the promised job in California. Lockheed executive Cyril Chappellet and Chief Engineer Hall Hibbard hired the young Johnson as an $83 a month tool designer until there was an opening in engineering.

Kelly Johnson was asked his opinion of the Electra, the plane that the newly reorganized Lockheed Compamy was banking it's future on. Kelly never one to hide his light replied,"Practically the first thing I told Chappellet and Hibbard was that their plane was unstable and that I did not agree with the university's wind-tunnel report."

Back to Michigan U went Kelly Johnson to see if he could do better. It took 72 wind tunnel test but Kelly was able to improve the Electra. The result was the classic twin tail of the Electra line. Also in the design of the Electra was the introduction of "Fowler Flaps that enhanced low speed stability and braking and helped to improve the aircrafts speed in flight.

The design of the Fowler Flap earned Kelly Johnson the first of over fifty awards that he would gather over his carrer.In 1937 at the age of 27 Kelly Johnson was awarded by the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences the Lawrence Sperry Award for "important improvements of aeronautical design of high speed commercial aircraft". The Sperry award was given annually "for outstanding achievements in aeronautics by young men."



Also in 1937 Lockheed won the a design contract that would lead to the P-38 Lightning. It was Kelly Johnson's work in the wind tunnel that helped to solve the problems of compressibilty that threatened to end the Lighting program. Lockheed went on to build almost 10,000 P-38s whixh fought in all theaters of the war amd was flown by the two top aces of the United States.

In 1938 with Hitler threatning war in Europe the British sent a purchasing commission to the United States to lookk for aircraft to help re-arm England. Among the planes the comission was looking for was a coastal patrol bomber/antisubmarine aircraft. With only commercial aircraft in production Lockheed was not on the original schedule for the British comission. A change of plans however led the British to Lockheed with only five days notice to Lockheed.

With only five days to come up with something to present to the British Purchasing Commission Lockheed engineers and shop personell, using the Electra Model 14 as a starting point produced a full scale wooden mockup of a medium reconnaissance bomber. The British were so impressed by the enthusiasm of the Lockheed employees and their mockup that Lockheed was invited to send a group of people to England to confere with the Air Ministry on the proposed bomber. Of course Kelly Johnson was a member of this team.

At the meeting with the Air Ministry in England new specifications were requested that would require a major redesign of the proposed bomber. Working for three straight days over a holiday weekend, taking the occasional catnap Johnson redesigned the proposed bomber to meet the new specifications.

The British were astounded that the plane could be redesigned in such a short time, especially by such a young engineer. After a week of additional discussions the British called Courtland Goss of to the side to inquire as to wether or not Lockheed would stand behind their young engineer. Courtalnd Goss recalled the conversation thusly...

"Mr. Goss, we like your proposal very much, and we very much would like to deal with Lockheed. On the other hand, you must understand that we're very unused in this country to dealing--especially on transactions of such magnitude--on the technical say-so of a man as young as Mr. Johnson. And, therefore, I'll have to have your assurance . . . that if we do go forward, the aircraft resulting from the purchase will in every way live up to Mr. Johnson's specifications."

Of course Goss assured the British that Lockheed had every confidence in the capabilities of Kelly Johnson and that the Air Ministry would not be dissapointed with the new aircraft. On June 28, 1938 the British Air Ministry signed a contract worth $25,000,000 dollars for 200 of the proposed bomber plus as many more that could be built and delivered by December of 1939 up to a total of 250 aircraft. At the time it was the largest single order for aircraft that an American aircraft company hed seen. The proposed new bomber was the Hudson, the progenitor of the Venura and Harpoon that came later in WW-II.



In 1943 the "Skunk Works" was born. Lockheed had a contract with the Army Air Forces to develop a jet fighter built around British DeHavilland jet engine in only 180 days. The rush was in response to repoert that the Germans were flying a jet aircraft. Kelly Johnson with the approval of Lockheed President Robert E. Goss, Johnson formed a team of 23 engineers and 103 shop personnel that were mostly pirated from other projects. The team worked in a small assembly shed at the Lockheed plant in Burbank. Some reports indicat that an old circus tent was used owing to the lack of available secure space due to the need of wartime production demands.

In a 143 days, 37 days less than the contracted amount the P-80 Shooting Star made it first flight on January 8th, 1944. The Advanced Development Projects team had it's first succes. The nickname "Skunk Works" came from the Al Capp comic strip "L'il Abner" where the denizens of Dogpatch would throw in skunks, old shoes and who knew what else to make that fearsome brew "Kickapoo Joy Joice". The folks at Lockheed started to refer to the building where Kelly Johnson's crew was working as "The Skunk Works" because who knew what they where building.



Just a few of the military aircraft to come out of the Skunk Works ere the T-33 trainer variant of the F-80. The T-33 probanly traiined more pilots to fly jets than any other aircraft. The F-104 Starfighter, the "missle with a man in it" of the late 1950's. The P2V Neptune naval patrol bomber. It was a P2V, the Truculent Turtle, that etablished a non-stop distance record from Perth, Australia to Columbus,Ohio in 1946 of 11,235 miles.

Another Lockheed aircraft to benefit from Kelly Johnson's work was the Constellation. The Constellation was a civil airliner that was taken over by the military when WW-II broke out. After the war in became one of the premier piston engined airliners before the advent of the jet airliner. It also was used by the United States military in various forms as well.



It was the 1950s that saw the development what could arguably be two greatest designs of the Skunk Works, Driven by a need to conduct overflight reconnaissance of the Soviet Union in order to collect data on the Soviet military and misasle work the U.S. goverment turned to Kelly Johnson and the Advanced Development Project team. In 1955 the Skunk Works rolled out the long winged U-2. The U-2 could fly at over 70,000ft with a range of 4,000 miles. The U-2 was also a money saver. Johnson's team returned $2,000,000 of the $20,000,000 contract. Lockheed also built 26 of the U-2 aircraft instead of the 20 airctaft that was in the contract.



The other great aircraft to come out of the Skunk Works was of course the SR-71 Blackbird. in 1960 the U.S. Air Force gave the Skunk Works the go ahead to design and build what would become the SR-71. The idea of designing a plane that could fly at sustained speed in excess of Mach 3 was the most difficult challenge thast Kelly Johnson and the Skunk Works team would face. An aircraft that could fly at these speeds would take a whole host of inovations that at the time were basically unknown. Metals, fuel, plastic and wiring were just a few of the problems the the Skunk Works team had to overcome. It all came together however and in 1962 the first of the A-12s made it's maiden flight. The YF-12A flew in 1963 with the SR-71 making it's first flight on December 22, 1964.

The SR-71 in the 1970s went on to set records for speed (2,193 mph), altitude (85,069 feet). A New York to London flight of 3,470 miles was accomplished in one hour and fity four minutes. London to Los Angeles a distance of 5,463 miles only took three hours and forty seven minutes. In March of 1990 for it's retirement the SR-71 streaked across the United States in 68 minutes in a 2,400 mile coast to coast flight.





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KEYWORDS: freeperfoxhole; history; militaryhistory; veterans
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To: GailA

I forgot to say they are US Army medals.


441 posted on 04/03/2006 12:36:29 PM PDT by GailA (May our Lord bless and protect our Troops in harms way.)
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To: GailA

If the star(device) is on the medal, it means the award was given more than one time. A bronze device equal one award. A silver device is probably equal to 5 bronze devices, or being awarded 5 times.


442 posted on 04/03/2006 1:18:30 PM PDT by Professional Engineer (Don't blame me, I voted for Hatch.)
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To: Professional Engineer

The Silver Star is on a ribbon, it is red with a narrow blue and white stripe. The 3 bronze stars are on both the ribbon and the Asiatic Pacific campaign medal, it is yellow with a white/red/whit narrow strip, followed by a blue/white/red narrower stripe, and another white/red/white stripe. I'll go see if they have them on the web.


443 posted on 04/03/2006 5:13:16 PM PDT by GailA (May our Lord bless and protect our Troops in harms way.)
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To: Professional Engineer

While looking for the medals I found this explanation it seems the small stars on the ribbon/medals are Service Stars. Dad was on several different islands and battles, I know he ended up in Japan after the A bomb was dropped. He never told us what he did to earn the Bronze Star though. The only thing he did talk about was him and another man putting the flag back up on that tall flag pole on Corrigidor after McArthur retook it.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry. The medal is a circular bronze disc showing troop landing in a tropical setting with a palm tree. battleship, aircraft carrier and submarine in the background. At the top of the medal, around the edge, are the words ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN. The reverse of the medal shows an American eagle standing on a rock. On the left of the eagle are the raised inscribed dates 1941-1945 and on the right UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The ribbon is yellow-orange with narrow center stripes of red, white and blue (United States). Near the edges are narrow white, red and white stripes (Japan). Participation is specific combat operations is denoted by three-sixteenth inch bronze stars. A three-sixteenth inch silver star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars.

A Service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service medals, ribbon awards, and certain military badges. Service stars are different from award stars, which are issued for multiple awards of meritorious and combat decorations.

The United States military issues bronze and silver service stars, with a silver service star issued “in lieu” of five bronze. For instance, six campaigns, served on a campaign medal, would be annotated by one silver and one bronze service star. In some situations, service stars are only issued after the second award of a decoration. For instance, three awards of a Sea Service Ribbon would be annotated by the ribbon with two bronze service stars. The United States Army also occasionally issues award numerals, instead of service stars, to denote multiple awards of certain ribbon decorations.

Service stars issued for actions in which a United States Navy vessel participated are also placed on campaign streamers, which are affixed to the U.S. Navy flag. The regulations for this originated in 1942, which defined naval campaign areas and designated engagements. Participation in such engagements, by ships and by individuals, was then denoted by service stars. The United States Army followed a very similar practice with ground campaigns and battle engagements.

A common point of confusion is to confuse bronze and silver service stars with the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal. The main difference between the two is that the Bronze and Silver Star Medals are individual decorations while service stars are worn on awards and are not individual decorations or medals.

444 posted on 04/03/2006 5:38:31 PM PDT by GailA (May our Lord bless and protect our Troops in harms way.)
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To: GailA; Professional Engineer; snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Valin; bentfeather; w_over_w; All
Off to work via the Nike Express this AM bump for the Freeper Foxhole

With a little luck we should be hearing from the Road Warriors later today

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

445 posted on 04/04/2006 2:40:03 AM PDT by alfa6
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To: alfa6; snippy_about_it; bentfeather; Samwise; Peanut Gallery; Wneighbor; Valin; Iris7; SAMWolf; ...
Good morning ladies and gents. Flag-o-Gram.


446 posted on 04/04/2006 5:41:54 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Don't blame me, I voted for Hatch.)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; bentfeather; Professional Engineer; Samwise; Peanut Gallery; Wneighbor; ..

April 4, 2006

Shrike System

Read:
Ephesians 6:10-18

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. —1 Peter 5:8

Bible In One Year: Ruth 1-4; Luke 8:1-25

coverThe ancient sport of falconry used trained hawks or falcons in the pursuit of wild game. When the "educated predator" was allowed to fly, however, it often rose too high for human eyes to see. So a hunter often carried a small caged bird called a shrike. By watching the antics of the little bird, the man could always tell where his hawk was, for the shrike instinctively feared the predator and cocked its head to keep it in view.

Christians desperately need an alert perception similar to that of the shrike to detect their spiritual enemy. Our adversary, Satan, "walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Our responsibility, according to the apostle Peter, is to be sober and vigilant. In other words, we're to be always on the alert.

It would be nice if God had giant sirens to warn us of an attack by the devil. But He doesn't operate that way. Instead, we must read the Bible regularly, meditate on its truths, maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then will we be sensitive to an imminent assault by the evil one, and be armed by grace to meet it.

Is your spiritual "shrike system" working? —Mart De Haan

The devil is clever, deceiving us all,
He cunningly causes the strongest to fall;
But we his sly methods are sure to discern
By making God's warnings our daily concern. —D. De Haan

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What In The World Is Satan Doing?

447 posted on 04/04/2006 5:52:08 AM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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To: alfa6; Professional Engineer; Peanut Gallery; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; All
Good morning everyone. Sam and Snippy check in day! WOO HOO.
448 posted on 04/04/2006 6:20:08 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (Protect Your Neck-- Fly With Dragonfly Airlines & Sparkle ALot Pilots)
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To: The Mayor

Good morning, Mayor. Thanks for today's message of hope.


449 posted on 04/04/2006 6:41:04 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (Protect Your Neck-- Fly With Dragonfly Airlines & Sparkle ALot Pilots)
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To: bentfeather; Samwise

Hi miss Feather.

The Knackster was the recipient of an unassebled training potty this weekend. She showed proper form in pulling the pieces out and assembling the gadget without referring to the directions. Her old man only provided minimal assistance.


450 posted on 04/04/2006 7:37:34 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Don't blame me, I voted for Hatch.)
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To: Professional Engineer

LOL

Yupper, you're raising an engineer. what a child.;)


451 posted on 04/04/2006 7:39:11 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (Protect Your Neck-- Fly With Dragonfly Airlines & Sparkle ALot Pilots)
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To: Professional Engineer

Potty training.

Ugh. I'm glad that's over.


452 posted on 04/04/2006 9:27:26 AM PDT by Samwise (All that is needed for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.)
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To: bentfeather; Professional Engineer; w_over_w; alfa6; radu; Samwise; colorado tanker; The Mayor; ...

It's late but I finally have internet in the new house! Yeah! Sam isn't hooked up yet as part of our stuff is arriving in another truck sometime Thursday. They didn't leave enough room in the first truck and had to put a lot of the house stuff in another truck so we have a bunch of boxes sitting around and parts missing. For instance, we have the tv but no remote, half the dishes, parts missing from computer stands etc. We start to look for something or put something together and when we can't find it we figure it must be in the next truck. Grrr.

So far everything is wonderful and the area and all the people are wonderful. The South seems sooo much more friendly than the PNW was, and they still have their manners. We'll chat more about that later, it's late and we have lots to do yet.

We just wanted to let everyone know we were here, safe and unpacking. :-)


453 posted on 04/04/2006 6:20:53 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it

Howdy!

Good to hear from you! It is going to take some patience until all your stuff arrives, is unloaded and sorted. Ugh, what a job.

Happy to hear you are pleased with your reception.


Talk later. *HUGS*


454 posted on 04/04/2006 6:42:11 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (Protect Your Neck-- Fly With Dragonfly Airlines & Sparkle ALot Pilots)
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To: snippy_about_it

YaHoo! You will find the south a great place.
I enjoyed it in Va.. Real people there.

Hello's to Sam too!


455 posted on 04/04/2006 7:21:49 PM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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To: snippy_about_it; Professional Engineer; Samwise; Valin; The Mayor; PAR35; bentfeather; ...

The Great Adventure begins for SAM & snippy bump for the Wednesday Addition of the Freeper Foxhole.

Which box is that furslushinger gizmo in :-)

Good Luck

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

456 posted on 04/05/2006 4:56:29 AM PDT by alfa6
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; bentfeather; Professional Engineer; Samwise; Peanut Gallery; Wneighbor; ..

April 5, 2006

Always Awake

Read:
Psalm 121

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. —Psalm 4:8

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 1-3; Luke 8:26-56

cover A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were preparing for bed. The child was afraid of the dark. When the lights were turned off, the girl noticed the moon shining through the window. "Mommy," she asked, "is that God's light up there?" "Yes, it is," came the reply. Soon another question: "Will He put it out and go to sleep too?" "Oh no, He never goes to sleep." After a few silent moments, the little girl said, "As long as God is awake, I'm not scared." Realizing that the Lord would be watching over her, the reassured child soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

As Christians, we may confidently commit both the night and the day to our ever-faithful God. He is fully aware of our fears in the dark as well as our frustrations in the light. We can be assured of His constant care. His loving eye and protecting hand are always upon us.

Perhaps you face lonely hours because of illness or the loss of a loved one. The shadows of the night make the anxiety of your situation seem greater than ever. Doubts arise and fears flood your soul, robbing you of your needed rest.

Trust the heavenly Father, and with the psalmist you will be able to say, "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). Remember, God is always awake. —Paul Van Gorder

In His care confiding
I will sweetly sleep,
For the Lord my Savior
Will in safety keep. —Psalter

If you have trouble getting to sleep, try resting in the Lord.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
God Our Father

457 posted on 04/05/2006 5:19:42 AM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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To: The Mayor; snippy_about_it; bentfeather; Samwise; Peanut Gallery; Wneighbor; Valin; alfa6; Iris7; ..
Good morning ladies and gents. Flag-o-Gram.


458 posted on 04/05/2006 5:21:27 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (Don't blame me, I voted for Hatch.)
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To: alfa6

lol. Ain't that the truth. Sam has found everything but his computer monitor...I think it's on the next truck. Arrgh.


459 posted on 04/05/2006 5:29:59 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: alfa6; Professional Engineer; Peanut Gallery; Wneighbor; Samwise; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; ...
Good morning everyone!
460 posted on 04/05/2006 5:57:28 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (Protect Your Neck-- Fly With Dragonfly Airlines & Sparkle ALot Pilots)
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