Thursday, March 30, 2023

When America was strong, fun, and prosperous

 I saw a similar story several years ago, but it wasn't written from this 12 year old's perspective. The last story was well received and thought this one was just as worthy. I have no way of verifying if the story is true of not, but having known of the pilot, I have no doubt about any of it. Enjoy


Brian Crampton
This 1967 true story is of an experience by a young 12 year old lad in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is about the vivid memory of a privately rebuilt P-51 from WWII, and its famous owner/pilot.
In the morning sun, I could not believe my eyes. There, in our little airport, sat a majestic P-51. They said it had flown in during the night from some U.S. Airport, on its way to an air show. The pilot had been tired, so he just happened to choose Kingston for his stop over. It was to take to the air very soon. I marveled at the size of the plane, dwarfing the Pipers and Canucks tied down by her. It was much larger than in the movies. She glistened in the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by.
The pilot arrived by cab, paid the driver, and then stepped into the pilot's lounge. He was an older man; his wavy hair was gray and tossed. It looked like it might have been combed, say, around the turn of the century. His flight jacket was checked, creased and worn - it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a quiet air of proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to Montreal("Expo-67 Air Show") then walked across the tarmac.
After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check, the tall, lanky man returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up, just to be safe." Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher after brief instruction on its use -- "If you see a fire, point, then pull this lever!", he said. (I later became a firefighter, but that's another story.) The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. One manifold, then another, and yet another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the Packard -built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar. Blue flames knifed from her manifolds with an arrogant snarl. I looked at the others' faces; there was no concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled to walk back to the lounge. We did.
Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre-flight run-up. He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for several seconds. We ran to the second story deck to see if we could catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway. We could not. There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then a roar ripped across the field, much louder than before. Like a furious hell spawn set loose -- something mighty this way was coming. "Listen to that thing!" said the controller.
In seconds the Mustang burst into our line of sight. It's tail was already off the runway and it was moving faster than anything I'd ever seen by that point on 19. Two-thirds the way down 19 the Mustang was airborne with her gear going up. The prop tips were supersonic. We clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellishly fast into the circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze. We stood for a few moments, in stunned silence, trying to digest what we'd just seen.
The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston tower calling Mustang?" He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment. The radio crackled, "Go ahead, Kingston." "Roger, Mustang. Kingston tower would like to advise the circuit is clear for a low level pass." I stood in shock because the controller had just, more or less, asked the pilot to return for an impromptu air show! The controller looked at us. "Well, What?" He asked. "I can't let that guy go without asking. I couldn't forgive myself!"
The radio crackled once again, "Kingston, do I have permission for a low level pass, east to west, across the field?" "Roger, Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to west pass." "Roger, Kingston, I'm coming out of 3,000 feet, stand by."
We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern haze. The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze. Her airframe straining against positive G's and gravity. Her wing tips spilling contrails of condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic. The burnished bird blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air. At about 500 mph and 150 yards from where we stood she passed with the old American pilot saluting. Imagine. A salute! I felt like laughing; I felt like crying; she glistened; she screamed; the building shook; my heart pounded. Then the old pilot pulled her up and rolled, and rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelible into my memory.
I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day! It was a time when many nations in the world looked to America as their big brother. A steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political water with grace and style; not unlike the old American pilot who'd just flown into my memory. He was proud, not arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest, projecting an aura of America at its best.
That America will return one day! I know it will! Until that time, I'll just send off this story. Call it a loving reciprocal salute to a Country, and specially to that old American pilot: the late JIMMY STEWART (1908-1997), Actor, real WWII Hero (Commander of a US Army Air Force Bomber Wing stationed in England), and a USAF Reserves Brigadier General, who wove a wonderfully fantastic memory for a young Canadian boy that's lasted a lifetime.

48 comments:

  1. Loved the description. I "felt" the vibration on the return pass. Best thing I have read in a while.

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  2. Wow, what an experience. Reminds me of my favorite scene in "Empire of the Sun" where the Mustang squadron is buzzing the airfield and the kid is shouting "Caddilac of the skies."

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  3. Jeffery thank you for that. My day could not have started any better. I am a huge fan of the old WW II birds. Lockheeds P-38 lightning of which I have touched one in my teens being at the top of that list but the top 3 include the F4U Corsair along with these other two. Always dreamed of flying and owning one of them but oh well.

    In my mind America is still that great we will just not see it in reporting but one day soon we will all get to see it in living color.

    Have a Blessed Day my friend.

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    1. You are welcome BCCL and I hope you have a blessed day as well. Back in the 90's my WW2 reenacting group would participate in an American military timeline event at Ft. Knox, KY. It was a lot of fun, but it was always hot! The event would be held on or around the 4th of July weekend (eventually, it was changed to Memorial Day and would be a little cooler). Anyhow, there would be a fairly large WW2 battle on Saturday (Americans vs. Germans). It was in a sense a "dog and pony show", but it looked good for the crowds. There would be pyro and the Patton Museum staff would bring out some German armor to participate in the battle as would some of the American and German vehicle owners. For a few years in a row there would be two Mustangs that would fly down from Indiana or Ohio (I think) and take part in the battle. These were original and not some scaled down versions that I have seen at other events. One year some guys showed up with a German 88 they stuck it back in the trees with camo netting, etc. This gun crew really had their act together and it just added to the realism when the Mustangs would come roaring overhead a few hundred feet above the deck. I found a pretty good spot to "die" during the battle where I had a good view of the goings on. As sure as shooting, one of the Mustangs decided to make a run towards the 88. The gun crew was hammering big powerful blanks at the machine and the Mustang driver must have decided in the name of realism, he needed to get out of there. He did this by pulling the plane into an almost vertical climb and pouring the fuel to the Merlin engine. The sound and sight was one I'll never forget. I was like the small boy in the story!
      As a note, the year before I couldn't attend the event and missed a real treat. Gen. Chuck Yeager was flying one of the Mustangs!

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    2. Chuck Yeager was one of my hero's. He was one of the reasons I joined the Air Force. I wanted to be a pilot and I tested for a chance to get into the cadet program. But, it wasn't to be. I could not pass the eye exam. I enlisted anyway and spent 28 years serving my Country. One image I can never forget is that of a P-51 Mustang making a low level pass and tipping its silvered wings in a salute to an admiring crowd. Mustangs are the things that fly in the dreams of future pilots!!!

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  4. Beautifully written, pleasure to read,a tribute to America.

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  5. Strong and prosperous, maybe but the fun was ebbing away. This was the Summer of Love, when the Lefties started taking over. It was all drugs and anti-war.

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  6. Almost brought a tear to my durty little eye. That wasn't written by a 12 yo, but rather by an adult remembering when he was 12. I sat in a Mustang once, back in the 80's and it was much smaller than I imagined from TV. Like Rick Mears Indy car I sat in (with our 5 yo son on my lap) about the same time frame, you don't get in it, you put it on. Nothing would please me more than to get in a Mustang and rip the strato's as fast as it would go. Just imagine, nothing but a thin sheet of plexiglass between you and the endless atmosphere...

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    1. 'Your durty little eye'! Such honesty! Actually brought a tear to my nasty little eye. 🤣
      Old warbirds do sing.

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  7. Speaking of James Stewart. If you haven't seen "Strategic Air Command", you have to. Great footage of the B36. 6 turnin', 4 burnin'. Amazing machine and a testament to American 20th century design and engineering. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048667/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_47_act

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    1. Seen it many times Ghost as well as most of the other classics of that era.

      I have to admit that on occasion I catch the black sheep squadron on over the air antenna and how corny it is but when I was a kid those corsairs sure seemed like they were simulating the real deal.

      Rarely missed an airshow in my AO, my bucket list is Oshkosh though. Drove through there on vacation not knowing it was going on one time, had I not had family headed home I would have stopped.

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  8. If you have ever been on Pensacola beach when the Blue Angels do a fly by I believe you would get the same feeling. I know I do.

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    1. Back in 1969 I was working out on the runway at Pensacola NAS Forest Sherman Field, the home of the Blue Angels....I got to witness the takeoff and flight of the Blues in their F4 Phantoms....they didn't fly them for very long but what an impressive sight...

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    2. Been to Destin but Pensacola on my bucket list. Saw a funny video where the pilot while training went ballistic from low level and blew the beach umbrella's to the four corners.

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  9. It is comforting to know that Jimmy Stewart drove that mustang, it warms my heart.

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  10. Oh, how I MISS that America!

    This story made my eyes misty. Thanks.

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  11. Got to fly in the P-51 Val-Halla with an absolute legend in the front seat. Even after a career with over 3,000 hours flying modern fighters that single P-51 flight stands out as one of the best days ever. That airplane, and especially that Merlin, were just magical, words can't do it justice.

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  12. one of the nicest stories ive read

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  13. The story also has a surprise that shows even our entertainers of old had class that isn't near equaled today!

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  14. I remember reading that Jimmy Stewart had some problems with PTSD after the war as well. most people do not realize this, but the bomber crews lost more men than the marines did. if fact the odds where better or safer for the grunts than the fly boys. a lot of crews never made the 25 missions to go home.
    did get to meet a few of the band of brothers guys working at the philly VA. they where like that as well, quiet and proud men. men like that are made, not born that way. and in the air, there no place to hide.

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  15. I miss those days. I grew up in Northwest Fla. and can remember the days when the F-4 Phantoms would come roaring overhead just a couple hundred feet up while training at Eglin. Still love that sound and feeling

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  16. ...So many gave so much back then for what so many want to give away now...

    ...Wake up, folks... This country's not going to fix itself... It's up to US...

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    1. In many cases, it is the children of those that fought for America that are giving it away.

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  17. Sure got dusty in here...must have been dust stirred up from that 500mph fly past 56 years ago. God Bless.

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  18. My mother still talks about growing up near Stout Field AFB, watching trainees learn to fly P38s. How they’d fly in formation and peel off one by one on maneuvers.

    Jets of today are beautiful and deadly, but there’s something about those propeller planes that stirs the soul in a different way.

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  19. When I was five and my dad was stationed in Bentwaters, England (yes, Jimmy flew out of Bentwaters) I was at an airshow where a spitfire (a worthy cousin to the Mustang!) did a 50-foot pass right in front of the spectator stands! Unreal!
    (Also, there was a blackbird (crow) flying in the same airspace and.. all of a sudden it wasn't there. Just a small black cloud of Cuisinarted feathers! I was only five, I asked, "Dad, where did the blackbird go?? Wasn't he scared off?". Dad replied, "You don't want to know, son." Took me years and years to figure that out. Hey, I was only five...)

    This was back in '59.

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  20. Here's a bit of recording to add to that stirring story:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdy17GmkpWc

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  21. WW2 was the war all my mentors fought in. A few were Korean vets, too. I read every book in the elementary school library about WW2. In high school, I got in involved in the Military Book Cult. I bought everything I could afford to. Like Bear Claw, I always wanted a 38. But I would've taken a Gabreski approved 47, too.

    On the way home one day, I was passing LBB, and there was a huge fin sticking up. Reese open house had just ended, and this big bird was at the FBO south of Avtech. I was hanging on the fence drooling on my boots, just admiring this big aluminum cloud, when a red VW comes tearing up. This greasy pair of coveralls comes out, reaches back in a brings out a couple parts. He unlocks the gate, and says, "Hey kid, bring that along." I got one of the parts and followed him. He went up to the nose wheel and climbed up. I handed the parts to him, and then he said, "Come on up!" Stairway to Heaven! Wow! Loads of room in the cockpit between pilot and copilot. The Norden was donated by Colonel Tennessee Ernie Ford!!! There was a padded tunnel to head back to the radio compartment. I didn't like the thought of that crawl. I was all over the front of the plane, until I figured mom and dad would think I was in another accident. Fifi had blown something on number 1, landed at LBB, and leaked a lake of oil on the ramp.

    Almost the best day ever! I'll never forget that mechanic. He was top notch.

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    1. Years ago out to lunch we quite often drove around the airport. Bam, lo and behold a B 25 sitting on the tarmac by the non commercial hangers. We pulled in and my chicken shit coworkers would not get out of the car. I strolled in and inquired. It was having some of its final refurbishment done there. The guy took us inside for a tour, I was a little kid again.

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  22. Off topic but trying to raise awareness. If you haven't heard or seen Caitlin Clark, go to YT and watch some vids. Best BBall lady hooper ever, not even close. And the kicker, She's a woman not a tranny. Exactly what this country needs.
    Her team, Iowa Hawkeyes, are in Final four and game Fri night.
    We need to celebrate normality where we find it in clown world

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  23. As a contemporary of the person who wrote this I agree that back then America was strong, fun and prosperous. Now, thanks to the American Communist Party nee Demonrats, America is dead. A zombie shuffling towards the grave.

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  24. Irish, I had just seen that story go by on FB and lost the thread 1/2 way through reading it because I had to Google P-51 videos just to get a feel for the sound she made, and didn't finish reading the story. You made my day. Now my eyes are wet. God Bless America!

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  25. From about that same era - also Canadian: Utube dot com/watch?v=z4i3LmR0K74
    Also: Utube dot com/watch?v=8t_qToyqiOU
    My America - we'll never see her again

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  26. Every time I see this story, I have to read it again. My dad was B-17 pilot and flew 35 combat missions over Europe with this group--

    http://www.447bg.com/

    Here's another outstanding video--

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy3nsRvhgSE

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    1. Thanks for that video RHT. I was born 40 years to late.

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  27. A great plane, with a suitable pilot. Who the hell is cutting up onions on the internet?

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  28. My most favorite high speed low pass...in a Spitfire. Love that V-12 sound
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iOoiEbtf2w

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  29. Nothing on this planet sounds like a Merlin powered Mustang moving at 50 ft. off the deck. It just makes you stop in your tracks. I have flagged these planes to a spot on the ramp and stood in front of that HUGE prop hoping they would stop. You cannot even see the pilot. I cannot even imagine what it felt like to sit behind that Merlin and push the throttle up. They must have all gone deaf. Wonderful story.

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  30. Alright brothers, this is the greatest nation in the history of mankind. It has been through the four turnings a couple a times. It will be good times again some day so don't lose hope. Wish I could hang around to see it, when the fun begins, and I mean fun, I hope I'm still around to add a little Samuel Whittmore to the festivities. Yes dusty in here again today.

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  31. ps One last story. I am an early riser. Years ago camping on the Illinois river in NE Oklahoma was up early so went bank fishing as not to disturb my sleeping beauty family. Next thing I know I hear an engine coming down the valley. Looked like a hellcat but not sure waved my arms in a wing waggle and next thing you know he peels ballistic does a loop and continues to buzz me, got that woody, If only to be in the tent with my wife for the next hour could have been the next best thing. Oh that sound.

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  32. First, thank you to all here that have served our country in the military. I have to say that the planes of WWII were more elegant machines of a more genteel time.
    I live in Muskegon, MI, where we used to have a huge airshow, and are bringing it back again this year. One year upon leaving work, right on the shores of Lake Michigan, a Stealth Fighter buzzed overhead, after coming in from Lake Michigan, at less than 500 feet. It scared me half to death, no knowing what it was, and just hearing it and then seeing it, for the first time. I truly thought it was an alien craft come from outer space. It really looked that strange and unlike any airplane that I had ever seen. Truly a testament to the abilities of America's technological prowess.
    Myself, I am a child of the Vietnam war, having been born in 1960, and so I grew up with "my war" being the war in South East Asia. By then the number of celebrities who were willing to volunteer and make the sacrifice to serve had been reduced, although they were still out there. Most of them didn't become celebrities until after their service days. While it has become popular to say that the Vietnam was a mistake, at the time, the men and women there on the ground did not know that, and were doing their duty, to serve America the best they could, trying to keep us safe here. For that I myself am eternally grateful.
    I actually received word today that my aunt, who was married to my dad's younger brother passed away at the age of 86. This brother was a 23 year veteran of the U.S. Army, and served in both Korea and Vietnam. She lived in Junction City, Kansas, near Ft. Riley. She was the last of my dad's family, with my dad being the last of the blood line passing away around 8 years ago. It seems like every milestone like this just reinforces to me that I am lucky to have ancestors who were good people. I only hope that my kids can look back and say something similar about me.

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  33. What a great story and nice links for some good videos.
    Back in the 70's my wife worked at the local airport and had the on call for the fuel pumps one weekend. She got a call so we headed to the airport. There sat a P-51 looking so nice. The pilot did the fueling himself while chatting with us and with a little prompting did a fly by as he was leaving. It looked like the prop was going to hit the asphalt as he flew by. I got a great picture of the Mustang with the background blurred. I was very lucky that year to get a ride in a Stearman and a B-25 along with many different airplanes. We were partners in a Cessna 182 but due to an injury and missing work we had to drop out. Years later I ended up flying ultralights when flying regular aircraft was becoming less fun due to all the regulations. I still have fond memories of those times now in my old age but at least I have videos.
    jack

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  34. A great story. Jimmy Stewart was a great American and a class act!

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  35. I was at that Air show in Montreal, only 6 years old but that was one of the few trips of my childhood with just my parents and brother, all three were Irish immigrants to Toronto in1960. Great memory.I recall the mono rail train into the Buckminster Fuller geodisic Dome that’s still there in Montreal, and the massive wall of TVs with one large picture, precursor to smart TVs today.Also, we always watched the Air show at the Exhibition in Toronto as well. We lived in Parkdale, downtown west Toronto, and could see the show from our front steps. Planes took off and landed at The a Island Airport, now called a Billy BishopAirport, after a Toronto born WW 1 Flying Air Ace withmore Air victories than anyone else, over 70if memory serves. Thanks for that lovely story, Jimmy Stewart in Liberty Valance with John Wayne the greatest John Ford movie and top 3 Western for me.High Noon and any Eastwood western tops for me.
    MacCos in Canada

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