P51 at our airport ... Thx Dr.Jim ! My Dad's Nuts

An Experience To Recall.

 

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 especially 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.

 

California - Largest insane asylum in the world ... Thx Paul C!

Subject: Fwd: California....LARGEST INSANE ASYLUM IN THE WORLD]

           Interesting that the LA Times did this.
           Lou Dobbs reported this on CNN, and it cost him his job.
           The only network we would see this on, would be FOX.
           All the others are, staying away from it.
           Whether you are a Democrat or Republican,
           this should be of great interest to you!

           Just One State - be sure and read the last part...try for 3 times.

           This is only one State....
           If this doesn't open eyes, nothing will!
           From  the L. A. Times.

           A). 40% of all workers in L.  A.  County (L..  A. County has 10.2 million people),
           are working for cash; and not paying taxes.
           This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants,
           working without a green card.

           (Donald Trump was right)

           B). 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles, are for illegal aliens.

           C). 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles, are illegal aliens.
           Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County,
           are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal;
           whose births were paid for, by taxpayers.

           D). Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers,
           are Mexican nationals; here illegally.

           E). Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County, are living in garages.

           F). The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles, are most likely
           illegal aliens; from south of the border.

           G). Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties, are illegal.

           H). 21 radio stations in L. A., are Spanish speaking.


           I). In L.A.  County, 5.1 million people speak English;
           3.9 million, speak Spanish.  (There are 10.2 million people, in L. A. County.)


           (All of the above facts, were published in the; Los Angeles Times)

           Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops,
           but 29% are on welfare.
           Over 70% of the United States' annual population growth,
           (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York)
           results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons, are illegal aliens.

           We are fools, for letting this continue.

           HOW CAN YOU HELP?

           Send copies of this letter, to at least two other people.
           100, would be even better.


           This is only one State...If this doesn't open your eyes nothing will,
           and you wonder why Nancy Pelosi wants them to become voters!

           IF YOU DON'T AGREE JUST DELETE—
           IF YOU DO--PASS IT ON!
           WHERE DO WE GET
           THESE MORONS?

           Windfall Tax on Retirement Income.
           Adding a tax to your retirement,
           is simply another way of saying to the American people;
           you're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this,
           until we drain every cent from you.
           Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax, on Retirement Income.
           In other words, tax what you have made;
           by investing toward your retirement.
           This woman is a nut case!
           You aren't going to believe this.

           Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax,
           on all stock market profits (including
           Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds)!

           Alas, it is true -- all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants,
           and other unemployed Minorities!

           This woman is frightening.
           She quotes...' We need to work toward the goal of
           equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this?)
           and in our country; and at the same time limiting,
           the amount the rich can invest.  (I am not rich, are you?)

           When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:

           'We need to raise the standard of living,
           of our poor; unemployed, and minorities.
           For example, we have an estimated 12 million
           illegal immigrants in our country who need our help;
           along with millions of, unemployed minorities.
           Stock market windfall profits taxes,
           could go a long way to guarantee these people;
           the standard of living they would like to have as Americans.

           (Read that quote again and again, and let it sink in.)
           'Lower your retirement; give it to others who have not worked,
           as you have for it.' Send it on, to your friends.
           I just did!  This lady, is out of her mind!!!!!