Veneered Tac,
You would have enjoyed very much my trip to Tyndal AFB in Panama City FLA around the end of October. I accompanied my childhood idol and beloved uncle, Mason, to a reunion of his W.W.II fighter squadron. Most of the remaining guys were in extremely good health and kept me laughing for four days. Buckets of booze, great food and 85 year old guys hitting on 30 year old dollies and. occasionally succeeding!
The stories those guys told...they were all qualified in Spits, Hurricanes, Aerocobras and Mustangs. Mason started in the RCAF then was seconded to the RAF. When the US of A entered the war, his presence was requested back in the US Army Air Corps. Any aircraft flyable was what they flew. They were known as the American Beagle Squadron and Mason along with another fellow designed the squadron insignia. Look it up on google..very cool and decidedly non-PC.
At the "formal" event sponsored by the current USAF squadron, I sat at a table with 9 guys, six of whom were aces.
I am no stranger to combat, but I was awed to be in the presence of so many bona fide American heroes in such a small space. Something about being in the presence of fellow warriors.
Tom A
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