Dyess AFB Heritage Flight

I participated in the Heritage Flight at Dyess AFB this past weekend, again with Tarheel Hal.  The P-47 flew with an A-10C Thunderbolt II from Davis-Monthan AFB.  It was very cool, seeing the two generations of Thunderbolts flying in front of the crowd together.

Barksdale AFB Heritage

Had a blast this past weekend supporting the USAF Heritage Flight at Barksdale AFB.  Tuna in the P-47, coupled with Bluto and Holy in the QF-4s from Tyndall, put on a wonderful show for the crowd.  Weather was great, for the most part.

Thunderbird came up from Galveston and put on a spirited show for the crowd.

A Hero Passes ...

Col. Van Barfoot (US Army - Ret.) passed away on March 2nd, at the age of 92.

As a Sergeant fighting in Italy during WWII, Barfoot was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 23, 1944. Here is the writeup:

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2625/barfoot-van-t.php

More recently, Col. Barfoot waged another heroic campaign, when he flew our nation's flag from a flagpole in front of his house. His neighborhood HOA threatened to sue him for the display, until outcry from the public and local lawmakers shamed them into submission.

Col. Barfoot flew that flag in his front yard until just a few days before his passing.

Godspeed, Colonel ...

A Hero Passes ...

Howard Pardue, a legend in the Warbird community, has passed away. His F8F Bearcat fighter crashed on takeoff at his home field of Breckenridge, TX this afternoon. Howard did not survive.

I knew Howard, though not well. I had spent some time over dinner with him and my cousin, and at various airshows over the years. Though I was not a member of the 'pilot clique', he always treated me well.

I am stunned. This man was larger than life, one of those characters you think will live forever.

Godspeed Howard ... you will be missed.