SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN'

[wingman]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN'

A couple of shots of Thunderbird at the 1979 Miami (actually Homestead) race...

[retroaviation]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN\'

I understand that in recent years, along with the politically correct name change, their maintenance and preservation program has seen a significant improvement by some of the new blood infused into the CAF.

Jim

Thank you. We're doing our best to make a difference with better maintenance practices. Nice to see someone noticed.

Gary

[wingman]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN'

Lefty where he belonged -- a big audience, his flag, his Mustang -- 30 feet off the ground...

I hope, with all the other friends and amenities up there -- there's a race course for Lefty to play on

[Big_Jim]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN\\\'

Thank you. We\'re doing our best to make a difference with better maintenance practices. Nice to see someone noticed.

Gary

Well then, a big thank you to you too, Colonel.

[MRussell]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN'

Lefty where he belonged -- a big audience, his flag, his Mustang -- 30 feet off the ground...

I hope, with all the other friends and amenities up there -- there's a race course for Lefty to play on

Neal, do you know which day that was shot in '87???

Thanks for sharing!

[wingman]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN'

Matt -- The slide is marked "Fri Heat Race". The stands look pretty full, though. On the other hand, there was no reserve seating back then I think, so maybe it was Friday...

Neal

[BuckyD]

Re: SALUTE TO LEFTY & WHITE LIGHTNIN\'

Ah yes. Thank you, Neal. Back in the days when people weren\'t so overdrubbed by political correctness and the Colonels all wore their colors proudly. Funny how the CAF never took the Confederate part too seriously, but John Q Public was outraged by it. As I remember, the Japanese were outraged by the B-29 Hiroshima reinactment, but never made a peep about the Pearl Harbor routine.

That looks like Sly Old Fox Vernon Thorp in the blue jumpsuit. Grumpy old man, but a great one. The last time I spoke to him was at an airshow in Texas in 1993. He had flown the CAF B-26. That plane killed him later when it came apart in mid-air during a training flight.

So many friends and so many rare aircraft wasted by some questionable maintenance of the CAF. By then, a lot of the old timers who were left had pretty much distanced themselves from the organization.

I understand that in recent years, along with the politically correct name change, their maintenance and preservation program has seen a significant improvement by some of the new blood infused into the CAF.

Thank you for sharing. I know it sounds like a soapbox. I don\'t intend it that way. These were all just good men who spearheaded the warbird movement and who were responsible for so many of the planes that have graced the skies...and now a lot of both are gone forever.

Its a different world now.

Jim

BIG Thanks, there, Big Jim, for your Lefty & CAF thoughts & recollections. In Neal's bottom CAF people photo - that's Col. Jerry Bell second from left (next to Lloyd Hamilton in yellow hat far left). Met him at Reno a few years later thru introduction by my old pal- Joe Harmon who was on Lefty's P-38 crew. Might be mistaken, but I seem to recall that Jerry Bell was Lefty's P-38 crew chief (for at least the last several years Lefty raced the Lightning).

BTW -Thanks, Neal, for posting those great vintage color shots for this tribute thread. Appreciate it v-much!

DBD