Thread: CAF 2015 Air Show @ New Century (Old Olathe Naval Air Station)

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I think my interest in flying was definitely sealed with the constant low level F86 flying over the farm in the fifties------I had seen many formation flights of prop planes in the forties but those jets--------- during th Korean war ---keeping up with the war in the news paper, radio, etc but being almost blown off the tractor by the fighters and B47s doing all that low altitude stuff( think they probably were out of Scott AFB down near St Louis-made me apply for AF Academy in 59-- Congressman gave spot to one of his FAMILY friends kid , but he offered me Naval Academy which I didn't want, however I have many times wondered "what if" oh well-did fly some impressive stuff during my career and have a list of some that I'd still get in if given the opt---I definitely wouldn't turn down any of the ones Roger has photographed--

Again nice pics Roger-looking forward to next years also????



But not off a carrier!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Again nice pics Roger-looking forward to next years also????

But not off a carrier!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I expect I'll be there next year again.

Your AF Academy story brought back a memory of my SR year in HS. My Dad was the Superintendent of our small town school, and he had hired a retired Army Bird Colonel to teach History, Col Pat Laurie. In the Winter of my SR year Col Laurie stopped me one day and said, "I've still got some favors owed, and if you'll take the appointment I can get you into West Point, but I don't want to waste the favor if you won't take it and promise me you'll give it your all." Like a fool I turned it down, and like you I often wondered, "What if...." Of course that was early in 1965, and if I'd have made the course I'd have been coming out right in the height of the Viet Nam Conflict, so maybe the Good Lord biased my decision.... Hard to say, but I definitely passed up an opportunity.

I ended up in as an enlisted Navy airplane mechanic, and spent my entire time at NAS Corpus Christi attached to a Training Squadron. Each month one of the old carriers would steam up from Pensacola and cruise up and down the gulf coast area, about 90 miles out, and our pilots would fly out for carrier qualifications, and one of the three squadrons supplied three or four guys to fly out to the boat in case someone broke something on a plane. In my four years I worked the line for about a year, then went into the power plant shop for about three. I managed to dodge carrier quals for the whole time, UNTIL a month before I was getting out. Four years in the NAVY and I saw only one warship, but we landed on it, spent a sleepless night in rough seas, worked the quals the next day, and then got a cat shot off of the deck to go home. I was in a seat facing aft for the cat shot, and it was a pretty cool experience! Another memory maker....

Originally Posted by rspears

I ended up in as an enlisted Navy airplane mechanic, and spent my entire time at NAS Corpus Christi attached to a Training Squadron.

A Swabbie that never saw sea duty. I probably spent enough time on Naval ships for the both of us and I can tell you what they can do with the nets. I've been up and down them more times than I would like to remember, but I wouldn't trade the experience and memories for anything.
And I too think the Corsair was the best of the piston powered fighters and I've always been partial to the F86 Sabre Jet.