Posted 13 years ago
filmnet
(476 items)
My Dad is to the left side flight school picture just found, on back says W.D.Smith Photographs, 1104-b Houston St Ft Worth TX, can anyone date this after this school he was sent to India. He flew over the Himalayas mountains to support the Flying Tigers in western China. No Oxygen used many pilots never made it he told me years ago. If i remember right around 1943? added 2 files from his log book Hicks Field Tx 1942.
It is hard to date-- I would certainly think 1943 is possible. Any time from about 1940- 1945 would seem to work.
See if you have anything from your father with his aviation class number on it-- paperwork, yearbook, etc... That will give you a precise date.
Scott
Any guesses on the plane?
Maybe a Ryan PT-?
I have his flight book i renumber reading this.
I had a neighbor who told me he "Flew the Hump" (over the Himalayas) many times.
Your picture reminds me of a picture I have of him and some other guys next to a C-47 Transport plane like your Dad probably flew if he hauled equipment and supplies to the Flying Tigers.
I will dig that picture out and post it.
Oh I see now the Make of the aircraft in the logbook is Fairchild PT-19.
Great my dad called "Over the Hump" i have the signed money they are send before flying
He flew alone with small aircraft over the mountains.
Another give away is that all the guys are wearing A-2 flight jacket. The A-2 flight jacket was abruptly canceled by the Army Air force in 1942 for a warmer B-10 flight jacket.
I don't mean to pry but, what kind of support?
I got that picture, I mentioned earlier, posted.
Don't know what they did, but he was given the Distinguished Flying Cross for this.
I read in the newspaper clipping that you just posted with the money, that he flew ariel reconnaissance missions.
That was sometimes very hazardous, flying over enemy positions and taking photos in a, usually, unarmed airplane.
Korea, He was in the army for over 25 years, WWII, Korea, Vietnam. We all 5 children lived with him and our mother in Thailand 1960-63 he fly Generals around Southeast Asia before the war in Vietnam, and was sent back to Vietnam because he knew so much about flying around before the war he fly generals there also. Was in the Air Force for 1 month, 1942-1968 i put this on here 3 month ago,
guy NOT wearing a hat/helmet looks like he is reading a text message from his smart phone!! LOL
This was there final solo flight over 200 miles Jacksonville Ft to Ft Worth Tx, they are looking at times , they had to fly to marks and turn many times because the wind would pull the planes off line, They all took off and were timed to marks.