In August I travelled to the US to visit and interview Art Fiedler of the 325th Fighter Group/ 317th Fighter Squadron, and to watch the Camarillo Airshow which he helps organise.
On the final evening I was invited along to a Barbecue at Art’s house, where along with Monguse, we took the chance to set up a video camera and record Art talking about some of his time in the USAAF.
That video will be released with the “Checkertails” Documentary/Movie, which will be released in 2009.
After the video interview, I asked if it was okay to leave the sound recorder running while he chatted with guests at the meal, and with a beaming smile Art said “Sure!”.
You’ll be glad to know that I have edited away the dead space (walking around, nothing being said, etc,etc) and left in just the conversation related to his time in the USAAF.
Covered in this audio file are P-47 gunnery training, P-51 wing snapping (or lack of it), engine noise, flames on exhausts, weapon and tracer load-out, the use of long range fuel tanks as weapons, plus many other topics.
Asking most of the questions is myself, but the other voices you will here are 325th_Swoop and Monguse (he comes in right at the end asking about P-51 markings).
Guys, the audio you will hear was all recorded at a Barbecue, so there is background noise going on, but Art was fully mic’d up so when he and I talk, all the voices are very clear and the background chatter is just ambient.
The file is just under 30-minutes long, and is compressed in mp3 format, and is 26mb in file-size.
I hope you enjoy listening to Art talk about some of his incidents as much as those gathered there did, he truly is a remarkable man and it was a real honour to spend time talking with him.
The audio starts as 325th_Swoop has just told me he is 62-years old and is learning to fly a Helicopter. Art then comes over and the conversation gets going.
BTW Swoop doesn’t look a day under 62 😉 (kidding..he must have had an easy life!)
Would like to hear what you think, cheers, MP.
The file can be downloaded here:
By: Mysticpuma - 21st October 2008 at 10:28
I realise that this sort of information is gold-dust, and I’m really glad that Art is in full control of all his faculties.
He is a remarkable man.
I hope to travel out next year for the Camarillo show, and this time I will add much more detail to my questions.
Just for your information, the video interview is 50-minutes in length and covers tactics along with all his victories and much more.
Hopefully it will be worth the wait?
Cheers, MP.
By: Steve Bond - 21st October 2008 at 10:02
Very many thanks for sharing this; recordings like this are absolutely priceless. I have accumulated around 80 so far and still going, the most recent being just last night.
Well done.
Steve
By: trumper - 20th October 2008 at 20:05
🙂 Thanks Mysticpuma,i look forward to your latest film.:)
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October 20, 2008 at 2:49 pm