Merry Christmas to all from BlueNoser352!

Also wanted to wish all a safe and happy holiday season to all here in the FlyPast Community. Hope 2006 will be a great one for everybody. Always enjoy this board and the great historical information one finds here on a daily basis. Christmas Day always brings my thoughts to the sad loss of Maj George E. Preddy Jr , then the top scoring ace with the 352nd FG. Who lost his life on Christmas Day 1944, while supporting Allied ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge.

A Happy Holiday to all from
BlueNoser352!

Jim:

Great shots and thanks for making those photographs and showing them here on the FlyPast Board. I guess the USAF had to reclaim the plane from the city of Memphis for its own survival. I remember that at one time Col Morgan & others were against this. Hope to see her one day fully restored to her former glory !

Thanks !
BlueNoser352

The Loss of a fine man & pilot !

Very sad to recieve an email this day from a friend in the Uk telling me of Mr Hanna’s passing and I share the thoughts of many here who had the pleasure of seeing his wonderful flying dispalys over the years. My condolences to his family and he will be missed by so many, had the luck to witness his many displays in that lovely Spitfire at Duxford on my many trips to the Uk over the last several years. I hope FlyPast & Air Classics here in the states will have more on his life and what he gave to the warbird community. Had the pleasure of meeting him several years ago at Duxford and told him no trip to the Uk would be complete without seeing him fly that Spit. He gave me a nice handshake and great smile and really made my day.

Rest In Peace Mr Hanna !
BlueNoser352!

Yes and you can add the two disc edition of “A Bridge Too Far” to that list as well here in the USA. Got both last week at Wal-Mart ( Where Else ???) for $19.95 each. Both both copies last year in London and have enjoyed them greatly. Hoping to see the release of the old ABC-TV Network series ” 12′ O’Clock High ” soon here in the USA. Based on the film of the same name, about a Eighth Army Air Force bomb group in England during the early days of WWII. Now that “COMBAT” had hit the DVD market here in the USA I hope we will see this fine aviation series out soon for newer generations to enjoy. During the middle to late 1960’s saw several outstanding World War II series air here in the USA, now with the ability to order and play DVD’s from all over the world the market is now opening up to all who have a keen interest in history of WW II. Not sure if our friends in the UK, Canada or Australia has similiar series on their television scene then? “12 O’Clock High” is an outstanding series and hope one day it will be out there for all to enjoy.

A salute from :
Gen Frank Savage
918th BG ( H)
Archbury

Very sad to learn of the passing of Mr Freeman, have many of his books on the Mighty Eighth in my collection and he was a great historian of American Airpower during WWII. I always wanted to meet him on my many trips to the UK , but never did. I know he came to many of the national chapter meetings of the Mighty Eighty Historical Society as a speaker & guest of US veterans! I used his book “Airfields of The Mighty Eighth” to visit many of the old based of the Eighth on my trips there. I send my condolences to his family and salute him for his long historic work paying honor to the men of the Eighth & Ninth US Army Air Forces who flew from your country during the war. I know many veterans here in the USA will be sad to learn of his passing. Thanks for posting this for us here on the other side of the big pond !

A salute from:

BlueNoser352!

TV story here on B-25

Greetings from across the big pond fellow FlyPast forum members, here is a link to a television news report on what the found in the B-25. Much like the one they brought up back in the 1980’s from a South Carolina lake.

A salute from :
BlueNoser352!

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3875916

Geoff:
Thanks for posting this wonderful tribute to this fine pilot, a great report and its a fine tribute to this man and his service to his country. Wonderful photo’s and glad to see this tribute in his memory!

A Salute from:
BlueNoser352

Is this the same RAF pilot as seen in “Spitfire Ace”? I enjoyed his comments and his views on his time in the RAF! Sounds like a great book and have to get it !

Thanks !
BlueNoser354 !