Ten years. I remember crying when I heard the news. I watched Warbirds Over Wanaka videos most weekends as a child, along with reading the books and Classic Wings Downunder. I really looked up to Ray and Mark. I was lucky enough to meet Ray, briefly, at Wanaka in 2004. I very shyly walked up to him, clutching a copy of The Best Of Warbirds Over Wanaka and a pen, hoping to get an autograph. He saw me and said to his companion, “Excuse me a moment, I think this young man wants to talk to me” (or words to that effect). I still have the book, and will never forget those last Breitling Fighters routines. I also saw him the following Easter at Omaka, his final New Zealand show, flying P-40E ZK-RMH. I feel extremely lucky to have seen him fly, and feel tears coming again now.
If you ever want to get an insight into how sorely he is missed, check out his Obituary thread at PPRuNe. It was wonderful to see the esteem in which he was held by his fellow airmen.
Much missed.
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