Pilots u know!

[R Leonard]

(official USN photo from my collection)

These are the pilots from VF-42 in a picture taken on February 7, 1942, aboard USS Yorktown (CV-5). Left to Right
Sitting: Brainerd Macomber, Art Brassfield, Dick Plott, Bill Leonard, Charlie Fenton, Oscar Pederson, Vince
McCormack, Bill Woollen, and Les Knox. Left to Right Standing: Duran Mattson, Dick Wright, Harry Gibbs, Bill
Barnes, John Baker, Doc McCuskey, Dick Crommelin, Johnny Adams, Ed Bassett, and Walt Haas.

Of this group I knew Fenton, Pedersen, McCormack, Woollen, McCuskey, Adams, and, of course, Leonard.

Knox and Baker were lost at Coral Sea, Bassett at Midway, and Crommelin off the coast of Hokkaido in July
1945. Wright was killed in a F9F crash in the early 1950’s.

A fairly distinguished group in USN circles. Eight of these gents were eventually Captains (Macomber, Brassfield,
McCormack, Woollen, Gibbs, McCuskey, Adams, and Haas) and three were Rear Admirals (Fenton, Pedersen, and
Leonard). Four were aces by the end the war (Brassfield – 7, Leonard – 6 (4 with VF-42), McCuskey – 13.5 (6.5 with
VF-42), and Haas – 5). All together, the pilots in this picture were credited with 43 victories while serving in VF-42.

Macomber, Brassfield, Leonard, Woollen, Mattson, Wright, Gibbs, Barnes, McCuskey, Crommelin, Adams, Bassett, and
Haas were temporarily assigned to VF-3 after the Battle of the Coral Sea and flew with that squadron at the Battle of
Midway. Pedersen was CYAG at Coral Sea and Midway, prior to that he was CO VF-42. Fenton relieved him when he
moved up to CYAG.

Some of their awards were:
Adams – 2 NC, DFC
Baker – DFC
Barnes – NC, DFC
Bassett – NC
Brassfield – 2 NC
Crommelin – 2 NC
Fenton – NC
Gibbs – NC, DFC
Haas – 2 NC
Knox – NC
Leonard – 2 NC, DFC, BS(V)
Macomber – 2 NC
Mattson – NC
McCormack - NC
McCuskey – 2 NC, DFC
Pederson – DFC, BS(V), NCM(V)
Woollen – 2 NC
Wright – NC, DFC

Bill Leonard and Johnny Adams are the only two left.

Regards,

Rich

[FLYBOYJ]

Neat stuff Len!

[P38 Pilot]

Those are some great pictures FLYBOYJ! Your neighbor must have had

some great stories! My neighbor wasnt in WWII, but he served in the Air force for 20 yrs during the 80's i think.

If u have any stories about him, please share!!!! We would all love too here them!

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but he served in the Air force for 20 yrs during the 80's

does that make sence to anyone else??

[cheddar cheese]

Maybe he served in it for 10 years during the 1880's, before the plane was invented, and after 10 years realised that the "Air Force" was not going to be invented until 1903. Then he retired and returned to the Air Force in the 1980's when there were some jobs available

[BlackWolf3945]

Maybe he served in it for 10 years during the 1880's, before the plane was invented, and after 10 years realised that the "Air Force" was not going to be invented until 1903. Then he retired and returned to the Air Force in the 1980's when there were some jobs available

What a co-inky-deenk, some of us know the same fellas...



I shouldn't really say that I 'know' Dick Hewitt, though. I've met the man thrice and only once did we exchange more than five minutes worth of pleasantries. I was quite impressed with Dick, a really nice fellow, but a pal of mine knows him much better than I...


I've met a great number of people, but cannot claim to 'know' them. Some of the more enjoyable meetings were with the following folks...

Robin Olds
George Gay
Robert Morgan
Don Lopez
Clarence 'Bud' Anderson
Günther Rall

Alotta folks are enamored of Chuck Yeager. I admire the man for his accomplishments but having met him twice I have to say that he's one of the biggest pricks on the face of the planet. I guess he earned the right to be a prick, though... LOL I'm still glad to say that I've met the man...


Now, some other folks that I knew/know fairly well...

Elmer Pankratz, aka 'Pank', who flew with the 160th TRS, 363rd TRG. I met him not too long ago. Don't have any shots of the man himself, but here's his F-6D, named 'You Cawn't Miss It!'




Walter Grabowski flew with the 511th FS, 405th FG. He passed away in August 2003 and we miss him greatly. Some of you may be familiar with this shot of Walt tooling along in his Jug...




There is a fella in our club who was in the USAF and says he flew Thuds with the 354th TFS, 355th TFW during Vietnam and retired just after the Gulf War. He makes claims of two and a half MiG kills in Nam and of having been shot down, captured and escaping.

I will not mention his name, but I will say that although I am firmly convinced that the man was in the Air Force and did fly, I am doubtful of some of his claims. Especially now that I found his name listed on one of those websites that exposes folks who make untrue claims. My own research has so far uncovered no evidence of his being in Nam with the 354th TFS or 355th TFW. His photo album has a ton of shots of Huns, though... hmmm...

In the end, whether he turns out to be a BS artist or not, I am glad to know him. He's a good friend and fun to be around.


Toddy Bull, The fella who lived across from me when I was a kid, had something to do with B-29s and mentioned the 'Atom Bomb'. I dunno what he was; aircrew or groundcrew. He passed away before I was old enough to know him as more than 'Mr. Bull, the man across the street'. I should really look into his background a bit. I never got to know the guy very well and I regret not asking more questions of him.


Although not a pilot, a fellow who lives across the street from me now was a member of the 82nd Airborne. I will not name him for reasons which may become apparent. I know relatively little about his wartime service; he participated in Overlord and was one of only three to make it out of the plane. Of the two that landed alive, he was the only one to last the first twenty minutes. I found out the hard way that he cannot talk about it and is greatly distressed by the experience to this day. His wife told me what little I know and asked me not to mention it to him again.

I feel very deeply for the man, but I cannot hope to ever truly sympathise with him because I've never had such an experience. All I can do is to try and understand...


Fade to Black...

[P38 Pilot]

The 1980's guys!!!!!! Very funny!

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and CC, no air force was invented in 1903, most had infact already be created to some extent.......

[cheddar cheese]

In 1903 the Wright brothers had Global Air Superiority...Save for a few Hot air balloons...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

what about the flak?? the first flak gun was fired in 1878 i believe.....

[cheddar cheese]

With a max. Celing of 12 feet the Wright Flyer flew beneath the flak...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well how could the wright flyer have air superiority when she had no armourment?? even balloons carried guns......

[BlackWolf3945]

You guys really know how to f*ck up a thread... at least it's somewhat entertaining this time...


Fade to Black...

[P38 Pilot]

Hey guys! I thought we were taalking about the pilots! The Wright Brothers did fly but didnt have any armanent! Wasnt the first plane the to fly with weapns was during World War I??? How about we get back on topic about the "Pilots u know!" (The topic i made....)


PS: My emoticons r snipeing the hippie! I dont like HIppies!

[cheddar cheese]

My Uncle flew a Tiger Moth a while back as part of a corporate outing