Boxcar Willie Pilot or Flight Engineer ?

[Bluehawk]

Turns out country singer LECIL TRAVIS MARTIN (b. Sterrat, TX - d. Branson, MO) aka "Boxcar Willie" spent a lot of time in USAF airplanes - B-29, B-36 and C-5 - over his 27-year career, some of it in SAC.

 

Trouble is, his biographers always talk about him as a Korean war pilot AND a Flight Engineer; possible but not likely.

 

My guess is that he was a FE, who correctly told a lot of people that he "flew" or "flew on" airplanes - which they naturally took to mean that he was a pilot.

 

The only photo I've found of him in uniform shows him sitting an an Engineer's panel.

 

My searches have not shown his rank nor his units, so I cannot get a hook on his AFSC or much else.

 

I have been able to come up with the following approximation/guesswork:

 

http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/profile/119364

 

Does anybody know for sure his situation, or can anyone give me some hints or guidance to follow so the bio can get squared away?

[Bluehawk]

one bump

[B-29Gunner]

If it's any help, he's sitting at a KC-97 FE's panel in that picture.

[Bluehawk]

If it's any help, he's sitting at a KC-97 FE's panel in that picture.

Thanks... I'm thinking he was an Engineer.

[Steindaddie]

This situation with Willie is very familiar to me: I too was a flight engineer, not a pilot, and civilians always got us two mixed up. I don't really know how that could happen - we flight engineers are a lot smarter than the pilots. (Better lookin' too) :thumbsup:

 

~Will

[BEAST]

Yep, I would say FE also. This is from the VA's website:

 

MARTIN, LECIL T

MSGT US AIR FORCE

KOREA, VIETNAM

DATE OF BIRTH: 09/01/1931

DATE OF DEATH: 04/12/1999

BURIED AT:

OZARKS MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY

1638 E HWY 76 BRANSON, MO 65616

(417) 334-3670

 

BTW, Thanks for posting this about Boxcar Willie. I bought a CD set of his a few years ago and really enjoy his music. Never knew he was a vet also.

[Bluehawk]

Thanks, Beast!

 

Now I've got a rank for him to add on the profile!

 

Blue Rah!

[Bluehawk]

This situation with Willie is very familiar to me: I too was a flight engineer, not a pilot, and civilians always got us two mixed up. I don't really know how that could happen - we flight engineers are a lot smarter than the pilots. (Better lookin' too) :thumbsup:

 

~Will

I've taken to saying that I was "air crew", which (of course) may or may not make any difference at all.

[BEAST]

Thanks, Beast!

 

Now I've got a rank for him to add on the profile!

 

Blue Rah!

 

 

No problem! Here is a photo from findagrave.com http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...d=16067082&

 

Nice to know that he wasn't too big of a star to forget that he served!

 

[Lee Ragan]

Years ago I saw a video of Boxcar Willie with what looked like a showbox or frame with his Air Force momentos in it, and it looked like he had enlisted Aircrew wings above his ribbons. It's been awhile since I saw that, but I do remember getting the impression he was either a flight engineer or possibly a boom operator. That may be because there was a photo of a KC-97 along with his stuff.

[benguttery]

I may be a little late, but Lecil is still remembered here in north Texas. He lived in Arlington, He was indeed a Flight Engineer. There is an antique mall here that had a huge C-5 desk model that belonged to him.

[pmanton]

I love his music. We have several CDs of his.

 

Too bad he is gone.

[Plant#4]

Boxcar Willie always credited his playing country music to the late Jimmy Heap. Yes he was a flight engineer on a few different aircraft. I believe he even had a flight deck, or an engineers station to a C-119 at his Museum in Branson

[Bluehawk]

Nice to see this old thread come back to life...

[Bob Hudson]

.

 

[Bob Hudson]

"In San Jose, California, Martin attended a talent show as "Boxcar Willie" and performed under the nickname for the first time. He won first place, a $150 prize and a nickname that he would forever go by. That was his part-time vocation, however; he was still in the Air Force and had been flying daily missions. He later became a Flight Engineer on Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter aircraft in the 136th ARW in the Texas Air National Guard, including air refueling flights around the USA and overseas in Germany

 

[Bluehawk]

And now, for a photo of that big ole gnarly beast!

[collectsmedals]

I saw "Boxcar Willie" many years ago when he performed at a local community college in Western PA. I didn't really know who he was but wanted to see a show. It was great I just loved the music, the comedy, all of it. What impressed me the most was after the show he hung around for over an hour to spend time with his fans and talking to everyone who stayed to see him. A truly great entertainer who more of today's country stars could learn from. I didn't know until this post he was also a career veteran! Makes having met him even more special for me.