pfrost Posted January 30, 2017 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2017 When I first came to UCLA as an undergraduate, some friends of my mom put me up for a few weeks in their house. He had been a quartermaster in the 8th AAF during WWII and her first husband had been a navigator flying B24s out of Italy (IIRC he took part in one or two of the Ploiesti raids). They remarried to each other and were very active in the USAF Association and became good friends with Gen Doolittle and his wife. When I became a USAAF wing collector, they kindly gave me an old Christmas card from Gen. Doolittle. Not, exactly, a wing, but I think you all would appreciate it in this forum. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted January 30, 2017 I had a chance to meet him just before he passed. They had invited him to an Xmas party at their home, but he was too sick to attend. When I was a kid living in the Philippines (my dad was stationed at Cubi PT NAS), I had also had a chance to meet Pappy Boyington (he came through on a USO tour, IIRC). However, since I had just gotten a girlfriend, I missed out of meeting him to smooch with her.... sigh. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted January 30, 2017 Share #3 Posted January 30, 2017 That's great Patrick, those memories can never be replaced by an item! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim B Posted January 30, 2017 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2017 Patrick,Pretty neat side item and a nice little piece of personal history, thanks for sharing. Re: Boyington; However, since I had just gotten a girlfriend, I missed out of meeting him to smooch with her.... sigh. Happy to see you had your priorities right! I once had a similar chance to meet Adolf Galland while in San Diego, with the same dilemma. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted January 30, 2017 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2017 Great personal item. Might be nice to frame it with the back story of how it came into your hands along side it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 31, 2017 Share #6 Posted January 31, 2017 I had a chance to meet him just before he passed. They had invited him to an Xmas party at their home, but he was too sick to attend. When I was a kid living in the Philippines (my dad was stationed at Cubi PT NAS), I had also had a chance to meet Pappy Boyington (he came through on a USO tour, IIRC). However, since I had just gotten a girlfriend, I missed out of meeting him to smooch with her.... sigh. P I once had a chance to meet Boyington at an air show, but his table was packed with people waiting to see him. There was another table at it, and the veteran was sitting there alone. My dad and I walked up to him (this was maybe 1982-83?) and sure enough...it was Ensign George Gay! He was completely happy to at least talk to SOMEONE because Boyington was (as usual) stealing all the limelight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted January 31, 2017 Share #7 Posted January 31, 2017 That would be a toss up between Gay and Boyington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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