James Elms Swett Author: Barry Fetzer “Time,” it is said, “cures all ills.” Time, also, unless we take care to ensure it doesn’t, erases history. New history is created over time, burying the older history. Generations come and go and the experiences—the history—that meant so much to past generations, means increasingly less to succeeding generations. …
Memphis Bell Author: Bryan R. Swopes Submitted by: Barry Fetzer Completing twenty-five combat missions. Most of us wouldn’t bet on those odds. But we might bet on the odds at the casinos. According to Casinofreak.com, “The average payout percentage for slot machines in Las Vegas is around 85 cents per dollar earned.” Flying B-17’s in…
5–6 June 1944 (D-Day -1) Author: Bryan R. Swopes Submitted by: Barry Fetzer Will we ever see it again, almost 1500 aircraft stretching for over 300 miles delivering troops to battle? It must have been a sight to behold…or at least to hear since it occurred on the evening of D-Day minus 1. Can you…
Southern Cross Author: Bryan R. Swopes Submitted by: Barry Fetzer Where has May gone? It has “flown away” with June dawning its first day. And then before we know it, June will be gone. Try to enjoy the moments, for they rapidly fly away. Can you imagine making a flight across the vastness of the…
Aviation History Author: Barry R. Fetzer Today’s historical aviation vignette comes from my memories of tracking an arc (verses a straight line) to a Non-Directional Beacon, one of the best methods (we found, at least, flying multi-mission CH-46 helicopters in the Marines) to get to where we were intending to go. Of course, this low-tech…