L-4 LIFE IS GOOD!

I always loved to fly. Here I am driving my old L-4 in USN blimp support livery over Amelia Island, FL. Great little airplane. I had a lot of fun with it!

HARRY GANN

While I was a pilot in the Marines, I had the very fortunate occasion to meet one of the finest gentlemen, and certainly one of the best military aviation photographers, I have ever known. He has taken thousands of great photos, in the air, on land and aboard aircraft carriers. He is the late, but very great, my dear friend, Harry Gann.

F4 FLAT HAT!

That be me!!

Proof that being a "Has Been" is better than being a "Never Was".

Shadow

FLYING HELLCAT

One of my Hellcats before I sold it... last flight before it left. I sold it to Doug Arnold via Whittington and when Paul Allen had me out to Seattle the first time... I walked in the Museum and there she was... Paul now owns it. And you can see it at Paul's Flying Heritage Collection.

Shadow

FLYING MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Please take a look at the article I wrote in this month's issue of Flying Magazine, (Jul/Aug 09) "I Learned About Flying From That." One of my personal all time Great Flyers is the topic. I have no doubt that John McAnally saved my life.

- Roy

JOHN MINTURN VERDI

John Verdi was one of the most unique, brilliant and courageous individuals I have ever known. He was a civilian contract pilot during the Indochina war, flying the C-119 Flying Boxcar with Civilian Air Transport (CAT) for the French. He had some fantastic experiences.

There was that time when John was preparing to take off with a load of cargo for the French, when he was told that he would also have to ferry some recently captured Viet Minh prisoners on the same flight. John said that with the added weight of the prisoners on takeoff, he would not be able to clear the nearby hills if he lost one of his engines. He was told that he would have to take the prisoners anyway.

John ordered the load master to palletize the prisoners, and place the pallets in line next to the rear doors of the C-119. So that if the plane lost an engine after it was airborne, the pallets would be quickly disconnected, rapidly slide free, and jettison out the open rear doors of the C-119. Even the French couldn't abide that, and John didn't have to ferry the prisoners.

He became a USMC officer and pilot, flying jets in the 50's. He had some more incredible flying experiences with the Marines during the Korean War and the Cold War, and he self published a book in soft cover, Verdi, John Minturn, First Hundred: A Memoir of the Korean War, 1952-1953.

Sadly, on October 31, 1991, he was flying a privately owned F9F-8T (N24WJ) two place Cougar fighter, and both he and a passenger were lost somewhere near the coast of Louisiana. The cause of the crash is unknown, and neither the airplane or remains of John and the passenger have ever been found. He was only 53. Let me know if you had known this Great Flier. - Roy

Thanks to my friend, Lynn Clough, http://lynncloughfineart.com/ for this excellent sketch of John, made after his very distinguished military career.

WELCOME TO THE BLACK SHADOW AVIATION BLOG!

Here, you can discuss and and ask questions on aviation stories, archeology, military aviation history, war-birds, restoration and some heroes we know, knew, and admired. Who knows? We may all learn something. I know that I have learned a few things from the many folks who have visited my website and have sent me emails.

So grab a cup of coffee! Sit down and drop me a note on the BSA Blog!

Again, Welcome, and many thanks for visiting us! We are glad you could come. - Roy