WIX Archives

Re: Tobul Crash....Only Major Loss Worldwide for 2002?

Posted by Steve T on Mon Nov 11, 2002 07:49:53 PM

In reply top Re: Tobul Crash....Only Major Loss Worldwide for 2002? posted by Dave Tinker on Mon Nov 11, 2002 05:05:12 PM

: I TOTALLY agree Tim. I met Joe Tobul at the Selfridge sho
: w a couple years ago. What a nice fellow. I've known and
: flown with Bob Beckman for the past 15 years. He died in
: a T-6 recently. Is Bob's loss somehow minor (or perhaps I
: should say less major) because he was only flying a T-6?
: I am missing them both terribly. Maybe I'm missing someth
: ing else also,but I don't think so.

Dave, Tim--

I agree too. Just found out about this crash now. Yes, the loss of a rare F4U is hard to take; but it means little in view of the simple fact that there was only one Joe Tobul, ever, and there will not be another. As to the implication of "ranking" the severity of such a loss...what of the Warbird luminaries who have passed away prematurely, not aboard "minor" aircraft types, rather not in aircraft at all? Nick Grace, Merle Gustafson and (quite recently) Spencer Flack all come to mind. Surely the community misses them just as keenly.

My thoughts are with those Mr Tobul left behind--and also with the survivors of Jimmi Rossi whom we lost just last week. I saw both these gentlemen and their classic fighters at Willow Run scant months ago...

S.

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