WIX Archives
Proud of My Grandfather as well
Posted by Mike Henniger on Sun Feb 17, 2002 08:09:26 PM
In reply top Re: I should have been more specific, sorry... posted by TonyD on Sun Feb 17, 2002 01:55:01 PM
I have a huge interest in warbirds like most people who visit this board. I don't know where it comes from as none of my relatives were in the services except for my grandfather who was in the RCN serving on a Corvette during escort duty. I am not sure exactly what he thought of my interest in the "Junior Service" as he put it. But I am glad I had the opportunity to hear what his service was like. One evening he quietly told me some stories, some things amazing, so things chilling (he never talked about his experiences to his children). He didn't come home after the war with a chest covered with medals but I am proud of him and thank him in my own way every November 11. I doubt I need to tell anyone here we need to thank our vets, whether they were they were fighter pilots, ground crew, instructors or sailors. They all played an important roll.
Regards,
Mike (with my $0.02 worth of rememberance)
: Scott...good idea regarding bomber & transport crews. I wo
: uld, however, extend it to cover trainer/instructors too!
: My Grandfather was an instructor (sorry, probably bored yo
: u all with this before) from the beginning of the war in 1
: 939 and taught countless multiengined bomber & transport p
: ilots to fly. Many ended up being honoured with medals. My
: Grandfather put in for operations many times and was turn
: ed down due to being an above average pilot and excellent
: instructor. When I speak to many so-called warbird enthusi
: asts about his career, their eyes glaze over when we are t
: aling about instructing. BUT someone had to teach the bomb
: er & fighter pilots and all the others who thos enthusiast
: s are interested in, to fly. My Grandfather finally got on
: to ops in 1942 flying beautiful PBY Catalinas out of Scotl
: and. He sunk a U Boat and rescued many people. He was awar
: ded the DFC, AFC, many other medals and was an OBE too. Bo
: y, I'm proud of him, all of his service/life and wish he w
: as here today.
:
: Regards
:
: TonyD