Daughter seeks deciphering re: 96 year old USMC Pilot

[PhrogPhlyer]

Crazy to think of how many airplanes and types of missions pilots jumped around to back in the "old days". New airplanes constantly coming out, opportunities to cross train into props, helos, jets...

At some point he was snapped up from single-engine props and shifted to helicopters. MAG-16 (Marine Air Group) has always been a rotary wing. At the time helicopters were swallowing up a lot of aviators from different squadrons.

An interesting note about pilots in general in the '50's and '60s, there was much less competition/animosity bteween aircraft types. Pilots relished the opportunity to fly anything they could, learn more, be a better all around pilot.

Her father appears to be one of those "real" pilots we read about.
Can't wait to learn more about his time in the Corps as we share in this sentimental journey, especially having been at many of the places he was.

 

[Flash]

An interesting note about pilots in general in the '50's and '60s, there was much less competition/animosity bteween aircraft types. Pilots relished the opportunity to fly anything they could, learn more, be a better all around pilot.

That ignores A LOT of history that says exactly the opposite, going back to before WWII.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

That ignores A LOT of history that says exactly the opposite, going back to before WWII.

Not sure what your are saying with this. Yes, bombers v fighters v transports rivalries have been around for a long time. And, for the past several decades there has been a faster or bigger is better mentality.

However, I am specifically looking the the '50s and ''60s. Helicopters and jets came into their own in the '50's and '60s, hence more opportunities to try new things. In the '50s, the WWII fighter pilots welcomed the chance to become a helicopter pilot. I can't envision many current jet jocks would have the same reaction if told they were going to be transitioning to a helo.

Having trained Harrier pilots to hover in a CH-46, I saw the initial "there's nothing a helo pilot can teach me, I'm a jet pilot" change to "phew, how the hell do you actually do that" when you took back the controls and stabilized the hover when the Harrier jock was losing all control while SAS off.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Slow tiny things are so hawt right now. Nothing big or fast, please

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Slow tiny things are so hawt right now. Nothing big or fast, please

You sound like my wife!

 

[Flash]

Not sure what your are saying with this....However, I am specifically looking the the '50s and ''60s. Helicopters and jets came into their own in the '50's and '60s, hence more opportunities to try new things. In the '50s, the WWII fighter pilots welcomed the chance to become a helicopter pilot. I can't envision many current jet jocks would have the same reaction if told they were going to be transitioning to a helo.

Having read plenty of first-hand accounts of pilots of all eras, to include the 50's and 60's, while some pilots welcomed the opportunity to try new things many fighter types did not or would not have welcomed a transition to a new type of aircraft, those in the 50's and helicopters included.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Having read plenty of first-hand accounts of pilots of all eras, to include the 50's and 60's, while some pilots welcomed the opportunity to try new things many fighter types did not or would not have welcomed a transition to a new type of aircraft, those in the 50's and helicopters included.

I will admit to my reading of first-hand accounts is primarily related to Marine Corps pilots, and almost to a man they would fly anything they cold get their hands on. Hence my response in light of the aviator this thread is based upon, and his FW and RW experiences.