ok fly guys

Enjoy this 64 year-old B&W documentary. The movie has been color enhanced.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4368250464023128830&pr=googsl

Jim,
Great video. The losses listed at the end helps put things in perspective. I'm a pilot in the USAF with over 1,000 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I have not lost a single close friend or squadron member to hostile fire. To lose 93 fellow pilots in a single day seem unimaginable. Thanks for posting that!
Cheers,
Matt Foley, AC-130U Spooky Pilot

Jim,
Great video. The losses listed at the end put some things in perspective, as well. I am a pilot in the USAF with over 1,000 combat hours in Afghanistan and Iraq, but have not lost a single close friend or squadron member to hostile fire. The thought of losing over 90 pilots in a single day is truly unimagineable. Hats off to the bravery of those who knew the dangers and odds, and executed the mission with valor. Thanks for posting that!
Matt Foley, AC-130U Spooky Pilot

These guys did it the old way, up close and personal. Things were simpler with no tech stuff.

That's a fact. There were no fly by wire and laser guided systems back than, just plain old courage, one hand on the throttle and the other tightly on the stick. Man did that take some guts. The pilots of today have to think that much faster and be more technology minded to keep their edge. My hat is off to all of the 'fly boys', past and present.

Mattne Wrote:

As they say, an amazing Generation of men and women.

Matt..if you ever get the occasion to visit Cannon AFB..new home of the Special Ops Group out of Fl....drop a note. My shop has turned into a hobby shop for all the guys at the base..we'll take you out for lunch. I'm retired AF maint..worked special ops planes at Danang...

Mattne Wrote:

the eighth air force had more casualties in ww2 than the marine corps
did in the entire pacific campaign.
was assigned to an f80 group on okinawa in 48 and the af still had p47s
on north feild on guam ,which some guys i went to jet school with were
assigned.the best part was they actually paid me to work on aircraft.was assigned to b29s when i came back to the states.
those pilots had balls so big i dont know how the fit in the cockpit!!

only navigational aids in that period on fighters was a magnetic compass and
a radio compass. dead reconing also two radio stations could determinate
your location by triangluation if you were lucky.or follow the railroad tracks .
No celestial nav,no gps,no radar,no tacan,dme,loran ect..
the radio compass would only point you at a station thats all.