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I got a phone call from a WWII vet......

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
I got a phone call from a WWII vet......
Posted by TANGO 1 on Sunday, December 28, 2003 3:29 PM
Hi all,

Many moons ago I had a pic of a Spitfire Vb in the aircraft forum, it was to be a Christmas gift for a RAF veteran who served with 126Sqn in Malta in 1942. When the model was finished I displayed it a glass case and took it to my friends house who had asked me build it. He told me that he would present it to his father-in-law on Christmas morning.

I got a call today from my friend. He told me his father-in-law wanted a word with me. "It's perfect." He said. "Thank you for all your hard work."
He went on to tell me a little about his time in Malta and how happy he was to have a replica of "his crate".

I feel so great that I was able to do something for this man who served his country and to make him so happy as well. Definately the most rewarding experience I've had as a model builder. I hope I get the chance to build for other vets in the future. It's a very humbling experience when a man tells you that you built his aircraft "spot-on."!

Later,

Darren.


Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Sunday, December 28, 2003 3:46 PM
Awesome story Darren! Thumbs Up [tup]

I would love to be able to sit down and talk about stories that these veterans have. They are all getting up in age now and their stories need to live on in the hearts of those that hear them.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Dahlonega, Georgia
Posted by lizardqing on Sunday, December 28, 2003 4:06 PM
What great experience. That's one of the things I miss about my grandfather is that he had just gotten to where he was taking about Korea when he passed.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 28, 2003 11:45 PM
Congratulations Darren!

I just located my father's WW2 pilot (80+ now) and after one or two phone calls drove about 4 hours to where he lives. We had a great chat and I learned things I never would have otherwise.

I also interviewed a couple of vets (including my father in law) for my corvette model and their experiences were really something. They were reluctant to talk until I explained my interest and then they opened up. I just hope I can finish the model while they are still alive.

This kind of thing really motivates me to build ...
Bruce
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by mark956 on Sunday, December 28, 2003 11:50 PM
Great story. It's always nice to hear when some one does something nice for other people.
mark956
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Monday, December 29, 2003 9:27 AM
To hear the stories and visit with Vets is a major reason I model. I have built B-24s. B-17s, C47s, F4s, ADs, and am now finishing a B26 for a local guy who was a gunner. It is amazing the reaction I get when they are done, from the family who asked, and then the look on the face when we present the model to the Vet. I always have a tape recorder, and if ok, a video camera to record the stories. The model really then becomes a part of history and has special meaning to me.

The B-17 has a funny story, I built it when still in highschool and had the rear door open. My reference photo was a negative so I figured the door would open from the left. The crewman whom I presented the model to, told me the door opened the wrong way. I asked that why on earth they would design the door to open into the slipstream, and he replied; "I was asking the same stupid question while trying to open it to bail out over Holland".

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Manila, Philippines
Posted by shrikes on Monday, December 29, 2003 9:41 AM
Hehehe... that's funny! Well, i guess there was a lot to think about during the war to bother with something as "trivial" as an egress hatch. Big Smile [:D]

I have never really talked to a WWII vet before, although i do know of a jesuit priest that was a captain during d-day, before he entered the order, and was part of the invasion force. i don't think he likes to talk about it much because he changes the subject whenever i try to bring it up. i guess a lot of those memories are painful ones...
Blackadder: This plan's as cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of cunning at Oxford University but has now moved on and is working with the U.N at the high commission of cunning planning
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
Posted by TANGO 1 on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 4:43 PM
Great story Sottrc! It is certainly true that we can always learn from those who have been before us. I think as a group we should all try to make the effort to show our vets that they are appreciated by the younger generation.
The gentleman I built for was certainly touched when someone 50yrs younger wanted to hear of his experiences.
Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Rowland Heights, California
Posted by Duke Maddog on Saturday, January 3, 2004 12:58 PM
I remember working at a hobby store and meeting a gentleman who fought with Gen. Paulus' Sixth Army at Stalingrad. He was a Tank driver in Panzer VI's and escaped just before the encirclement cut them off completely. He says they left by heading south with a Russian-speaking Polish officer who lead them out. Later he went on to fight in Italy with Kesselring's 10th(?) Army. I only regret losing touch with him and not being able to learn more. It was extremely interesting to be able to talk with someone who fought on the "other side", and it is an experience I shall treasure forever.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Seattle, WA
Posted by RonUSMC on Monday, January 5, 2004 9:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by scottrc

The B-17 has a funny story, I built it when still in highschool and had the rear door open. My reference photo was a negative so I figured the door would open from the left. The crewman whom I presented the model to, told me the door opened the wrong way. I asked that why on earth they would design the door to open into the slipstream, and he replied; "I was asking the same stupid question while trying to open it to bail out over Holland".


This story has me cracking up.
http://finescalegallery.com Active Kits: 1/48 AM Avenger 1/35 Sd.Kfz 251 Ausf C
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Monday, January 5, 2004 11:38 AM
We had quite a contingent of airwar vets at my Lutheran Church. Henry, the B17 guy went there along with a German named Adolf who was a mechanic in the Luftwaffer and always joked about Heny's bad aim at dropping bombs. Both were on the Church council and became good freinds, but every now and then would disagree about something and would re-start the war again. Adolf became a guest of Canada as a POW when he was transferred to a Coastal Patrol squadron and was a crew cheif on a Condor that was shot down.

Adolf aways had many interesting stories to tell in his broken English about life in Europe during the war, politics of the Lufftwaffer and feelings towards the Riech, and of being a POW. He had a sense of humor and got along very well with all the allied vets in town. He liked Canada and the US so he became a citizen and a farmer. Both men are no longer with us, but many of their stories are still being re-hashed in my home town.

I never could get from Adolf the exact details of the Condor he flew on, or else I would model one.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 5, 2004 9:52 PM
My father, a WWII vet who worked on P-38's and later B-29's (with the 509th) recently passed away after a very long illness.

I knew that time was critical, so I picked up and went to work on an Academy P-38L which was the type of Lightning he maintained in the Pacific. I was so glad I was able to present it to him before he went into the hospital for the final time.

I will never forget his happiness when he was presented with the plane nor his stories of his war experiences.

The plane now stands in front of his flag on the mantle as a tribute.

We all should never forget the courage and the honor of that generation. Nor, for that matter, later generations...
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
Posted by TANGO 1 on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 10:41 AM
You're absolutely right Skywarner, we should never forget what others have done in service of their country. I was very lucky to be invited to a newly formed model club recently where I met a gentleman who used to fly Halifax's in the RAF. We sat down with a couple of pints and I just listened for a couple of hours. I was so lucky to meet him and listen to his experiences. I won't be asked to build for him though, he builds his own-to a very high standard!
Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Rowland Heights, California
Posted by Duke Maddog on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 12:56 AM
Ona similar note, there was a gentleman wwho was a member of our model club who was very deeply involved in the development and construction of the Space Shuttle. After he retired, he started building the Challenger for his Wife. Shortly after the Challenger disaster, this gentleman passed away, leaving behind a partially-built Challenger Space Shuttle. She brought it in to ask if someone would finish it for her, and somehow the job fell to me. It is almost done, and will be presented to her at our January meeting. I can only hope my work is worthy of Mr. Stoner's model.

Being able to finish something for someone like this is an Honor that I only hope I deserve.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 10:29 PM
It is quite an honor! When you finish the shuttle, post some pics for us.
  • Member since
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  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 10:58 PM
Great stories guys, thanks for sharing. My only brush with a vet was meeting one in a flea market. Can't remember his name, but he fought in the Pacific in some tof the major battles. He showed me a scar on his face and described how he got it. It was on Okinawa and a Japanese soldier was quite close and shot him in the face and the bullet passed through both cheeks. He fortunately shot and killed him. One reaction that he made that I won't forget is, after I thanked him for his service and told him how very brave he was to endure all that fighting, he responsed "Brave?, Hell I was scared to death!" I just couldn't imagine the hell those guys went through.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 9, 2004 3:02 PM
My wifes Grandfather was a WWII vet and tod me of all his experiances before he died.

At 15 he joined the Navy, and was at Pearl, and the Battle of Midway, while awaiting his actual post as a Demolition expert on a Sub that did sabatoge in the Japanese harbors.

His wife still has his Flight Jacket from the Stint he did as radio operator on the Enterprise.
I've been trying to convince her that jacket needs to be interned at a museum, but at the moment she's unwilling to part with it.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Rowland Heights, California
Posted by Duke Maddog on Friday, January 9, 2004 3:05 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Skywarner

It is quite an honor! When you finish the shuttle, post some pics for us.


I shall try. My digicam isn't up to the task, so I'll get someone at my model meeting to take them. Once he e-mails me the copies, I'll have them posted.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
Posted by TANGO 1 on Friday, January 9, 2004 3:52 PM
Duke, I'm sure you'll rise to the occassion. You must feel very proud to be asked to complete that model. I look forward to seeing it when it's finished.

Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    November 2005
I have talked to....
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:13 PM
Robert Spreckels -- the German Luftwaffe pilot who shot down Britain's most celebrated night-fighter pilot, Bob Braham. After reading Bob's book, Nightfighter, I contacted him and verified that both Bob abd Robert had enjoyed many whiskeys together after the war.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:25 PM
I just discovered this thread and it struck a cord with me... by all means if you know a vet make the effort to talk to them. My grandfather was a Seabee, he was at Pearl after the attack (metal worker) and on Saipan among other things. He was a very tough gut...had a purple heart (he climbed out to the end of the guns during a battle to repair them and took some shrap.) I never tried to penetrate his tough exterior...in fact as a youngster I was really very scared to even talk to him. I really wish I had now... two years ago last Dec. 16th he passed... it was throat cancer (he never smoked or drank a day in his life.) Last fall my grandmother gave my dad an album that my granddad kept all of his service pictures and memorabelia in. Among other things were two pictures...one of a bombed out control tower on Saipan... the other of the same tower rebuilt by the Seabees. I can't tell you my daily regret for not having talked with my grandfather about these experiences, or just gotten to know him better. Trust me it's best to get these stories before they are lost...and all that is left is an album full of pictures that you wish you had explanations for.

I'm sorry if I went long on this... I had to get it off my chest.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 2:27 PM
I agree completely Darren. It is a wonderful thing to let these vets relive their glory days by giving them a scale replica of whatever they served on or in. I recently completed a B17F for a co-pilot of the "Rose O' Day", 91Bg, 322 Bs, 8th AAC. It was delivered on Christmas day, and his son called me a few days back to let me know that receiving the replica of the Rose made his father well up with emotion. It was a perfect replica of his plane. It is now a family hierloom. My client makes a regular trip back to the crash site every year, and will be taking the replica with him when he goes this year. Talk about a good feeling.

You can see replicas that I have recently finished for my clients at:

http://newmexicoreplicas.50megs.com

Sign on and let me know what you think!

Keep up the good work everyone!

Jeremy Connell
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 3:27 PM
By all means talk to a vet; they are an invaluable source of information and inspiration. My father was a WWII and Korean war vet. Most of my uncles served in the same wars.I have served for 22yrs so far and had my wars too. I have built each vehicle I have crewed or commanded. I have also made models for my comrades as going away gifts. It is a most satisfing feeling when you get it right.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: A secret workshop somewhere in England
Posted by TANGO 1 on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:47 PM
Jeremy,
I have just seen your gallery and I'm mightily impressed! I have a friend who also builds professionally and I must say I'm quite envious of you both!
I am not the most talented modeler by any means so when once in a while someone asks me to build for them I feel very honored. When they call so say they like the model too, it's a wonderful feeling. When a vet takes the time to tell me of their experiences I am in awe of them and could listen all day and learn so much. I honestly wish I had more hours in the day so I could speak to more of them.
Regards, Darren. C.A.G. FAA/USNFAW GB
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by convair on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 8:43 PM
Really it is important and, I would say, a necessary experience to talk with Vets about their experiences. It is live history. Some years ago a friend of mine knew a He-111 pilot (he was his home neighbour) who had flown in the Battle of Britain. Later in the war he flew transport (cargo) missions and suffered injuries, he was "grounded" and survived the war. The pilot showed to my friend some interesting He-111 wartime photos, including some pics where some He-111 had "tail art" (instead "nose art") drawings. I saw some of the photos, too; they where amazing! The style of the "tail arts" were similar to the american WWII "nose art" but not with ladies, only cartoons.
The pilot said the "tail arts" lasted only a few days, the commander of his unit ordered that all drawings were removed. I regret we were not able to chat much more with the pilot (sorry, I don't remember his name); he passed away in 1995.

...and there are many "famous persons" Vets. Actors, for example; Paul Newman was a gunner in some type of torpedo plane (a TBM Avenger?) in WWII; Charlton Heston was a B-25 crew (radio-operator?); Jack Palance was a bomber pilot; and so on.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 9:53 PM
Darren, that is a truly amazing story you related to us. I am glad that i happened to look at this as I have some fond memories of build for a verteran myself. I was working for a blueprinting firm in NYC, who's sister operation was an art supply store. One of the store's customers was a painter by the name Tad Dejewski. He was a member of the 15th AAF, 459th Bomber Group. Mr. Dejewski came into my office one day as I was fiddling with a new model that I had purchased that day. He had asked me if I was interested in building a replica of the plane he was the navigator on during WWII. I jumped at the opportunity. I made 2 Liberator models for him, one in 48th scale and the other in 72nd scale, to be used as a presentation model for the surviving members of his plane. The plane in question was the "California Rocket", B-24 Liberator Serial # 251714. He was very pleased with these models, and I was very happy to build them for him. He even asked me to buil a replica of his 1957 Ford T-Bird.
All this aside, I was very fortunate to have the ability to "GO BACK IN TIME" and learn about the period from someone that was there. Unfortunately Mr. Dejewski passed last may, but I will try to get in touch with the remaining members of his bomber.
Hope i didn't bore anyone

Leigh
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 11:18 PM
Adam,

Thanks for the story.
My dad was on Saipan too in 1944-45 with the Marines.
I wonder if they may have crossed paths or been there at the same time?
We will never know as my dad passed away two years ago also from cancer.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 4:27 PM
I have always listed to my grandfathers when they spoke about their lives in the war. It was interesting as the Grandfather that went to Europe was tapped for intelligence and was always near to,but kept off, the lines, he talked about what combat was like, what the Germans, Italians, white- Russians, red- Russians, Vichi French, free French etc etc etc were like. His stories while interesting, were never glorious. The best one being, while I knew German at a high school level and could read and speak the language, Hande- Hach! was all I ever really needed...Or how he travled across the world to meet a German soldier that had lived in South St Louis less that a mile from his home. My Paternal grandfather (God Rest His Soul) Was in the pacific as a LCI and LCVP driver. He NEVER discussed combat. The Japanese were there, he was there, and the US Marines were there. There was more. He just wouldnt say. My father served in Vietnam. I suggest when discussing Vietnam use alot of discretion. I know it goes without saying, but I had a friend whose father was an APC driver. When we put togather an APC kit for him he promptly locked it up and later destroyed it. Since becoming a semi driver and set out to roam the countryside I have met Holocaust survivors, Montaniards from the Highlands of Vietnam, Vietnamese who were conscripts in the NVA,(in Canada) Israelis, Lebanese, Palestinians, Former Soviet soldiers,including one spetsnaz paratrooper circa Afgan war, several Germans and thier children,and finally A Cuban Spec ops man that came here to Live the dream. He does, he owns his own Semi and is a mover with a moving company. I have come to realize that all these people Have come here to do one thing, live in peace as Americans. If there is one thing I would like to add to close this lengthly message is that our veterans of all conflicts have made the American Dream possible for these people to come here and lead good lives. Always keep that promise, and those who kept it in mind.- Dominic
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 4:34 PM
nice story
I've gone and talked to a few WW2 vets and its a great experience
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 5:52 PM
While awaiting an appointment at my HMO (health clinic), I had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of a fellow patient who happened to be a WWI U.S. fighter pilot. Absolutely fascinating tales and old photos of some legendary A/C's and fields.

Afraid my own direct experiences relate more to being a POW from the "War on Poverty!"Ashamed [*^_^*]

"Should we prosper it shall be as is our custom...by Miracle!"
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