Questions you'd possibly like asked to 5 x P-51, 2 x P47 and 2 x P-40 Pilot in August
 

In August I hope to attend a reunion of the 325th Fighter group in California. I know at some point I stand a chance of speaking at reasonable length to some of them and I have already asked a lot of questions to them by email (and interviewed on camera).

However my questions may not necessarily be the one's that a community of aviation fans would be interested in so if I get a chance to ask questions (and no promises here!) is there anything you can think of that you would like to know about their service and the aircraft they flew?

Those currently expected to attend are:
P-51 Pilot's will include Barrie S. Davis (P-47 (No victories) and P-51 Ace), Art Fiedler (P-51 Ace), Jerry Edwards (P-51, P-47 and P-40 Pilot 4-Victories), Jack Sherbourne (P-51 Pilot), Tom Batey (P-51 and F-86 Sabre), Ron Dove (P-40 and P-47), Clarance Coonce (Armourer) and Ed Doss (Crew Chief).

Once again I cannot promise to ask all the questions but if there is anything that is of interest to you and I have a chance to ask the question, please post it here and I will post a link to their replies as-soon as I can after the event.

Cheers, MP

Asking technical questions might not always be the best idea, in my personal experience of interviewing veteran pilots I learned that most of the truly interesting stuff comes out when they're poked at their emotional side more than the memory one: I've seen old veterans' eyes literally come to life with a spark when certain questions were asked.

If I could ask 1 question to them I'd ask (since I presume they fought on the Italian front?) what were the Italians and Germans like as opponents and which was their most feared enemy aircraft.

Why didn't the JUG have a rear-gunner .. it had everything ELSE! :grin:

.. or even a fixed, unmanned rear gun, aimed through a scope, just like a Arado 234, might have saved a few lives? or would it? :confused:

.

Where at in California?

don't give oleg any ideas

How do tracers look in cockpit..............runs for cover.

Camarillo Airshow, 325th Fighter Group 67th Reunion ;)

A think they'll probably say better from behind them than in front! Also they probably shot things down as-well ;)

In-case you missed this:

On the final evening of the 2009 Camarillo Airshow I was invited along to a Barbecue at Art's house, where along with Monguse, we took the chance to set up a video camera and record Art talking about some of his time in the USAAF.

That video was part of the "Checkertails" Documentary/Movie, released in 2010 and Part 2 in September 2012.

After the video interview, I asked if it was okay to leave the sound recorder running while he chatted with guests at the meal, and with a beaming smile Art said "Sure!".

You'll be glad to know that I have edited away the dead space (walking around, nothing being said, etc,etc) and left in just the conversation related to his time in the USAAF.

Covered in this audio file are P-47 gunnery training, P-51 wing snapping (or lack of it), engine noise, flames on exhausts, weapon and tracer load-out, the use of long range fuel tanks as weapons, plus many other topics.

Asking most of the questions is myself, but the other voices you will here are 325th_Swoop and Monguse (he comes in right at the end asking about P-51 markings).

Guys, the audio you will hear was all recorded at a Barbecue, so there is background noise going on, but Art was fully mic'd up so when he and I talk, all the voices are very clear and the background chatter is just ambient.

The file is just under 30-minutes long, and is compressed in mp3 format, and is 26mb in file-size.

I hope you enjoy listening to Art talk about some of his incidents as much as those gathered there did, he truly is a remarkable man and it was a real honour to spend time talking with him.

The audio starts as 325th_Swoop has just told me he is 62-years old and is learning to fly a Helicopter. Art then comes over and the conversation gets going.

BTW Swoop didn't look a day under 62 (kidding..he must have had an easy life!)

http://www.mediafire.com/?mywjimzwgjm

Cheers, MP

excellent but you might want to remove those first few seconds of noise.

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