From 1978-1988 I knew most of all the team members pretty well. Growing up in Reading, PA (at the time, the home of the largest airshow in the world...second to Paris) had it's advantages.
These photos were taken in 1979 or 80. The CC of #1 Fred Simione had befriended me and a flying friend of mine. They let us work on the birds. Spit shine stuff they didn't want to do...hey ...free help !
I'll never forget some of those airshows. I even got to sit in the back of # 1 when they took her out on the runway to do an engine adjustment with #3. Engines full blast with brakes on. You can only imagine how I wished we'd go down the runway and take off.
Anyhow...didn't want to bore anyone with my stories of "old"...but these old Kodak instant photos I found recently brought back many memories.
Lt. Col D.L. Smith was a great man...and spent time with us...it was sad when I learned of his crash outside of Erie, PA.
Well...I'm not sure if we were a few of many "kids" that they took under their wings at a show...but obviously that doesn't happen today. We crawled around # 1 for a week at a time....buffing her, cleaning her, putting on the CC helmet in the back seat for radio checks...it truly was a magical time for me. I don't think a days goes by that I don't think of the team. Guess I'm hooked like many of you.
I still hope, one day...I might get the chance to sit in that back seat and GO! One can only dream !! Enjoy the photos of these once sleek ladies!
