|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,120
Hall of Famer
|
OP
Hall of Famer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,120 |
WWII pilot reunites with very plane he flew in the war
POSTED 5:11 PM, NOVEMBER 11, 2016, BY DAN DARU
FACEBOOK1K+ TWITTER GOOGLE LINKEDIN PINTEREST EMAIL
plane
World War II veteran Francis Robert “Frank” Royal made a fateful trip to the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs last year, “Having had a life long interest in flying, I had to come see what they had,” Royal said.
Royal served as the squadron commander of the 39th Pursuit Squadron, 5th Army Air Corps in Papua New Guinea.
He flew the P-38 Lockheed Lightening in combat. The Germans called the P-38 the fork tailed devil, “It was a real godsend. From a pilot’s standpoint it was great.”
So there it was, in the museum, a P-38 just like the one Royal flew in combat.
But then, something very special happened. Against all odds Royal realized that he was once again reunited with the very plane he flew.
The original tail markings, white 33, were the ones he used. This was his plane, “It was quite a thrill.”
White 33 has since been fully restored and fit to fly and once again took to the blue. But this time Frank Royal was in a chase plane, “They won’t let me fly this one, for some reason,” Royal laughed.
Man and machine, together once again, on one last mission.
And then he was back on the ground, “The flight went well. Very well.”
Now, Royal says he has one more mission. “I’m going on my last flight. As of last week I’ve been put on hospice.”
At 101 years of age, he says he’s at peace. He misses his late wife Noreen and looks forward to once again flying with his mates who are perhaps waiting for him, high in the sunlit silence. The P-38 was restored here in Colorado Springs. It took off back in mid-October, which I missed because I was stuck at work. I was able to make it to the museum last weekend to see it in the hangar before it left to go on tour.
It's supposed to be hard! If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,433 |
My grandfather turns 92 in a few days; he served in WWII. He got over to Berlin right when the war ended.
He told me a story about the soviets. He went to watch a movie in one of the few surviving buildings. They had to leave their guns at the barracks; he thought all allied soldiers followed this protocol. He went to watch the movie, it begins to start, and all of the sudden he bears a bunch of explosions. He looks to his right, and a bunch of soviet soldiers are shooting their guns at the ceiling. He doesn't hold a high opinion of Russians.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
He doesn't hold a high opinion of Russians. Not many do/did. The German army needed to be pounded, but the brutality of the Russians towards German civilians was barbaric. Rapes, beatings, senseless shootings, looting, setting fires, etc were out of control. A truly revolting invasion.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415 |
The story is really cool. Sadly, we are losing more members of that "greatest generation" every day.and there simply are not that many left.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,612
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,612 |
P-38  P-51 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,120
Hall of Famer
|
|
OP
Hall of Famer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,120 |
Frank Royal passed away today.
It's supposed to be hard! If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415 |
RIP Mr Royal.
The Greatest Generation is slipping away with every passing day. God bless them for their sacrifices for this country.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 16,195
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 16,195 |
I'm just thankful I was raised by a man that was one of them.
#GMSTRONG
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 50,415 |
My uncle was a WWII POW, and he was one of the men who helped shape and guide me as a young man. He was gruff, and often abrasive, but if you wanted to learn something, he would teach it to you, and you would learn to do it correctly.
The greatest compliment he ever gave me was when i completely rewired my mom's kitchen. He came over and tested every circuit, checked every connection, and made sure that everything was done correctly. He said that I did ..... OK. (and found nothing wrong with my work)
I was deeply flattered.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
|
|
|
DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... WWII pilot reunites with very
plane he flew in the war
|
|
