Alex Vraciu Hellcat Ace (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

One of the new warbirds available on the K&C website is Alex Vraciu's Hellcat. I googled Commander Alex Vraciu, and found that he was the Navy's 4th leading Ace in WWII with 19 kills. He got six kills in one day during the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot." He is still alive at age 89, and recently made an appearance on "Dogfights", my favorite show on the history channel. I wish I could personally meet and thank all the remaining WWII Allied veterans. To me, like Commander Vraciu, they are all heroes.

 

[amhuff1]

The Mid Atlantic Air Museum has a WW2 weekend the first weekend in June every year. Just so happens to fall on June 6-8 this year. I would imagine that they will have a D Day theme. All of the planes actually fly and many veterans will be there. I go every year and it is a great experience. Just thought I would share this as many veterans will be at the show. I got pictures and autographs with many veterans including some from the Band of Brothers and all I could do was say thank you.

 

[Capitolron]

The Mid Atlantic Air Museum has a WW2 weekend the first weekend in June every year. Just so happens to fall on June 6-8 this year. I would imagine that they will have a D Day theme. All of the planes actually fly and many veterans will be there. I go every year and it is a great experience. Just thought I would share this as many veterans will be at the show. I got pictures and autographs with many veterans including some from the Band of Brothers and all I could do was say thank you.

Sounds Like A Field Trip !!

 

[soldier01]

Louis,

I can tell you from first hand experience that if you ever get the chance to meet Alex you will not be disappointed. Over the years I have had the pleasure of his company at Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian print signings.
He is a very humble man that unfortunately lost his wife a couple of years ago after he cared for her during a very long illness.
He has a great story about running around the jungle with the natives after he went down on a mission.
Funny thing he will also tell you is how to remember how to say his last name, Vraciu rimes with Cashew.

 

[steel wheels]

I felt the same way when I met the late General Paul Tibbets, who signed a photo of the Enola Gay for me. What an American military icon, who unfortunately had to put up with those liberal idiots, who would protest outside the air-shows calling him a war criminal. God bless Paul Tibbets the commander of the flying 509th, whose brave actions ended the war and saved possibly hundreds of thousands of American lives.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I wish I could meet Commander Vraciu. I read that after he was shot down, Commander Vraciu became the leader of a band of native Guerillas until he was returned to American forces several weeks later. What a great man he must be!

By the way, my next door neighbor, Dr. Farcaciu, also tells me that his name is pronounced the same as "Far-Cashew".

 

[Louis Badolato]

I felt the same way when I met the late General Paul Tibbets, who signed a photo of the Enola Gay for me. What an American military icon, who unfortunately had to put up with those liberal idiots, who would protest outside the air-shows calling him a war criminal. God bless Paul Tibbets the commander of the flying 509th, whose brave actions ended the war and saved possibly hundreds of thousands of American lives.

I also have an autographed photo of Paul Tibbets, and any of those liberal idiots whose fathers were Marines in the Pacific theater can thank General Tibbets for their existence, because many of them would never had been born had the Invasion of Japan gone forward.

 

[Combat]

Sounds Like A Field Trip !!

It's a great event, but hotter than hell on that runway. I'm surprised any vet survives the show. At least 120+ on the pavement last year. One company sells some very nice model planes in the hanger area.

 

[soldier01]

A friend of mine (since deceased) who was based on Tinneon (spelling?) said when some other soldiers were talking about the "BOMB" that was just drooped on Japan.
He and most of the other men just could not comprehend the magnitude of the event at the time.
We have the benefit of looking back and pondering "what if this, or that".
All of the men I have met that lived threw the actual event didn't seem to have a problem with the way it went.

 

[wadepat]

I also have an autographed photo of Paul Tibbets, and any of those liberal idiots whose fathers were Marines in the Pacific theater can thank General Tibbets for their existence, because many of them would never had been born had the Invasion of Japan gone forward.

Hi Louis and Steel Wheels,

I hesitate to post this note as I fear it may be misunderstood. I hope you will carefully read what I have to say and understand my comments are provided only for your thoughtful consideration.

Simply stated, I consider myself a political liberal and, as such, I am somewhat offended by you combining the word "liberal" with "idiot." Further, I resent the assumption that all those protesting the actions of General Tibbets must obviously be liberals. In truth, I would never consider protesting the actions of General Tibbets. I consider him to be a hero and I believe most persons with liberal values do also.

Thanks for listening to me.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[noli-poli]

A friend of mine (since deceased) who was based on Tinneon (spelling?) said when some other soldiers were talking about the "BOMB" that was just drooped on Japan.
He and most of the other men just could not comprehend the magnitude of the event at the time.
We have the benefit of looking back and pondering "what if this, or that".
All of the men I have met that lived threw the actual event didn't seem to have a problem with the way it went.

It's TINIAN

 

[Harrytheheid]

Hi Louis and Steel Wheels,

I hesitate to post this note as I fear it may be misunderstood. I hope you will carefully read what I have to say and understand my comments are provided only for your thoughtful consideration.

Simply stated, I consider myself a political liberal and, as such, I am somewhat offended by you combining the word "liberal" with "idiot." Further, I resent the assumption that all those protesting the actions of General Tibbets must obviously be liberals. In truth, I would never consider protesting the actions of General Tibbets. I consider him to be a hero and I believe most persons with liberal values do also.

Thanks for listening to me.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Pat,
I don't want to get involved in any kind of controversy - at least not on this one anyway. With the utmost respect, I would venture to suggest that Louis was paraphrasing Steel Wheels in his post. Furthermore, I don't believe that SW's was suggesting that all those who consider themselves to be "Liberals" are idiots and I think you may have inadvertently taken his words somewhat out of context. I think it's much more like he was having a pop at those IDIOTS who would hang around outside the air-shows calling Tibbets a war criminal. I for one would call them something much, much, stronger than IDIOTS.
I believe that the majority of members here would agree that the dropping of The Bomb shortened WWII by several months, saved countless American lives - and incidentally probably saved countless Japanese lives as well. It must have been a terrible, terrible, decision for Truman to make. Kill a lot of human beings in order to save a whole lot more other human beings. Thank God that very, very, few of us ever have to make decisions more important than what we're going to have for dinner tonight. And if we stop and think about it, it's thanks to many, many, brave and courageous people from Tibbett's generation that we enjoy the freedom whereby we can choose to be offended by trivial, or not so trivial, opinions held by our fellow members.
Just my opinion on this one - for what it's worth.

Very Best Regards
H

 

[jazzeum]

I happened to see what was said and happen to agree with Pat although as Harry said I believe Louis was paraphrasing what Steel Wheels said.

However, this is a good opportunity to remind you all that this board should be politics free. Sometimes things get through but let's try for that goal.

Also, let's return to the topic of the thread, if you get my drift.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Sorry Pat,

As Harry pointed out I was paraphrasing the earleir post, merely to make the point that the people who called General Tibbets a war criminal are idiots in my opinion. As far as being politically liberal, on many topics I am liberal, on others I am conservative. I certainly didn't intend to infer that all liberals were idiots, merely that the individuals bad-mouthing General Tibbets identified in the earlier post clearly constitute idiots to my thinking.

 

[binder001]

Wasn't Vraciu the fellow in the famous photo where he is leaning on the tail of his Hellcat and holding up six fingers? Obviously quite a skilled pilot and a very brave man!

Gary

 

[Beaufighter]

Wasn't Vraciu the fellow in the famous photo where he is leaning on the tail of his Hellcat and holding up six fingers? Obviously quite a skilled pilot and a very brave man!

Gary

Yes-that is him. I have that very picture signed by him. I met him a number of years ago at an aviation art lithograph signing-as is the case with most of these gents: humble, kind & in a class of their own!

Hang Tough,
Beaufighter