Author Archives: Ed

“1942” – Part 24 – Reflections (2 of 6); Fast Ships in Harm’s Way – The Carriers

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 24 Lexington, Saratoga, Yorktown, Enterprise, Wasp, Hornet….Only two would survive 1942, but they and their crews and their airgroups would stand in the breech and provide America and its allies the vital year it needed … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on “1942” – Part 24 – Reflections (2 of 6); Fast Ships in Harm’s Way – The Carriers

“1942” – Part 23 – Reflections (1 of 6); Guadalcanal Endgame

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 23  In 1945 U.S. fast carriers supported the final amphibious operations of the war—the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa—drawing the noose tight around Tokyo’s neck. Aircraft from Third and Fifth fleet carriers also pounded … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on “1942” – Part 23 – Reflections (1 of 6); Guadalcanal Endgame

A Gift of Wings – Forever Young

Testimony of Pilot# 23 Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you’ll always stay Forever Young, Forever Young, Forever Young  Rod Stewart Throughout our lives we receive multiple gifts, many simply because we are loved. But for aviators, … Continue reading

Posted in Memorials, People, Testimony of Pilot -Series, The Gift of Wings | Comments Off on A Gift of Wings – Forever Young

Testimony of Pilot: The Silver Waterfall

Testimony of Pilot# 22 Stephen Crane once said that he wrote The Red Badge of Courage because reading the cold history was not enough; he wanted to know what it was like to be there, what the weather was like, … Continue reading

Posted in On their Shoulders, Testimony of Pilot -Series, The Gift of Wings | Comments Off on Testimony of Pilot: The Silver Waterfall

Testimony of Pilot: The Little Things

Testimony of Pilot# 21 No matter what they might tell you, people do not enter into aviation by chance.  Some may leave, but those that stay have dreamed and they come to comprehend the gift that came out of the … Continue reading

Posted in Testimony of Pilot -Series, The Gift of Wings | Comments Off on Testimony of Pilot: The Little Things

Testimony of Pilot: Pilgrimage of Honor

Testimony of Pilot# 20 On the evening of 10 January 1973 , VA-115 “A-rabs” aircrew Lt. Mike “Mondo” McCormick and Ltjg. Alan “Arlo” Clark, were catapulted from the  USS Midway, flying  “Arab 511.” They were on a single plane low … Continue reading

Posted in Memorials, People, Testimony of Pilot -Series, The Gift of Wings, Vietnam War, War and Remembrance | Comments Off on Testimony of Pilot: Pilgrimage of Honor

1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 22 – Guadalcanal – Enterprise, Cactus and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, (2)

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 22 Japanese cargo ship Kinugawa Maru  beached on the Guadalcanal shore.  She had been sunk by U.S. aircraft on 15 November 1942 while attempting to deliver men and supplies to Japanese forces holding the northern … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on 1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 22 – Guadalcanal – Enterprise, Cactus and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, (2)

1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 21 – Guadalcanal – Enterprise, Cactus and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (1)

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 21 On the morning of 13 November 1942, Marine aircraft of the “Cactus Air Force” attacked and caused the destruction of the Japanese battleship Hiei off Savo Island.  F4F Wildcat fighters of Marine squadron VMF-121, … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on 1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 21 – Guadalcanal – Enterprise, Cactus and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (1)

1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 20 – Guadalcanal – Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands: Discussion

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 20 (2/2) Who won? As the two navies carrier battle groups retreated from the fourth and last carrier battle of 1942, the Japanese by multiple metrics could be judged to have won the day. Both … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on 1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 20 – Guadalcanal – Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands: Discussion

1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 19 – Guadalcanal – Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Blown Slick Series #13 Part 19 (1/2) On the morning of 26 October, during the attack on the Enterprise,  Task Force 61 Commander Admial Thomas Kinkaid remarked with pardonable hyperbole to AP correspondent Eugene Burns: “You’re seeing the greatest carrier … Continue reading

Posted in Year of the Carrier | Comments Off on 1942- The Year of the Aircraft Carrier; Part 19 – Guadalcanal – Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands