THIS is what it's all about!!

[ready2fly]

THIS is what it\'s all about!!

So, I'm sitting behind the desk at TPF yesterday, like I do every Sunday, only yesterday was different in that we had 9 kids from a local high school visiting for introductory flights. Seems their teacher is an instructor and he started the "MacDill Aeronautical Academy" through the high school for kids who were interested in aviation. An individual sponsor put up $60/each for 16 kids to take the flights. 9 of the 16 showed up.

One of the 9 was a boy by the name Joshua. Joshua was, by far, the shortest and most enthusiastic of the group. He couldn't have been more than 13 or 14.

I had been talking with Joshua about how his flight went and he was beside himelf. I thought, with this kids enthusiasm, it couldn't get any better. I was wrong.

Just after Joshua walked away, a gentleman by the name of Henry Bohler walked in. Henry was a WWII P-51 pilot.

So, I summoned Joshua and the rest played out something like this:

Me: Joshua, have you ever heard of the "Tuskeegee Airmen?"

Joshua: Yes. One of them came to my school last year. It was cool.

<Mr. Bohler walks up behind Joshua>

Me: Well, turn around. Joshua, meet Henry Bohler.

Joshua's eyes got as big as suacers and his mouth dropped open in this HUGE awe-struck smile - his face got flush and he said:

Joshua: HI!! Do you remember me??????

Mr. Bohler: I do. <you could tell he didn't. He speaks a many, many schools, but he played along> You were at......

Joshua: ROBINSON!!! You came to my class last year in October!!

Mr. Bohler: Oh yes! I remember meeting you.

<silence>

Joshua just stood there looking up at Mr. Bohler with that same awe-struck expression. Mr. Bohler just let him stand there.....

Finally, Joshua said "Nice meeting you, sir!" and shook Mr. Bohler's hand and - RAN over to where his mother was yelling "didyouseewhoIjustmet??It'sHenryBolher!!He'saTuskeegeeAirman!!!"

Priceless!!

 

[SteveC]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

That's very

Made me

 

[Silverhawk]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

Absolutely priceless !!

 

[norskman]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

That is indeed what it's all about. Thanks for sharing.

 

[C650CPT]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

Stan,
Next trip into town could you introduce me to Mr. Bohler, I too would be awe struck. Your post has a double meaning, even if it wasn't your intention, first the wonder of a young person and sharing in his enthusiasm, secondly Mr. Bohler ... he is what it is all about.
I was on an overnighter in St. Louis and while enjoying an adult beverage, the bar tender introduced us to a quite gentleman sitting by himself in the corner ... He was a Tuskeegee Airman ... name Mr. Lee ( if I remember correctly ) anyways his money was no good at that bar the rest of the night.

Thanks Stan for an excellent post and for your timely introduction to a young man who will always remember it. You've done some good boy!

Jim

 

[kellwolf]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

I've been lucky enough to meet Col. Morgan, Paul Tibbets, and Tex Hill, but I have yet to meet one of the Tuskeegee Airmen. Possibly the greatest fighter escorts in history, and they saved a LOT of lives.

 

[A300Capt]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

Great story.

I had the honor of meeting Lt. Col John H. Carter Sr., a Tuskeegee airman, while working in the UPS training center one morning. I proudly display a model of a red tail P51 in my home office that Mr. Carter was gracious enough to sign the wing for me.

These men were an experiment set up to fail. Not only did they succeed, they did so brilliantly! Not one Allied bomber was downed by enemy aircraft while being escorted by the famed, "Red Tails".

What strikes me when meeting these men or hearing others talk about them is their total lack of bravado and ego you come to expect from many fighter pilots. They tend to down play their accomplishments with a sort of, "Aw shucks, it was nothing" attitude. I am simply awe struck in the presence of these great men!

The sad thing was, that after the war, not one of these men was interviewed for employment by any of the airlines. Their efforts and accomplishments meant nothing back home. I sure the bomber crews thought differently while looking out their windows and seeing a "Red Tail" guarding them off the wing.

 

[SUSPilot]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

[ QUOTE ]
I was on an overnighter in St. Louis


[/ QUOTE ]

Wish I would have known, I'm a CFI at SUS in St. Louis

 

[ready2fly]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

[ QUOTE ]
Next trip into town could you introduce me to Mr. Bohler, I too would be awe struck.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would..... if you'd just call.

nudge nudge

<for those of you who don't know - which is all of you except Jim - he has called me twice since I've met him and both times I've had some damned thing come up

>

[ QUOTE ]
What strikes me when meeting these men or hearing others talk about them is their total lack of bravado and ego you come to expect from many fighter pilots. They tend to down play their accomplishments with a sort of, "Aw shucks, it was nothing" attitude. I am simply awe struck in the presence of these great men!

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly! Mr. Bohler is EXTREMELY humble! He is an incredibly engaging man - he'll talk to anyone, but he is so lacking in the aforementioned bravado, it's amazing.

I've seen kids come out of XYZ Academy who had more Bravado in their pinky after acheiving nothing, than Mr. Bohler has in his entire soul.

FWIW, when he's around, I'm as awestruck as Joshua.

 

[DE727UPS]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

Man...it would be so cool to be involved with kids who are into aviation. If there was a CFI/high school teacher in my hometown, I'd give him keys to my 152 and say have at it...as many free into rides as you want, on me.

 

[shooter13]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

I met several of the airmen when they came onboard USS Enterprise a few years ago. Really neat to meet them. They certainly have an amazing story. The movie made about them was actually pretty decent too.

 

[IPad (10)]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

[ QUOTE ]
Stan,
Next trip into town could you introduce me to Mr. Bohler, I too would be awe struck. Your post has a double meaning, even if it wasn't your intention, first the wonder of a young person and sharing in his enthusiasm, secondly Mr. Bohler ... he is what it is all about.
I was on an overnighter in St. Louis and while enjoying an adult beverage, the bar tender introduced us to a quite gentleman sitting by himself in the corner ... He was a Tuskeegee Airman ... name Mr. Lee ( if I remember correctly ) anyways his money was no good at that bar the rest of the night.

Thanks Stan for an excellent post and for your timely introduction to a young man who will always remember it. You've done some good boy!

Jim

[/ QUOTE ]

We had 5 Origional guys from the Tuskeegee Airman at the airshow one our airport last year. We should be having it again this year, finally talked a guy into flying his P51 onto a grass strip. You're more then welcome to fly or drive down if you're interested. I believe the Lee fellow was here last year. I also believe it's Dr. Lee, not Mr.

 

[Guest]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

[ QUOTE ]
Man...it would be so cool to be involved with kids who are into aviation. If there was a CFI/high school teacher in my hometown, I'd give him keys to my 152 and say have at it...as many free into rides as you want, on me.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am 15 years old and I am well into aviation. Just don't have many chances to get involved. In my whole life I have just flown in a ga airplane once. I guess people like you who wants to give opportunities should meet people like me who looks for opportunities. There should be a program like that. BE-A-Pilot is only good for a intro flight. All it really seems to be is a coupon for a cheaper intro.

 

[shooter13]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

When I was in high school, the local YMCA had a program that hooked up CFI's, the FBO and high school students. The CFI donated time. The FBO offered the plane at reduced rates and the students were just as happy as could be.

 

[flyover]

Re: THIS is what it\'s all about!!

It is great to see both the enthusiasm and the respect from one so young.

I've known a number of aviators over the years who would watch for kids like this, hanging on to the airport fence, and make sure they got to ride shotgun when they went up to "warm up the oil". They all say there are no young fence hangers around anymore. This kid sounds like one.