Mr_Dirt

Yes I have that book also, it is a good book. I found it facunating that the US had one of their SPADS rigged for ballon busting. It used a regular machine gun and one that was used for exploding ammunition. It was a dangerous job but the US was pushing these guys to pop those ballons. Shiloh I often wondered about your forum name I jusat noticed the links at the bottom of your post. The American Civil War is the only thing I read more on than WWI aviation. I was planning to be43 at Gettysburg for the 150th anniversary, but something messed up my vacation. I am now tringf for the final battles around Petersburg and the 150th anniversary at Appomattox Court Hose. It would have been great to made it to Gettysburg. I have visited Shiloh Battlefield.

Shiloh what book are you reading on Frank Luke. A good one is "The Stand" The Last Flight of Frank Luke" I do not know if it is in your libarary I brought it about 3 years ago. It was a rather expensive book at $75.00, But I enjoyed it and thought it was well reserarched and written. The auther spent several years going back and forth to France to find where Luke was shot down. I admired Frank Luke and he could have been an exceptional pilot except he could be rather hot headed. I think the killing of his buddy Joseph Wehner drove him to wrecklessness. His commander at the time was going to transfer him to Eddie Rickenbachers flight. Luke respected Eddie so maybe he would have lived longer if that would of happened sooner. I believe the book your are reading now is something September I can see the cover but not remenber the title. I have also read that one. Enjoy the books those and OFF are our links to some pretty incredable people.

April 21, 2014 96 years afeter the Red Baron's death.

A FREE ROUND FROM ME ALSO. I get flamed enough still in phase 3. I still cannot stop myself from just wading in no matter the odds. I spend as much time thinking up new names and creating new pilots as flying. This sim has been very well done since the first phase and I think the devs are exacting task masters. I feel they may drive themselve to drink someday. Speaking of devs where is OVS I have not seen him around for sometime?

Horses Dont Fly is a very good book I agree. I read it a while back I will have to get it out and read again.

Just turned 59 on Pearl Harbor Day, but some days feel much older.

Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to all. May the New Year be one of Peace and Goodwill to all!

Hope everyone makes it through with as little distress as possible.

My prayers for you and yours. Praying for a quick and full recovery for your wife.

Hang in there Olham. I know what it is like to go back to school. I graduated High School in 1971. I went through Technical school for 2 years after that to become an auto mechanic. Never went to work as a mechanic, I worked as a welder, machinist, maintance man, and a farm worker. I was hurt in a farming accident in 1988. Iwas disable for awhile until I went back to college at 43 yo. I spent six years in college to become a pharmacist. I graduated in 2001 and haven't looked back since. I know you can do anything you put you mind to I am living proof of that. When I first started wanting to go to pharmacy school I was told my math skills were to low. I told them my skills were low because I only had General Math way back when I was a freshman in High School. I showed them I could do it by teaching myself algebra so I could score higher on my SAT test. I took that test and scored in the top 25% of the country that year. That took away their arguments and off to college I went. I know you can do it. Best Wishes and happy flying John

I am amazed at the work you skinners do. You work so hard for us hamfisted pilots to smash or let burn as we jump wildly from our aircraft. Seriously you people make so wonderful skins. Thanks for your time and effort. John

Very sweet Lou!

The Japenese used a simular wooden structure on their airplane torpedoes that were designed to break off when they hit the water. This design stopped the torpedo from diving so deep. This made it possible for the torpedoes to be used at Pearl Harbor.

I understand JFM's point here. he is a writer of some fine pieces of historical works. In his profession he strives for historical accuracy and I have purchased his book. It was well written and throughy researched. I learnede alot from it.. I also know Lou is a very through researcher as his collections show. I agree with artistic license, but history tends to undergo many revisions as more truth comes forward. Just mu two cents. Best Wishes and Happy Hunting John

Good to see you made it through with a small amount of damage and thanks for sending some much needed rain this way. Your dog sounds like she hunts the way I fly in the skies over Flanders. Fast and not very stealthy therefore I gets shot at more the shooting at. We need most of that same equipment after a tornado goes through the area. Glad to see you and yours are okay.

Good Luck Bullet I hope it misses you, but you could send some of the rain my way up here in Missouri next to the Mighty Mississippi. We haven't had rain all summer and everything has brunt up. Funny thing the weather we need moisture and you donot need a storm. I will hope for the best for you and the others in your state. Good luck John

Very nice it looks very nice.

Very nice find. Thanks for sharing worth watching.

Well Lou the award reached a home where it is valued and treasured. I am afraid it is as JFM says time marches on. I have been searching out family histroy and I now wish I had spent more time talking with my Grandparents and others. I spend alot of time reading history books and people wonder why? I tell them I cannot know where I am going until I know where I have been. I t is unfortunate that so many young ones care not for the sacrifices of the many before them. When I went back to school to become a Pharmacist the people who helped me wanted me to become a History teacher. I told them it was imposible because so many are not interested in our history. I blame this on the why history was taught for so many years. Just memorize the dates get it down on the test and forget it. Never a discussion why or what really happened. If you are not born with the desire to learn about or fortunate enough to have someone that instil history upon you, you miss so much. I see you have returned from under the Pacific to the skies of Flanders.

Have a wonderful holiday.

I was playing Red Baron modded with Full canvas Jacket and some other mods. I was searching the net for WWI combat sims and found Over Flanders Field 1 for a free download. It took several tries over dial-up internet, but it was well worth the effort. Iwas amazed by what the developers did for free. The support from them was better than I got from games I had payed money for. I have been with OFF ever since and would not want it any other way. This sim lead me to this and other sites where I have learned and met many fine people who share simular intrests.

Lou I have been away for awhile playing a sim of my other love Americain submaine warfare in WWII against the INJ. I missed the forum over here today and stopped by. I was happy to see a new installment on your young hero. I immediatly went there to read. your writing and storytelling were great as usual. I may have to remove myself from under the ocean of the Pacific and soar in the Skies of Flanders again soon. I sometimes forget what a fantastic forum this is with so many fine people. Thanks for such a talented story writer. I always find myself absorbed in young Paul's world. I read many books on WWI and WWII, most which are non-fiction. I do believe that if you were to write a fictional historic novel I would try to be the first to buy it. I would of course ask that it be autographed. Thank you so much for your writing, I much appreciate it. Thanks John

Very well done Shiloh. I am an avid reader on the Civil War and have been to Gettysburg. It is an ispiring place to think how so many struggled those 3 hot July days. I hope younger people embrace our histry with this being the 150 year anniversary. I wanted to spend Aug 10th at Wilson's Creek here in Missouri. It was the second major battle of the civil war. I would have liked being there 150 years later and feeling the spirits that must still be there. Wilsons Creek is almost exactley the same as it was 150 years ago. It was hard men to fight in the conditions they fought in. Hot wool uniforms in hundred degree heat, taking wounds from fifty cal mini balls or canister or shrapnel from cannons. Very brave and loyal men on both sides, Again a fine video, thanks for sharing. Is your name Shiloh from the battle? Thanks John

Best of luck in your new adventure! I am sure you will do a great job. I hope it becomes a job you love to go to every day Best Wishes John

Thanks to Lou and Uncleal both fine gentlemen.