Hi Again,
Jon Guttman has probably met and/or corresponded with more WWI aero-veterans than most of the rest of us, except for Alex Revell and Norman Franks. Plus, Jon was lucky enough to attend the very last WWI aces' reunion in Paris a number of years ago (Boy, did I envy him that - it would have been like spending time with the last U.S. Civil War vets, or the last of Napoleon's soldiers). Jon's recent book on "
The Rise of the Fighter Aircraft" draws upon much of his experiences with these men. Through Jon's kindness, I was able to spend an afternoon at
George Vaughn's home about 30 years ago, discussing a few things with him, and met him again (along with
Doug Campbell and
Ray Brooks) ever so briefly during the first OtF Seminar in Dallas...Barrett knew Ray Brooks quite well, I believe, and also met Vaughn and Campbell.
I also had the priviledge of interviewing Dallas Darling, who had serviced SPAD VII's and XIII's as a mechanic in the 139th Aero Squadron. He recalled having 'swung the prop' for
David Putnam a few time on his early morning takeoffs; quite a thrill for me.
A certain banned member of this forum met and interviewed many German airmen of the great war, including more than a few who flew with Richthofen. On a similar topic, I wish someone would record a lengthy conversation with Alex Imrie concerning all of the various German pilots he knew so well, before we lose that precious resource. As Fill said, that primary generation of historians is advancing in years, and it won't be long before...well, just in my own circle of acquaintances, we've lost so many historians in recent years: Pete Grosz (who was the best raconteur I've ever heard, and who had a wealth of stories of his meetings with German aerial pioneers), Neal O'Connor, George Williams, Marty O'Connor, and on and on.
Perhaps most interesting, I know that Alex Revell and others who knew these men often have some very enlightening stories that they were sworn not to reveal until the sources, and their contemporaries, were passed on. In particular, sentiments and experiences regarding certain well-known airmen such as BB. We owe it to history to now share and preserve these memories, even if certain legends are tarnished - IMHO.
Greg