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jttnk

Lifer
Dec 22, 2017
1,654
10,267
Phoenix, AZ
As we approach Father's Day, I would like to honor my late father-in-law, who was also a good friend and who would have been 98 years old last Tuesday.
Capt. John B. Lee, USAAF, 20th Fighter Group, 79th Squadron, King's Cliffs Airfield, Northamptonshire, England, 1944-45.
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At 20 years of age, he became a combat fighter pilot, field promoted to Captain before the age of 21. He flew the North American P-51D fighter on his first mission, 11/09/1944 until his last mission, 04/25/1945, a total of 52 combat missions. He encountered the German ME-109, the Fock-Wulff 190, and even the ME-262, the first operational jet aircraft, and never got a scratch.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Criss, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and 3 battle stars, including Battle of the Bulge.

After the war he became an engineer for NACA, and transitioned to NASA as one of the original 32 engineers handpicked to man the Johnson Space Center in Houston. While there, he was part of the team that was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for successfully bringing safely home the endangered crew of Apollo 13.

He passed away in 2012, and after graveside devices with military honors, myself along with his younger brother (himself a retired Cold War B-52 pilot) were approached by members of a secret pilot's society to participate in their own remembrance ceremony. We were all given generous portions of Famous Grouse, faced the setting sun, and quietly saluted another downed pilot who has "gone west".

Here's to you, John my friend, a hero, an officer and a gentleman.
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What a fantastic story from your family. Thanks for sharing.
 
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HawkeyeLinus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2020
5,580
40,853
Iowa
A little Grasshopper porn on the "Hairy Balls" milkweed plant............................ ?‍♂️
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Haha!

So I'm sitting outside our cottage while on vacation in Ireland and some nearby dogs came by for a visit - next thing I know "junior" has an urge, lol. I about died laughing, but did rescue the older female from his pestering. She probably would have preferred I not take a picture first!
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jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,568
27,074
Carmel Valley, CA
Please introduce yourself!

Please put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
Why: It will save time for others as to where you live when you mention local stores, weather, tobacco prices, availability, regulations, location of photos, wildfires, air quality, etc. In many instances that saves time for those who read your posts, and for you in not having to reply to inquiries. .
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
 
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