Touch A Name!
Thread Starter
Touch A Name!
The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington,DC, is made of Black Stone engraved with the names of those Killed in Action or Missing in Action and evokes strong emotional responses to those who visit. It is especially moving when you know the the Men whose names you see there.
This link will take you to a site created by the Sister of one of those Men....a Cobra Pilot who was killed when his aircraft was shot down by a .51 Caliber Machine gun during a fight.
He was in my Basic Training Platoon and later in my Flight School Class. He went onto Cobra's and I went onto Chinooks. Many years later, after he had been killed, I saw a notice at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA), where she was looking for information from anyone who knew her Brother.
Her story about her quest to learn not only how her Brother died....but how he lived and the support she got from all those who knew him.....is a good one.
The song...."Touch A Name"....and the photos tell a story.
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This link will take you to a site created by the Sister of one of those Men....a Cobra Pilot who was killed when his aircraft was shot down by a .51 Caliber Machine gun during a fight.
He was in my Basic Training Platoon and later in my Flight School Class. He went onto Cobra's and I went onto Chinooks. Many years later, after he had been killed, I saw a notice at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA), where she was looking for information from anyone who knew her Brother.
Her story about her quest to learn not only how her Brother died....but how he lived and the support she got from all those who knew him.....is a good one.
The song...."Touch A Name"....and the photos tell a story.
Home
Gentleman Aviator
It is really an awe-inspiring place - getting on for 60 000 names IIRC 
Not that I know anyone on it (that I know of), but my own name leapt out at me as I walked slowly along the wall - I guess the brain scans unconsciously for it - even the same middle initial! And I touched it .....
Not a very unusual name, but not exactly John Smith... a weird feeling .......
[Edited to add:]
Have found a searchable site for names on the wall online here. And I discover there are 3 others (total 4) with my name
, but with different middle names/initials.
I'll find them all the next time I'm in DC.
Not that I know anyone on it (that I know of), but my own name leapt out at me as I walked slowly along the wall - I guess the brain scans unconsciously for it - even the same middle initial! And I touched it .....
Not a very unusual name, but not exactly John Smith... a weird feeling .......
[Edited to add:]
Have found a searchable site for names on the wall online here. And I discover there are 3 others (total 4) with my name
, but with different middle names/initials.I'll find them all the next time I'm in DC.
Last edited by teeteringhead; 29th Jan 2014 at 14:20.
Thread Starter
While living in the UK.....very much the same....seems every village and town has a Monument....which is a sobering reminder of the losses in the two World Wars.
I found myself doing as Teeter did....and hoping very much not to see those names.
I found myself doing as Teeter did....and hoping very much not to see those names.
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I went for a walk around what used to be RAF Banff today, then I stopped at the Banff Strike Wing memorial west of Boyndie Windfarm (as the old location of the airfield is now). As I walked the old tarmac and saw the remains of some of the buildings the ex crab in me got a bit nostalgic. My girlfriend was pretty much unaware of what had happened there during the war. I am not native to the Banff area but live here now with my girlfriend who is. Very few people seem to be aware of the importance of the place in the past, which I find very sad. Some very brave men left there never to return.
If you are in the area there is a visitor centre just short of the windfarm itself, primarily full of some local charity shops but they have loads of exhibits and information from the Banff Wing, including a mast tip from a German destroyer complete with flag fragment that was taken back to Banff in the belly of a Mosquito. The information boards outside are excellent too. There is a cafe there staffed by local people with disabilities, the food is excellent. Well worth a visit.
If you are in the area there is a visitor centre just short of the windfarm itself, primarily full of some local charity shops but they have loads of exhibits and information from the Banff Wing, including a mast tip from a German destroyer complete with flag fragment that was taken back to Banff in the belly of a Mosquito. The information boards outside are excellent too. There is a cafe there staffed by local people with disabilities, the food is excellent. Well worth a visit.
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OA have not actually been on the airfield but will rectify that in the summer did stop to look at the monument at the side of the road very impressive. Based at Lossie many moons ago I was aware of the airfield at Banff but not of it's significance until I read the plaque. My GF lived in Banff and Portsoy but in New Pitsligo now but originally from Broughty Ferry where we met at school in 1970, it's been a long engagement LOL
Thread Starter
All these old Airfields....and the People that had such experiences flying from them during those years.....what rich history.
My connection is to Teeside having had a family friend who went to Canada and found himself flying Lanc's over Germany from there during the War.... a very long way from home in North Carolina. Then later I was based there flying out to the Ekofisk. It does make you stop and think about what it must have been like in those days.
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/ind...crets/RAFBanff
My connection is to Teeside having had a family friend who went to Canada and found himself flying Lanc's over Germany from there during the War.... a very long way from home in North Carolina. Then later I was based there flying out to the Ekofisk. It does make you stop and think about what it must have been like in those days.
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/ind...crets/RAFBanff
