In June of 2010 the Flightline Fabrications Living History Project interviewed WWII B-24 LIBERATOR PILOT,33 MISSION Veteran Ralph Walsh of the 448TH BG, 20TH WING, 2ND AIR DIVISION 8TH AIR FORCE: EUROPE.

Mr. Walsh experienced the great depression, survived 33 European bombing missions during WWII as a B-24 Liberator pilot/commander, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and successfully started his own company all while acting as a husband, father & man of adventure!

Over the next three weeks Flightline Fabrications will be posting segments of Mr. Welsh’s interview for all generations to hear.  Ralph’s stories are truly an honor to hear first hand! I am honored to have been part of taking with Ralph and will remember him my entire life!

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to Ralph Welsh & the Collings Foundation for their partnership in making this interview possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

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Where were you on D-Day 6 June 1944?  John Taylor was flying his P-38 Lightning over the beaches of Normandy, HOW COOL IS THAT!

Earlier in 2009 Flightline Fabrications interviewed retired USAAF P-38 Lightning Pilot John Taylor. Mr. Taylor and his daughter were generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project™ and tell us about his life as a P-38 Lightning Pilot during WWII, Flying with the 8th Air Force in Europe and his flight status on one of the most important days of WWII, 6 June 1944 D-Day! Taylor flew 63 missions in the P-38 Lightning and the P-51 Mustang with the 364th Fighter Group.

Fuel Levels – Check!  Flaps – Check! Wag your rudder and get ready to take off, John’s stories flying the P-38 Lightning will take your breath away!  Oh Yeah… you better have your GLOVES at the ready for this one….!

If you missed PART ONE or PART TWO of John Taylor’s interview, you will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

PART THREE of Four: P-38 Pilot John Taylor Interview    

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Where were you on D-Day 6 June 1944?  John Taylor was flying his P-38 Lightning over the beaches of Normandy, HOW COOL IS THAT!

Earlier in 2009 Flightline Fabrications interviewed retired USAAF P-38 Lightning  Pilot John Taylor. Mr. Taylor and his daughter were generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project™ and tell us about his life as a P-38 Lightning  Pilot during WWII, Flying with the 8th Air Force in Europe and his flight status on one of the most important days of WWII, 6 June 1944 D-Day! Taylor flew 63 missions in the P-38 Lightning and the P-51 Mustang with the 364th Fighter Group.

Fuel Levels – Check!  Flaps – Check! Wag your rudder and get ready to take off, John’s stories flying the P-38 Lightning will take your breath away!

If you missed PART ONE of John Taylor’s interview, you will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

PART TWO of Four: P-38 Pilot John Taylor Interview   

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Earlier in 2009 Flightline Fabrications interviewed retired USAAF P-38 Lightning  Pilot John Taylor. Mr. Taylor and his daughter were generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project™ and tell us about his life as a P-38 Lightning  Pilot during WWII, Flying with the 8th Air Force in Europe and his flight status on one of the most important days of WWII, 6 June 1944 D-Day! Taylor flew 63 missions in the P-38 Lightning and the P-51 Mustang with the 364th Fighter Group.

Fuel Levels – Check!  Flaps – Check! Wag your rudder and get ready to take off, John’s stories flying the P-38 Lightning will take your breath away!

PART ONE of Four: P-38 Pilot John Taylor Interview  

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude and thanks to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

The Second World War, the famous 44th ‘Vampire” fight Squadron of the 13th Air Force, Far from home, One P-38 Pilot flying missions in the Solomons & Philippines during 1944-1945. Retired Col. Mitchell lived the adventure, the air combat, and the reality!

Col. Mitchell recently sat down with our Flightline Fabrications Living History Project to share his story of flying the P-38 Lightning , Phis comfirmed victory and 1 probable victory, and the stories that went along with WWII.

Strap on your parachute, complete your pre-flight checklist, and get ready to take off, because these P-38 Lightning Pilot stories are AWESOME!  Thank you Mr. Mitchell for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE , PART TWO, or PART THREE, You will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

PART FOUR of Four: P-38 Pilot Col. Robert Mitchell Interview

 Flightline Fabrications expresses its gratitude to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

The Second World War, the famous 44th ‘Vampire” fight Squadron of the 13th Air Force, Far from home, One P-38 Pilot flying missions in the Solomons & Philippines during 1944-1945. Retired Col. Mitchell lived the adventure, the air combat, and the reality!

Col. Mitchell recently sat down with our Flightline Fabrications Living History Project to share his story of flying the P-38 Lightning , Phis comfirmed victory and 1 probable victory, and the stories that went along with WWII.

Strap on your parachute, complete your pre-flight checklist, and get ready to take off, because these P-38 Lightning Pilot stories are AWESOME!  Thank you Mr. Mitchell for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE & PART TWO, You will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

Secondhand Lions movie download

PART THREE of Four: P-38 Pilot Col. Robert Mitchell Interview

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired USAAF P-38 Lightning  Pilot Robert Mitchell. Bob was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project™ and tell us about his life as a P-38 Lightning  Pilot during WWII with the famous 44th “Vampire” FS of the 13th Air Force.Flying in the Solomons & Philippines during 1944-1945 Col. Mitchell scored 1 victory and 1 probable victory.

Strap on your parachute, complete your pre-flight checklist, and get ready to take off, because these P-38 Lightning Pilot stories are AWESOME!  Thank you Mr. Mitchell for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE , You will not want to miss any more of Col. Mitchell’s interview!

PART TWO of Four: P-38 Pilot Col. Robert Mitchell Interview

 Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning introduced a new dimension to American fighters during WWII – a second engine. Designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, an engineer at Lockheed, the P-38 Lightning represented one of the most radical departures from the traditional American Fighter ever seen during WWII.  With an unconventional airframe, design, power, and armament, the twin tailed fighter design simply worked.  Equipped with four .50 cal machine guns, plus a 20mm cannon, the P-38 Lightning had enough firepower to sink a ship… and some did!  The concentrated center nose mounted guns eliminated the need for propeller synchronization and was deadly when pointed in the direction of the enemy.

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed three retired P-38 Lightning Pilots and all three were generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about their combat stories and adventures during WWII. Over the next month Flightline Fabrications will publish each pilots story in 3 part segments, so strap on your parachute, and get ready to jump, because these P-38 Lightning Pilot stories are AWESOME! 

Col. Robert Mitchell served with the now famous 44th “Vampire” Fighter Squadron, 13th Air Force in the Solomons & Philippines during 1944-1945.  In air combat flying the P-38 Lightning, Col. Mitchell scored 1 victory and 1 probable victory.

William “Al” Bailey flew 60 photo recon missions in the P-38 Lightning with the 17th Photo Recon Squadron from Guadalcanal in 1943 and 52 missions with the 40th PRS in India during 1945.

John Taylor flew 63 missions in P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustangs with the 364th Fighter Group of the 8th Air Force in England.  Those missions included 6 June 44, D-Day!

400 Miles per hour, four .50 cal machine guns, one 20mm cannon, and a young pilot… These P-38 Lightning stories are what you want to hear. 

Flightline Fabrications wishes to express its gratitude to the P-38 National Association for their partnership in making these interviews possible.

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your remembrances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

Thank you Mr. Iwasaki for taking the time to preserve your history!

If you missed PART ONE & PART TWO, You’ll will not want to miss any more of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!

PART THREE: Arthur Iwasaki Interview 

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your rememberances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared. 

 Flightline Fabrications

Flightline Fabrications recently interviewed retired 442nd Regimental Combat Team US Army Veteran Arthur Iwasaki.  Mr. Iwasaki was generous enough to sit down for our Living History Project and tell us about his life during WWII, fighting in Europe,  and his role as one of the soldiers who helped to rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France during WWII.

The 442nd famously rescued the “Lost Battalion” at Biffontaine. Pursuant to army tradition of never leaving soldiers behind, over a five-day period, from October 26 to October 30, 1944, the 442nd suffered the loss of nearly half of its roster—over 800 casualties, including 121 dead — while rescuing 211 members of the 36th Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which had been surrounded by German forces in the Vosges mountains since October 24.

If you missed PART ONE, You’ll will not want to miss any more of Mr. Iwasaki’s interview!

PART TWO: Arthur Iwasaki Interview

If you would like to leave comments,
please click the “Comments” link below.

Do you or someone you know have first hand memories of this or any other historic event, whether you served in the military or as a civilian, Flightline Fabrications Living History Project want to hear from you.  Please contact our Living History Project with your rememberances.  History should NEVER be forgotten.  Your memories are important and should be retained and shared.

 Flightline Fabrications