That's it, I knew there was an "M" in there somewhere The guy there that I remember was Lanny(Larry?) Smith. There was a flying field out on the West Mesa where we went on several occasions and he worked on instructing all of the really bad habits out of me that I had developed in teaching myself to fly R/C. Is "The Cooperage" restaurant still there on Lomas?

Had a few pics handy at the desk, I recently received them and haven't yet added to his old photo album. These came in a card at Christmas from the guy sittin' in #11, Ralph Fort of Indy, IN. He was G'Pa Bill's wingman and they remained close friends after the war. #37 was Paul Kastner who had been a schoolmate, childhood onward friend. Paul and Bill joined up together and were assigned the same flt school class and then unit. He preferred the "C" modeland refused the upgrade to a "D" because he said that the "C" could yaw faster and that's what gave him the advantage to get his first three (and ironically, his only three) kills; One on his second mission and two on his fourth mission. He was in the same flight with Bill and Paul. #44 was Bill's first "in theatre" A/C, it was either in Brighton or Bristol, England. All of the 325th pilots first reported to England where they flew for two-three weeks in relative safety with training and assessment vets of the 325th before reporting to Italy and joining the real war. New guys were in the "B" models, retired from combat, and the instructors were in the "C"s that had also been sent away from the front. No idea who was in #52, an instructor.

Close up canopy pic is Bill after his first solo at Lakeland Army Airfield, Lakeland, Fla. It's a "B" model 'Stang but it's got a funky windscreen.

Place card for one of the reunions- folds overlike a tent then stands and everything is right side up.