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Martin Caidin also wrote a fine adventure yarn called "Jericho 52" which dealt with the finding and restoration of a dilapilated JU-52 in the jungles of Peru and used to fly out of danger and into further adventures. Good read. Pic attached.

Sigh....RIP, Mac. My first jump class instructor back in '73 at Pelicanland. A living legend to me. I'll never forget his hammering home the importance of avoiding power lines.... "I'd rather land downwind into the side of a moving train than hit a power line."

Here's Scotty landing his Barish Sailwing from a biplane at the '77 Z-Hills meet. He jumped it about 4 times and cut away 3 of them. Was the head judge (head? Who said head...?) at the infamous wet t-shirt contest. If you were there, you'll never forget that one. RIP, Scotty.

Well that's a bummer. One of my idols back at Pelicanland when I first met him in '73. He and Johnny Crews.... quite the duo! Pic 1: Billy with plaid shirt, left of sign Pic 2: In front with plaid shirt, 14 yrs. later. Same shirt? (and you next to him).

Last jump, Nov. 3, 1988. What a joyful guy. Nary was heard a discouraging word. Blue Skies, old friend!

> I thought that was you! Glad you caught that. Seems like yesterday. Remember much of the evening's Halloween Boogie? No? Me neither. Heh, heh....

Back during the first Halloween Boogie at Ghoulidge... October, 1977. Tom Piras and so many other good ones present. From Albuquerque came its wild ones and here's Dave Wilson getting creamed after his 1,000th freefall (see pics). I recognize Michelle and Glenn (can't remember last names). An unforgettable boogie.

You mean this one??

> Ten-way team, the "Cunning Stunts." Or perhaps the infamous wet T-shirt contest with Carbone as M.C. Some pics from the '77 meet.... Carbone packing; a slim Booth restocking the belly; Carbone under the Barish sailwing landing a biplane

Spotter might indeed be Chuck Prodey while the others are Butch Campbell and Tom Jordan (RIP). Pelican Skydivers.

Am I the only one who feels that? [Nope,] Ditto here.

Great stories about Fang. I remember making several jumps with him at Pelicanland back in '76. Nothing you hear about him was an exaggeration. What a guy, indeed! Pic attached of him packing at the Nationals in the summer of 1981. I've got another somewhere with his grinning face I need to dig out of the photo boxes. Also attached a shot of Carbone at the Nov. 1977 Z-Hills Boogie.

Same here. Our DZ was at 4,000' and on those hot, no wind days, landings were fearsome. Pic of a rare soft landing attached.....

More background on Strange Dave from his obit: David Michael "Kasey" Kasehagen, 61, passed quietly in his sleep on Sunday, August 14th, 2011 at his home in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He was born on August 17, 1949 in Hammond, Louisiana, to Moses F. (Buddy) Chatellier, Jr., and Ruby Maxine (Barlow) Chatellier Kasehagen. He was a resident of Otero County, New Mexico since 1964. He loved the mountains and enjoyed hunting, trail riding and camping. His special interest was skydiving. He made his first jump in Alamogordo, NM when he was 18, a passion that he had had since he was 12. He turned his passion for skydiving into his career. During his 27 years at Holloman AFB, he served as a FAA Master Parachute Rigger / Life Support Technician for the 49th Fighter Wing. He earned a Master's Riggers license in 1972 and received numerous awards for his devotion to rigging, jumping, and ensuring the safety of service men and women. He was an avid teacher and mentor to anyone who wanted to learn about the joy of flight without the constraints of an airplane. He received many other awards including the Order of the Arrow from the Boy Scouts of America. In the summer of 1967, he received a certificate of appreciation from the Green Beret 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Company B for survival training. He also received the National Civilian of the Year commendation for his service to the United States Air Force. He dedicated his life to his family; survivors include his wife, Roxanne and daughter, Alycia, of Alamogordo, NM; mother, Maxine Kasehagen of Alamogordo, NM; sisters, Laurin Kasehagen Robinson of Omaha, NE, and Lucretia Chatellier Edwards of Madisonville, LA; brothers, Glenn Chatellier Kasehagen of Ruidoso, NM, Michael Chatellier, Moses Chatellier, and Jewell Chatellier of Madisonville, LA; and, numerous nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his father, Buddy Moses. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at the Alamogordo Funeral Home Chapel located at 2301 First Street in Alamogordo, NM with Chuck Moon officiating. Should family and friends desire, contributions may be made to UNM Cancer Research at the University of New Mexico Foundation, Casa Esperanza, or the St. Joseph's Indian School. The Kasehagen family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the arrangements. Cremation will take place locally at PCS.

Here's an autograph I got from him, signed on the National Geographic magazine page where he exits the balloon.

Yup, he was jumping here in El Paso. Jumped in Coolidge, too, through the mid 80's. You were on that Chihuahua demo? Cool! Later we did that in Casas Grandes, Chih. The head honcho at the airport insisted on us drinking Tecates between jumps. We had to oblige, of course. He did have a "pistola" strapped to his waist.

"Strange Dave" Kasehagen. Rigger extraordinaire and super one-eyed jack jumper. Lymphatic cancer....Aug. 12, 2011. Home in High Rolls, New Mexico, outside of Alamogordo. A great man and great friend. RIP, Strange.

Bummer news. Glad I'd gotten in touch with her in the past few months. Always a cheerful disposition, even in tough times. First met her at Pelicanland back in '76-'77. Here's a shot of her at the 1980 (?) Nationals. RIP, Audrey.

Here are a few more pics of Coolidge.... the one and only Coolidge/Ghoulidge.

Forget Mambo #5. Here's a pic of my Speed Link #5. Didn't even notice it until I was repacking and the lines were hanging on by a thread. The one and only time I forgot to check the links after opening my Dactyl.

1975, a white 7-TU in a B-12 container.... got it from Mike Mount at Pelicanland. Sold my ex's wedding ring (managed to keep it) and used $150 of that to get it. Was my prized possession. Put 120 jumps on it, landings mostly stand-ups as I was a skinny guy. Moved on to a 'Dactyl a couple years later which I got from Handbury for $190. Put it into my Wonderhog along with a Strong 26' lopo.

I remember Suzie working at Booth's Relative Workshop (pre-uninsured days). I dealt with her on the phone ordering and tracking my rig. Great lady, always helpful. Here's a shot of her I took at the '77 Z-Hills Turkey Boogie.... Suzie "Hogback" was a nickname often used, as I recall.