SlowHDRider

I think it was Caddo west of DFW, watching the pilot sit in the back of Gillespie's van (I think it was Ken's) reading "Screw" magaine. A little skinny dead white complected dude, but a good pilot. He brought a twin beech out there....it was so hot the heat waves looked like water in the air..watching the pilots white ball cap bob up and dog as he JOGGED around all 3 lengths of the run way. Everyone else was trying to cop what ever shade they could find, Texas on an airstrip with no trees in the middle of summer. I flew back into Dallas with him on a sunset load, beautiful colors (somewhat chemically altered), only to have a very bad storm come in and flood the area. He wouldn't take the plane back until the next day due to the storms as he was responsible for it. That's the plane he was piloting when he crashed with Jim Croce onboard and all on the plane died. Quote

Ok, the DC3 might have been Gary Lewis's that was jumped at Cleveland AKA Mushroom Mecca. I think the 3 went to Telequah for that meet.: Mike "Smitty" Smith, John Mincher, Greg Hackett, Phil Mayfield, Ron Cox, more to follow....Sandy

John asked me for stories about V Mills....There are so many good stories. Someone put a student out who pulled UNDER the formation. Pete Bandy went through the student's canopy breaking his leg(s) with bones protruding through his jump suit. I seem to remember Gillespie was involved? Two jumpers went out of sight behind a hill, we all thought they had bounced. A 3rd, Gillespie maybe, pulled very low. It was a good day, no one died. I don't think the student ever came back. A big competition weekend with some outstanding smoke. Spiderman locked himself in his VW and would crack the window, muttering about primitive tribes and rituals. Kansas showed up in a big moving van. Tommy Bullion ended up hiding in the van for a very long time. Later that night, under the stars, passing joints around the huge peagravel target...until someone lobbed a couple of cherry bombs...at which point someone freaked, yelled "incoming" and some people were diving for cover. A lot of the guys were fresh back from Viet Nam and it was understandable. No one knew about PTSS then. good times, good memories, and good friends.

Ahhhh, the good ole' days, and I still consider everyone as extended family. Looking forward to seeing as many as possible in April at Spaceland. Let's see thinking back, Curran and Jonathan Phillps, "Dirty Pam", Sarah, Shawn Fergurson....I'm sure more names will come to mind. , Don Devanny, Steven Hazen.....Vernon Melason (sp?) from Louisiana. Sandy (Mincher) Roberts