I'm awed by those WWII aircraft. Hight light of my private flying was getting a hop in the jump seat of a P51D.
Lance Corporal Davey is a bodacious fly-babe. Hoo-RAH!
Cool!!!!
Saw a B-25 once, possibly this one. But, it sounded nasty. Gotta side with my ol man, a bombardier in a B-17. Those things (and B-24s) are Chevys and B-17s are Cadillacs.
Back in the late 50's and early 60's, when I was a kid, you used to still see these planes around airports fairly often. They were still in service as light cargo or private passenger planes then. I always enjoyed seeing them, and could even do a reasonable job of drawing one from memory.
IN MEMORIUM TO A GOOD FRIEND AND A MAGNIFICANT WAR BIRD
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (May 23, 2005) -- Panchito, a vintage B-25 named for the fighting rooster featured in a 1945 animated musical, graced event goers with its presence May 20-22 during the Cherry Point Air Show.
In addition to charming air show guests with its classic paint scheme and powerful engines, the aircraft brought a message of awareness for Disabled American Veterans.
The B-25 boasts a dynamic history. Best known for its role in Jimmy Doolittle's famed 1942 raid over Tokyo, the aircraft now enjoys the position of air show jewel. From wartime and post-World War II action with the U.S. Army Air Forces, to the more humble tasks of crop duster and air tanker, the B-25 has maintained a reputation of rugged and versatile strength.
Panchito served both with the USAAF and as a crop duster before being refurbished and subsequently rescued in 1997 by aviator Larry Kelley.
The aircraft now roams the nation's air shows in an effort to bring awareness to the benefits available to veterans through DAV.
"The DAV had a problem," said Kelley. "It wasn't reaching a large portion of the public.
So, we teamed up with DAV in 2003 to let veterans know about the extensive, free services available to them through the organization. Many World War II and Korean War veterans served on a B-25 or were familiar with it, so Panchito is a great tool to draw people in." system so obscure that at one time it was listed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Today, the focus of DAV is the same as when it was founded 86 years ago, said Ron Hope, regional supervisor of DAV's national service officers.
"Our primary focus is to ensure that all veterans, spouses and survivors get appropriate benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs," Hope said. "We have 260 national service officers working toward that end."
According to Kelley, many veterans are unaware of the variety of service-related disabilities they may claim.
"Skin cancer may be the result of a pilot spending too many hours in the cockpit with the sun blazing in his face," Kelley said.
"Hemorrhoids resulting from long hours of sitting on hard surfaces may also be claimable.
A tremendous amount of possible claims are service related, but people just don't make that connection."
Kelley cites hearing loss as a prime example of a disability many veterans fail to claim.
"There are veterans who accept hearing loss as an inevitable part of aging, when in reality, working for years around loud jets on the flight line may have been the cause," he said.
The DAV employs national service officers to initiate and process new claims, and assist with claims veterans have already filed, said Hope. Volunteers also provide sick and disabled veterans transportation to and from medical facilities. The services offered by DAV are free.
"As medical costs grow, veterans may seek assistance with the cost of prescription medications.
"We are here to expedite that process. We can at least file a claim," Hope noted.
During the past 10 years, the demographics of veterans have changed, he said.
"We've seen a rise in the number of female veterans," said Hope. "More Desert Storm, Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans have also begun using the services available through DAV."
Hope encourages all veterans to take advantage of DAV as soon as possible.
"Time is the worst enemy a veteran has," Hope added.
"The longer a service member goes without documentation to establish the connection between service and a disability, the more difficult it will be for that service member to collect on a claim."
Predischarge services, such as the Benefits Delivery Discharge Program, allow active duty service members to take advantage of the benefits available from the VA before they even get out, said Hope.
"Within 30 days of leaving the service, they'll receive their first check," he said.
Those with a proud history of service to America, whether human or endowed with a powerful engine and a trigger-happy rooster painted on their noses, can benefit by learning more about DAV.
For more information on benefits, programs or how to volunteer, visit DAV's Web site at www.dav.org.
PhotoID: 200552412553
Submitted by: MCAS Cherry Point
Caption:
Lance Cpl. Lydia Davey, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, mans the 50 cal machine under underneath the cockpit of the B-25 bomber Panchito. She was one of the privileged Marines who flew aboard the aircraft during Cherry Point's 2005 Air Show. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Cullen J. Tiernan
