Last week, we were able to visit Azalea Trace to lunch with Gaylier Miller and Lomax Miller . Again, I failed to get the salmon, a favorite there. (Must rethink the excellent menu next time.)
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My favorite teacher from Chumuckla was at a table nearby and we shared a few memories . (Emma Louise Whitfield ). My brother Jim's class was her very first and she was barely 3 years older than some of them. She "learned" my class English and some Shakespeare. Her husband, George, was also an educator. The library at Azalea Trace is stocked full. So they find that a comfort.
We were introduced by Gaylier to a resident near our table who is a retired Navy Captain. Phil Wood and his wife, Nellie. He wrote a book, (Wildcats to Tomcats) Quite an aviation career!
He also commanded the Blue Angels at one point and was C. O. of USS Kitty Hawk mid, late 80's. A YouTube interview about Vietnam dogfights will be linked below. A later period (in Vietnam), He was flying over me and my shipmates, in USS O'Callahan to cover the Navy and Air Force bombers attacking Hanoi for Linebacker II (December 1972).
We were circling off the mined Haiphong harbor in a Search and Rescue roll with missile air cover for us provided by USS Bainbridge. (my now friend, Dallas Bethea in that ship). Many B52's and Navy attack planes were lost in this last bombing that brought about a peace agreement in Paris . Had any crew bailed over the bay. We were ready with motor whale boats (not metal) to reach them in the minefield.
So, I told Phil, I saw him streaking across our radar screen on so many blips. (Heard much of the radio chatter as the barrage took it's toll). Some blips did not make it back. The B52's we're in large formations of blips following a "chaff plane" dropping aluminum foil radar confusion to "hide" them. A dozen B52's we're lost. Most, the first day. Phil said he saw one crumple and fall out of the sky (from his Navy Crusader fighter). They faced multiple barrages of surface to air missiles.
A salute to those airmen. At the time, the planes they flew were older than some of the pilots. And the B52 is still in service today. Amazing planes. Amazing courage.
Phil Wood, The LAST Gunfighter
https://www.history.com/videos/vietnam-vet-phil-woods-the-last-gunfighter
An upcoming podcast of Sentencing Uncle Vic, will give a short review of Wildcats to Tomcats. You can find 2 minute episodes at Buzzcreek.Com . Photos..
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