Comments on: Retired Vietnam veteran sees his dream realized

By: Lorica

Lorica — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:20:23 +0000

Sev, What an AWESOME Moment for Jack Northrop.

Awesome Story Tango!!

Man I just miss yakin’ with old veterans. – Lorica

By: Tango

Tango — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:46:02 +0000

This old pilot is thrilled for THAT old pilot! Lemme tell you folks, something like this really raises your spirits. I remember years ago during the Carter regime, I had the opportunity to visit the cockpit of (then) one of two B-1 bomber prototypes. It had been flown in to NAS Miramar, where I happened to be working one weekend. Now, some of you might remember that Carter “killed” the B-1 bomber program. I thought (at the time) I was privileged to be one of very few who’d ever get to caress the B-1 up close and personal. But then along came RONALDUS MAXIMUS! And the B-1 program was resurrected and put into production! The rest is history! I still think the B-1 bomber is one of the most lethal-looking warbirds ever produced!

By: Drewsmom

Drewsmom — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:41:55 +0000

Wonderful moment for this great man and hero.
Hope this memory lasts him the rest of his most valuable life — military men and women, MY HEROES.

By: Severian

Severian — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:52:09 +0000

A very moving story, it’s wonderful to see him get his dream wish fulfilled. It reminds me of a similar story about Jack Northrup of Northrup aircraft fame.

Back in the day, he was a strong proponent of the flying wing design of aircraft. In fact, the B49 was selected as a strategic bomber for the Air Force. Unfortunately, then Secretary of the AF Stuart Symington owned a lot of Convair stock. He told Jack Northrup in no uncertain terms to merge his company with Convair. When Northrup talked with Convair, he was treated like crap, offered way below what the company was worth, as they knew they had him by the short hairs. He refused, and got a call from Symington the next week saying his bomber contract was canceled. So, Jack Northrup’s dream about a flying wing was killed.

Fast forward a few decades, and the B2 stealth bomber, a flying wing, was under development at Northrup in the “black” world. Jack had long since retired, was wheelchair bound, very old and weak. They got special permission to bring him into the black area and show him a model of the impending new bomber. He held the model in his old, shaking hands and tears welled up in his eyes. Finally, after all the abuse he took, and had to keep secret out of fear of reprisals against his company, after all the negative, and false, discrediting of his ideas, his dream was coming true as the most advanced manned bomber ever built.

As I said, I am a sucker for such stories.

By: Lorica

Lorica — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:07:20 +0000

I love listening to the old vets talk. They are just so cool. When I was growning up, the Dad of a friend of mine was in WWII, made 3 of 4 landings in the war against against the Nazis. He was 17 when he went into the Army and had just turned 18 when he was landing in Sicily. He use to be so much fun to talk to. He once told me a story about how after the war he got to know the wine keeper of the city they were stationed at in Germany. He would sit around after duty hours and drink wine with this old guy. Well when they were ordered back to the states, that old wine keeper gave him a key to the city’s wine cellar, and told him when he came back he would have his own key. Just funny how fast things can change in the hearts and minds of people. Thanks for posting this Dear. It is a very good story, and good to see this Vet get his dream filled. – Lorica

By: NC Cop

NC Cop — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:54:42 +0000

Great story!!!!!

Thank you Col. Smith, you were already a hero, I’m glad to see you get to do something that meant so much to you.