by the AyreWolf, Col Patrick Montgomery USCMC VMA214
From the moment that I first discovered those vintage Corsairs at AirPower Unlimited at the Jerome County AyrePort to the point of destination of creating a vintage warbird aviation enthusiasts group as a sibling of the Hazzard Knytes that we affectionately called the BlackSheep Vintage Aviation Association named after the infamous and famous BlackSheep Squadron, to my way of observation we have never gotten the credit we so justly deserve. Or deserved at the time. Granted we did take a bunch of things for granted and thought that for so many that died in defense of our nation in WWII as well as in wars after and the fact that the VMF214 still flies today as the VMA214 I wonder that for all of our efforts on behalf of all of that we have never gotten our just rewards. It's not that both squadrons did not know of us, nor the USMC did not know of us, and certainly the Department of Defense surely knew and still do know of us, yet I think if not then there are a bunch of dumb butts still in the dark. But when it comes to notoriety the many outreach projects we have taken on have been somewhat overlooked by civilian media. Consider this, two years ago now when I signed on to do that bit at Pocatello's CH-12 Cable Access Channel, it was to be although it wasn't but it was to be a short flyte to allow the story of the BlackSheep to be told. Because surely the history class's of High Schools all over sure did not teach that point of American History. I had offered to take a reporter to Jerome Idaho from CH-6 out of Pocatello Idaho for a quick flyte in one of the few two seat trainers we had modified out of a single seat F-4-U , but it wasn't for a lack of trying. The entire scope however was not seen until a rival group in Rexburg Idaho learned of what we were doing that they got the spotlight, but at least somebody did, but Pappy's story along with the entire BlackSheep was never completely told. Then came the efforts in trolling over here to Goons Ferry. The entire thought being to revitalize a worn down airport that was in need of a serious face lift,that I ran into trouble. Some civilian dumcough city council member had to question not only mine but the reputation of our group, using by the fly-way a blog that I had put up that was leading into the history of nose art used on many vintage warbirds through-out two military campaigns. But again we never got the credit we deserved. That being that an effort to erect our own broadcast and media werx was enacted. That project is still on the boards for 2009. But I denounced my efforts to spare embarrassment of our group. Then came the questions of did I fly? The fact that everywhere I have moved to in the last 8 plus years has been very close if not on top of an airport or at least runway? Maybe some did not think of that. Surely me having to drive albeit now not that far, but still far enough to Jerome where 3 of our craft rests until I or others want to log seat time. That too might not have sunk in to their pea pickin little minds. And once again because of some crap through a civilian newspaper by folks who think they know something but knows very little I have to sit out another tow season, although I can still tow, by preference calls. The locals cannot not call me if someone including a Hazzard Knytes, BlackSheep, etc member or any of my other preferred clients calls for Lexi. With that being what that is, 2009 will be the year of AyreWolf Aviation and of course the AyreWolves/BlackSheep Vintage Aviation Association, with Dixie Towing coming back in the picture in 2010, after a very heavy duty make-over. So that being that, in two weeks I will fly up to Boise to sit down with a modeling agency to get the talent needed to build an infomercial to tell our story as well as the story of the 214. So while we up to this point have never gotten the credit we deserve, we will now.
L8R
Quote of the Day:
Wherever you are -- be there.
--Anonymous
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