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Jims RV-8
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Date: 10-7-2014
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Lt. Calvin J. Spann, Tuskegee Airman
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No work tonight as I went to the EAA chapter meeting. We had a guest speaker, Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Calvin J. Spann. Lieutenant Spann flew 26 combat missions in the P-51 Mustang and is an original Tuskegee Airman and fighter pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. He received his wings from the Tuskegee Flight School as a part of the graduating class of 44G. He was born in 1924 – so he doesn’t get around as well as he once did – but he is still quick witted. It was great to hear him tell stories of his days as a fighter pilot and one thing that really stood out to me was that whenever he spoke of the U.S.A, every time, he would say, “…this great country of ours…”. I thought that was a poignant measure of respect from one who served and loves his country. I bought his book, but I brought my book, “Black Knights, The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen” for him to sign as I have signatures from some other Tuskegee Airmen. I shook his hand, thanked him for his service and then we talked a bit – I commented to him about how we both started out flying in the Piper J-3 “Cub”. He got a great big smile on his face and said, “That was a great airplane” Yes, it was Calvin! It was a really neat moment in my life, to share a piece of history thru the common bond of airplanes and pilots. I am very glad I was able to experience that.
http://www.calvinspann.com/
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