Knights Without Parachutes

Here is an example of how to teach history. Picture a man wearing the Ernst Udet "Du Doch Nicht!!" t-shirt who comes upon a boy young enough not to see any value in tact. Tactless Boy: Duh doc night? What's that? History Guy: (in perfect German accent) Du doch nicht means, no you don't, except stronger than that. Maybe like, no way Jose! You know who said it? Tactless Boy: Nah. Don't really care, either. History Guy: Ernst Udet. He was an ace in World War One. Ever heard of the Red Baron? Tactless Boy: Was he an old guy like you?...

A Colorado Cowboy Kisses the Blarney Stone ...Which could be why Horses Don't Fly is so readable. One of the local connections Andy Parks likes to mention on Vintage Aero Flying Museum tours is Frederick Libby, the cowboy from Sterling, Colorado. Libby's father offered Frederick's older brother three of his best horses if he could keep Frederick alive to the age of 18 (and later revised the reward to the age of 15). Fortunately, Frederick Libby survived his own escapades, grew up, went to Canada, joined the war as a truck driver, hated the rain, and joined the Royal Flying Corps to get...

Sent to Georgia as a crew chief, he was soon promoted to corporal in a machine gun unit.  While training on the aircraft, Jack got the scare of a lifetime.  The pilot turned off their engine midair!  (Thankfully, he turned it back on.  It was all part of their training exercise.)

Training complete, his squadron was ready for deployment when the flu struck. Hard. Jack was confined to his pup tent, and his meals were dropped off outside. The squadron left without him.