Beantown Banshee and one final Mission
When you're a kid reading books about WWII fighter pilots they are but distant literary bits of history earmarked with grainy black and white photos. I'd seen the well known photo of Mike Rogers sitting on the wing of Beantown in several books. Fast forward 30 years. One day in June of 2012, while on tour with Collings, we were sitting on the ramp when we saw an A-2 clad veteran making his way to our P-51 Betty Jane. We watched him stand by the wing peering up in to the cockpit, and not wanting to interfere with this moment I approached the lady that was with him (his wife as it turned out) who was standing back by the tail. I introduced myself and asked her his story. She said that's General Mike Rogers…I said ‘Beantown Banshee Mike Rogers?'…she smiled. She said his health was diminishing and he wanted to see a Mustang one more time. To look at him, you'd never know he was wasn't feeling well as he came back to the tail to talk to us. He was beaming. Wearing his original A-2 and carrying his original helmet and goggles…I could see the guy I remembered from the photos in books. I asked him if he wanted to get in the cockpit…he was moving towards the front of the wing before I finished asking. Although he was moving slower, he climbed up the landing gear like he'd been doing it his whole life. Once in the cockpit he sat silent for several minutes and soaked it all in. His hands went right for the throttle and the stick…I knew what he was thinking…he was back in his 20's…somewhere in Europe. We talked for quite a while, he slipped on his helmet for some photos and got out and patted the fuselage as he slid off the flap.
This was one of those once in a lifetime moments…our entire crew had gathered around to take it all in as well. She was full of gas and preflighted…we all looked at each other and there was only one thing to do…take him flying. I asked him if he wanted to go and with no hesitation he said yes. We scrounged a ladder and got him in the backseat and off we went. When we pulled out on the runway to takeoff I told him to put his hands on the controls and follow me through. As I pushed the power up to 55” I could feel him moving the rudder pedals with me, carrying a bit of right aileron to help counter the torque, he was right there. As soon as we broke ground I said ‘your airplane'…and his airplane it was. He did some shallow ‘S' turns as we headed towards the practice area about 30 miles East of the airport. We talked about what he wanted to do and started off with a couple big lazy rolls…which quickly ramped up to full blown full deflection rolls…he hadn't forgotten a thing. Next up were some loops…and a Cuban 8…then we settled down in to just flying around and soaking it in. We may or may not have burned both tanks of gas…I'll never tell, but it was soon time to head back to Santa Barbara. We did the overhead approach and he drove us through a beautiful crisp left beak about midfield…I dropped the gear and the flaps and told him not to let go, follow me through on landing…which he did, and again was right with me as we rolled out down the runway. The crew and his wife were waiting for us as we shut down…his smile said everything. He got one last mission. I look back on that day and it's almost surreal. And, now, harkening back to my younger days buried in history books and building models…this one is special. I didn't go full nostalgia and build the monogram B…aIthough maybe I should have? But this is the Tamiya 1/48…and will sit on my shelf with that once in a lifetime chance. You never know what life will drop in your lap…and this is one memory I will cherish.
Awesome story and model Jim
Jim Harley (@jimh)
This is an incredible story Jim. I'm sure you have many others like it. Wow... this was an incredible honor for you.
Your Mustang model looks magnificent too. You sir are the Mustang whisperer !
I have witnessed similar expressions when veterans would walk into the shop at American Aero. My Dad was one of them, when I took him there for a visit shortly before he died. I saw his facial expressions change first hand when he walked up to the Colling's F4U-5NL Corsair. It was as if he was somehow transported back in time just like you mentioned. Dad didn't seem as old or frail at that moment. He also got very cold and distant, withdrawn if you will.
He patted the side of the fuselage and said that he saw them drop a lot of napalm, rockets, and bombs when he was in Korea. He too sat there motionless and was staring off in a distance for a few minutes. I watched his eyes tear and swell up some, but he never once shed a single visible tear if that makes any sense at all.
1. My Dad
I wanted to get a picture of him standing next to the Corsair.
But Dad didn't want me to. He had other ideas. Instead he chose to stand next to the yellow Piper Cub. He told me "This old girl right here is more my speed now !".
I took these pictures many years ago when Gary and the boys were at the old shop at the north end of the airport.
Dad said these Marine Corsairs were loaded so heavy that they would be lucky to maintain 250 knots. Now I don't know how true that airspeed indication is, but he said these planes flew very differently when they were loaded verses not loaded. Fast vs. Slow
Dad was at the Chosin Reservoir, but with the Army instead of the Marines. He said the Marine pilots "were damned good, and could drop anything on a dime if you wanted them too"... Only later in his last few weeks of life did he tell me of some of his nightmarish experiences he endured in Korea.
War is hell.
Thank you for sharing that Louis. It’s amazing what these airplanes can evoke. Places, time, people…I’m glad your dad opened up. I’ve met so many that just couldn’t talk about it, I can’t imagine carrying that for a lifetime.
That Mustang turned out great! Thanks for sharing the story.
What a great experience, Jim! Really nice model too.
That is one awesome story! That stuff always chokes me up a little. I wish there were still more of those men still around. I know he was back in his 20s again in that cockpit. When you do the things those men did day after day in combat, I'm sure those guys never forget their training and it all comes back when they get behind the stick.
I'm sure Gen. Rogers and you burned up both tanks of fuel too, it shouldn't be any other way. What a great opportunity to be able to fly with a childhood hero.
Beautiful build and an awesome reminder of a once in a lifetime afternoon. Beantown Banshee has always been one of my favorite Mustang paint schemes, right up there with Shangri-la, and Ding-Hao.
That is so awesome. A very special moment you had with Mike Rogers and gave him a chance to once again slip the surely bonds of Earth in a Mustang. Bravo Zulu.
And that Tamiya P-51B looks really sweet also. Got two in my ever growing stash with plans for "Shangri-La" and "Ding-Hao." And now Eduard is threatening our pocket books with a Razorback Mustang for the new year.
David Odenwald (@kahu)
Just when we thought our wallets were safe !
I have been wanting to build Kid Hoeffer's "Salem Representative" too ... now we have the perfect canvass to do these.
With Apple pushing Masters of the Air I remembered Kid being killed on a mission over Yugoslavia. Another fine man and warrior lost in a far off land. That photo of Kid in the cockpit looking at us along with his dog is so evocative of how young and full of promise they all were. And that wooden slat walkway on the wing is interesting along with the partially obliterated data block.
Apparently Eduard has molded the rollers as you can see just under the dog's paw for the Malcolm hood for their Razorback.
Thank you for your kind words. I bet these guys would be proud to know and probably had no idea that all these years later we would be immortalizing them with models. So many stories that have passed to the ages. A few years ago a friend sent me all the North American blueprints for the Mustang series. I got a sheet of aluminum and replicated Salem Representative…it’s big, it hangs on my wall as a tribute. I can’t wait to see the Eduard B model. Another one to drain the old bank account.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Jim Harley (@jimh)
David Odenwald (@kahu)
I thought you guys might like these pictures of my big girl Heidi. We had to put her down several years ago, and that was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I really miss her big time.
This is what she looked like when she was a pup. I think she could have been a very close twin to Kid Hoeffer's dog. I know that German Shepherds are supposed to look like this...and they can be found in all different colors from solid white to solid black. but her hair color around her face and the rest of her body was spot on to how his dog looked in my humble opinion.
She always was with me when I was outside. Here I had finished cleaning the shop, and of course she wanted to help me. She loved the water as much as my Labradors did.
She was very protective of my darling wife too. Such a great dog !
Jim,
Your fuselage panel looks magnificent. It would look great on any wall ! The kind words are well deserved. What you did that day, and on the many other days that were like it when you flew with the tour, is something that is going to be cherished by many people for many years to come.
This is the stuff that dreams are made of. Well done my friend !
Amazing story and build. I see that now with my dad now in his late 80s the way he looks when he remembers something back from his youth.
What a great experience that must have been! And a great build on the Mustang.
A wonderful story and a beautiful looking build, too (@jimh).
Truly excellent model, Jim, but the story left me speechless! Standing in awe!
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Still pinching myself…all these years later. It was truly an honor. Right place at the right time. Thanks for your kind words!
Life is happening while where making plans and then there is living the moment. Giving Mike his moment in time, Jim is priceless. A chance to go back in time and relieve that moment of flying a Mustang is a real gift. Great article, photos and model.
Such an amazing story, Jim @jimh
This must have been a lifetime moment for Mike, being able to have a final mission.
Your build is a beautiful remembrance of this special flight.
What a great tale linked to kit! Love it.
Fantastic story Jim !
Outstanding build and story!
Oh man, what a moving, fantastic story, Jim @jimh! 😃 I couldn't read it without tearing up, so many emotions run through my mind, it's such a tribute to an old veteran and it must've been such an honor and joy for you! 🙏🏻And, a great model to go with your once in a lifetime adventure. 👍
Thank you. I have to admit it was a pretty emotional flight…and day. Some things in life really do happen for a reason.
Great job - love the invasion stripes. They are not easy to get right but you definitely did.
Thanks Richard. Not many reference photos for this one. The one shot I have of the wing leading edge shows some well worn stripes. Tamiya will see a spike in tape sales soon!
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
A very interesting story and an unquestionably well done model to go with it.
Nice work Jim.
Thank you all for posting. It really means a lot. I’m thankful for groups like this that really appreciate the history…and gives me faith that the history will not be lost. That generation is/was so humble, and proud…for everything Mike accomplished throughout his life, those years meant the most. He was a fighter pilot through and through.
You have done everyone proud Jim. Especially Mr Roger's and what a souvenir you have. Hats off to you 🎩
Nice looking Mustang and a great story!
Yep, those moments are a surprise, joy and a treasure.