Stuff I see and think of Bob Parks | FerrariChat

Stuff I see and think of Bob Parks

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014.

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  1. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #1 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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    I was at Kelly field in San Antonio this last week. Inside base ops at Kelly, and every other base for that matter, there are usually a bunch of pics from the earlier days of flying at that location. Kelly has a lot of history and it reminded me of Bob Parks so I took a few pics.
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  2. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    #2 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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  3. MarkPDX

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    #3 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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  4. MarkPDX

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    #4 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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  5. MarkPDX

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    #5 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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  6. MarkPDX

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    #6 MarkPDX, Oct 19, 2014
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  7. MarkPDX

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  8. Bob Parks

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    #8 Bob Parks, Oct 19, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2014
    I have given no thought about who listens to my jabbering of times past because I don't believe that it means much now. I carry it around and it pops out now and then and , simply, that's what happens. So, thank you very much for making a connection that I didn't realize existed.
    The first photo I believe are Douglas B-18 Bolo's that I saw many times mixed with Martin B-10's at Bolling Field, Anacostia, Va. The second appears to be Curtiss Falcon O-1's, one of which came within fifty feet of hitting our barn and chicken house in the winter of 1933-34 when the Army was flying the mail. The old Keystone bombers flew over once or twice in the winter, I think that is in the fifth picture. DH-4's flew over occasionally but they weren't military, maybe old mail planes. We never saw any Jenny's or SE5's.
    Iv'e written about these things in my book which, by the way, is within 7 days of being sent to the printer. Stay tuned.
     
  9. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    Well I find your posts interesting so please keep it up. How will your book be available?
     
  10. Bob Parks

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    I plan to offer it through Amazon and on Kindle.
    " From A Crystal Set To High Speed Jets"
     
  11. ND Flack

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    Bob is why this is my first stop when I log into Fchat. Can't wait for the book.
     
  12. Bob Parks

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    I fear that I will disappoint readers with my blurb. It's not all aviation but the last part is. All I did was to put down what I could remember while growing up and what happened when I finally grew up (to some people that never occurred). I love telling stories about things that happened so that is what triggered an eight year on again off again task of putting it on paper. It's an amateur's production so one must take it as that, just a bunch of stories that happened a long time ago and perhaps not great literature. At best, it's good for a few laughs and a few pieces of art.
     
  13. Bob Parks

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    I failed to mention that I was born in Washington, DC and spent my early days there. First airplane ride was at the Rockville airport and I spent many hours at Queen's Chapel airport, Washington Airport, College Park, Bolling Field, Anacostia, and Hybla Valley. The only ones left are College Park, Bolling , and Anacostia. The old Wa. airport is where the Pentagon now sits, all the rest have been covered by shopping centers or " developments".
     
  14. Nurburgringer

    Nurburgringer F1 World Champ

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    I watched a 2 hour documentary about the 747 last week and thought of Bob.
    Was waiting for him to make an appearance!

    Thanks for all your contributions to this forum Mr. Parks.
    Very much looking forward to reading your book.
    Kurt
     
  15. Ryan S.

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  16. ND Flack

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    Yes and Anacostia and Bolling are in name only these days - took a helo out of Bolling once, but that was a one-off event. It's changed a lot, but it's a great town though perhaps not as much for aviation these days. Museums excepted, of course!
     
  17. Bob Parks

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    My strongest memory of Anacostia is the sight of a three plane vic of Grumman F3F's taking off with the props cracking out their sound. They were still sporting the pre-war livery of the bright colors mixed with the yellow wings and pale grey fuselages. As I mentioned, Bolling "only" had some blue Martin B-10's with yellow wings and the new natural metal Douglas B-18's with them. An occasional Curtiss Hawk P-6E could be seen even when the new Hawk 75's ( P-36)appeared. Later, the P-40 appeared. Unbelievably, the first B-17 that I ever saw was when I was transferred to Langley Field in 1945.
    Thanks for the recent news about those old fields.
     
  18. alexm

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    It's always fascinating where a thread & related links might take you.. I looked up the F3F (not knowing it) and eventually ended up here about tactics against "superior" foe!

    Thach Weave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Always something new.. every day..
     
  19. ArtS

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    Bob,

    Are the planes in the first picture B-18s or B-23s?

    Regards,

    Art S.
     
  20. Bob Parks

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    I find it difficult to discern what the nose is. I went by the belly and tail. You could be correct in identifying them as B-23's. Both were pretty much nothing airplanes.
     
  21. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Mark,
    Tell is what the plaques say... you took the pics.

    Can't read them in the pics.
     
  22. Bob Parks

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    After looking at pictures of the two I would say that those in the photo are B-18's because of the straight leading edge of the vertical tail.and deep belly. Just from what I can detect.
     
  23. Gatorrari

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  24. I16

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    #24 I16, Oct 23, 2014
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  25. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
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    Unfortunately I didnt get them... I was trying to take the pics at an angle to avoid reflections and they got cut off.
     

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