Links2k

This has nothing to do with the Tuskegee Airmen or Doc, but I wanted to share this short video of The 2nd Ranger Company. They are Korean War heroes, but very few have ever heard of them. They were the first Rangers to ever jump into combat, and the only all black unit to do so. “ The most elite all black unit formed since the army’s inception.” https://www.dvidshub.net/news/465045/original-airborne-rangers-legend-buffalo-rangers

You can download DCS for free @ digitalcombatsimulator.com. I believe they allow you to try five or six planes and a single map to fly before you make a commitment. The free aircraft aren’t full fidelity like the planes you can purchase. Some people even fly the trial planes with a game controller before committing to purchasing peripherals. There are lots of videos on YouTube. Just type in Digital Combat Simulator. If you decide to try DCS, I’d recommend starting with the F16, F14, F15 or F18. They’re easier to learn. More experienced players have told me the A10 is the most difficult airframe to learn. I’m still in training on the A10. I know the full start up procedure, taxing, takeoffs, basic navigation, basics of the 30mm gun, rockets, JDAMS and landing. I’ve been invited to join a squadron, but I don’t feel I spend enough time flying to join a squadron. I have too many other distractions

“Surviving Black Hawk Down” on Netflix is a very good series. It has interviews with Delta guys, Rangers and Somali individuals who participated in the battle or filmed it.

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This movie had lots of good stunts.

If you were heading east on Stage into Bartlett, the restaurant was on the northeast corner of Stage and Covington Pike next door to if I recall correctly was a liquor store or Chinese restaurant. There was also a Shoney’s on the northwest side of the street.

Not so fast my friend!

Now that last week’s misunderstanding over the Tuskegee Airmen is water under the bridge, I feel compelled to share my interactions with one of America’s greatest unknown heroes. His name is Dr. Linkwood Williams. By the time I met him, we all just called him Doc, because he was a gynecologist. Doc was best friends with one of my best friend’s dad. The dad was Colonel E.G. Douglass. If you served in the Memphis Air National Guard in the 80’s or very early 90’s, you might know Mr. Douglass. Also, if you lived in the Raleigh Bartlett area around that time, you may have known them as co-owners of Douglass BBQ at the intersection of Stage and Covington Pike. What made Doc a great hero? Doc dropped out of college to become a civilian flight instructor for the world famous 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. I’m certain that most of you know that even in the segregated military, where these men were expected to fail, they NEVER lost a bomber they were escorting, and were routinely requested as escorts by bomber crews. Amazing! IMO, outside of being a hero, he was just an inspirational man with a great sense of humor. He had every reason in the world to walk around like the sun rose and set with him, but he was more likely to just tell you a joke, and more importantly to me, he always remembered my name. Doc passed about fifteen years ago, but anyone interested in his story can watch this film about him that sits in the Library of Congress. It’s a little over an hour long, but well worth the time to learn about this history changing American! Reporter- “What the Tuskegee Airmen achieved was pretty hard to ignore.” Doc- “Yeah, I mean, you have to be totally oblivious to do so.” Here’s the link to Doc’s story, along with some screenshots I took from the documentary. The video flickers for about ten seconds before starting. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.62131/