My grandfather flew in the Air Corps in WW2. He met my grandmother when he was sent from Alabama to my hometown to attend local college classes as part of officer training. So I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and his service.
He flew P-40’s for a little while, but got moved to B-17’s when there was a need for bomber pilots. His first flight in a multi-engine airplane (as co-pilot) was ferrying a B-17 across the Atlantic to Europe.
When the war ended, he ferried troops in stripped down B-17’s as part of “Homebound Airlines”.
He continued to fly for fun after the war, and ended up building two airplanes. My dad, a private pilot, grew up going to the airport with my granddad, just like I did with my dad.
The P-40’s my granddad flew had parrot heads painted on them. I think they called the parrot “Scruffy”.
My 3-year old daughter already loves to fly. 4th generation aviator.