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Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Warbirds, Replicas and Nostalgic photos in here please.
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Northolt Nobbler
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Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:33 am

Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Northolt Nobbler » Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:21 pm

The saying goes: "There are old pilots and bold pilots but there are no old, bold pilots..."

One of Phil's friends - now sadly no longer with us - was Tom Casagrande, a retired US Army pilot who certainly fits into the latter category...

Tom made it through 2 tours in Vietnam - the first starting in 1966 flying Hueys with C Company of the 227th AHB of the famous First Cavalry Division, flying from An Khe. During this tour he was shot down 3 times - twice, so Phil believes - on the same day!!

With that out of the way, Tom's second tour was flying RU-21Ds on covert surveillance missions over Thailand and Laos.

After the leaving the Army, Tom became a civilian test pilot, flying from Lakehurst on various tasks for the Department of Defense. Some people have a natural ability when it comes to flying, and that must have been the case with Tom as, over 20 years, he managed to accrue over 13,000 flying hours in more than 190 different types of aircraft! He was type rated in aircraft ranging from rotary wing, fixed wing and jets, as well as WWII fighters and bombers. He was awarded over 60 military medals and commendations throughout his career.

Sadly, he was killed in a flying accident in 2010. A foundation has been set up by his family to help veterans - https://www.lzpony.org/

Phil became great friends following the great "T-28 Across the Atlantic" flight, and Phil was a frequent visitor to the family home and Lakehurst, recording many unusual aircraft in his logbook, as I shall now reveal...

Vietnam

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Next post - RU-21s

Northolt Nobbler
Posts: 201
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:33 am

Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Northolt Nobbler » Fri Jun 05, 2020 11:22 pm

Last edited by Northolt Nobbler on Sat Jun 06, 2020 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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paddyboy
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by paddyboy » Sat Jun 06, 2020 4:53 am

That is one awesome flying career :Wow:

How many aerials can one plane have :lol:

Thanks for posting :thumbs:

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


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GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER

atech
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by atech » Sat Jun 06, 2020 9:34 am

Stunning series of photos, especially the Nam Huey shots

Thanks for sharing

Punkrunner62
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Punkrunner62 » Sat Jun 06, 2020 9:39 am

Brilliant, not every day you get to see in country images from Vietnam.
Cheers.

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Ghastly Whisper
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Ghastly Whisper » Sat Jun 06, 2020 10:54 am

WOW!!!!
Growing old disgracefully

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Petepilot
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Petepilot » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:06 pm

Outstanding! Fantastic post, many thanks for sharing. Those 'nam pics...... :Wow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlsfM2BmsJU

dragonchaser
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Location: Reading, Berks.

Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by dragonchaser » Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:12 pm

Excellent post, and so nice to see shots of such rare airframes :thumb:

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xkekeith
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Location: EGLK ish....

Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by xkekeith » Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:30 am

Excellent....
Canon EOS RP & 7D II

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Imac
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Imac » Sun Jun 07, 2020 12:58 pm

Great set, great memories and to live through it to record for posterity. What a guy. Hats off!!! Thanks for sharing

Vulcanone
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Re: Graf Zeppelin: Captain Tom, 'Nam, Utes and Lakehurst

Post by Vulcanone » Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:22 pm

Excellent post.

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