“HISTORY GEEKS GET TO MEET THE COOLEST PEOPLE and see the coolest places…”
Tip: Some of these photos go to off-site links; hover your mouse over them. If a ‘finger’ cursor appears, it’s a link to more info
Ace, General, Leader, American Clarence "Bud" Anderson signs my artwork of his P-39Q, two days shy of his 102nd birthday!
Vietnam Veteran and "Cobra" pilot, Michael O'Neil describes flying the Cobra over South Vietnam, 1969.
Marty Lenzini, Vietnam War A-4 Skyhawk pilot and recipient of four DFCs gets honored at an event in Arizona.
Sometimes when I draw, I use little models to help me get my head around the scene...
"Western Union Telegrams" are horrid bits of history. Holding them, they weigh a thousand pounds... but I can't put them down.
Another drawing of a (former) North Vietnamese MiG-21. More on this later.
"Trench Art" c.1944 - a hand carved F4U Corsair, painted in real "Corsair Paint" by VMF-216 pilot Claude Hone. He made it for his dad!
Atop Mt Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Too big for words...
Returning war booty, story in progress! However, for now, this is me with Barbara Alberti and Timothy Clark of the War in the Pacific National Historic Park, Guam
A Japanese tank, Saipan - I took this photo on the fly and didn't realize how cool it was until the next day. History is like that, eh?
Film Premiere at Boys Town in Omaha, NE - (L-R) Warren Eastman, DFC; me; Susan Hayes (widow of Jonathan Hayes, pilot of the F-4 in my art) and "the other" John Mollison, DFC
A picture of a picture of a moment — my drawing of an A-7 that took part in the last battle of the Vietnam War, "the Mayaguez Incident."
OGTA do-it-all Rick Lingberg ponders the hugeness of the F-4 Phantom.
Cine-editor Sam Plucker doesn't typically get on THIS side of the camera.
3x DFC recipient John Mollison (Left) and History Geek John Mollison (Right) at March Field Air Museum working on the next DFCS/OGTA project.
On field at the 13 Nov Chiefs vs Jaguars half-time show with Neil Smith and Derek Thomas' mother, Edith.
It looks totally posed but it isn't! This is the moment Linebacker II veterans Ron Bartlett (DFC) and Kim Morey Ph.D realized they were over Hanoi the same night in 1972.
DFC + Charles McGee (grandson)! At the dedication of the Charles McGee Library in Silver Springs, MD with DFC Society members and grandson of Tuskegee Airman BG Charles McGee.
At the Interment of BG McGee in Arlington — a four ship salute to a great American...
Cinematographer and OGTA'r Dalton Coffey and I got to experience "Monkey Shoulders" with Korean War hero Royce Williams on his deck.
OGTA Rick Lingberg brought the live "Debrief" concept into reality
On set and live interview with Tuskegee Airman, BG Charles McGee.
Cinematographer Dalton Coffey and DFC Society honcho (and "Aero Scout") Bruce Huffman at PIMA Air & Space Museum
Dorothy Huss - she was the namesake of her husband's P-51, "The Dot T"
B-52 Tailgunner Kim Morey flew five missions during the "Linebacker II Month" of December, 1972.
Is that... DICK RUTAN?! Gads, you can't have a boring conversation with this man...
BG "Russ" McCarthy next to the airplane that he flew while flying covert missions in Vietnam.
Curtis Cameron flew this beast, used this map and was awarded this medal during the last days of 1945.
SD Governor Kirsti Noem is a huge champion of our country's great history...
I got to add some airplanes at the "I-Bar" at NAS North Island...
A-1 "SANDY" pilot Rich Hall helps validate a draft of a DFC Society "Educator's Kit"...
North Vietnamese fighter pilot Tu De and the South Vietnamese A-37 that he flew in 1975 during the evacuation of Saigon...
Joe Foss's Wildcat from Sketch to Display
Hungarian photographer, author, Flight Surgeon and historian Istvan Toperczer framed my art of Gen Nguyen Duc Soat's MiG-21
Just a cool shot I took after a history event in Topeka...
Morey Crow's B-17F is accessioned at the Mighty 8th museum in Savannah, GA
Three Aero Scouts - Hugh Mills, Bruce Huffman and Gary Worthy in Gary's OH-6 "Loach."
My Challenge Coin + the famous "Friday Pilots" book "On the Wings of Geezers" (which I got to design the cover).
Mayaguez Veteran Alex Wright, myself and Gemini/Apollo astronaut Jim McDivitt... wow.
F-105 pilot Ed "Moose" Skowron appreciates 19 Crimes, I appreciate designing cut-out airplanes - cheers!
Susan Hayes now remembers her husband's F-4 in a particularly poignant fashion...
A cut-out B-17 I designed as part of an Educator's Kit for the 390th Memorial Museum
Members of DFC Society leadership pose in front of a B-52 at Lackland AFB. I decided to photobomb...
Vietnam War "Loach" pilot Bruce Huffman demonstrated to me just how low he flew during the war...
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site asks visiting Missileers to sign my artwork!
DFC Society honcho Chuck Sweeney next to the placard that honors him, NAS North Island, Coronado
POW/Pastor Col Robert Certain in his home during filming of his OGTA episode...
Me. An F-4. A Selfie.
At an event at the 390th Memorial Museum, the crowd decided to autograph my art... how cool is that?!?
A great American, great advice - the P-51B flown by Tuskegee Airman, BG Charles McGee
MG Don Shepperd and NASA/Korean War fighter pilot Jim McDivitt at a book signing in Tucson...
On-stage at F-105 "Rescue pilot" Marty Mahrt's live show in Custer, SD
An authentic DFC that is displayed at my "Eagle's Gallery," Pierre, SD
ADM Doniphan Shelton, DFC Society boss Chuck Sweeny, myself, cinematographer Dalton Coffey and CDR Royce Williams - great day at the I-Bar!
20th Air Force MG Robert Parker and Nat'l Park Ranger Eric Leonard are taller than me or my missile artwork
352nd FG pilot Elmer Smith signs "Pinkie" - a P-51B he flew during WWII
In Ha Noi with former NVAF pilot Nguyen Hong My reviewing my crude pencil sketch of his MiG-21...
The SUPREME History Geek - Barrett Tillman at CAF Arizona, on set of "South Dakota Warrior"
"Doolittle Raider" Dick Cole is a truly great American hero - my artwork of his B-25 hung over his bed!
True Story.
352nd FG ace Don Bryan was way more than an influence - he helped shape my view on how generations depend upon each other.
Havana, Cuba - a relic Hawker Sea Fury from the Bay of Pigs; I was there on a trade mission and only two fellow Americans knew anything about it.
My dad bought cut-out airplanes for me as a little kid - I design them now for museums and groups
Go ahead and google "Punchy Powell" - a fantastic influence on me.
Me with Gen Nguyen Duc Soat and the legit MiG-21 in which he scored a victory during the Vietnam War
The inimitable Claude Hone, VMF-216 - "I still fit my jacket!"
Col Crawford Shockley and wife Lily - brought the Vietnam War to life in many ways
Stan Lieberman, eyewitness to Pearl Harbor signs my artwork of his B-18.
Morry Crow, gunner aboard a B-17F during the hard days of 1943-44...
Royce Williams - one of the best photos I've taken as it captures his exuberance and positivity
On stage for FIRST "Debrief" - featuring DFC Recipient Pat Owen
Jim Eiesenmenger and the die-cast model made of his VN war F-102
WWII ace & patriot Steve Pisanos takes me through his memorabilia
Dr Sy Hung, a former MiG-21 pilot himself reviews my art with a translator in Ha Noi
I got to help inspire Royce Williams F9F Panther shoes...
I drew an Avro Lancaster flown by an American, flying in a Canadian unit for the RAF during WWII...
Press check for artwork to commemorate a meeting of former foes
Ken Salisbury - one of the few C-47 crew who bombed Germans during "Market Garden"
POW Charlie Plumb just before returning to Vietnam with OGTA...
I didn't take this photo - this is Hank Snow on his last combat mission in VN - "I'm an old man and tired of war" he said. Read his book...
A PBM Mariner cut-out toy that I designed for a Doolittle Heritage event in Fort Walton Beach...
The amazing Claude Hone, VMF-216 and #2 OGTA
The Spitfire Mk.14 is one of the prettiest aircraft ever built
Dalton Coffey films RAF ace John Wilkinson pouring over one of his old mission maps...
A hero for our age - WWII USMC pilot Sam Folsom autographs "Popeye" at his home...
Otw "Saigon," doodling Hong My's MiG-21 on Vietnam Airlines... kinda ironic if you think about it.
Probably one of my top-5 photos, ever - a POW and a Linebacker II casualty talk 'life' at Hoàn Kiếm Lake... ask me about this sometime.
BG "Russ" McCarthy, leader of Linebacker II, inspects slides he hadn't seen for a long, long time...
Scott Hummelsheim of CSPAN stopped out for a visit with Kim Morey and myself
Toy TBD Devestator and A6M2 Zero made for the Educator's Kit for "South Dakota Warrior"
Aviation archeology "somewhere west of London" (it's a Hurricane Mk.IV, btw)
Bert Newman, his logbook, his Hurricane...
RAF Conningsby - Brit heraldry is pretty impressive design...
The Brits have a weird way of painting their airplanes...
The inspiration of my art, writing + film - WWII triple ace (and great American) Bud Anderson
Heading out to film dogfighting over the Gulf in an SB2C
The A-team of Dalton, Eddie, "Lingberg" and a real A6M2
OGTA Rick Lingberg prepares to mount a TBM Avenger
RAID'19, "B-25 Time!"
WWII P-38 pilot Jim Kunkle and his mission map...
A 9yr old girl met RAF ace John Wilkinson at a Premiere of his film
Yellow = 336th TFS = honoring their boss, "DC" Vest
An escort of two P-51s and an FM-2 over South Dakota!
The SD ANG let me design their 70th anniversary "Heritage" F-16
Red James plays with a little paper cut-out toy I had printed in his F4U's markings
WWII POW and the small purse he made using his prison uniform...
North Vietnamese MiG-17 ace "Van Bay" near his aqua farm near Cambodian border
OGTA instigator Rick Lingberg at the U.S. Embassy in Ha Noi
There's a huge, huge story here. Want to know more? Click.
666 combat mission veteran Hank Snow and I shortly before his passing... he inspired OGTA in huge ways
POW Charlie Plumb takes a poignant walk to the ramp at Gia Lam Airport, Vietnam
Press proofs of MiG-17s for my third trip to VN
P-40 pilot Cliff Long autographs "Shirley" while the real Shirley looks on...
"White board history" + a terrific teacher who cares deeply about learning from example
Blue skies, green ocean and a mind to remember that in 1944, this could be an ugly point of view
Col John Stiles, Dr Sy Hung, Gen Nguyen Soat and me - the History Geek in me is off the chart
The 334th Eagles Represent (45-odd years later)
Former foes, famous friends — Nguyen Hong My + John Stiles pose for int'l media (finger mine)
There are many, many tunnels in (Former) South Vietnam's "Iron Triangle."
WWII + Vietnam War pilot Bill Creech shows off the 311th FG Presidential Unit Citation.
The story behind this picture takes about 30 minutes to tell...
WWII/Korean War vet Red James describing "cowardice" in a most impactful way...
Selfie with Sen George McGovern - a WWII warrior, statesman and ironic friend
POW Dick Francis insisted on showing off how fast is Porsche could go.
WWII POW/Evadee/DFC Recipient "Morrie" Magneson autographs my artwork
First trip to Ha Noi and I see this. Lots of thoughts, too...
Bob Pardo during our OGTA filming at his home
Raymond Plank's B-24, "Cocktail Hour" - easily the most involved nose art I've ever rendered...
Restaurants that paper tables are fair game for a history lesson.
Doolittle Raider Dick Cole, WWII aces Bud Anderson and Alden Rigby and POW-evadee Morrie Magnuson autograph session...
"I know where there's an F-89" "Do not". "Do so!" "Do not!" "Do so!!" "PROVE IT." "Oh."
So do I drive or LISTEN?! WWII ace Alden Rigby and Doolittle Raider Dick Cole (with daughter Cindy) in my... minivan!
OGTA #1, SANDY pilot Rich Hall + the namesake of his A-1 Skyraider, "Sweet Marlene."
WWII Finnish AF ace "Kossi" Karhila approved of my artwork of his Bf-109G-6
Speaking at an event - proof I can hold a microphone
I took this picture on a boat just off the Cambodian border — OGTA colleague Rick Lingberg can be fearless
History is Nutritious™ - especially up-close and personal
Interesting that the .30cal machine gun was obsolete (for aerial work) by 1942
Claude Hone - VMF-216; I miss this person very much
Lakota leader, Vietnam War combat medic Francis Whitebird and Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson on-set of "South Dakota Warrior"
Selfie at 200kts - fortunately, I didn't let go of the camera(s)
Joe Foss signs my artwork c.2000 - I was impressed with his humility and utter confidence