An interview you might like to be a part of. :: Archived

[sweets]

sounds like a gr8 time. hope you all dont mind if I join in

*Kandy*

[Shadow_Bshwackr]

Everyone is invited

BTW, CC has created a special "Col Frank Bell" Team Speak room for this event. To 'see' the team speak server access info, you'll have to register at Com Central.

[FF_StepChild]

Gentlemen, just a little note before we begin.

First I will introduce Col Bell, and depending on how many people we have I will ask each of you to give him your callsign, name if you like, and location. He is amazed with what we are doing here, getting together from all over the country and the globe.

Next I will ask the colonel a few questions, narrating his military career.Afterwards will be Q and A period. I will help Col Bell by moderating this, as his eyesight is very poor.

Anyone who shows up will give this gentleman a thrill, and will get in return the good humor, wisdom, and companionship of a wonderful human being.

[Kitform]

I noticed on the font page of Com-Central News section

The advertised times for this event were 6pm est this will be 11pm gmt and not 00:00

Wouldn't want anyone coming late

[FireStorm]

the Col. Bell TS server is password required.

where would we find/register it or will it be removed for tonite?

thx K

[FireStorm]

Sorry 'bout that Chief!

Ignore previous question..... just didn't look hard enough, as it was under my nose!

Looking forward to tonight.......

[XcalibeR]

Lots of people on today!

[Kitform]

An excellent night.

Thanks too Stepchild for setting this up and many thanks to Col Bell for taking the time to talk to us.

Unfortunately the time differences around the globe made this a late night for some but was well worth staying up for.

I look forward to the next one if it can be arranged.

Many thanks.

[FF_StepChild]

The colonel extends his thanks for "letting an old fogie chew the fat" and said to tell all that he is looking forward to the next one. He suggested 2-4 pm eastern (7-9 pm GMT). Any input is gladly accepted. Once again, Thank You all for showing up and making his day brighter.

[401RCAF_HitMan]

Like Kit said, it was an excellent time...thanks again to StepChild and Col Bell and I am also looking forward to the next chat.

[Chuck_71st]

I really enjoyed our time with Col. Bell, he's a very interesting man and would welcome a chance to do this again.

[Uhu_Fledermaus]

Alltough it was in the wee late hours for me here at this end, it was a very enjoyable experience,
looking forward to have some more discussions/chats with Col. Bell.

Again many thankx to the Col. for giving his time to talk to us and FF_StepChild for setting it up and looking forward to the next one.

just a lil tought, maybe for the next chat we could submit a sorta questions list and work from there ??


fled

[FireStorm]

Well, wasn't that a quick hour and a half!!

Excellent and so enjoyable.....I'll be there next time for sure.

I guess earlier in the day would be the way to go and like Fled says,
a list of questions could help (tho' with the Col. that's optional!)

Thank-you Step and Thank-you Col. Frank Bell.

[Shadow_Bshwackr]

First of all, I would like to thank Col Frank Bell, FF_StepChild and all the members of CC who showed up for this very interesting event!! 18 people were there including Col Bell.

I jotted down some notes from the event...

Col Frank Bell enlisted at age 17 in 1943. After serving his term, he got into journalism and was a newspaper reporter for 2 years. When he heard the USSAC started a pilot training school, he re-enlisted to join. This was 1948. (Smiling)

Once back in, he quickly found out he "loved flying" and seems to have "found his niche" in life.

As he trained, he found himself flying a P126, T6 Texan, P51 and the P80. Lucky in any pilots eyes I'm sure and he spent approximately 1000 hours in training total before the "Brass" called him into action.

As he headed into the Korean war where he did 105 missions, he flew different aircraft and for different missions. From strikes to recon, Col Bell told some great stories gained from his experience in Korea where at one time he was almost shot down and as he put it, "Had a little tension in the cockpit"...lol With two bullet holes in the engine block one of them also went through a Magneto and caused some engine problems, another big round went through the wing by an aileron making it hard to steer and lodging a piece of debris in the 'pitot' tube causing the air speed indicator to quit working. At one point at around 4k the engine quit and while the Col was trying to get it started, thoughts went through his mind that made him determine at what point he might have to bail out. That point was 2k and lucky for Col Bell and us, he got it started at 2500...a close call!

The Col went on to talk about the different versions of the P51 he flew and how trying to do 'hotshot' maneuvers with a half full center fuel tank was a BIG mistake as the gas would 'slosh' front to back and the '51' would try to 'swap ends'.

He's flown other aircraft such as the 01 Cessna, L19 Birddog, T39 and the OV10 as recon aircraft and moved into the F100 in his Viet Nam tour where he got to use phosphorus rockets and "Beehive" rounds.

The Col even got to escort Gen. MacArthur one time!!

Listening to the Col was great and there's more stories and notes I've taken, but they'll be for another time as the Col has graciously agreed to do another interview.

I can't wait for the next one and it'll be soon...

[FF_StepChild]

The colonel is agreeable to the 28th of January if you fellas are interested.