Category Archives: WWII

North American Plant – Dallas Texas

Why not write a story about the glamor of the Fighters of WWII? The North American P-51 Mustang, The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, or the Vought F4U Corsair, to name a few?

Why the T-6 you might ask? Well, because…

The North American T-6/SNJ was the aircraft that all those pilots learned to fly BEFORE stepping into almost ANY aircraft in WWII and Korea.

It was, and still is, called the “Pilot Maker.” Even today, if you should be so inclined, and financially able, to purchase a million or multi-million-dollar War Bird, you will usually get some time in a T-6/SNJ.

Since there were no two-seat fighter/trainers back in the late 30s early 40s, an aircraft with the flight, takeoff and landing characteristics of a high performance aircraft was needed to train the pilots. The North American T-6 won the contract and fit the bill.

The T-6 Texan, nicknamed so because it was built in Dallas, Texas, “Just up the road a piece” from this writer’s home, went on to train pilots all over the globe. Many nations have trained their pilots with some variant of the “Pilot Maker.” It was the trainer used to train the infamous “Tuskegee Airman.” It was even slightly modified to become a Japanese aircraft in most of the war movies produced.

There were several variants used in early COunter INsurgency (COIN) roles, as some were equipped with “hard points,” or pylons for carrying weapons, as well as two wing-mounted machine guns. There was also a gun mounted just in front to the right of the pilot.

Some would call it the best airplane ever built.

I would encourage you to “Google” the T-6/SNJ or visit your library to learn more about this famous trainer aircraft.

As “The Adventures of Tommy the Texan” continues in this series, the reader will learn more about the T-6 and it’s flying characteristics. As we follow Captain Billy and Tommy as they take the all-important test flight, known as a “Shakedown.” As they visit a Formation Clinic, the Air Show Circuit at Sun-n-Fun and Oshkosh, and race in the T-6 Class at the famed Reno Air Races.

So, you see that the North American T-6/SNJ is indeed a special and important part of the training and education of pilots around the world. Both then and now.

Blue Skys and Tailwinds,
Captain Billy

Or – Why was the book designed this way?

Four years ago I was inspired to write a children’s book based on how I felt after my first experience flying in a North American SNJ, the Navy’s designation of a T-6 Texan. Through this Formation Clinic, I experienced for the first time the exuberance of a kid at Christmas. The excitement of a new flight experience. After all my years, totaling over 13,000 hours of flying time, it was like my first time being airborne. I wanted to share, and hopefully excite, and educate kids, of ALL ages.

My first attempt had left me wanting. I wrote it, but it begged the questions of where, when, why and how. Where did this story take place? Where did “Tommy” come from? What was the time frame? Why was I writing it and How would I both entertain as well as educate those who read it?

My background is teaching. Whether it be aviation, electrical, or other technical subjects. In fact, my son, David, has often been heard to say, “Dad, stop teaching.” Ask me the time, I’ll tell you how to build the watch. I have been teaching since the age of 21, in 1969, serving in Thailand with the Air Force; another story for another time. But I digress.

This story of “Tommy the Texan” languished in my computer, my file cabinet, and my head. I finally decided to start from the beginning, to address where “Tommy” came from and how he met “Captain Billy.”

Even then, after writing it, I was left wanting for more. How do I teach about the T-6 and not get too technical, but gradually address aviation and flying? I also wanted to include subtle, but important life lessons within the story. Structure, organizational skills, neatness, comradery and friendships, to name a few. Co-operation between “Captain Billy” and the three people, Doug, JAC and Bobby Z, who help and are essential to the restoration and operation of “Tommy.” I wanted to show how it takes a team effort to accomplish this task.

Then there are the additional inserts at the back of the book. Taken from an actual WWII, 1945 U.S. Army Air Force Technical publication. An AN 01-60FE-1 Pilots Flight Operating Instruction Manual, or A-1. The information provided whets the appetite of young readers desire to learn more. They also serve as resources for parents to encourage and guide their young reader to delve deeper into the sources on the readers list. To search “Google” and find more. To look at the maps and the legends and learn about geography and the world of aviation navigation.

It is my goal to produce a series of books that not only entertains those of all ages, but will also be an interactive activity and educational adventure for a child and their parents to explore aviation together.

Blue Skys and Tailwinds
“Captain Billy”