Wendell & Alan
captured by D5 / 70-200f4AFS
Alan (TFLM B-25 pilot) sat there and told me this long story of this WWII vet he had meet many years earlier in Sioux Falls, his name was Wendell. Wendell was a B-25 pilot during WWII flying the Hump as well as the Pacific (flying for a time a B-25H … a bird with a 70mm canon in the nose). Wendell had one helluva lot of adventures during WWII and could spend days telling them and not run out! Well, Alan had the honor at that meeting years ago of taking Wendell up in the B-25 as SIC which was a thrill for the then 90yr old. But as happens all too often in life, Alan had lost contact with him. He tried and tried to reconnect with Wendell but was never able to find him again. Alan was sadden by the thought his friend might have passed away.
Alan had told me this story just before he headed off for the brief for the Sioux City AirShow a week ago. The Texas Flying Legends Museum had their six ships at the AirShow which includes their B-25J “Betty’s Dream.” It was shortly after he left for the brief, a gentleman came up to me while I was at Betty asking if Alan was around. I told he was not and he said his dad Wendell was hoping he was there. I stood there for a second when the dots connected. I texted Alan that Wendell was at Betty and soon, the long, lost friends were talking up a storm. That jacket Wendell is wearing he wore during the war. The inside has the original cloth placards that in Chinese said he was an American and provide him safe harbor (in case he was shot down). It’s an honor to meet these vets and record their story they share! This is what photography is all about, recording in this case the reunion of friends, the sharing of their stories with each other and us, our special moments!
Wendell & Alan
captured by D5 / 70-200f4AFS / SB-5000