This Wednesday December 20th I took our TBM up for the first time. I stayed over the confines of Long Beach Airport's airspace at 2000 MSL for safety reasons. Several laps in a right turn along with some very sharp turns. It's definitely a two arm on the stick machine. Landed nicely. Here below are a couple of videos from that flight.
Next day, Thursday, I flew the ship up to Stockton CA. Used the LA transition portal above LAX airport (the "LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA"). That was a handy shortcut. Simply intercept the 132 radial of the Santa Monica Airport's VOR - maintain 4500 MSL (north) while squawking 1201 and broadcasting position reports air to air on 128.55. It was a snap. I crossed over the mountains at 11500 MSL at Castaic Lake and from there on it's just one huge wide flat valley. Landing at Stockton went great.
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Here below is the only surviving picture of the first Avenger squadron leader aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) who fought and was killed in action in 1944. His name was USN Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Whitaker. He named his 1st division airgroup call sign "Hobo One" and the other two groups were named "Boxcar" and "Caboose" respectively. Their home aboard ship was called "Hobotown". "Roundhouse" was the call for pilots to rendezvous. "Chow down" was the signal to prepare to attack and "Dinner is ready" signaled the target is sighted.
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| LCDR Frank M. Whitaker in his "Hobo" Avenger |
According to Tom Blackburn, skipper of VF-17, LCDR Whitaker "begged, borrowed, or stole several airborne radars, which he used to develop foul-weather and night-attack techniques that eventually won fleet-wide acceptance in early 1944"."
Sadly, Frank was killed in a midair collision with his wingman on 2 February 1944 during the one of the many famous Pacific War engagements; the battle of the Marshall Islands at the atoll of Eniwetok. Aboard Frank's Avenger and also killed was the famous United Press journalist Raymond Lewis Clapper.
Sadly, Frank was killed in a midair collision with his wingman on 2 February 1944 during the one of the many famous Pacific War engagements; the battle of the Marshall Islands at the atoll of Eniwetok. Aboard Frank's Avenger and also killed was the famous United Press journalist Raymond Lewis Clapper.
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| Raymond Clapper, UP Journalist (1892 - 1944) |
We have honored USN Lieutenant Commander Frank Whitaker and his squadron on our TBM Avenger with his Hobo artwork, along with our overall airplane scheme - which honors all of those who flew off the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill.
