174. B-17 to F-4: A 102-Year-Old WWII Aviator's Incredible Journey

WWII & Vietnam combat pilot Col. Richard "Dick" Bushong takes us from 155-knot B-17 climbs to Mach 2.1 in the F-4, describing 28 hairy missions, dead-reckoning nav, and sheet-metal patch art. He's 102, still volunteers every Thursday at Tucson's 390th Memorial Museum, and wrote My Wars to capture the stories. Grab a coffee, tighten your formation, and hear a masterclass in staying alive—plus the morale-crushing day HQ "prorated" his tour. Four engines, two out, no brakes? No problem. Learn more about the 390th Memorial Museum in Tucson, AZ Check out Col. Bushong's book My Wars Show Notes 0:00 Intro 6:00 Getting Into Aviation 16:50 390th Bomb Group 28:53 Missions and Formations 39:10 Logistics 44:33 Closest Call Be sure to subscribe to 21Five's Youtube Channel to see our luggage review videos! Connect with us on LinkedIn Our Sponsors Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more. Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more. Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast. Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more. The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more. VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more. Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program . ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more. Feedback & Contact Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates). The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.