Thursday night before his memorial service on Friday. Thirty-two of we old coots rejoined at Macayo’s Mexican Restaurant In Tucson for a great buffet complete with margaritas and ice cold Corona, Modelo and Dos Equis draft cervezas. Cheap-assed fighter pilots came from near and far, following yonder star and bearing gifts of myrrh and frankincense, but no gold. Gay attended as well as Susan Olson, one of their old friends from Torrejon. We clinked glasses and rose to tell our favorite Wee Willie stories, some of them true. We have become legends in our own minds, just not as much as Willie. Harv Damschen earned honors as the most well-traveled (driving from Oregon). With his backwoods, rural tan and facial hair he was stopped three times by the Border Patrol after crossing into Arizona and once by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix. Jim Quick finished the evening with a Jagermeister toast. There were many laughs, some sadness but fond memories all. Willie wanted to make the evening but couldn’t – he was still at the Golden Gate trying to talk his way into heaven.
Today in History – April 18, 1955 – Herman “Fish” Salmon ejects from 2nd prototype of Second prototype Lockheed XF-104A Starfighter #53-7787
18 April 1955 – The Second prototype Lockheed XF-104A Starfighter, 53-7787, c/n 083-0002, is lost when the airframe sheds the bottom ejection seat hatch fairing during 20 mm gun firing causing explosive decompression. Test pilot Herman R. “Fish” Salmon ejected as aircraft broke up, injured landing in rough country. [Joe Baugher cites the date of