Biddeford, Maine (B19) is where the museum keeps their Piper during the summer while the warbirds are at Wiscasset (KIWI). One day at Biddeford I met James Shepard, an original Tuskegee Airmen Crew Chief living in Maine!. He told me so many stories about the Red Tail Squadron while stationed in Italy during WWII. I found out it had been 67 years since Jim had flown in one of his planes. So I called Doug Rozendaal and Alan Miller, who were with the CAF's Red Tail at the AOPA Summit in Connecticut. I told them the story about meeting Jim and if they would be interested in making a fuel stop at Biddeford's 3000 foot runway. They were all in. So we made the plans and called the local media. We told Jim we were having a cookout. When the Red Tail entered the pattern he knew that V-12 sound. Then we told him the plane was there for him and would he like to take a ride. He was up and on the wing soon after and away he went with Alan Miller. They landed in Portland (KPWM) and we picked Jim up in the Piper. Flying back to Biddeford down the Maine coast Alan pulled the Red Tail up in formation and Jim could see his plane flying beside us. Then Alan did a slow roll up into the sky and the Red Tail was off to Mississippi. What a great day for a great man! We thank you for your service Jim, and for the inspiration you and your squadron have given to us all. Here is our video of this wonderful day.
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