One of the most rewarding parts of being a storyteller is the experience of sitting down with someone and listening to what has made their life worth living.
For the better part of two years, I worked with Denis Hambucken and John Warner to gather stories from aviators and people involved in aviation from a wide swath of the Midwest. Some started flying at age 14 after having been bitten by the aviation bug. Others learned to pilot helicopters after a draft notice took them from the farm to faraway places in Europe and Vietnam.
The common denominator was a passion for flying. Their stories are told in Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois: a century of aviation in America’s Heartland.
After the book’s release, the Vespasian Warner Public Library allowed us to share the story of Ernest Thorp, World War II pilot who was shot down and taken prisoner. Nelson Thorp told his dad’s story to an audience captivated by the details of how Ernest survived the ordeal and returned to his family.
A panel of Vietnam War helicopter pilots and an aviation mechanic who served during the Vietnam War answered questions about their service to a capacity crowd. Afterwards, people expressed their gratitude and amazement at the recollections of near misses and bravery shared without a hint of boasting.
We are grateful to the library for their hospitality and the video services that allows us to share both presentations with you. The links below will take you to the Thorp and Vietnam veterans’ presentations.
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