Ghost from the past

Air Classics, Feb 2001 by Konantz, Walter

A few months ago, I received a publication from the Antique Airplane Association with news and pictures of their 1999 annual antique fly-in. In the publication was a picture of the Monoprep about six feet in the air after its first takeoff in 56 years. A group of volunteers had worked from dawn to dusk each day of the fly-in getting the engine to run and checking it thoroughly to be sure everything worked. I planned to go to the 2000 fly-in at Antique Airfield the first of September where I got to meet my old friend again. However, a couple of inoperative instruments prevented a flight in the Monoprep but I did get to run the engine again after an absence of 60 years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Walter J. Konantz flew 64 combat missions over Germany during WW II in the North American P-51D Mustang with the 55th Fighter Group of the US 8th Air Force. He shot down four enemy aircraft including the first Me 262 jet claimed by the 55th Fighter Group. He strafed and destroyed 21 locomotives, an ammunition train, a staff car, and a German soldier on a motorcycle.

He has owned six personal airplanes and flown more than 60 different makes and models of military and civilian aircraft. Some of the notable military aircraft flown include the Curtiss P-40, North American P-51, Supermarine Spitfire, Lockheed F-80, North American F-86 Sabre, North American F-100 Super Sabre, Hawker Hunter, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, and the C-47 Gooney Bird. He retired from 21 years active duty as a pilot in the US Air Force. During a six-year break in service, he was an embalmer/ funeral director and a civilian flight instructor. AC