Sweetie face

Air Classics, Nov 2002 by O'Leary, Michael

TOM PATTEN'S 352ND FIGHTER

GROUP MUSTANG HONORS THE AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN THAT WON WORLD WAR TWO

Bev and Chuck Greenhill -- owners of the award-winning P51D Geraldine that was on our August cover - invited me to an impromptu Mustang fly-in they were having at their Kenosha, Wisconsin, hangar. It was right before Oshkosh and a number of the pilots were going to take advantage of the Mustang formation school being taught by Vlado Lenoch.

Who could say no? Arriving during thunderstorms, the ramp was packed with 60 Texans and a couple dozen T28s whose pilots were also attending formation clinics for their aircraft - as well as just having a great time. There were a dozen beautiful Mustangs on the ramp in front of Bev and Chuck's hangar and Tim McCarter soon had me pushing 51 Is into hangars that still had space. The sky to the west was solid black and weather radar showed lots of hail inside those ominous clouds - lemon-sized hail and the polished metal skins of million dollar Mustangs definitely do not mix! So much for any late-afternoon flying.

However, this did create a lot of time for hangar flying and for the pilots to get to know each other. There are many new pilots in the Mustang fraternity since the fighters have been recently changing owners at an unprecedented rate. The next day, Vlado Leno-ch was on hand to run the Mustang clinic. For those of you who don't know Vlado, he has been around Warbirds for a long time and is one of the best Warbird pilots as well as being an excellent instructor (also owning P-51D Moonbeam McSwine). We were soon piled into the office, all listening intently as Vlado went through the ins and outs of Mustang formation flying. He told each pilot exactly what he expected of them each maneuver while also emphasizing that the formation course was not designed to make anyone uncomfortable and each pilot was invited to ask questions to clarify various points.

The clouds had given way to blazing sun and ultra-high humidity. On a normal day, flying in a Mustang is hot enough but combined with the Wisconsin weather it turned the cockpits into virtual saunas. Vlado took off with each flight for their various lessons and the flights returned after about an hour, pilots heading directly for the cold water. Vlado, who did not seem to be capable of running out of energy, would grab the next flight and off they would go. Upon completion of testing to Vlado's satisfaction, pilots would be awarded with a Mustang formation patch for their flight suits.

Of course, there were many other pilots who had previously completed formation courses and were at Kenosha to meet friends, do some relaxed flying, and get ready for the mass flight to AirVenture 2002 at Oshkosh.

Sitting in the shade of the hangar while the formation sorties were going on, I met Tom Patten of Nashville, Tennessee. Tom is the owner of the highly-polished P51 D that is finished in the markings of the 352nd Fighter Group and named Sweetie Face. Naturally, we started talking Mustangs.

Tom had always been interested in Mustangs and his start in Warbirds was eleven years ago when he purchased a Stearman. Before this he had built up lots of time in piston and turbine twins as well as owning a Pitts S2A and S2B which he thoroughly enjoyed. "I really liked that Stearman and it got me into what it was the flying during the war," said Tom. "There was a fellow interested in my Stearman and he wanted to trade me a Beech T-34 Mertot, I had

never really thought much about a T-34. This fellow had recovered a bunch of T-- 34s from the Chilean Air Force, sold all but one which he kept for himself and had his crew built up the plane to beautiful condition. We made a deal and I kept that plane for four years before selling it - as a point of interest, the new owner got the Best T-34 award at this year's Sun 'n Fun show. I learned to fly formation in the T-34 and it was a neat little airplane in which I learned a lot and had plenty of fun. With the T-34, I started meeting lots of WWII veterans and learning about their flying experiences. Since I have always had a big love of history, this really got me thinking about what direction I wanted to go with the Warbirds."

After selling the Mentor, Tom bought an AT-6D which he flew for about a year, becoming completely comfortable with the Texan.

"About six years ago," recalled Tom, "I found out my best friend was going to die from cancer. We spent a lot of time together, remembering the past, and talking about the future. It took him a year to die and he told me many things that he was glad he got to do while also regretting not being able to meet other goals that he desired.

"He asked me what I loved the most in my life. After my family, it is flying - I absolutely love flying. It is the most important factor in my life except for the family. He asked me what I wanted to do most and it just sort of came out - I wanted a Mustang. He said life was short and to go for it."

After talking over the idea of a Mustang with his wife, Tom started checking out the market. "At that time, there were very few Mustangs for sale and I got hold of Mark Clark at Courtesy Aircraft in Rockford, Illinois. Mark started educating me on 51s - what to look for, problems with corrosion, etc. I also contacted Lee Lauderback at Stallion 51 and made an appointment to fly with him. What a great experience! My desire for a P-51 shot up like a rocket. Lee is a great guy and he knows how to keep a novice alive and teach him how to not hurt himself or his Mustang. Flying with Lee was a wonderful experience and without him I could never have flown a P-51"