F-0089 The Country Boy Crop Duster Merle Gustafson Angel of Okinawa Video

Documentary from the mid-1970s showing agricultural aircraft.
From the archives of the San Diego Air and Space Museum www.sandiegoair... Please do not use for commercial purposes without permission.
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[@gordonloughton9800]

I was being interviewed in 1978 for a position as a crop duster in Tullulah and Merle flew in with his Corsair, I said Jees that's a Corsair, and jumped up from the interview and ran outside to talk with him and admire the airplane. I got the job and spent a happy six months working the area, good times , where are people like him nowadays!

[@scotabot7826]

I don't think the Lord is making those kind of men anymore. Good, salt of the earth, God fearing men where a handshake was all that was needed. I miss my Pops!!!!

[@charlesfoster141]

I was a friend of Merle's when I lived in Tallulah back in the late 1970s. I owned and flew many J3 cubs out of Scott Field, also several homebuilt Baby Ace airplanes and a Spezio Tuholer. Even had a clipped wing 90 hp Cub out there for awhile. Merle used to dive his Corsair right at us down the runway then zoom 10 feet over us at 400mph to zoom nearly vertical to about 2000 feet into a slow inverted position to lower his gear. Had a chance to fly Merle's T-6 with Benny May out there once too. Merle's son Steve might not remember me joining up with him in formation one day, me in my J3 and Steve in his Aeronca Champ. Steve was just a teenage boy then I imagine. If you see this post Steve this is Guy Foster now 64 years old and living in Mississippi. That was the good ole days. I miss your dad and all the rest of the gang. Happy Flying.

[@Gnag]

Thank you for these stories. I just wish I was there...

[@rogersjolly1]

Awesome!! I can't remember how many times, as a kid, my mom would take me out to the airport in Tallulah to see her (Angel of Okinawa)... the good ole days! Anyone could just drive out to the hangar, go up and check her out. Beautiful airplane. I was about 10 or 11 when Merle died, so I didn't really know him that well, but I know his son Steve, and he's a great man! Looks just like Merle. I need to go to Polk City, FL and visit her. It's been almost 30 years since I've sat in that airplane!

[@garrettjackson9439]

I too got the opportunity to meet Merle back when I was 10 o 11 years old at an airshow on pettijean mt. in Arkansas and I too got the chance to sit in that very same corsair with lots of photos to back me up. Still have everyone of them. What a beautiful day it was.

[@suestephens81]

I use to watch Merle, practice every afternoon. I had the pleasure of flying with Merle in that very plane, I was 14 years old and it was my first plane ride.

[@johnbaugh1121]

He was an airshow pilot in the 1970's and 80s the same time my dad was doing shows. He was really great. It's impossible to fly the routine any smoother than he did. He was well-liked and respected.

[@famvburg]

The video mas made in the mid '70s, not mid '60s. Thanks for posting it. I have a poor multiple copied VHS of it. I grew up around most all of these particular airplanes and worked several teen years at Scott Field, where DAL started. Merle was really great guy. Thanks again for posting it.

[@charlesfoster141]

Frank May , Hi Frank, this is Guy Foster. When Benny was teaching me to fly my J3 Cub you were a little fella building model airplanes with Fritz, the white German Shepherd. Long time no see. If your dad is still living please tell him that Guy said hello. Take care.

[@charlesfoster141]

I had never seen this film before tonight. Glad to see that Merle was involved in preserving this flying history. I used to watch Merle practice aerobatics from the backyard of my grandmother's house on McClure Street in Tallulah. Her house was adjacent to Merle's airstrip. That was around 1970 I guess, also continuing long after that when I began flying. I remember a time during a bad storm when Merle's DC3 blew hard into my airplane out at Scott Field. Merle was a man of his word and wasted no time repairing the damage to my airplane personally. Later I got to fly Merle's T-6 with Benny May. Benny had been my flight instructor in 1977. He and I became good buddies. I wish this film showed more of Bob Graves, Red Beard, Bob Gomitz and some of the other duster and spray pilots that worked those fields. I knew most all of them. It is ironic that Merle and Bob Graves both died in non-aviation related accidents, in spite of having thousands of hours of flying time between them. I miss Tallulah and all of the gang from that wonderful era. We sure had a lot of fun flying back then. If any of the old group see this post it is from Guy Foster now getting old and living in Mississippi. Take care everybody. I hope many get to see this film.

[@pauleyplay]

Many thanks for the history lesson. Stories like this all over the country. I cant find McClure st ? Was Merles field at what is now scotts or is there another field ?

[@jonathanmcdonald9841]

My neighbor who was a pilot, was good friends with Merle and told me the story about how he died, it was a really a tragic story.

[@charlesfoster141]

@@pauleyplay Scott Field is the actual City Airport. Merle had a grass strip closer in adjacent to Tallulah township and McClure Street.

[@charlesfoster141]

@@jonathanmcdonald9841 Very tragic story. Merle suffered a horrible and extremely painful demise trying to recover from his burns.

[@pauleyplay]

@@charlesfoster141 So glad to hear from you ! You and i go back to when flying was fun. I know McClure st from my truck driving days. I believe i can make out the airport beside I 20.? Why do i remember a Corsair sitting in a yard with not a airport in sight ? This would be around 1981. Very strange sight ! Love the Baby ace,A very tight fit and the spezio sport, They were all fun. I had a tailwind N31039. Worked at Alphin aircraft Hagerstown Md many years with my Dad also a great pilot.

[@wesleymccurtain166]

I saw him at air shows as a kid. I JUST saw his son flying with the AEROSHELL team at the Chennault Air Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana while visiting a friend.

[@rbilleaud]

Gorgeous airplane. I remember many airshows around South Louisiana watching him perform when I was a kid. My dad knew him personally, though his was more of an acquaintance than a close friend.

[@maxsmodels]

I saw this when it aired on TV in the 70s. I grew up and learned to fly on a small southern duster strip/municpal airport so I always related to this.

[@garrettjackson9439]

I got the chance to meet Merle back in late 70s I guess it was when was 10 or 11 and never will forget getting the chance to sit in that beautiful blue corsair. Still have all the photos to back me up. Great man and a great air plane. Think it's in museum somewhere now if I'm not mistaken??

[@scotabot7826]

I'm pretty sure Kermit Weeks owns it, and keeps it at his museum in "Orlampa" FL.

[@tailwheelflier]

What an incredible production! This is what I love about aviation.

[@pwpt6]

He definitely was a hell of a guy.I knew Merle personally.he is definitely missed in aviation.

[@sandfarmer]

Wow what a guy! I would love to have known him, thanks for posting this!

[@normanott644]

I happened across the hangers of the Confederate Air Force in 76 at Paris Texas. They have changed their name because of PC.

[@LonMoer]

I totally want that early '70s Ford 4-door pick-up truck !! Would be an awesome restomod.

[@kerrytodd3753]

Very nice….thanks for posting.