Grumman Duck and the Awesome Adventures of Sam Poole!

I had the great opportunity to sit down and interview Sam Poole a few years back. Sam had owned the Grumman Duck I have in Golden Hill, waiting to be fully restored. This is the Duck that Sam used back in the 1960’s on some great adventures exploring the Amazon in South America. Check out the clip, and listen to the grand tales Sam has to tell of those days, and this plane.
Kermit Weeks
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Kermit Weeks

[@dianepoole6082]

Kermit - had no idea this video of my father existed. What a treat to see and hear him once again. My siblings and I all grew up around planes and hearing my dad’s stories.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Just went up, and glad you enjoyed it!

[@brabham74]

Of all the great content that Kermit shows, this is the kind of video I like the most. Diane Poole, it is a real treat to hear first hand history from a man like your dad.

[@maddthomas]

This was great Kermit, if you hadn't done this, these stories would have been lost, please find more of people like them, get their stories so futures generations can listen to them.

[@cigarsboozeandnews9726]

I can’t remember what I had for breakfast and this hero pulling names from the 40s and 50s. Awesome interview!!

[@jpkatz1435]

With S. S. memory, how many stories didn't he get an oppertunity to tell?

[@artd.]

Oh, My God , what a most interesting man! Thank you Mr. Kermit for a wonderful interview......:-)

[@mikoyanfulcrum1]

Sharp as a tack till the end!!!! How we all should hope to be!!! Just as with WWII vets,.... Just imagine the stories untold,......Living life on the edge,... SOO many stories lost to time,... RIP Sir!!! You lived a life many cannot even fathom,,.. Well done SIR!!! We are better for you having lived,......Thank YOU!!

[@happycamper5213]

Thank you Kermit for capturing and sharing some cool aviation history!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

AwesomeSam and what a deal all of that must have been....WOW...Thanks Kermit...

[@olsonspeed]

What a career pioneering air service in South America, great stories. Thanks for hosting and posting these historic conversations.

[@alanearl4637]

That was a neat interview. Wish more people would document the .16 cents a gallon era. There has to be some crazy storied out there. So glad you took the time to sit down with Sam and get his story.

[@chevychase3103]

This young man was awarded the distinguished flying cross three times in his military service! He was also the youngest B-17 pilot to serve in the European theater of war during World War II!

[@fergusonhr]

Coward????????

[@cal-native]

@@fergusonhr I have seen other comments by MichaelKingsfordGray and he is nothing but a troll. Worthless.

[@tk4225m]

Thanks for sharing all of your stories and experiences with us Kermit! I know I certainly appreciate them!

[@madmoses7830]

Best 35 minutes & 6 seconds I've spent in a long time... thank you for sharing Kermit!

[@timothymulholland7905]

My dad gave me a plastic model of this plane around 1961. I’ve loved it ever since and watched Murphy’s war several times. It’s great to see Kermit keeping the type alive.

[@adambadger]

This was a really cool interview. I really enjoyed hearing Sam talk about how he acquired the 1945 Grumman J2F-6 Duck (N1214N) and his journey with it until he parted ways with it and gave it to you, its next owner.

[@jeffwalther3935]

This interview is priceless. Here's a gem lesson: the co-pilot of the bird that just made an inadvertent gear-up landing didn't warn the pilot the gear was up because he was afraid the pilot would yell at him (or somehow hurt or punish the interjection)! WOW! How many NTSB crash investigations include this (co-) pilot ERROR for cause of crash? How many crashes has "the sterile cockpit" prevented AND yet, often as not, becomes a cause of crash? For example: the recent crash of the B-17 "909" with Mr. B-17 in the left seat, so to speak.

[@philvaughan4091]

So enjoyable!! Sitting here listening to an aviation history lesson... amazing. Thank you for posting... Y’all stay safe ..

[@willamcombs1106]

Talk about a storied career. Man, Sam Poole did just about everything a person can do with an airplane. What a fascinating Man.

[@williambailey5405]

What a guy, what an era. Thanks for bringing him and his story to us Kisrmet. Bring him back for more stories.

[@KermitWeeks444]

I’d love to be able to bring him back, but if you watched to the very end, you’d have seen he passed in 2017.

[@patrickibex]

Thank you Kermit for putting up the Sam Pooler interview , it realy makes your imagination run wild when you listen to part of his life journey ;)

[@cdanielson1]

Wow, what a great interview. Thank you Kermit for solidifying this video on KZbin for future generation to see! We need to get more younger folks involved in aviation and they need to hear these stories, so the "legends" live on! You are an asset to aviation and I appreciate you so much! You make some pretty darn good rum as well!

[@tempest957]

Superb! Great interview Kermit. I guess Sam has passed now? Great guy a true adventurer! Love from the UK!

[@noyfub]

Wow! What a story. Thanks for preserving this history,

[@mattinsley1721]

That, Kermit, is just pure gold. I could listen to his stories all day. When men were men.

[@Heathh49008]

This is the history that it is so important to save. Those first hand accounts of the times in the dusty places the news never recorded. Thank you.

[@chevychase3103]

Sounds like a wing and a prayer to me!

[@fpvoslo]

:) If its not told Its gone forever Thanks for sharing Yf...

[@alphasportstv]

So great to hear stories from that golden era of exploration...cheers and thanks for posting.

[@KPMACHINE1]

Sounds like that plane brought on a lot of bad luck. Be careful with her Kermit! But what an amazing man with tremendous stories! Thanks for this!

[@Pauls-World]

Wow, what a interview. Thank you Mr Weeks for sharing. It made my day. I was at FoF 8 or 10 years ago and ask you if you owned a Zero. You told me that you did but it was in rough shape and it was across the street. I can’t believe I see it in the background. I always wanted to see the plane that started WWII for the USA. Thanks again Mr Weeks for what you do, you make my life better and you don’t even know it. Please be safe and take care of yourself.

[@rogerb4436]

Wow Kermit, I just love your videos and the way you trying to keep these old girls in the sky and the old school flying. I'm in New Zealand and used to have a show called Wings over Wanaka by a company that restores old aircraft from all over the world. Should try cone down for a visit once the world sorts itself out..lol

[@thurin84]

awesome stories! blue skies trine and sam!

[@elishaellis2072]

Thank You Kermit, I cannot express how Awesome it is, That not only are you making these huge efforts to Preserve the History of Flight , But Also your efforts to Preserve The Pioneering Spirit of Aviation that was born from so many Exceptional People, Throughout the History of our Country. I Prey that the True Value of Your Efforts Continues For Generations to Come, and You have My True and Honest Gratitude. God Bless.

[@irishshintoshi8213]

Thanks Kermit, always great to hear some of the history of the planes life and for keeping the history of the old planes alive

[@christophersimmins3181]

Wow ...what a fantastic story interview and piece of history, all beautifully told... Thank you both.

[@MonkPetite]

Awesome story tell .. thanks for sharing this Kermit..

[@MarcoPolo-je5ej]

This is really fascinating. Thank you Kermit for posting.

[@DerredmaxTRIAX]

OMG this guy is the real Indiana Jones, What a life he had. I wonder how that feels. My life has been as dull as a 2X4. Thanks Kermit for sharing your journey and Sam's. Have you written any books Kermit?

[@chevychase3103]

Sam the man!

[@KermitWeeks444]

I have. Four children’s books. store.kermitweeks.com/?page_id=59

[@harrykeel8557]

Wonderful history.

[@TwoLotus2]

Amazing! Thanks for the interview.

[@Chief351L]

Very important capture! Awesome!

[@woooster17]

Fascinating.. what a life. RIP Sam.

[@matthewdowd4686]

Hey Kermit love the channel, hope to see you flying some more! Love seeing you bringing these old birds back to glory! Thanks for all you do! 🇺🇸🦅

[@arnomaas6452]

Good for you Mr Weeks for giving that gentleman one more good last memory !

[@JW-eu7br]

What a fascinating man this Sam Poole is! Thanks for posting this video, Kermit.

[@SailingYachtDreamcatcher]

Amazing story!

[@49walker44]

Kermit stopping listening when he heard 54 Catalina's in the jungle. Bet he called a contact in south america 5 minutes after the interview. Right Kermit?

[@travisbrecher3677]

Great interview!! I'm sure the man is continuing his flight. Thank you for the post, a good moral example of faith and determination. P.S. More flight Kermi Cams PLZ! They are the Best!!!

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Wow goose bumps! What a amazing fountain of history. A life full of adventures, charting the un- charted. We are so lucky to have a little history of this giant man, what a life!

[@tpalshadow]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@Dave-ty2qp]

History is much more important than just material things like planes. Mr. Poole's stories are truly a treasure. A spark that lights the night so to speak. Thanks Kermit.

[@Dave-ty2qp]

@MichaelKingsfordGray What's cowardly about stating that stories are just as important as materials? The whole purpose of Kermit's organization is to keep the history of aviation alive, and spark an interest in your own individual life.

[@MrMrsedz]

A great story, Dont care how you do it, just hook in and do what ever is needed to get the job done ..Thanks for sharing this ..

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Amazing man.. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@twilightroach4274]

Thanks Kermit, this interview was absolutely amazing, thank you for sharing it with us.

[@joeblan9426]

Really enjoyed this Video ,a good interview with Sam Poole with his adventures and the history of the Grumman Duck! Thanks Kermit!

[@mgbrv8]

What a fantastic interview

[@angelreading5098]

What a character ! some of those stories could only have happened in a Grumman Duck,I had no idea that you owned two of this marque,its a tough bird to have survived all of those exploits.

[@dyer2cycle]

..that plane with the Japanese Hinomaru or "meatball" in the background looks awfully interesting.... :)

[@arnhemseptember2009]

Quite some storyteller... Great man!

[@yannvernier20]

Amazing stories! I wonder if some aviator still live those kind of adventures nowadays. Thank you Kermit!

[@mattharte7334]

Great interview very interesting. Aviation fuel at 16c a gallon, those were the days!

[@markodeen4105]

Great interview Kermit! Fantastic hanger stories.

[@danielmc762]

How SHARP is this guy! Amazing life

[@kennysherrill6542]

Great interview Kermit!👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸❤🍻

[@jasonshull3106]

Great video as always thanks. AZ

[@Stratboy999]

What an amazing guy.

[@odonovan]

I started watching the video then suddenly it was over. More than a half hour had passed and it seemed like seconds. It's a good thing I never worked for Sam. He would have started talking once and I wouldn't have gotten anything done for the rest of the day, just sitting there listening, totally enraptured.

[@armandobetancourt8488]

amazing interview

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting. I enjoyed it very much!

[@donaldholman9070]

Great video! Thank you

[@davemoore3613]

That was awesome keep up the great work. Some German or Japanese pilot interviews would be great, do it b4 they all pass on. Regards Dave

[@thompsonjerry3412]

He comes across as a very fun guy.

[@DavidG62]

Absolutely fantastic

[@bradmullins229]

Very fascinating video, thanks for sharing. Did not know you had 2nd Duck. Was that a Zero in background? -Brad

[@cbcalk]

Amazing!

[@openoutlaw]

awesome story.. some day i would enjoy seeing your aircraft in Peron.

[@garbergc]

Very interesting and totally enjoyable. A loss for sure.

[@LuisSantos-fk1bw]

I worked for a time for Sam Poole in San Juan , PR, On his C-53 and C-47 And enjoyed his stories of flying B-17s . Always wondered what had happened to him .

[@LuisSantos-fk1bw]

One story I particularly remember was that the one about delivering the film of the mercury space shot to a TV station for broadcasting nationally in the only airplane he had flyable that day which was a Cessna 120 which he had just finished repairing for the Guatemalan air force.

[@bgd73]

incredible story.. my uncle ran one of those drug boats under threat of death. Went all the way to new england, instructed to sink it. He was a simple captain simply caught onto a strange route of boats.. like a bug caught in a spider web. May sam rest in peace.

[@WellsLarry]

Thank you

[@bluzcompany2293]

Flying by the seat of his pants , fly anywhere ,land anywhere ,mechanic anywhere, old timers are the best...

[@fergusonhr]

How awesome

[@mickd6942]

I could listen to this guys story’s for ever what a life , he should have written a book

[@JamesBond-xq3tw]

Love the history

[@superflybass]

Sam was my great uncle, and was my fathers role model for joining the Air Force as a pilot (he was also also awarded DFC medal like Sam). When I last talked to him in 2016 and 2017 he told us some great stories of flying B-17s. If you have any other film of sams visit I would love to show my father.

[@johnmoorhousedecorated-nam899]

Most of us seniors have stories to tell. Kids today will never have stories like this

[@jim874]

Just because the kids are still kids. When they get our age they will, so give them time.

[@turbografx16]

Great interview! How's the Japanese plane shown at the beginning doing, Kermit?

[@KermitWeeks444]

Still in the same state. It’s on the list for restoration at some future date.

[@chevychase3103]

Early to bed! LOL

[@stephensheridan7318]

Kermit got a little butt hurt about how his old acrobatic planes were. Don't blame him!!!

[@stearman456]

Is that a Zero behind the Duck?

[@dixeno]

Kermitt, great documentary, but one comment, is not “Columbia” it’s “Colombia”. Greetings!

[@KermitWeeks444]

Our bad

[@robertjohnson8537]

What's the channel name that you have with your airplane stories on?I'd be interested in knowing what it is if you have such a extensive knowledge of languages you could probably tell us all about south America and Africa, Asia and all the flying that you've done in those countries !

[@dixeno]

@@robertjohnson8537 I don't need an aviation channel, I'm a born Spanish speaker. That is my experience. Do you speak the Spanish language fluently?

[@clydecessna737]

Murphy's War is well worth watching. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_War

[@dennisjay3277]

Ok, I going to be stupid here. Who is Sam Poole? You kind of started in the middle of the conversation/interview. Could you go back and give us an overview of his background? Thanks

[@KermitWeeks444]

You can read some info on Sam here. www.legacy.com/obituaries/theledger/obituary.aspx?n=samuel-eugene-poole&pid=183451244

[@David-yo5ws]

Certainly a brave young man, who used up more than a cat's 9 lives in flying. Youngest B17 pilot to fly in combat. And just this story, with Kermit, must be only be 1 of thousands he lived, with over 20,000 flying hours. My greatest of respect to Sam Poole.

[@dennisjay3277]

@@David-yo5ws Thank you. I figured it was something like that I just didn't know. Just watching Kermit and listening to his respect, in his voice. I could tell Mr.Poole was a somebody.

[@David-yo5ws]

@@dennisjay3277 Yeah, there were certainly some special moments in that interview.

[@michaelsamson3276]

He had to use nails! OMG!

[@P51]

they don't make 'em like that any more...tailwinds!

[@mickd6942]

Was the duck used in the film Murphy’s war

[@P51]

not this specific one

[@lcskibird]

Did Sam own Chalet Suzanne in Lake Wales?

[@dianepoole6082]

No. But he was a good friend of the owner, Carl Hinshaw

[@lcskibird]

@@dianepoole6082 Ok....I stayed there over night and His widow owned it.....I think they were retired Eastern Airlines Family.

[@dianepoole6082]

My dad ran the Lake Wales Airport. Mr Crenshaw kept his aircraft at the airport.

[@lcskibird]

@@dianepoole6082 That's so cool. They were the most gracious hosts. Let me put our Cub in the hangar over night....all I had to do was come up to the lodge and introduce myself and say thank you. Old school hospitality from them!

[@yqn222]

@@dianepoole6082 Carl Hinshaw, Jr., with Vita Hinshaw owned/ran Chalet Suzanne

[@andresuribe8765]

It’s Colombia

[@mackfisher4487]

You could afford to fly aviation gas was only $.16 a gallon

[@jpkatz1435]

A bit too much K. W. , not enough S. S. ?

[@georgeyocum8616]

Fascinating stories thank you

[@Mendo707mx]

What a legend!