parsonwalker
Bronze Member
Watch the CBS News coverage of the footlocker and the return to the family here:
[video]http://wtvr.com/2017/03/24/don-parthree-story/[/video]
A dumpster on the Northern Neck of Virginia was about to crush when my friend, a veteran (Army Rangers) noticed an American Flag peeking out from under the lid of an old WWII footlocker. He stopped the crusher and jumped in to rescue the flag. He called me and told me he was about to dispose of the locker and contents unless I wanted to come and get it. Um . . . YEAH.
Three hours later, a picture of a legendary American Pilot began to emerge. Colonel Clyde Parthree trained fighter pilots in WWII, and went on to become the first pilot to ever log 17,000 flying hours without an accident. (It was eventually 20,000 hours without ever so much as scratching landing gear) He flew Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and U.S. presidents. The locker was full of clippings about the legend they called "The Old Gray Fox." Personal items, as well as his dress Uniform cap, flight instruments, and an autographed picture from the KING OF BELGIUM, thanking Parthree for his personal care during a state visit, packed the old locker. I was stunned to learn that THIS pilot, was the test pilot who first flew the famous "Wingless Wonder." nearly 70 years ago.
I showed the locker to a friend who is a much better researcher than I am. He found the family, including the Colonel's only surviving son, living an hour away in Maryland in a nursing home. We reunited the footlocker with this son, in my barn, and CBS News was there to cover the event. I figure, this is a LESS than once-in-lifetime opportunity. Enjoy the video . . .
[video]http://wtvr.com/2017/03/24/don-parthree-story/[/video]
A dumpster on the Northern Neck of Virginia was about to crush when my friend, a veteran (Army Rangers) noticed an American Flag peeking out from under the lid of an old WWII footlocker. He stopped the crusher and jumped in to rescue the flag. He called me and told me he was about to dispose of the locker and contents unless I wanted to come and get it. Um . . . YEAH.
Three hours later, a picture of a legendary American Pilot began to emerge. Colonel Clyde Parthree trained fighter pilots in WWII, and went on to become the first pilot to ever log 17,000 flying hours without an accident. (It was eventually 20,000 hours without ever so much as scratching landing gear) He flew Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and U.S. presidents. The locker was full of clippings about the legend they called "The Old Gray Fox." Personal items, as well as his dress Uniform cap, flight instruments, and an autographed picture from the KING OF BELGIUM, thanking Parthree for his personal care during a state visit, packed the old locker. I was stunned to learn that THIS pilot, was the test pilot who first flew the famous "Wingless Wonder." nearly 70 years ago.
I showed the locker to a friend who is a much better researcher than I am. He found the family, including the Colonel's only surviving son, living an hour away in Maryland in a nursing home. We reunited the footlocker with this son, in my barn, and CBS News was there to cover the event. I figure, this is a LESS than once-in-lifetime opportunity. Enjoy the video . . .
I don't know it just seem's like someone would take the Old Box for what it was.? 
