Nostalgia at Camp Grayling
In Michigan, Camp Grayling was the destination of The Michigan National Guard. Troop exercises and refresher work for the Air national Guard were common during the 50s just after the Korean War (United Nations Action - If you remember!) Just to the east of the current US-27 between Gaylord and Grayling (Inter-State 75 didn't exist then) was the bombing and artillery range practice area.
Pops and I used to sit down by Bradford Lake and listen to the explosions taking place by both artillery and aircraft. That same morning we decided to canoe for a bit before the chores. As we started out from the little cove we noticed three P-51s peeling off in a direction that was unusual for the bombing range pattern we observed many times before.
As we continued to canoe we found the three P-51s. From the north end of Bradford lake the three planes were leveling out of a co-ordinated dive just about at the surface of the lake. So close to the surface rooster tails of water trailed far behind the magnificence formation close to their attack speed. Pops and I were less than half a football field away. We watched in awe as the three sped by intent on buzzing the lake for some reason. At the end of Bradford Lake they suddenly applied climb power narrowly missing a bank of trees in front of a row of small cabins. They quickly climbed skyward disappearing just as fast as they appeared, just moments before.
We were breathless from just watching these powerful P- 51s slide by over the lake. The next day we discovered that a newly married couple occupied one of the cabins at the end of the lake. So much for peace and quiet on their honeymoon.
In Michigan, Camp Grayling was the destination of The Michigan National Guard. Troop exercises and refresher work for the Air national Guard were common during the 50s just after the Korean War (United Nations Action - If you remember!) Just to the east of the current US-27 between Gaylord and Grayling (Inter-State 75 didn't exist then) was the bombing and artillery range practice area.
Pops and I used to sit down by Bradford Lake and listen to the explosions taking place by both artillery and aircraft. That same morning we decided to canoe for a bit before the chores. As we started out from the little cove we noticed three P-51s peeling off in a direction that was unusual for the bombing range pattern we observed many times before.
As we continued to canoe we found the three P-51s. From the north end of Bradford lake the three planes were leveling out of a co-ordinated dive just about at the surface of the lake. So close to the surface rooster tails of water trailed far behind the magnificence formation close to their attack speed. Pops and I were less than half a football field away. We watched in awe as the three sped by intent on buzzing the lake for some reason. At the end of Bradford Lake they suddenly applied climb power narrowly missing a bank of trees in front of a row of small cabins. They quickly climbed skyward disappearing just as fast as they appeared, just moments before.
We were breathless from just watching these powerful P- 51s slide by over the lake. The next day we discovered that a newly married couple occupied one of the cabins at the end of the lake. So much for peace and quiet on their honeymoon.
