From Farm Boy to WWII Fighter Pilot | #6
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- Опубликовано: 25 мар 2024
- An interview with a WWII Fighter Pilot, named Merrill Gottfried Stucki, who flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Stucki became a night fighter, flying the rare F6F-5N variant.
Merrill Stucki's Service Career Chronology:
•Seattle - Spring 1942 - Enlistment and Sworn In For United States Naval
•Seattle - July 1943 - Reported for Active Duty with Induction into Naval
Aviation Cadet Training Program
•Monmouth College, Illinois - July 1943 - For Flight Prep School
•Laramie, Wyoming - September 1943 - For War Training Service.
-First Flight in Airplane and First Solo Flight (October 27, 1943)
•St. Mary's College, Marauga Valley, California - January 1944 - Pre-Flight School
•Livermore, California - March 1944 - Primary Flight Training
•Corpus Christi, Texas - April to Dec 1944 - Advanced Flight Training
-December 20, 1944 - Received Navy Wings
•Miami, Florida (Master Field) - January 1945 - Operational Flight Training
•Kingsville, Texas - April 1945 - Night Fighter Training
•Vero Beach, Florida - July 1945 - Advanced Night Fighter Training
•Westerly, Rhode Island - August 1945 - Forming Task Groups for Overseas Duty
•Separated from Active Duty in Navy - November 12 1945 - Returned to Idaho
Recording Date: 18 November 2023
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Credits-
Animated Visuals (F6F-5N): @showtime112 and Greg Rader. Please check out Showtime 112's channel here:
/ @showtime112
Footage: US Archives
Photos: US Archives / Merrill Stucki's Personal Collection
Artwork: 1/32 Trumpeter F6F-5N (this was the thumbnail artwork)
Thumbnail: Ariel Horton
Director: Andrew Horton
Editor: Amillia Rumley
Videographer: TJ Hunter
Narrator: John-Michael Sedor
Soundtrack: Days of Glory - Experia
Special thanks to Gary and Tina Stucki as well as Al Richardson for helping make this interview possible.
We have been informed that Merrill Stucki is on hospice. His son told me he doesn't have much longer. Please consider sending him a message while he is still with us. Either comment here or email him below. His family is going to read them to him either way:
mgltstucki@gmail. com
May your journey be peaceful and filled with love.
This is my grandpas brother. I’m a stucki and these men inspired me to also serve this great county.
Mr. Stucki, thank you so much for sharing your story. I very much appreciate this, and all you have done.
Mr. Stuki, Thank you for all that you've done for this country and for helping to make the world a better place.
Greg’s channel directed me here: I joined the service (US Army infantryman & scout) in large part to pay just little of what I owed to men like you. Godspeed.
What a treat! I know the Stucki family. A splendid family!! Thank you for your service.
I sure love you, Uncle Merrill! Thank you so much for all the good you’ve done in your life!
Love, Marci
Love the Stucki family! Merrill's laugh is so pure it gets me every time!!! Also, his son went on to work in aviation maintenance!
That is awesome! Thanks for watching.
Mr Stucki, Thank you for your service and for sharing your stories. They're an inspiration to young pilots such as myself.
Godspeed Mr. Stucki.
Godspeed Mr Stucki. Thank you for your service ❤
Thank you Sir for your service! My dad was Navy... I joined the Army SALUTE!
Wow! This guy is a true warrior! Can you imagine what he was like at 21 YOA! I am amazed at his mental acuity and recall in this video. Mental and physical toughness on display. My thanks to him for helping to save the free world!
Your story, history is really important.
Thankyou from Australia.
From the UK, thank you for your service and sharing your story with everyone so we can learn about those that put everything on the line for freedom.
America will miss such good souls as this man soon.🫡
Truly the Greatest Generation.
Great video, great stories. I love the F6F Hellcat!
Same here. Glad you liked it.
Happy Easter to Mr. Stucki.
Mr. Stuki, thank you for your service good sir. You were an extremely brave and courageous for everything's you have been through.
That was a wonderful set of stories - what a great guy!
Godspeed. Thank you for your service, sir.
Thank you for the fascinating interview. Merrill, you're a remarkable man. You remind me of some other good men I've known.
Thanks for watching! We're excited for Merrill to read these comments soon.
Thank you, sir!
The greatest generation!
Around 6:45, those L-4s are taking off from the Champs-Elysee after the liberation of Paris.
Yes. Stock footage since he mentioned the cub, which was virtually identical to the J-3.
Dude, where is your interview with Greg and Bill Marshall???
I got here while looking for the interview? Post the damn interview.
It was good. Should be on your channel.
Greg's channel bro.
Appreciate it. It was super fun to host.
@@flightlinemedia It was good. Many difficulties. You did very well. Take your credit.
If I may direct an earnest plea to videographers:
TELL US THE SQUADRON, SHIP, OR BASE.
Mr. Stucki has a marvelous story to tell but it completely lacks context, and there's no indication online.
Thanks Barrett. We know. We get everything we can from the interviewees, but sometimes, the people we interview don't know or remember fully in that moment. He does talk about the USS Solomons (CVE-67) for his FM-2 landings. He also mentions many Naval Air Stations he served at, such as Westerly, Livermore, Miami and Corpus Christi. This doesn't lack context we feel. It gives his big-picture story, and enough hints to connect the dots on small details if one wishes to explore those further. In hindsight, we would have like to have had two cameras for different filming angles, but we feel we got everything out of this interview we could.
Also, check the description.