Who Case: 412
Mr. Sparkman was close. The Mustang belonged to my uncle, Lamar Gill, the son of Truman Gill. Lamar was a Naval Aviator and following the war he purchased the Mustang from the US government. He loved to fly and It was his first plane. I have one memory as a small boy sitting in the small area behind him flying to Corpus Christi and back. Chase Field, the Navy base at the time allowed Lamar to keep his plane there. If I remember correctly, the maintenance keeping it flying was beginning to be too much. I also seem to remember when he sold it, it went to the Confederate Air Force which became the Centennial Air Force. My uncle loved this plane, but wanted it with someone that could keep it flying. He continued flying until his death and I had many flights with him in his various planes over the years. I believe his last plane was a twin engine Beechcraft. I would love to see it again.

Who Case: 223
They took off from the Lazy E ranch that the Edwards Brothers owned (both of them are deceased now) and both got caught in a thunderstorm. There were 4 planes that took off, two of them made it out and my dad and Don Plumb both crashed. My dad actually had a passenger, Norm Danielson, who used to be the dental assistant for Dr. Steve Shulke, who died in a trainer plane with his son a few years earlier. Dr. Shulke used to fly Mustangs and inspired my dad to start flying.

Incidentally, the plane was equipped with radar.

Who Case: 152
My promised monthly check in:

WPP is spinning in his grave! Our beloved ranch (High Valley Ranch,) is no longer a human potential seminar center (LDI, MDI, PSI World, etc.).

Rumor has it that it is, and/or is becoming, a huge pot growing operation!

If you knew Bill's political leanings you'd see the humor in that!

All the best!

Ben Gay III
Former President Holiday Magic et al.
WWW.BFG3.COM
bfg3@directcon.net
(530) 409-0080

Who Case: 334
To Dr Lavigne’s sons: I remember you!!!

My dad, Gary Sauer, commented above. He was spending a lot of time on the computer at that time making memory connections as he had JUST been diagnosed with brain Cancer and passed in 2007. I had JUST gotten back from Iraq for a week in July 2005 when I received a Red Cross message. The brain tumor had caused a stroke. He recovered from the stroke but not the cancer.
I too now have terminal cancer and I came across my dad’s post just on a whim after meeting two girls today who just lost their dad in a cessna crash this year on Feb 2nd. My dad, a Cessna pilot along with my mom, also died on Feb 2nd......
Then I Google my dads name and read about you losing your dad in a plane crash.

I’m SO SO SORRY!

I’m not sure if you would remember meeting us. I was about 9 at the time. My brother Damon and my sister Jessica were older. We only met once. I remember your dads curly hair and flashy rings. I remember we hung out somewhere briefly.

God bless

Mary

Who Case: 120
The FBO was “J&J Aircraft” and was around until the mid ‘60s. The hangar was a typical AAC hangar from Ww2 built entirely of wood construction.

Who Case: 152
Monthly Check-in

. . . but with sad news for the world-wide Holiday Magic Cosmetics family.

We lost Larry Nelson in mid-July 2021. Larry having been one of our top distributors, a Regional Vice President-Sales, a trainer in our various seminar programs, and an important part of our initial international expansion - particularly in Norway/Sweden/Denmark.

Larry was a good friend of mine. We continued to work together after we had both left Holiday Magic. I will miss him greatly.

As usual, I'll be back next month - hopefully with more upbeat news!

All the best!

Ben Gay III
Former President Holiday Magic et al.
WWW.BFG3.COM
bfg3@directcon.net
(530) 409-0080

Who Case: 322
I have paperwork and parts for this airplane from the very first owner Arthur STASNEY passed away six months ago and left me everything about this airplane including pictures

Who Case: 90
I know 100% that the photographer that took this was Dick Phillips. I have the original slide

Who Case: 67
Thanks for this. Saw a P51 circling over John Deere dealership in Orono Ont. approx a week ago... early July 2021. It was at maybe 1,000 feet. Looked like it may have a home base nearby. My fellow farmers were oblivious.
Are there any P51s registered locally?

Who Case: 152
Good to hear from you, Ronnie!

Just a few things:

The suitcase full of cash ($386,000) safely reached Marie (Bills estranged wife/widow) per the note he had placed inside: "If anything happens to WPP, give this to Marie."

Although they've created new explanations over the years, PSI originally stood for Patrick Seminars International. It was a tribute to Bill, and an attempt to profit from an affiliaion with him - even in death. But it proved to be more of a liability at the time.

Finally, as for suicide, the thought crossed my mind that day as Bill certainly had mounting legal and financial problems. But I knew it was just a reckless accident when I heard he had a passenger with him. Not on his worst day would he have taken anyone with him.

In fact, his reckless flying was the reason I wouldn't fly with him anymore for the last 2-3 years of his life.

I really appreciate your input!

Ben Gay III
Former President Holiday Magic Cosmetics et al.
bfg3@directcon.net
(530) 409-0080