* BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

[tele1]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Bucky,

The thing about Bob Love was that he was just one of those guys that commanded respect. I view Bob Hoover the same way. Bud Anderson, too.
What ever that undefineable thing is, they've got it and we all wish we could have it.

[BuckyD]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Sledge39-

Thanks f/your great detailed livery history of T-6G s/n 49-3384! Noting the So. Cal Sport Flying Club connection, I might be able to find out a few tidbits to add to it.

I just know I've seen those two 'Bob Love Air Show Specialist' T-6 B&W shots before someplace in print. Might've been in one of the old NAG RAG newsletters (will have to check the archives). That real 'grassroots' sponsor name brought a smile & reminded me a little of comedian Bob Newhart's vintage classic- 'Grace L. Ferguson Airlines & Storm Door Company' bit (Hey, now-no sponsor's too small &- every level of support counts! + That was back in the day when warbirds were alot more affordable to maintain & operate.)

I had the great thrill & pleasure of witnessing Bob Love's exciting P-51D aerobatic displays several times, at various California airshows during the 1970s, flying the Cavalier Mustang. His performance at the '76 Lincoln Air Races (a.k.a.- The Lincoln '76 'Bomber Races') stands-out in my memory as one of Love's best routines of the ones I saw & man-o-man, -could he ever fly low, down-on-the-deck!

Tried to compare Love's P-51 show w/that of the Mustang Maestro- R. A. 'Bob' Hoover, but they were actually equally-entertaining, -being distinctly-different in their respective flying styles of showing-off the iconic WW2 Mustang fighter plane.

Tele1-

I couldn't agree w/you more 'bout your point made regarding Love-Hoover-Anderson & their like.

Personally, regarding Bob Love & Bob Hoover anyway (haven't had the honor of meeting Bud Anderson in person yet), at the same time they also knew how to be humble & gracious too & let admiring 'newbie' fans feel totally at ease in their presence.

I don't think I can put it any more eloquently that Dan's (pt17av8r) remark about Bob Love in his prev. post on the John Crocker thread, which I'll take the liberty of reposting here again...

pt17av8r (quote):

"I had a chance to speak to Mr. Love (at Reno 1985) for a few minutes, and I can say that I have yet to meet anyone that made me feel more like they wanted to hear what I had to say. Truly a memory I will not forget. - Dan"
I'll certainly second that sentiment 100%!!!

I'll follow-up Tele1 & Dan's well-expressed comments, w/a Reno '82 NCAR B&W archive shot of Bob Hoover, Bob Love & DBD, caught-'hangar-flyin' in the pits, alongside Race #2- 'Hovey Mustang'.

DBD

[Outer6]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

I got to know Bob Love while attending the NAG meetings in Fremont back in the mid 70's. He was a great guy who loved everything about aviation and told some of the best flying stories I ever heard. Here are some photos of mine. He's seen in the pits talking with a buddy of mine next to Hovey's Mustang (I think), a low (very low!) pass in 51D at a show in Visalia, Bernie's Bo and Oogahonk.

[BuckyD]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Wed. 9/10/80-Reno NCAR-Qualifying & Practice:

Bob Love turns old Outer 6 Pylon in Race #2-Hovey Mustang, while giving a *friend* the mega-thrill of flying around Stead Field's Unlimited racecourse in a P-51, w/an true aviation legend at the controls. What a super rare treat that must've been!

DBD

* Good chance R. J.'s special friend riding in back was San Jose Mercury Star staff photographer- Ron Burda, who often accompanied Love to numerous airshows & air races during the 1970s-80s, and was very prolific at publishing his outstanding aviation photos of planes & people. A good representation of Burda's work graced many NAG Rag covers & inside pages during that period.

[De Camara]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Man I'll never forget how great his routines were in the white 51'

One of his passes always awed us when he go from end to end of the runway low enough to get the prop to kick up dust as he made his run....

Then he'd come back around on a very low inverted pass.....

Still remember lookin up at him and wavin as he pushed out from one of those passes while lookin up (down) at us

They just don't make em like they used to.

Hoover was the only other 51' pilot that was in that same class of old world routines.

I can only try to explain that stuff to my kids now.

[BuckyD]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Found these 3 vintage Bernie's Bo P-51D color pics in my photo archives recently, which Bob Love kindly sent me back in 1983. Thought I'd post them now to fittingly cap-off this BL tribute thread, & share these images w/all you die hard air race fans out there. Hope you enjoy seeing them.

Photos (L-R):

1- '83 Minter Field Airshow/Bakersfield, CA-Love taxis-out f/takeoff
2- Reno '83-Portrait shot of Bob Love & his kids- Gary & Malinda
3- Nice circa-'83 air-to-air shot of Love proudly flying his Mustang amongst the clouds. (That's likely to be Bob's good pal- San Jose Mercury News photographer-Ron Burda riding along in the back seat).

DBD

[ArtOfSilence]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Have been reading this forum with interest. Noticed a couple mentions of the name for Bob Love's F86, which I think was named Bernice Bo. Bernice was his wife's name and Bo was a nic for his brother. Could be Bernie's Bo but anyhow that's how it was told to me by Bob's son Gary, who I was friends with in grade school when they lived in San Berdoo in the 50s. Bob was at Norton AFB I think. I have a memory of seeing a P 51 there which might have been Bob's, had a tour of Norton with Gary one time. Great to see so many of the old stories about Love, super pilot.

Does anyone recall the Life Magazine cover that has photos of some Korean Aces on it? Prolly 1955 or so. He is on it.

[sandramore]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

I got to go flying with him once. I was just a brat kid then. He looked at me and said, "You're not going to throw up in my airplane, are you?" lol

I didn't, thank god.

Another great man. I miss him. There are so many that I miss...

[Warbirds45]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Happy Holiday's, I visit with Jack Hovey once a month. We trade books and reading material. He has some of Bob Love's Trophies and other air racing memories. There are few men or women in every field of life that are far superior to those that do the same task.
They become one man and machine, I watched Bob Love at NAS Whidbey in 1969, I can still see the dust settling from a LOW PASS!
Jack Hovey is also a great pilot, and awesome Merlin Man!
Have a great Chritmas

[Airrace7]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

Today's Valentine's Day-a good day to fondly-remember the late & great- Capt. Robert J. 'Bob' Love - one of the USA's great air combat heroes (6-Victory Korean War Jet Ace) & an air racing legend.

"BLUE SKIES FOREVER"- Capt. Love!!!

DBD

Thanks for reminding us of this legend!

[sledge39]

Re: "..Rice Chex or Wheat Chex.." (1953)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGESdwbuP7M

[BuckyD]

Re: * BOB LOVE * -Air Racing's 'Ace of Hearts'

"RIGHT ON!", Sledge. Thx v-much f/posting this rare & awesome piece of Capt. Love history.

(F-89 Scorpion's always been one of my faves along w/the F-94, though I prefer 'Corn Chex', since I was a kid )

DBD