hris S. Thank you for sharing this historical presentation about R.G. Letourneau and his Airplanes. I greatly enjoyed it. My Grandfather was Bob Flanagan who you mentioned numerous times in your video. My mother is Patricia (Flanagan) Simon who was born in Toccoa GA while her father worked at the LeTourneau plant there. My Grandfather flew many of the planes and lost his life while flying the LeTourneau A26 plane "Snoopy" in 1953. He was plant manager of the Longview TX plant and according to Mother they lived in Vicksburg MS as well as Toccoa. Mom told me her father was also in charge of the Concrete House Fabrication R.G. had designed. I have viewed many of the articles and pictures that reside on the LeTourneau Archive site and shared them with Mom and her surviving siblings Jim and Bobby (Robert) Flanagan. Many of those snapshots you have of Bob Flanagan in the Archives they had never seen before. My Grandmother, Lois Flanagan, never remarried after her husband passed away and she worked at LeTourneau and retired from the company back in the late 70's. Thank you so much for sharing this UA-cam video, we greatly appreciate it. God Bless You All...
So great to hear from you, Chris! I have heard of the crash of Snoopy, but I am sad to hear it was your grandfather who died in the accident. Soon, we hope to launch a special permanent exhibit about RG and his airplanes on public display at our facility in Longview at East Texas Regional Airport (at LeTourneau University's airport location). I do not have an exact date, but we have been working on preparations for some time now.
I used to fly into Longview fairly often back in the late ‘70’s as the company I flew for then had a business located there. During my time waiting on passengers at the airport, I got to know Barney Barnwell and was always impressed and entertained by his knowledge and stories of the LeTourneau flight department. At that time Coors beer was not available in my home state but was highly sought after by one of the owners of my company. Consequently, I was ordered to make a Coors run for him. I knew it was available in Longview and contacted Barney. He had a truck from the local distributor meet me at his FBO. We loaded 40 cases of Colorado’s finest into that old Cessna 421. We stuffed them in nose compartment, the wing lockers, the seats, the floor,….everywhere. Barney declared that he thought that I had more beer than fuel onboard! A few years later I was saddened to learn that he passed on. I always thought that he was a fine gentleman and, though I never rode with him, he must have been a great pilot.
I have always been told my grandfather was a pilot for RG Letourneau. I would love to learn more and see if I could get information on my grandfather 45:02
That is excellent to hear! Please reach out on the contact form on my website: www.theaviationvault.com so I can connect you with people here at LeTourneau University who might be able to help you learn more about your grandfather and Mr. LeTourneau's planes.
I was a passenger on many of RGs planes. Our family flew back from Tournata to Longview on Pappy. I flew on the 195 in Liberia, the Lockheed Lodestar from Toccoa to Longview (the pilot invited me to sit in the copilot's seat and my ears are ringing to this day). I flew on the Lear from Longview to Grand Island, NE. I remember hearing the stories of crashes (Flanagan at the Longview airport, and one of RGs Liberia planes crashed on landing at Pleebo). I have always wondered about the A26's and where they are. In one picture you see RG standing next to one of the tires from his Snow Train. It's 10 feet tall. Look up the monster truck Bigfoot and you will see it again.
RG also had another rare bomber turned in a corporate plane and based at the Greater Peoria Airport at the LeTourneau Airport Hanger. One of RG’s pilots gave me pictures, inside and out.
@@AirWarrior.73 If you would ever be interested in an interview to document this, please let me know. My contact information is here www.letu.edu/academics/aviation/fac-bio-laster.html
My dad was RG’s factory chaplain in Peoria and flew with RG to Liberia and flew in Snippy in the nose. Talk about a serious sunburn. Chaplain Dan Demmin
hris S.
Thank you for sharing this historical presentation about R.G. Letourneau and his Airplanes. I greatly enjoyed it. My Grandfather was Bob Flanagan who you mentioned numerous times in your video. My mother is Patricia (Flanagan) Simon who was born in Toccoa GA while her father worked at the LeTourneau plant there. My Grandfather flew many of the planes and lost his life while flying the LeTourneau A26 plane "Snoopy" in 1953. He was plant manager of the Longview TX plant and according to Mother they lived in Vicksburg MS as well as Toccoa. Mom told me her father was also in charge of the Concrete House Fabrication R.G. had designed. I have viewed many of the articles and pictures that reside on the LeTourneau Archive site and shared them with Mom and her surviving siblings Jim and Bobby (Robert) Flanagan. Many of those snapshots you have of Bob Flanagan in the Archives they had never seen before. My Grandmother, Lois Flanagan, never remarried after her husband passed away and she worked at LeTourneau and retired from the company back in the late 70's. Thank you so much for sharing this UA-cam video, we greatly appreciate it. God Bless You All...
So great to hear from you, Chris! I have heard of the crash of Snoopy, but I am sad to hear it was your grandfather who died in the accident. Soon, we hope to launch a special permanent exhibit about RG and his airplanes on public display at our facility in Longview at East Texas Regional Airport (at LeTourneau University's airport location). I do not have an exact date, but we have been working on preparations for some time now.
@@LauraLaster747I would love to learn more
I used to fly into Longview fairly often back in the late ‘70’s as the company I flew for then had a business located there. During my time waiting on passengers at the airport, I got to know Barney Barnwell and was always impressed and entertained by his knowledge and stories of the LeTourneau flight department.
At that time Coors beer was not available in my home state but was highly sought after by one of the owners of my company. Consequently, I was ordered to make a Coors run for him. I knew it was available in Longview and contacted Barney. He had a truck from the local distributor meet me at his FBO. We loaded 40 cases of Colorado’s finest into that old Cessna 421. We stuffed them in nose compartment, the wing lockers, the seats, the floor,….everywhere. Barney declared that he thought that I had more beer than fuel onboard! A few years later I was saddened to learn that he passed on. I always thought that he was a fine gentleman and, though I never rode with him, he must have been a great pilot.
I love this story! Thank you for sharing!!!
I have always been told my grandfather was a pilot for RG Letourneau. I would love to learn more and see if I could get information on my grandfather 45:02
That is excellent to hear! Please reach out on the contact form on my website: www.theaviationvault.com so I can connect you with people here at LeTourneau University who might be able to help you learn more about your grandfather and Mr. LeTourneau's planes.
@@LauraLaster747 awesome thank you so much
Peoria factory had a runway built on top of a large burm/ dyke on the Illinois River. One of the A/B26 landed and skid off and dumped into the river.
That must have been a sight! Was anyone injured, do you know? What year would that have been?
I was a passenger on many of RGs planes. Our family flew back from Tournata to Longview on Pappy. I flew on the 195 in Liberia, the Lockheed Lodestar from Toccoa to Longview (the pilot invited me to sit in the copilot's seat and my ears are ringing to this day). I flew on the Lear from Longview to Grand Island, NE. I remember hearing the stories of crashes (Flanagan at the Longview airport, and one of RGs Liberia planes crashed on landing at Pleebo). I have always wondered about the A26's and where they are. In one picture you see RG standing next to one of the tires from his Snow Train. It's 10 feet tall. Look up the monster truck Bigfoot and you will see it again.
Great to hear from you, David! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me here. I am glad you were able to fly in so many of his aircraft!
RG also had another rare bomber turned in a corporate plane and based at the Greater Peoria Airport at the LeTourneau Airport Hanger. One of RG’s pilots gave me pictures, inside and out.
I love all your history that you are adding! Thank you for all the great comments.
@@LauraLaster747 Thanks Laura. RG was a huge part of our family’s history.
@@AirWarrior.73 If you would ever be interested in an interview to document this, please let me know. My contact information is here www.letu.edu/academics/aviation/fac-bio-laster.html
Barney was a great friend of mine and dad. I flew in the Loadstar around Peoria.
Thank you for sharing!
Very informative. Had no idea that LeTourneau had anything to do with aviation. Thank you.
I'm glad you enjoyed learning about Mr. R.G.'s aviation!
My dad was RG’s factory chaplain in Peoria and flew with RG to Liberia and flew in Snippy in the nose. Talk about a serious sunburn. Chaplain Dan Demmin
That you for sharing - that must have been a crazy experience!