|
T.V. Foster was a frequent visitor to the Davis-Monthan
Airfield. He landed and signed the Register at least 35 times
between 1928 and 1931. He was good friends with Airfield
Manager Cosgrove, and he had a great sense of humor.
The image below, taken in front of the Hidalgo Grill at
Lordsburg, NM, is a classic pose by a contemporary Army Air
Corps officer. Note his boots, jodhpurs and button leather
jacket (Type A-1). It is hard to believe that this tall and
impressive officer signed the Register with such tiny and
barely decipherable handwriting.
Thaddeus V. Foster at Lordsburg, NM
 |
---o0o---
In the image below, Foster is seen ca. 1929, replete
with parachute, helmet and goggles, and much to the amusement
of the mechanic in the background, riding a donkey. The story
goes that this image was posed as a jibe at Burt Cosgrove.
It seems that Cosgrove holds the
record for the lowest altitude parachute drop. During taxi
with Foster, Cosgrove was in the gunner's seat. Foster hit
the throttle before Cosgrove was strapped in. His D-ring
caught on the gun mount, thus opening his 'chute. Cosgrove
was dragged out of the airplane by the open parachute in
the prop wash and hit the runway. He was harassed and
accused of denting the runway.
The donkey pose with the
parachute is Foster's way of suggesting to Cosgrove that
airplanes were too dangerous for him, and that riding the
donkey (with ears deployed in airfoil fashion, as demonstrated)
would avoid any future accidents!
---o0o---
The image below shows Foster, left, with a Major
Hensley. It is highly probable that this picture was taken
on August 27, 1928. On that date, Foster arrived with Hensley
at the Airfield at 11:00AM in 28-147, an aircraft he identified
as an "O-28".
Foster and Major Hensley
 |
---o0o---
Below we find Foster standing by a Douglas
aircraft. Tantalizingly we see the first three numbers of
the registration. There were two aircraft that Foster
flew to Tucson with those first three numerals: 28-147 and
28-165. 28-147 was the one he landed with carrying Hensley,
above, in 1928.
28-165 was identified as a Douglas O-2H. Can
we tell which airplane is he standing next to? Yes, note
the stenciling in front of his right knee. The last several
numerals are "7-28-30", a date that some maintenance
was performed like painting or fabric re-cover. He landed
with 28-165 twice, in January and February 1931. This is
the airplane.
Note the 8th Corps insignia on the airplane
and on his left sleeve.
T.V. Foster
 |
The online Social Security Index lists the birth and death dates of only one Thaddeus Foster. They are August 5, 1914 and November, 1963. Given that his first landing at Tucson was recorded in 1928, precludes our T.V. Foster being that person.
---o0o---
THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 01/04/07 REVISED: 01/11/07
|
