Aero Vintage Books

The RIPSTER,This is the name we had for mike ripley.This was back in 1990 and 91 when ripley was director of ops for Tallichet. We caught him trying to get one of the propellers from the A-20 over the backyard fence with our forklift we called BIG MARY. We got him to put it back but the Yoke and radio call from the instrument panel ended up missing right before the more to air heritage so who knows. The radio call was 4020 which is the serial number to the aircraft.A-20 G I think. So if he knocked off the B-17 parts Im not surprised.

Ah I found these threads on the ripster after I googled him today. I went to Tallichet's service last Sat so it got me to reminiscing about folks like the Ripster. If I remember right he was also suspected of stealing a B24 turret that went missing during his tenure there. He's a real con artist. He somehow got into the organization despite the fact that he had zero experience with warbirds. Maybe he's off running a scam operating with that guy Tom that ran the King's Crown Gallery in Tustin around the same time, who was later arrested a couple of years ago for selling fake autographs of aviation heroes, which he copied from the real ones he got when he held autograph signings.

JohnH

He was hired by DT as director of ops at MARC In about 90 or 91.Has anyone seen or heard about him lately? There were more than a few things that went missing back in those days and there were more than a few people that would have been suspect.I had forgot about the turret.Old age is getting me.I didnt think I was going to live this long.

He's back, in California.