Tallmantz Aviation Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: Nick Spark
From: Los Angeles

Comments:
"Hello, what a great website! I am producing a documentary about Pancho Barnes. I've been trying to find some decent photos of the Tallmantz auction in which her Travelair Model R "Mystery Ship" was put up for grabs. Can you help me? Please check out the website...it is PanchoBarnesFilm dot com. You can contact me via the website. Thank you very much."

Added: 26-Mar-08

Submitted by
Name: Mick Westbrook
From: "Midlothian, Texas"
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"Thank you for this wonderful website. As a kid learning to fly Cubs with my dad as instructor, I came across a book, Hollywood Pilot, by Don Dwiggins. I still have this book, and still read it from time to time. In 1979 I was at SNA, Martin Aviation getting a Citation type rating, and while there I visited the TallMantz hangar. I couldn't believe it but there was #46, the Mustang I had read about. Also the nose section of a B-25 nose, used to film some scenes for Catch-22.
A couple of days ago, I had a layover at BUR, and was telling the other crewmember about the history of Mantz's operation at United airport.
Thanks again, looking forward to all additions to this site."

Added: 13-Feb-08

Submitted by
Name: Dave Viviano
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"I flew as a co-pilot for Tallmantz Aviation durring the filming of Catch-22. I was assigned to Dumbo,51Z, with Ed Mitrani as the pilot."

Added: 11-Feb-08

Submitted by
Name: K O Eckland
From: Paradise CA
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"Too much to relate in this small box, but I was a very close friend of FGT from Fla-Bob days, helped with some the display design at MOTA, publicity, etc. Have lots of photos, even reels of 8mm film that I am now trying to figure out how to xfer to S-VHS tapes. Great site kindles some great memories of the museum and the people! I still keep in e-touch with Jim & Zona, and Thon Abbott (now Griffith), but lost addresses of Boots and others in a Netscape email wipe-out."

Added: 6-Feb-08

Submitted by
Name: Murray Pine
From: Bury St Edmund. United Kingdom
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
Reading with interest your information about Tallmantz Phoenix P-1 and the connection of the various Pine names in the Stories and the making of the film. Two points of interest is that I have recently completed a commission to make a scale desktop model of the original C-82 N6887C in the Arabco colours as seen in the film. It looks really good. My other connection to aviation is that I have worked all over the world as a (UK) Licenced Aircraft Engineer with major airlines on mostly Boeing Commercial Airliners. The name Pine also is of interest as there are not many in the UK. The name originally came into being in Normandy in N France in the early 12/13 th Century and moved across the English Channel in around the 16th Century to SW England and thereafter it seems around the world. Maybe there was a connection to a long lost Pine relative. Can anybody help on that ? Also if anybody is interested I have some pics of the C-82 Arabco model and am now thinking of making a model of the Phoenix P-1 ! Rgds Murray Pine. Bury St Edmunds. UK

Added: 5-Jan-08

Submitted by
Name: skip george
From: San Diego
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"I worked as a fueler in 1973-74 at Tallmantz. As a 19 year old, it was an experience that I will never forget. Thea Appleby was our secretary and my immediate boss was Dave Anderson who seemed old at 26! I loved the sights and sounds of oil smoke from round engines of the B-25s starting and blue exhaust flames when they took off at night and passed by at the west end of then O.C. Airport at night. One day Mr. Tallman was taking a Gypsy Moth off on a grass median next to runway 19R. He didn't catch in his pre-flight that the mechanics had cross connected the ailerons and on take-off roll dug a wingtip gently into the turf and ground looped, almost flipping. Much profanity was expressed by Mr. Tallman and no one spoke of the incident around him after that! He had lost a leg in a non-flight accident and I was instructed from day one if Mr. Tallman fell down, do not help him up! Sure enough, he was getting out of the Aztec one day and as he was coming down the wing he fell on the ground. I started towards him and he immediately said "No goddamitt, I will get up myself!" Sir, yes sir Mr. Tallman. Tom Mooney was one of the nicest and most humble guys. He was a Marine Aviator who flew in WW II, Korea, and Viet Nam. One day I was sitting in my fuel truck in March 1974 and a Cessna 150 from Santana Aviation took off and lost an engine at 300 ft. AGL. They stalled and spun in 100 yards from the fuel truck I was sitting in. A mechanic, Tony, and I pulled what was left of the bodies out of this Cessna that had gone straight in. It shook me and I cancelled my X-country to Palomar that afternoon. Tom Mooney came up to me and said "kid, they teach you three things in ground school--airspeed, airspeed, and airspeed." I took that solo the next day. Tom was killed flying charter in Florida some time later for a different company. Pat Daley was the maint. manager. I nicked named him "Uncle Bugs" and it seemed to stick. I just saw on the cover of Air and Space Mr. Mantz's #46 red P-51 that was one of the Museum planes, rebuilt and restored. Great to see a connection with these wonderful planes then and still flying. Again, the experience left a lasting impression that stays with me today."

Added: 2-Jan-08

Submitted by
Name: Sean O'Brien
From: Tillamook Oregon
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"Just an update about the b-25 Silver Lady, I saw it fly over my house a few weeks ago and a phone call to the tillamook air museums curator confirmed it was headed out to chino. Hope this helps.

Sincerly,
Sean O'Brien"

Added: 26-Nov-07

Submitted by
Name: James M. Rogers
From: "Anaheim,California"
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"This is an addition to the guest book entry that I entered earlier, The picture of Paul Mantz laughing and walking away from the "Phoenix" with the rest of the crew standing around. You were asking for names of any of the crew. I am the third person from the left in the dark flight jacket. I also may be able to come up with some of the photo's you are looking for. I had my house burn down while living in Oregon, but was able to salvage quite a bit. I will have to go through storage to see what I have if you are interested? Thanks for telling the story of these great people! Jim Rogers"

Added: 28-Oct-07

Submitted by
Name: James M. Rogers
From: "Anaheim,California"
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"I worked for Frank and Paul back in 1963-1968. Everyone at "TallMantz" were like family, and I was but a teenager. But I alway's felt Paul was like a Grandfather to me and the group, Steve Caruso, Steve Hosmer and Wendy Caruso who we were almost never apart in those day's. I learned to fly from many of the pilot's working for Frank and Paul. But soon after returning from the service, the loss of Paul, Frank and my good good buddy Steve Caruso slowed me down and have flown very little sence. But my memories of all the exciting and sometimes crazy things that we all did back in those years will be with me forever. The stories the four of us teen's could tell about Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz, Frank Pine and all the rest could fill volumes! How lucky we were knowing everyone and experience of life and living on the edge."

Added: 28-Oct-07

Submitted by
Name: Wendy Miller (Caruso)
From: "Original Anaheim, now Menifee"
E-mail: Contact

Comments:
"I was a teenager & worked at Tallmantz/Movieland. Wonderful memories and sad memories. I have many casual pictures while spending 3 years after school & summers. 1965-1968. would like to hear from others. Others in my era are Jim Rogers, Steve Hosmer, but my brother Steve Caruso is gone. Frank Tallman flew a tribute pass over his buriel services in '68. Hope to hear from you."

Added: 22-Sep-07