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Sad Story, Happy Ending
Unread 09-22-2023, 01:14 PM   #1
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Bill Jolliff
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Default Sad Story, Happy Ending

My son Matt got my wife and me tickets to join him, his wife Jessica and son Oliver to attend the “Wings Over Batavia (NY) Airshow” on Saturday September 2nd. The airshow started at 5:00 PM and ended at 9:00 PM or a little later. So, much of the airshow was done during darkness.

Of course, Batavia was home to Baker Gun and Forge Company back in the early 1900’s.

I should mention that my son Matt along with his son Oliver, our grandson, spend some of their free time at the Batavia Airport which is close by and he got to know much of what goes on there and the people who do it.

We had our folding lawn chairs to sit in during the airshow and we were seated on pavement just in front of a hanger that was converted to The Hospitality Hanger.

It was a fantastic airshow that started at 5:00 PM and was reasonably comfortable but windy. As the show progressed into darkness, it got colder and I noticed with my cold hands my wedding ring was pretty loose.

The show ends and we walk back to the car and that’s when I noticed my ring was no longer on my finger. I lost it somewhere. I wasn’t too upset but my son Matt was and insisted we got back and try to find it – in the dark.

We used the flashlight feature on his and my wife’s cell phone (mine doesn’t have one) to look. We looked at all the places we were and found nothing. A man asked if we were looking for something and I told him and he made notes on his phone in case someone finds it. I asked if he worked at the show, yeah, he was the show director – Dennis who also directs other airshows, including Oshkosh.

One week later I get a phone call and was asked if I lost a ring at the airshow. I told him yes and described it. It was mine. He had found it two days earlier in front of his hanger. WOW!

I asked when I could get it and asked if I may give him a reward. He said NO to the reward and said he would be available at the airport the next day Sunday around 2:00 PM and would not be available after that. He was going to Florida and Texas on Monday.

He gave me his name, Peter X, and his phone number to call on Sunday to tell us where he would be. I’m not using his full name because I do not have his permission to and don’t want to offend him. PM me if you’d like to know.

I then called my son Matt to tell him the good news and had the guy’s name and phone number. He asked who called, I said it was Peter X. He asked, Peter X called you? Yes, I said. He found your ring? Yes, I said.

Turns out Peter X is very well known in a very favorable way in Genesee County and the city of Batavia. He owns 3 hangers at the airport and owns several airplanes – including a P51 Mustang that’s been converted to a two seater so his wife can fly with him.

So, next day I call Peter and arrange for Matt and me to meet him at one of his hangers and get my ring. And we did.

He gave me my ring and I got a picture of me in front of his P51.

Sad story, happy ending.

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Unread 09-22-2023, 02:06 PM   #2
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WOW Bill - That's awesome in every respect!!





.
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Unread 09-22-2023, 06:19 PM   #3
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Great story Bill, there's many great people out there, let's hope we can keep it that way!!

That is a cool picture, would be a great aircraft to have a ride in for sure.
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Unread 09-22-2023, 07:32 PM   #4
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That is a story with a happy ending. Good for you.
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Unread 09-23-2023, 08:50 AM   #5
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What a great story Bill, and a great picture. Just proves that good things happen to good people. Glad everything worked out.
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Unread 09-23-2023, 09:02 AM   #6
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A happy ending, indeed, shipmate!
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Unread 09-23-2023, 09:55 AM   #7
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Great story Bill. I would have begged him for a flight in the plane.

Stan....You need one of those. Just imagine you buzzing the BoWhoop at Ernie's.
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Unread 09-23-2023, 01:55 PM   #8
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thanks for a happy ending story Bill
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Unread 09-25-2023, 10:07 AM   #9
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Thanks for the great story. You would look good sitting inside the plane and ready for takeoff.
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Unread 09-25-2023, 11:42 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Albano View Post
Thanks for the great story. You would look good sitting inside the plane and ready for takeoff.
John and you other guys, you're right, I would have looked good and felt good in the back seat of that Mustang. But probably not meant to be, for now anyway.

And if that's the case, it wouldn't be until next summer. The day after he gave me my ring, Peter and his wife flew his Mustang, "Crazy Horse 2" to Kissimmee Gateway Airport and taxied over to the Stallion 51 hanger where it will join Crazy Horse 1 and other P51's for the winter.

And you can be sure, if I get a ride in it when he brings it back home to Batavia next summer, I will have a picture or two for you.

I can only hope.

Bill
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