Benny Winkle was born on the 13th of August 100 years ago. His two boys are 13 years apart. And he got married on the 13th and his wife Verlene is 13 years younger. She was his 13th girlfriend. Some pegged the number 13 as unlucky, but this Polish farmer was lucky enough to get bit by a snake while fighting in World War II. Hear from the man himself and view his amazing story by clicking on the link below... https://www.wral.com/video/world-war-ii-vet-credits-snake-bite-for-saving-his-life/21960740/

A recent visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre Dangerous Skies exhibition enabled a closer look at the Smith family de Havilland Mosquito FB.VI TE910 that has taken up residence at Omaka. On loan to the Aviation Heritage Centre, the Smith family Mosquito’s background has been covered here before (see article HERE), but one aspect of the aircraft’s history is not known; it’s link to RAF East Fortune in Scotland. Uncovered during the restoration of its propellers was graffiti linking the aircraft to the former RAF station, which is situated in East Lothian in rolling countryside twenty miles east of Edinburgh. Remarkably preserved thanks to the efforts of John Smith of Mapua, Tasman, New Zealand, this veritable time capsule of an aircraft is largely in original condition, with concessions made to enable it to be ground run. To do this, the aircraft’s propellers required overhaul, which was done by Airbus at its on-site propeller overhaul facility at Woodbourne, Marlborough in New Zealand’s South Island. For more on this story click on the link below and share your thoughts in the comments below... https://vintageaviationnews.com/warbird-articles/the-smith-family-mosquito-and-its-link-to-raf-east-fortune.html

Vaughn P. Drake, Jr., a central Kentucky native who was the oldest known survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, died last week at the age of 106. According to Pacific Historic Parks, Drake, who was 23 at the time, was serving in the US Army and helping to build barracks at Kaneohe Naval Air Station on the east side of Oahu. His job was to run a temporary power plant, so the carpenters had electricity for their equipment. For more on this Story click on the link and share your thoughts in the comments below... https://nypost.com/2025/04/14/us-news/worlds-oldest-pearl-harbor-survivor-dead-at-106/