Ed Rasimus redux

 

 OK, Campers, as you may have noticed, things are a little hectic in the juvat domain lately.  We've still got a few Doctor visits to attend in the next week or so.  So, it shall be.  The Doc's haven't found anything serious so we're hanging in there. we hope that trend continues obviously.  But it does take time away from other "duties".

So...Here's a rerun about a Fighter Pilot I had the great honor to meet, be a student of his, a wingman and eventually a Flight Lead and have him as a wingman occasionally.  I did fix a couple of my errors from one of my very first blog posts in this version though.  

One of my greatest thrills was reviewing my gun camera film from a 1 v 1 BFM (i.e. dogfighting) mission.  My gun camera film showed my pipper steady on his airplane for the requisite time of flight of the bullets.  Upon review, he swore he'd done his best.  I still have my doubts.

A great Fighter Pilot, Officer, War Hero and American.  I miss him. 

So a repeat posting.  Cheers, Ed! 

 Ed Rasimus

Ed Rasimus  (AKA Ras) was a retired United States Air Force Major and a veteran fighter pilot of the Vietnam war. He passed away on 30 January 2013. Ras flew more than 250 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchief and F-4 Phantom II fighters during the conflict and received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross five times, and numerous Air Medals. Rasimus was an award winning author residing in Northern Texas.
Published Books

• Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds - Co-authored by Robin Olds and Christina Olds - ISBN 978-0-312-56023-2 - St. Martin's Press (April 13, 2010)

• Palace Cobra: A Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War - ISBN 978-0-312-94876-4 - St. Martin's Paperbacks (August 28, 2007) (Hardcover edition, April 2006, St. Martin's Press)

• Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights: A Vietnam War Pilot's Second Tour - ISBN 978-1-58834-199-0 - Smithsonian Books (November 30, 2005) (Never Published, released as Palace Cobra in April 2006, hardcover from St. Martin's Press)

• When Thunder Rolled: An F-105 Pilot Over North Vietnam - ISBN 978-0-89141-854-2 - Presidio Press (September 28, 2004) (Hardcover edition, January 2003, Smithsonian Institution Press)*

I discovered in Ras's blog, Thunder Tales, back in December of 2012. Just in time to learn that the man was dying. Less than a month after I'd discovered another jewel in the blogosphere,  Ras was gone.

It was a rough year for fighter pilot bloggers and those who loved them.  Ras was laid to rest Wednesday, the First of May, in the year of Our Lord Two-Thousand and Thirteen at Arlington National Cemetery. One who was there had this to say.

I didn't know about the man  until I met him at Holloman AFB where he was my instructor for my transition to AT-38 IP, I wish I had prior to that. I knew men like him. They all went downtown, Route Pack 6.

His blog is still there. It will remain linked on this blog until this blog is no more.

I know a number of my readers loved the man dearly. Reading old posts on his blog, I can see why.

Requiescat in pace Major. Hope to have a beer with you someday.

Tell Lex, I'm buying.