Bill Dickey

IN ABOUT 1941, my first and last job for a one-legged boot-legger was to deliver a Rearwin perasol from Roanoke, VA to a CAA (Civil Aeronautic Administration-forerunner of the FAA) emergency landing strip near Chilhowle, VA. Morning fog, rain, and low clouds began to threaten my route along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brushing the foothills in formation with farmyard fowl had me "pinching leather" for higher attitude, and the cable-stressed Brekely up front wasn't helping out much.