This was shared with me by a friend recently. His father in law claimed to be the pilot in this article. Not sure of the exact year, but I have asked and hope to get some more info. Sometime around or during WWII, though.



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Whoa! Awesome

More of the story... the pilot was a Rice Grad, hence the bombing run on Rice stadium, and his girlfriend was supposedly eating lunch on one of the rooftop restaurants downtown that day. So his stunt was done to impress a girl! Go figure!

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The article references "Main and Bellaire" which is now South Main and Holcombe. The medical center portion of Bellaire Boulevard was renamed Holcombe in the early 1960s in honor of long serving mayor Oscar Holcombe.

The reference to the Plantation as an amusement park may refer to Playland Amusement Park, which operated at what is now 9200 South Main (at Murworth). It opened in the 1940s and closed in 1967, the year before Astroworld opened. That location is now an Exxon station, and a number of other buildings.

Very interesting. Thank you for helping with some of the history. I didn't know a lot of that information.

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(01-03-2018 08:34 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  The article references "Main and Bellaire" which is now South Main and Holcombe. The medical center portion of Bellaire Boulevard was renamed Holcombe in the early 1960s in honor of long serving mayor Oscar Holcombe.

The reference to the Plantation as an amusement park may refer to Playland Amusement Park, which operated at what is now 9200 South Main (at Murworth). It opened in the 1940s and closed in 1967, the year before Astroworld opened. That location is now an Exxon station, and a number of other buildings.

When I was but a young child, my every birthday wish was for dad to take me and my elementary school chums out to Playland Park.....it was a great amusement park to us; we had a lot of fun.

I also remember when the Colt 45's stadium opened nearby. Hotter'n hell in the summer, and the mosquitoes were thick and mean.

(01-03-2018 08:14 PM)NLOWL Wrote:  More of the story... the pilot was a Rice Grad, hence the bombing run on Rice stadium, and his girlfriend was supposedly eating lunch on one of the rooftop restaurants downtown that day. So his stunt was done to impress a girl! Go figure!

For clarification, there is a Capt Arla Fielder named in the article, but your friend's father-in-law was the pilot of the B-29? Was he ever caught by the military and court-martialed?

(01-04-2018 02:27 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(01-03-2018 08:14 PM)NLOWL Wrote:  More of the story... the pilot was a Rice Grad, hence the bombing run on Rice stadium, and his girlfriend was supposedly eating lunch on one of the rooftop restaurants downtown that day. So his stunt was done to impress a girl! Go figure!

For clarification, there is a Capt Arla Fidler named in the article, but your friend's father-in-law was the pilot of the B-29? Was he ever caught by the military and court-martialed?

FIFY

BTW, if this is the same Arla Fidler, he died just about a year ago: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ivdaily...=183163683

(01-04-2018 03:56 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 02:27 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(01-03-2018 08:14 PM)NLOWL Wrote:  More of the story... the pilot was a Rice Grad, hence the bombing run on Rice stadium, and his girlfriend was supposedly eating lunch on one of the rooftop restaurants downtown that day. So his stunt was done to impress a girl! Go figure!

For clarification, there is a Capt Arla Fidler named in the article, but your friend's father-in-law was the pilot of the B-29? Was he ever caught by the military and court-martialed?

FIFY

BTW, if this is the same Arla Fidler, he died just about a year ago: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ivdaily...=183163683

At age 97! That's quite a life.

The pilot was never caught or court martialed... his story wasn't told by his family until after his death. I will see if I can get permission to share his name here.

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(01-04-2018 10:39 PM)NLOWL Wrote:  The pilot was never caught or court martialed... his story wasn't told by his family until after his death. I will see if I can get permission to share his name here.

It would be great to hear the full story. Especially if that girlfriend married him -- or ditched him -- after that low-level pass.

Also, what is the date and newspaper of that article?

(01-05-2018 02:50 AM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(01-04-2018 10:39 PM)NLOWL Wrote:  The pilot was never caught or court martialed... his story wasn't told by his family until after his death. I will see if I can get permission to share his name here.

It would be great to hear the full story. Especially if that girlfriend married him -- or ditched him -- after that low-level pass.

Also, what is the date and newspaper of that article?

I would say it was pretty high-level! If you're going to make a pass at a girl go all out!