S3 Series

~S~ Weiser, et al.

I took your notice and cross-posted it on AGW, where there were many views and some responses. Here is a "Quote" copy and paste:

Carmine "pappyb" Bassano

One last <S> for Pappyb. Carmine was always a very friendly and calm man. He taught me how to lead a flight and make sure everyone could follow you, was very humble, helpful and just a great guy to have on TS. I really enjoyed listening to him and our veterans talk about their real life experiences of being a navy/airforce pilot. He kept the 4th FG together in a time of big changes and always cared for the guys in our squad.

I feel this video is fitting to post. I made it in February and it was to be one of the very last times we winged together to just have some fun in the MA.




Blue skies Carmine "pappyb" Bassano.
Thank you for all the great memories and you will always be remembered.
/Robert
XO 4th FG

Throw a nickel on the grass. Blue Skies forever Pappyb, may you rest in peace.
I have been playing WB's 1998 and Pappyb has been a well known call sign ever
since I can remember. Weather an friend or adversary he was always a class act.

Fencer

PS Great video Robert, and a very fitting tribute to a good man. Thank you for sharing it.

Thanks sir - didn't notice this until I made a post myself - more posts to come as we will be doing a flyover memorial on June 12

I want to thank everyone who posted such nice things about a great man. Below is mine:

PappyB and I had a great relationship, I think Trigr= described it the best when he said once and I am paraphrasing: "The relationship
between CO's and XO's are just like an old married couple", we argued at times but in the end we always reached agreement and each time
became better friends.

Pappyb was a very strong man but was also as gentle as a week old kitten. As a trainer I had offered to the 4th men that if anyone
wanted private, one on one sessions, I would be glad to help. PappyB was the 1st to sign up, so besides talking during squad nights and
S3's and the usual email traffic squads and political partners generate, we spent one night a week alone working and talking, bringing us
even closer together.

During squad training we almost always ended the evening with PappyB leading the flight in free flight, all of us following him around
swelled up with pride, I know I can speak for all the 4th men in saying that it was always a very special thing for us, you could just
feel his pride in having his loyal men (we have no women at this time) following him gracefully through the blue sky, like he was
remembering the past, flying the F-100 and returning home after a hard real life engagement. And we loved every minute of it!

And then he would say those now famous words of his as we were about to log for the night, "All right, good night kids" and we all
followed suit with good night and see you Sunday etc.

Pappyb had some health issues and we knew he was not always 100% feeling good, but he never complained to us and was always a positive
influence to every single 4th man. And he was always ready to hear out, any one of us.

His last email to me was to tell me he was going in for bypass surgery and that he would be back in time for the 4th frame of that S3
series, I will never delete that email as it was the last thing he ever said to me.

PappyB sir, you will be very much missed in this world but I know in my heart you are in heaven flying with the Angel's, Salute my
friend and Blue Skies Forever.