Abstract Richard C. Brookins was born December 30, 1918 in Glendale, Ca. He graduated Louisiana State University in June of 1941 and went to work as a Srtess Analyst at Lockheed Aviation in Los Angeles. He was selected for flying school a month later, and then joined the 352nd Fighter Wing nicknamed “The Bluenose Bastards of Bodney” by German General Goering. Brookins flew two tours as combat pilot and was shot down twice and had to bail out a total of three times. He flew Spitfires, P-47’s and...