Posted by LORRIN C. PETERSON on October 16, 2001:

Cole and I went to Bonham, TX for Primary flight training. He soloed first in the class as I recall. when we were taking twin engine training in B-25s at Douglas Arizona, I flew a check ride with the training squadron commander. I was brash enough to ask him who the best pilots in the class were. He answered, "Bacon and Stick." One hot day we were shooting student dual landings, and Cole had to make a pit stop. Although we were pressed for time, he poked his head in the hatch and said, "I'm going to do another walk around inspection." He found a massive oil leak which would have cost us an engine, if we had taken off. Flying is the domain of the meticulous. After retirement we both lived in the San Fernando Valley of California. He had a successful career in the aerospace industry. When he found out that I had gotten advanced FAA pilot ratings under the G.I. bill, he quickly did the same, and bought a Bonanza, as I recall. One of the benefits of becoming an air cadet was for runts like me to become fast friends with flankers like Cole.

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