Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Sydney Frank & R.J. Mitchell (aviation)
Sydney Frank recently passed away. The American Billionaire philanthropist, was a World War II aviation buff & completed one last good deed before he died. He honored the engineer who designed the Spitfire, RJ Mitchell.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2000344,00.html
Mr. Frank donated over 1 million dollars to have this statue made of the man he felt needed to be honored:
http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/aboutrjmitchell/index.asp?sectionID=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/g_m/mitchell.shtml
http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/sidneyfrankfoundation/index.asp?sectionID=10
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/spitmich.htm
And now the rest of the story... about 8 months ago, my 88 year old Uncle, who lives in Colorado Springs, CO, gets a knock on his door. He answers the door & sees a limo parked in front of his home. A gentleman introduces himself as an attorney for Sydney Frank. He informs my Uncle that Mr. Frank would like to extend an invitation to him, to be his guest in London for the unveiling of the statue at the museum.
So Mr. Frank flew, first class of course, my Aunt & Uncle, plus a few other members of my Uncles old WWII fighter squadron, The American Eagle Squadron. (they also later flew for the 4th fighter group USAAF) http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=5
Mr. Frank put them up in beautiful suites in one of the finest hotels in London. Set them up with escorts & Limos. They went on tours of their old air bases and other historical sites. In short they were treated like royalty.
The night of the unveiling of the new statue, there was a formal dinner and ceremony at the museum. It was attended by the Royal family. The highlight of the evening for my Uncle was, when both Prince Edward & Prince Philip, came to my Uncle's table and introduced themselves and thanked him for fighting for their country!
Anway, I just thought I would share this with you all. Thought it may be of interest to some.
Sydney Frank recently passed away. The American Billionaire philanthropist, was a World War II aviation buff & completed one last good deed before he died. He honored the engineer who designed the Spitfire, RJ Mitchell.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2000344,00.html
Mr. Frank donated over 1 million dollars to have this statue made of the man he felt needed to be honored:
http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/aboutrjmitchell/index.asp?sectionID=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/g_m/mitchell.shtml
http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/sidneyfrankfoundation/index.asp?sectionID=10
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/spitmich.htm
And now the rest of the story... about 8 months ago, my 88 year old Uncle, who lives in Colorado Springs, CO, gets a knock on his door. He answers the door & sees a limo parked in front of his home. A gentleman introduces himself as an attorney for Sydney Frank. He informs my Uncle that Mr. Frank would like to extend an invitation to him, to be his guest in London for the unveiling of the statue at the museum.
So Mr. Frank flew, first class of course, my Aunt & Uncle, plus a few other members of my Uncles old WWII fighter squadron, The American Eagle Squadron. (they also later flew for the 4th fighter group USAAF) http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=5
Mr. Frank put them up in beautiful suites in one of the finest hotels in London. Set them up with escorts & Limos. They went on tours of their old air bases and other historical sites. In short they were treated like royalty.
The night of the unveiling of the new statue, there was a formal dinner and ceremony at the museum. It was attended by the Royal family. The highlight of the evening for my Uncle was, when both Prince Edward & Prince Philip, came to my Uncle's table and introduced themselves and thanked him for fighting for their country!
Anway, I just thought I would share this with you all. Thought it may be of interest to some.
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