Marine’s First Solo carries on a Long Family Tradition – Stay Humble – Enjoy Life Hank!!!
4-18-2016 – NN News
USMC 2nd Lt Henry R. “Hank” Duden, IV (aka “Hank Blackbird Solo”) just soloed the T-6 at NAS Whiting Field.
Hank is the great grand son of the Uncle (Cmdr George T. McCutchan, USN) of Major General Clay T. McCutchan (retired USAFR & Full-time USAF Historian).
Clay and his parents (famous Aviators too!) named their Family Airfield after Commander George T. McCutchan and another Uncle, Thurston, was the CAG of the USS Ranger when he was lost at sea in a Hellcat accident in 1944.
It was an honor to know Clay’s Dad, Captain James Robert McCutchan, a Flying Tiger & Test Pilot who flew with Charles Lindbergh, and highlight some of Clay’s and his parents’ stories in our 2015 Fly Now! “Reality Aviation Documentary.”
On a Journalistic side-note, I think it’s ironic (in a goofy SpecOps sense) that Hank had the “Blackbird” call-sign….after all Combat Talons (the real Blackbirds) do rule… just saying ;>)
Fly Now & Forever!
Brian K. Kissinger, Major – U.S. Air Commando (“retired”)
Creator – Chief Journalist
NN News & Fly Now! Networks
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