Our Video...

Check this out, the "Lucy Gal" project now has a promotional video! A special thanks to Aaron Gulian and Erik Kopp for volunteering their film-making prowess and producing this awesome video. We could not have done it without you guys! Pass this video on to your friends and family to help spread the word about this worthy project, thank you!

P-51B Mustang "Lucy Gal" Project from Aaron Gulian on Vimeo.

For more info. on Aaron Gulian and his film-making services, check out http://www.aarongulian.com.

"God Is My Co-Pilot"

Many of you aviation/WWII enthusiasts have heard of, or read, the book God Is MY Co-Pilot by Robert Lee Scott Jr. Scott was a member of the infamous "Flying Tigers," flying P-40s in defense of China even before the U.S officially entered the war. His famed book was even put up on the big screen in 1945.

Just recently, I was in touch with Leland Pennington's daughter, Cyrillia. She sent me a whole "treasure trove" of pictures and documents pertaining to her father that I had never seen before. Among these leafs of paper was a poem, written by Pennington, titled God Is My Co-Pilot. Leland wrote this during his time in the Aviation Club at Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. This was before he went off to war as a Tuskegee Airman.

This poem gives me a real feeling of connection with who Leland was, and also shows how strong his passion for flight was...

God Is My Co-Pilot

"Yes, I have climbed high into the sun

In a ship that carries only one.

Some, would say one and let it do.

But in my ship their's really two.

For God, is my co-pilot.

As you climb higher into the blue,

God looks down and smiles at you.

He guides the controls of my valiant ship,

And keeps me cool, lest I should slip.

For God, is my co-pilot.

It brings tears, to hear a pilot cry,

I'm earthbound no longer, I am in the sky.

I have no fear of getting back,

With him whispering at my back.

For God, is my co-pilot.

I wouldn't trade my plane,

For all earthly things.

As I ride close to him on silver wings.

So I'll go up high, high as I can.

Where he can lead me by the hand,

For God, is my co-pilot."

Leland Hedges Pennington

Aviation Studies, Monroe High School

Class of 1942

God Is My Co-Pilot will be placed on a plaque, along with Flight Officer Pennington's picture, will be mounted in "Lucy Gal" once construction allows. This whole poem really touched me, and I hope it did the same to you. Donate today and be sure to keep Leland Pennington's legacy alive and flying.

- Austin Hancock

P-51B "Lucy Gal" Project Coordinator