Former U.S. Marine Corps mechanic Grover Burdell Sassaman will get to relive a little of his distant past this coming Sunday August 25th at Macon Regional Airport in Macon, Georgia. At noon, Wes Stowers will arrive in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing‘s FG-1D Corsair (Bu.92468), an aircraft type that Sassaman was once so familiar with from his time in the South Pacific Theatre during WWII. Awarded the purple heart for the wounds he received in combat, Sassaman will now get to admire the aircraft’s lines in a far more peaceful setting. Interestingly, the Macon native is more commonly recognized in the region for the Harley-Davidson dealership he established soon after the war; at 98 years old, he is the oldest such dealer in the United States.
Sassaman joined the Marines in May, 1942. After completing his training, he shipped out to the South Pacific, where he served on islands in New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, as well as Guadalcanal, Bougainville and others. His notable history includes helping maintain the F4U Corsairs belonging to Major Gregory ‘Pappy’ Boyington’s VMF-214 – Black Sheep Squadron – during the Solomon Islands campaign.
Out on the front lines, where replacement aircraft and parts were often in short supply, maintenance personnel had to use their ingenuity to keep what they did have flying. As an example of such fortitude, Sassaman once combined major components from two damaged Corsairs – one with a ruined forward section and the other broken to the rear – to make one airworthy fighter.
He later embarked with General Douglas MacArthur on his return to the Philippines. Sassaman was injured in the Battle of Luzon and received the Purple Heart in March 1945. He left the Marine Corps in 1945 with the rank of Master Technical Sergeant.
“This is a great service for us to provide to a WWII hero,” said Dixie Wing Leader Jim Buckley. “Our mission is to preserve the sights and sounds of WWII aircraft for all generations, and when we heard of Mr. Sassaman’s desire to see the Corsair that meant so much to him, we felt it would be an honor to make that happen.”
About the CAF Dixie Wing Warbird Museum
The CAF Dixie Wing, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was founded in 1987. One of largest units of the Commemorative Air Force, the unit maintains and flies seven WWII aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, FG-1D Corsair and rare types such as the SBD Dauntless dive bomber and P-63A Kingcobra. The unit, composed of 300 volunteers, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. http://www.dixiewing.org/
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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