Our friend and mentor, Doug Woodin, known on this board as PA24, went home to be with his beloved wife, and his Lord, on March 1, 2016. Doug was a multi-talented man and a skilled craftsman, a Veteran aviator, and later a commercial pilot. "PA24" was a handle he chose from the Piper Comanche aircraft he admired so much. Doug showed us the meaning of perfectionism in his mastery of refinishing wood and metal on vintage shotguns. His wisdom and wit will be sorely missed and long remembered by many. His generosity and loyalty toward his friends were second to none.

Rest in peace, friend.

Stan

A fine gunsmith, a pilot, a combat pilot, and an avid hunter. A man's man.

Rest in peace Doug.

Best,

Mike

Didn't even know of Doug Woodin until today...rapidly getting "up to speed" regarding this man. Sounded like quite a guy, I regret that I wasn't "around" on this board to interact with him. My condolences to friends and family of Doug's...

This poem for pilots is appropriate for Doug.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air… .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Thank you for posting that poem here, Chuck. It is most fitting.

Stan

We were on opposite sides of politics but Doug was always generous to me.