Maybe I should ask, do any of you young pups even know the name ...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?...inue=7&v=O1z6BDBakYQ

In addition, he was an avid big game hunter although some of his Africa exploits were controversial from a Sportsman's view. He was also an accomplished horseman.

I remember Arthur, but had no idea of Naval Aviator past.

Thanks, Bill!

Thank you Bill, interesting.

Like so many back then there was a LOT more to them than we saw on TV or big screen.

He was never a favorite at our house, and he was apparently a real asshole to work for. But I can't deny him his accomplishments.

He had many accomplishments but at one point it all went to his head .IIRC they pulled his pilots ticket ,something about a pitot tube !

The hangar he kept his Dc-3 was turned into the piston repair shop at JYO in Leesburg, VA. He also had a kind of wild game farm near there with exotics. An old family friend bought his buffalo to help build his small herd of 75.

One of Godfrey's contemporaries.

I don't think he was an aviator......but he enjoyed rifles, and had some very nice shotguns.

One of my favorites......holding one of my favorites.

Kevin

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
he was apparently a real asshole to work for.

That comes through pretty clearly in the piece you posted.

I never tire of Connie's though...

Kevin, I did not know Red Skelton was a rifle crank. Thanks for putting that up. Y'all probably know that Mel Tormé, The Velvet Fog, was a serious Colt collector.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
He was never a favorite at our house, and he was apparently a real asshole to work for. But I can't deny him his accomplishments.

A lot of Hollywood types seem to fit that description.

Grizz

Bill,

Yep.....ol' Red enjoyed his shooting. He owned a few O'Brien rifles, like the one he's holding. BTW, the other guy is Mickey O'Brien...Vern's brother.

Other celebs also had O'Brien rifles.....Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Don Adams are a few.

Below is a pic of one of mine.....a 17 Javelina.

Kevin

I once owned a custom rifle built for Godfrey. It was a switch-barrel Remington 700 with barrel/forend sets in 30-06 and 6mm Remington. It came in a Mahogany case with green velvet lining. It had a brass plaque on the case inscribed "Arthur Godfrey 1956".

Jon, that's amazing. Thanks for sharing. Poor old neglected 6mm Remington ...

Bill,I am at an age that I remember Arthur Godfrey quite well. I was not aware of his hunting interests however in the 50's it was quite the craze,especially after Ruark rekindled the flames of Papas 1933 green Hills.I still remember as a kid the total plethora of movies in the African big game genre,+ watching them in the drive ins.That dates me too I suppose.I did find it interesting about the photo you posted where he is with Red Skelton + Red is touching the rifle. Red had an aversion to firearms after his wife committed suicide by blowing her brains out.If you remember from his T.V. show in his skits he NEVER pointed a pistol at any one;he always pointed it at the floor before the shot sound rang out.

Oh + besides let us never forget Jimmy Stewart.Now that is a man that I consider an aviation hero.

Randy, and Dr. George McGovern, God rest his great American soul.

They were indeed as Stephen Ambrose called them "The Greatest Generation".