The Father of Old Time Stunt

[Tom Niebuhr]

I answered the phone last night and got a wonderful surprise. In a clear voice I heard:

“Hi Tom this is John Miske”.

Needless to say this almost brought me to tears.

As many know, John had a stroke a while back and he is under going a long recovery. I have talked to Elaine several times, but have only been able to leave messages the last few weeks.

It was truly a Christmas gift to hear from John himself. He is walking a little using a walker, and has regained some of the use of his hands. His voice was clear, but there is some slurred speech as he tires.  He is completely understandable. We talked for quite a while.

I told him that in his honor, I am building an OTS airplane that is one of his favorites.

His memory is astounding. He reminded me of my commutes to the early Garden State Circle Burners meetings. I still lived in the Bronx when I joined the club in its second year. John might be the only one left who recalls that!

John also hears from Larry Scarinzi every week.

John  thanks all the people that have expressed well wishes for his recovery. John and Elaine wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[George]

Tom,

Thanks for posting this. Although some of us do not know John, we know of him, and we do wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

I remember when the first GSCB OTS was covered in the mags. Guys with the straw hats...looking like they were in a barbershop quartet...beautiful old time planes.

And I wish you and yours, John & Elaine, and everyone else a Merry Christmas...God bless us, every one!

George

[Joe Gilbert]

Great news and thanks for sharing.

[Tom Niebuhr]

George,
Here are the pictures that you are referring to. M.A.N. covered it in color. The originals were slides, and were printed backwards. Some of the same pictures were in FM in black & white, but were printed correctly. That's John Miske, middle right and in all the group pictures. My wife Linda and I are at the lower left.

It was a great time. 2010 is the 40th anniversary. It would be great to see the costumes again at the anniversary meet at the Circle Burners, and I hope that VSC can also commemorate the 40th anniversary.

[Dennis Adamisin]

FANTASTIC news Tom, THANKS for sharing.

[john e. holliday]

That is great news about John as he is the one I got the Mars plans from.  Has it really been 40 years since the idea of Old Time Stunt started?  You were a skinny kid back then as well as the rest of us.  I met John at the first Chickopee NATS if I remember right.  Maybe the second one as I was trying to fly a Mars in which the old Fox decided it wanted to run lean.  MERRY CHRISTMAS