scottcolbath
Member
So, this Chinook is being piloted by a local to Phoenix guy, named Jerry Clifton. Apparently this sort of stuff was done with a guy in the rear on comm, to the pilot. They would back the chopper right up to a cliff and load/unload. Rather cool.
Jerry joined the Phoenix PD back in 1962, and was issued a Smith and Wesson Model 10, just like the one I bought a while back, because I thought an old police service revolver was a cool and interesting gun to have. Mine was made in 1961 and stamped on the butt with PDDnnnn. A genuine Phoenix Police Department gun.
Jerry was drafted and served in Vietnam, where he became a Chinook pilot. When he got out, he went back to the Phoenix PD, who promptly told him to sod off, and apply for his job again from scratch, since he was gone four years, and they only allowed for a two year LOA for military service. He walked out of the PPD building and went across the street to the Maricopa County Sheriff's office, who was happy to have him as an employee. He flew for them, eventually also the Phoenix PD, then for the local news stations, eventually retiring. He was a witness in the air to a horrible helicopter collision here in Phoenix, back around 2009. Two choppers hit, both went down, everyone died.
Chasing a Story: The 2007 Phoenix news helicopter collision | by Admiral Cloudberg | Medium
A couple weeks ago, I dropped off that Model 10 to Nelson Ford for a little work. Wednesday this week, he called me and asked if I wanted to sell it, filling me in on much of what I just said above.
So I went down to the shop, met Jerry, and sold him the gun. Turns out, he's been looking for an original Phoenix PD issued revolver, just like his old one. It was a sentimental thing. I totally get it, and had no problem handing the gun over to him. I also made a tidy profit, but I would have let him have it for what I had into it. He was happy to toss me $750. It felt good reuniting a guy with something from his past.
S.C.
Jerry joined the Phoenix PD back in 1962, and was issued a Smith and Wesson Model 10, just like the one I bought a while back, because I thought an old police service revolver was a cool and interesting gun to have. Mine was made in 1961 and stamped on the butt with PDDnnnn. A genuine Phoenix Police Department gun.
Jerry was drafted and served in Vietnam, where he became a Chinook pilot. When he got out, he went back to the Phoenix PD, who promptly told him to sod off, and apply for his job again from scratch, since he was gone four years, and they only allowed for a two year LOA for military service. He walked out of the PPD building and went across the street to the Maricopa County Sheriff's office, who was happy to have him as an employee. He flew for them, eventually also the Phoenix PD, then for the local news stations, eventually retiring. He was a witness in the air to a horrible helicopter collision here in Phoenix, back around 2009. Two choppers hit, both went down, everyone died.
Chasing a Story: The 2007 Phoenix news helicopter collision | by Admiral Cloudberg | Medium
A couple weeks ago, I dropped off that Model 10 to Nelson Ford for a little work. Wednesday this week, he called me and asked if I wanted to sell it, filling me in on much of what I just said above.
So I went down to the shop, met Jerry, and sold him the gun. Turns out, he's been looking for an original Phoenix PD issued revolver, just like his old one. It was a sentimental thing. I totally get it, and had no problem handing the gun over to him. I also made a tidy profit, but I would have let him have it for what I had into it. He was happy to toss me $750. It felt good reuniting a guy with something from his past.
S.C.
