David Tallichet

Education

Born in Dallas, Texas, Tallichet graduated from the University of the South in Tennessee, the University of Texas at Dallas. And latterly attended the Southern Methodist University in Texas, but left before completing his English degree.

Career

He also owned a significant number of classic military aircraft. Joining the United States Army Air Forces, he was deployed to Europe during World World War II, initially flying as co-pilot on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. His crew became part of the 350th Bombardment Squadron, which joined the 100th Bombardment Group, based at Royal Air Force Thorpe Abbotts, in February 1945.

Flying over 20 missions, they flew in an aircraft called Spirit of Pittwood.

After the end of hostilities, Tallichet flew transport aircraft on missions supporting the rebuilding of the war-torn continent. On return to the United States, he joined the New Mexico Air National Guard, flying the P-51 Mustang.

Tallichet remained on active reserve status in the United States Air Force until 1957. After the end of hostilities in Europe, Tallichet joined the Hilton Hotels.

Restaurants

Their first location was a Polynesian-themed Reef in Long Beach, California, and the second was Castaway in Burbank, California.

At that time, a restaurant with an exotic "theme" was a daring innovation. Twenty years later, funny or exotic restaurant themes had become a well-accepted part of the American landscape. Tallichet continued to design, finance and build more than 100 other restaurants across the United States., including the Proud Bird adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, and 94th Aeronautical Squadron near Van Nuys Airport.

Tallichet"s experience as a military aviator in World World War II had a profound effect on the themes and designs of many of those restaurants.

Tallichet formed, a subsidiary of the restaurant company, to manage his vintage aircraft collection. Inspired by a trip to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the early 1960s, his first purchases were: P-51 Mustang for $13,000.

B-25 Mitchell bomber. Korean War MiG jet; P-40 Tomahawk.

B-29 bomber; and a Martin B-26 Marauder.

Many of the organization"s later aircraft were recovered wrecks from the Pacific Ocean, often around Papua New Guinea. Tallichet enjoyed flying his aircraft, and on hearing about the proposed production of the movie Memphis Belle, offered to fly his own B17 across the Atlantic Ocean to enable production. At one point numbering over 120 aircraft, he slowly reduced the holding from the late 1990s, to around 50 at the time of his death.

The company also made replica classic military aircraft for use as props in films, including Pearl Harbor and Collateral Damage, and which later extended into producing entrance themes for aircraft museums.

Achievements

• In 1958, Tallichet and SeaWorld founder George Millay formed Specialty Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business.