WWII era

[sidevalve8ba]

These World War II era planes were at a local airport for the past couple of days. Fun to look at and more fun to hear run.












Early P-51 Mustang, B-17 & the only still flying B-24.

[Bob NH]

Sidevalve, beautiful aren't they ? They belong to the Collins foundation from Mass. I believe and fly into Laconia, N.H. every so many years. Ocasionally some one has $300 or so and gets a ride around the lakes region. Pretty awsome to see a B-17 come in low over your home, (I live just about 8 miles north of the airport) so I can recognize that all too familiar sound of four big radials coming from a distance. Love it !!!

[4dFord/SC]

Originally Posted by Bob NH

Sidevalve, beautiful aren't they ? They belong to the Collins foundation from Mass. I believe and fly into Laconia, N.H. every so many years. Ocasionally some one has $300 or so and gets a ride around the lakes region. Pretty awsome to see a B-17 come in low over your home, (I live just about 8 miles north of the airport) so I can recognize that all too familiar sound of four big radials coming from a distance. Love it !!!

Makes me feel old(er) to realize that a whole generation has probably never heard the sound of four radial engines

[Fibber Mcgee]

P51 has to be the most beautiful plane ever built.We had Fifi ,the only flying B29 come to Jacksonville a while back and I walked through it but I couldn't get myself to spend the $ 1000 to go up in it. I did however go up in the C 45 and it was a blast.

[sidevalve8ba]

Rides were available in all three of these. The bombers were $450 a pop and the P-51 was $2200 for a half hour or $3200 for an hour. I flew in the B-17 a few years ago when it was a bargain(?) at $300 at that time. The experience is absolutely amazing.

[Bob NH]

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If you had heard the engine and several trips to the hanger with the "51" while up here once, you certainly would question your sanity about going up for a ride even if they gave you the $2200 bucks ! I worked at Sarasota airport in about 56 and a Dr. from town had one of those beauties. It was a screamer in the air !

[TonyM]

Here is a view from the nose section and cockpit when I flew on the B-17 a few years back.

[Ol' Ron]

I wonder if the B-24 was a Ford??

[alanwoodieman]

they will be in Greenville, SC the 17, 18, 19 of October, going to go see them!! love to hear a big radial run up to speed!

[Barry-ct]

They are here in the Connecticut area earlier in the year and my house is right on the path they fly from Hartford (Brainard Field ) and the Oxford airports' Last time they were over the house, they were so low that I could see the waist gunners opening in the side of the B-17. They have such a distinct sound that I can recognize that they are coming and run outside to watch. I spent 22 years restoring WW II Jeeps and 2-1/2 ton GMC's and I read anything on WW II. My kids grew up riding in my Deuce and a half's. These planes are so rare now.

[paul2748]

Every year there is a car/airplane show with WWII airplanes at Teeterboro Airport. They always have a B 17 and once in a while a P 51, among other aircraft. Two years ago (and 450.00) I took a ride in the B 17. It was great.

[barnstuf]

In WWII I was in the service in the ETO (Europe). In basic training we were taught to recognize Allied (USA & UK aircraft vs German by silhouette. Just time wasted to identify that way. The B-17, the P-47, P-51 sand others that we flew all had such distinctive steady engine sound that they were instantly identified by sound because the German planes all had engines that had a throb type sound. No need to look up, if you could hear the engine(s) you could identify friend from foe quickly without looking up. I served first in the Army and later in the Army Air Corps and my Air Corps time was in a Squadron of mechanics who serviced and rebuilt P-51's to keep them flying. It was amazing how they could retrieve a downed P-51 with our C-2 huge wrecker with flat bed trailer, and rebuild the downed plane in some instances.

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I wonder if the B-24 was a Ford??

Sorry, it is not a Ford Built Liberator.

It is 44-44052, built at Fort Worth, Texas, by Consolidated.

[Fibber Mcgee]

Barnstuf, Thank you for your service.

[alanwoodieman]

could have been built of Ford supplied components, remember Ford shipped complete knocked down airplanes, less engines, to several locations for final assembly, the trucks used two and three engines to haul the plane components in specially built trailers

[Drbrown]

Thanks to all those who have served, are serving, and to those that built these wonderful and amazing machines. My worst memorable experience serving in the AF in early 60's Nam times was those darn old (twin eng) flying box cars. Absolutely ruined one's hearing if you were riding in the "drop box" and not in the cockpit. Slow, painful and no glide to save you.

[dean333]

Best $300 I ever spent to fly in a B17 a few years back at an air show in Morris Ill. I swear I felt my Dads spirit with me, he repaired B17 radios when the planes returned shot-up from bombing missions.

[rosenkranswa]

We do home front re-enacting each year at WWII Weekend in Reading PA in June. Last year they had the Commemorative AF B-17, B-24, 3 B-25s, 3 P-51s, a P-47, a Spitfire 16, Dauntless, Helldiver, 2 Avengers, a Val, FM-2 Wildcat, Corsair, C-46, C-47, C-45, C-54, plus lots of trainers and liaisons. Previous years they've had Fifi the B-29, and the Canadians Lancaster. Add to that re-enactor groups from US Pacific, US European, Brits, Russians, Germans, Japanese, Nationalist Chinese, Aussies and US Home Front with lots of vehicles, period entertainers, evening swing dances,and special veterans areas and you have the makings for a wonderful 3 days of unique sights and sounds.

If this sounds like an ad, it is. It's been the highlight of our year for almost 10 years now, for both us and our 20/30 something kids and their families.

[Bob C]

My daughter bought me a ride on the B-24 for fathers day a few years ago, it was a blast.
My dad flew B-24's in WW2 and had some 15 and 16 hour flights, the 1/2 hour was fun
but I can't imagine flying that long.

Bob

[roadster36]

You weren't by chance stationed at Great Ashfield were you ?