A vision from the past

K

K80Geoff

New member
OK so I'm sentimental but...

Came home today after a nasty day at work, too lazy to cook so I went to the local chinese take out . Pulled up into my driveway and got out and heard a strange sound from above.

It was a beautifully restored B17!

It is apparently "visiting" the local aerodrome. Incredible sight! And the sound from the four engines,wow!

OK so what does this have to do with guns. ... I just wonder what all of the airmen who died in those machines over Europe and in the Pacific would think about our country's current leadership? How many of them were under 21 when they died and would be affected by some of the current laws (Like Pataki's ban on sales to anyone under 21)

How many survivors are in Veterans hospitals not getting the care they deserve.

Maybe I'll go visit her this weekend at the airfield.


Geoff Ross
 
Geoff...way kewl. Love those old birds since I was a kid. i'm particular to the Warthog because of it's old styling. Try and get some decent pic will ya? :)
 
While you are there, giver her a salute from yours truly. A true symbol of sacrifice, nobility, and freedom.

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
The first time I visited Bennington, Vermont (1994), I drove by the airfield. Lo & behold! Olive Drab DC-3 with black and white invasion stripes. There were at least 6 of these venerable birds and a walk around the airfield (with permission of course) led me to a Yellow Peril, a Stearman biplane which was painted yellow of course. The gooneybirds were used to haul checks to the clearing house.

The B-17, Picadilly Lily of the TV Series, 12 O'Clock High, is presently located in Chino, CA and will soon have "Lily" repainted on her nose. The Vets collective view was, "To he** with political correctness! It's historically correct for the Picadilly Lily to have Lily on her, so we're going to paint her back on." BTW, the Picadilly Lily never flew a combat mission and was used for training here in the states.
 
Nothing finer to see then to see one of those ;) No matter how bad they were hit they could always bring them home :) Sorry to say that so few are left :(

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
I dunno about B-17s.. but I get to see C-130s all the time!! :D

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God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!

oberkommando sez:
"We lost the first and third and now they are after the Second!(no pun intended)"

As seen in Atlanta's AJC, The Vent: "Hey, where do you sign up for one of Mr. Gore's new giveaway programs?"
 
I have a .50 BMG round that a guy gave me when I was touring his B-17 during an air show. We got along real well and he said, "Want a momento?" and I said sure and he gave me that bullet :)

I have it on the desk in front of me actually.

Neat planes.

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The Alcove

I twist the facts until they tell the truth. -Some intellectual sadist

The Bill of Rights is a document of brilliance, a document of wisdom, and it is the ultimate law, spoken or not, for the very concept of a society that holds liberty above the desire for ever greater power. -Me
 
Yesterday at the gun show, I spoke with two USAF O-2s (reservists) from Charleston, SC. They fly "air evac" missions in a DC-9 which is older than they are.

One has a brother who flies B-52s which are the age of their father!
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Saw a B-17 fly (low-level) over our home a year or so ago. Gotta love that Confederate Air Force! ;)

BTW, the Confederate Air Force was told to change its "racist" name. The replies apparently were not printable! :D
 
How coincidental------
I was just telling my wife how it was about time to make a trip to the USAF Museum in
Dayton,Ohio soon.

This thread must be an omen I will have to follow.

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"Any world that I'm welcome to.....Is better than the one I come from"
 
I was in the Air Force and was around plenty of contemporary birds. Around 1986 I was a driving instructor for the dep`t at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. It`s a deactivated NAS. If you look at a marine map, the seaplane runways are still marked in the channels. Two privately owned PBY Catalinas flew in to take part in a historic trip. I was standing on the ramp when they landed and taxied out of the water. Awesome sight. Wish I had a camera that day. The guys who flew all of those birds in war clanked when they walked. :D
 
Sorry I can't tell you exactly what it was, but it looked WWII and bomber in vintage. On my way down to Massilon Ohio Sunday morning to shoot, a majestic old warbird slowly climbed up from the Akron airport. What a sight! Even now, a good 24 hrs later I got goosebumps. Jets are neat to watch, even commercial ones, when they pour it on and stand somewhat on their tails at takeoff, BUT Gawd-almighty-damn, those big old "lopers" just rise out of the ground with nothing short of *purpose*. I honestly got the feeling that old plane was saying "Here I am. do your worst, I can still kick some rightous tail". Impressive is so much of an understatement! Remided me of lot of seeing the USS Constitution(Old Ironsides) as a kid. You just kinda knew deep in your heart there was one more "punch" left in 'em if they were called on.
 
If you're ever in Memphis, go down to Riverside drive. There you'll find a pavillion and inside is the "Memphis Belle". The only B-17 still in existance with a combat record. She doesn't fly anymore, but damned she's pretty.
BTW: She draws all the WWII planes to this area at least once a year. Its really not that surprising around here to look up and see a B-17, B-24, P-51 or P-40. Even the occasional Zero or Messerschmidt.(sp?)
And they're all still impressive!

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Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
 
Was just at the Air Force Museum Website.

Man o man. 300 Planes on display, May be taking a trip myself soon. ;)


They even have an F 104 Starfighter!
 
How did I miss *this* thread?! Ah, well... :(

Several years ago, the Livermore, CA air show had a couple of special guests. I was at work in Pleasanton when my ears perked to a throaty rumble not associated with the run of the mill aircraft that arrive / depart from Livermore airport.

I ran to the window. A B-17 and a B-24 flying in nice formation. They were so close, I felt like I could have reached out and touched them. I wish I had my camera.

Cliff
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cliff:
How did I miss *this* thread?! Ah, well... :(

Several years ago, the Livermore, CA air show had a couple of special guests. I was at work in Pleasanton when my ears perked to a throaty rumble not associated with the run of the mill aircraft that arrive / depart from Livermore airport.

I ran to the window. A B-17 and a B-24 flying in nice formation. They were so close, I felt like I could have reached out and touched them. I wish I had my camera.

Cliff[/quote]
I was driving on a different backroad on my way home to eastern central Indiana one recent Sunday afternoon and saw signs of a small airport just beyond the cornfield. As I came into the clear I saw a DC3 sitting about 30 yards from the road. The #1 engien was off but the airplane was in otherwise good repair. We live on the lfight path from Wright Patterson and I can still remember seeing a flight of B36s when I was a kid; the sound shook the ground. Every now and then my ears tell me an airplane is passsing overhead that is out of the ordinary and I will look up to see a warbird or a Connie or something equally interesting. It's like seeing a bald eagle. Memorable. Hard to convey the sentiment of such a sighting to someone else. I am involved in vintage racing and get the nearly the same chills-- but not so profound- when I see a Birdcage or Scarab on the track.
 
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