If you like WWII airplanes, you'll love this!

PALADIN85020

PALADIN85020

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The video that's linked below is one of the most beautiful I've seen in quite a while. In full HD and with a musical score, it shows a restored B-17 and B-25 in flight over Arizona's rugged Superstition Mountains and Saguaro Lake. The flights began from Falcon Field in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, and were filmed as part of last year's Veteran's day celebration. Be sure to expand to full screen and turn up the audio. The only adjective I can think of is "magnificent." I guarantee you're gonna love it!

Here's the link: H5

John
 
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Thanks John for the link

In the early 90's I was at Falcon field and video taped a B-24 they had visiting...........similar to what my Father flew in WW2 in the Pacific.
 
Magnificent aircraft, back in the early 1980s IIRC this aircraft made it's west coast swing. They stopped in at the Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW). Being an aircraft nut, I took my son over to see her. One does not realize how small a crew member had to be to serve on one of these aircraft until you walk through one.
Excellent video:)
oops,
by "this aircraft" I was referring to the Sentimental Journey.
 

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Bill_inBouse said:
One does not realize how small a crew member had to be to serve on one of these aircraft until you walk through one. Excellent video:)
Click to expand...

Bill: My wife and I took our son to see the Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg, TX on the 4th of July. I was very surprised to see how small some of the uniforms were for our Marines and sailors until I remembered the average age for servicemen during WW-2 was 19. I also remember how slim and trim I was after basic at age 19. It's scary how that cheap GI issue clothing shrinks over the years!

Regards,

Dave
 
The restored B-17, the Sentimental Journey, has been flown and displayed in the Phoenix area for years. It costs a great deal to keep it in flying condition, and donations to the Commemorative Air Force are always appreciated. I remember, as a kid in Phoenix during WWII, seeing B-17s and P-38s flying overhead on training missions. They were thrilling to see, both then and now.

I have kept a spark plug from the Sentimental Journey. It's sitting on my desk now as I write this. It reminds me of the heroism of the men who flew such airplanes in combat. One of my wife's uncles was a waist gunner on a B-17 over North Africa in WWII; sadly he passed away a few years ago. He was certainly on my list of certified heroes from that era.

John

B-17PLUG.jpg
 
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Eat your hearts out guys! A P-47 was practicing aerobatics over my house yesterday.

There's a little museum up the road and there are occasional war bird gathering there. I suspect that's what this was all about.

Ed
 
Awesome footage. I would love to fly one of those but it will happen only in my dreams.

Charlie
 
John,
Beautiful planes, lovely flight, and cool background music.
Thanks for sharing!
586L-Frame
 
Beautiful planes...I have friends (now passed) and spoke to some acquaintances in England who had some really interesting stories on them--first hand accounts of that era in history. I miss those men who have now since passed; one imparticular. Suffice to say, that at times in life we meet people who have a profound impact on our lives, one was a tail gunner who inspired me at a young age to make the best of every day and treat all people fairly.
 
It's unfortunate that the WWII era is fading from consciousness. I had a Geography prof in college that was a waist gunner on a B 17. He had given the "whole 9 yards" many times and lived to tell. I think my favorite of his many stories was landing after a mission and passing a P 51, noticing the "kills" painted under the cockpit. This particular plane had a dozen swastikas and a picture of an outhouse. He asked the pilot for the story and was told "On the way back I saw this "soldier" (insert derogatory term) running into the "facility." I had rounds left so I gave him a short burst. It was a witnessed kill and I'm counting it." Sadly, Dr.A passed long ago. Joe
 
I dont know why. But I got tears in my eyes. This could go on for about an hour. (I love this music to) Thank you Paladin for sharing.
 
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