B17 "nine o nine"and B24 "witchcraft"

The Collings Foundation was in town this weekend on their "Wings of Freedom 2012" tour....here's some pics.......
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A few more....
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not WWII related but found out the Skyraider in the foreground of the last pic was recently purchased by the Foundation....

 

we you able to talk with any bomber vets ? when these two crates show up there is usually a nice turnout of Gents reliving memories

 

Why yes it is however didn't see it fly any this weekend.....

 

No sad thing was I was catching them at the end of the days activities and all that was around was a few aviation geeks like me, then the last paid patrons for the flight... didn't see any that appeared to be WWII vintage if you will.
They also had a P51C here but didn't see it out...was told they hangared it guess it was because we had some storms around also but not sure....will go back through my pics I may have a shot of it from night before

 

Well couldn't find pics of the P51C...think I deleted them based on poor quality
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Wasn't kidding when I said night before hopefully they are not to dark for everyone

 

few more.......
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Didn't see this thread when it came out, so sorry for posting so late. They were in my town just before going to OKC. Will attempt to add my pics of the P51 to this. Took a lot of video but very few stills. Was severly tempted to take a ride in the B-17, but couldn't bring myself to part with the 400 or so. The 51 cost was about 2k for an hour.

They flew some WWII vets to OKC free of charge in the 17, 24 and 51 if they lived near Oklahoma City, and were willing to drive the 150 miles to where I live and fly back. The one who went in the 51 was a 51 pilot during the war.

Talked to the 51 pilot quite a bit, and he stated something to the effect that they manufactured the 51 (don't remember the specifics) as opposed to being a C model that was restored.

 

Just found this thread...

Very cool stuff! I was lucky enough to snare a free ride in Witchcraft several years ago when the Collings Foundation came through Minnesota--VERY cool. I have a lot of great pics as well.

I'm even wearing my Witchcraft t-shirt as I type this! Serendipity!

 

Clint, I posted this earlier in a different thread. A friend of a friend got to ride in the Nine O Nine and he posted photos. The first photo caught my eye because I thought it was a Norden bombsight, but the guy posting the photos didn't know. Do you remember seeing this and would you know if this is a Norden bombsight?

They are going to be in two cities very near me in early August so it looks as if I will get to see them! I'm excited.


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Clementine, not an expert but just what I've seen of them yes it is.....and I wish I would have been able to take a ride its at least on the bucket list!


adambhoy, add your pics here if you want I'd love to see them!

 

Thanks so much! I know what you mean. I am just pleased I'll get to see them.

 

Yes they are a treat...if you ever are in Phoenix be sure to check out the CAF museum in Mesa at Falcon Field great place and home to Sentimental Journey(seen her numerous times)!!!

 

I definitely will.

 

Thought this was an interesting photo. To give credit where it is due, the photo is courtesy of the Collings Foundation. Their Wings of Freedom Tour will be in my area this weekend.

The comment posted with the pic was: "The ultimate in "overhaulin"...Zero timed engine on the forklift about to be installed."

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Here's a similar photo of a No. 1 engine change, but from 1944. This aircraft is 41-29279 of the 376th BG. It made an emergency landing on an Adriatic beach and the Air Service Command changed two engines, props and superchargers and built a PSP runway on the beach to fly the aircraft out.
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So many of my photos were similar to the photos posted above, so I won't post them, but in light of my question about the Norden bombsight, I am happy to say I got to see it for myself.

Photos of the Nine O Nine.


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The B-24 - "Witchcraft." I thought I wouldn't get to see the Mustang because Mitt Romney flew in while I was there and they had to put it away in a hanger and the secret service wouldn't let anyone in the area until his motorcade left. He probably thought I was his greatest fan, but what I was really doing was trying to motion for him to hurry up and go.


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nice pics there Clementine!!!!