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A local airfield was having a visit from some restored WWII warbirds this weekend. I've always wanted to see these, so took the wife and kids out to it. Awesome stuff - it's quite an experience in person. Waaayyy different than you might expect these planes to really to be. It sure gave me a new appreciation of what it was like for that "greatest generation". 
(...Not to mention how much shorter and thinner they must've been than us, because the hatches and planes were so small and cramped inside!)
I know some others here are WWII warbird fans, too, so thought I'd share. Pics first, and then a short bittersweet story....
B-25 Mitchell "Tondelayo"
B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"
Nosegun
My oldest feeding me ammo to fight off some ME109s with a 50 cal.
B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine"
Tailgun
Bombadier's station
Bomb Bay
Belly Turret
A gunner's view from inside the Top Turret
As I was waiting in line to go into the B-24, there was an eldery lady in front of me. She seemed nervous and hesitant. I asked if she was OK. She replied "I'm not sure if I can go in there." I assumed she was afraid for her semi-frail condition, and trying to get into the very small ladder and hatch to board at the rear belly of the aircraft. Not having been in them before, I replied "Yeah, I hear it might be a tight space" but tried to reassure her it'd be OK. Eventually, it was our turn and, with a little hesitation, she ducked down low and climbed up in front of me.
It took a few minutes to get through the (very) cramped space and check it all out. Especially cramped walking through the bomb bay. As we finally approached the pilots' space up front before exiting, she turned to me and said "My husband flew these during the war. He was in the raid over Ploiesti." It was then that I realized that her earlier hesitation wasn't from physical concerns at all - it was emotional. She obviously had a lot of memories flowing through her in those moments. I didn't have the heart to ask if her husband was still with us. By his absence, I was guessing not. Not wanting to make it any worse for her, I just said "It seemed to have been a hell of a battle, and his sacrifices are still appreciated".
God bless those men. And the women they left at home.
(...Not to mention how much shorter and thinner they must've been than us, because the hatches and planes were so small and cramped inside!)
I know some others here are WWII warbird fans, too, so thought I'd share. Pics first, and then a short bittersweet story....
B-25 Mitchell "Tondelayo"
B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"
Nosegun
My oldest feeding me ammo to fight off some ME109s with a 50 cal.
B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine"
Tailgun
Bombadier's station
Bomb Bay
Belly Turret
A gunner's view from inside the Top Turret
As I was waiting in line to go into the B-24, there was an eldery lady in front of me. She seemed nervous and hesitant. I asked if she was OK. She replied "I'm not sure if I can go in there." I assumed she was afraid for her semi-frail condition, and trying to get into the very small ladder and hatch to board at the rear belly of the aircraft. Not having been in them before, I replied "Yeah, I hear it might be a tight space" but tried to reassure her it'd be OK. Eventually, it was our turn and, with a little hesitation, she ducked down low and climbed up in front of me.
It took a few minutes to get through the (very) cramped space and check it all out. Especially cramped walking through the bomb bay. As we finally approached the pilots' space up front before exiting, she turned to me and said "My husband flew these during the war. He was in the raid over Ploiesti." It was then that I realized that her earlier hesitation wasn't from physical concerns at all - it was emotional. She obviously had a lot of memories flowing through her in those moments. I didn't have the heart to ask if her husband was still with us. By his absence, I was guessing not. Not wanting to make it any worse for her, I just said "It seemed to have been a hell of a battle, and his sacrifices are still appreciated".
God bless those men. And the women they left at home.
) and they were working on one of the engines this weekend and I have a wife and two small children to think about...well...I chickened out on that one.
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