Air show collision: B17 and P63

[ovrszd]

Not to distract from this tragedy in anyway, actually to reinforce the meaning of the bomber loss, here's some pics from my Dad's 8th Air Force days during WWII. His wing was mostly B24 Liberators. Sometimes B17s were mixed in but rarely.

 

[ovrszd]

I grew up spending time listening to my Dad and looking thru this book hundreds of times. His stories brought reality to the pictures.

Before every mission the crews gathered for mission briefing. For security reasons this briefing was given just before they suited up and boarded the bombers.

This picture is my most favorite. I cannot look at it today without my imagination going wild. I've studied every man in that picture. I've analyzed their emotions studying their faces. I've always wondered how many made it home. The stories these men could tell...... Salute.

 

[MossRoad]

It's nice to have some things like that, and the stories to go along with them. I have a few items from my father in WWII as well. South Pacific combat engineering battalion.

 

[2manyrocks]

One of the difficulties for the pilots is that they appeared to be trying to line up their aircraft away from the spectators, but close enough for them to see the aircraft which puts both aircraft in a relatively confined space.

Given the age of these aircraft, I wonder when the supply of parts and people who know how to keep them repaired is going to run out.

 

[ovrszd]

It's nice to have some things like that, and the stories to go along with them. I have a few items from my father in WWII as well. South Pacific combat engineering battalion.

As a young kid it was common to sit around the table and listen to Dad tell stories of WWII. I was forever "altered" by it. It all flashes back in my mind every time I see a Soldier in uniform.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My Uncle was with the 3rd Armored Division during the war, and he was with them when they liberated the slave labor camp at Nordhausen. Anyone who heard his stories would never deny the Holocaust, although he talked about it very little.

 

[ovrszd]

My Uncle was with the 3rd Armored Division during the war, and he was with them when they liberated the slave labor camp at Nordhausen. Anyone who heard his stories would never deny the Holocaust, although he talked about it very little.

I cannot imagine.

 

[ArlyA]

Years ago I was working on a fellows lake cabin and dock etc, etc and when i was done and went inside, I noted a photo of a b-29 on the wall. I asked him about it and he said that he was a pilot of that in the Pacific during the war. I asked him for more details and he eventually told me "We were over japan and got all shot up and knew we couldn't get back so I told the crew to jump and we radioed that position in asking for a patrol boat to get those guys. Me and the co-pilot turned back and skidded to a stop in a field and survived the crash fine, but we seen the public heading our way with tools to make quick work of us two. After bombing them for months, they were not happy with us but the Japanese army showed up just before they did and turned there weapons on the crowd. They saved our lives and sent us to a intern camp for 2 months and the war was over". So I asked if his crew was picked up? and he said "No, the Japanese navy most likely got them, interrogated them and threw them over with weights when done. There navy did that all the time."

Sad but I cherish hearing these stories.

 

[ovrszd]

Years ago I was working on a fellows lake cabin and dock etc, etc and when i was done and went inside, I noted a photo of a b-29 on the wall. I asked him about it and he said that he was a pilot of that in the Pacific during the war. I asked him for more details and he eventually told me "We were over japan and got all shot up and knew we couldn't get back so I told the crew to jump and we radioed that position in asking for a patrol boat to get those guys. Me and the co-pilot turned back and skidded to a stop in a field and survived the crash fine, but we seen the public heading our way with tools to make quick work of us two. After bombing them for months, they were not happy with us but the Japanese army showed up just before they did and turned there weapons on the crowd. They saved our lives and sent us to a intern camp for 2 months and the war was over". So I asked if his crew was picked up? and he said "No, the Japanese navy most likely got them, interrogated them and threw them over with weights when done. There navy did that all the time."

Sad but I cherish hearing these stories.

Thanks for sharing it Arly.

 

[ovrszd]

A must see movie about WWII bombers is Memphis Belle.

If you are reading this thread and haven't saw it you are missing out.