From the April 9th Fox 12 (Oregon) News.
Bill Steitz led 85 bombing missions and was on 100 in the European Theater of World War II. At age 19, he was the youngest pilot to ever fly a B-24 bomber and says on reflection that he was lucky to have survived.
On April 8, 1945, 65 years ago, he led the biggest bombing mission during World War II at the front of the entire 15th Air Force in the Plosetti Raid.
Yesterday, he was honored at the Aurora, Oregon, airport on the 65th anniversary of his last mission. he was taken up for a plane ride on a civilian plane.
Too bad It Couldn't Have Been on a B-24, --Cooter
Showing posts with label WW II Aircraft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WW II Aircraft. Show all posts
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bits ' History: World War II Aircraft Crashes-- 3.1 Million
Some New News About Old Stuff.
1. WORLD WAR II AIRCRAFT CRASHES-- In the last two weeks, three vintage World War II aircraft have been involved in crashes. The most recent was in Bakersfield, California.
I'm not sure exactly why there seem to be so many right now. Of course, these aircraft are all over 60 years old.
2. 3.1 MILLION-- I read that HBO recorded an increase of 3.1 million subscribers as a result of the miniseries "The Pacific."
Let's Be More Careful Out There. --Cooter
1. WORLD WAR II AIRCRAFT CRASHES-- In the last two weeks, three vintage World War II aircraft have been involved in crashes. The most recent was in Bakersfield, California.
I'm not sure exactly why there seem to be so many right now. Of course, these aircraft are all over 60 years old.
2. 3.1 MILLION-- I read that HBO recorded an increase of 3.1 million subscribers as a result of the miniseries "The Pacific."
Let's Be More Careful Out There. --Cooter
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Search for the Missing WASP
The March 9th Fox 2 News of St. Louis reports that a local man will be participating in an attempt to locate the wreckage of Gertrude Thompkins Silver's plane and her body in the waters off Santa Monica Bay, California. She was called Tommy by her friends and she is the last missing WASP pilot.
The October 6, 2009 Los Angeles News reported on the first attempt to find her plane this past fall which was unsuccessful. Her last name Silver came from her secret marriage as the military did not allow WASPs to be married.
In 1944, Gertrude and two others took off from Mines Field in Los Angeles and her P-51 Mustang vanished after she flew into a cloud bank and she became one of 38 WASPs to give her life in line of duty.
Her 101-year-old sister still survives and she would like to know what happened.
The search will continue this summer.
Here's Hoping They Find Her. --DaCoot
The October 6, 2009 Los Angeles News reported on the first attempt to find her plane this past fall which was unsuccessful. Her last name Silver came from her secret marriage as the military did not allow WASPs to be married.
In 1944, Gertrude and two others took off from Mines Field in Los Angeles and her P-51 Mustang vanished after she flew into a cloud bank and she became one of 38 WASPs to give her life in line of duty.
Her 101-year-old sister still survives and she would like to know what happened.
The search will continue this summer.
Here's Hoping They Find Her. --DaCoot
WASPs Finally Get Some Respect
Yesterday, in one of my entries, I wrote of three Women Airforce Service Pilots from Virginia who were going to receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during World War II today.
I just found out that not only those three, but all 295 surviving WASPs will be receiving it today. It will be presented to the group as a whole and placed in the Smithsonian. The WASPs and their families will receive bronze replicas.
According to the March 10th Dallas Morning News, a total of 31 Texans, six from the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be getting them. This was authorized by Congress last summer and will be for all 1,102 who served and 11 killed in pilot training.
Since 1992, the Texas Woman's University in Denton has been the repository of the WASP archives and 300 oral histories. A $600,000 endowment fund provides the money to operate it.
The WASPs were deactivated Dec. 20, 1944 as the war was winding down and male pilots became available to do their duties. Women were not allowed to fly military planes again until the Navy authorized it in 1974.
During the war, they flew all 74 types of US military aircraft.
A Much Overdue Honor. --Cooter
I just found out that not only those three, but all 295 surviving WASPs will be receiving it today. It will be presented to the group as a whole and placed in the Smithsonian. The WASPs and their families will receive bronze replicas.
According to the March 10th Dallas Morning News, a total of 31 Texans, six from the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be getting them. This was authorized by Congress last summer and will be for all 1,102 who served and 11 killed in pilot training.
Since 1992, the Texas Woman's University in Denton has been the repository of the WASP archives and 300 oral histories. A $600,000 endowment fund provides the money to operate it.
The WASPs were deactivated Dec. 20, 1944 as the war was winding down and male pilots became available to do their duties. Women were not allowed to fly military planes again until the Navy authorized it in 1974.
During the war, they flew all 74 types of US military aircraft.
A Much Overdue Honor. --Cooter
Friday, May 29, 2009
B-17 "Liberty Belle"
The May 27th Newton (Ia) Daily News had an article by Jessica Lowe about a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber coming to the Des Moines Airport May 31st on its 2009 tour of the US. This one is named the "Liberty Belle" and is 100% accurate from its silver exterior, green interior, multi machine guns, to the bomb casings in the bomb bay.
Rides are being offered in it for $430. Pilot John Shuttleworth says, "You will smell it, hear it, feel it. It is a great living history museum."
It is owned and maintained by Liberty Foundation which was started by Don Brooks because his father was a tail gunner in the original "Liberty Belle." He bought this B-17 in really horrible shape from a Connecticut museum and spent 14 years and $3 million restoring it.
This particular plane was built in 1945 and never saw action. But, its namesake was part of the 390th Bomb Group, and flew 64 combat missions over Germany. During the war, 12,732 B-17s were produced and 4,700 were shot down with the deaths of 40,000 airmen.
It would be interesting to know what happened to the original "Liberty Belle" and if you can just come aboard since the $430 is a bit much for me to spend.
They have an excellent website at www.libertyfoundation.org.
A Real Piece of History. --Cooter
Rides are being offered in it for $430. Pilot John Shuttleworth says, "You will smell it, hear it, feel it. It is a great living history museum."
It is owned and maintained by Liberty Foundation which was started by Don Brooks because his father was a tail gunner in the original "Liberty Belle." He bought this B-17 in really horrible shape from a Connecticut museum and spent 14 years and $3 million restoring it.
This particular plane was built in 1945 and never saw action. But, its namesake was part of the 390th Bomb Group, and flew 64 combat missions over Germany. During the war, 12,732 B-17s were produced and 4,700 were shot down with the deaths of 40,000 airmen.
It would be interesting to know what happened to the original "Liberty Belle" and if you can just come aboard since the $430 is a bit much for me to spend.
They have an excellent website at www.libertyfoundation.org.
A Real Piece of History. --Cooter
Friday, March 21, 2008
World War II German V-1 Rocket Spotted on I-5
There was a lot of staring going on along I-5 in Everett, Washington Monday, when a flatbed pulling a World War II German V-1 Rocket was seen going to its new home at Paine Field.
It is owned by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen and was being moved from Arlington Airport to its new home in a former hangar. Allen began his Flying Heritage Museum ten years ago and two more of his planes will be moved to Paine as well, an American F6F Hellcat and a Japanese Nakijima K143-1B Oscar.
The new facility has 51,000 square feet and is scheduled to open on June 6th.
Hey Buddy, Was that a Rocket I Just Saw on I-5? --Da Cooter
It is owned by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen and was being moved from Arlington Airport to its new home in a former hangar. Allen began his Flying Heritage Museum ten years ago and two more of his planes will be moved to Paine as well, an American F6F Hellcat and a Japanese Nakijima K143-1B Oscar.
The new facility has 51,000 square feet and is scheduled to open on June 6th.
Hey Buddy, Was that a Rocket I Just Saw on I-5? --Da Cooter
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