P-51 Mustang
Recently, my Dad and I took a trip to our regional airport in Weyers Cave, VA and toured the Wings of Freedom exhibit of four vintage WWII airplanes. It was a picture perfect day for the event and the airplanes were amazing. This particular edition of this blog will be short on text and length....yay!
I will however, post some neat photos of the exterior and interior of two of the airplanes and provide links to each planes' history & specs.
But before we begin, here's a link to the Collings Foundation which puts on this show and exhibit around the country. If they ever come to your town, be sure to go. It'll be worth it!
Aircraft featured in exhibit
B-24J Liberator
Wikipedia link: B-24J Liberator History and Specs
Dad in front of B-24 J Libertor
Guns fired from the side of the aircraft
Jump seats and the cockpit
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Rear gunnery position
Rear of plane
Very cozy and cramped. Had to be very uncomfortable for the men on board.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Wikipedia link: B-17 History and Specs
Dad by the Flying Fortress
A monster of a plane with a 103' wingspan
B-17
The cockpit
Front of B-17
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Rear of plane
Gunnery position. Mike's Uncle George was a gunnery in WWII on a B-17
One of the plane's 6 propellers
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Even though the B-17 is a much larger plane, it was still very cozy and tight inside. I couldn't even stand up to full height. You definitely cannot suffer from claustrophobia in these things.
B-25 Mitchell
The B-25 Mitchell gained fame in 1942 when a fleet of 16 B-25Bs attacked Japan four months after Pearl Harbor. This was known as the Doolittle Raid, led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle.
Wikipedia link: B-25 Mitchell History and Specs
We weren't able to take a peek inside the B-25 as it was the one plane being used for passenger flights. I did however shoot the following video of it starting up and taking off.
P-51 Mustang
Wikipedia link: P-51 Mustang History and Specs
We weren't able to see this plane up close, but Dad said it was one of his favorites. A very fast little plane.
Hope you have enjoyed this little bit of history into WWII aviation. I know we did.
Until my next adventure......Happy Travels
Melody
B-25 Mitchell
The B-25 Mitchell gained fame in 1942 when a fleet of 16 B-25Bs attacked Japan four months after Pearl Harbor. This was known as the Doolittle Raid, led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle.
Wikipedia link: B-25 Mitchell History and Specs
We weren't able to take a peek inside the B-25 as it was the one plane being used for passenger flights. I did however shoot the following video of it starting up and taking off.
P-51 Mustang
Wikipedia link: P-51 Mustang History and Specs
We weren't able to see this plane up close, but Dad said it was one of his favorites. A very fast little plane.
Hope you have enjoyed this little bit of history into WWII aviation. I know we did.
Until my next adventure......Happy Travels
Melody