Posted on 09/25/2009 12:00:33 PM PDT by txroadkill
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - World War II pilot Bernerd Harding feels he has finally completed his mission—65 years after his B-24, nicknamed Georgette, was shot down over Germany. Harding, now 90, flew Friday from Laconia to Manchester aboard the Witchcraft—the last B-24 still flying.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
ping
NH ping! FReepmail me if you want on or off this list.
That is a cool story - One note - that is not the last B-24 flying but it is close please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_survivors
I think I counted 3 but could have missed one or two
Thanks again for posting the story
The glide path to MHT’s main runway goes right over my house, about 5 miles out. During the last few years I’ve been above to catch sight of these wonderful aircraft from my backyard. Last year I had a B-24 roar over at about 5,000 feet, which was quite an impressive sight.
Thanks for the ping!
Thank you for your Service Lieutenant Harding.
I had an 89 year old vet in my office yesterday who was on 32 combat missions over Germany as a belly gunner in a B17 during WWII. Great old fellow! I am honored to represent him.
Not the last flying B-24!
No doubt publcik skool edicated journalist.
What a great looking plane and the excitement on the guys face made me smile - thanks for sharing
Your right!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-24_Liberator#Survivors
There are only three flying B-24s in the world, a B-24J named Joe of Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida; a B-24A named Ole 927 of Commemorative Air Force in Addison, Texas; and a B-24J named Witchcraft of the Collings Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts. There are five complete airframes on static display in the U.S., five complete airframes on static display outside of the U.S. and nine partial airframes/wrecks in the world.
bump
I served 10 years in the Air Force, some of that overseas in the Southwest Asia theater. That said, I’m not worthy enough to polish this guy’s or any other WWII veteran’s shoes.
Mike W USAF
I flew in that one 2 years ago when it was touring the country.
That’s one of the planes in the fleet belonging to the Collings Foundation.
I’ve actually ridden in that one as well as their restored B-17. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience and well worth the cost of the donation.
I run into some of those guys yearly at Oshkosh for the airshow - we spend the week there and love it - meeting the old timers.
Our life is richer for knowing men like that!
Thanks for your service
My dad was a B-24 tailgunner out of Spinnizola Italy.
Theres another one flying at Oshkosh every year - I cant remember the name. Here is a picture from this year:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(Experimental-Aircraft/Boeing-B-17G-Flying/1099765/
Anyone who gets the chance, it's a great experience, highly recommended. Sitting in the nose watching the world come and pass by was wonderful.
Imagine at one time that the sky was full of them. They could put a thousand of them against one target in Germany, so many that they had to invent the term “bomber stream” to describe it.
You should be seeing them again by now Andy.
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_schedule-wof.htm
The last a/s I went to in NH was at Boire Field, Nashua in 2004.
Wow! He looks like one very happy man! Usually only children have that amazed look of wonderment. I’m sure it brought back many memories.
Correct. This is not the last B-24 flying. Despite many requests from the CAF, Collins Foundation persists in claiming to have the only flying B-24. Not true. Ole ‘927 (formerly Diamond Lil) of the Confederate....urrrr....Commemorative (to be PC) Air Force is certainly flying and I saw it with my own eyes several weeks ago at a warbird fly-in in which we both participated.
I do recognize the good Collins does in providing such rides for vets; I just wish they would stop their erroneous claims.
Home school? Its the best!!!
We home schooled our son. Had a beautiful place in the country where he learned the 3 Rs as well as many things the publik skool didn’t teach. Socialized with Boy Scouts, made Eagle and 4H Shooting Sports. Went on to do very well as a helo mech after 6 years in the Navy.
Home school was the best thing we did for him.
They were flying B-24J named Witchcraft of the Collings Foundation here a few years ago. Wanted to hitch a ride on her, but they had a beautiful B-25 I could not resist.
24s were a mean looking bomber. My Dad flew as Flight Engineer on the ones converted to AvGas tanker (can’t remember the designation), 50+ missions “Over the Hump” India to China.
Sounds like your son turned out alright. I’m also an Eagle Scout (at age 16), hunted all my life, 4 years USAF (earned “marksman” rating during M16 traning), now successful in IT security, married to a brilliant aerospace engineer. We both attended public school, as do our 3 children.
I’ve never claimed homeschooling to be inferior to private or public education. But it seems many homeschoolers have no difficulty claiming the opposite to be true. When they paint with a broad brush, I’ll call them on it everytime.
The fact you had the self motivation necessary to become an Eagle Scout clearly shows you have the grit to also successfully wade the public school swamp. Many students can be overwhelmed by the distractions, violence, push against individuality and focus on “school district's status” test results.
Home school often is a worthwhile choice to the many out of control public schools. Home schooled often score better on tests on basic skills, SAT and not to mention practically grand slamming National Spelling Bees.
Successful public school students do so in-spite of public schooling, not because of it.
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