World War II planes will bring past to life (Gulfport, MS)

Sun Herald ^ | March 7, 2012 | By MICHAEL NEWSOM

[Islander7]

GULFPORT -- World War II era combat aircraft will land this afternoon and be here for three days, giving locals a chance to climb aboard them and look around as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour.

They’ll also be seen in the skies above South Mississippi over the next three days as locals can buy rides on the historic planes.

The tour will feature a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a Consolidated B-24J Liberator and a North American P-51 Mustang, which will land at 2 p.m. at Atlantic Aviation and remain there until Friday at noon. Locals will get a chance to see the rare aircraft, which are configured as they would have been during the war.

[Islander7]

Ground tours are much cheaper though at $12 for adults. Chaney said the group will give free admission for ground tours to local World War II veterans in hopes they will come out and see the planes and talk to visitors about their experiences in combat.

Most of those vets are at least 85 years old and many die each day.

“We encourage people to come out and meet with their local World War II veterans while they still can,” Chaney said. “We don’t have more than a few years until we won’t have the opportunity to do that.”

[Islander7]

Magnolia State Ping!

Great opportunity to teach history to the young 'uns.

[Bender2]

Re: The [Wings of Freedom] group’s B-24J is the only one left still flying...

Seems they forgot about the Confederate Air Force's... eh--

Make that the Commemorative Air Force's "Old 927" B-24... which to my knowledge is still flying and scheduled 31 May - 3 June in the MAAM World War II Days at Reading, PA.

Here's to ya... Old 927!

If red X above go to http://pegasusnews.com/media/img/photos/2009/05/16/thumbs/IMG_1318_ol927_tease.jpg.728x520_q85.jpg

[sassy steel magnolia]

How very cool! Such a treasure to be able to see—and it’s so very inspiring to meet and talk with the veterans of past wars.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I have talked to WWII veterans on both sides of the battle attack at Pearl Harbor, both survivors on the US Navy side, as well as a combatant (Imperial Navy) on the enemy side (in Japanese). I have talked to civilian survivors of Hiroshima atomic attack as well, and also have met General Jimmy Doolittle in person, famous B-25 air raider of Tokyo. I have talked to all sides of the conflict, and glad I did so before they all passed from the scene...to get Pacific Theater history relived in live words by the men who experienced it, both fighting for Old Glory, as well as Emperor Hirohito and the criminal Hideki Tojo War Cabinet. PS Would LOVE to take a ride in a Mustang, the cadillac of the sky. Just to hear that engine. MAN!! Hot diggity dawg...

[AmericanInTokyo]

Good Times!!!

[AngelesCrestHighway]

If you can, check out the Air show in Chino, Ca.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=general-info

[M1903A1]

Technically, IIRC, what the CAF has is actually an LB-30. It’s close to, but not exactly, an early B-24. There was another flying B-24J, but it’s passed through a few hands and is currently out of action.

Hard to believe that, out of almost 18,000 B-24s built, there’s only about thirty left (if that). Interestingly, most of the survivors came from India, which pieced together two squadrons’ worth from demilled planes left behind by the British and used them as patrol bombers as late as 1969.

[houeto]

Thanks for the ping Islander7!

[Bender2]

Re: Interestingly, most of the survivors came from India, which pieced together two squadrons’ worth from demilled planes left behind by the British and used them as patrol bombers as late as 1969.

Gadzooks! I was just reading... about that at http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Liberator.html

[M1903A1]

Thanks for posting that...I’d never read the full story.