Posted on 08/20/2016 1:45:06 PM PDT by Kaslin
On Saturday August 6, I was privileged to attend the unveiling of the memorial to American airmen who fought in World War II at the Wings Over the Rockies aviation museum in Denver, Colorado. Created by Major Frederic Arnold (ret.), an artist who flew P-38 Lightnings in the Mediterranean theater of the war, the monumental sculpture depicts a pre-flight briefing, with the squadron leader at the mapboard explaining the mission plan, while the men of the squadron and the pale ghosts of their fallen comrades listen on.
American airmen suffered a horrific casualty rate during World War II, with over 88,000 being killed in action. Of the 14 men in Arnold’s squadron, 12 were killed in six months of combat. Arnold and the other survivors vowed to memorialize their fallen comrades. Now 94, Arnold has finally fulfilled that vow.
Here are some views of the sculpture.
At the front, we see the squadron leader explaining the mission.
Here we see the pilots listening, both the living pilots in bronze khaki, and the pale ghosts of their fallen friends. Halfway through the tour, nearly half of the original squadron has already joined the spirits.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
My father served with the thirteenth Air depot Army AirCorp in the South Pacific. Although he never flew in a plane he received two bronze stars for the work his base accomplished in the war effort
My father, a B29 pilot, was shot down over Tokyo and was a POW. Never talked about it.
My uncle was a pilot in WWII. They made a dress out of his silk for me (age 3). I wore it as flower girl for his wedding.
Like it!!
My father in law was a crew member on a B-24. He was shot down and spent a couple of years as a guest of the Germans.
Good for your Dad,you must be proud.
I’d love to visit this museum.
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Me too
About time.
My Dad flew with the 8th AF. Shot down once over France, and made it back to England to finish his tour.
I have his mission map where he plotted all his missions and targets.
For anyone that has relatives that flew in the 8th, they have a great web site where you can get the records and even the planes flown by your relatives, mission by mission.
God bless all of these men.
Now pajama boys simper and prance across the land.
I hope our country can come back someday but I’m not holding my breath.
My great-grandpa flew C-47s dropping paratroopers and supplies in WWII. His plane went down in flames less than two months before the war ended. :-(
My father was in WWII, Korea, and two tours in RVN. His two brothers were in WWII and my mother’s brother Corydon Johnson was a TSGT in the Army Air Corps. He is in a photo along with the pilots and crew. In WWII everyone served if able.
My father was in WWII, Korea, and two tours in RVN. His two brothers were in WWII and my mother’s brother Corydon Johnson was a TSGT in the Army Air Corps. He is in a photo along with the pilots and crew. In WWII everyone served if able.
You would have thought that Goering when he saw those four engined bombers over Berlin that he would have made mention of the fact that “Lookie here, we’re in big trouble” but instead he said it was good they were so large because it made it easier for their fighters to shoot down. The B17 was responsible for more shot down fighters than any other war plane.
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